Freddie Spencer

Sport: Motorcycle Racing

Induction Year: 2009

Induction Year: 2009

Known to motorcycle racing fans as “Fast Freddie,” Freddie Spencer will go down in history as one of the greatest road racers that America has ever produced. The Shreveport native is a member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. In addition to winning three world championships, he was the only rider ever to win the 250cc and 500cc Grand Prix World Championships in the same season (1985). He was the only rider to win three major races during Bike Week at Daytona International Speedway (Superbike, Formula One and International Lightweight races in 1985), the youngest to win the 500cc Grand Prix World Championship (21) and the youngest ever to win an AMA Superbike race in 1979 (18). Spencer learned to ride at the age of 4 and entered his first races as a 5-year-old. On June 16, 1979, he won his first AMA National, the Lightweight (now called 250 Grand Prix) National. On July 4, 1982 Spencer scored his first world championship victory by winning the Belgium 500cc Grand Prix. He was named the AMA’s Pro Athlete of the Year in 1983 and again in 1985 after winning the 500cc World Road Racing Championship both times. He was also the 1985 world champion on the 250cc bike. After a series of injuries, Spencer officially retired from racing in 1996, but maintains celebrity status globally thanks to his incredible competitive career. He is the first motorsports inductee in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.