A wonderful portrait of speedy Ulsterman Gary Cowan taken at Daytona in 1990 by Henny Ray Abrams. Cowan was coming off a solid 250cc Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship season where he scored a couple of top-10 finishes. Cowan then signed with Team Marlboro Roberts to race the AMA 250 Grand Prix Championship in 1990. Andy Leisner, who raced against Cowan at the GPs in ’89, predicted that Cowan would win the AMA 250GP title. “Last year in the GPs he had absolutely one of the slowest bikes, yet he could run with most of the factory guys. If he can learn the tracks here in the U.S., he’ll win the championship easy.” Sadly, Cowan crashed while leading in the opening round at Daytona and was paralyzed. It was a stunning end to such a promising career. Cowan then entered a long period of rehab. He was touched by the outpouring of letters and the fundraising that was done in America, even though he’d only been here for one race. About two or three years after his crash Cowan went to Russia for experimental treatment and it was reported he was able to stand again with his knees locked. And that was the last I heard of Cowan. If you want to be totally entertained, watch this epic race where Cowan raced his slow 250 against a fast 500cc GP bike and a Superbike and gave them hell. https://youtu.be/1yEkLsm3Z3A?si=gkayPOseQr51Yoe2
Rider Files 