Post by ZRX Gremlin on Feb 20, 2006 18:25:47 GMT
EDDIE RAY LAWSON
A BIKING GENIUS (Cobbled together from various sources)
The word ‘Hero’ can represent many things to many people, be it a person or persons who have touched their lives in a physical, emotional or spiritual way, or, as in my interpretation of the term, someone who had a massive impact on my formative years and who directly influenced my love of bikes and my desire to buck the trend of switching to cars, as adopted by most of my peers.
Not only is Eddie Lawson a hero in racing terms, but also by virtue of the fact that his AMA Superbike championship wins prompted Kawasaki to cash in on his success. When, in 1982, they produced the limited edition Z(KZ)1000R replica, they instilled a passion for the Lawson/Kawasaki connection that that still lives on today. Although Lawson's time with Kawasaki spanned only three years, he does look back at the period with fond memories:
" It was a lot of fun. It was my first time in Japan and everything was all new and exciting. It was my first factory ride and when you're at that stage, it's all brand new and exciting. I have a lot of great memories from my Kawasaki days, they really treated me well the three years that I was there, fantastic really." (excerpt from interview with Dean Adams 1993)
His talent continued with moves to Yamaha, Honda and Cagiva, where he saw out his GP career. In 1993 with Cagiva, Lawson was no longer a contender, with a decidedly second rate bike. The chances of a factory Honda ride with help from Erv Kanemoto were curtailed due to finances, and thus Lawson finally retired for real. The Lawson era for many, evokes truly happy memories of early bike days, pretending our GT550 or 750's or whatever were ELR's (that was as near to the real thing as we could afford then), and great racing in the glory days of some of the greatest riders in history. Without Lawson’s talent and Kawasaki’s foresight and marketing skills, some of us would probably never have bothered much with bikes, would never have considered anything like the ZRX, and would certainly not write tributes to him now now-Thanks Mr Lawson.
Fourteen years after his last full professional racing season, (though he completely retired in 1994), Eddie Lawson remains the most successful American GP rider in the sports history. Up until the formidable talent that is Valention Rossi, Lawson was the only GP rider ever to win back to back titles from different manufacturers (Yamaha in 1988 and Honda the following year). During a nine year GP career, he fought tooth and nail with the likes of ‘Fast’ Freddie Spencer, legendary Barry sheene, Wayne Gardner, Wayne Rainey, Mick Doohan, Randy Mamola, ‘Rocket’ Ron Haslam, to name a few.
"Steady-Eddie" as he became known, came out of retirement in 1993 to win the Daytona 200 on a Vance and Hines Yamaha, and also handed struggling Cagiva their first GP win for ten years. Cagiva boss Claudio Castiglioni was so overjoyed that he personally gave Lawson a brand new Ferrario Testarossa. Lawson later swopped two wheels for four and switched to Indy Cars in 1996, followed by Indy light Karts.
Lawson began riding for Kawasaki following test rides on a Race crafters sponsored Pierre Deroches 1000 in practice at the Ontario speedway in 1980. Lawsons 1980 Mk11 KZ1000 was affectionately known as Black beauty. But the story began on March 11 1958 when Eddie Ray Lawson (he was christened Eddie, not Edward), was born at the San Antonio community hospital in Upland, California.
His early years in Ontario, California, saw a blossoming love of all things two wheeled, a love that was nurtured by Grandfather Charles and father Raymond, both of whom were themselves riders. Eddie rode his first bike aged seven and was racing in 1968 aged ten. Some of his early machines included an Italjet 50 and a 1970 Kawasaki Bushmaster purchased for him by his grandfather, as well as a Yamaha XS650 prepared by legendary Californian tuner, Shell Thuett. Along with Rob Muzzy, Thuett is credited by Lawson as one of the biggest influences on his career.
As competitor number 111R, Lawson raced a 250cc bike in the 1975 Ascot TT, winning two races, and having already sampled the pleasures of the half mile events, Quater mile on dirt tracks as well as many wins at road racing and motocross. All of this by the time he was just seventeen.
A year later in 1976, Lawson won the Pacific Coast Regional Championship series. Aged 19 he won the Daytona novice 250cc race on a TZ250, and gained professional entry to AMA Lightweight classification. Lawson's reputation was now steadily growing and he was awarded the 1978 AMA dirt track rookie of the year award.
As a child, Lawson had been taught 'not to crash' by his father and grandfather, not simply for the obvious reasons of health and safety, but more to keep costs of repairs down as the family budgets were tight. The lesson was duly noted by Lawson, put into practice, and accounting for the "Steady-Eddie" nickname that followed him wherever he raced. Lawson was a master of study, watching his apponents, seizing on error or opportunity and riding with honed precision. He gathered points at most races, consistency the key to his success. He crashed occasionally during his GP career, though he did break his neck at Laguna Seca in the early eighties, and suffered serious ankle injuries in 1990 which necessitated using part of his hip bone, held by screws and grafted in place.
Lawson switched from Kawasaki to the Marlboro Yamaha team in 1983, partnering King Kenny Roberts in his final GP season. Lawson finished a creditable fourth in the championship.
