Transatlantic Trophy

{{main|1971 Anglo-American Match Races}}

The inaugural Anglo-American Match Races event matched a 5 man British team with a 6 man American team, although only 5 Americans could race in any one race. American captain Gary Nixon fell in practice for the first race and broke his wrist so was unable to ride in any of the races. All riders were on BSA/Triumph 750 cc triples.

BSA/Triumph had updated the racing triples for the 1971 Daytona 200, which BSA works rider Dick Mann had won. The changes included the compact "lowboy" frame, which was lower and lighter but had more ground clearance. Disc brakes had been fitted and the engines produced slightly more power. There were only a limited number of 1971 machines available. The British team plus Mann and Nixon received the upgraded machines. The rest of the American team used 1970 machines. This led to claims that the American team was disadvantaged.{{cite web |title=Great News – Stafford Motorcycle Mechanics Show, Oct'16 – John's Motorcycle News |url=https://www.johnsmotorcyclenews.co.uk/events-shows/great-news-stafford-motorcycle-mechanics-show-oct16/ |website=www.johnsmotorcyclenews.co.uk |access-date=30 March 2021}}

The UK won all races and the series 183-137. Ray Pickrell and Paul Smart were the top scorers.{{cite web |title=Ray Pickrell |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1517076/Ray-Pickrell.html |website=Daily Telegraph |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911193403/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1517076/Ray-Pickrell.html |archive-date=11 September 2012 |date=1 May 2006}}

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The series was sponsored by John Player and the name changed to Transatlantic Trophy. No longer a one-make series, the BSAs and Triumphs were joined by Nortons, Suzukis and a Harley Davidson. The British won the series 252-210. Cal Rayborn, on an obsolete Harley Davidson as the factory refused to let him use his works machine, and Ray Pickrell were the top scorers with 3 wins each.{{cite web |url=http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2003-Dec/031229b.htm |title=Remembering Cal Rayborn |publisher=superbikeplanet.com |access-date=28 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927051152/http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2003-Dec/031229b.htm |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kfkDAAAAMBAJ&q=cal+rayborn+american+motorcyclist&pg=PA22 |title='72 Match Races - A Pause For Thought |date=June 1972 |work=American Motorcyclist |access-date=7 August 2011 | pages=22–24 |last1=Assoc |first1=American Motorcyclist }} Don Emde crashed heavily during practice at Oulton Park. His bike ended up in the lake and was hosed down by the Fire Brigade to remove the mud.{{cite web |title=1972 Gus Kuhn Racing |url=http://www.guskuhn.net/GKMLtd/Racing/1972.htm |website=www.guskuhn.net |access-date=28 March 2021}}

File:1973 Norton Monocoque at 1999 TT cropped.JPG

BSA-Triumph was now part of Norton Villiers Triumph{{cite web |title=Norton Villiers motorcycles |url=http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/Museum/Transport/Motorcycles/NortonVilliers.htm |website=www.historywebsite.co.uk |access-date=31 March 2021}} and the BSA brand had been dropped so only Triumph badged triples were entered.{{cite web |title=The Trident three-cylinder in the US |url=http://www.triplesonline.com/racing/COMPETITION%20-%20The%20'70s%20and%20the%20three-cylinder%20Trident.htm |website=www.triplesonline.com |access-date=31 March 2021}} Kawasaki bikes appeared for the first time, making 5 different marques on the grid. Britain won the series 416-398. Yvon Duhamel and Peter Williams were the top scorers in the wet races.

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Yamaha motorcycles entered the series for the first time this year with the Yamaha TZ750.{{cite web |title=The Match Races - Part 3 |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/classic-racer/20170214/281526520794078 |website=Classic Racer |via=www.pressreader.com |access-date=31 March 2021 |date=14 February 2017}} Britain won the series 416-401 although American Kenny Roberts was the top scorer with 4 wins. Roberts bike, which was fitted with the newly introduced slick tyres, nearly failed scrutineering for "bald tyres".

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The Brands Hatch races were cancelled due to snow. The first race at Mallory Park started dry but snow started to fall near the end of the race. The second race was wet and shortened from 20 to 15 laps. Dave Aldana was the top scorer, although Kenny Roberts had won 3 races.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fvgDAAAAMBAJ&q=transatlantic%20match%20races%20american%20motorcyclist&pg=PA39 |title=World Title Challengers |date=January 1976 |work=American Motorcyclist |access-date=28 March 2021 |pages= |last1=Assoc |first1=American Motorcyclist }} The American team had their first series win scoring 279-242.Classic Racer, September/October 2008, Issue 133, p. 36, William Gibbons & Son, Wolverhampton. ISSN 1470-4463{{cite magazine |last1=B.R. |first1=Nicholls |title=Transatlantic Trophy, Part V |magazine=Cycle World Magazine |date=August 1975 |pages=50-51, 96-98 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qnENl-yhiN4C&q=Transatlantic+Trophy&pg=RA7-PA50 |access-date=2 April 2021 |language=en}}

