Best SBK riders ever -Merkel -Polen -Fogarty -Baylis -Texan with #19 and yamaha who won at debut in 2009.. Oh Ben Spies -Rea (only my pick, no offense) -and a mention to Checa 2011, he won with authority. -another mention from Spain to JUAN LÓPEZ MELLA (RIP), 1st Spaniard to get a podium (1991 as a private), and to JOAN LASCORZ (even Greater as a person both of them) 🏍️🏍️
Sheene was so surprised that Merkel kept it upright is funny ! He's 2 time US champ (soon to be 3 time & 2 time WSB) you think they would have done some research !! The only guy to beat Merkel in 84' was Wes Cooley once and in 85' Schwantz 3 times. The other thing the Brits don't seem to understand is most US riders at this time grew up riding dirt track and motocross so the bike sliding and wiggling around a bit doesn't bother them !! Also Merkel and Schwantz were two of the best in the USA along with Lawson,Spencer,Cooley,Rainey,Polen and Russell !!!! The US had the Best Superbike riders ....... sorry Foggy the Ducati's weight brakes and increased cc's gave it a huge advantage in torque and tire ware !!!
This is true, sorry I meant later when the rules were changed so much because the inline 4 cyl Japanese bike were so dominant the same thing happened in my USA and then Doug Polen was hard to beat on the Duck. The 1980s were such great racing in the 1980s to early 90s in America, WSB and GPs I'm glad I saw most of it. : )
Best SBK riders ever
-Merkel
-Polen
-Fogarty
-Baylis
-Texan with #19 and yamaha who won at debut in 2009.. Oh Ben Spies
-Rea
(only my pick, no offense)
-and a mention to Checa 2011, he won with authority.
-another mention from Spain to JUAN LÓPEZ MELLA (RIP), 1st Spaniard to get a podium (1991 as a private), and to JOAN LASCORZ (even Greater as a person both of them) 🏍️🏍️
See my other comments on Merkel and Schwantz on Rd.5 of (11:37) in length.
Sheene was so surprised that Merkel kept it upright is funny ! He's 2 time US champ (soon to be 3 time & 2 time WSB) you think they would have done some research !! The only guy to beat Merkel in 84' was Wes Cooley once and in 85' Schwantz 3 times. The other thing the Brits don't seem to understand is most US riders at this time grew up riding dirt track and motocross so the bike sliding and wiggling around a bit doesn't bother them !! Also Merkel and Schwantz were two of the best in the USA along with Lawson,Spencer,Cooley,Rainey,Polen and Russell !!!! The US had the Best Superbike riders ....... sorry Foggy the Ducati's weight brakes and increased cc's gave it a huge advantage in torque and tire ware !!!
Foggy didn't use a Ducati until some 5 years after this...
This is true, sorry I meant later when the rules were changed so much because the inline 4 cyl Japanese bike were so dominant the same thing happened in my USA and then Doug Polen was hard to beat on the Duck. The 1980s were such great racing in the 1980s to early 90s in America, WSB and GPs I'm glad I saw most of it. : )