Pat Hennen
Encyclopedia
Pat Hennen is an American former Grand Prix
motorcycle
road racer
. He is remembered for being the first American to win a 500cc Grand Prix motorcycle road race when he won the 1976
Finnish Grand Prix
.
Hennen began his career racing in dirt track
events in Northern California, where his family had moved when he was young. He was successful enough to earn a place on the Suzuki
factory Grand Prix racing team. Hennen finished third in the 1976
500cc roadracing World Championship. The following year, he would again finish third in the World Championship and won the 1977
British Grand Prix
at Silverstone
. He was also the top point scorer at the 1978 Trans-Atlantic Match Races, scoring three wins, two seconds and a third. Hennen also won the New Zealand Marlboro series for three consecutive years (1974–75 ,1975–76 and 1976–77) riding Suzuki TR500, TR750 and RG500 machines. The Marlboro Series was run over five seasons, of which he won three.
Hennen's career was cut short when he crashed while competing in the 1978 Isle of Man TT
. He had just recorded the first sub-twenty minute lap in TT history when he struck a kerb at 150 m.p.h. There was a suggestion at the time that he had struck a bird although this is now considered to be nothing other than unfounded rumour. The subsequent crash caused severe head injuries from which Hennen was able to recover over time, but the lasting effects of the crash forced his retirement from racing.
Hennen currently resides in California and was inducted into the AMA
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
in 2007.
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
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...
motorcycle
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...
. He is remembered for being the first American to win a 500cc Grand Prix motorcycle road race when he won the 1976
1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 28th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:1976 marked the beginning of the era of Suzuki domination with the Japanese firm taking 11 of the first 12 places in the premier class. Angel Nieto would take his fifth world title...
Finnish Grand Prix
Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix
Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix was the Finnish round of the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing championship from 1962 to 1982. It was held at the Tampere Circuit in 1962 and 1963 before moving to Imatra. Giacomo Agostini won the most Finnish Grands Prix with ten 500cc victories and seven 350cc...
.
Hennen began his career racing in dirt track
Track racing
Track racing is a form of motorcycle racing where teams or individuals race opponents around an oval track. There are differing variants, with each variant racing on a different surface type....
events in Northern California, where his family had moved when he was young. He was successful enough to earn a place on the 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...
factory Grand Prix racing team. Hennen finished third in the 1976
1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 28th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:1976 marked the beginning of the era of Suzuki domination with the Japanese firm taking 11 of the first 12 places in the premier class. Angel Nieto would take his fifth world title...
500cc roadracing World Championship. The following year, he would again finish third in the World Championship and won the 1977
1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 29th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Suzuki saw off a strong challenge from Yamaha to take their second consecutive 500cc crown. Angel Nieto made it three 50cc titles in a row on a Bultaco while Morbidelli would win...
British Grand Prix
British motorcycle Grand Prix
The British motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that is part of the World Motorcycle Racing season. Before 1977, the British Grand Prix was the Isle of Man TT, held there from 1949-1976.-Winners of the British motorcycle Grand Prix:...
at Silverstone
Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit is an English motor racing circuit next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. The circuit straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, with the current main circuit entry on the Buckinghamshire side...
. He was also the top point scorer at the 1978 Trans-Atlantic Match Races, scoring three wins, two seconds and a third. Hennen also won the New Zealand Marlboro series for three consecutive years (1974–75 ,1975–76 and 1976–77) riding Suzuki TR500, TR750 and RG500 machines. The Marlboro Series was run over five seasons, of which he won three.
Hennen's career was cut short when he crashed while competing in the 1978 Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
. He had just recorded the first sub-twenty minute lap in TT history when he struck a kerb at 150 m.p.h. There was a suggestion at the time that he had struck a bird although this is now considered to be nothing other than unfounded rumour. The subsequent crash caused severe head injuries from which Hennen was able to recover over time, but the lasting effects of the crash forced his retirement from racing.
Hennen currently resides in California and 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 2007.
