For other people named Kenny Roberts, see Kenny Roberts (disambiguation).
Kenny Roberts
Roberts in 1975
Nationality
American
Born
(1951-12-31) December 31, 1951 (age 72) Modesto, California
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years
1974, 1978 – 1983
First race
1974 250 cc Dutch TT
Last race
1983 500 cc San Marino Grand Prix
First win
1978 250cc Venezuelan Grand Prix
Last win
1983 500 cc San Marino Grand Prix
Team(s)
Yamaha
Championships
500 cc – 1978, 1979, 1980
Starts
Wins
Podiums
Poles
F. laps
Points
60
24
44
22
27
658
Kenneth Leroy Roberts (born December 31, 1951) is an American former professional motorcycle racer and racing team owner. In 1978, he became the first American to win a Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championship.[1][2] 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.[2][3]
Roberts left his mark on Grand Prix motorcycle racing as a world championship winning rider, a safety advocate, a racing team owner, and as a motorcycle engine and chassis constructor. His dirt track-based riding style changed the way Grand Prix motorcycles were ridden.[1] 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.[4] In 2000, Roberts was named a Grand Prix Legend by the FIM.[5] He is also the father of 2000 Grand Prix world champion Kenny Roberts Jr.
^ abDennis, Noyes; Scott, Michael (1999), Motocourse: 50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix, Hazleton Publishing Ltd, ISBN 1-874557-83-7
^ ab"Kenny Roberts at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
^Amick, Bill (January 1975). "A Man For All Season". American Motorcyclist. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
^"The Best Ever--Super Seventies". superbikeplanet.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
^"MotoGP Legends". motogp.com. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
2000, Roberts was named a Grand Prix Legend by the FIM. He is also the father of 2000 Grand Prix world champion KennyRoberts Jr. KennyRoberts was born...
KennyRobertsKennyRoberts (swimmer) (born 1978), Seychellois swimmer Ken Roberts (author) (born 1946), Canadian children's writer Kenneth Roberts (author)...
RobertKenny may refer to: Robert W. Kenny (1901–1976), Attorney General of California Robert S. Kenny (1905–1993), member of the Communist Party of Canada...
Team Roberts KR211V was a racing motorcycle developed by KennyRoberts' MotoGP team, Team Roberts, and uses the 990cc V5 engine from the Honda RC211V bike...
of three-time 500cc World Champion KennyRoberts, and the younger brother of 2000 500cc World Champion KennyRoberts, Jr. He has raced in most major US...
in yellow and black (KennyRoberts Special) and a metallic red, white, and blue model with different graphics and no KennyRoberts signature on the upper...
the British mainland. 1978: KennyRoberts (Yamaha) wins the 500cc class, the first American to do so. 1979: KennyRoberts leads a rider revolt by threatening...
The KR212V is a racing motorcycle developed by KennyRoberts' MotoGP team, Team Roberts, and uses the customer 800 cc V4 engine from the Honda RC212V bike...
racer, KennyRoberts. Roberts twice relegated Sheene to second place in two heat races at Mallory Park before Sheene was able to win over Roberts in the...
player Kenny Price (1931–1987), American country music singer-songwriter KennyRoberts, former motorcycle racer Kenny Robinson, multiple people Kenny Rogers...
racing season Previous 1999 Next 2001 2000 World Champions 500cc – KennyRoberts Jr. (Suzuki) 250cc – Olivier Jacque (Yamaha) 125cc – Roberto Locatelli...
dominated by Honda's Freddie Spencer and Yamaha's KennyRoberts. While Spencer had the new Honda NS500 and Roberts had a new YZR500 with a V4 engine, Mamola soldiered...
1995 and Niall Mackenzie. KennyRoberts Jr was another who was successful on the RGV. After finishing second in 1999, Roberts became Suzuki's last 500...
factory-supported team in the 500 cc class for the previous two years, with KennyRoberts and Giacomo Agostini having run their own works supported teams before...
Nakano Takes 250 GP". March 19, 2000. "KennyRoberts on Pole for Malaysian Grand Prix". April 1, 2000. "Roberts Victorious in Rain-Interrupted Malaysian...
to be named from the acronym of a famous American motorcycle racer, KennyRoberts because Modenas had once built some racing motorcycles for Modenas KR...
his Yamaha teammate, KennyRoberts. Their grueling pace proved too much for their tires and on the 33rd of the 52 laps Roberts slowed with a worn rear...
was brought in as KennyRoberts' new teammate, both competing with the OW70 YZR500 with a V4 engine. Before the season began, Roberts announced that the...
Netherlands aboard an Aprilia. In 2002 and 2003, McWilliams rode for KennyRoberts' Team KR in MotoGP aboard the Proton KR bike. In a surprising performance...
configurations. The RZV500 was one of the first "repli-racers", a near copy of KennyRoberts competition GP bike, it featured a liquid-cooled two-stroke motor of...
4-cylinder engines. The KR3 was built by Modenas for Team Roberts (managed by KennyRoberts) Motorcycle Grand Prix team from 1997 to 2001 before taken...
YZR500 was ridden by championship winners Giacomo Agostini (1975), KennyRoberts (1978, 1979, 1980), Eddie Lawson (1984, 1986, 1988) and Wayne Rainey...
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