Troy Lee racing a Hot Wheels-sponsored Honda Supermoto Lites machine in Shawano, Wis., during the summer of 2006. (Larry Lawrence photo)

Troy Lee is best known for Troy Lee Designs, but he’s long been a racer as well. He began his racing career in the ultra-competitive Southern California motocross scene in the late 1970s. It was then that he began painting helmets for his fellow competitors.

Troy Lee is not related to the famous Ascot Park flat track hero of the early 1960s, but he was named after him after his parents saw Lee win a race and thought that would be a cool name for their soon-to-be-born son.

When AMA Supermoto launched Troy was one of the sport’s biggest backers. He not only sponsored Supermoto to the hilt, but he came back, in his 40s, and raced as well. He was quite competitive, often beating riders half his age.

This is Troy leading the pack in a heat race at the beautiful Supermoto circuit in Shawano, Wisconsin in 2006.