Mike Hale was the second-best AMA Superbike rider in 1995 and appeared to have eclipsed his Smokin’ Joe’s Honda teammate Miguel Duhamel at the end of that season. (Honda press kit photo)
Texan Mike Hale had a meteoric rise in road racing during the mid-1990s.
Hale, a Grand National flat track racer who was Rookie of the Year in that series, made a successful transition to road racing via the 883cc Sportster Series. From there he moved to AMA 600 Supersport racing and eventually Superbike all in the span of a couple of seasons.
By 1995 Hale was part of Honda’s factory Smokin’ Joe’s Racing squad. He really came into his own and was the only rider to make Miguel Duhamel look human that year. Hale won two AMA Superbike and two 600 Supersport rounds and finished second to his factory Honda teammate Duhamel in both. He even scored a surprising podium finish in the American round of the World Superbike Championship at Laguna Seca.
Hale, who was just 22-years-old, was the hottest property in road racing. But after a spectacular first full season in Superbike, Hale and his management team made what many consider a critical mistake. Instead of taking the confidence and skills he’s gained in ’95 and return for a run at the ’96 AMA Superbike Championship, Hale made the jump to World Superbike.
Mike Hale circa 1995. (Honda press photo)
The transition was tough. Riding new bikes (Ducati) on new tracks and new tires proved difficult for a rider in only his second full season of Superbike racing. Hale finished ranked 11th in both the 1996 and ’97 World Superbike standings. He never was able to duplicate his podium performance of his debut World Superbike race.
After an ill-fated attempt at World Championship 250 Grand Prix racing, Hale took some time off from racing and eventually made a solid comeback in Formula Xtreme and finished fourth in the 2002 series, racing once again for Honda.
Hale also did some AMA Supermoto racing in the mid-2000s.
For a time in the mid-1990s Mike Hale was considered the heir apparent in AMA Superbike racing. The way he rode at the end of 1995 left little doubt he would have been one of the favorites, if not the favorite to win the ’96 championship. You can’t fault Hale for trying to make the jump to World Superbike. Some very good riders have never made the attempt, but in Hale’s case the consensus among racing pundits is that he made the move a year or two too soon.
Rider Files 
And what a great guy, to boot! So grounded and always had time for the fans. I was fortunate to get to talk to him several times-back in the 90s and again in mid 00s-and he always remembered me (even if he didn’t he acted like he did–maybe it was all the pics I would cram in front of him for autographs.) It’s always a pleasure to talk with and to him. He just always came acrossed as a truly genuine down-to-earth kind of guy who appreciated his fans and what he was able to do. He is and has been missed in the paddock!
Stu
LikeLike
Stu
So right. Mike was a great rider, great with the fans and media – a real dream rider for the AMA. His career goes to show you that timing is everything. Think about him staying here in ’96. He might have won the championship, had two years of Superbike racing under his belt and then be more than ready to go to World Superbike. As it was he didn’t quite have the experience to pull it off when he went over there and his confidence was shattered.
A lot of road racing is mental. Think about Polen after he moved to Honda and couldn’t come to terms with RC45 and then could find his mojo after coming back and racing Ducatis again.
Regardless of how his career played out, Hale was always a major positive force to have in the series.
Larry
LikeLike