In 1987 Doug Chandler was transitioning from a career in AMA Grand National Flat Track to road racing. He got a ride on a Freddie Spencer Racing/SuperTrapp Honda 750 Interceptor in AMA Superbike. For being a Superbike rookie Chandler proved to be a quick learner. He was a consistent top-10 and then top-five finisher. His experience on Formula 1 bikes over the previous three seasons had to help.

Here at Mid-Ohio, on Aug. 2, 1987, he finished fifth behind Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Rainey, Jimmy Filice and Bubba Shobert. On this day he finished ahead of road racing specialist such as Doug Polen, Gary Goodfellow and Dan Chivington.

By the end of the year Chandler earned his first AMA Superbike podium in Sonoma, Calif.

Doug Chandler en route to a fifth-place finish in the 1987 Mid-Ohio AMA Superbike race. Chandler raced a Honda VF750 sponsored by Freddie Spencer. (Larry Lawrence photo)