Legendary Motocross Tuner, Eric Crippa, Passes
Cycle News Staff | May 14, 2024
Legendary motocross tuner and engineer Eric Crippa recently passed away.
Not only was Eric Crippa a tuner of the stars, but he also made sure Honda test bikes were always perfectly dialed in.
Crippa grew up racing motorcycles but was perhaps more passionate about working on them and making them perform better than he was racing them. His reputation as a skilled tuner eventually led him to Team Husqvarna in 1973, where he and Hall of Fame racer Kent Howerton won their first motocross championship together in 1976.
Crippa eventually brought his mechanical wizardry to Honda, where he got to work with several legendary racers, such as Bob Hannah, Rick Johnson, Johnny O’Mara and David Bailey.
After saying goodbye to the racing circuit, Crippa—often referred to by his friends as “The Mad Scientist”—continued working for Honda, helping with product development and working with the moto media. Crippa was well-liked by everyone who was lucky enough to meet him (and eat his sandwiches, which were also legendary). CN