- Doug Polen
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Doug Polen (born September 2, 1960) is a former world champion motorcycle road racer. He raced successfully in AMA Superbike, Japanese Superbikes, Superbike World Championship and Endurance racing.
Polen was born in Detroit, Michigan. He was a privateer in AMA competition in the early 1980s, before quitting racing to concentrate on business commitments. In 1986 he returned to AMA, ultimately getting a works Yoshimura Suzuki ride in 1988 before going to international racing.[1] Polen joined Eraldo Ferracci's "Fast By Ferracci" Ducati team in 1990. After breaking his contract to go to the Superbike World Championship, he won the title in both 1991 and 1992.[2][3] In 1992 he also finished third overall in the AMA national championship. For 1993 he left the world championship to compete exclusively in the United States and won the AMA national crown. In 1994 he joined the UK-based Castrol Honda team to race the then-new RC45 in the Superbike World Championship, insisting that the team use Dunlop tyres. He left the team abruptly in early 1995 but not before teaming up with Aaron Slight to win the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race for Honda.[4] After returning to the AMA series, he set his sights on the Endurance World Championship and eventually won that championship in 1997.
His total of 18 AMA pole positions was a record until Mat Mladin matched it in 2006. His 13 fastest laps in World Superbike competition in 1991 is a single-season championship record.[5]
Superbike World Championship
Year Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pos Pts R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 1991 Ducati GBR
1GBR
RetSPA
1SPA
1CAN CAN USA
1USA
1AUT
2AUT
1SMR
1SMR
1SWE
1SWE
1JPN
1JPN
1MAL
4MAL
5GER
1GER
2FRA
1FRA
1ITA
1ITA
2AUS
2AUS
11st 432 References
- ^ "Aztrackday Superbike School To Offer Instruction By Polen". Road Racing World. 2006-12-11. http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=27767. Retrieved 2007-08-25.
- ^ Dean Adams. "Eraldo's Boy Speaks Out: Interview with Larry Ferracci from 1995". Superbike Planet. http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2002-Nov/featurelarryf.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-25.
- ^ Doug Polen career World Superbike statistics at worldsbk.com
- ^ "Doug Polen". motorcycle.com. http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mctext/polen.html.
- ^ "2006 Superbike World Championship - Round 12 - Magny Cours". mcnews.com.au (Motorcycle News Australia). 2006-10-08. http://www.mcnews.com.au/motorcycleracing2006/superbike/rnd12/preview_stats.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-25.
External links
Preceded by
Raymond RocheWorld Superbike Champion
1991-1992Succeeded by
Scott RussellPreceded by
Scott RussellAMA Superbike Champion
1993Succeeded by
Troy CorserPreceded by
Brian MorrisonEndurance FIM World Champion
1997
With: Peter GoddardSucceeded by
Doug Polen
Christian LavieillePreceded by
Doug Polen
Peter GoddardEndurance FIM World Champion
1998
With: Christian LavieilleSucceeded by
Jéhan d'Orgeix
Terry RymerSuperbike World Champions (1988) Fred Merkel • (1989) Fred Merkel • (1990) Raymond Roche • (1991) Doug Polen • (1992) Doug Polen • (1993) Scott Russell • (1994) Carl Fogarty • (1995) Carl Fogarty • (1996) Troy Corser • (1997) John Kocinski • (1998) Carl Fogarty • (1999) Carl Fogarty • (2000) Colin Edwards • (2001) Troy Bayliss • (2002) Colin Edwards • (2003) Neil Hodgson • (2004) James Toseland • (2005) Troy Corser • (2006) Troy Bayliss • (2007) James Toseland • (2008) Troy Bayliss • (2009) Ben Spies • (2010) Max Biaggi • (2011) Carlos ChecaAMA Superbike Champions (1976) Reg Pridmore • (1977) Reg Pridmore • (1978) Reg Pridmore • (1979) Wes Cooley • (1980) Wes Cooley • (1981) Eddie Lawson • (1982) Eddie Lawson • (1983) Wayne Rainey • (1984) Fred Merkel • (1985) Fred Merkel • (1986) Fred Merkel • (1987) Wayne Rainey • (1988) Bubba Shobert • (1989) Jamie James • (1990) Doug Chandler • (1991) Thomas Stevens • (1992) Scott Russell • (1993) Doug Polen • (1994) Troy Corser • (1995) Miguel Duhamel • (1996) Doug Chandler • (1997) Doug Chandler • (1998) Ben Bostrom • (1999) Mat Mladin • (2000) Mat Mladin • (2001) Mat Mladin • (2002) Nicky Hayden • (2003) Mat Mladin • (2004) Mat Mladin • (2005) Mat Mladin • (2006) Ben Spies • (2007) Ben Spies • (2008) Ben Spies • (2009) Mat Mladin • (2010) Josh Hayes • (2011) Josh HayesCategories:- 1960 births
- Living people
- American motorcycle racers
- AMA Superbike Championship riders
- Superbike World Championship riders
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