Fred Merkel
Encyclopedia
Fred Merkel is an American
former motorcycle
road racer
and two-time Superbike world champion
.
In 1984 he teamed with Mike Baldwin
to win the Suzuka 8 Hours
endurance race. He is a three-time AMA Superbike
Champion, winning in 1984/5 on the VF750 and 1986 on the VFR750F. He jointly holds the record for the most wins in a season with Mat Mladin
.
In the Superbike World Championship
began, with Merkel entered on the RC30
. He won the championship from Fabrizio Pirovano
and Davide Tardozzi
with two wins and three other podiums. He successfully defended the crown in , with 3 wins, 7 other podiums, and 4 poles. He took three more wins en route to sixth overall in , but was less competitive after this.
Merkel retired from racing at the end of the 1995 season after being injured in an accident at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Arizona
. Merkel and his family moved to a ranch they owned in New Zealand
. He lives with his wife Carla his son Travis and as of the summer of 2009 welcomed newborn son Jhett. He was inducted into the AMA
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
in 2001.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
road racer
Road racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
and two-time Superbike world champion
Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship is the worldwide Superbike racing Championship. The championship was founded in . The Superbike World Championship season consists of a series of rounds held on permanent racing facilities...
.
In 1984 he teamed with Mike Baldwin
Mike Baldwin (motorcyclist)
Mike Baldwin is a former motorcycle road racer. He was a top contender in AMA Superbike racing during the 1980s who also competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing....
to win the Suzuka 8 Hours
Suzuka 8 Hours
The is a motorcycle endurance race held at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan each year. As the name implies, the race runs for eight hours consecutively and teams are composed of two riders and one alternate.-History:...
endurance race. He is a three-time AMA Superbike
AMA Superbike
AMA Pro Superbike is the premiere superbike racing series in the United States. It is part of the AMA Pro Racing series which was sold to and is managed by the Daytona Motorsports Group...
Champion, winning in 1984/5 on the VF750 and 1986 on the VFR750F. He jointly holds the record for the most wins in a season with Mat Mladin
Mat Mladin
Mathew "Mat" Mladin is a retired Australian professional motorcycle racer who last raced for Yoshimura Suzuki in the AMA Superbike series...
.
In the Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship is the worldwide Superbike racing Championship. The championship was founded in . The Superbike World Championship season consists of a series of rounds held on permanent racing facilities...
began, with Merkel entered on the RC30
Honda VFR750R
The Honda VFR750R, frame designation RC30, was a fully faired racing motorcycle created for homologation purposes for the World Superbike championship by Honda Racing Corporation . It was first released to the Japanese market in 1987. American enthusiasts had to wait until 1990 to get their hands...
. He won the championship from Fabrizio Pirovano
Fabrizio Pirovano
Fabrizio Pirovano is a former motorcycle road racer from Biassono.When the Superbike World Championship began in , he was one of its first entrants, finishing as championship runner-up in and , and in the top five four other times. He won 10 races and took 37 further podium finishes. He is in the...
and Davide Tardozzi
Davide Tardozzi
Davide Tardozzi is a former Italian Superbike racer and current race team manager.After an unsuccessful attempt at competing in the 250cc Grand Prix world championships in 1984 and 1985, Tardozzi turned his attentions to superbike racing...
with two wins and three other podiums. He successfully defended the crown in , with 3 wins, 7 other podiums, and 4 poles. He took three more wins en route to sixth overall in , but was less competitive after this.
Merkel retired from racing at the end of the 1995 season after being injured in an accident at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Arizona
Chandler, Arizona
-Demographics:As of the Census of 2010, there were 236,123 people, 86,924 households, and 60,212 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 73.3% White, 4.8% Black or African American, 1.5% Native American, 8.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 21.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 8.3%...
. Merkel and his family moved to a ranch they owned in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He lives with his wife Carla his son Travis and as of the summer of 2009 welcomed newborn son Jhett. He was inducted into the AMA
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is an offshoot of the American Motorcyclist Association that recognizes individuals who have contributed to motorcycle sport, motorcycle construction and motorcycling in general. It displays motorcycles and riding gear and memoribilia. The museum is located in...
in 2001.