Throwback Thursday: Problems for Kenny Roberts at Laguna Seca (1981)

Larry Lawrence | April 21, 2016

Cycle News Photo Collection

In this week’s Throwback Thursday, we go back 35 years to Laguna Seca Raceway and the annual AMA Road Race National at the track, which saw many of America’s GP stars come back to showcase their talents in an AMA National. Check out the crowd in the background, which was reported to be 41,000. This photo shows Kenny Roberts crouched down next to his Yamaha, which was running rough after the team changed jets on the bike’s carbs. Looking back are Randy Mamola (No. 7) and Freddie Spencer (No. 19). Spencer was on Honda’s four-stroke GP bike the NR500. Mamola went on to win the race at Laguna that year after both Roberts and Spencer had issues with their bikes. Others in the shot are Wes Cooley (No. 34), David Aldana (No.40) and Roberto Pietri (No. 88).

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