David Bailey (motocross)

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For other persons named David Bailey, see David Bailey (disambiguation)

David Bailey is a broadcaster, motocross school instructor and former professional motocross racer, born December 31, 1961 in San Diego, California. He is the adopted son of Gary "Professor" Bailey, also a former professional motocrosser.

Bailey began riding bicycles at the age of 3, and received his first bike, a 60cc Yamaha at age 10. He started racing that same year. David started working hard to progress his career, and he won the 1978 250cc Amateur National Championship on an antiquated Bultaco motorcycle. He turned professional the next year, but had a tough rookie season. For 1980 joined Kawasaki's Team Green, and was one of the first members of that program. He began showing major potential and earned national #45. 1981 was his last year on Kawasaki, and Bailey moved further and further up the rankings. A major breakthrough came when he was asked to ride for Team Honda in 1982, managed by multi-time World Champion Roger DeCoster.

That season, Bailey was a member of the Motocross des Nations team, and helped the team to its second consecutive victory. David joined the team as an alternate for 1982 National Supercross and Motocross champion Donnie Hansen.

1983 was one of Bailey's greatest years, as he won the 250cc Supercross and National Championships, and was awarded the Wrangler Grand National title. He also won the USGP at Unadilla and repeated as Motocross Des Nations champion. The next season was more of the same, as David added the 500cc National crown to his resume, won the King of Bercy title and led the USA to victory in the Motocross Des Nations for the 3rd straight year. Bailey would win many more major races in the next few seasons, most notably two more MXdN titles, and coming out on top of a titanic duel with teammate and fellow champion Ricky Johnson at the 1986 Anaheim Supercross. Bailey was going faster than he ever had in his life, and many say faster than anyone before, when he rode his Honda CR500 to the win at the Motocross Des Nations that fall. The performance by the US team is regarded as one of the most dominant in history.

Tragically, prior to the start of the 1987 Supercross season, Bailey was injured in a practice crash in Lake Huron, California. There was significant spinal cord damage, and Bailey became paralyzed from the waist down, a paraplegic. Bailey withdrew from the industry and sport he loved for seven years.

Bailey would re-emerge in 1994 as a supercross commentator for ESPN. His knowledgeable background and insightful commentary was a highlight of the coverage.

In 1997 Bailey made the decision to start training for the Hawaii Ironman triathlon. In his first two attempts, he finished 3rd, then 2nd, and finally in 2000 he became Ironman World Champion, 13 years after his terrible injury.

Bailey was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.

Bailey continues his role as a TV broadcaster to this day. He is also the spokesperson of the Full Circle Foundation (www.fullcirclefoundation.com), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping others with spinal cord injuries and contribute to finding a cure.

On February 14, 2006, Bailey rode again. Riding a new Honda CRF450R, outfitted with nerf bars, hand brakes, and a seat to hold him in place, Bailey completed several laps of the track in Lake Elsinore, CA. On his very first attempt to ride in 19 years, as a paraplegic, Bailey circulated the track with his son Sean, at very impressive speeds. Bailey himself said, "If I could stick my leg out, I think I could go as fast as I used to!" He has expressed a desire to do more of this in the future.

On February 9, 2007, Bailey made a passionate plea to the top riders in the sport of Motocross to start wearing a revolutionary new device called the Leatt Brace. The Leatt Brace is worn around the neck and shoulder to reduce the range of motion in the neck that a rider may endure during a severe crash, the goal being to reduce the amount of paralyzing injuries that have seemed to have surged in recent years.