Rich Oliver (97) leads the pack going into the first turn in the 1990 Daytona 250 Grand Prix. Oliver, riding the Team Marlboro/Roberts Yamaha, won the race over Japan’s Keiji Tamura (72) and Zimbabwean Robbie Petersen (16), who has the right idea by following Oliver into the turn. Also visible in the photo are Gary Cowan (30), Al Salaverria (22), Gary D’Aluisio (11), Joe Cole (17), Bernhard Schick (57), Daniel Coe (7), Johnny Wickstrom (63), Jonathan Cornwell (49), Eddie Laycock (29), Nick Ienatsch (64), Harald Eckl (71), Billy Graef (14), Lee Shierts (85), Cliff Bigoney (96), and Jim Bonner (27). Disaster happened on lap five when Cowan, who was leading the race at the time, crashed exiting the infield and going onto the West banking. Cowan, who was the 1987 British 250 GP National Champion, raced World Championship 250GP in 1989 and looked to have a very bright future in the sport, was paralyzed in the crash. After this race Team Marlboro/Roberts withdrew from the AMA series in a dispute over placing a series sticker on the bike and Oliver ended up racing the WERA Formula USA Series for the next couple of seasons as a result.

Rich Oliver (97) leads the pack going into the first turn in the 1990 Daytona 250 Grand Prix. Oliver, riding the Team Marlboro/Roberts Yamaha, won the race over Japan’s Keiji Tamura (72) and Zimbabwean Robbie Petersen (16), who has the right idea by following Oliver into the turn. (Photo courtesy DIS)