SUPERBIKE
KEVIN CAMERON AND JOHN OWENS DOCUMENT EARLY YEARS OF AMA SUPERBIKE RACING IN NEWLY PUBLISHED BOOK
ARLINGTON, Mass. — Superbike racing is a global business built on decades of dedicated partnerships among manufacturers, promoters and teams resulting in successful domestic and international championships. In the mid-1970s, however, this popular category of production-based four-stroke competition was in its infancy.
In “Superbike: An Illustrated Early History,” renowned technical writer Kevin Cameron and acclaimed photographer John Owens chronicle the transition from the twin-cylinder BMWs, Ducatis and Moto Guzzis set against wobbling and weaving first-generation Japanese fours to a second wave of more raceworthy machines that ultimately led to the sportbike revolution.
Owens shot the black-and-white photographs published in this beautifully designed and produced 192-page hardcover book at five of the tracks that dotted the U.S. motorcycle road-racing landscape at the time: Daytona International Speedway, Bryar Motorsports Park, Laguna Seca Raceway, Pocono International Raceway and Road America.
Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey and Freddie Spencer—three Americans who went on to win a combined 10 250cc and 500cc Grand Prix world titles—figured prominently in the “sit-up” era of AMA Superbike. Throughout the book, Cameron and Owens provide insights and images of riders, crew members and machines difficult to replicate in today’s veiled paddocks.
“The desire to go fast, brake, turn and accelerate isn’t that complicated,” Cameron writes in the opening pages. Yet this book clearly illustrates and uniquely explains the challenges that all involved—from the manufacturers, to the teams and, ultimately, to the riders—faced in their attempts to achieve those goals.
“In any given era, the dominant rider is the person who has most imaginatively exploited the new possibilities presented by constantly evolving chassis, suspension and tires.” —Kevin Cameron
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Kevin Cameron is a former tuner specializing in racing two-strokes and is widely recognized for his ability to reduce deeply technical subjects to their elemental form. Kevin has written for numerous publications. He has also authored several books on engineering and performance.
John Owens has photographed automotive and motorcycle competitions since 1975. John has covered a range of events in the U.S., Europe and Japan, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500, as well as the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy races.
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