Kevin Schwantz sits on the Yoshimura Suzuki GSXR750 as he waits for the start of the 1987 AMA Superbike race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. The Yoshimura crew is at his side. On the far left is Don Sakakura, who rose through the ranks from mechanic to Vice President of Yoshimura. Schwantz was on a tear at the end of the ’87 season. He won five of the last six races, including this race at Mid-Ohio, but it wasn’t enough. Honda’s Wayne Rainey was more consistent and took the title by a mere nine points in what was one of the fiercest battles in the history of the series. Click here for a link to Yoshimura R&D history.
Kevin Schwantz sits on the Yoshimura Suzuki GSXR750 as he waits for the start of the 1987 AMA Superbike race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. (Larry Lawrence photo)
Rider Files 
That was the year I first recognized Schwantz’s speed. At the race at Loudon Schwantz handily beat Rainey. It was the only time I ever saw Schwantz out front looking slow and smooth (fast) and Rainey chasing looking fast and frantic (slow). Never before or after did I see this dynamic with these two.
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Ed, That was the turn around race for Schwantz, in terms of starting to win races. I think Rainey had won the three rounds up to Loudon.
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Schwantz came to Loudon a week early and practiced at the club races.
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Schwantz won Road America that year, which I believe was the round prior to Mid Ohio. After this race I seem to remember that the Honda and Suzuki teams protested each other and had to pull engines for inspection.
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