Before the USGP came to Laguna Seca Raceway in 1988, arguably the biggest road race in America was the AMA National at Laguna Seca every July. All of America’s GP stars had a summer break and would return home to race against the best AMA Formula One riders. This shot is from the start of one of the 1986 races. The national at Laguna ran in two legs. This was the last year of AMA F1 racing and by then true GP bike in the series were rare and the fields were normally filled out by a bunch of Superbike riders looking to make some extra money. This year Mike Baldwin (No. 1 Kool Yamaha) returned from the GPs and beat GP teammate Randy Mamola (No. 8) to score the victory. Also visible in the shot are Wayne Rainey (No. 6) getting the holeshot, Kork Ballington (No. 99), Doug Chandler (No. 10), Eddie Lawson (No. 4), Keith Pinkstaff (No. 21), Larry Shorts (No. 20), Miles Baldwin (No. 22), Gary Goodfellow (No. 499), Doug Polen (No. 265), Doug Brauneck (No. 46), Dr. Dave Kieffer (No. 91), Carry Andrew (No. 41), David Harris (No. 90), Malcolm Hill (No. 181), Dave Schlosser (No. 59) and Randy Renfrow and Dan Chivington tucked in behind Mike Baldwin.

The start of one of the legs of the July 13, 1986 AMA Formula One race at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, Calif. Mike Baldwin (No. 1) returned from GP racing that year to win the overall ahead of teammate Randy Mamola (No. 8). Also visible in the shot are Wayne Rainey (No. 6) getting the holeshot, Kork Ballington (No. 99), Doug Chandler (No. 10), Eddie Lawson (No. 4), Keith Pinkstaff (No. 21), Larry Shorts (No. 20), Miles Baldwin (No. 22), Gary Goodfellow (No. 499), Doug Polen (No. 265), Doug Brauneck (No. 46), Dr. Dave Kieffer (No. 91), Carry Andrew (No. 41), David Harris (No. 90), Malcolm Hill (No. 181), Dave Schlosser (No. 59) and Randy Renfrow and Dan Chivington tucked in behind Mike Baldwin. (Photo by Paul Carruthers/Cycle News Collection)