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The British team had included John Newbold, but he dropped out. Reserve Steve Parrish was promoted to a full team member and Ron Haslam brought in as the reserve. Phil McDonald was to have been in the American team but was injured prior to the matches.{{cite magazine |title=John Player Transatlantic Trophy |magazine=Cycle World Magazine |date=August 1976 |pages=86–87 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uS7AyI6guNMC&q=Transatlantic+Trophy&pg=RA7-PA86 |access-date=2 April 2021 |language=en}}

Norton had commissioned Cosworth to build a twin-cylinder engine based on their highly successful DFV Formula 1 engine. Dave Croxford entered the series on one of the Cosworth-Nortons but the underdeveloped machine performed poorly at Brands and was withdrawn for the other two rounds.{{cite web |title=Bonhams : 1975 Norton Challenge P86 Frame no. 003 |url=https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/22125/lot/158/ |website=www.bonhams.com |access-date=3 April 2021}}

Steve Baker was the top scorer with 4 wins.

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The American team was to consist of Dave Aldana, Steve Baker, Randy Cleek, Pat Evans, Pat Hennen, Ron Pierce, Kenny Roberts, Gary Scott and Dave Emde as reserve. Following a disagreement with his sponsor Pierce withdrew from the team. Emde was promoted to a full team member and Skip Aksland brought in as reserve. Evans was killed at the Imola Circuit the weekend prior to the Transatlantic Trophy and Cleek killed in a road accident on his way back from the Imola track. Pierce re-joined the team, Aksland was promoted to a full team member and Kevin Stafford introduced as reserve.{{cite web |title=Brands Hatch Programme |url=https://daveriley.weebly.com/uploads/4/8/4/5/4845046/brandshatch8apr1977.pdf |via=daveriley.weebly.com |access-date=1 April 2021 |date=8 April 1977}}{{cite web |title=Not forgotten - Randy Cleek and Pat Evans |url=https://amcn.com.au/editorial/15946/ |website=Australian Motorcycle News |access-date=1 April 2021 |language=en-AU |date=13 May 2017}}

Barry Sheene won one race for the UK but the other five races were won by Americans; Roberts won four races and Hennen one.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a_gDAAAAMBAJ&q=transatlantic%20trophy%20american%20motorcyclist&pg=PA43 |title=Turning The Tables |author=Whyte, Norrie |date=January 1978 |work=American Motorcyclist |access-date=28 March 2021 }} Hennen was the top scorer. The Americans won the series 405-380.{{cite magazine |title=Turning The Tables |magazine=American Motorcyclist |date=January 1978 |pages=42–44 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a_gDAAAAMBAJ&q=Transatlantic+Trophy+american+motorcyclist&pg=PA43 |access-date=2 April 2021 |publisher=American Motorcyclist Assoc |language=en}}

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Barry Sheene, Mick Grant and Dave Potter were seeded into the team. The rest of the teams was decided by lap times during a qualifying session prior to the first race at Brands Hatch.{{cite web |title=Brands Hatch Programme |url=https://daveriley.weebly.com/uploads/4/8/4/5/4845046/brandsmalloryoulton24_27march1978.pdf |via=daveriley.weebly.com |access-date=1 April 2021 |date=24 March 1978}}

The UK won the series 435-379 in front of a combined crowd of 150,000.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=avgDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30 |title=Match Races: Far from perfect, but still neat |date=June 1978 |work=American Motorcyclist |access-date=28 March 2021 |page=30 |last1=Assoc |first1=American Motorcyclist }} Pat Hennen was the top scorer.

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Barry Sheene, Mick Grant, Dave Potter, Barry Ditchburn, Tom Herron and Steve Parrish were seeded into the British team. The remaining three members qualified for their places in a qualifying session on the day before the first race at the Brands Hatch round.

The American obtained the highest winning margin to date, 448-352, winning all 3 rounds. Mike Baldwin was the top scorer.

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AMA Superbike Championship specification machines were permitted, allowing Dave Aldana and Wes Cooley to use 1,024cc Yoshimura Suzuki machines.{{cite web |title=Brands Hatch Programme (part 1) |url=https://daveriley.weebly.com/uploads/4/8/4/5/4845046/part_1.pdf |via=daveriley.weebly.com |access-date=1 April 2021 |date=4 April 1980}} Americans won all the races: Kenny Roberts 3, Freddie Spencer 2 and Randy Mamola 1. The USA won the series 442-370 and Roberts was the top scorer.{{cite news |title=Roberts Leads U.S. Win |agency=Associated Press |work=Daytona Beach Morning Journal |page=4 |date=7 April 1980 |access-date=28 March 2021 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=l1EfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3183,3296861&dq=kenny+roberts&hl=en}} 140,000 fans attended the races.{{cite magazine |title=Roberts, Spencer, Mamola Dominate Match Races |magazine=Cycle World Magazine |date=August 1980 |pages=82–84 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m0o1ii_30AkC&q=Transatlantic+Trophy&pg=RA7-PA82 |access-date=2 April 2021 |language=en}}

