Kevin Schwantz’ face is almost totally covered by the laurel after winning the AMA Superbike race at Mid-Ohio in 1987 riding a Yoshimura Suzuki. On the left holding the trophy and hat is Honda’s Wayne Rainey who finished second. Factory Yamaha ace Jimmy Filice is on the far right. Filice finished third. Mid-Ohio started a three-race winning streak for Schwantz. He followed up with wins at Memphis and Sears Point, but came up nine points short of Rainey in the battle for the championship.

Kevin Schwantz is smothered by his laurel as he celebrates his 1987 Mid-Ohio Superbike victory. Joining Schwantz on the podium is eventual series champ Wayne Rainey (left) and third-place finisher Jimmy Filice (right). (Larry Lawrence photo)