Inducted 2009 – Competitor – Motorcycle Racing
Born in 1953, Michel Mercier bought his first motorcycle at age 17, and began racing from his Thetford Mines, Quebec home in 1973 in motocross events.
By 1977, he had won titles in the 125-cc and 250-cc Expert class in the Canadian Motorcycle Association nationals. He then decided to try his skill on dirt, and did well on the flat-tracks as well as continuing to pile up the accolades in ice racing. From 1978 to 1981, he displayed the prestigious Number One plate as Canada’s top ice racer.
Next was road racing on two wheels, and once again, Mercier, with his analytical approach, mental preparation, and aggressiveness, led to a stellar career on the pavement.
In 1985 he won the CMA’s Superbike title. He continued to compete on the road race circuit, both in Canada and abroad, and although disappointed with his results by the end of the 1980s, he wasn’t finished yet.
In 1990, riding a Yamaha, Mercier won four of the six RACE Superbike finals and the series championship before retiring from racing later that year.
Mercier continued in the sport after that time, as director of the FAST Racing School at Shannonville, Ontario, teaching up-and-coming racers.