He LOVED riding with Wayne Rainey again! 😀 | BikeSocial interview Kevin Schwantz
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ก.ค. 2022
- The third instalment of our #MotoGP legends series is here, and this time #BikeSocial's Michael Burton sat down with 1993 World Champion #KevinSchwantz.
He and the Texan discussed everything from riding with #WayneRainey for the first time in 29 years, his opinions on the current affairs within #Suzuki motorcycles and his best memories from his Championship winning season.
So once again, sit back, grab a beer or coffee and enjoy!
Photo credits - Lee Carpenter & Maurice Buila.
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"I mean ofcourse the championship is something that i really cherished but i would have rather finished second". Just to say that. Really shows you what kind of guy Kevin Schwantz is 👍👍👍
Yeah... top guy.
Brought a tear to my eye the pause afterward killed me
Exactly!! He rode with his heart and that emotion shows here as well. To me that's what defines Kevin Schwantz. Lump in the throat moment this. What a guy!!!!
100%
Really nice
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" I would've rather come in 2nd" is the best quote from a professional athlete I've ever heard. I'd bet the farm that Kevin truly means that and would easily give up that trophy to have Wayne never of been injured. What an absolute legend. Thank you Kevin.
Got slightly choked up when he said he'd rather have come second.
Legend
It’s clear why Kevin always has been the most popular - a genuine, nice guy and a fearsome competitor. Absolute respect.
Kevin has a magnetic personality on and off a motorcycle. Having lived long enough to see everyone from Sheene and Kenny Sr. to the current crop of Mir Quatararo and the like, it’s easy to see why Kevin, Wayne, Eddie, Mick are as popular as they are.
Kevin Schwantz saying at 6:30 he would had rather finished second, and then choking up.
I choked up as well.
He was my Teenage Hero. Loved his style, loved the battles, Good memories. Thank you Kevin.
I just watched the interview on PetrolRevolt TH-cam channel with Kevin Schwantz and the video riding his Pepsi RGV and …WOW!! If you loved that era you need to watch it! 100% recommended!
Me too . The Kevin and Wayne showdowns. Legends 🏁👍
I loved this guy, I'm Canadian and was in California and had a bike built by Yoshimura. Dave Wolman the shop manager introduced me to Kevin just a hello, Dave said Kevin was there new superbike rider. Obviously I was a Suzuki and Yoshimura fan already but followed Kevins career after that meeting, met him many times, he thrilled me with his track speed and victory celebrations. I have a huge rec room covered wall to wall in Schwantz memorabilia. What a genuinely nice person, and a legend!
Made us in Texas proud!
Made USA proud
Best GP racing ever was Rainey and Schwantz
You guys got me racing
Kevin and Wayne show . It didn't get much better. 😁😁
And with Eddie Lawson, Mick Doohan, and Wayne Gardner - the turn of the 1980s / 1990s was a wonderful era for GP motorcycles. 2006-2012 was also fantastic (Hayden, Rossi, Stoner, Lorenzo, et al). Any era which isn’t dominated by 1 rider, but has several that can contend, is fab.
What a man! Mr Schwantz is a big hero of mine ,thank you.
I teared up when he said he would rather finish second.
Wonderful interview. For me I couldn’t have Rainey without Schwartz or vice versa. I’m glad they both got to ride together again.
Thank's Michael for an absolutely brilliant interview.What a nice guy Kevin is.🙂👍
My pleasure, glad you've enjoyed them!
Such a gutsy period racing 500cc Two Stroke Monster Brutes, Kevin and his group are certainly legends and their legacy to the sport will certainly never be forgotten.
Kevin Schwantz is without doubt a living legend.
Total respect to a rider that has stood the test of time.
I salute you ✊ 🙏 👏
I have a very distinct memory of Kevin Schwantz. The year was 1983 and I had just graduated from college and moved up to the San Francisco Bay Area to start my career. My close friends had introduced me to AMA motorcycle racing & we would go & watch the AMA races at both Laguna Seca & Sears Point up in Vallejo. I had never owned a street bike before but my friends were already doing some club racing (AFM) up at Sears Point & convinced me to buy a used bike (Honda CBF 750) & learn to ride. After about 6 months, I sold it and bought a brand new Suzuki GS750ES(? the one that had the 16" front wheel to compete against the Honda interceptor). I also took the AFM rider school @ Sears Point to try & get my race license & passed.
