Motorcycle Roadracing Riders and Bikes Multiple Choice Quiz | Sports

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was renowned racer Mr. Hailwood's first name?

Answer: Stanley

Although known to the world of motorcycling as "Mike the Bike," his full birth name was Stanley Michael Bailey Hailwood.

2. Mr. Hailwood had some of his most renowned victories in one of the few races still run on public roads. Where is that race course?

Answer: The Isle of Man

Geographically isolated in the middle of the Irish Sea, that small island puts on a world-class racing event every year. The island residents are very supportive of the races, providing hundreds of volunteers to facilitate what is still one of the great spectacles in motor sport.

At most tracks, the mark of a racer's having cornered aggressively is severely worn knee pucks; on the Isle of Man, it's scuffs on the rider's helmet where he's brushed against rock walls.

3. After not having raced a motorcycle in 11 years, Mr. Hailwood won the IOM Senior TT. It was so unexpected and impressive a performance that the manufacturer of his race bike made a street-going model to commemorate the win. What company built that bike?

Answer: Ducati

Although mechanically undistinguished, many people still feel the Mike Hailwood Replica is one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever built.
The name was revived in 2000 on a very different, but also aesthetically-pleasing motorcycle.

4. Who was the second American to win a world roadracing title?

Answer: Kenny Roberts Sr.

Kenny made history by winning the 500cc World Championship the first year he entered in 1978. He also took the title in 1979 & '80, which reinforced his legend. Steve Baker became the first American world champion when he won the Formula 750 championship in 1977. Wester Cooley Jr. was AMA Superbike champion in 1979 and '80. Harvey Mushman was the racing pseudonym used by Steve McQueen.

5. Randy Mamola was, and is, one of the greatest riders the U.S. ever produced. He never won a world championship, but was in the top 5 more than once. How many times was Randy Mamola #2 in the world?

Answer: Four

In 1980 (behind Kenny Roberts); 1981 (Marco Lucchinelli); 1984 (Eddie Lawson); 1987 (Wayne Gardner). He was also the first rider I ever saw do a stoppie (a "heart-stoppie" the first time I saw it!), which became one of the signature stunts of this "Clown Prince" of racing.

6. What's the name of the man who followed his father in winning the world G.P. title?

Answer: Kenny Roberts Jr.

Having trained from childhood alongside world-class racers at his father's California ranch, Kenny Junior, or "KRJR," was well-prepared for Grand Prix competition. His championship-winning season, 2000, featured more than the normal number of races run in rain, which suited his slide-it-sideways training and experience perfectly.

7. Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey both were born in southern California, were successful dirt-track racers, roadraced 250s and Superbikes for Kawasaki, and won the 500cc Grand Prix title multiple times.

Answer: true

Eddie was from Upland, Wayne was from Downey. Eddie was world champ in '84, '86, '88, & 89; Wayne won in '90, '91, and '92. After Eddie's retirement from professional racing and Wayne's 1993 career-ending injury, they continued racing each other, in shifter karts.

8. Harley Davidson built a competitive MotoGP bike from 1989-1992.

Answer: False

The XR-derived Harleys have power and handling characteristics which make them great on dirt tracks, but the factory has had very little paved-surface success during the last 35 years.

9. What winner of both the AMA and World Superbike championships has the same name as an early 20th century motorcycle brand?

Answer: Fred Merkel

The bike was the Flying Merkel; Fred's nickname was "Flyin' Fred".

10. A publican from Northern Ireland was so successful in his chosen realm of racing that he was dubbed "King of the Roads". Who was that remarkable man?

Answer: Joey Dunlop

Besides having tremendous success as a racer, Joey was an inconspicuous but energetic humanitarian, buying and transporting food and medical supplies to war-torn regions of the world at his own expense. One of the safest racers ever, he died July 2nd, 2000, during a race in Estonia.

It is estimated that 50,000 people walked behind the hearse which bore him to his grave on July 7th. A plaque in his memory has been mounted at the start/finish line of the Isle of Man TT course.

11. What model Norton was named for a famous racing location?

Answer: Manx

Named for the Isle of Man, the Manx was built in several displacements, and in both short and long stroke versions. The 500cc Manx could well be considered the ultimate development of the Big Thumper.

12. As the sun set on the major successes of the English motorcycle industry around 1970, the Rising Sun of Japan started building some very exciting bikes. What Yamaha became the Overdog of road racing worldwide during the 1970s?

Answer: TZ750

The water-cooled 4-cylinder 2-stroke TZ was as technically removed from the Manx Norton as a space craft. It was viciously fast, and it and its descendants dominated road courses for years.
The X-6 Hustler was a 250cc Suzuki; the Virago a Yamaha cruiser (in a variety of engine sizes); the XS650 a Yamaha parallel twin which resembled an English bike.

13. Kenny Roberts raced a 2-stroke powered bike on a dirt track.

Answer: true

One time, at the 1975 Indianapolis Mile, King Kenny rode a bike powered by a TZ750 roadracing engine. He won by pinning the throttle on the final straight and passing Corky Keener and Jay Springsteen as if they'd stopped to check their tires. He then told the AMA officials that it should be banned from competition, and it was.

14. Which of these great Australian racers has not won a world championship?

Answer: Mat Mladin

Mat Mladin has won the American Motorcyclist Association's Superbike championship 6 times, but no world title. Wayne Gardner was 500cc Grand Prix champion in 1987; Troy Corser was World Superbike Champion in 1996 & 2005; Troy Bayliss was World Superbike champion in 2001 & 2006.

15. Father Floyd and son Don both won the Daytona 200, and brothers Bob and Dave both raced there. What is the last name of this racing family?

Answer: Emde

They were all talented racers. Don made it to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

Source: Author califpete

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Motorcycle Roadracing Riders and Bikes Quiz

We still call it road racing, even though it's rarely done (legally) on public roads now. I hope this quiz will entertain and educate you about the most exciting form of motorized competition.

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