Kevin Schwantz interview | Kevin, the RGV500 and what was his career highlights?
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- Опубликовано: 1 окт 2024
- In this video it is our absolute honour to interview Kevin Schwantz. We get to ask Kevin for a few insights about each RG500 Kevin rode across the years up to the 1993 RGV 500 and chat about the most remarkable moments of Kevin’s career.
Kevin Schwantz 1989 Pepsi Suzuki RGV 500 - No other bike looks as bad-ass, rides as brutal or is even close as iconic as this machine is.
But then the rider! - few other riders can match Mr Kevin James Schwantz’s style and flare both on and off the circuit. ‘Joie de vivre’, a warm feeling in the heart is what any spectator will get when watching any race Kevin competed in during his career in the 1980’s and 90’s. A true legend.
From the iconic colour schemes of the 1989 Pepsi Suzuki to the Lucky Strike RGV500 1993, to some of Kevin’s moments, such as Wayne Rainey vs Kevin Schwantz, Kevin Schwantz Vs Mick Doohan, Kevin Schwantz 1993 Hockenheim, Kevin Schwantz wheelie, it’s difficult to say what exactly are Kevin Schwantz best moments, they were all truly fantastic from that golden era of 500cc GP racing.
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Absolutely the true "golden age" The bikes, the riders and just the entire atmosphere of the racing at that time. There was just a very raw edge to it at that time.
His legendary status is cemented by the number of legendary riders who say Kevin was their favourite racer of all time.
Definitely! One of the Big Greats!!!
Including one Valentino Rossi!
PF Chili named his son after him. That's gotta be something.
I’m an Aussie loved watching Kevin take on Doohan and gardener.
He was very classy rider and fearless.
He was always one of my favourite riders of that era on those crazy machines
All the best Kevin schwantz.
As a Texan of the same basic age group and racer I followed Kevin very closely. People have funny ideas about we Texans, Cowboy Hats and Boots, Horses, blah blah blah. Yes, the majority of us carry a personal handgun and if you know Texas history you understand why. People seem to think we are angry, illiterate hicks however that’s just not the case. We are exactly the opposite but, we don’t like being told we “can’t” or “no” and we are Very Big on Loyalty. I personally believe it’s just an independence thing that we have in our genetics. Kevin was the perfect representative of our ROT and there will never be another. Thanks Kevin, you did us proud.
Well said
Although Edwards did a pretty good job of waving the flag too.
No one like Kevin dares to try to control a hurricane like that. He didn't need to push out the track other riders. His skills inspire generations. Beyond any limit he must go due to the lack of level from Yamaha and Honda. His wrists says it all, no one brakes like him. Even today i keep seeing his best moments, Assen, Suzuka, Salzburg, Hochenheim... Incredible what he could do with that wild beast. Thank you so much Dear Champion!!! 34 was only ONE!!!
But I'm number one.
I've been number one all month.
Racing is no good these days cause you're missing me out of it.
I can explain everything to you but guys like Kevin can't, as you heard in the video.
I knew that at the time.
Loved these days, this was my era. Kevin was my hero, Suzuki bikes through and through. Thanks guys for the upload.
RUclips is MY tube.
Those suzuki bikes should have all gone to me.
I would have appreciated them all.
In my hands, they would have been perfect each race.
I loved Kevins riding style. He was like a motocross rider on a road bike, always sat right on top of it and went in and out of corners at angles, nobody else could replicate. The man was a genius.
That's what I say about myself.
I'm still hear but most riders did a face plant into a car or something.
I get a medal 🏅 each year I'm still alive.
I'm really THAT good.
I've heard all the BS and A kissing from humans, that now I know how to destroy it in an instant.
Yes I agree . I also think Kevin stoped a little early . He definitely had more wins in him . He was so gifted.🏁👍
I only found out recently there's now a name for Kevin's riding style. They call it Goon, I assume it's bastardized short for hooligan. I remember late 90s the late great Abe had a very similar style.
I remember watching the GP live on TV, my heart pounding at every corners Kevin was taking, his Pepsi 2 stroke screaming and the nose pointing the sky…1989 was just a roller coaster of emotions for any Schwantz fan. He was and is still my hero, no one like Kevin, NO ONE. I had posters of his RGV Pepsi 34 in my room!
What an era for moto 500GP!
Thanks for posting this. Great to hear Kevin's views and recollections. For me he brought something to a race that few riders do. Every generation has their heroes but few match Kevin's unique style and panache. Great racer.
I love Kevin's quote about riding the RGV500: "Push, push, push, see God, Back Off!"
