Throwback Thursday: Three Americans, 10 World Championships
Larry Lawrence | June 21, 2018
In this week’s Throwback we dial it back 34 years to the 1984 Motorcycle Grand Prix season. It was a transitional time for Americans in Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship racing. Kenny Roberts, a three-time 500cc Grand Prix World Champion, had retired after the 1983 season and was now in his first full season as team owner. Eddie Lawson was in his second season of GP racing and was en route to winning the first of his four world titles. Rainey was fresh off winning the 1983 AMA Superbike Championship and was competing as a GP rookie in the 250 Grand Prix World Championships under the guidance of Roberts. When this photo was taken Roberts was the only one with World Championships to his credit, but over the next decade Lawson would win four and Rainey three 500cc Grand Prix world crowns. That makes the tally 10 world titles among just this trio of riders.
You can read about the details of the racing careers of Roberts, Lawson and Rainey by subscribing to the Cycle News Archives by clicking: https://www.cyclenews.com/cycle-news-archives/