We lost Ray Blank last night. He passed away after battling an illness for some time.

People will say that, as head of American Honda's motorcycle division, Ray Blank was a giant in the motorcycle industry.

They're wrong.

Ray Blank was a titan of the motorcycle industry.

For three decades, Ray shaped Honda's American motorcycle business in his own image. His fingerprints were everywhere. He helped bring iconic motorcycles to life, including the RC51, Hawk GT, Rune and Valkyrie, among many, many others. He understood not only what riders wanted, but what they would want years from now.

Ray's influence extended far beyond motorcycles. He brought Hollywood to American roadracing with sponsorship from The Scorpion King. He championed racers, teams, engineers and ideas. Time and again, when others failed to convince Honda Japan to support a new motorcycle for the American market or back a rider or racing program, Ray found a way.

No American before or since has enjoyed the trust, respect and influence inside Honda Japan that Ray Blank commanded.

His touch was on hundreds of motorcycles, riders, teams and projects during his years at American Honda. No American had more influence within Honda Motor Company, and few people anywhere in the motorcycle business commanded the respect that Ray earned on both sides of the Pacific. Ray was also instrumental in Discover Today's Motorcycling, the operation of the Motorcycle Industry Council and AMA Pro Racing when it enjoyed the best success and professionalism.

The motorcycles remain. The championships remain. The riders he helped and the careers he shaped remain.

But there will never be another Ray Blank.

Blank owned a collection of Honda motorcycles including a 1979 CBX, a 650 Turbo, a Hawk GT650, a GB500 (internal nickname RB500) and several others.

Bob Starr, Senior Division Manager of Corporate Communications of Yamaha commented “Ray was the epitome of a competitor of ours. For the entire time we were on the same playing field together he challenged us like no other and I firmly believe it made us more creative and ultimately ensured Yamaha was a better company. Rest in peace my friend.”

Blank's close friend, Andy Goldfine of Aerostich, said today: "Ray was a behind the scenes giant, influencing or responsible for many of Honda’s most important motorcycles of the last thirty years. Especially for American riders. This list is lengthy, from the smallest models to the largest and includes everything from the Hurricanes to the Fury and Valkyrie, to the XR650L which is still in production essentially unchanged 33 years after introduction."

Blank is survived by his sons Cody, Justin and Erik.