Doug Chandler

Doug Chandler

Chandler at the 1993 Japanese Grand Prix.
Nationality United States United States
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years1991 - 1994
First race1991 500cc Japanese Grand Prix
Last race1994 500cc European Grand Prix
Team(s)Yamaha, Suzuki, Cagiva
Championships0
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
54 0 6 2 0 358
Superbike World Championship
Active years1989 - 1990, 1996 - 1998, 2001 - 2002
ManufacturersKawasaki
2002 championship position32nd
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
14 2 5 1 1 120

John Douglas Chandler (born September 27, 1965) is an American former 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.[1] He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2006.[1]

Born in Salinas, California, Chandler began competing in dirt track oval racing after experiencing success in motocross competitions. In 1983 he earned the prestigious AMA Rookie of the Year Award.[1] 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.[2]

In 1991 Chandler travelled to Europe to compete in the Grand Prix motorcycle racing series.[3] 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.[4]

After the 1994 Grand Prix season, Chandler left Europe and returned to the AMA Superbike series with Harley-Davidson.[1] 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.[1] As a result, he joined Fred Merkel and Reg Pridmore as three-time AMA Superbike champions.[1] 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.[1]

Chandler currently runs motorcycle training courses.[5]

Grand Prix motorcycle racing


By season

Season Class Motorcycle Race Win Podium Pole FLap Pts Plcd
1991 500cc Yamaha 15 0 0 0 0 85 9th
1992 500cc Suzuki 13 0 4 2 0 94 5th
1993 500cc Cagiva 12 0 1 0 0 83 10th
1994 500cc Cagiva 14 0 1 0 0 96 9th
Total 54 0 6 2 0 358

Races by year

(key)

Year Class Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pos Pts
1991 500cc Yamaha JPN
11
AUS
12
USA
Ret
ESP
10
ITA
6
GER
9
AUT
7
EUR
9
NED
11
FRA
6
GBR
Ret
RSM
9
CZE
10
VDM
7
MAL
Ret
9th 85
1992 500cc Suzuki JPN
2
AUS
5
MAL
5
ESP
10
ITA
4
EUR
3
GER
8
NED
Ret
HUN
2
FRA
Ret
GBR
Ret
BRA
3
RSA
4
5th 94
1993 500cc Cagiva AUS
3
MAL
9
JPN
11
ESP
Ret
AUT
8
GER
6
NED
4
EUR
Ret
RSM GBR
DNQ
CZE
9
ITA
10
USA
Ret
FIM
5
10th 83
1994 500cc Cagiva AUS
9
MAL
9
JPN
10
ESP
7
AUT
Ret
GER
7
NED
6
ITA
Ret
FRA
Ret
GBR
5
CZE
Ret
USA
5
ARG
2
EUR
10
9th 96

References

External links

Preceded by
Miguel Duhamel
AMA Superbike Champion
1996-1997
Succeeded by
Ben Bostrom
Preceded by
Jamie James
AMA Superbike Champion
1990
Succeeded by
Thomas Stevens
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