Kevin Schwantz, the 1993 500cc World Champion, is a motorsport legend who influenced an entire generation. While he only has one top-level title, his aggressive style – particularly his braking – earned him a reputation as an exceptional competitor, so much so that Valentino Rossi, among others, drew inspiration from the American. In his day, you had to battle against Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, John Kocinski, and others to succeed in this Wild West.
On the sidelines of the EICMA show, the legend with number 34 spoke at length to the Italian media GP OneHe notably spoke about Marc Marquez's talent, as it brought back fond memories for him. « Yes, I see a bit of myself in him.When he left Honda, everyone understood how much trouble the Japanese manufacturer was in, and how much he was compensating with his talent. At Suzuki, it was the same: other riders were competitive, but no one won outright.Pushing the limits is in our DNA; sometimes it works, sometimes we fall… but it's what defines us. he asserted.
He revisited the difficult decision made by Marc Marquez at the end of 2023, when he decided to leave Honda for Ducati Gresini. « It's difficult to leave the team where you startedI've never done it, but I understand. After everything he went through with his injury, it would have been easy to give up. Instead, He kept going, and that says a lot about his mental strength.I think his brother helped him a lot, providing him with a point of reference during his rehabilitation. Now he's proving his worth. by dominating in an almost easy way » he continued.
In any case, Schwantz has lost none of his passion. « I still ride, participating in Suzuki events, when everything is properly controlled.I don't want anyone trying to overtake me and bragging about it! But I love that feeling of speed. Like when you floor it at Misano. I can feel my heart beating like before. » he concluded.
Do you have any memories of Kevin Schwantz? Tell us in the comments!
Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport
