RIP Kenny Clark
Friday, January 7, 2022 at 9:36AM RIP Former Yamaha Racing Manager Kenny Clarke-Road Racing World Magazine
© 2022, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. By Don Emde.
We apologize for the bad news that former US Yamaha Racing Manager Kenny Clarke has died. His daughter Kim confirmed to me that he died at his home in Idaho in the last week of December. In addition to the sadness of losing a longtime friend to many of us, especially the people of the Yamaha world, as president of the Trail Blazers Club, we planned to honor him at a banquet in April. .. Hall of Fame.
His list of achievements on motorcycles is long. He raced at the professional level for some time in the 1960s, but then found a sports niche as a manager and organizer for both marketing and racing programs.
In his early days, he worked with Dick Mann and others to develop and create the legendary Yankee motorcycle.
In the early 1970s, he joined Yamaha and led a factory-level motocross team led by Perre Karsmakers. Immediately after Yamaha won the national title at both 250cc and 500cc levels.
He left Yamaha for several years in the mid-1970s to help Carroll Shelby develop a line of cast motorcycle wheels.
In 1977 Yamaha persuaded him to return to run the entire US racing program. From 1977 to 1989 he led Yamaha to 21 national championships.
In 1978, thanks to Clark’s support and others, Kenny Roberts went to Europe to compete in the World Grand Prix Championship and won three world titles in his career. Under Clark’s leadership, a total of 14 FIM World Championships have been achieved.
In addition to Kenny Roberts’ 1978 World Road Race title, Yamaha dominated the United States in both motocross and supercross with Bob Hanna, Rick Burgett and Broc Glover during the same season.
One of America’s most successful racing managers is gone, but it’s not forgotten. Just as it was shortly after the death of the prestigious Steve Johnson last year, the Trail Blazers will continue its plans to honor Kenny Clarke at the 77th annual banquet in Carson on April 2.
God Speed, Kenny Clarke.
https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/r-i-p-former-yamaha-racing-manager-kenny-clark/ RIP Former Yamaha Racing Manager Kenny Clarke-Road Racing World Magazine
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