17 Facts About Freddie Spencer

Freddie Spencer was a racing prodigy who began racing at the age of four, competing in dirt track events near his hometown of Shreveport.

Freddie Spencer gave Honda their first-ever super bike victory when he won the Road America round of the 1980 AMA Superbike Championship.

Freddie Spencer gained international prominence at the 1980 US versus Britain Transatlantic Trophy match races when he won two legs at Brands Hatch, defeating World Champions Kenny Roberts and Barry Sheene in the process.

Freddie Spencer went on to finish third in the 1980 Superbike championships and second to Eddie Lawson in 1981.

In 1983, Freddie Spencer won his first 500cc World Championship at the age of 21, becoming the youngest person to win the title, a distinction previously held by Mike Hailwood.

Freddie Spencer's record has since been surpassed by Marc Marques in 2013.

Roberts won the last race but Freddie Spencer finished second, securing his first world title by two points.

Freddie Spencer began the season by winning the prestigious season opening Daytona 200.

Freddie Spencer won the Formula 1 and 250cc classes, making him the only rider to win all three divisions in a single year.

Freddie Spencer competed in both the 250cc and 500cc Grand Prix World Championships, winning both titles in the same year.

Freddie Spencer's career was cut short by wrist injuries that some believe were caused by the physical strain of competing in two championships during a single season.

Freddie Spencer retired from Grand Prix racing at the beginning of 1988, although there were a couple of GP comeback attempts, in 1989 and 1993.

Freddie Spencer returned to race in the AMA Superbike Championship in the 1990s, winning three races.

Freddie Spencer was eighth in 1991, riding a Honda for Two Brothers Racing, and went one better in 1992.

Freddie Spencer raced under several different marques during his racing career, winning his first Superbike National Championship race aboard a Kawasaki, but he is most closely associated with Honda and his partnership with Grand Prix tuner, Erv Kanemoto.

Freddie Spencer won all three of his world titles on Hondas with Kanemoto as head mechanic.

Freddie Spencer had a short stint with the Agostini Yamaha team and ended his career on a Ducati in the US National Championship.