Doug Chandler

Doug Chandler
Chandler at the 1993 Japanese Grand Prix.
Nationality	United States
Motorcycle racing career statistics Grand Prix motorcycle racing Active years 1991 - 1994 First race 1991 500cc Japanese Grand Prix Last race 1994 500cc European Grand Prix Team(s) Yamaha, Suzuki, Cagiva Championships 0 Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 54 0 6 2 0 358 Superbike World Championship Active years 1989 - 1990, 1996 - 1998, 2001 - 2002 Manufacturers Kawasaki 2002 championship position 32nd 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

1. Doug Chandler at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame
2. Doug Chandler career World Superbike statistics at worldsbk.com
3. Doug Chandler career statistics at MotoGP.com
4. Doug Chandler Interview,by Dean Adams, Superbike Planet, October 1993
5. Motorcycle Riding School

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