Each year the American Motorcyclist Association’s (AMA) Motorcycle Hall of Fame inducts individuals who have accomplished outstanding achievements in advocacy, competition, and promotion of the sport of motorcycling. It focuses on eight areas of influence: Ambassadors/Industry, Design/Engineering, Dirt Track, Leadership/Motorcycle Rights, Motocross/Supercross, Off-Road, Road Racing, and Specialty Competition.
We at WomenRidersNow.com (WRN) are thrilled when there are women on the nominee list, or even better, inductees. Here, we introduce you to the three women AMA Hall of Fame nominees (of 13) in 2024, and shine a spotlight on Debbie Matthews. She is the only female inductee in this year’s lineup which includes motorcycle legends Mat Mladin (Road Racing), Kevin Windham (Motocross), Mike Lafferty (Off-Road), and Rob Rasor (former AMA President).
2024 AMA Hall of Fame Women Nominees
Gina Bovaird—Ambassadors & Industry
Gina Bovaird rose steadily through the ranks in the U.S. road racing scene, ultimately becoming the first woman to compete in the famed Daytona 200 at Daytona International Speedway in 1979. She reached 184 mph while qualifying, making her the fastest-qualifying rookie and fourth fastest overall.
As her career advanced, she attempted to qualify for the world’s premier class, the FIM 500cc Grand Prix Championships, achieving that goal in 1982 at the French GP at Nogaro.
Dana Bell—Leadership & Rights
A decade after her entrance into motorcycling, Dana Bell worked her way to being a nationally ranked enduro competitor. From 1992–1999, Bell shifted her focus to rights issues and worked as the western states representative for the AMA’s Government Relations Department. During this period, she also worked as a state partner for National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC).
For her role as one of the key voices for motorcyclists’ rights, the AMA Board of Directors presented Bell with the AMA Motorcycling Advocate Award. This honor recognizes those who have been leaders in fighting for the rights of motorcyclists. Bell was just the third person to receive the award.
Debbie Matthews—2024 Ambassadors & Industry Inductee
Meet the "Godmother of Motocross"
2018 AMA Hall of Fame inductee, Mary McGee, honored Debbie Matthews at the ceremony. Motorcycling pioneer, McGee is widely known for her car racing and motorcycle road racing. She was one of the first women to break into the male-dominated world of motocross and off-road racing. McGee became the first woman to compete in an AMA motocross event in 1968. Most notably, she competed solo in the 1975 Baja 500 solo and finished ahead of several two-man teams, later learning that she was the first place solo rider to finish, not just the first solo woman.
Training, Empowering, and Inspiring Generations
During her racing career, and prior to co-founding the WML, Matthews served as the U.S. Women’s Motocross Team promotion/race director. That same year, she worked with Danny Thompson to create the “Stadiumcross” series for women.
Continuing down the path of innovation, Matthews worked with the AMA and several groups to create the first women’s professional outdoor national motocross series championship which ran in conjunction with the men’s series in 1997.
Matthews continued to advocate for women riders by meeting with the AMA Congress and successfully pushing for the historic introduction of the "A" Rider classification for women. In recognition of her efforts to promote women's motocross, announcer Erv Braun dubbed her the “Godmother of Women’s MX.”
In 2012, Matthews was awarded the Lifetime Appreciation Award for her commitment as a women’s advocate, and in 2021 was inducted into the Hot Shoe Hall of Fame.
In 2014, Matthews founded the Professional Organization of Women’s Racing (POWR), which generated the largest Women’s Pro Purse & Bonus program in the history of women’s motocross.
Like Mother, Like Daughter
Learn more about the AMA and the AMA Hall of Fame by visiting its web site here.