Californian, Eddie Lawson, born this day in 1958, joined Yamaha’s 500cc Grand Prix team alongside Kenny Roberts in 1983 after winning the AMA Superbike championship on a Kawasaki the previous two years.
He took one year to learn the bike and the circuits before winning the championship in 1984. Then again in 1986, and again in 1988. Despite being so successful on the Yamaha, Eddie made the switch to Rothmans Honda in 1989. Proving that it was the rider, not just the bike, he took the crown again, becoming the first rider to win back-to-back championships for different manufacturers.
Although he didn’t win another championship, Lawson did win a race in 1992 riding for Cagiva. In doing so he joined an exclusive club of riders who’ve won for three different manufacturers (Mike Hailwood, Randy Mamola, Loris Capirossi and Maverick Vinales).