Gary Nixon: RIP

Motorcycle racing icon Gary Nixon died today at the age of 70 in a Baltimore hospital due to complications following a recent heart attack.

An AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer, Nixon took back-to-back AMA Grand National titles in '67 and '68. He was an American pioneer on the international racing scene as well, and was denied from becoming the first American to win a Motorcycle Grand Prix world title only when a scoring controversy cost him the Formula 750 title in 1976.

Nixon maintained a regular presence in the AMA paddock and was still racing in the MotoST class just a few years ago until he was forced to stop due to fading eyesight.