Most people associate Freddie Spencer with Honda and some may remember him racing for Ferracci Ducati, but you have to be a major AMA Superbike enthusiast to recall that Fast Freddie’s first two AMA Superbike wins came aboard a factory Kawasaki KZ1000. Spencer, who was just 17, making him the youngest ever AMA Superbike winner, ran away and hid at the Sears Point event in July of 1979. A couple of weeks later Spencer won again on the same bike at Laguna Seca. So while Spencer and Honda will always be linked, in AMA Superbike it was Kawasaki that had the honor of helping to give the young star from Louisiana his first win.
A Kerker ad featuring Freddie Spencer’s AMA Superbike wins on a factory Kawasaki KZ1000 in 1979.
Rider Files 
Larry……..I saw Freddie win his 1st SB at Sears and his last SB at Laguna on a Monday.
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It was Kawasaki who the majority of the American 500cc GP World Champions started in their factory careers: Mike Baldwin (though his experience there was shattering, so-to-speak), Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey. Gary Mathers had something to do with most of those, as well.
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Wow Larry, great find!!
I had a Kerker on my first “superbike”, a ’74 CB400F, as did many of our gang/PVR/racers of the day.. Many memories and many great sounds from that reverse megaphone…
Thanks again, and more vintage club RR pics please ! (vs current MX )
Regards, great site! DH
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