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· M OTO CYCLIST is
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written .for motorcycling
enthusiasts it's ·
written fo·r me."
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-Eddie Lawson
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Name: Eddie Lawson
Occupation: Marlboro/Yamaha 500cc Grand Prix Rider
Riding History: "I started
scooting around on my Dad's
Yamaha 80 in 1965 when I was
seven years old and shortly after
that my grandfather bought me a
Kawasaki 90. My dad and grandfather are ex-racers and got me
started in dirt-track at the age of
12 on the 90. I remember seeing
a factory Kawasaki roadracer in
a shop and it scared me to death.
I wou ldn 't even sit on it because
it looked so evil. I guess I've
learned a little since then. I rode
Formula Two as an amateur for
Harry Hunt and we won a lot of .
races and set a few records. My
big break came in 1980 when I
rode Formula Two and Superbike
for Kawasaki. That developed into my current GP ride with
MarlborolYamaha."
Track record: 1986-5OOcc
Grand Prix World Champion; lst .
place Daytona 200; ISt place Superbikers. 1985-runner-up 500cc
World Championship; 1984500cc Grand Prix World Champion. 1983-4th place 500cc
World Championship; 1st place
Superbikers. 1982-AMA National Superbike Champion. 1981AMA National Formula Two
Champion. 1977-1st place Daytona 250 Novice Race.
Rid ing Pref erence: " When
I'm not racing in Europe I ride
for fun. L ride off-road at least
twice a week to stay in shape .and
PHOTO: MIKE GASPAR
PHO TO : ART FRIEDMAN
PHOTO: BLAINE COVERT
I like to ride my street bikes to
dinner or a date. Now and then
I'll take myoId flattrackers and
go slide around EI Mirage dry
lake. I must admit that no other
type of riding is exciting to me
now that I race GP bikes. A 150hp two-stroke weighing under
300 pounds has a way of making
other bikes feel tame."
that shows in the magazine.
Whether it's technical information or a race report, they make
it enjoyable and interesting to
read. For the past two years I've
written a column for MOTORCYCLIST called "Lawson's
Lines," which gives readers a
close-up view of Grand Prix racing. I think it's a good example
of how M OTOR CYCLIST caters
to true enthusiasts. M OTORCYCLIST is written for motorcycling enthusiasts-it's written
for me."
Bikes currently owned:
Yamaha RZ350; Yamaha R D400
Daytona; Yamaha RZV500R;
Kawasaki KZl000ELR.
Magazine: "I'm paid to ride
and like Yamahas, but I really
enjoy reading about anything
from scooters to V-Maxs. I read
MOTORCYCLIST from cover to
cover every month. The M OTOR CYCLIST staff is made up
of real people who know how to
mix business with pleasure and
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