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For those of us who are old enough to remember when On Any Sunday came out, I'm sad to have to report that Mert Lawwill passed away yesterday. Mert was a fantastic motorcycle racer and star of that movie. As Bruce Brown said about him in the movie " Mert Lawwill is a gentleman in a violent world ". I had the pleasure of watching him race many, many times. Rest in peace, Mert, I'll miss you.
A few words from Mert's son, Joe.......Mert was so much more than just a motorcycle racer.......
Motorcycle icon, suspension pioneer, Grand National Champion, innovator, and Hall of Fame inductee—these are just a few of the titles my father earned over his 85 years.
To me, he was simply Dad.
After a period of declining health, and a life fully lived on his own terms, Mert has moved on to join my mom.
I’ve deeply appreciated the outpouring of support from friends and fans over the past few years. I know this news will be difficult for many, but it’s important to say—Mert lived exactly the life he wanted. No regrets, no complaints, just doing things his way.
Through On Any Sunday, thanks to Bruce Brown, his natural charisma and spirit will live on for generations to experience.
What people saw on screen was real. Mert was easygoing, humble, and never took himself too seriously. A country bumkin from Boise who just kept moving forward, enjoying life one day at a time.
He wasn’t around much when I was young, during the peak of his career. But when his racing days were behind him and I began my own in the mountain bike world, he became my biggest fan. That support meant everything to me. And while this is a tribute to my dad, my mom was right there alongside him—both of them were my biggest supporters, and I’m grateful for everything they gave me.
When my mom passed, it was incredibly hard on him. She was his rock, his world, and without her he was a bit lost. There’s some comfort in knowing they’re back together again.
Of everything he accomplished, the work that meant the most to him was his work in prosthetics. He created “Mert’s Hands,” giving people who had lost a hand or arm the ability to safely ride a motorcycle or bicycle again. Helping others get back to doing what they loved—that’s what he was most proud of.
If you ever met him, you know—he didn’t see fans. He saw friends. Everyone got the same smile, the same time, the same respect.
I’ll miss him deeply, but I’m incredibly grateful he was my father.
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Mert Lawwill
