Bubba Shobert
Encyclopedia
Don Wayne "Bubba" Shobert (born January 29, 1962 in Lubbock, Texas
) was a three-time A.M.A. Grand National Champion
from 1985 to 1987 and was AMA Superbike
Champion in 1988 while riding for American Honda
.
In 1989
Shobert moved up to the Grand Prix
world championship riding for Honda. Unfortunately, Shobert's Grand Prix career was cut short at the third race of the season. During the cool-down lap at the 1989 USGP at Laguna Seca
, fellow Grand Prix
racer, Kevin Magee, was performing post-race burnouts in the middle of the track, creating a cloud of tire smoke. Shobert struck the back of Magee's bike at over 100 mph. Eddie Lawson
narrowly missed hitting Magee's bike after he and Shobert had just finished congratulating each other moments earlier. Shobert suffered severe head injuries but was able to make a full recovery after months of rehabilitation. He never raced again, taking instead roles as manager in some teams of AMA
Grand National dirt track .
Shobert was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame
in 1998
.
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
) was a three-time A.M.A. Grand National Champion
A.M.A. Grand National Championship
The AMA Grand National Championship is an American motorcycle racing series. The race series, founded and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association in 1954, originally encompassed five distinct forms of competitions including; mile dirt track races, half-mile, short-track, TT...
from 1985 to 1987 and was AMA Superbike
AMA Superbike
AMA Pro Superbike is the premiere superbike racing series in the United States. It is part of the AMA Pro Racing series which was sold to and is managed by the Daytona Motorsports Group...
Champion in 1988 while riding for American Honda
Honda
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...
.
In 1989
1989 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1989 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 41st F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Defending champion Eddie Lawson stunned most observers by switching from the Yamaha to Honda in the offseason then proceeded to win the championship, becoming the first man to win...
Shobert moved up to the 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...
world championship riding for Honda. Unfortunately, Shobert's Grand Prix career was cut short at the third race of the season. During the cool-down lap at the 1989 USGP at Laguna Seca
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a paved road racing track used for both auto racing and motorcycle racing, originally constructed in 1957 near both Salinas and Monterey, California, USA....
, fellow 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...
racer, Kevin Magee, was performing post-race burnouts in the middle of the track, creating a cloud of tire smoke. Shobert struck the back of Magee's bike at over 100 mph. Eddie Lawson
Eddie Lawson
Eddie Lawson is a former four-time Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champion. His penchant for not crashing & consistently finishing in the points earned him the nickname "Steady Eddie".-Biography:...
narrowly missed hitting Magee's bike after he and Shobert had just finished congratulating each other moments earlier. Shobert suffered severe head injuries but was able to make a full recovery after months of rehabilitation. He never raced again, taking instead roles as manager in some teams of 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...
Grand National dirt track .
Shobert was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is an offshoot of the American Motorcyclist Association that recognizes individuals who have contributed to motorcycle sport, motorcycle construction and motorcycling in general. It displays motorcycles and riding gear and memoribilia. The museum is located in...
in 1998
1998 in sports
1998 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Hermann Maier, Austria** Women's overall season champion: Katja Seizinger, Germany-American football:...
.