SEAN WILSON

9/9/68 – 9/17/00

Sean Wilson passed away suddenly in a tragic solo incident while doing what he loved best, riding his motorcycle in the beautiful mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

The sport, both on and off-road, was devastated by this loss. For many, Sean was much more than a rider, racer, or salesman at a motorcycle dealership.

Sean approached life and all he undertook with maximum gusto, and a clear focus on helping people. His infectious enthusiasm and boundless energy for all forms of motorcycling naturally led him to clear success in whatever he did for and with the sport. Sean was a top off-road competitor, winning the PNWMA Championship twice, completing several NMA off-road series as a top AA racer, and earning a National #7 during the one AMA Hare Scrambles season he pursued. In his career, he envisioned and built the Aurora Suzuki Off-Road team into one of the largest and most successful in the region. Through his enthusiasm, he connected so many people with the sport or a new bike "just right" for them, that he became the top salesman for Suzuki in the country last year.

This remembrance of Sean was echoed over and over by all who attended his Memorial Service at the Washelli Amphitheatre Saturday, September 23. A couple hundred bikes formed a huge procession from Aurora Suzuki to the Service, attended by hundreds of Sean's friends. All who spoke recalled the positive influence, the core honesty, the love of the sport, the raw energy, and the focus on making people happy that defined Sean. He is survived by his wife Shannon and Boris (the boxer).

It was tough, looking at RM250 #131, and his TL street bike, alongside displays of photos and writings and flowers, knowing that we wouldn't see that smile or hear that voice again. On the other hand, everyone knew that Sean would always be with us, for our memories of him will never die. In that he will continue to inspire us to live our lives as he lived his, throttle on and loving every minute of it.

Shannon requested that a Memorial Fund in Sean's name be established, as he would have wished, dedicated to preserving our trails and riding in Washington, through the Northwest Motorcycle Association. Donations to this fund, which will be applied only to Land Use/Legal expenses, should be sent to:

Tory Briggs