born december california american professional motorcycle racing team owner american win grand prix motorcycle racing world championship time winner roberts riders racing history win grand slam representing wins mile half mile short track road race events roberts left mark motorcycle racing world championship winning rider advocate increased safety standards racing racing team owner motorcycle engine chassis dirt track based riding style changed way grand prix ridden roberts proposal create rival motorcycle championship broke increased political subsequently led improved safety standards new era sport roberts named grand prix legend early life parents alice roberts child growing rural agriculture area highway near west roberts originally interested horseback riding rode motorcycle age friend ride mini bike roberts accepted challenge experience thrilled built motorcycle father lawn engine bicycle frame roberts began career dirt track racing attending local race deciding wanted compete father purchased bike proved race bike moved powerful motorcycle roberts showed natural talent dirt track racing began winning local races race results drew attention local dealer offered sponsor roberts aboard motorcycle decision drop high school senior year pursue career motorcycle racing roberts allowed compete professionally turned day eighteenth birthday entered professional race san_francisco cow palace finishing fourth place racing history realizing roberts needed help racing career going progress introduced roberts airline pilot amateur motorcycle roberts personal manager roberts approached triumph american distributor ask possibility sponsored ride told roberts small turned american team agreed roberts factory sponsored rider age asked head american racing program world champion help guide roberts racing career marked beginning long productive relationship men ended riding career season concentrate time managing roberts efforts series encompassed events distinctive dirt track disciplines plus road racing roberts won rookie year award professional race expert class rider roberts rode victory grand national short track race roberts year battling dominant factory dirt track team aboard motorcycle making lack horsepower sheer determination finished season ranked fourth country second season expert roberts won national championship record points race series roberts natural talent riding dirt surfaces paved road circuits motorcycle felt unsettled beneath negotiating turn observing finnish rider win riding style shifted body weight inside turn roberts tried technique found helped settle motorcycle adopted style exaggerated body shift greater extent extending knee track surface new riding technique roberts began road race events performed road racing dominant motorcycle era early leader retired roberts battled lead world champion engine forced settle second place april roberts ventured europe time compete prestigious road race positive impression competing best road world finishing second traveled england team american riders compete british riding team match races conventional wisdom time american riders competed dirt track races race asphalt level british riders specialized road racing events roberts notions winning races finishing second remaining races roberts individual points scorer event points british rider roberts returned compete grand national championship won national road race road atlanta june august roberts won race complete grand slam victories different events calendar claimed second consecutive championship winning races surpassing points record scoring points race series collecting points races roberts entered world championship road racing event winning pole position finishing dutch roberts continued road racing successes winning races races having won national championship roberts faced increasingly difficult battle dirt track races continued improve dirt struggled maintain pace roberts bike lack power fearless determined riding style battled factory rider season mechanical hampered title defense leading mechanical problems yielded victory teammate roberts battled 17th place lead broken ended race roberts fearless riding style highlighted desperate effort scott reach points chase stroke road racing engine inside dirt track frame bike considered excessive horsepower roberts came stroke overtook factory duo lap famous wins american dirt track racing history afterward roberts famously quoted saying don pay ride thing despite time season roberts lost crown finishing second national championship roberts won continued experience mechanical horsepower deficit mile half mile dirt track events leading tire troubles forced lengthy pit stop went win race dropped national championship claimed title team returned england april winning races races roberts travelled italy raced leaving doubt capable competing international level winning legs setting new track record returned united_states compete grand national championship won road races pavement portion series road race event roberts started race pack passed entire field laps win race despite contention season roberts unable win dirt track events eventually finished year fourth place american world champion apparent develop dirt track motorcycle capable competing dominant dirt track team american offered send roberts europe compete world championship grand prix road racing series act mentor crew chief roberts secured financial backing tire company team planned compete world championship formula series order practice time learn tracks main focus class considered premier class time main competition world championship come rider winner previous titles roberts said initially indifferent competing europe read labeled threat mind compete observers gave roberts chance winning championship citing reasoning season learn european circuits motorcycle technology late 1970s featured