The first race weekend I was allowed to complete(a rookie rule had a waiting period), was also the weekend before the AMA National. i was entered in (2) races -stock & stock modified. What happened next was a memory that I'll never forget. Kevin was riding for factory Yoshimura Suzuki & they somehow allowed him to enter our races so he could get some track knowledge before the races the following weekend (they really wanted to beat Rainey on the factory Honda BADLY). Kevin showed up for the stock-modified on the brand new GXR. I don't remember if it was stock or superbike modified. This was a 7 lap race. Now remember, I had only been riding for about 6 months, so I was pretty slow (but still had a ton of fun). Back then, Sears Point had not yet modified the track & installed the chicane @ turn 10 to slow racers down. It was a wide open right hand sweeping turn with no camber. Anyway, the race started- I was having a blast at the back, and on about the 6th lap, I had entered turn 10 flat open throttle in 5th gear probably doing about 90 or 100 with my knee dragging & Kevin went screaming past me on the outside probably 40 mph faster. He was so fast, that he had already reached turn 11 before I exited turn 10. I was shocked & amazed! I know I got lapped, but I'm still proud to say that I once was in a race with a World Champion.
Cool story Doofus! Over here in the Midwest I routinely got beat by Scott Russell in some WERA racing. But similar to you, I got my feet wet my first season on a Suzuki GS-700ES which at the time was a couple years behind everything else that was on the track. But it's what I had at the time.
@@krproton Thanks! Almost 40 years later & I can still picture that pass in my mind like it was yesterday.
I do wish I had tried to talk with him after the race though. Did you ever talk with Scott Russell? I've heard that he could be pretty "intense".
Mid-Ohio in the mid-1980's, watching Rainey and Schwantz hammer and tong on the VFR and GSXR. Classic. And absolutely no one there was surprised to see them repeat at the GPs. Best racing I ever saw. I have no memory of who won in what year as it really didn't matter.
I’ve loved these series of interviews - well done Bennetts!
Thanks Karl, all of them are now online for your enjoyment :)
Was ,, and still am a Suzuki man from 18 at 56 still have a K6GSXR 1000 best rivals in GP racing,, and the transatlantic series is historical,☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️ from northern Ireland all heroes for what they have done,,,, and rode, great that Barry Sheene brought Kevin to the UK and paid for it 😁
my 78 gs 1000 has never been topped
A great interview. Thank you for the memories. For me being an Australian it was Gardner and Doohan who got me into racing as I had posters of both everywhere. However, it was a scaled down, street legal, Suzuki RGV-250 based on Kevin’s bike that I started my racing career on in 94 in the Australian 250 cc production class. I still have my first bike (out of 2 that I raced in that class) in my garage. 👍😎🇦🇺
A large picture of Kevin on the 34 Suzuki still adorns my office wall. I still say he is my all time favourite racer. Interesting one comment says never meet your heroes regarding Kevin. This can be true. Having spent many years around race tracks and volunteering as an official I have met loads of mine. Some would hardly give you the time of day. Others will stand and chat. The most grounded tend to be the Aussies. Mick was always friendly. Gary Mc Coy doesn't live far from me now. Barry Sheene would stand puffing away as usual and take time to chat with fans. The likes of Rossi surrounded by body guards pushing everyone out of the way no chance. It's a hard way to make a living racing a motorcycle. The focus needed to get to the top and stay there is immense. Some riders can keep that social side. Others don't. But Kevin on a bike back then magic.
Kevin is my hero from the golden days of 500 racing and he always was a joy to watch!
Brilliant series of interviews, well done 👍
I've still got my 25 year old 34+1 Arai (dont' wear it anymore of course) and owned a few RGV's over the years. Love you Kev!
Kevin is a Class guy and a Legend ,,,,reason why so many Ride
The happiness of Kevin's life is written all over his face.
I remember reading an article where he talked about the abrupt transition from riding with a knee down to a violent wheelie mid-corner... some years later I built a 250 Ninja with a CR500 engine in it, and I suddenly realized how deeply I had underestimated Schwantz' talent.
