Clockwise from upper left: Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Kenny Roberts Jr., Kevin Schwantz, and Freddie Spencer.
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All six living American 500cc Grand Prix world champions will ride exhibition laps at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Aug. 14 and 15, the first time the group has been on the same racetrack in nearly two decades.
Kenny Roberts, Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz, and Kenny Roberts Jr. headline the motorcycle program at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Laps run at 3:45 p.m. Friday and 2:05 p.m. Saturday. The six will sign autographs Saturday from 10 to 10:40 a.m. and take the paddock stage from 3:15 to 3:55 p.m.
Kenny Roberts
Between them, the six won 14 of the 23 500cc world titles contested from 1978 through 2000. All six raced here, and Rainey won the U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca three straight years, 1989 through 1991. The organizers say it is the first time in the Reunion’s 52 years that motorcycles carry a headline role.
“To have these six world champions together at Laguna Seca, riding the motorcycles that made them legends, is something fans will remember for a very long time,” said Bruce Canepa of Friends of Laguna Seca.
THE AMERICAN 500cc WORLD CHAMPIONS
Kenny Roberts, the first American to win the 500cc title, took three consecutive titles from 1978. He came to road racing from dirt track with AMA Grand National titles in 1973 and 1974, and retired with 22 premier-class wins and three Daytona 200 victories. He later ran his own Grand Prix team and guided Rainey to three championships.
Freddie Spencer won the 1983 title at 21, then in 1985 took the 250cc and 500cc championships in the same season. No one else has done it. He scored 27 Grand Prix wins.
Eddie Lawson won titles in 1984, 1986, 1988, and 1989. Moving from Yamaha to Honda for 1989 made him the first rider to win back-to-back championships on different brands. He also won two AMA Superbike titles, two Daytona 200s, and the 1990 Suzuka 8 Hours.
Wayne Rainey won 24 premier-class races and three straight titles from 1990 through 1992, after taking AMA Superbike championships in 1983 and 1987. A crash at the 1993 Italian Grand Prix left him paralyzed. Rainey later co-founded MotoAmerica, which took over U.S. road racing in 2015.
Kevin Schwantz won the 1993 title and 25 races for Suzuki. The Texan’s fearless style and his rivalry with Rainey defined the era, and the FIM retired his #34.
Kenny Roberts Jr. won four races in 2000 to take the title for Suzuki, ending Honda’s six-year hold on the championship. It also made Kenny and Kenny Jr. the only father and son to win premier-class titles.
The 2026 Harley-Davidson Deadwood is the newest cruiser in the Softail lineup, and it arrives with a familiar recipe. The Motor Company took the Heritage Classic, lowered the rear end, chopped the windshield, fitted a solo seat, and painted nearly everything Denim Black. The name comes from the Black Hills town with an outlaw history of its own and a strong connection to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Don Williams goes riding and discovers what the 2026 Harley-Davidson Deadwood is all about.
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Speaking of rallies, here’s one you absolutely cannot miss—yes, we’re rapidly approaching the 34th Annual Biketoberfest Rally in Daytona Beach, sunny Florida.Biketoberfest this year runs October 15th through the 18th. We take a few minutes to chat with Lori Campbell-Baker and Brian Bentley from the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. Biketoberfest is all about the beautiful Florida weather, live music, the industry’s top vendors, bike shows, and motorcycle racing at Daytona International Speedway. And don’t forget, there are miles of spectacular rides along the famous A1A, the historic Main Street and the Ormond Beach Scenic Loop. There really is something for everyone here, and almost every event and attraction is free to attend. So, if you want a fun few days out in the Florida sunshine, Biketoberfest really is the place to be. Make sure you download the Biketoberfest mobile App from Apple or Google Play or visit www.biketoberfest.orgfor more details.
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Keith Code founded the California Superbike School in 1980, and it has subsequently grown to be the largest motorcycle track training school in the world. Teejay Adams is an experienced rider, but has still found that she has hangups and limitations to her riding. So, she called Keith’s son Dylan, who now runs the Superbike School with his wife Lara. Teejay went to the 2-day school at the Ridge racetrack in Washington state recently, and absolutely loved it. She tells us exactly what she found out and how it has helped her riding.
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Here’s quick reminder to check out our monthly digital magazine. It’s filled with everything you want to read on motorcycling, including some things you’ve probably not seen elsewhere. It’s absolutely free and you will find it on the Apple App Store and of course on Google Play as well.
Don’t forget to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!
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