American motorcycle racers

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 105. Chapters: Evel Knievel, Steve McQueen, Kenny Roberts, Colin Edwards, Nicky Hayden, Kenny Roberts, Jr., Ben Spies, John Kocinski, Travis Pastrana, Kevin Schwantz, Roger Lee Hayden, John Hopkins, Freddie Spencer, Randy Mamola, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Elena Myers, Tommy Hayden, Jeff Ward, Ben Bostrom, Josh Hayes, Ricky Carmichael, Peter Lenz, James Stewart, Jr., Mike Alessi, Carey Hart, Mike Baldwin, Erik Buell, Billy Gray, Kevin Windham, Ryan Dungey, Pat Hennen, Ryan Villopoto, Roland Sands, Doug Polen, Dick Mann, Steve Baker, Kenny Noyes, Terry Vance, Swede Savage, Eric Bostrom, David Kamo, Jake DeRosier, Scott Russell, Doug Henry, Keith Code, Doug Chandler, Jeremy McGrath, Ralph Hepburn, Ricky Johnson, Erwin Baker, Ray Weishaar, Paul Goldsmith, Bob Hannah, Joe Weatherly, Brian Deegan, Chris Carr, Rollie Free, David Bailey, Larry Desmedt, Brad Lackey, Kurtis Roberts, Bubba Blackwell, Larry Roeseler, Jake Zemke, Tammy Jo Kirk, Gary Jones, Josh Herrin, Donny Schmit, Angelle Sampey, Bubba Shobert, Ashley Fiolek, Bob Correll, Eddie Hasha, Wes Cooley, Mark Miller, Jonah Street, Mike Metzger, Danny LaPorte, Marty Smith, Malcolm Smith, Jimmy Weinert, Mike LaRocco, Tim Ferry, Jim Pomeroy, Leighton Lillie, Mike Lafferty, Joe Leonard, Danny Chandler, Jerry Smith, David Aldana, Tony DiStefano, Jason Lawrence, Jeff Emig, Chuck Sun, Cal Rayborn, Fred Merkel, Kenny Coolbeth, Dick Burleson, J.N. Roberts, Gary Nixon, Bruce Ogilvie, Gene Walker, Cook Neilson, Jeff Stanton, John Dowd, Dave Campos, Marty Tripes, Nate Adams, Bob Gill, Mert Lawwill, Kent Howerton, Gene Romero, Broc Glover, Ron Grant, Josh Hansen, Billy Uhl, Ed Krawiec, Chris Blais, Andrew Hines, Bobby Hill, Jimmy Button, Orie Steele, Scott Parker, Trampas Parker, Mark Barnett, Heath Voss, Mike Kiedrowski, Jay Springsteen, Daryl Ecklund, Mike Brown, Buddy Parriott, Ron Bishop, Ed Kretz, Shawn Higbee, Carl Cranke, J. D. Beach, Mike Jones, Bobby Moore, Nichole Cheza. Excerpt: Kenneth Leroy Roberts (born December 31, 1951) in Modesto, California) is a former motorcycle racer and racing team owner. In 1978, he became the first American to win a Grand Prix motorcycle racing Championship. He was also a two-time winner of the A.M.A. Grand National Championship. Roberts is one of only four riders in American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) racing history to win the AMA Grand Slam, representing Grand National wins at a mile, half-mile, short-track, TT Steeplechase and road race events. Roberts left his mark on Grand Prix motorcycle racing as a world championship winning rider, an advocate for increased safety standards in racing, and as a racing team owner and constructor. His dirt track-based riding style changed the way Grand Prix motorcycles were ridden. Roberts' proposal to create a rival motorcycle championship in 1979 broke the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) hegemony and increased the political clout of Grand Prix racers, which subsequently led to improved safety standards and a new era of professionalism in the sport. In 2000, Roberts was named a Grand Prix Legend by the FIM As a child growing up in Modesto, Roberts was originally interested in horseback riding. He rode his first motorcycle at the age of 12 when a friend dared him to ride a mini bike. Roberts accepted the challenge and the experience thrilled him. He built his own motorcycle by attaching his father's lawn mower engine to a bicycle frame. Roberts began his career in dirt track r...