Grand Prix career statistics
| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Points | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Class | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Points | Rank | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 28th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:1976 marked the beginning of the era of Suzuki domination with the Japanese firm taking 11 of the first 12 places in the premier class. Angel Nieto would take his fifth world title... |
500cc | 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... |
FRA 1976 French motorcycle Grand Prix The 1976 French motorcycle Grand Prix was the first round of the 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on April 25, 1976 at the Circuit Bugatti Le Mans.-500 cc classification:-350 cc classification:Footnotes:... - |
AUT 1976 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix The 1976 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix was the second round of the 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on May 2, 1976 at the Salzburgring circuit.-500 cc classification:Footnotes:-350 cc classification:... Ret |
NAT 1976 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix The 1976 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix was the third round of the 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on May 16, 1976 at the Mugello circuit.-500 cc classification:-350 cc classification:Footnotes:... 5 |
IOM 1976 Isle of Man TT The 1976 Isle of Man TT was the fifth round of the 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place between June 7 and June 12, 1976 at the Snaefell Mountain Course.-Senior TT classification:-Junior TT classification:... - |
NED 1976 Dutch TT The 1976 Dutch TT was the sixth round of the 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on June 27, 1976 at the Circuit van Drenthe Assen.-500 cc classification:-350 cc classification:-250 cc classification:... 2 |
BEL 1976 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix The 1976 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix was the seventh round of the 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on July 4, 1976 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.-500 cc classification:-250 cc classification:... 8 |
SWE 1976 Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix The 1976 Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix was the eighth round of the 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on July 25, 1976 at the Scandinavian Raceway.-500 cc classification:Footnotes:-250 cc classification:... Ret |
FIN Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix was the Finnish round of the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing championship from 1962 to 1982. It was held at the Tampere Circuit in 1962 and 1963 before moving to Imatra. Giacomo Agostini won the most Finnish Grands Prix with ten 500cc victories and seven 350cc... 1 |
CZE - |
GER German motorcycle Grand Prix The German motorcycle Grand Prix, first held in 1925, is since 1952 part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Championship.- History :The first two Großer Preis von Deutschland races were held at Berlin's AVUS before moving to the new the purpose-built Nürburgring which was used in its full... 3 |
46 | 3rd | 1 | |
| 1977 1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 29th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Suzuki saw off a strong challenge from Yamaha to take their second consecutive 500cc crown. Angel Nieto made it three 50cc titles in a row on a Bultaco while Morbidelli would win... |
500cc | 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... |
VEN Venezuelan motorcycle Grand Prix The Venezuelan motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that was part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season from 1977 to 1979,-Multiple winners :-Multiple winners :-By year:... 3 |
AUT Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix The Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix was a motorcycling event that had been part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season from 1971 to 1997-Multiple winners :-Multiple winners :-By year:Footnotes:... - |
GER German motorcycle Grand Prix The German motorcycle Grand Prix, first held in 1925, is since 1952 part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Championship.- History :The first two Großer Preis von Deutschland races were held at Berlin's AVUS before moving to the new the purpose-built Nürburgring which was used in its full... 2 |
NAT Italian motorcycle Grand Prix The Italian motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that is part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. From 1949 to 1990 the event was known as the Nations Grand Prix. It was one of the original rounds of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing calendar. The race was held exclusively at Monza... - |
FRA French motorcycle Grand Prix The Grand Prix Monster Energy de France is a motorcycling event that is part of the World Motorcycle Racing season.-Winners of the French motorcycle Grand Prix:... 10 |
NED Dutch TT The Dutch TT is a motorcycling event, traditionally held on the last Saturday of June at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands, as part of the MotoGP World Championship. In the past all classes , nowadays only the 125 cc, Moto2 and the MotoGP... 3 |
BEL Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix The Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that was part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season from 1949 to 1990.-Multiple winners :-Multiple winners :-By year:... 3 |
SWE Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix The Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix was a motorcycling event that was part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season in various stints from 1958 to 1990.-Winners of the Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix:-References:... 10 |
FIN Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix was the Finnish round of the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing championship from 1962 to 1982. It was held at the Tampere Circuit in 1962 and 1963 before moving to Imatra. Giacomo Agostini won the most Finnish Grands Prix with ten 500cc victories and seven 350cc... - |
CZE Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix The Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that is part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. Before 1993, the race was known as the Czechoslovakian motorcycle Grand Prix... 4 |
GBR British motorcycle Grand Prix The British motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that is part of the World Motorcycle Racing season. Before 1977, the British Grand Prix was the Isle of Man TT, held there from 1949-1976.-Winners of the British motorcycle Grand Prix:... 1 |
67 | 3rd | 1 |
| 1978 1978 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1978 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 30th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:There was an air of excitement at the start of the 1978 Grand Prix season. The popularity of defending champion, Barry Sheene had boosted the appeal of motorcycle racing into the... |
500cc | 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... |
VEN Venezuelan motorcycle Grand Prix The Venezuelan motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that was part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season from 1977 to 1979,-Multiple winners :-Multiple winners :-By year:... 2 |
ESP Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix The Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that is part of the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. In addition to this event, three other motorcycling events take place in Spain as of the 2010 season: the Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix, the Aragon motorcycle Grand Prix and the... 1 |
AUT Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix The Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix was a motorcycling event that had been part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season from 1971 to 1997-Multiple winners :-Multiple winners :-By year:Footnotes:... - |
FRA French motorcycle Grand Prix The Grand Prix Monster Energy de France is a motorcycling event that is part of the World Motorcycle Racing season.-Winners of the French motorcycle Grand Prix:... 2 |
NAT Italian motorcycle Grand Prix The Italian motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that is part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. From 1949 to 1990 the event was known as the Nations Grand Prix. It was one of the original rounds of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing calendar. The race was held exclusively at Monza... 2 |
NED Dutch TT The Dutch TT is a motorcycling event, traditionally held on the last Saturday of June at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands, as part of the MotoGP World Championship. In the past all classes , nowadays only the 125 cc, Moto2 and the MotoGP... - |
BEL Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix The Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that was part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season from 1949 to 1990.-Multiple winners :-Multiple winners :-By year:... - |
SWE Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix The Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix was a motorcycling event that was part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season in various stints from 1958 to 1990.-Winners of the Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix:-References:... - |
FIN Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix was the Finnish round of the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing championship from 1962 to 1982. It was held at the Tampere Circuit in 1962 and 1963 before moving to Imatra. Giacomo Agostini won the most Finnish Grands Prix with ten 500cc victories and seven 350cc... - |
GBR British motorcycle Grand Prix The British motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that is part of the World Motorcycle Racing season. Before 1977, the British Grand Prix was the Isle of Man TT, held there from 1949-1976.-Winners of the British motorcycle Grand Prix:... - |
GER German motorcycle Grand Prix The German motorcycle Grand Prix, first held in 1925, is since 1952 part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Championship.- History :The first two Großer Preis von Deutschland races were held at Berlin's AVUS before moving to the new the purpose-built Nürburgring which was used in its full... - |
51 | 6th | 1 |