“That night was a memorable event for motorcycle fans the world over,” said Bob Starr, General Manager of Communications for Yamaha Motor Corporation. “Kenny’s accomplishments over the years played a major role in the basis of what Yamaha’s performance image is today. This will be a great tribute to a great man and his accomplishment 34 years ago will live on forever in the history of motorcycling.”
Now aged 57, Roberts will take the Yamaha TZ-750 powered dirt tracker again for several hot laps, between the final Pro and Expert Main races on August 29, motorcycle-usa.com reported.
“I remember that night very well. You could hear that bike screaming no matter where he was on the track with Kenny hanging on for the ride of his life,” said Mike Kidd, Director of AMA Pro Flat Track. “Running about mid-pack early in the race, Kenny pulled up alongside me down the front straight…then he shifted gears…I never saw him again.”
Known as the King, Kenny Roberts is seen by many as one of the first riders to use his knee to balance the bike on the track while cornering and the first to use the throttle steering technique, which translates to using the engine power to spin the rear tire exiting bends so that the bike is steered easier.
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