engines power excess frames tires day accommodate roberts riding style bred dirt tracks america road racing prior arrival europe riders focused attaining high entry speeds corners leaving braking possible moment carving graceful arcs corners wheels line roberts opposite braking early quickly applying throttle resulted rear tire breaking traction spinning resulting tire spin caused motorcycle shake continually lost regained traction creating brutal violent riding style seen europe riding style reminiscent dirt track riding sliding rear tire method steer motorcycle corner early application throttle able attain speed faster competitors season started roberts winning dominating fashion near misses forced retire leading event roberts entire field route victory won rain shortened race second highest individual scorer races world championship chase start roberts season opening round venezuela roberts won grand prix claimed victory roberts suffered mechanical failure starting line second round spanish grand prix roberts leading race seconds throttle stuck forcing settle second place fellow american roberts won grand prix win austria quickly followed victories france italy second place finishes netherlands belgium swedish grand prix roberts crashed practice race sustaining concussion thumb injury shaken accident better seventh place race come virus round string podium finishes victory swedish grand prix combined roberts failure score points allowed close points gap championship contenders arrived england points separating race ended controversy torrential rains race pit stops tire changes roberts created confusion official eventually roberts declared winner awarded place stop tire change final race season miles long germany roberts finished place ahead fourth place claim world championship american rider grand prix road racing history scored victories finish second formula world championship won races finish fourth world championship rebel leader season began roberts suffered career threatening injuries pre season crash testing motorcycle japan injuries caused miss season opening grand prix venezuela completed impressive recovery winning second round austria followed second place germany victory italy controversy surrounded roberts spanish race organisers knowing roberts race maintain points lead refused pay starting money guaranteed regulations angered roberts proceeded win race refused accept winner trophy initially suspended championship points leader actions suspension later reduced probation controversy ensued belgian grand prix spa circuit circuit paved days race creating track felt unsafe diesel fuel surface roberts new championship points leader instigated riders revolt refused race responded roberts ferrari later reduced probation event highlighted animosity roberts concerning track safety roberts irritated began talking press forming rival racing series compete monopoly series moved britain roberts involved closest races history roberts battle british grand prix cited greatest races 1970s minutes start race roberts blew seal sprayed bike oil crew managed replace seal time roberts went starting line gloves coated oil causing hand slip throttle race race began roberts dutch rider breaking away rest field riders eventually fell roberts continued battle lead event featured numerous lead changes lap race roberts winning ahead narrow margin tenths second place finish season ending french grand prix crash main championship rival ferrari secured second consecutive world championship december roberts good threats world championship riders released letter press announcing intention break away create rival race series called world series roberts arrived grand prix scene motorcycle competing little prize money venues finland featured railroad crossings hay wrapped telephone poles reigning world champion thirteen riders given month merely threatening strike roberts adopted stance race promoters challenging previously accepted poor treatment motorcycle day accustomed receiving competing series failed difficulties securing venues forced riders demands seriously changes safety new rules passed increasing prize money substantially subsequent years safety regulations imposed race organizers world championship february roberts remarkable return races season opening short track events held evenings year away dirt track competitions roberts won race tie career record victories followed evening place houston short track national returning england races roberts individual points scorer led american team victory british grand prix season factory team roberts facto factory racing team season got underway months late cancellation austrian rounds replaced rider dissatisfied efforts turned team roberts won races team appeared disarray race making things difficult roberts roberts suffered tire faulty rear shock netherlands forcing pull race main championship rivals suffered setbacks missing races injuries suffering mechanical riders went win races roberts built sufficient point lead hold clinch consecutive world championship reversal fortune introduced new square cylinder bike similar roberts raced second place finish non championship race roberts bike suspension failure grand prix season opener austria rebounded win races germany italy roberts title hopes suffered setback brake pads installed incorrectly causing wheel lock starting line ending race started came score second place belgium struck bad case food poisoning forced miss narrowly lost tenths second ending season seventh place finland retirement sweden team riders battled final race season italian claimed championship total grand prix victories finishing second roberts place roberts switched tires season pulled motorcycle racing new competition arrived entered new stroke ridden defending champion world champion newcomer roberts won season opening round argentina old square