Fayetteville Native Russell Bobbitt Inducted Into AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame

Fayetteville native Russell Bobbitt, whose roots in motorcycling run through a family-owned local motorcycle dealership, has been inducted into the American Motorcyclist Association Motorcycle Hall of Fame after a career that included five national enduro championships and international competition for the United States.

Enduro is a form of timed off-road motorcycle racing in which riders travel long courses over marked trails through woods and varied natural terrain while trying to meet precise time requirements at checkpoints along the route. The sport tests not only speed, but also endurance, navigation, consistency, and, in traditional enduro competition, exact timekeeping.

Bobbitt was one of six members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2026 formally inducted September 10 in Pickerington, Ohio. The new inductees received Hall of Fame rings and ceremonial gold jackets during the induction ceremony.

“[Being inducted] wasn’t anything I expected or thought would happen, but it’s quite the honor and it’s so special to be among so many greats in motorcycling. It’s neat to bring another rider from the Enduro discipline into the fold,” Bobbitt told the AMA.

For Fayette County motorcycle enthusiasts, the Bobbitt name has been familiar for decades.

Russell’s father, Bo Bobbitt, founded Fayetteville motorcycle and powersports dealership Cycle Specialty and was its longtime owner. The business remains in operation after 50 years, creating a local motorcycle legacy that predates Russell Bobbitt’s rise to the highest levels of off-road racing.

His mother, Bonnie Bobbitt, also has deep ties to the area and is known for her work with the Senoia Area Historical Society, including leading bicycling tours.

Five national championships

Russell Bobbitt emerged from the Southeast’s enduro racing scene, moved through the amateur ranks, and eventually became a professional factory KTM rider. He became one of the leading competitors of his era in National Enduro racing.

He won five AMA National Enduro Championships — in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2016. His final championship came after a multi-year absence while recovering from significant injuries, making the 2016 season a comeback at the top level of the sport.

Bobbitt became especially accomplished in traditional timekeeping enduro, where precision could be just as important as outright speed.

Bobbitt was named AMA Athlete of the Year in 2011. He also represented the United States in the FIM International Six Days Enduro, earning four gold medals and three silver medals during his international racing career.

His longevity became part of his racing story. Even after stepping away from full-time professional competition, Bobbitt returned to win the opening round of the 2019 National Enduro season.

From Georgia woods to the Hall of Fame

The AMA announced Bobbitt as a Hall of Fame nominee earlier this year before naming him to the Class of 2026 in June. Hall of Fame voting includes previous inductees, members of the AMA and American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation boards, members of Hall of Fame category selection committees, and AMA Life Members.

He entered the Hall alongside motocross and supercross racer Damon Bradshaw, motorcycle performance and racing figure Eraldo Ferracci, flat track champion Jake Johnson, motorcycle rights advocate Gary Sellers, and performance industry innovator Dale Walker.

Bobbitt’s competitive career has largely given way to another form of motorcycling. He now operates Gnarly Routes, leading motorcycle adventure tours through areas of the American West, including Utah, Texas, Idaho, and Colorado.

But his Hall of Fame story started much closer to home — in Georgia’s strong off-road riding community and in a Fayetteville family for whom motorcycles have been part of life and business for generations.

Five national championships, seven international medals, an AMA Athlete of the Year honor, and decades after those Fayetteville beginnings, Bobbitt now has a permanent place among the riders and figures honored by the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.