On Any Sunday: Steve, Malcolm, and now Mert. They are all gone... Mert Lawwill 1940 - 2026

Mert Lawwill Obituary

Motorcycle Icon, Suspension Pioneer, Grand National Champion, Innovator, and inductee into five halls of fame.

Mert Lawwill, star of On Any Sunday and 1969 Motorcycle Grand National Champion, has passed away at the age of 85 in his home state of Idaho, surrounded by family and friends.

There has been much written about Mert Lawwill, and for good reason.

A 1969 Grand National Champion and inductee into both the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, Lawwill built a legacy that bridged motorcycles and bicycles—becoming a motorcycle icon and a pioneering force in modern bicycle suspension design—while inspiring a devoted following that spans generations.

Born and raised in Boise, Idaho, Mert was never one to follow the rules. The son of a house painter and a schoolteacher, both talented artists, and one of seven children, he quickly developed a reputation for finding creative ways to avoid chores—channeling that ingenuity into a life defined by motion, mechanics, and independence.

That spirit found its outlet when his older brother Roy introduced motorcycles into the picture. From that moment on, Mert was hooked.