Dick Burleson

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Richard Burleson (born in 1948 in Johnson City, Tennessee) was one of the top American motorcycle enduro competitors in history. He is remembered for winning a record eight consecutive AMA Enduro National Championships. His domination of the national enduro series earned him the nickname King Richard.

Burleson began his competitive career riding in motocross events in the late 1960s. He joined the professional ranks in 1970 entering the Trans-AMA series which featured visiting European riders who dominated the sport at the time. Burleson finished fourth overall and was the highest placed American rider, garnering the title of motocross national champion in the days before the AMA had a dedicated national championship series.

Burleson also began competing in enduro events and found that he enjoyed that form of competition. He would go on to win a record setting eight consecutive enduro national championships as well as earning eight consecutive gold medals representing the United States in the International Six Day Trials.

After retiring from racing in 1982, Burleson remained active in the sport, starting a mail order motorcycle accessory business and helped design a line of off road riding apparel. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.