MOTOCROSS HEROES: DONNY SCHMIT

Success has many fathers, failure is an orphan. Total victory in any form of human endeavor is rare. For those who excelled against the odds, we have a special name…heroes

Donny Schmit’s life story reads like the script of the popular movie “Brian’s Song.” The movie tells the real life story of Chicago Bear’s football player Brian Piccolo and the tragic consequences of his sudden death. Schmit, a Bloomington, Minnesota, native, rose to fame through the normal channels of hard work, dedication and determination, but once having arrived on the scene would suffer setbacks, redemption and a tragic end.

To his Minnesota buddies, Donny Schmit was more than just another motorcycle racer. He was a special person, and they were happy when the local hero got a Team Suzuki ride in 1987. That first season, Schmit won three 125 Nationals (including the final two races of the ?87 season?Troy and Millville). Even though Donny was fifth in the ?87 125 Nationals, his late-season charge made him the favorite for the 1988 title chase.

Donny didn’t disappoint in ?88, and although he only won one National (Millville for the second time), he became a better all-around racer and scored a solid second overall behind Team Honda’s George Holland. Donny was prepared to take his rightful place on the top step of the podium in 1989. During the off-season, Donny asked Team Suzuki for a raise. Shockingly, Suzuki didn’t negotiate, make a counteroffer or even call Donny back?instead, they dropped him from the team.

The bad news came too late to sign on with another team, since they were full, so Donny bought a Honda CR125, and with support from Pro Circuit, became a privateer in 1989. It was a tough pill to swallow. His pride was hurt by the unceremonious dumping by Suzuki, but Donny used the experience to fuel his drive for the ?89 season. Riding his own Honda CR125, Donny finished fourth overall in 1989 behind Team Honda’s Mike Kiedrowski, Team Yamaha’s Damon Bradshaw and Honda’s Guy Cooper. Sweetest of all, Donny beat every member of Team Suzuki. In fact, the highest placed Suzuki rider in 1989 was in ninth place.

If there was ever any doubt that Team Suzuki USA and Team Suzuki Europe had different agendas, the answer came when European team manager Sylvain Geboers hired Schmit to race the 125 GPs immediately after the ?89 season was over. If the U.S. team didn’t appreciate talent, Geboer’s Bieffe/Suzuki team did.

In his first season in Europe, Donny Schmit won the 125 World Championship. He was the second American to win the 125 class after Trampas Parker. It was the greatest in-your-face victory in moto history. Donny went from struggling privateer to World Champion in one swift move. Two years later, Donny won the 250 World Championship for Team Chesterfield/Yamaha.

After five years on the Grand Prix scene, Donny retired and came back to the USA. On a lark, he showed up at the 1995 Millville 250 National with a special one-off Honda of Troy ride. He holeshot, led and finished fourth overall in his one-and-only AMA race in six years. He followed that up by winning the 1995 World Four-Stroke Championship on a CCM.

Prepared to live the life of a country squire, Donny and wife Carrie moved to their new Coon Rapids, Minnesota, home. Unfortunately, less than a year after his triumphant return to American motocross, Donny was diagnosed with leukemia. He died on January 19, 1996, at the age of 29. Donny was survived by his wife, Carrie, three brothers (Dan, Dave and Mike), sister Denise and his parents Dave and Shirley. America lost one of its nicest motocross heroes.