These interviews are just wonderful! Such insights into what made these particular guys tick. After watching Kevin’s interview, all I know is I kept smiling & having a little laugh all the way through! 😄 I’m into bikes, into cars, more so classic & obsessed with watches!😍 Good on you Mr. Schwantz! I’m hearing you regarding internal combustion engines. Yes I’d like to appear green, but hell I’m not!🤣🇦🇺😎👏🏼
Glad you enjoyed it!
The good old days of raw racing, loved it, thank Kevin for the inspiration to want to ride bikes!
Always had the greatest respect for Kevin No.34.
Now even more so after listening to this interview! What a great guy ❤️
Sat and had a beer with Schwantz in our hotel room with a bunch of guys in about 1985 at Pocono, Pennsylvania when he was rocketing to fame. He looked old then, too. Nice fellow to come and sit with us.
The first piece of motorcycle gear I ever bought was a fantastic number 34 Lucky Strike leather jacket in the late 90s. 23 years later I finally sat my CBT, never stopping thinking of Kevin Schwantz, the true gentleman, the true epitome of a racer. Always had a winning mentality, but never forgot he was racing fellow men. A real gentleman and a champion forever. Thank you.
Kevin is such a nice guy , he touched my heart with a few words here.
Class. Thank you, Bennetts Bike Social ✊🏻
Our pleasure!
Revving Kevin. Such determination to ride beyond the physical bounds of what his compromised knife-edge Suzuki could deliver. He'd have kicked alien butt for sure. A true hero. Long live #34!
Man what a great rider and guy named my son after Kevin
Man I got to watch Kevin at Willow Springs in 85’ or 86’ and me and a buddy knew right then how great he was. Watching him on weekends until he retired early in my opinion was the highlight of my riding days in the 80’s to mid 90’s
Team Schwantz
Team Suzuki
Always
Great set of interviews, all my Heroes 👍
I still (only just) fit into my 91 season Schwantz leather's. Kevin, for me, was and still is my favourite rider of all time. But it was great to see you back behind Wayne.....
Another Legend 👌🏻😎 I was a big 34 fan 🙌🏻
Unflappable and irrepressible. You can't fail to like Kevin.
Magical times an memories. Top characters.
Have enjoyed every single time I have had the honor to meet and talk with Kevin. Class act. My apologies to Kevin (if you see this) for asking you for an autograph outside the tower at the wera gnf when you had the broken arm, you did signed with a smile though. Have had the pleasure to meet several times since. Truly a class act and genuine.
6:17 That’s very Kevin Schwanz. Guy almost broke into tears and so did I.
1991 500 GP Championship was the best ever season. A reference for anybody who races motorbikes on tarmac.
An absolute privilege to watch my GP Heroes ride up the hill, pure magic 👌
The likes of which come rarely, we are fortunate to witness these champions.
This was when it was good. Real good. ❤❤❤❤
Wow great to see Kevin interviewed. So happy he has the memories and bike from his championship days. Touching interview .Forever the entertainer on a 500.
Schwantz with the fishtail braking passing Rainey at Hockenheim sums it up for me. That drive to go to the edge and just slightly beyond. Greatness.
Great, nice, that Kevin gave credit to Barry Sheene 🇬🇧 for his early Suzuki Grand Prix success. If you want to see some of Kevin's great bike control, look up video of German Grand Prix Hockenheim. Watch Kevin's braking and entering the Stadium section. Just one tiny example of many great beyond the limit riding by a champion. Stay well Kevin.
🏁🏆🏁🏆🏁🇺🇲🏆🏁🏆🏁
I saw Kevin win the 500 race at Donington in 89, brilliant
6 inches sideways coming out of Copice every lap
Sweet ride
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The absolute highlight of my motorcycling life was in 2008 at Road Atlanta. 1. I got to meet Kevin Schwantz at his Superbike School. 2. I actually got to ride with him during a session. I took the lead in my group, and all of a sudden a guy came on the track in front of us and tapped the tail of his bike telling me to follow him. The next 3 laps were unreal. I learned so much from him and the other coaches at the school. Shots out to Opie Caylor, Mark Martin, and all the others.
