The start for the match event was on Good Friday in Brands Hatch, then on Easter Monday in Donington Because the WC Superbike event was run between the two, the Texan was riding here as well.

The first photograph shows that the racing life 20 years ago was not quite as glamorous as many may believe. Bubba taking a quick nap between two practice sessions in the shipping crate, while mechanic Mike Velasco, who wrenched for Freddie Spencer on Honda Superbikes, tends the equipment. Living in a box – almost an idyllic scene.

The other Honda riders, like Fred Merkel, Roger Burnett, Joey Dunlop or Kenny Irons, were starting in Donington on the brand-new VFR750R, aka RC30, which was developed with a view to the WC series. Shobert, however, was piloting the older VFR750F, better known in the US as the “Interceptor.” In this respect, Bubba’s bike was something quite special.

Bristling with unusual and top-quality factory special parts, this V4 machine from Honda America had been specially built for the US Superbike Championship. Wayne Rainey had first won the title in 1986 on it, then Fred Merkel in 1987. In 1988, Shobert was to sweep the AMA Superbike crown on the VFR750F with three wins in a total of seven races.

Bubba Shobert later returned to Europe as a GP rider on an NSR500 (also using a V4 engine, but a two-stroke) with the Cabin Honda team and was all set to follow in the footsteps of his famous fellow countrymen such Lawson, Schwantz or Rainey.

A freak accident at the Laguna Seca GP in 1989 meant the end of his racing career. Kevin Magee was staging a burnout after the race, which Shobert, who was following, failed to see because he was just turning around to congratulate another rider. Shobert was injured in the collision; he underwent a prolonged recovery.

Bubba worked later as a team manager on the US racing scene; in 1998 he was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame.

The appearance of this US Honda V4 Superbike in Donington in 1988 remains the only one in Europe to this day.



*American Motorcyclist Association   close