Every sport has its greats. In basketball, there is Michael Jordan; baseball, Babe Ruth; even in skateboarding, there’s Tony Hawk. Motorsports are no different. In motorcycle racing, there are some highly distinguishable riders of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. With that, here are some of the greatest Superbike riders of all time.
Jonathan Rea
Jonathan Rea is a Northern Irish Superbike racer and current 2019 champion. Following a few high-placed finishes from 2009 to 2014, Rea won five championships from 2015 to 2019. Rea rides a Kawasaki ZX-10RR, known for its narrow chassis, low weight, and radial brakes. The redesigned engine gave higher revolutions and greater power output when riding. As of his 2018 and 2019 wins, Rea surpassed Carl Fogarty for the most successive Superbike World Championship titles.
Carl Fogarty
Following Jonathan Rea is Carl Fogarty. Fogarty is a British Superbike champion who earned four world championship titles throughout his career in the 1990s. Fogarty won the 1994 and 1995 races, then followed a few losing years with the 1998 and 1999 wins. He is famous in the racing community for his high corner speed and aggressive competitiveness. Fogarty was able to get a sponsorship for racing from Ducati Performance with the Ducati 916 (1994, 1995, 1998) and its successor, the Ducati 996 (1999). Unfortunately, serious injuries from a racing accident in 2000 forced Fogarty to retire.
Fred Merkel
Another of the greatest Superbike racers of all time is Fred Merkel. Born in Stockton, California, Merkel is a two-time Superbike World champion. He is best known for his wins in 1988 and 1989, making him historically renowned. Riding for Rumi Honda, Merkel drove the Honda RC30 for three AMA Superbike championship wins, tying for the most wins with rider Mat Mladin. Like Carl Fogarty, Merkel retired after an injury from an accident in 1995. He is an inducted member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
Scott Russell
Finally, Scott Russell is a name many motorcycle enthusiasts know. While only a one-time AMA Superbike World champion, Russell took home the 1993 first-place trophy. Russell is more notable for his five Daytona 200 wins, earning him the nickname “Mr. Daytona.” Still, his 1993 win on the Kawasaki ZXR-750 for Team Muzzy Kawasaki made Russell the leading racer in the 750cc class. As another member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, Russell currently trains up-and-coming riders at the Yamaha Champions Riding School.
