Joe Antonelli was born in Providence R.I. and attended Smithfield Public Schools, as an athlete he participated in football, basketball and track and field. Joe also attended Rhode Island Community College.
Joe became involved in motorcycling and specifically trials riding at the age of 15. He was introduced to the sport by friends and his local motorcycle shop. Immediately upon taking up the sport, Joe was competing. By the age of 17, Joe was competing in the Advanced Class at New England events. Joe also competed for a season at the National level. Joe has been first place Expert at the Kentuck Vintage Trials two times.
Joe took a 26-year hiatus from the sport to concentrate on his career and to raise his family with his wife Jodie. She frequently accompanies him to the events and can be seen either at the Scorer’s table or on the course cheering riders on. Joe’s first event back to the sport was in 2000 at Exeter, R.I. He rode the Novice class and as he lined up for his first section his stomach was alive with butterflies. It’s a testament to the seriousness that Joe approaches the sport of trials and it wasn’t long before he was back riding the Advanced Class.
Joe has been a Trials Master for 8 New England Trials Association events. He has been a Checker for 5 National events and 2 World Round events. Joe also volunteers at the annual Rhode Island Trials Club Skill Building Trials as one of the instructors where he passes along his decades of trials knowledge to New England’s trials enthusiasts.
For his contribution to the sport of trials and his willingness to help all members of the trials community, Joe was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.