PINKERTON, OHIO — The tiny unincorporated community of Mica, Washington’s claim to fame has always been as home of a robust brick manufacturing facility along State Route 27.
Now its reported 563 area residents can also add home to American Motorcyclist Association new Hall of Famer, Joe Kopp to the list.
Joining Kopp as part of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2025 includes Dana Bell, Chris Carter, Colin Edwards, Chad Reed and Ryan Young, all of whom completed the tradition of receiving their Hall of Fame rings and iconic gold jackets during the ceremony.
“Tonight, we celebrate the legends who have shaped motorcycling in America — the pioneers, champions, innovators, and visionaries whose impact will be remembered for generations,” AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman said.
An AMA news release described the 56-year-old Kopp as, “One of the all-time greats in one of motorcycling’s oldest forms of racing, Joe Kopp’s illustrious racing career led him into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.”
Reaching the pinnacle of his racing career in 2000 by winning the 2000 AMA Grand National Championship, Kopp also rode his way to a pair of AMA Supertracker National Championships (1999 and 2000) and multiple AMA Hot Shoe Championships (1999, 2000 and 2004). In total, Kopp finished his career with 21 wins and 81 podiums at the AMA Grand National level.
Kopp is just one of 20 racers to complete the prestigious Dirt Track Grand Slam, winning at least one race in each of the four flat track disciplines — Short Track, TT, Half-Mile and Mile.
“I want to thank the people who helped me get this Gold Jacket,” Kopp said. “I didn’t have the goal as a kid to be a championship racer. I just liked to ride with my cousins … Thank you, everybody, my wife, my kids, my friends, thank you!”
Kopp’s son, Kody, has followed in his father’s footsteps and has been quite successful having now three consecutive AFT Singles champion who is now pursuing racing on asphalt.