Lawsons GP career is well documented elsewhere, and in great detail, so here is just a brief summary of the great man's achievements:
LAWSON'S RACE CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1965 Lawson is bought his first motorcycle
1968 Begins racing at junior level
1975 ASCOT TT winner twice
1976 PACIFIC COAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP winner
1977 DAYTONA NOVICE 250cc winner
1978 AMA DIRT TRACK- ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
1980 AMA 250 GP series champion
1981 AMA 250 GP series champion
1981 AMA SUPERBIKE champion (USA)
1982 AMA SUPERBIKE champion (USA_
1984 GP500 world champion
1984 AMA PRO ATHELETE OF THE YEAR
1986 GP500 world champion YAMAHA YZR 5OO
1986 AMA daytona 200 winner (Yamaha)
1988 GP500 WORLD CHAMPION YAMAHA YZR 500
1989 GP500 WORLD CHAMPION HONDA NSR500
1990 SUZUKA 8 HOUR FIM ENDURANCE RACE WINNER WITH TEAM MATE Tadahiko Tairo (Jap) on Yamaha YZF750
1993 AMA DAYTONA 200 winner Yamaha (Out of retirement)
1994 AMA DAYTONA 200 3rd
1999 Inducted into the MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME At that time the only rider ever to have won championships in AMA superbikes and 250 GP's in their career. Plus the only rider ever to win back to back championships on for different manufacturers
5th most successful GP rider of all time
Most successful American rider of all time
FIRST GP RIDER EVER TO WIN BACK-TO-BACK TITLES for different manufacturers
31 GP wins
134 GP starts
76 GP podiums
1992 was Lawsons final full year in GP's, though he came out of retirement a year later to once again win the Daytona 200, he was third the following year and finally said goodbye to GP's for good. In his final season he raced against Alex Barros and Alex Criville
In 2005, the governing body of Motorcycling racing, the FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE MOTORCYCLISME (F.I.M), awarded EDDIE LAWSON the title of........ "GRAND PRIX LEGEND"
A minor detail of interest, and proof of the competative nature of the man; Lawson competed on national US television for ABC's "Superbikers", a special televised event as part of the "Wide world of sports", to find the biking worlds best all-rounder. The competitors included Freddie Spencer, Kenny roberts, Jeff ward and steve wise. The idea was to have the competitotrs race open class two-stroke motocross bikes fitted with street tyres on a TT style dirt track incorporating a road course. Ever the one to prove himself, Lawson emerged victorious.
Lawson's favourite track is Assen, and he rates Donnington, Suzuka and the old Paul Ricard circuit in France.
A BIKING GENIUS (Cobbled together from various sources)
The word ‘Hero’ can represent many things to many people, be it a person or persons who have touched their lives in a physical, emotional or spiritual way, or, as in my interpretation of the term, someone who had a massive impact on my formative years and who directly influenced my love of bikes and my desire to buck the trend of switching to cars, as adopted by most of my peers.
Not only is Eddie Lawson a hero in racing terms, but also by virtue of the fact that his AMA Superbike championship wins prompted Kawasaki to cash in on his success. When, in 1982, they produced the limited edition Z(KZ)1000R replica, they instilled a passion for the Lawson/Kawasaki connection that that still lives on today. Although Lawson's time with Kawasaki spanned only three years, he does look back at the period with fond memories:
" It was a lot of fun. It was my first time in Japan and everything was all new and exciting. It was my first factory ride and when you're at that stage, it's all brand new and exciting. I have a lot of great memories from my Kawasaki days, they really treated me well the three years that I was there, fantastic really." (excerpt from interview with Dean Adams 1993)
His talent continued with moves to Yamaha, Honda and Cagiva, where he saw out his GP career. In 1993 with Cagiva, Lawson was no longer a contender, with a decidedly second rate bike. The chances of a factory Honda ride with help from Erv Kanemoto were curtailed due to finances, and thus Lawson finally retired for real. The Lawson era for many, evokes truly happy memories of early bike days, pretending our GT550 or 750's or whatever were ELR's (that was as near to the real thing as we could afford then), and great racing in the glory days of some of the greatest riders in history. Without Lawson’s talent and Kawasaki’s foresight and marketing skills, some of us would probably never have bothered much with bikes, would never have considered anything like the ZRX, and would certainly not write tributes to him now now-Thanks Mr Lawson.
Fourteen years after his last full professional racing season, (though he completely retired in 1994), Eddie Lawson remains the most successful American GP rider in the sports history. Up until the formidable talent that is Valention Rossi, Lawson was the only GP rider ever to win back to back titles from different manufacturers (Yamaha in 1988 and Honda the following year). During a nine year GP career, he fought tooth and nail with the likes of ‘Fast’ Freddie Spencer, legendary Barry sheene, Wayne Gardner, Wayne Rainey, Mick Doohan, Randy Mamola, ‘Rocket’ Ron Haslam, to name a few.
