A Quick Chat with Kevin Schwantz

No. 34, Kevin Schwantz, the most spectacular rider on the track in the 1980s

In 2006, when I was working for BIKE India magazine in Pune, I had an opportunity to do a (very brief) interview with Kevin Schwantz, winner of the 500cc motorcycle grand prix road racing world championship in 1993. While some other riders have won more world championships and have more race wins to their name, Schwantz’s flamboyant riding style and his all-or-nothing approach to motorcycle racing stand out to this day – something that legions of his fans will attest to. I have been a huge Schwantz fan ever since the late-1980s, when I first started watching motorcycle racing on television (and sometimes on video cassettes, whenever I could get my hands on those) and often found myself rooting for the Suzuki rider.

This particular interview with Schwantz, which I did in 2006 on behalf of BIKE India, is super-short but I still wanted to preserve it, hence posting it here, hoping it’ll remain here forever.  

Q. Is there any MotoGP rider today who reminds you of your own days in GP racing?

A. Valentino Rossi. And I say I wish I could have done it that good!

Q. What’s the biggest thing in racing that’s changed since the mid-1980s?

A. It’s how big the hospitality side has become.

Q. In motorcycle racing, what’s more important – man or machine?

A. It used to be 90% man, 10% machine. Now it is 75% and 25%.

Q. Who do you think is the most awesome motorcycle stunt rider ever?

A. Stunting is bad for our image as motorcyclists! Stunting has no professional place and therefore it is done mostly on public roads. I don't know any stunters.

Kevin Schwantz won only one 500cc world championship but is still ranked as one of the greatest riders ever in MotoGP alongside others like Wayne Rainey, Mick Doohan, Eddie Lawson and Freddie Spencer

Q. In terms of motorcycle engineering prowess, which manufacturer’s work do you admire most?

A. Suzuki. The GSX-Rs all impress me. I will always admire Suzuki for the size of the factory (how small they are) and how good their product is.

Q. What do you think of 1000cc, 180-horsepower sportsbikes being available to the average rider?

A.Motorcycles just like cars are getting lighter and faster, and I hope always will. As riders, we need to be taught more and better, and wear the proper gear.

Q. Did anything in racing scare you ever?

A. I was scared after Wayne Rainey got injured [at the Italian GP in Misano, in 1993, which left Rainey paralysed permanently].

Q. What do Suzuki need to do, in order to win a MotoGP championship again?

A. The tyres need to be consistently better to help Suzuki make big improvements to the bike.

Q. What do you think of the Isle of Man TT races?

A. Dangerous, but they are part of our sport.

Q. Do you ever miss your racing days?

A. I race for fun in the US. It will always be in my blood. MotoGP is for younger guys.

Q. Do you know anything at all about India?

A. I don't know much about India. I would have to come visit your country and learn more about your people.

Quick Fire with Kevin Schwantz:

Your current street ride: Suzuki GSX-R1000

Valentino Rossi or Freddie Spencer: Rossi, no doubt

Cruisers – yes or no: Yes. It's a motorcycle

All-time favourite racing motorcycle: 1993 Suzuki RGV500

All-time favourite street motorcycle: Suzuki Hayabusa

Ferrari or Lamborghini: Ferrari

Favourite food: Mexican

Most memorable post-race party: Jerez, 1989

 

Those who are old enough to remember having seen Schwantz in action on his Suzuki RGV500 in the late-1980s and early-1990s will probably vouch for the fact that there'll never be another rider like the Texan