Mike Baldwin (motorcyclist)

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]

Mike Baldwin
NationalityAmerican
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years1979, 1981, 1985 - 1988
First race1979 500cc Austrian Grand Prix
Last race1988 500cc British Grand Prix
Team(s)Yamaha
Championships0
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
37 0 6 1 1 133

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 Kool 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
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