[American Motorcyclist Association] - Funeral services for motocross icon, RedBud fou

[Ninjette Newsbot]

Gene Ritchie, American motocross icon and founder of the historic track Redbud in Buchanan, Mich., passed away on Saturday, Feb. 20.

Ritchie begin building the famous track in 1972 and held his first pro race in 1974. In recent years, RedBud has firmly established itself as a Fourth of July tradition in the American motocross community.

“Gene was an ambassador to the motocross community," says AMA Motocross Manager Kip Bigelow. "Gene turned his apple orchard into a snow drag strip and later into a motocross track back in the early days of motocross. He hosted some of the most iconic events motocross has ever had such as the Trans-Am races and Trans USA events and today's Pro Motocross Nationals. Nearly every motocross legend has crested the rolling hills of RedBud, from AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Roger Decoster to the current national AMA Pro Motocross Champion Ryan Dungey. I’m sure Gene will be smiling from heaven every time someone yells R-E-D-B-U-D!”

Visitation is Friday, Feb. 26, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hope Community Church, 2390 Lake Street, in Niles, Mich.

The Ritchie family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to:

Road2Recovery Foundation
1042 N El Camino Real
Encinitas, CA 92024

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