KiwiBiker quiz time

[Sensei]

Yep was one at Hawera M/C about 31/2 y's ago they wanted 10k for it was abit much for me to pay for a old bike so brought a Ducati
I knew what bike it was but typed what the mind was thinking should have left out the Rep bit .Way kool bike's tho

[gav]

Poor Eddie must be the most overlooked fantastic racer ever,he did everything,starting with dirt track in the US,he was also first Super Motard Champ too,him and Freddie were the first Super Motard guys.I had a poster of Eddie on a Yamaha on my wall for years.This hero needs more songs sung....

Actually wasnt Steve Wise the first Super Motard champ?

[Oscar]

Actually wasnt Steve Wise the first Super Motard champ?

Actually I thinks he's talking about the US TV series "Superbikers", that kicked it all off in the late '70's...

[gav]

Certainly not overlooked by me either - but I bet if you got all the young racers on here to say all the top racers in the world of the top of their head,I don't think you would find Eddie Lawson's name come up,and that's a shame.

Ediie was (still is) my hero, I started following road racing early 80's, things like the old Trans atlantic series races I've still got on video. Eddie was just so cool and smooth, first year in GP's team mate to the King Kenny Roberts in 82, dicing with Spencer and Roberts in 83, then he took over, world titles in 84, 86, 88 on Yamaha and then to switch to Honda when the 88/89 NSR was just so evil and had such a bad rep. The way he rode, changing his style to suit the ill handling Honda and to snatch the title from Rainey was just awesome. Then switching back to Yamaha and crashing at Laguna, breaking both ankles when hitting a guard rail feet first, to comeback part way through the season, straight on the pace and basically ride shotgun so Rainey could take the title.
Then when Cagiva were pulling the pin and quitting, agreeing with help from Yamaha to go ride the Cagiva, which when Mamola rode was a bit of a joke and within the first couple of races suddenly started hunting out podiums and beating Kevin Schwantz in the process just showed that he was one of the best ever development riders, and he was so competitive on that bike too.
When he left the GP circus there was no fuss, and he's one of the few guys who left being 100% healthy, just think, very few left like that, Rainey, Schwantz, Doohan, Criville, Magee, etc all finished because of injuries. Lawson just decided he'd had enough, he still ran the odd race here and there, Suzuka 8 hour, Daytona 200, and was still on the pace. Went to Indy Lights, won a race went to the full Indy car series but admitted he wasnt good enough to drive at that level, not many agreed with him, but insisted someone else deserved the ride. Just a way cool guy

Eddie Lawson interview 1993

[gav]

Actually I thinks he's talking about the US TV series "Superbikers", that kicked it all off in the late '70's...

Yip, thats the one, Steve Wise was a factory Honda MXer who won that made for TV race event, got a try out on a Honda Superbike and made the Superbike team with Freddie Spencer, Mike Baldwin etc

[Skunk]

Eddie was (still is) my hero,

Eddie Lawson is the reason I have the bike I do. Still trying to find a really good Bio book on him.
I came into bikes in the mid 90's so I missed his real achievements.

How could anyone miss a 21 on a Kawasaki!?

[Paul in NZ]

How could anyone miss a 21 on a Kawasaki!?

Probly the same people that don't know who Sam Cooke or Peter Green were / are. Bloody countries education system is stuffed mate. I blame NCEA

[Skunk]

Probly the same people... I blame NCEA

Can't blame that on NCEA...

[Motu]

I lost a job because of Peter Green,the prick!....oh,we are talking about the same Peter Green aren't we....NZ Catamaran Champ??

[gav]

Who'd they ride for?

[Motu]

So ok,I don't know what I'm talking about,I've got a mag somewhere with the history of motard and Lawson and Spencer were definatly in at the begining,in France,they were doing the Golden Handlebar type thing,riders from all disaplins on a track of all surfaces with any bike they liked.Of course the bikes developed into motards and the flattrackers like Lawson had the advantage.The whole idea was dropped,but the stupid French kept going with it on their own.I couldn't find the artical if I went looking for it....but if you wanted a recipe for chocolate sauce pudding it'd be the first one I picked up.

[Paul in NZ]

Can't blame that on NCEA...

Nah - thats old age and stupidity

[gav]

The start of Supermotard, half way down page

[Oscar]

Ediie was (still is) my hero, I started following road racing early 80's, things like the old Trans atlantic series races I've still got on video. Eddie was just so cool and smooth, first year in GP's team mate to the King Kenny Roberts in 82, dicing with Spencer and Roberts in 83, then he took over, world titles in 84, 86, 88 on Yamaha and then to switch to Honda when the 88/89 NSR was just so evil and had such a bad rep. The way he rode, changing his style to suit the ill handling Honda and to snatch the title from Rainey was just awesome. Then switching back to Yamaha and crashing at Laguna, breaking both ankles when hitting a guard rail feet first, to comeback part way through the season, straight on the pace and basically ride shotgun so Rainey could take the title.
Then when Cagiva were pulling the pin and quitting, agreeing with help from Yamaha to go ride the Cagiva, which when Mamola rode was a bit of a joke and within the first couple of races suddenly started hunting out podiums and beating Kevin Schwantz in the process just showed that he was one of the best ever development riders, and he was so competitive on that bike too.
When he left the GP circus there was no fuss, and he's one of the few guys who left being 100% healthy, just think, very few left like that, Rainey, Schwantz, Doohan, Criville, Magee, etc all finished because of injuries. Lawson just decided he'd had enough, he still ran the odd race here and there, Suzuka 8 hour, Daytona 200, and was still on the pace. Went to Indy Lights, won a race went to the full Indy car series but admitted he wasnt good enough to drive at that level, not many agreed with him, but insisted someone else deserved the ride. Just a way cool guy

Eddie Lawson interview 1993

I saw him at Phillip Isl. in 1989. Limo into the pit, straight into the motorhome, emerging later in leathers and helmet, strode across to the pits, hopped on the bike, completes qualifying. Then, same process in reverse. Very private man, one of the all time greats.