1974: One of Kenny Roberts’ most important years. The Modesto, California native, crowned in 1973 for the first time in the AMA Championship with a record-breaking 2,014 points scored in 25 races entered once again these racing series mixing road racing, tourist trophies, short track, mile and half-mile races.
Even though he took the national title in 1973 in his second season as a professional racer, Roberts faced a lot of criticism, notably fueled by his relatively low number of wins in 1973, as he only won 3 races to clinch the AMA title. In 1974, he would quiet down his detractors in the best possible manner.
Now 22 and in his 3rd season as an “expert” (the name given to professional racers) of the American Motorcyclist Association Grand National championship, he was about to complete an exploit only few riders have done in AMA history. On August 18th, 1974, when he comes to the start line of the Peoria Tourist Trophy, Roberts is only one win away from the Grand Slam, a title granted to the racer who wins at least one event in each category over the course of his career.
Until Kenny Roberts’ Grand slam completion in 1974, only Dick Mann had managed this prowess, but it had taken him 17 years to do so. Only two other racers managed the Grand Slam since 1974. Roberts also was only a single race away from completing the Grand Slam within a single season, but he never managed to take first place in any of the half-mile races in 1974. He corrected this in 1975 and completed a Grand Slam again despites losing his AMA title to Gary Scott.
At the end of the 1974 season, Roberts had not only clinched a second title, but he also scored another record breaking 2,286 points in 23 races, scoring in every race, winning 6 events and finishing 13 times on the podium.
We are proud to offer this exceptional Dirt Track Yamaha XS 650. Used by “King Kenny” on the Short Track, Half-Mile and Mile events in 1974, this motorcycle allowed Roberts to claim two victories and finished 6 times on the podium.
This machine is the authentic motorcycle used by Kenny Roberts during the 1974 season, the very one who allowed him to win several events which contributed to his Grand Slam. Complete and in excellent mechanical condition, this Yamaha XS 650 remained in the same condition as it was at the end of the 1974 season.
This is a unique opportunity to purchase a motorcycle which widely contributed to the legend of “King Kenny”. |
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