Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Dr. Ray Ochs to Retire After More Than 50 Years in Rider Education

Longtime MSF leader has helped shape motorcycle rider education and training used throughout the nation and by the U.S. military worldwide 

IRVINE, CA, UNITED STATES, August 18, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — After more than 50 years of service to rider education, Dr. Ray Ochs, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Vice President of Training Systems, is preparing to retire from MSF. 

Ochs became an MSF-certified Instructor in 1973, the year MSF was founded, and in 1980 became a Chief Instructor. In 2002, he joined MSF full time. Throughout his tenure, he has helped shape the curricula, training systems, certification programs, and educational philosophy that continue to serve riders and the training community today.

“Dr. Ray has played an extraordinary role in shaping rider education in America, guiding the evolution of MSF’s curricula into a lifelong learning approach, and setting the standard for the industry,” said Rob Gladden, MSF Vice President of Training Operations. “I’ve had the privilege of working closely with him for more than two decades and have seen firsthand the academic rigor he brings to developing and evaluating our programs. His work has helped MSF continually advance how we prepare riders and the RiderCoaches who teach them, and his influence reaches throughout the training community. I have seen people switch career paths after catching the teaching bug from Ray. He has changed many lives.”

Ochs’ involvement with motorcycles began as a teenager in St. Joseph, Missouri, when he was offered a ride on a Honda Dream 305. That experience sparked an interest in motorcycling that would eventually lead to a career focused on motorcycle rider education and safety.

Ochs’ work helped bring MSF curricula from concept to reality. He was instrumental in field-testing and refining courses to ensure they were safe, effective, and efficient in real-world training. He was key to the development of MSF’s Basic RiderCourse, a license-waiver course used in 46 states and by the U.S. military worldwide, helping new riders learn core motorcycling skills and how to ride with a safety mindset. He also led the development of MSF’s many other programs, including the Advanced RiderCourse, Rider Skills Lab, the AdventureBike RiderCourse, the Rider Mentor Program, and more.

A large part of Ochs’ focus was also on helping to build and strengthen a training community to deliver MSF programs. From certification processes to professional development, Ochs played a pivotal role in developing the RiderCoach and RiderCoach Trainer systems.

His work has also taken MSF expertise around the world through International Rider Education and Training System workshops, presentations at motorcycle safety and research conferences, and professional development workshops for state and military motorcycle safety programs.

“Dr. Ray has always led with the work, putting riders and the people around him ahead of himself,” said Christy LaCurelle, MSF President and CEO. “He approaches everything with humility, focused on why we’re here and how we can help riders be safer, and that brings out the best in the entire team. His commitment to understanding how people learn and translating that into effective rider education has shaped the programs we have today. MSF will carry those lessons forward as we continue developing training that meets the needs of current and future riders.”

Ochs’ work has helped coaches become better educators, and riders become better prepared for the road. His influence can be found not only in the courses MSF delivers, but in the people who have carried those lessons onto training ranges worldwide.

“Now that I’m riding into the sunset, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has supported MSF over the years,” Ochs said. “While there are far too many individuals to acknowledge, it’s most important to note that the best part of this journey has been working alongside such a dedicated and passionate staff. I’ve loved the entire experience because, as they say, I didn’t really work a day in my MSF life.”

About the Motorcycle Safety Foundation
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation is the world’s leading authority on motorcyclist safety, setting the standard for rider training and education. MSF partners with federal and state agencies, the U.S. military, and industry leaders to deliver comprehensive, research-based training curricula for riders of every skill level. MSF supports a nationwide network of nearly 2,000 training sites and 7,000 certified coaches. Since 1973, MSF has trained more than 13 million riders. The not-for-profit organization is supported by these leading manufacturers: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.; BMW Motorrad USA; Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.; Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Inc.; Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.; KTM North America, Inc.; Polaris Inc.; Suzuki Motor USA, LLC; Triumph Motorcycles America; and Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. For more information and to enroll in a course, visit MSF-USA.org.

Andria Yu
Motorcycle Safety Foundation
ayu@msf-usa.org

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