Biking Legends: Kenny Roberts

It shouldn’t have been possible. Nobody had ever won the 500cc Grand Prix world championship – the forerunner of today’s MotoGP – in their rookie year.

At least not until Kenny Roberts arrived in Europe, fresh from the dirt tracks of America. Already a two-time AMA Grand
National champion when he came to Europe to contest his first Grand Prix season in 1978, Roberts perfected a new riding technique never seen before in Europe.

Using the awesome power of his Yamaha YZR500 to spin the rear tyre, he forced the bike to slide through the apex of a corner to get it turned quicker and back on the power earlier than his European rivals.

He also hung off the bike more, his knee skimming the tarmac, while European riders favoured a more traditional upright style.

Consequently, in his debut season, Roberts became the first American rider to win the 500cc world championship – and he took the crown from the most famous racer on the planet – Barry Sheene.

“It’s kind of strange,” recalls Kenny over the phone from Arizona.

“I kind of won it and went, ‘Well, whatever, OK that’s what I came here for.’ To me it wasn’t a huge deal. After I won in ’78, I said, ‘OK, now I’ve got to do it again.’

Self-satisfaction was there, but that was it….