Terry Knott, a former racer, race team manager, and long-time Suzuki employee, succumbed to an illness and died January 8 at University of California, Irvine (UCI) Medical Center in Orange, California. He was 78.

Knott raced flat track in the 1960s, competed in the Daytona 200 in 1967 and 1968, and managed the Husqvarna motocross race team (including AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Brad Lackey) in the mid-1970s, according to friend and colleague Kevin Conroy.

In 1981, Knott went to work for what was then known as American Suzuki Motor Corporation (now known as Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.), where he worked for 34 years until he retired in 2015. Knott spent most of his time with Suzuki as a District Sales Manager and during most of that time he was responsible for sales in Southern California. During the last six years of his career with Suzuki Knott was an Event Specialist and oversaw Suzuki product displays at various events across the country.

Knott is survived by his brother Richard, his only living relative, according to Conroy. No official services are planned, but at post time friends of Knott were working on organizing an informal celebration of his life. We will post more information as it becomes available.