CN
III ARCHIVES
BY LARRY LAWRENCE
F
or Kenny Roberts Jr. his racing days were
relatively simple.
"I had a training schedule every day and I
raced," he said. "For the most part I had people
taking care of my day-to-day life. Life's more com-
plicated today."
That is the confession of the former 500cc
Grand Prix World Champion. Take it from Roberts,
post-racing life can often move just as fast and
have even more challenges than their days of be-
ing a world-class racer.
Roberts Jr. was honored during the MotoGP
weekend at the Circuit of the Americas as the
newest Legend in the MotoGP World Champi-
onship Hall of Fame. On hand for his induction
was his family, including legendary father Kenny
Roberts. Junior made history with his title victory
in 2000, becoming half of the only father and son
duo to both win 500cc World Championships.
Coming back to be honored was a bit surreal
for Roberts.
"I haven't been up here for a long time," he
said. "This is an extremely special moment and
I didn't write a speech or anything because I
wanted the raw emotion of the day, with my
dad and Carmelo up here. Now, being able to
celebrate here with my wife Rochelle and our
kids, her family, some of my family and friends,
my dad…words don't help because you can't
describe it. As a kid you say 'I have this dream to
do this one day' but then maybe it doesn't work
out or the right people aren't there that you want
to be there when something like this finally hap-
pens, in 20 or 25 years."
As a racer Roberts said his single focus was
to train and to do what he had to do to improve
A LIFE MORE COMPLICATED
P132
Kenny Roberts Jr.
won the 500cc
World Championship
in 2000.