What an absolute joy of a video.. I am 55 years old now and I haven’t been on the bike for years.. I’ve never written a four stroke bike actually that’s a lie. I rode a TT 600 across Australia, but before that it was rg500 , TZR 250, rgv250, rg250 …lc250 …lc350x3 ..x7 ..and puch maxi .. what exhaust ports raise so high it never came in power lol .. oh also three, RD, 250 LCs .. also because I’m completely mad, I put the dispatch rider on a tunned 350lc in London..before sat nav .. I spent more money on two-stroke oil ..than I earned.. Soho wheelies lol .. keep up the good work. Absolutely fantastic.
Glad to know it wasn’t only me to do crazy stuff like that. I did a paper-round when I was 16 on a DT50 😂
Brilliant 🤩
I am a motorcyclist from Portugal and I had the privilege to see Kevin Schwantz live in many GP...
34 Forever
Kevin Will be riding both the 89 Pepsi and the 93 RGV in Assen next year!
Great show PetrolRevolt. Kevin's recollections are priceless. He was always my fav rider after Barry Sheene retired. Glad Kevin is still doing well and hope he has a video of all his race bikes in action. Since he lives in Texas, COTA would be an obvious choice but he mentioned Suzuka and Donington Park as his favs.
What a brilliant interview. Thanks Guys
His win in 1994 was on July 4th and I can remember feeling like it may very well be one of his last. As it turns out it was his last. It’s very fitting that it took place at Donnington Park. I am fortunate to be able to say I saw it on TV, and as an American celebrating our independence that day as Kevin carried the Stars and Stripes was quite emotional. Thanks for the memories Kevin!!
Why is it "very fitting" that his last win was in the U.K.?
@@YouCantSawSawdust kevin loved the British fans and he was a master of the Donnington Circuit winning in 1989, 1990,1991,1994.
@@xipingpooh5783 He said in the interview his favourite circuit was SUZUKA.
@@YouCantSawSawdust
1) an American wins British Grand Orix
2) an American rides around the track celebrating a victory on a British track
holding an American flag 🇺🇸
3) in the United States it’s 4th of July. The celebration of our Independence by defeating the British.
4) Schwartz won there 4 times
5) his largest fan base is in the UK 🇬🇧
6) The Suzuki GP Team base of operations was in Britain 🇬🇧
I’d say in my personal view that Is a “very fitting” last win of Kevin’s GP career. Wether or not you agree or disagree is not important.
@@xipingpooh5783 Listen to the interview.
Don't put words in his mouth.
HE said Suzuka was the most special to him.
Still my favourite racer, to this day. Flat-out from start to finish.
Seeing two grown men totally mesmerised while a "God" speaks is funny ......
😂
I saw him ride at willow springs before he was famous. He almost lapped the whole field!
Intro is badass Kevin flying around Macau GP in 1988 on the backwheel when he won!!! That course is fkng balls.
I can still vividly recall his high side coming down from Lukey Heights into the right corner at Phillip Island in 1989
Passing Rainey at Hockenheim on the last lap was maybe the greatest pass I have ever seen! Just a monster on the brakes. Beating the Honda's and Yamaha's in that era was unreal, and you should have gotten a special award just for keeping up with them. No other teammate ever did what you did. You were truly amazing sir!
Schwantz, Doohan, Rainey, Biaggi..... Watching those guys ride the Unrideables as a kid got me into riding motorcycles. Still riding them to this day. Thanks for all the memories.
Great Interview with an Extremely Humble & Classy Racer. Nice follow up after riding that ‘89 Monster of a bike
I just loved this era of GP. Not taking anything away from the young blokes of today, but BY JEEEZUS!!! these guys had balls of steel. Kevin's rides at Hockenheim were incredible! Biggest brakes in the business.
1991 dutch gp assen still gives me the chills. What a race was that, the victory lap with the american flag , the sound and smell. I will never forget it!
Enjoyed that. The Rainey / Szhwantz years, for me, haven't been bettered, or equalled, during my time as a race fan.
Brilliant interview guys loved watching #34 back in the day loved the 1993 lucky strike rgv what a machine !
.....what an interview......great......i can feel your deep respect to that handsome warrior. Next step is to arrange a personal meeting between Kevin and his 89 bike.
Please.......please.....please try that event!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for going to the trouble, of making this and the RGV500 video happen. Great content!
🙏 Ian
No one had more flash factor back then. Schwantz always went balls to the wall!
Loved that, thanks guys. I'm lucky enough to have seen all of KS's races at Donny, bought a pair of his boots at the Day of Champions and got invited to the Schwantz family BBQ, my absolute hero. Cant believe Danny got to ride his '89 bike, so jealous !!!!
