Thomas Stevens racing a Yoshimura Suzuki GSXR750 Superbike at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 1993. Three years at Yoshimura produced only a single podium for Stevens, but what a memorable podium it was. In the 1995 Daytona 200 Stevens passed then new World Superbike rider Colin Edwards on the last lap to secure the spot. That ride was one of Stevens’ proudest moments he later said. (Larry Lawrence photo)

Thomas Stevens won the AMA Superbike Championship in 1991 riding for Vance & Hines Yamaha. When he couldn’t come to terms with the team he took his No. 1 plate and moved to Muzzy Kawasaki for 1992. That year he finished a solid second in the series to teammate Scott Russell.

Moving to a third factory team in three years, Stevens raced with Yoshimura Suzuki in 1993. He stayed with the team through ’95.

Unfortunately this was low ebb for Suzuki. In one of Yoshimura’s longest droughts, the team didn’t manage a single win during that three-year period.

The 1995 Daytona 200 podium with Thomas Stevens, Scott Russell and Carl Fogarty. (Courtesty DIS)

Stevens scored only a single podium in the three years with the team, but that podium finish was a memorable one. In the 1995 Daytona 200 Stevens passed then newly hired Yamaha World Superbike rider Colin Edwards on the last lap to secure the spot. It was an outstanding achievement by Stevens racing a motorcycle that was outgunned by its competition.

During the post-race press conference Stevens, without naming names, indirectly derided an editorial in American Roadracing written by yours truly (Larry Lawrence) criticizing factory teams for staying with riders who I felt were past their prime instead of hiring young guns to give them a chance. I actually named Stevens in the article. It proved to be a regrettable decision.

“Some in the media have written me off,” Stevens said after his amazing Daytona 200 ride. “And I take great pleasure in proving them wrong.”