Speed Dating: September 28 - October 4

September 28

Fred Merkel (US) was born on this date in 1962. Merkel won the AMA Superbike title three times, from 1984 through 1986, riding for the Honda factory team. Merkel later competed in the inaugural season of the World Superbike series in 1989, taking that series’ first title with two wins. He backed up that feat with another WSBK crown in 1989. After four more seasons in World Superbike, Merkel returned to the U.S. to finish his career in the AMA series, retiring from racing in 1995.

September 29

Dani Pedrosa (ES) was born on this date in 1985. A three-time world champion, Pedrosa currently rides for the Repsol Honda MotoGP team. Pedrosa won the 2003 125cc world championship and then scored back-to-back 250cc world titles in 2004 and 2005. Pedrosa has ridden for Repsol Honda since 2006, finishing as high as second in the championship in 2007. Despite his success, Pedrosa has yet to score more than two victories in a MotoGP season, and is currently third in the championship entering this weekend’s round in Portugal.

Gregorio Lavilla (ES) was born on this date in 1974. Lavilla competed in the World Superbike series from 1998 until 2004, but moved to the British Superbike series in 2005, where he won the championship riding for the Airwaves Ducati team. Lavilla returned to WSBK last year, and has ridden this season for the Guandalini Ducati team.

Anton Mang (DE) was born on this date in 1949. Mang, who began competing in the world championships in 1975, took five world titles during his career, three in 250cc (1980, 1981, and 1987) and two in 350cc (1981 and 1982). All of his crowns were won with Kawasaki except for his 1987 title, which he won with Honda equipment. By taking the 1987 250cc championship, Mang became the oldest man to ever win a Grand Prix title, at the age of 38. Mang retired in 1988 with forty-two GP wins.

Dominique Aegarter (CH) was born on this date in 1990. The Swiss rider has competed in the 125cc world championship since 2006 and has steadily improved his results, finishing sixteenth in the series in 2008. This year, Aegarter is riding for the Ajo Interwetten team, where he sits thirteenth in the standings entering this weekend’s round at Estoril.

On this date in 2002, Colin Edwards (US) beat Troy Bayliss in a head-to-head battle during the final race of the season at Imola to secure the World Superbike championship. The Honda-mounted Edwards had made up a massive points deficit to challenge Bayliss and his Ducati for the title. Edwards won eleven races that season, including the final eight, to narrowly beat Bayliss, who had fourteen victories on the season. In fact, the only other rider to score a victory that year was Makoto Tamada, at the Sugo round.

September 29

On this date in 2004, three-time Dakar winner Richard Sainct (FR) was killed while riding in the Pharoahs Rally in Egypt. Sainct, who won the Dakar rally in 1999, 2000, and 2003, was 34.

September 30

Happy birthday to Chris Peris (CA), who was born on this date in 1986. Peris spent two seasons in AMA Supersport before competing in the World Supersport championship in 2006 and 2007. He returned to race in the AMA series in 2008, where he finished fifth in Superstock and twelfth in Superbike. This season, Peris rode for the Erion Honda team. He finished seventh in AMA Pro Daytona SportBike, with a win at Road America.

Gary Hocking (ZW) was born on this date in 1937. Hocking, who grew up in Zimbabwe, won the 1961 350cc and 500cc world championships riding for the MV Agusta team. During his career, he scored nineteen wins in only thirty-eight events, winning exactly half of the races he entered. After retiring from motorcycle racing in 1962, Hocking turned to racing on four wheels, but was killed in practice for the 1962 Natal Grand Prix.

Mauro Sanchini (IT), who was born on this date in 1970, competed in WSBK from 2000 until 2007. During his career, Sanchini rode for the Pedercini Ducati and Bertocchi Kawasaki teams. His highest WSBK championship finish was eleventh, in 2003.

Happy birthday to Jason Pridmore (US), who was born on this date in 1969. Pridmore won the 1997 AMA 750cc Supersport championship as well as the 2002 Formula Xtreme title. Pridmore has also raced in the FIM Endurance World Championship (he currently races for BK Maco Racing), earning the title in 2003.  Pridmore is also the owner and operator of the Star School, teaching advanced riding and racing techniques.