Some people say that Kevin's world championship is tainted because Rainy was unable to race and handed him the title. This is nonsense of course because he can only race who's on the track. Great to see they're chums now
Awesome interview
Kevin Schwantz is probably the most popular of all the American legends of MotoGP and it’s easy to see why. His speed was sensational and his race craft was in pretty wild, I believe if he was more considered he could have won at least 3 or 4 world titles.
Massive respect to you Kev 🇺🇸🏍🥇🏆
Brilliant interview and top man.
I was a Lawson guy, but Schwantz won me over in time, I even adopted his left leg kick before leaning into left handed turns when I raced...
Loved him.. remember him at donnington before his GP days.
This man is unforgettable, Kevin you are a STAR that will always shine your humanity and personality ? you are a total Gentleman and I for one miss you and always your never to far from my mind.,
One of the very few that left the sport a real human being .......... one of my heroes ...........
Great guy, fantastic racer
And all around good guy. Great interview.
Oh yes Kevin the Pepsi Suzuki icon & later on Lucky Strike. Among the best & nicest GP racer. I'm lucky & thankful to witness GP500 era❤❤
I'm Yamaha through and through but when it came to the 500gps, I wore a Schwantz hat
A legend on the track and off
What an absolute legend great interview we'll done you guys!!! ☺️👌🏻👍🏻
Kevin was insane as a rider. I remember him riding on the edge of catastrophe.
MAGIC Kevin 😍😍😍
my teenage biking hero !!
I love Wayne rainey,,,,,the guy make me fall in love in motorcycle in 90 I m always watching TV 500cc motogp n I pray Wayne rainey number one,,,,to Kevin,,dohan,,I love u all thanks for entertainment your all give
Rainey and Schwantz 🔥🔥🔥❤
Started watching gp racing during the Rainey/Sxhwantz years. Now I know why they attracted me to motorcycles and racing, and glad to know they were good people at the core.
Legend.. really the competition never leaves the racer obviously :)
Ride em at Laguna seca! Always rooted for Kevin. Rainey and that Marlboro Yamaha Team was dominant. Great Racing. Great interview.
Oh man, we’d pay to see your track day Mr Schwantz. Get your buddies together. Shoot the breeze ride the bikes drink some beers 🍻
Sounds like a good guy.
Proper racer and all round cool fella
being an Aussie it was Dohan , Gardiner and Magee for me but when Kevin or Wayne Rainey won ,you knew it was hard won and usually a great race..
Kevin was and is always my hero , bigger than Rossi or anybody else
Great to see you Kevin.I still wear my black Pepsi Suzuki paddock jacket in 2022. I miss watching you race at our British GP. Cheers
My heros!!!!!
Really nicely done , thank you .
Nice to see Kevin again. Especially, in the Lucky Strike colours.
Would have loved to see his career extended long enough see him on a Honda or Yamaha, many more powersldes and victories for sure ! . Thankyou sir for the spectacular entertainment you gave us .
Think it be fitting if Kevin rode those bikes at Donington Park, place he took his last 500cc race win in epic fashion with a light cast on his injured wrist to make it that even more special. I'd defo try be there with my camera to get some pictures.
I based my riding style on Kevin Schwantz knees out on my Yamaha TZR 125 back in 1989 ....... what a rider 👏
Hola desde argentina un grande el mejor piloto excelente.disfruto viendo esas carreras todavía saludos
My man i see little samurai26 shining with the ktm in between the 90s legends❤
I was never a suzuki fan, but I did enjoy the gang battling
King of the late brakers 😊
Best riders ever
I remember seeing Kevin and getting his signature when he was still with Southwest Motorsports 250 before he went to the big leagues. That was about 40 years ago 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Respect.
That time i was team Kevin Schwantz, now i'm team 500cc Schwantz Doohan Rainey All of Them! Mannn Kevin is an old Man!?
I was strictly an Yamaha RD rider during the GP500 days so King Kenny was my first favorite and then of course Eddie and Wayne joined the list but, just like Kevin said if you rode a motorcycle you are family so I also rooted for Kevin and Barry and Gardner, etc as they provided so many great battles at the expense of their bodies. MotoGP does have tighter racing because of the computer control but, the two strokes were such beast that it did take a great rider to be able to harness such a small power band with a 1/4 turn throttle.
King Kevin my Fellow Texan!
Am team Kevin!!!
One of my Heroes they are not easy bikes to ride
My hero getting old 😢😢😢