Larry Lawrence | January 6, 2022
Kenny Clark, one of the most successful racing managers of all time, passed away last week at his home in Idaho according to his family.
Kenny Clark (standing, far right), Team Yamaha Race Manager with Kenny Roberts, recently passed away.
Clark directed Yamaha’s racing efforts in the U.S. for a little over a decade starting in 1978 and oversaw a very successful period for nearly all of Yamaha’s racing programs. Clark also had a major influence in U.S. Yamaha backing Kenny Roberts’ efforts to race in the FIM 500cc Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championships.
In a 2013 interview with Cycle News, Clark was asked what was the most memorable act he took in directing Yamaha’s racing programs over the years and his answer was a bit of a surprise.
It was the launch of the Yamaha FZR600 in 1989. AMA 600 Supersport had become the “win on Sunday, sell on Monday’ class and 600cc sport bikes were selling like hotcakes. The FZR was a strong entry to challenge to Honda’s 600 Hurricane and Suzuki’s Katana, no doubt, but Clark was taking no chances.
They call it “outside the box” thinking today and the rider choice Clark came up with was inspired to say the least. He decided to put John Kocinski on the new FZR, along with four other riders. Kocinski, who had been racing 250GP bikes, had no experience on Supersport bikes, nevertheless, he was absolutely brilliant on the new FZR, and he ran away with a dominating victory. It was one of the most successful launches of a sport bike ever. Sales numbers went through the roof.
Clark left Yamaha in 1989 after budget disagreements with Japan-based management. “I don’t think anyone ever knew I was forced out,” Clark said. “I just told the media that Yamaha could afford to either pay me or Damon Bradshaw and Bradshaw is a lot faster.”
Clark then went on to head a team that won personal watercraft championships with backing from Bombardier. Clark brought in his old Yamaha cohort Kel Carruthers to build the motors in the watercraft effort. That was Clark’s last job in racing.
In his retirement years, Clark lived in Idaho and enjoyed spending time with his grandkids, riding his various off-road motorcycles, and driving his Chevy Trailblazer SS.
