Kurtis Roberts
Encyclopedia
Kurtis Roberts is a motorcycle
road racer
, born on 17 November 1978 in Turlock, California
. He is the youngest son of three-time 500cc World Champion Kenny Roberts
, and the younger brother of 2000
500cc World Champion Kenny Roberts, Jr.. He has raced in most major US and international motorcycle racing championships, in both Grand Prix
and Superbike
categories.
, starting out in 250s as he had experience of this level. He was runner-up in the AMA
250cc series that year, also riding in a few 600cc Supersport races. In both 1999 and 2000 he won the AMA Formula Xtreme series, adding the 600cc Supersport in 2000. Moving to the prestigious American Honda team, his first 3 AMA Superbike Championship podium finishes came in 2001 - taking his first wins and third overall in 2003, after missing much of 2002 due to injury. 2005 was a disastrous return to Erion, despite a second place in the Daytona 200
.
In 2004 he joined his father's Proton MotoGP team, but this was uncompetitive, scoring just one point all year. In he rode in selected Superbike World Championship
rounds for the Pedercini Ducati team.
After attempting to set up an AMA
team with former champion Doug Chandler
he resumed his links with his father's MotoGP team for 2007, taking over from his brother when Kenny Roberts, Jr. decided the bike was not competitive enough. He took minor points in three successive rounds.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
road racer
Road racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
, born on 17 November 1978 in Turlock, California
Turlock, California
Turlock is a city in Stanislaus County, California, United States, part of the Modesto Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 Census, Turlock had a population of 80,549, up from 55,810 at the 2000 census, making it the second-largest city in Stanislaus County.-Geography:Turlock lies in the...
. He is the youngest son of three-time 500cc World Champion Kenny Roberts
Kenny Roberts
Kenneth Leroy Roberts is a former motorcycle racer and racing team owner. In 1978, he became the first American to win a Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championship. He was also a two-time winner of the A.M.A. Grand National Championship...
, and the younger brother of 2000
2000 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 2000 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 52nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Kenny Roberts, Jr. fulfilled the promise of his 2nd place in 1999 by winning the championship for 2000 with 2 races to spare...
500cc World Champion Kenny Roberts, Jr.. He has raced in most major US and international motorcycle racing championships, in both Grand Prix
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
and Superbike
Superbike racing
Superbike racing is a category of motorcycle racing that employs modified production motorcycles. Superbike World Championship is the international superbike championship, and national superbike championships are held in many countries as well, including the United Kingdom, the United States,...
categories.
AMA
In 1998 Kurtis joined Erion HondaHonda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
, starting out in 250s as he had experience of this level. He was runner-up in the AMA
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
250cc series that year, also riding in a few 600cc Supersport races. In both 1999 and 2000 he won the AMA Formula Xtreme series, adding the 600cc Supersport in 2000. Moving to the prestigious American Honda team, his first 3 AMA Superbike Championship podium finishes came in 2001 - taking his first wins and third overall in 2003, after missing much of 2002 due to injury. 2005 was a disastrous return to Erion, despite a second place in the Daytona 200
Daytona 200
The Daytona 200 is a 68-lap, motorcycle race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.-History:The race evolved from a beach racing venue in 1937 to the Daytona International Speedway course in 1961....
.
International
In 1997 Kurtis contested the 250cc World Championship.In 2004 he joined his father's Proton MotoGP team, but this was uncompetitive, scoring just one point all year. In he rode in selected Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship is the worldwide Superbike racing Championship. The championship was founded in . The Superbike World Championship season consists of a series of rounds held on permanent racing facilities...
rounds for the Pedercini Ducati team.
After attempting to set up an AMA
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
team with former champion Doug Chandler
Doug Chandler
John Douglas Chandler is a professional motorcycle racer. He earned a reputation as one of the most versatile racers of the 1980s and 1990s. Chandler is one of only four riders in AMA racing history to win the AMA Grand Slam, representing national wins at a mile, half-mile, short track, TT and...
he resumed his links with his father's MotoGP team for 2007, taking over from his brother when Kenny Roberts, Jr. decided the bike was not competitive enough. He took minor points in three successive rounds.