The Washington State Motorcycle Hall of Fame (WSMCHOF) will be honoring in its inaugural 2010 year Bellingham native Steve Baker and Yakima native Jim Pomeroy. The WSMCHOF is celebrating the first Americans with Steve who was the first American to win a World Motorcycle Road Racing Championship in the F-750 class in 1977. And Jim being the first American to win a World Motocross Grand Prix race in Spain in 1973. Jim died just over four years ago on August 12, 2006 in a jeep accident at age 54. A WSMCHOF induction dinner will be held on Sunday October 24th at 5:30 PM at Renton Motorcycle Company in Renton, Washington. Ticket ordering plus interviews with Steve Baker and Jim Pomeroy, along with other Northwest racers and pictures from the past of motorcycle racing in Washington, can be found at www.WSMCHOF.com or call 425-481-9876 and ask for Shawn McDonald. #32 Steve Baker from town of Bellingham, Washington made a major impact on the world of Grand Prix roadracing by being the first American to win a world championship. Steve was small, quiet American who wore glasses, and very focused on his goal. Not the European image at all. He came from the local flatrack racing scene of the northwest and moved on to win Canadian and U.S roadrace championships before moving to Europe. 1977 was Steve’s year as he started out by sweeping Daytona races by winning the 200 and the 250cc titles. The Daytona 200 that year was split into two 100-mile events because of safety concerns on the tires lasting very long under the power of the 750’s. Steve chased down Roberts in the first heat and moved by him on lap five. Steve then extended the lead to 28 seconds at the checkered flag. The second heat never got off the line due to a torrential rainstorm and the race was then called a final because 50% of the race was completed. He als o nailed down the 250cc win to sweep the weekend. Steve along with Pat Hennen from California lead a two pronged American attack on the 500cc championship held by Barry Sheene from England. Steve was teamed with 350cc world champion Johnny Cecotto and the legendary world champion Giacomo Agostini on Team Yamaha. The Yamaha’s were all new 4 cylinder designs that year and were not fully sorted out. Steve still chased Sheene hard throughout the year and finished in 2nd place. The world championship came in the new Formula 750 class to accommodate the popularity and speed of the 750 Yamaha’s, Suzuki’s, and Kawasaki’s that were dominant in A.M.A. nationals. Steve had little trouble riding the reliable TZ 750 to the championship. Steve was also one of the few riders to race a TZ 750 Champion framed flattracker at the Indianapolis Mile where Kenny Roberts won in the scariest ride of his life. Steve retired from active racing in 1980, but has b een competing in special events in Europe for vintage motorcycle road racing on some of his favorite bikes. Championships: 1977 Formula 750 World Championship, 1975 U.S Roadrace Championship, 3 Canadian Roadrace Championships, 2nd place 1977 500cc World Championship, 1977 Daytona 200 winner, 1977 Daytona 250cc winner. Jim Pomeroy was the 1st American in many ways. He was the 1st American to win a world MX Grand Prix, 1st to lead the world championship points, 1st to win in his debut GP event and the youngest to win a GP. Jim went to Spain on a one ride only trip to Spain. He was supposed to come back after the GP and race the U.S. nationals starting in Daytona after that. You can’t argue with success though and he stayed in Europe for the next four years. Pomeroy first went to Europe as part of the Motocross Des Nations team from the United States in 1972. Jim finished his 1st year in Europe in 7th place after moto wins in Italy and Poland. He came home to be the 1st American in the Inter-Am series (3rd overall). 1974 didn’t treat Jim well with mechanical difficulties in Europe limiting him to 13th overall in the GP standings. The only saving grace was to finish top American in the Motocross Des Nations. Back at home he was the 1st American in the Trans-Am races and won the H ouston supercross. Pomeroy improved in 1975 with greater consistency in equipment and finishes. He finished 2nd in the Trophee Des Nations (250cc race). After finishing with his high mark of 4th in the championship, Jim moved back to U.S. for 1977 and 78 for Team Honda. He followed only Bob “Hurricane” Hannah in 1977 with a second in both the 250cc nationals and supercross. An injury prone year in 1979 with Honda had Jim wanting to return to Europe and the world championships. Honda wanted him to stay, but the heart was elsewhere. Pomeroy finished his career with two unproductive and frustrating years with Bultaco and Beta. Championships: 1967 Northwest/Canadian MX Championship, 1968 NW MX Championship, 1968/1969 NW Scrambles Championship, 1970 Sturgis Midwest Championship, 1970 Manitoba MX Championship, 1970/1971 US 250cc Cup Championship, 2nd place in first supercross at LA Coliseum 1972, 4th place 1974 250cc world championship, 1st American to win moto at 500cc USGP 1977, Top American Inter-Am 1973, Top American in Trans-Am 1974, 2nd place 1977 250cc national championship, 2nd place supercross 1977. Jim was elected into the A.M.A. Hall of Fame.