Marland Whaley
Inducted 2012
By Martin Belair
Whaley was the most dominant trials rider in the Golden Age of U.S. trials in the 1970s. A factory rider for both Montesa and Honda, he won five AMA National Championships in 1975, ‘76, ‘77, ’79, and 1980. A native of Santee, California, Whaley quickly rose through the highly competitive ranks of Southern California trials. At a time when eight of the top 10 in the nation were from California, Marland and rival Bernie Schreiber battled every weekend and pushed each other to the top. According to 1979 World Champion Schreiber, “ Marland could have been World Champion if he had stayed in Europe.”
Supremely talented, focused, and driven were what made him great, but he was also the best and most fun teammate any one could hope for. In an era where long loops and tight time limits were the norm, he was wickedly fast; no one was faster on single track than Marland.
Whaley was the most dominant trials rider in the Golden Age of U.S. trials in the 1970s. A factory rider for both Montesa and Honda, he won five AMA National Championships in 1975, ‘76, ‘77, ’79, and 1980. A native of Santee, California, Whaley quickly rose through the highly competitive ranks of Southern California trials. At a time when eight of the top 10 in the nation were from California, Marland and rival Bernie Schreiber battled every weekend and pushed each other to the top. According to 1979 World Champion Schreiber, “ Marland could have been World Champion if he had stayed in Europe.”
Supremely talented, focused, and driven were what made him great, but he was also the best and most fun teammate any one could hope for. In an era where long loops and tight time limits were the norm, he was wickedly fast; no one was faster on single track than Marland.
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5-Time National Champion
8-Year Pro Class History 
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Marland's bike.
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Marland's SSDT bike.
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