Doug Chandler

John Douglas Chandler (born September 27, 1965 in Salinas, California) is a professional motorcycle racer. He earned a reputation as one of the most versatile racers of the 1980s and 1990s. Chandler is one of only four riders in AMA racing history to win the AMA Grand Slam, representing national wins at a mile, half-mile, short track, TT and road race. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2006.

After success with motocross he began competing in dirt track oval racing. In 1983 he earned the prestigious AMA Rookie of the Year Award. His first-ever road race win was in 1988 in the Pro-Twins class at Mid-Ohio. He went on to take the AMA Superbike title in 1990 on a Muzzy Kawasaki, also taking World Superbike wins at Brainerd and Sugo that year.

In 1991 Chandler travelled to Europe to compete in the Grand Prix motorcycle racing series. He rode for former world champion Kenny Roberts on a satellite team aboard a Yamaha. He finished a respectable 9th in his first year on the Grand Prix circuit. He accepted a job from Suzuki in 1992 finishing 5th overall, only just behind experienced team-mate Kevin Schwantz, who he had beaten a few times. Chandler spent 1993 and 1994 riding for the Cagiva team. He opened 1993 with a podium finish in Australia before things went sour and the team's support moved towards countryman John Kocinski.

After the 1994 Grand Prix season, Chandler left Europe and returned to the AMA Superbike series with Harley-Davidson. After a less than successful year in 1995 developing the Harley Davidson superbike, he rejoined the Muzzy team for 1996, and won both the 1996 and 1997 AMA Superbike titles. As a result, he joined Fred Merkel and Reg Pridmore as three-time AMA Superbike champions. Despite a severe crash in WSBK at Laguna Seca in 1998, he finshed 2nd overall to Ben Bostrom in the AMA Superbike championship. Chandler remained with Kawasaki until 2002, before a final year of road racing with Ducati. In 2003, Chandler tried his hand at Supermoto racing in the inaugural season of the AMA Supermoto Championship. Showing his impressive versatility, Chandler won a race in the new series.

Chandler is still racing as a privateer, and currently will be competing at the AMA Superbike series at Mazda Raceway on July 22, 2007. He currently runs motorcycle training courses. He is married to Sheri Griffiths, who he met through her father's involvement with Honda's dirt bike racing. His daughter is named Rainey, after former world champion Wayne Rainey.

References

• Lots of personal info
• Details of his Grand Prix days
• Motorcycle Hall of Fame

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