Eddie Lawson
Date of Birth - March 11th 1958
Introduction
Like Kenny Roberts, an American
graduate of the dirt tracks, Eddie Lawson was born
in 1958 and from an early age was very much a motorcycle
star in the making. He first lept to fame by winning
thr 250cc race in 1979 on a Yamaha
His wins in the US Superbike Championship
in 1981 and 1982 were commemorated by the much-prized
Eddie Lawson Kawasaki Z1100R replica. Coming at
such an early stage in his career this is a lasting
testament to the impact he made in American domestic
racing during the early 1980s.
Suceeding the 'King' Kenny Roberts
as the number one rider at Team Marlboro Yamaha
was probably the hardest act in racing to follow.
But Lawson's great drive and telent saw him through.
His records speaks for itself, winning the all-important
500cc world championship in 1984, 1986 and 1988.
His forth grand prix crown in 1989 for Rothmans
Honda made Lawson the only rider to win the world
500cc title in consecutive seasons on different
machines.
He signed for the Italian Cagiva
team in 1990 for one of the biggest fees ever seen
in bike sport. The Californian's win for the Italian
factory at the Hungarian 500cc GP in 1991 was the
team's first GP victory in 10 years. Factory boss
Claudio Castiglioni was so pleased that he promptly
gave Lawson a Ferarri Testarossa.
Eddie Lawson retired from GP motorcycle
racing at the end of 1992, to pursue a new career
in American Indy Lights' cars.
- Lawson's first GP race was in 1983, his first
pole position was in 1984, his first podium was
in 1983 and his first win was in 1984
- 1984 AMA Pro Athlete of the Year. 1984 AMA Pro
Athlete of the Year
- The most successful American GP rider ever
- Lawson earned 78 podium finishes in his GP career!
31 of these were victories, in the most competitive
era of GP racing against the likes of Roberts, Spencer,
Rainey, Mamola, Doohan, Gardner and Schwantz History......in
detail
Stats
Race Stats
- Debut - 1981 (250 cc), 1983 (500 cc)
- 500cc Grand Prix starts - 134
- 500cc Grand Prix victories - 31, 23% win rate
- 500cc Grand Prix podiums - 76
- 500cc World Championships - 4, 1984, 86, 88 and
89
- Ridden for - Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda and Cagiva
- Pole position - N/A
- Fastest Laps - N/A
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