LEGENDS AND HEROES HONOREE - SEATTLE SUPERCROSS 2018
Eric Eaton is most known for his overall victory in the 500cc class at Washougal in 1985, but his career is much more than that one race.
Raised in a motorcycling family, he is a Pacific Northwest legend. Hailing Tacoma, Washington, his dad Marshall opened a Husqvarna and Maico dealership in 1973. After racing locally, Eric’s first National was in 1980 where he finished 16th on a Maico 500. He spent the early 80’s competing on the national circuit with Maico support before moving to a Honda for Team Tamm in 1984. He finished 17th overall in supercross and 13th overall in the 500MX class at the nationals.
In 1985 he switched to a Yamaha support ride and enjoyed his most successful year as a pro. In the 1985 National Motocross Series 500MX class, Eric would score nine top ten overall finished including five podiums and a win at Washougal. He would finish second behind series champ Broc Glover.
An injury in 1987 ended his professional career, but he hasn’t left the sport of motocross or the powersports industry. The dealership his dad started, Northwest European Cycles is one of the oldest KTM dealerships in the country and Eric, and his longtime friend former race mechanic Kenny Almquist own the Tacoma, Washington dealership.
