The 1972 AMA Motocross Championship season was the 1st AMA Motocross National Championship season.
1972 marked the inaugural year for the AMA Motocross National Championship. Brad Lackey dominated the 500cc class ahead of Gary Jones and Wyman Priddy.[1] In 1972, after the season-ending 500cc race on September 2, American riders competing for the AMA national championship continued to accumulate points counting towards the national championship while they competed in the 1972 Trans-AMA motocross series which began on October 1 and hosted visiting European riders from the Motocross World Championship.[2]
Jones claimed the 250cc championship ahead of his Yamaha teammate, Jimmy Weinert.[3]
| Round | Date | Location | Winner | Team | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 16 | Atlanta, Georgia |  Barry Higgins | ČZ | Report |
| 2 | May 7 | Memphis, Tennessee | Barry Higgins | ČZ | Report |
| 3 | May 14 | Sacramento, California | Brad Lackey | ČZ | |
| 4 | May 21 | Orange, California | Brad Lackey | ČZ | Report |
| 5 | May 28 | Carlsbad, California | Brad Lackey | ČZ | Report |
| 6 | June 11 | Washington, Indiana | Wyman Priddy | ČZ | |
| 7 | June 18 | Tahoe Vista, California | Brad Lackey | ČZ | Report |
| 8 | September 2 | Alabama International Motor Speedway | Brad Lackey | Kawasaki | Report |
| Round | Date | Location | Top American | Team | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | October 1 | Linnville, Ohio | Bryan Kenney | Maico | Report |
| 10 | October 8 | St. Peters, Missouri | Brad Lackey | Kawasaki | Report |
| 11 | October 15 | Atlanta, Georgia | Jimmy Weinert | Yamaha | Report |
| 12 | October 22 | Orlando, Florida | Brad Lackey | Kawasaki | Report |
| 13 | October 29 | Houston, Texas | Brad Lackey | Kawasaki | Report |
| 14 | November 5 | Carlsbad, California | Brad Lackey | Kawasaki | Report |
| 15 | November 12 | Phoenix, Arizona | Brad Lackey | Kawasaki | Report |
| 16 | November 19 | Puyallup, Washington | Brad Lackey | Kawasaki | Report |
| 17 | November 26 | Livermore, California | Brad Lackey | Kawasaki | Report |
| 18 | December 3 | Orange, California | Marty Tripes | Yamaha | Report |
| Round | Date | Location | Winner | Team | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 16 | Atlanta, Georgia | Sonny DeFeo | ČZ | Report |
| 2 | May 7 | Memphis, Tennessee | Sonny DeFeo | ČZ | Report |
| 3 | May 14 | Sacramento, California |  Gunnar Lindstrom | Husqvarna | |
| 4 | May 21 | Orange, California | Jim Pomeroy | Bultaco | Report |
| 5 | May 28 | Carlsbad, California | Gary Jones | Yamaha | Report |
| 6 | June 11 | Washington, Indiana | Gary Bailey | Bultaco | |
| 7 | June 18 | Tahoe Vista, California | Gary Jones | Yamaha | Report |
| 8 | September 2 | Alabama International Motor Speedway | Gary Bailey | Bultaco | Report |
| 500cc[7] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Brad Lackey | ČZ / Kawasaki | 2030 |
| 2 | Gary Jones | Yamaha | 829 |
| 3 | Wyman Priddy | ČZ | 750 |
| 4 | Rich Thorwaldson | Suzuki | 726 |
| 5 | Jim Pomeroy | Bultaco | 665 |
| 6 | Bryan Kenney | Maico | 582 |
| 7 | Jimmy Weinert | Yamaha | 542 |
| 8 | Mike Runyard | Montesa / ČZ | 513 |
| 9 | Gary Chaplin | Maico | 496 |
| 10 | Mark Blackwell | Husqvarna | 480 |
| 250cc | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Gary Jones | Yamaha | 995 |
| 2 | Jimmy Weinert | Yamaha | 781 |
| 3 | Gunnar Lindstrom | Husqvarna | 775 |
| 4 | Peter Lamppu | Montesa | 430 |
| 5 | Bob Grossi | Husqvarna | 430 |
| 6 | Mike Runyard | Montesa / ČZ | 428 |
| 7 | Bill Cook | Maico | 376 |
| 8 | Robert Harris | Bultaco | 373 |
| 9 | Sonny DeFeo | ČZ / Maico | 310 |
| 10 | Tony Wynn | ČZ / Kawasaki | 301 |