Mike Baldwin (motorcyclist)

Mike Baldwin
Nationality	American
Motorcycle racing career statistics Grand Prix motorcycle racing Active years 1979, 1981, 1985 - 1988 First race 1979 500cc Austrian Grand Prix Last race 1988 500cc British Grand Prix Team(s) Yamaha Championships 0 Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 37 0 6 1 1 133

Mike Baldwin (born January 15, 1955, in Pasadena, California) is an American former professional motorcycle road racer. He was a top contender in AMA Superbike racing during the 1980s who also competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing. Baldwin was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2001. ^[1]

Baldwin led the American team to an upset win over the favored British team when he was the highest points scorer at the 1979 Transatlantic Trophy match races. ^[2] The Transatlantic Trophy match races pitted the best British riders against the top American road racers on 750cc motorcycles in a six-race series in England. Baldwin won five AMA Formula 1 titles as well as becoming the first rider to win three Suzuka 8 Hours races. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

His best finish in the 500cc world championships was a fourth place in the 1986 season while racing for the Kenny Roberts-Yamaha team. ^[6] Baldwin seemed poised to become one of the top American road racers, but injuries curtailed his career. He rode a Bimota at the WSBK Championship in 1989, scoring a podium finish in France

In 2001, he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. ^[1]

Grand Prix career statistics

Points system from 1969 to 1987:

Position	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Points	15	12	10	8	6	5	4	3	2	1

Points system from 1988 to 1992:

Position	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Points	20	17	15	13	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Class	Team	Machine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Points	Rank	Wins
1979	500cc	Zago-Suzuki	RG500	VEN -	AUT 14	GER 10	NAT 5	ESP 3	YUG -	NED -	BEL -	SWE -	FIN -	GBR -	FRA -				17	13th	0
1981	500cc	Suzuki	RG500	AUT -	GER -	NAT -	FRA NC	YUG -	NED -	BEL -	RSM -	GBR -	FIN -	SWE -					0	-	0
1985	500cc	Michael Baldwin Racing	NS500	RSA 9	ESP 7	GER NC	NAT 11	AUT 7	YUG -	NED NC	BEL 11	FRA 10	GBR -	SWE 7	RSM 8				18	11th	0
1986	500cc	Lucky Strike Yamaha	YZR500	ESP 3	NAT 3	GER 3	AUT 5	YUG 5	NED 3	BEL NC	FRA 4	GBR 18	SWE 3	RSM 4					78	4th	0
1987	500cc	Lucky Strike Yamaha	YZR500	JPN NC	ESP NC	GER -	NAT -	AUT -	YUG -	NED -	FRA -	GBR -	SWE -	CZE -	RSM -	POR NC	BRA 10	ARG 6	6	18th	0
1988	500cc	Katayama Racing Team	RS500	JPN -	USA 10	ESP NC	EXP -	NAT -	GER -	AUT -	NED -	BEL 20	YUG 14	FRA 13	GBR 13	SWE -	CZE -	BRA -	14	19th	0

References

1. "Mike Baldwin at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
2. Assoc, American Motorcyclist (July 1979). "Underdog Yanks Blitz British" . Retrieved 2 March 2016.
3. "1978 Suzuka 8 Hours results at Moto Racing Japan". Archived from the original on 2017-10-08. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
4. "1981 Suzuka 8 Hours results at Moto Racing Japan". Archived from the original on 2017-12-10. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
5. "1984 Suzuka 8 Hours results at Moto Racing Japan". Archived from the original on 2016-03-15. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
6. Mike Baldwin career statistics at MotoGP.com

External links

• Motorcycle Hall of Fame