AMA Hall of Fame Class of 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
The third member to become listed on race tuner Phil Schilling and Parts Unlimited founder Fred Fox in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2011 members on November 18 is former multi-national and world champion road racer Doug Polen.
Photo AMA Hall of Fame Class of 2011
Polen were built with a number of strong winning performances in motorcycle roadracing in the usa and abroad, including winning the Suzuki GSX-R National Cup Championship Series 750cc title in 1986 and 17 of 26 races on the planet Superbike Championship Series in 1991, earning the planet Superbike title by 150 points.
He also was the Japan Formula 1 and Formula 3 National Champion in 1989, AMA 600cc Supersport Champion in 1987 and 1988, AMA 750cc Supersport Champion in 1988, World Superbike Champion in 1992, AMA Superbike Champion in 1993 and World Endurance Champion in 1997 and 1998.
Polen remains active in motorcycling today, running his Doug Polen's 1 on 1 Riding School, featuring radio communications with students during track sessions.
"The thing is that you ride and also you race, so when you're doing the work, you're doing the work to possess fun and become competitive against other people, but also to try and create a mark and have something you are able to appreciate everyday and be proud of," Polen said. "This is kind of like putting a stamp of approval, so to speak, on my career, and that i go as a very flattering thing."
"Any fan of motorcycle roadracing will remember Doug's amazing -- and dominating -- championship works on the AMA and World Superbike stages," said Don Rosene, a member of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation Board of Directors, which raises money for the Hall of Fame. "At a time when the series saw plenty of fast competitors, Doug was clearly the quickest. And he's still on the track, racing, teaching and promoting motorcycles and motorcycling."
