AMA Hall of Famer and Superbike Champion Wes Cooley Passes
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame offers its condolences to the family, friends and fans of Wes Cooley, a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2004 who was a pioneering force behind the rising popularity of AMA Superbike racing in the 1970s and early ’80s. Cooley passed away on Oct. 16 at his home in Twin Falls, Idaho, after reportedly suffering complications from diabetes. He was 65.
Wester Steven Cooley was born in Los Angeles on June 28, 1956, and was a product of the Southern California road racing scene. When he entered his first AMA Superbike Series event at Daytona International Speedway in March of 1976 on a Kawasaki KZ1000, he was a young, hard-charging rider who differed in several ways from the old-school road racer mentality that had been the norm in the ‘60s and ‘70s.
Along with some of his 1970s contemporaries, Cooley helped change the face of the then-new Superbike class by stepping up the level of competition, eventually winning two AMA Superbike Championships in 1979 and 1980. He gave Suzuki its first AMA Superbike title in 1979.
In addition to his Superbike exploits, Cooley also made history by becoming the first rider to win an AMA Formula One National on a four-stroke.
Not only did Cooley become a racing icon in America, he was also a legend in Japan for winning the inaugural Suzuka 8-Hours Endurance race in 1978 and again 1980.
In May of 1985 at Sears Point Raceway, Cooley sustained life-threatening injuries in an ugly crash. Cooley made a slow but steady recovery from that horrible accident, and went on to teach in the Team Hammer Advanced Riding School for a few years, eventually earning a nursing degree and working as a medical professional in Idaho. When inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004, he acknowledged that his 1985 accident is what propelled him into the medical field.
Cooley will always be remembered for changing the face of AMA Superbike racing in its formative years, but he was also a fan favorite throughout his racing career, a guy who always took the time to connect with fans.
In 2016, Cooley served as Grand Marshal for the AMA’s Vintage Motorcycle Days and drew an expansive crowd.
Cooley is survived by Melody Rose, his partner of many years, along with son Wes Jr. and daughter Alexis.
Look for an in-depth feature about Wes Cooley’s life and career — and the tremendous contributions he made to the sport — coming soon on americanmotorcyclist.com and in American Motorcyclist magazine.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
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