Speed Dating: September 7-13

September 7

Norifumi Abe (JP) was born on this date in 1975. A three-time 500cc Grand Prix winner, “Norick” Abe was a regular in the premier class from 1994 until 2004. His spectacular style and grit made him a favorite of fans around the world, but especially endeared him to those in his native Japan. Abe was killed in a traffic accident in 2007 when he was struck by a truck while riding his scooter in Kawasaki Kanagawa, Japan.

September 9

Sebastien Gimbert (FR) was born on this date in 1977. Gimbert currently rides for the GMT94 Yamaha France team in the Endurance World Championship. Gimbert competed with limited success in the World Superbike and Supersport series, but has thrived in the endurance championship, scoring wins in the Bol d’Or and Le Mans, as well as taking the 2004 EWC team title.

Matt Lynn (US) was born on this date in 1984. Lynn has ridden in the AMA Superbike series since 2005, riding for a variety of teams including KWS/Millennium Technologies, Eraldo Ferracci’s 2007 MV Agusta effort, and Corona Extra Honda. This year, Lynn competed on a very limited schedule as a privateer in AMA Pro American Superbike and Daytona SportBike, riding Kawasaki equipment.

September 10

On this date in 2008, the Motorcycle Industry Council announced the formation of the United States Superbike (USSB) Championship, in response to the Daytona Motorsports Group’s revised regulations for the 2009 AMA Pro Road Racing season. Intended to compete head-to-head with AMA Pro Road Racing, the USSB series was to feature regulations more in line with the pre-DMG AMA Superbike rulebook, with MIC-controlled and factory-supported racing. The USSB never materialized, but this pressure from the MIC contributed to a round of heavy rules revisions by AMA Pro Road Racing for the 2009 season.

On this date in 1995, Yasutumo Nagai (JP) was fatally injured during the World Superbike race at Assen. Nagai fell on oil on the track, and the Yamaha he was riding landed on top of him. Nagai spent two days in a coma before succumbing to his injuries on September 12.

Fabio Taglioni (IT) was born on this date in 1920. 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 had been used on Mercedes Benz grand prix cars, into Ducati motorcycles. Alongside his desmo system, Taglioni’s most significant contribution at Ducati may be the iconic 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 has remained remarkably unchanged, and 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. Taglioni passed away in 2001.

September 11

Roger Reiman (US) was born on this date in 1939.  An AMA Grand National competitor, Reiman found success on road racing circuits, particularly at Daytona. Reiman won the Daytona 200 in 1961, the first year the race was held at Daytona International Speedway. Reiman would win the 200 again in 1964, the first year the race course included portions of the high-banked oval, which previously had bee considered too dangerous. Reiman won his third and final Daytona 200 in 1965, the only year the race was held in the rain. Reiman continued in vintage and twins racing until 1997, when he was killed during practice for a legends event at Daytona.

Barry Sheene (UK) was born on this date in 1950. Sheene won the 500cc world championship twice, in 1976 and 1977, riding for Suzuki. Leaving Suzuki for Yamaha in 1980, Sheene continued a great on-track rivalry with Kenny Roberts, but a serious crash in 1982 ended his hopes of another title. He retired from the championship in 1984, having scored podium finishes in over half of the Grand Prix races he entered. Sheene succumbed to cancer of the stomach and esophagus in 2003 at the age of 52.

Ben Attard (AU) was born on this date in 1980. Rising through the amateur ranks in his native Australia, Attard came to the United States in 2004 to race in the Suzuki 750cc Cup for the Corona Extra team. Attard later switched to Attack Kawasaki, competing in the Supersport and Formula Xtreme classes. Attard has now returned to Australia, where he rides for the Kawasaki Racing Team in the Australian Supersport series.

Oppie Caylor (US) was born on this date in 1973. An instructor at the Kevin Schwantz School, Caylor has won multiple WERA championships and was a 2002 recipient of the AMA Road Race Horizon Award.

Jeremy Toye (US) was born on this date in 1971. A longtime AMA and WERA competitor, Toye is also one of America’s premier “real roads” racers. Toye has become a regular competitor in the Isle of Man TT and the Macau GP, finishing 26th in the 2009 Superbike TT and as high as fourth in the Macau GP.

On this date in 1994, the United States Grand Prix was held at Laguna Seca, the last Grand Prix held in the U.S. until MotoGP returned to the track in 2005. Luca Cadalora won the race aboard a Yamaha, with Cagiva-mounted American John Kocinski taking second.

September 12

Sebastian Porto (AR) was born on this date in 1978. Porto spent the majority of his career racing in the 250cc world championship, from 1995 until 2006. The Argentine scored seven wins during his career, with a highest championship finish of second, in 2004. Porto retired partway through the 2006 season.

On this date in 1993, John Kocinski won the United States Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, riding for the Cagiva team. Though the race marked the return of Grand Prix racing to the United States after a one-year hiatus, the mood at the track was subdued by Wayne Rainey’s career-ending crash at Misano the week before. Kocinski’s win for Cagiva was the first for the factory in a dry race.

September 13

Steve McLaughlin (US) was born on this date in 1948. A successful amateur road racer in the 1960s, McLaughlin was a strong competitor in the early days of superbike racing, winning the first AMA Superbike race, held at Daytona International Speedway in 1976, onboard a BMW. McLaughlin moved to the Yoshimura team the following season, where he gave Suzuki their first AMA Superbike victory at the Laguna Seca round. After retiring from riding in 1980, McLaughlin became a tireless promoter of racing events, and was a key force in the creation of the Superbike World Championship.

On this date in 1948, Rollie Free (US) broke the American motorcycle land-speed record aboard a modified Vincent HRD. After tearing his leathers in earlier runs at the Bonneville salt flats, Free made his record run wearing a bathing suit, bathing cap, and sneakers, all while lying prone on the rear fender of his machine.  Racing to 150.313 MPH, Free captured the American speed record. A photographer following the run in a car snapped a picture of Free speeding down the salt in his bathing suit, and the image is now considered one of the most famous motorcycling photographs ever taken.

September 14

On this date in 2003, Dave Emde (US) was killed in a street bike accident in California. A successful AMA 250cc racer in the 1970s, Emde was killed while riding in the San Diego area.