Scene -stealing hero Gene Romero, who burst onto the American consciousness in On Any Sunday, passed away on Mother's Day Sunday. The AMA Hall Of Famer Romero was one of the best-known motorcycle racers in the United States in the early '70s.
He won the AMA Grand National Championship in 1970 riding for Triumph, but it was his cameos in On Any Sunday that the world came to know "Burrito" — even though he went on to win 12 AMA nationals during his 16-year racing career. He also won the AMA Most Popular Rider of the Year Award in 1970.
Arguably the biggest win of Romero's career was the 1975 Daytona 200. After circulating in 4th place for the first half of the race, he wicked up his works Yamaha. He passed Giacomo Agostini and Steve Baker and took the lead when Steve McLaughlin crashed. Romero cruised to victory for his only win in 14 Daytona 200 starts.
Romero was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the American Motorcyclist Association offer condolences to the family and friends. He was 71.
For more information about Romero and his motorcycling career, visit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame website at www.motorcyclemuseum.org