Canadian motorcycling legend Yvon Duhamel has passed away at the age of 81.
Duhamel’s racing career began with ice racing at age 17 before expanding into other disciplines starting with dirt track the following year. Awards and accolades accumulated through his career included multiple CMA No. 1 plates in dirt track, road racing and motocross. Duhamel also won the CMA’s White Memorial Trophy, awarded for the “best performance by a Canadian in all disciplines,” a record six times.
Duhamel achieved additional victories in the United States including back-to-back wins in the Daytona 250 Lightweight class in 1968 and 1969 as well as second place finish at the Daytona 200. Overseas competition saw Duhamel compete in the Dutch TT as well as the Le Mans and Bol d’or 24-hour endurance races.
Inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame in 1999 as well as the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2007, Duhamel was also an accomplished snowmobile racer, and a member of the Snowmobile Hall of Fame and Patheon des Sports du Quebec in Montreal.
Inside Motorcycles would like to express its sincere condolences to the Duhamel family as well as all of Yvon’s friends and fans.
