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Steve Baker (motorcyclist)
Encyclopedia
Steve Baker is an American former Grand Prix
motorcycle
roadracer
. He was the first American to win a road racing world championship when he won the 1977 Formula 750
title.
Baker began his career racing on the dirt track ovals of the Pacific Northwest. He then switched to road racing and began competing in Canada
, becoming a three-time Canadian champion. His good results earned him a factory sponsored ride with the Yamaha
factory team for the 1977 season
. He began the year by winning the prestigious Daytona 200
before travelling to Europe to compete in the world championships.
He won the Formula 750 title and finished second to Barry Sheene
in the 500cc world championship. He was released by the Yamaha team after the season and competed in the 1978 championship
on a privately supported Suzuki
. At the end of that season, Baker suffered a devastating accident at the Mosport
circuit in Canada that left him with a broken arm and shattered his left leg. Afterwards, he decided to retire from competitive racing.
After his racing career, he purchased a motorcycle dealership in his hometown of Bellingham. He was inducted into the AMA
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
in 1999.
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
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...
roadracer
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 the first American to win a road racing world championship when he won the 1977 Formula 750
Formula 750
Formula 750 was a FIM motorcycle road racing series based on a 750 cubic centimeter engine capacity. The series began in 1973 as a British based series. In 1975 the series was upgraded to European championship status and in 1977, it attained world championship status. The FIM discontinued the class...
title.
Baker began his career racing on the dirt track ovals of the Pacific Northwest. He then switched to road racing and began competing in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, becoming a three-time Canadian champion. His good results earned him a factory sponsored ride with the 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...
factory team for the 1977 season
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...
. He began the year by winning the prestigious 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....
before travelling to Europe to compete in the world championships.
He won the Formula 750 title and finished second to Barry Sheene
Barry Sheene
Barry Stephen Frank Sheene MBE was a British World Champion Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.-Early life:...
in the 500cc world championship. He was released by the Yamaha team after the season and competed in the 1978 championship
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...
on a privately supported 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...
. At the end of that season, Baker suffered a devastating accident at the Mosport
Mosport
Mosport International Raceway is a multi-track facility located north of Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. The facility features a , 10-turn road course; a half-mile paved oval; a 2.4 km advance driver and race driver training facility with a quarter-mile skid pad Mosport International Raceway...
circuit in Canada that left him with a broken arm and shattered his left leg. Afterwards, he decided to retire from competitive racing.
After his racing career, he purchased a motorcycle dealership in his hometown of Bellingham. 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 1999.
Motorcycle Grand Prix results
| 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)
| Yr | Class | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Rank | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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... |
VEN 2 |
AUT 1977 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix The 1977 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix was the second round of the 1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on May 1, 1977 at the Salzburgring circuit.... - |
GER 1977 German motorcycle Grand Prix The 1977 German motorcycle Grand Prix was the third round of the 1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on May 8, 1977 at the Hockenheimring circuit.-500 cc classification:-350 cc classification:-250 cc classification:... 3 |
NAT 4 |
FRA 1977 French motorcycle Grand Prix The 1977 French motorcycle Grand Prix was the sixth round of the 1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on May 29, 1977 at Circuit Paul Ricard.-500 cc classification:-350 cc classification:-250 cc classification:... 3 |
NED 5 |
BEL 2 |
SWE 3 |
FIN - |
CZE - |
GBR 2 |
2nd | 80 |
| 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 3 |
SPA 6 |
AUT - |
FRA - |
NAT 4 |
NED 9 |
BEL - |
SWE 4 |
FIN 6 |
GBR 4 |
GER 7 |
7th | 42 |