Fred Martinson (February 22, 1947 – February 5, 2012) was an American motorcycle trials rider. Martinson was four times AHRMA Vintage National Trials Champion, winning titles in 2003, 2008, 2009 and 2010, competing in approximately 615 trials through his career. In 2011 he was inducted into the NATC Hall of Fame. The Martinson family are still deeply involved in the sport with Fred's sons Derek and Brian competing at National level for many years, and now grandchildren are starting to also compete.
Biography Fred was born in Virginia, Minnesota in 1947 and moved to Casper, Wyoming in 1981. It was while in Wyoming that Fred became involved with motorcycle trials riding, competing in his first event in 1983. As a long time member of the Wyoming Motorcycle Trials Association Fred was involved in setting eleven NATC events.
In 2001 Fred turned his skills to riding in the AHRMA Vintage Nationals around the country, winning his first title in the Modern Classic Intermediate class in 2003.
The 2008 season was a tough one for Fred. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and given 18 months to live. In typical Fred fashion he didn't let this spoil his season and went on to take another AHRMA National title.
During his final season in 2011, Fred continued to ride with the aid of an oxygen tank on his back and was actually accused of cheating while at a California event as it was considered an advantage for high altitude riding. He rounded out his career with a fine 2nd place in the AHRMA Nationals, quite remarkable considering Fred's health at the time.
AHRMA National Trials Championship Career
Year Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Points Rank 2001 Modern Classic Int AZ- red- GA- hun- OK- CA- MO- CA- IL- MI- CA- OH- hon- sho- WA- CO3 gle- mad- IL- TN- TN- CA- 13 44th 2002 Modern Classic Int AZ- FL- GA3 OK- CA- MO- CA- IL- WV- MT2 CA2 CA3 OH- WA- CO2 IL- TN9 TN9 CA- 86 2nd 2003 Modern Classic Int AZ- IL- TX- IL- WY1 MT1 CA1 CA1 OH- WA4 ash- IL- CO1 TN- TN- CA- 111 1st 2004 Modern Classic Exp AZ- FL- CA4 CA3 mil- IL- IL- IL- OH- WA- WY4 WY4 CA5 CA1 CO3 TN- TN- jon- CA- GA- 89 5th 2005 Modern Classic Exp CA- CA- FL- TX- TN- IL- IL- IL- OH- WA- MN5 MN6 WY3 WY4 CO5 NM- TN- TN- CA- GA- 53 8th 2006 Modern Classic Exp AZ2 CA2 CA2 FL- TX- IL- IL- IL- CA2 CA2 OH- WA- MN3 MN4 WY- WY4 CO2 NM4 TN- TN- CA- AL- GA- 162 2nd 2007 Modern Classic Exp AZ- FL- TX- san- CO4 IL- IL- IL- bing- CA3 CA4 OH- WA- MN- MN- WY- WY5 NM- TN3 CA- AL- was- 91 2nd 2008 Modern Classic Int AZ4 FL- TX- CA- CO1 CO1 CO3 IL- IL- IL- CA1 CA- OH- WA- WY1 WY1 WY1 UT- UT2 NM- TN- TN- CA- AL- GA- 136 1st 2009 Premier Lightweight Int AZ1 AZ1 FL- TX- MD- CO2 CO1 CO1 CA- CA- OH- WA- OH- WA- CO- CO- WY1 WY1 WY- AL- CA- GA- GA- 136 1st 2010 Modern Classic Int AZ- AZ- FL- OK1 OK3 TX- OH- OH- CO1 CO1 WI- CA3 CA- WV- WA- WY2 WY1 WY2 UT1 UT1 CO- TN- TN- AL- CA- GA- 140 1st 2011 Modern Classic Int AZ- AZ- FL- TX- CO1 CO1 IL- IL- WI- CA3 CA1 WV- WA- WY- WY- WY5 CO3 TN- TN- AL- CA- 116 2nd
Honors AHRMA Modern Classic Intermediate Champion 2003, 2008, 2010 AHRMA Premier Lightweight Intermediate Champion 2009 Elected to the NATC Hall of Fame in 2011
Related Reading NATC Trials Championship AHRMA Vintage Nationals
References