The 10 Best Rivalries
THE 10 BEST RIVALRIES
On the track, in the showrooms and on the newsstands, they waged two wars: one against all competition, and a separate battle against one another
Hannah vs Howerton
Bob "Hurricane" Hannah never had to look very far for a rival; anyone in second place was enemy enough. But in 1981, while attempting a comeback after breaking his leg in a water-skiing accident, Hannah battled moto after moto with Kent Howerton for the 250cc National Championship, banging and bumping throughout the season. This duo not
only was in combat on the track, but blistered each other off the track as well as in the press. Hannah arguably won the war of words, but in the end, Howerton won his second consecu tive 250 championship.
Harley-Davidson vs. The British
For a generation of riders, racing in America meant dirt-track and TTs. And everyone seemed to take for granted that winners rode Harleys. Then, as a harbinger of things to come, a Norton < won Daytona in 1941. Ten years later, the British invasion was in full swing, with Matchless, BSA and Triumph Singles and Twins becoming ever more competitive and numerous. Harley had to scramble to keep pace with the British bikes, which were championed by the legendary Dick Mann. But Harleys continued to be the fans’ favorites, destining H-D riders with names like Rayborn, Lawwill, Markel and Resweber to became American folk heroes.
Harley-Davidson vs. The Japanese
In the early 1980s, Harley was having a hard time of it. The Japanese were beginning to entice more of H-D’s traditional market with American-
styled models that were more reliable, more sophisticated and less expensive. So, in 1983, Harley convinced the U.S. government to place a considerably stiffer tariff on imported motorcycles of 700cc and larger. By slowing down the sales of Japanese bikes, that move gave H-D time to improve its manufacturing techniques and start building a better motorcycle. The strategy worked, contributing greatly to Harley’s vastly increased sales during recent years in the face of a declining overall motorcycle market.
Harley-Davidson vs. Indian
By the mid-1930s, it was clear that Indian and Harley-Davidson were the motorcycle industry in America. And throughout the depression years, both companies struggled to cut themselves a bigger piece of a shrinking motorcycling pie. Indian’s tactic was to build more models, while Harley’s strategy was to keep upping engine displacement. For 20 years, the companies battled on the sales floor and in dirt-track racing, until 1953, when a series of devastating business moves put Indian out of business while the machines were still competitive.
Johnson vs. Ward
The Hannah-Howerton rivalry of 1981 was a classic battle but rather short-lived. Ricky Johnson and Jeff Ward, however, have been going at it for more than four years now, and that confrontation shows no signs of letting up. For each of the last three seasons, they have swapped titles, with one of the two winning the Supercross title one year but losing the outdoor championship to the other, then reversing roles the follow-
Roberts vs. Scott
It began in 1970 when Kenny Roberts and Gary Scott both were AMA Novice dirt-trackers. Week after week, particularly at Ascot Speedway, Scott and Roberts would wage war on the oval tracks, usually putting on a more exciting show than the Experts. Even though Roberts claimed to get along pretty well with most racers, he said, “I did come quite close once or twice to not liking
Gary Scott.” From 1972 through 1977, Roberts and Scott were joined like Siamese twins in the final point standings, with Scott ending up ahead of Roberts in four of those six seasons. The rivalry came to an end when Roberts headed for the Grand Prix circuit in Europe.
ing year. And while their on-track clashes have sometimes rivaled those fabled duels of Hannah and Howerton, both Johnson and Ward have carried their professionalism one step farther by maintaining a non-combative attitude toward one another off the track.
Americans vs. Europeans
Until the mid-Seventies, Americans couldn’t get international motorcycle racing right. In motocross, the Europeans, from Torsten Hallman to Roger De Coster, kicked our behinds until a few Americans—the likes of Brad Lackey and Jim Pomeroy, the first American to win a motocross GP—began to turn things around. And in roadracing, our riders—who still tried to put a foot down in corners—didn’t have a chance against the likes of Phil Read, Giacomo Agostini and Barry Sheene. Finally, Dick Mann, Dave Aldana and Cal Rayborn began to get attention on the road circuits; and when Kenny Roberts went to Europe, he started a trend of Americans beating the Europeans that continues today.
Honda vs. Yamaha
In late 1981, Yamaha was poised to overtake Honda as the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles. At its annual shareholder meeting, Yamaha President Koike announced, “In one year, we will be the domestic leader. And in two years, we will be
Number One in the world.” This didn’t go unnoticed by Honda, whose President Kawashima responded: “We will crush Yamaha.”
One year later, as a result of Honda’s near-revolutionary newmodel lineup and aggressive marketing tactics, Yamaha surrendered, having suffered close to a 50-percent loss of sales. Koike said, “I would like to end the Honda-Yamaha war.” To which Yamaha Chairman Kawakami added, “We plunged like a diving jet”—just before removing Koike from office.
Cycle World vs. Cycle
From its beginnings in 1962 until the end of the Sixties, Cycle World was the unquestioned leader and trendsetter among the motorcycle magazines. But shortly after its 1965 purchase from Floyd Clymer by ZiffDavis Publishing, Cycle emerged as a moto-mag powerhouse that provided Cycle World with formidable new competition. And ever since, the two have been in a class by themselves, locked in head-to-head combat to win the support of motorcycling enthusiasts everywhere. And even though these publications—the two largest genuine motorcycle magazines in the world—are now owned by the same company, the rivalry continues, on a slightly friendlier basis, perhaps, but a rivalry nonetheless.
Hailwood vs. Agostini
One of the finest motorcycle rivalries of all time existed between the legendary Mike Hailwood and the great Giacomo Agostini. As Hailwood once said, “After I left MV and signed with Honda, Agostini gave me the hardest rides I’d ever experienced. The racing between us was always really hard and uncompromising.” Their battles provided fans around the world with countless showdowns on the GP circuit, as well
as giving them the 1967 Isle of Mar TT. This may well have been the most memorable and dramatic TT ever, with Hailwood and Agostini running neck-and-neck until Ago’s MV broke down just a few miles from the finish.
