‘We started touching the ground with our elbows, but he was the first to touch with his knee’ – Aleix Espargaró on Kenny Roberts
As we approach the GP of the Americas, Aleix Espargaró recalled some of the American legends who have passed through the MotoGP world championship.
Speaking to the official MotoGP website, the Spanish rider started with the name that is most iconic for many two-wheeled enthusiasts, Kenny Roberts and his revolutionary riding style for the time.
– ‘ As the oldest rider on the MotoGP grid, I’d like to talk about the American MotoGP stars of the past and pay tribute to them,’ he continued – ‘This means that all the Americans who came after him had him as their idol. In my day, we started to touch the ground with our elbows, but he was the first to touch it with his knee, so yes, he changed the style of riding a lot. What I remember most about him is the design of his helmets.
Aleix went on to list the American legends: ‘Eddie Lawson, he’s one of the most famous libraries from my point of view, one of the most beautiful, I don’t remember his riding or his fights, I think he was too young.
Kevin Schwantz was the next name mentioned by the Aprilia Racing rider.
– ‘I had the chance to meet him when he was at Suzuki, we spent a lot of time together; he’s a very nice and passionate guy. He was a completely different rider, he was the crazy one on the grid. His driving style is still super mythical and famous’
“KING” KENNY ROBERTS ANNOUNCED AS GRAND MARSHAL OF THE 19TH ANNUAL BARBER VINTAGE FESTIVAL
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (April 12, 2024) — In the world of motorcycle racing, one name stands above the rest: Kenny Roberts Sr.
Drawing on his innovative riding style and trailblazing personality, Roberts—christened the “King” for his dominating on-track performances and exceptional contributions to the sport in general—won back-to-back AMA Grand National Championships and three consecutive FIM 500cc Grand Prix World Road Racing Championships.
Roberts’ pioneering achievements as a racer, a team owner, an event organizer, a constructor, and a powerful advocate for advancing rider safety will be celebrated October 11-13, when the California native serves as the Grand Marshal of the 19th annual Barber Vintage Festival at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. This prestigious honor is a testament to Roberts’ enduring impact on motorcycling and his status as an icon of the industry.
For nearly two decades, the Barber Vintage Festival has extolled the virtues of classic and vintage motorcycling. Many of the great variety of historic machines that will be displayed during the weekend on the meticulously maintained 880-acre grounds and will lap the 2.38-mile, 16-turn road course were produced during the era in which Roberts, 72, rose to the top of his field. More than 85,000 people attended the 2023 event, with 2024 promising to set new records.
“We are thrilled to have Kenny Roberts as the Grand Marshal of this year’s Barber Vintage Festival,” said Brian Case, Executive Director of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. “Kenny not only delivered world-class performances on the racetrack during his competition days, but he is directly responsible for improving rider safety, both for his fellow competitors and for those who follow in his wheel tracks for many years to come.”
One of the riders who benefited directly from Roberts’ expertise is his oldest son, 2000 500cc World Champion Kenny Roberts Jr. In the 75-year history of Grand Prix motorcycle road racing, Roberts and Roberts Jr. are the only father-and-son duo to win the premier-class title. Roberts Jr., an eight-time GP race-winner, was named a “MotoGP Legend” in 2017. He will join his father at the Barber Vintage Festival.
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