R.I.P.: AMA Pro Racer Kurt Lentz

Former AAMRR and AMA Pro racer Kurt Lentz died in Frenchtown, New Jersey on January 30th, 2026, after battling cancer. He was 73 years old.

Kurt Lentz (41) on a Yamaha TZ750 at Daytona circa 80. Photo by John Owens.

As near as we can tell, he started his AMA Pro racing career on a TZ250 in the International Lightweight class (a.k.a. 250cc GP) at Daytona in 1975.

Lentz finished 6th in the first official AMA Superbike race, at Daytona in 1976, riding a Ducati, and also raced a Kawasaki H2R in the 1976 Daytona 200.

Kurt Lentz (left) and Richard Chambers circa 1983.

In 1977 he finished in the top-10 in AMA Superbike races three times on a Ducati, with two best finishes of 5th place at Loudon and Pocono.

In 1978 he finished sixth in Superbike, again on A Ducati.

In 1983 he earned two top-10 finishes in AMA Formula One on a TZ750, taking 6th in the Daytona 200 and 9th at Mid-Ohio.

He is survived by an adult child, Ariel Lentz.

Kurt Lentz on a Kawasaki H2R, circa 1976.

Kurt Lentz (41) launches off the grid with Steve McLaughlin (83) and David Emde (56) at the start of the 1978 AMA Superbike race at Daytona. Photo by John Jacobson.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.

Research courtesy of Larry Lawrence/Rider Files.

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