Steve Baker (motorcyclist)

Steve Baker

Baker at the 2010 Centennial Classic TT
Nationality United States
Born September 5, 1952
Bellingham, Washington
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years1977 - 1978
First race1977 500cc Venezuelan Grand Prix
Last race1978 500cc West German Grand Prix
Team(s)Yamaha, Suzuki
ChampionshipsFormula 750 - 1977
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
20 0 7 1 0 122

Steve Baker (born September 5, 1952) is an American former Grand Prix motorcycle roadracer. He was the first American to win a road racing world championship when he won the 1977 Formula 750 title.[1]

Born in Bellingham, Washington, Baker began his career racing on the dirt track ovals of the Pacific Northwest.[1] He then switched to road racing and began competing in Canada, becoming a three-time Canadian champion.[1] His good results earned him a factory sponsored ride with the Yamaha factory team for the 1977 season.[1] He began the year by winning the prestigious Daytona 200 before traveling to Europe to compete in the world championships.[1][2][3] Baker won the 1977 Formula 750 title and finished second to Barry Sheene in the 500cc world championship.[4][5] He was released by the Yamaha team after the season and competed in the 1978 championship on a privately supported Suzuki.[1] At the end of that season, Baker suffered a devastating accident at the Mosport circuit in Canada that left him with a broken arm and shattered his left leg. Afterwards, he decided to retire from competitive racing.[1]

After his racing career, Baker purchased a motorcycle dealership in his hometown of Bellingham.[1] He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.[1]

Motorcycle Grand Prix results [5]

Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Points 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Yr Class Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rank Pts
1977 500cc Yamaha VEN
2		 AUT
DNF		 GER
3		 NAT
4		 FRA
3		 NED
5		 BEL
2		 SWE
3		 FIN
12		 CZE
DNF		 GBR
2		 2nd 80
1978 500cc Suzuki VEN
3		 SPA
6		 AUT
DNF		 FRA
NS		 NAT
4		 NED
9		 BEL
DNF		 SWE
4		 FIN
6		 GBR
DNF		 GER
7		 7th 42

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Steve Baker at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  2. ↑ "Daytona 200 winners". motorsportsetc.com. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  3. ↑ "It Was A Piece Of Cake For Baker". si.com. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  4. ↑ Formula 750 world champions
  5. 1 2 "Steve Baker career statistics". motogp.com. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
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