Last month I filed a post about how crazy it was to race motorcycles at Rockingham. Here’s a photo I came across that illustrates the banking portion of the track a little better. At the bottom is Louisville, Kentucky-area rider Jim Kellogg. I’m not sure who the other rider higher on the banking is, but you can see the wall there showing how narrow the track is. Unlike the broader Daytona banking at Rockingham the radius was much tighter, yet the bikes could go through there nearly full throttle in top gear. It totally compressed the bike’s suspension and was a sight to see for sure. To ride the track was not for the faint of heart.
Riders race on the banking in a WERA race at Rockingham in 1986. (Larry Lawrence photo)
Rider Files 
Larry, I believe the other rider is Ben Martinez from Canada FZ750. I rode that race with my Dad , Jim, and won the Lightweight Production class on an RZ350. We won 10 out of 11 races that year finishing second at Loudon. Joe Ardolino was my other rider another fast guy from Joliet Ill.
Doug
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Doug,
Good to hear from you. Last time I saw you was when Cook Neilson were heading to breakfast. Maybe at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction? I think you’re right about the other rider being Martinez. And your team Royale Racing did amazing things on Lightweight machines. You guys put a lot of other teams to shame who were riding bikes with over twice the displacement. Thanks for leaving the comment.
Larry
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To varify, it was my father… Ben Martinez!
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Hey Guys,
Yes, that would be me on the 2x bike.
Ben Martinez
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we completely wore out the tire in a couple of hours that day.
Ben
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Though the banking at Pocono was broader, it wasn’t very steep–wasn’t brave enough to see if I could get the TZ750 around there at full throttle.
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