Eddie Lawson

Eddie Lawson
Lawson aboard the Yamaha YZR500, 1990.
Nationality	American
Born	(1958-03-11) March 11, 1958 (age 58) Upland, California, U.S.
Motorcycle racing career statistics Grand Prix motorcycle racing Active years 1983 – 1992 First race 1983 500cc South African Grand Prix Last race 1992 500cc South African Grand Prix First win 1984 500cc South African Grand Prix Last win 1992 500cc Hungarian Grand Prix Team(s) Yamaha, Honda, Cagiva Championships 500cc – 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989 Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 127 31 78 18 21 1429

Eddie Lawson (born (1958-03-11)March 11, 1958) is an American former four-time Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champion. His penchant for not crashing and consistently finishing in the points earned him the nickname "Steady Eddie".

Born in Upland, California, Lawson began his motorcycle racing career in the Southern California dirt track circuit. When it became increasingly difficult to find machinery able to compete with the dominant Harley-Davidsons, he switched his attention to road racing. In 1979, Lawson finished the season second behind Freddie Spencer in the AMA 250cc road racing National Championship. Afterwards, he was offered a ride with the Kawasaki Superbike team and won the AMA Superbike Series in 1981 and 1982. He also won the AMA 250cc road racing National Championship in 1980 and 1981 for Kawasaki.

Lawson accepted an offer from Yamaha to contest the 500cc World Championship as Kenny Roberts' teammate for the 1983 season. Lawson spent the 1983 season learning the ropes of the Grand Prix circuit. In 1984, Lawson began winning regularly and won the 1984 World Championship. It would mark the first of four world titles Lawson would go on to win. After winning two more titles for Yamaha in 1986 and 1988, Lawson shocked the racing world by announcing he would be leaving Yamaha to sign with their arch-rivals Rothmans Honda as teammate to his own archrival, Australia's 1987 World Champion Wayne Gardner. By switching teams, Lawson also fulfilled his desire to work with Erv Kanemoto. After Gardner crashed and broke his leg during the third round at Laguna Seca, Lawson went on to win the 1989 title for Honda, becoming the first rider to win back-to-back championships on machines from different manufacturers. By winning with both Yamaha and Honda, Lawson silenced his critics who believed he would not be as successful away from the factory Marlboro Yamaha team.