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Steve Baker (motorcyclist)

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At the end of the season, the Yamaha team announced that they wanted Baker to return to the United States to compete in the 1978 AMA Grand National Championship. However, Baker was determined to stay and compete in Europe, and with the help of the reigning World Champion, Barry Sheene, he was able to
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match races which, pitted the best British riders against the top North American road racers on 750cc motorcycles in a six-race series. Baker dominated the series as the top individual points leader winning four of the six races.
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several times before he prevailed to win at Daytona. He finished second to Roberts at the Imola 200, then won in France, Austria and Belgium to win the
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Baker began competing in the AMA National Championship in 1973 and experienced his first success when he finished second to former world champion
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circuit in Canada that left him with a broken arm and shattered his left leg. Afterwards, he decided to retire from competitive racing.
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factory racing team in 1971, Baker was offered Duhamel's place on the team. He then switched to road racing and began competing in
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After his racing career, Baker purchased a motorcycle dealership in his hometown of Bellingham. He was inducted into the
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Although Baker's Yamaha motorcycle experienced a mechanical failure at the 1976 Daytona 200, he won the prestigious
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pre-season race in Europe, then traveled to Great Britain to compete for the North American team in the 1976
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Baker is notable for being the first American to win a road racing world championship when he won the
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Steve Baker in January 1977 American Motorcyclist Magazine article on European road racing
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World Championship beginning with the Daytona 200. Baker traded the lead with
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Steve Baker interview, American Motorcyclist Magazine, December 1977
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Baker's good results earned him a factory sponsored ride with the
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where he earned his first AMA national victory when he won the
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Steve Baker at the 2010 Centennial Classic TT
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of the Pacific Northwest. When Yamaha of Canada's rider,
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He then returned the United States to compete in the
46: 38: 21: 943:Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes 8: 1018:. Motor Cycle News. 2 April 1980. p. 36 883:"Steve Baker at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame" 1209:Steve Baker at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame 332:. The 1977 season marked the debut of the 225:competitions from 1973 to 1976 and in the 69: 27: 18: 1259:Sportspeople from Bellingham, Washington 489: 400: 77: 72: 908:"Archives: The Forerunner to Greatness" 802: 360:secure a motorcycle and sponsorship as 255:, Baker began his career racing on the 1254:AMA Grand National Championship riders 229:world championships in 1977 and 1978. 7: 236:title. Baker was inducted into the 73:Motorcycle racing career statistics 1110:"It Was A Piece Of Cake For Baker" 1038:"John Player Transatlantic Trophy" 344:title. He also finished second to 14: 348:in the 500cc world championship. 113:1978 500cc West German Grand Prix 1193: 816:"Rider Statistics - Steve Baker" 103:1977 500cc Venezuelan Grand Prix 1249:500cc World Championship riders 1168:"Steve Baker career statistics" 1061:"Grand National Series History" 307:AMA Grand National Championship 206:(born September 5, 1952) is an 837:"Yamaha Profile - Steve Baker" 1: 1154:"Formula 750 world champions" 386:Motorcycle Grand Prix results 319:Mallory Park Race of the Year 1059:Amick, Bill (January 1979). 227:Grand Prix motorcycle racing 79:Grand Prix motorcycle racing 940:DeWitt, Norm (2010-09-16). 1275: 1244:American motorcycle racers 946:. MBI Publishing Company. 145: 68: 26: 16:American motorcycle racer 991:"Imola 200 race results" 487:indicate pole position) 435: 432: 429: 426: 423: 420: 417: 414: 411: 408: 247:Motorcycle racing career 380:Motorcycle Hall of Fame 280:Talladega Superspeedway 241:Motorcycle Hall of Fame 885:. motorcyclemuseum.org 356: 253:Bellingham, Washington 63:Bellingham, Washington 1132:"Daytona 200 winners" 354: 328:factory team for the 1134:. motorsportsetc.com 1013:"Teamwork's The Key" 993:. racingmemo.free.fr 299:Transatlantic Trophy 210:former professional 315:Laguna Seca Raceway 263:, left to join the 1082:"Race of the Year" 971:. seattletimes.com 839:. yamaha-motor.com 357: 33:Steve Baker (2016) 794: 793: 780: 771: 762: 753: 744: 735: 726: 717: 708: 699: 690: 655: 646: 637: 628: 619: 610: 601: 590: 581: 572: 563: 477: 476: 214:. He competed in 201: 200: 197: 196: 193: 192: 57:September 5, 1952 1266: 1203: 1201:Biography portal 1198: 1197: 1196: 1180: 1179: 1177: 1175: 1164: 1158: 1157: 1150: 1144: 1143: 1141: 1139: 1128: 1122: 1121: 1119: 1117: 1106: 1097: 1096: 1094: 1093: 1084:. 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Index


Bellingham, Washington
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
1977
1978
1977 500cc Venezuelan Grand Prix
1978 500cc West German Grand Prix
Yamaha
Suzuki
Championships
Formula 750
Poles
F. laps
American
motorcycle racer
AMA
dirt track
road racing
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
1977 Formula 750
AMA
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Bellingham, Washington
dirt track ovals
Yvon Duhamel
Kawasaki
Canada
Kel Carruthers
Talladega Superspeedway
Gene Romero

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