16 Facts About Kevin Schwantz

Kevin James Schwantz was born on June 19,1964 and is an American former professional motorcycle road racer.

Kevin Schwantz competed in the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championships from 1988 to 1995, most prominently as a member of the Suzuki factory racing team where he won the 1993 world championship.

Kevin Schwantz began his competitive career as a trials rider, following his father and Uncle, Darryl Hurst, in that sport.

Kevin Schwantz finished seventh overall in the championship despite only competing in half the races.

Kevin Schwantz finished second to Eddie Lawson in the 1986 Daytona 200 on the new Suzuki GSX-R750.

Rainey eventually won the National Championship but Kevin Schwantz closed the season winning five out of six races.

Kevin Schwantz began 1988 by winning the season-opening Daytona 200 in what would be his only win in that prestigious event.

Kevin Schwantz then departed for Europe as Suzuki promoted him to its 500cc Grand Prix team where he made an immediate impact by winning the 1988 Japanese Grand Prix in the opening round at Suzuka, Japan; it was only his seventh Grand Prix ride in total, having experienced wild card rides in 1986 on the old square four RG500 and in 1987 on the first version of the V4 RGV500.

Kevin Schwantz was often at a disadvantage in that his Suzukis never seemed to be as fast as those of his Yamaha and Honda mounted rivals.

Kevin Schwantz culminated his career in 1993 by winning his only 500cc World Championship.

Early in the 1995 season, after a conversation with Rainey, Kevin Schwantz decided to retire from motorcycle competition.

Kevin Schwantz had accumulated 25 Grands Prix wins during his career, one more than his great rival, Wayne Rainey.

Kevin Schwantz was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.

Kevin Schwantz co-designed the Circuit of the Americas racetrack with Tavo Hellmund and German architect and circuit designer Hermann Tilke.

Kevin Schwantz has operated a riding school since circa 2001 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Kevin Schwantz was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2019.