Marco “Lucky” Lucchinelli, the 1981 FIM 500cc World Champion, came to Daytona in 1986 and raced Ducati’s TTF1 to victory in the Pro Twins (Battle of the Twins) final over the exotic Cosworth ridden by England’s Paul Lewis and Gene Church, who rode the famous Lucifer’s Hammer Harley-Davidson. This is the podium celebration and that’s Lucchinelli in the middle with Lewis (in the Skoal Bandit leathers) and Church (right). Having a rider of Lucchinelli’s stature race in the Pro Twins series gave the championship perhaps its zenith of popularity.

Marco Lucchinelli (center) celebrates his victory in the 1986 Daytona Pro Twins (Battle of the Twins) race. He won over Cosworth mounted Paul Lewis (left) and Harley-Davidson’s Gene Church (right). (Courtesy DIS)