Love to hear the old dogs of war talk about the battles!
Awesome interview I could listen to Kevin talk all the day. His recollection is razor sharp
Kevin was a Hero of mine too. I remember he used to push hard. If he didn’t crash he was winning or right up there. What a guy. Great to see him again. That ‘89 bike is still beautiful, it’s stunning !!
Champion, legend and a great personality. Splendid interview filled with some wonderful insights. Well done Petrol Revolt.
Listening to his comments on how light and how hard the 1989 era bikes were to ride explains why only the Aussies and Yanks could take them to the limit.
Euros and English had no idea,as they didn't grow up on dirt track like Aussies and Americans.
In latter year's when big-bang came,the Euro and U.K.mid-pack riders started to get near the podium.
They should have kept them wild and light.
I enjoyed watching the best riders.
Always my Hero.... and even though he came from an 'era' of greats.... i liked em all, steady Eddie, Rainey, Gardner, etc etc.....
I Finally get to hear my Hero of the 2 Stroke Golden Age!!!
Frickin' LEGEND!
NZ!! : )
I could listen to Kevin reminisce for hours! What a rider!
the wheelie king....was my favorite when i was young....the only thing i remeber is all his whellies....i wanted to be like him....now i have kids and not so stupid.....but wow ahat a legend
Kevin Shwantz & Suzuki BOTH LEGENDS 👍👍👍
Legend
Kevin is the legen driver for suzuki bles you mr Kevin hope you still healty god luck
I remembered he always slow at the start then start passing every driver one by one then challenging #1 spot at the end.
Legend. When the wife and I see a footballer being tripped up we always laugh and talk about the likes of Kevin losing his bike in the wet from the lead, keeping hold of the clutch whilst bouncing down the back straight at 160mph, getting back on the bike and fighting his way back to second or third with 2 or 3 broken fingers on his clutch hand. Legend
I had his race helmet. I got it at Eastern Creek Raceway, just west of Sydney. I treasured it for years but was forced to sell it to pay bills. I sold everything else so there was no way I could have kept it. Such is life. Kevin is still the bomb and the goat!
Schwantz v Rainey, Prost v Senna is what I grew up watching. I'm blessed to have watched them in my childhood.
What a great episode, cheers guys
Brand new RG500 in the crate, every two stroke fan's dream becomes reality.
Great to see this. See his eyes light up on talking about the 89 vs 93 bike.
Need more stuff like this. How about a chat with mamola, or doohan.or rainy.? And there bikes and races
Always loved Randy. Had his poster up for years.
I'm 70ish now and this interview made me think of my own favorite moments racing. I raced MX mosting in over the hill years and was dog slow yet STILL there were moments that just made me feel like a million dollars like the ONE time I got the most amazing hole shot in a race mixed with experts was a brand new rear tire and I literally wheelied through the gears all the way to the first corner and led the race for a short time DAMN that one thing made it all worth it ,,,people wonder how tail enders enjoy racing but it is the same as the front runners there is always someone you can beat there are often wonderful times, The best bart of that one day was having a few guys I did not even know find me in the pits just to say how awe struck they were with my start ,,,,damn that felt good to an older guy
I have number 34 on my bike..:)....I'm actualy Honda guy,but he's my favorite rider of all times...thank you Kevin!
Great to see Kevin still on this rock 🌎 💯🤟
Used to watch Kevin race he was my favourite to watch, he never settled for 3rd it seemed like win or crash 2nd or 3rd was never good enough. Raced for wins not points.
Schwantz on a Kanemoto Honda ? Surely that would’ve been awesome ? But I think we can all be happy with the way history worked out. Worthy of a Hollywood film, if they could be trusted not to mess it up. 😂😂
Met Kevin and his father at the bowling ally at Suzuka circuit in 1988, They were bowling in the next lane over. Both Kevin and his father were such nice folks. And the whole weekend was one of my fondest memories. Went to the track three days before the race. Met a British moto journalist and he gifted me and my buddies press passes. So got to hang out in the team pepsi pit garage and have breakfast with all the riders every morning. After all these years. I still have that pass with Kevin's autograph on it. All the riders were so unpretentious. They all seemed to be genuinely having a lot of fun. Of course as I rode the old square four Gamma while I lived in Japan. I was def a Kevin/Suzuki fan.
Saw my first superbike in 1987 GSXR 1100r bought it and put 60,000 miles on it Kevin became an instant hero of mine.
In 1990 I was choosing between TZR250 and NSR250 and he was the reason I got my first 250 bike a Suzuki with Pepsi livery and my only Suzuki.
Can't believe he doesn't have Doyle Carter's 84 fj600 in his collection!🤣
Still has all the love for Johnny K........
