Speed Dating: July 13 – 19

July 14, 2009 by Matt Coffey
Filed under Speed Dating

July 14

Tommy Hayden (US) was born on this date in 1978. The oldest of the three Hayden brothers, Hayden is a two-time AMA Supersport champion (2004 and 2005). Hayden rides for the Rockstar/Makita Suzuki team in the AMA Pro American Superbike championship, where he sits second in points behind teammate Mat Mladin.

Tommy Hayden - <i>Brian J. Nelson photo</i>

Tommy Hayden - Brian J. Nelson photo

Nicolaus August Otto (DE) was born on this date in 1832. Otto is credited with the invention of the first practical four-stroke internal combustion engine, first demonstrated in 1876. But while Otto is frequently credited with the invention of the four-stroke cycle (or Otto cycle), an engine was patented by the Italian team of Eugenio Barsanti and Felice Matteucci in 1854 that utilized internal compression/combustion and a four-stroke cycle (albeit more crude in execution). Otto died in 1891.

July 15

Reg Pridmore (UK) was born on this date in 1939. Though born and raised in England, Pridmore moved to the U.S. at the age of 25. Pridmore won the AMA Superbike championship three times, in each of the first three years of the class’ existence (1976, 1977, and 1978). Pridmore took the 1976 title riding a BMW R 90S against far more advanced Japanese machinery. Pridmore has operated the CLASS motorcycle school since 1986. He is the father of former AMA and current World Endurance racer Jason Pridmore.

Former World Superbike rider Akira Yanagawa (JP) was born on this date in 1971. Yanagawa raced in WSBK full-time from 1997 through 2001, taking three wins and twenty-three podium finishes. More recently, Yanagawa has ridden in the All-Japan Superbike championship and served as a development rider for the Kawasaki MotoGP effort. Yanagawa was entered as a Kawasaki wildcard at the 2007 Motegi MotoGP round, where he finished seventeenth.

July 16

Kevin Magee (AU) was born on this date in 1962. Magee rode in the 500cc world championship from 1987 through 1993, taking one win, in the 1988 Spanish Grand Prix at Jarama. Magee may be best known to American fans as the rider who performed a burnout on the cool-down lap of the 1989 U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca. The smoke from the burnout obscured the track, and Bubba Shobert collided with the stationary Magee, incurring severe head injuries in an accident that ended his riding career. Magee now serves as a commentator at Australian Superbike events and Australian rounds of the world championships.

July 17

Happy birthday to Anthony West (AU), who was born on this date in 1981. West spent two years with the Kawasaki MotoGP team before moving to the Stiggy Honda World Supersport squad for the 2009 season. West is presently sixth in the points standings.

Anthony West - <i>Matteo Cavadini/Alex Photo</i>

Anthony West - Matteo Cavadini/Alex Photo

AMA Pro Flat Track competitor Jake Johnson (US) was born on this date in 1984. A two-time AMA Grand National Pro Singles champion, Johnson rides for the SuperTrapp Honda team in Pro Singles, and he rides a Johnny Goad-tuned Harley-Davidson in Twins. Johnson is currently seventh in Pro Singles and ninth in Pro Twins points.

July 18

Renzo Pasolini (IT) was born on this date in 1938. Pasolini took six wins in his nine-year Grand Prix career, which began in 1964. Riding Aermacchis and Benellis in the 250cc and 350cc classes, Pasolini was a regular on the podium and finished as championship runner-up two times. Pasolini lost his life along with Jarno Saarinen in an accident during the Italian 250cc Grand Prix at Monza in 1973.

Famed Ducati engineer Fabio Taglioni (IT) passed away on this date in 2001. Taglioni was the chief designer and technical director of Ducati from 1954 until 1989. Upon arriving at Ducati, Taglioni designed the bevel-driven overhead cam single-cylinder engine that was a part of the Ducati lineup until 1974. He was also responsible for integrating desmodromic valve operation, which was used on Mercedes Benz grand prix cars, into Ducati motorcycles. Alongside his desmo system, Taglioni’s most important contribution at Ducati may be the L-twin engine, which he designed in 1970. Though bevel-gear cam drives were replaced by belts in 1980, the basic architecture of Taglioni’s design remained remarkably unchanged, although a four-valve superbike engine was introduced in 1985. In production for close to forty years, the L-twin configuration continues to be a Ducati signature.

July 19

Niall MacKenzie (UK) was born on this date in 1961. The Scotsman is a three-time British Superbike champion with Yamaha (1996-1998). Prior to his successes in the British championship, MacKenzie rode in the Grand Prix series, taking no wins in eleven seasons in either the 250cc or 500cc categories. Mackenzie retired from racing in 2000.