Classic Racer

2: Fred Merkel, USA: 8 wins, champion 1988, 1989

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When a man has the words: ‘If you want blood, you’ve got it’ on the back of his helmet, you know not to mess with him and thanks to those first two WSB titles in 1988 and 1989, we place Flyin’ Fred Merkel second. Why? Well, first of all his background gave the series much-needed credibilit­y, because, by the time he came to WSB he had already been one of the greatest AMA riders in history, before being ‘let go’ by American Honda. Secondly he had charisma and personalit­y by the bucket-load. Don’t think that the new-for-1988 RC30 was a cert for the title, as his Rumi team didn’t get much support from Honda and nor was it reliable. Also, the Italian opposition was much faster in a straight line and out of the turns – something that would dog the 750cc fours for the first 15 years…

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