Until the 1970s, North America was considered a backwater with respect to world championship level motorcycle roadracing, a place where provincial hillbillies rode around in circles on tracks made of dirt. Suddenly, North American riders exploded onto the world roadracing scene. Kenny Roberts was the first U.S rider to capture a championship, followed by Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz, Kenny Roberts Jr., and Nicky Hayden. This book covers all the great American champions plus top contenders.