Eddie Lawson - 4 World Championships
Steady Eddie: Four-time 500cc world champion and the first to win back-to-back titles on two different manufacturers.
Eddie Ray Lawson (born March 11, 1958) is an American former professional motorcycle racer. A four-time FIM 500cc road racing world champion, Lawson is prominent for being the first MotoGP competitor to win back-to-back 500cc world championships on machines from two different manufacturers. His record of not crashing and consistently finishing in the points earned him the nickname 'Steady Eddie'.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Rider
- Nationality
- American
- Teams
- Yamaha, Honda
- Status
- Retired
Lore & Background
Lawson won the 500cc World Championship in 1984, 1986, 1988, and 1989. He won the 1989 title for Honda after switching from Yamaha, becoming the first rider to win back-to-back championships on machines from different manufacturers. He also won the ABC Superbikers event in 1983 and 1985, the Suzuka 8 Hours in 1990, and the Daytona 200 in 1986 and 1993. After retiring from Grand Prix racing, he competed in Indy Lights and CART.
Reader's Guide
Lawson is the only rider to win the 500cc World Championship with both Yamaha and Honda in the two-stroke era. He is one of a limited group of riders who won races in the top class with three different manufacturers (Yamaha, Honda, Cagiva). He was inducted into the MotoGP Legends Hall of Fame in 2005.
Did You Know?
- Lawson's last Grand Prix victory came in 1992 on a Cagiva, which was also Cagiva's first win after ten years of racing.
- He won the Daytona 200 in 1986 and again in 1993 after coming out of retirement.
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