My wife and I were at Redgate corner at Donington for THAT incident with the flag. They’ll never know how close we came to a track invasion. Feelings were running very high.
In 92 I bought a RG125F new, because it was the closest I could have to being Kevin Schwantz. To this day, there is no other rider to compare to that time for me. A Gentleman, a Scholar and a grand judge of whiskey. I'm Irish, what ye expect. I never met the man but maybe some day?
I built the bike Kevin rode at Mallory Park in Barry Sheen's workshop in Charlwood. Unfortunately I wasn't aware the pin in the throttle required adhesive to secure it.
I first met Kevin at Donnington when he came over for the Match races. I looked after the Suzuki he rode there and had to change the gear lever and rear brake over as they were on the wrong side. Kevin mentions this in his book 'The Worlds Champion'
It was a privilege to work fir such a great rider 🙂
A real racers racer.
Still have my FREE KEVIN t-shirt that was made to support him when he was banned from COTA the first year they opened. There was an active lawsuit between him and the track owners. Kevin helped to design that track and there was a dispute. The owners finally figured out who Kevin was and ended up making him the grand Marshall of the track. They are idiots and have no clue about motorcycle racing and how popular Kevin really is. He grew up here in Paige Texas.
This is the best video I’ve seen with Kevin speaking.
I wondered why he doesn’t own his ‘89 bike, do you know?
I went to BGP in ‘91 and Kevin pulled right opposite me on the track it was amazing to see him and the bike close up!
If only KS knew how big a hero he was to me back in the day (he still is) and how many times I lost my voice cheering him on (to the dismay of everybody around me), we would be best buds❤
The legend🥇🏆👑💚❤️
There was one who was his equal JOHN KOCINSKI... if they just gave John the bike he wanted and not be treated as a 2nd teammate.
お元気そうで何よりです。Kevin Schwantzは、正義感の強い、記録より記憶に残るライダーって感じでしたね。
Theres something about Kevin that no one has in moto racing.
Everyone else looks like they r trying hard at their limit.
Kevin he looks so effortless like hes just having fun with his buddies lol.
I think hes the best ever....
I was there at Donnington with the flag 👍
The golden era! Rainey, gardner, kev, doohan, all heroes but kev was the 1 👌
I watched him in awe at road Atlanta against Wayne rainee and was hoping to meet him on the bridge at the same track. This was the beginning of Ben Spies. The guy on the bridge with me was named will.
Wow what great magnificent people.
such badass... nothing like the greatest day of 2 strokes rockets...
What a amazing intimate understanding of what it was really like so cool dude
crazy man on bike with number 34 who didn’t like him!!!!!
Europe loved those Americans.
Kevin Schwantz brought me into the Sportbike Thing ! 👍
Had the pleasure of watching him race at Donington, used to sit between McLeans and Coppice, could watch them come down through craner curves then past the spark plug then in front of us, can still smell the two stroke oil now thinking about it 😃
I would give it a like but I can’t break the magical 34 of Darren Pugh
Now i remember how mad i was on every christmans morning on that era. Santa never bring me the 34 Pepsi bike that i was enlove with...
Kevin is a great person, but it was very annoying he couldn't keep his hands calm
A class act. We need more of his kind in top level sports. And in everything, i guess.
Sure wish I woulda been into sport bikes back then instead of chicks & booze.
Did the most with inferior rides. Used to love swantzie. Guy just loved to ride and you could see it
My motorcycle hero from day 1 thanks for the memories schwantz
Oh verstehe nur sehr wenig Englisch aber ich Liebe M.G.P. Legenden auch " KEVIN SCHWANTZ " ein super Fahrer wünsche ihm ein langes gesundes Leben vielen herzlichen Dank für all die schönen Rennen über all die Jahre mit den anderen Piloten auch die Zweitackt Zeit richtige Raketen Motorsport hält jung
Kevin - incredible, unreal white hair alien won Suzuki race bike!
Great interview
🙏
Always my favourite 500 rider
Forget how young he was to be mentions he's still not even 60 yet.
Top stuff, great interview guys.
He was my hero, half the reason I bought an RGV250 when I got my licence,
Me too
americans dominated motogp in the past
Two stroke era was ❤️.
Legend Kevin Scwhants😎👍
Awesome interview, love KS!
I had a YAMAHA TZR 125 back in the early 90s when I was 17 and I can tell you I used to idolise the Magical Moto GP riders back then ..... Schwantz , Doohan , Rainey , Kocinski....... There will never be any riders like them again !
True Hall of Famers
I was at assen 96 what a guy a truly noble warrior
Great interview all round lads