Caption:

Outspoken American Kenny Roberts arrived in Europe fearing no one

and once on the track it was easy to see why. Captured here during the 1976 Anglo American Match Races, at Oulton Park, Roberts clearly isn’t bothered by an unruly 750 Yamaha and the close proximity of the railway sleepers that line the circuit. Having been brought up on the dirt track ovals in his native USA, neither an excess of power nor a slippery track fazed the tough Californian. Roberts went on to win the blue-ribbon 500 title three times, in 1978/79/80, for Yamaha and after moving on to team management witnessed his son Kenny Junior take the title in 2000 riding for the rival Suzuki team, a feat no other father and son have equalled.