"Steady-Eddie" as he became known, came out of retirement in 1993 to win the Daytona 200 on a Vance and Hines Yamaha, and also handed struggling Cagiva their first GP win for ten years. Cagiva boss Claudio Castiglioni was so overjoyed that he personally gave Lawson a brand new Ferrario Testarossa. Lawson later swopped two wheels for four and switched to Indy Cars in 1996, followed by Indy light Karts.
Lawson began riding for Kawasaki following test rides on a Race crafters sponsored Pierre Deroches 1000 in practice at the Ontario speedway in 1980. Lawsons 1980 Mk11 KZ1000 was affectionately known as Black beauty. But the story began on March 11 1958 when Eddie Ray Lawson (he was christened Eddie, not Edward), was born at the San Antonio community hospital in Upland, California.
His early years in Ontario, California, saw a blossoming love of all things two wheeled, a love that was nurtured by Grandfather Charles and father Raymond, both of whom were themselves riders. Eddie rode his first bike aged seven and was racing in 1968 aged ten. Some of his early machines included an Italjet 50 and a 1970 Kawasaki Bushmaster purchased for him by his grandfather, as well as a Yamaha XS650 prepared by legendary Californian tuner, Shell Thuett. Along with Rob Muzzy, Thuett is credited by Lawson as one of the biggest influences on his career.
As competitor number 111R, Lawson raced a 250cc bike in the 1975 Ascot TT, winning two races, and having already sampled the pleasures of the half mile events, Quater mile on dirt tracks as well as many wins at road racing and motocross. All of this by the time he was just seventeen.
A year later in 1976, Lawson won the Pacific Coast Regional Championship series. Aged 19 he won the Daytona novice 250cc race on a TZ250, and gained professional entry to AMA Lightweight classification. Lawson's reputation was now steadily growing and he was awarded the 1978 AMA dirt track rookie of the year award.
As a child, Lawson had been taught 'not to crash' by his father and grandfather, not simply for the obvious reasons of health and safety, but more to keep costs of repairs down as the family budgets were tight. The lesson was duly noted by Lawson, put into practice, and accounting for the "Steady-Eddie" nickname that followed him wherever he raced. Lawson was a master of study, watching his apponents, seizing on error or opportunity and riding with honed precision. He gathered points at most races, consistency the key to his success. He crashed occasionally during his GP career, though he did break his neck at Laguna Seca in the early eighties, and suffered serious ankle injuries in 1990 which necessitated using part of his hip bone, held by screws and grafted in place.
Lawson switched from Kawasaki to the Marlboro Yamaha team in 1983, partnering King Kenny Roberts in his final GP season. Lawson finished a creditable fourth in the championship.
Lawsons GP career is well documented elsewhere, and in great detail, so here is just a brief summary of the great man's achievements:
LAWSON'S RACE CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1965 Lawson is bought his first motorcycle
1968 Begins racing at junior level
1975 ASCOT TT winner twice
1976 PACIFIC COAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP winner
1977 DAYTONA NOVICE 250cc winner
1978 AMA DIRT TRACK- ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
1980 AMA 250 GP series champion
1981 AMA 250 GP series champion
1981 AMA SUPERBIKE champion (USA)
1982 AMA SUPERBIKE champion (USA_
1984 GP500 world champion
1984 AMA PRO ATHELETE OF THE YEAR
1986 GP500 world champion YAMAHA YZR 5OO
1986 AMA daytona 200 winner (Yamaha)
1988 GP500 WORLD CHAMPION YAMAHA YZR 500
1989 GP500 WORLD CHAMPION HONDA NSR500
1990 SUZUKA 8 HOUR FIM ENDURANCE RACE WINNER WITH TEAM MATE Tadahiko Tairo (Jap) on Yamaha YZF750
1993 AMA DAYTONA 200 winner Yamaha (Out of retirement)
1994 AMA DAYTONA 200 3rd
1999 Inducted into the MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME At that time the only rider ever to have won championships in AMA superbikes and 250 GP's in their career. Plus the only rider ever to win back to back championships on for different manufacturers
5th most successful GP rider of all time
Most successful American rider of all time
FIRST GP RIDER EVER TO WIN BACK-TO-BACK TITLES for different manufacturers
31 GP wins
134 GP starts
76 GP podiums
1992 was Lawsons final full year in GP's, though he came out of retirement a year later to once again win the Daytona 200, he was third the following year and finally said goodbye to GP's for good. In his final season he raced against Alex Barros and Alex Criville
In 2005, the governing body of Motorcycling racing, the FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE MOTORCYCLISME (F.I.M), awarded EDDIE LAWSON the title of........ "GRAND PRIX LEGEND"
A minor detail of interest, and proof of the competative nature of the man; Lawson competed on national US television for ABC's "Superbikers", a special televised event as part of the "Wide world of sports", to find the biking worlds best all-rounder. The competitors included Freddie Spencer, Kenny roberts, Jeff ward and steve wise. The idea was to have the competitotrs race open class two-stroke motocross bikes fitted with street tyres on a TT style dirt track incorporating a road course. Ever the one to prove himself, Lawson emerged victorious.
Lawson's favourite track is Assen, and he rates Donnington, Suzuka and the old Paul Ricard circuit in France.