On Nov. 6, 2023, Art Eckman, the voice of AMA Supercross and Motocross from the 1990s to the early 2000s, died. He was 81 years old.

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As a 26-year viewer of Supercross on ESPN2, ABC, CBS, SPEED channel, and NBC, this hurt me deep down. As everyone knows, Orlando 1997 was my first race, and Art Eckman called the race with multi-time Supercross/Motocross champ David Bailey, Racer X's Davey Coombs, and Marty Reid was the pit reporter.

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Art Eckman had this big bundle of excitement in his voice that could never be topped today or any other day. What he did for broadcasting Supercross races was what the late Jim Leahey did for calling the University of Hawaiʻi sports games.

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I had the pleasure of hearing Art serve as the narrator for Supercross for the first 5 1/2 years of my tenure following the sport. When I heard that the 2002 Las Vegas Supercross finale was the final race he would announce, I was very disappointed.

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While others like Davey Coombs, Todd Harris, Ralph Sheheen, Jason Weigandt, and Leigh Diffey have served as extra narrators, Art Eckman remained number one in my book. Of these guys, Jason Weigandt is likely the closest to matching Art Eckman's personality.

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Hearing Art say "bar to bar" repeatedly is a memory many old viewers can cherish. "Bar to Bar" then became the title of the season summaries, beginning with 1997.

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Art Eckman was also supposed to narrate the Red Bull Straight Rhythm a few years ago, but due to a medical condition, he was unable to do so.

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While Art Eckman left me with countless memories that I can't name right away, I'm happy that he was part of the tail-end of my childhood.

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Godspeed Arthur George Eckman (Art Eckman)

1942-2023