Throwback Thursday: Road Atlanta AMA Superbike Grid (1987)
Larry Lawrence | October 5, 2017
Yoshimura Suzuki’s Kevin Schwantz (No. 34), Honda factory rider Wayne Rainey (No. 6) and the rest of the field get ready for battle before the start of the AMA Superbike race at Road Atlanta in May of 1987. That season is known for the epic showdown between Schwantz and Rainey. Schwantz won five races, to Rainey’s three in ’87, but Wayne was more consistent and won the championship by nine points over Schwantz.
Schwantz qualified on the pole ahead of Rainey. Also visible in this shot are fellow front-row qualifiers Dan Chivington (No. 53) and Jeff Farmer (No. 86). On the second row is Ottis Lance (No. 14), Bubba Shobert (No. 67 behind Schwantz), David Strobel (No. 305) and Mike Harth (No. 88). You can also just make out Doug Chandler (No. 10), Steve Nardiello ((no. 498), Phil Berke (No. 145), Larry Shorts (No. 20), Mark Chin (No. 77) and Jeff Atwell (No. 76).
On this day in Braselton, Georgia, it was Rainey on the factory Honda VFR750 taking the win over Schwantz and Shobert.
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