Doug Chandler
Encyclopedia
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 road race
. He was inducted into the AMA
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
in 2006.
After success with motocross
he began competing in dirt track oval racing. In 1983 he earned the prestigious AMA Rookie of the Year Award. His first-ever road race win was in 1988 in the Pro-Twins class at Mid-Ohio
. He went on to take the AMA Superbike
title in 1990 on a Muzzy
Kawasaki
, also taking World Superbike
wins at Brainerd
and Sugo that year.
In 1991
Chandler travelled to Europe to compete in the Grand Prix motorcycle racing
series. He rode for former world champion Kenny Roberts
on a satellite team aboard a Yamaha
. He finished a respectable 9th in his first year on the Grand Prix circuit. He accepted a job from Suzuki
in 1992
finishing 5th overall, only just behind experienced team-mate Kevin Schwantz
, who he had beaten a few times. Chandler spent 1993
and 1994
riding for the Cagiva
team. He opened 1993 with a podium finish in Australia
before things went sour and the team's support moved towards countryman John Kocinski
.
After the 1994 Grand Prix season, Chandler left Europe and returned to the AMA Superbike series with Harley-Davidson
. After a less than successful year in 1995 developing the Harley Davidson superbike, he rejoined the Muzzy team for 1996, and won both the 1996 and 1997 AMA Superbike titles. As a result, he joined Fred Merkel
and Reg Pridmore
as three-time AMA Superbike champions. Despite a severe crash in World Superbike competition at Laguna Seca
in 1998, he finished second overall to Ben Bostrom
in the AMA Superbike championship. Chandler remained with Kawasaki until 2002, before a final year of road racing with Ducati. In 2003, Chandler tried his hand at Supermoto
racing in the inaugural season of the AMA Supermoto Championship. Showing his impressive versatility, Chandler won a race in the new series.
Chandler currently runs motorcycle training courses.
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...
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
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...
racing history to win the AMA Grand Slam, representing national wins at a mile, half-mile, short track, TT and road race
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...
. He was inducted into 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...
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 2006.
After success with motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
he began competing in dirt track oval racing. In 1983 he earned the prestigious AMA Rookie of the Year Award. His first-ever road race win was in 1988 in the Pro-Twins class at Mid-Ohio
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a road course auto racing facility located in Troy Township, Morrow County, Ohio, United States, just outside of the village of Lexington...
. He went on to take the 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...
title in 1990 on a Muzzy
Rob Muzzy
Rob Muzzy is the USA's most successful motorcycle racing team manager. For 25 years he has run successful Kawasaki bikes in an assortment of circuit racing, road racing and motocross, winning 19 major titles in total....
Kawasaki
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
, also taking World Superbike
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...
wins at Brainerd
Brainerd International Raceway
Brainerd International Raceway is a road course, dragstrip and kart track near Brainerd, Minnesota, USA. The raceway hosts the National Hot Rod Association Nationals.-History:...
and Sugo that year.
In 1991
1991 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1991 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 43rd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:The beginning of the 1990s marked a golden age for Grand Prix motorcycle racing. The rivalry between Wayne Rainey and Kevin Schwantz was in full flow while Mick Doohan started to...
Chandler travelled to Europe to compete in the Grand Prix motorcycle racing
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...
series. He rode for former 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...
on a satellite team aboard a Yamaha
Yamaha Motor Company
, is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized...
. He finished a respectable 9th in his first year on the Grand Prix circuit. He accepted a job from Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
in 1992
1992 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1992 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 44th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:1992 was a year marked by injuries to several riders, most notably Mick Doohan. The Rothmans Honda rider had won five of the first seven races and seemed ready to win his first...
finishing 5th overall, only just behind experienced team-mate Kevin Schwantz
Kevin Schwantz
Kevin Schwantz is an American former World Champion motorcycle road racer during the late 1980s and early 1990s.-Early life:...
, who he had beaten a few times. Chandler spent 1993
1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 45th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Kevin Schwantz won the 1993 world championship in a season marred by the tragic end to his rival Wayne Rainey's career. Schwantz started the season strong with four wins by the...
and 1994
1994 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1994 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 46th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:1994 was the year in which Honda's Mick Doohan began to stamp his authority on the Grand Prix world. Honda's Longtime sponsor Rothmans left Honda to join Williams Renault in...
riding for the Cagiva
Cagiva
Cagiva is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer. It was founded in 1950 by Giovanni Castiglioni in Varese, originally producing small metal components. It went into the motorcycle industry in 1978. The name is a portmanteau derived from the founder and the founding location, i.e. CAstiglioni GIovanni...
team. He opened 1993 with a podium finish in Australia
Eastern Creek Raceway
Eastern Creek International Raceway is a motorsports circuit located on Brabham Drive, Eastern Creek , New South Wales, Australia, adjacent to the Western Sydney International Dragway. It was built and is owned by the New South Wales Government and is operated by the...
before things went sour and the team's support moved towards countryman John Kocinski
John Kocinski
John Kocinski is a retired Grand Prix motorcycle road racer whose successes include winning the 1990 250cc World Championship, and the 1997 Superbike World Championship title.-Early years:...
.
After the 1994 Grand Prix season, Chandler left Europe and returned to the AMA Superbike series with Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
. After a less than successful year in 1995 developing the Harley Davidson superbike, he rejoined the Muzzy team for 1996, and won both the 1996 and 1997 AMA Superbike titles. As a result, he joined Fred Merkel
Fred Merkel
Fred Merkel is an American former motorcycle road racer and two-time Superbike world champion....
and Reg Pridmore
Reg Pridmore
Reginald Charles Pridmore III is a former motorcycle road racing national champion. He is remembered for winning the first AMA Superbike Championship in . He is the father of retired AMA racer Jason Pridmore....
as three-time AMA Superbike champions. Despite a severe crash in World Superbike competition 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....
in 1998, he finished second overall to Ben Bostrom
Ben Bostrom
Benjamin "Ben" Bostrom is an American motorcycle racer.The son of Dave and nephew of Paul Bostrom, both successful dirt-track racers, Bostrom began his career in the same fashion by winning the AMA National 600 Dirt Track Championship in 1993...
in the AMA Superbike championship. Chandler remained with Kawasaki until 2002, before a final year of road racing with Ducati. In 2003, Chandler tried his hand at Supermoto
Supermoto
Supermoto is motorcycle racing on a circuit that alternates between three types of track: flat track, motocross and road racing, using motorcycles designed for that purpose...
racing in the inaugural season of the AMA Supermoto Championship. Showing his impressive versatility, Chandler won a race in the new series.
Chandler currently runs motorcycle training courses.
External links
- DougChandlerRacing.com - Official racing school site
- The Amazing Career of Doug Chandler, by Dean Adams, Superbike Planet.com
- A photo of Doug racing in the AFM