switched new engined bike came austrian sat riders race unsafe track conditions roberts won spanish grand prix ahead scored second place netherlands things come roberts leading tires lost grip settle fourth place went win grand prix roberts injured knee finger british grand prix miss swedish round world championship claimed total victories roberts fell fourth place end season roberts won sixteen races double contemporaries roberts versus roberts announced season final year grand prix competition team manager unable agree contract rider champion brought roberts new teammate battle championship roberts considered greatest seasons motorcycle history duel roberts began season having problems rear suspension started strongly winning races seven roberts leading second race france split expansion chamber causing lose power won roberts falling fourth place round roberts crashed leading laps finish roberts came win finished second spain race called toughest career things began roberts way austrian roberts won suffered failure grand prix roberts failed start immediately charged early lead leaving roberts fight field finish fourth place roberts went race winning streak victories netherlands belgium england stayed close place second place finishes championship moved penultimate round holding point lead roberts roberts led going lap race heading straight placed right roberts reached second corner ninety degree right riders applied brakes came roberts managed inside exited corner riders ran wide track dirt able track power crossing finish line ahead roberts crucial victory roberts considered pass dangerous exchanged angry words podium roberts win final round san grand prix finishing better place order roberts win fourth world championship fitting end great career roberts won grand prix race able secure second place claim world championship riders dominated season claiming victories race series roberts continued ride selected events march battled win second consecutive win overall july roberts won leg finished second second leg declared winner based aggregate times september appeared dirt track race riding prepared failed final july roberts won pole position prestigious endurance race held japan teamed duo leading race final hour mechanical problems dropped seventeenth place roberts returned compete hours time teaming american qualified second failed finish race career statistics year professional racing career roberts won grand national championships world championships including grand prix road races won times time winner second rider accomplish winning events race team manager owner racing career ended roberts briefly considered auto racing career deciding field grand prix team entered team world championship riders moved world championship riders returning united_states compete championship joined team finishing place inaugural season improving second place roberts secured financial support cigarette company team official factory racing team won world championships making roberts successful team manager racing time went win consecutive world championships roberts team left paralyzed crash italian grand prix roberts team continued racing main rider struggled period dominated rider roberts stunned racing world left years start motorcycle company roberts grown weary battling direction felt team needed pursue basing new company england advantage formula industry roberts built cylinder stroke engine engineering assistance decided advantage rules allowing lighter weights cylinder observing agility handling advantage season unfortunately time motorcycle developed tire technology improved point advantage cylinder motorcycle manage win pole position rider taking qualifying position australian new breed stroke introduction class roberts team developed cylinder bike called team originally funded malaysia middle season apparent roberts team able field engine capable competing dominant japanese factories roberts turned factory provide engines season races abruptly withdrew support eve forcing team miss races stepped help roberts team season providing cylinder engines robert son rode team roberts bike sixth place championship including podium results season saw introduction new engine formula stroke engines roberts secure engines team roberts race bike results hoped funding team faded season roberts pulled competition lack sponsorship legacy roberts riding style forced motorcycle rear wheel break traction steer corner essentially riding paved surfaces dirt tracks changed way grand prix ridden world championship won rider dirt track racing background roberts method hanging knee extended forced use tape knee pads eventually led introduction purpose built knee motorcycle road today battles establishment eventually led adoption safety standards grand prix race organizers riders challenge way treated competitors helped improve prize money sport roberts planned rival race series forced change way dealt motorcycle career roberts strong proponent raising image motorcycle racing general public riding career point returning united_states mid season break grand prix calendar race way increase profile event order gain grand prix status race eventually attained grand prix status roberts took role promoter providing financial backing united states grand prix 1990s grand prix racing faced diminishing numbers competitors increasing costs roberts demanded provide engines teams order bolster number roberts son won world championship making father son duo won title ironically roberts stated considers dirt heart took road racing necessary rider going compete grand national championship said preferred remain united_states compete grand national championship manufacturer able construct dirt track capable competing honors inducted inducted inducted named grand prix legend results key races bold indicate pole position races indicate fastest lap
Kenny Roberts