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The American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) announced that second generation road-racing legend Kenny Roberts Jr. has been selected with the coveted distinction of being “AIMExpo Champion” for the 2016 event, which will take place October 13-16 from the North Hall of Orlando, Florida’s Orange County Convention Center (OCCC). Roberts is the newest addition to AIMExpo’s growing list of legendary American racers and industry influencers that have served the role of official event ambassador to North America’s premier powersports event.

Roberts Jr. is the son of Hall of Fame racer and motorcycle racing icon Kenny Roberts, who served as the inaugural AIMExpo Champion for the first ever event in 2013. Together they share the distinction of being the only father-son duo to ever win the FIM 500cc World Grand Prix Championship, now known as MotoGP, and are the now the first father and son to serve the role of AIMExpo Champion.

Roberts Jr. honed his professional road racing on 250cc motorcycles in the early 90’s with the same Marlboro Yamaha team that his father helped bring to prominence. He stepped up to full-time competition in the premier 500cc division in 1996 as a Factory Yamaha rider before joining his father’s upstart racing program in 1997. After two seasons of acclimating to the competition in the World Championship, Roberts Jr. was selected to ride for the Factory Suzuki effort in 1999. In his first outing with the team Roberts Jr. broke through for his first career victory, which vaulted him into a championship contender. He would ultimately finish runner-up for the 500cc world title that season, setting the stage for the most memorable season of his career.

The 2000 season was a banner one for Roberts Jr., outlasting Alex Criville and a rookie hotshot named Valentino Rossi to become the first second-generation 500cc World Champion in history. His triumph put Suzuki back atop the global racing scene for the first time since former AIMExpo Champion Kevin Schwantz won the crown in 1993. Roberts’ illustrious career featured 185 career FIM starts, highlighted by eight wins and 22 podiums.