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The American team was depleted for the 1981 races. World Champion Kenny Roberts was unavailable for the series as he was required by Yamaha to test their new square four GP racer. Dave Aldana and Mike Baldwin were competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race for Honda. Yoshimura and Suzuki refused to allow Wes Cooley to use his Superbike for the series and he used a borrowed a 750 Yamaha for the races. A Honda America Superbike wasn't available for Freddie Spencer to use and had to compete on a borrowed Suzuki RG500.{{cite book |last1=Harris |first1=Nick |chapter=Team Victory for Britain |chapter-url=https://motomatters.com/motocourse/motocourse_feature_1981_the_transatlanti-140618.html |editor1-last=Clifford |editor1-first=Peter |title=Motocourse 1981-82 |date=1981 |publisher=Hazleton Pub. |location=Surrey, Eng. |isbn=978-0905138183 |page=153}}

Randy Mamola won three races for the US. John Newbold was the top points scorer for Great Britain, who won the series 466-345..{{cite news|title=Motor Cycling - Britain's Record Haul over America|last=Stead|first=Jean|date=21 April 1981|work=The Guardian|page=24|location=London}}

The American team was again understrength this year with Kenny Roberts and Randy Mamola testing GP machines. Freddie Spencer crashed in the first race and destroyed his machine. Without a spare available he was out for the rest of the match. Barry Sheene won 5 of the 6 races. A mistake on the last lap of the other race while in the lead allowed Roger Marshall to pass and deprive Sheene of a $40,0000 bonus for winning all the races.

Sheene was the top scorer with Dave Aldana the top scoring American. Britain won the series 491-313.

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Motor Circuit Developments (MCD), the owners of the 3 circuits used for the races, Brands Hatch, Mallory Park and Oulton Park, came under financial pressure from their parent company, Eagle Star Insurance in 1982. This resulted in MCD selling Mallory Park in late 1982. Snetterton was owned by MCD and was chosen to replace Mallory Park. To fit into Snetterton's schedule, the Trophy races were pushed back from Easter to May Day weekend and the order of races reversed. Oulton Park held the first races and Brands Hatch the last.

The later running of the races meant the GP season had started and Honda would not sanction Freddie Spencer taking part. Mike Baldwin fell in the first race and broke three toes, putting him out of the rest of the races. As there were no reserve riders, the American team raced with a man short. Kenny Roberts and Eddie Lawson were both on the Yamaha square 4 680 cc OW69 that they had scored a 1-2 at that year's Daytona 200. But the wet conditions and tight circuits didn't allow them to make full use of the considerable power the Yamaha made.

Ron Haslam was the top scorer and won four races, Randy Mamola won the other two. Britain won the series 245-198.{{cite web |last1=Lawrence |first1=Larry |title=Throwback Thursday: Team USA Shivers at the 1983 Match Races |url=https://www.cyclenews.com/2018/01/article/throwback-thursday-team-usa-shivers-1983-match-races/ |website=Cycle News |access-date=1 April 2021 |date=4 January 2018}}

File:1985 Laguna Seca 200 - Freddie Spencer (cropped).jpg

There were allegations of financial irregularities by Motor Circuit Developments, owners of the circuits the matches were run on, in late 1983 and the future of the matches was in doubt. Tom Wheatcroft, owner of Donington Park, stepped in and arranged for the series to be staged at Donington. The races were run at Donington with 3 races each day on Easter Sunday and Monday in front of an 85,000 crowd.

The British team included New Zealander Graeme Crosby and Australian Wayne Gardner was billed as the British Commonwealth.{{cite web |title=Donington Programme |url=https://daveriley.weebly.com/uploads/4/8/4/5/4845046/donington21_22_23apr1984.pdf |via=daveriley.weebly.com |access-date=1 April 2021 |date=21 April 1984}}

The American team included the top four of the 1983 GP Championship. Wayne Rainey was injured in a crash in practice and didn't compete in the races. Freddie Spencer crashed in the races and broke bones in both his feet.

Americans won all the races; Randy Mamola winning three, Spencer two and Kenny Roberts one, and won the series 259-136.

The match returned to its usual format of two races a day on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday which was less demanding for the riders. Honda refused to let Freddie Spencer take part and Yamaha blocked Eddie Lawson's participation. Kenny Roberts was busy putting together a 500 cc GP team, leaving Randy Mamola and Mike Baldwin to lead a team of mostly non-factory riders.

Wayne Gardner, the Australian riding for Britain, won three races and Mamola two. Britain won the series 336-254.

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With the lack of American riders competing in GP racing and the rise in popularity of Superbikes both sides of the Atlantic, the series was run for Superbikes only. With the top US riders tied to GP contracts, the American team consisted of riders not well known outside the US.

As he was unable to use his GP bike, Honda gave Ron Haslam a tuned version of the VFR750 to use. The bike blew up in practice leaving Haslam without a machine for the races. Haslam brought a new road-going version of the VFR750 from a local dealer, stripped off as many road going parts and fitted racing tyres. The tyres were intended for a 250 but were the largest that would fit on the bike. It rained during the first race making the lack of power and ground clearance compared to the full-blown superbikes less of a problem. Haslam finished in third place.{{cite web |last1=Barker |first1=Stuart |title=25 Years of the VFR: Part 1 |url=https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2016/february/mcn-plus---25-years-of-the-vfr-part-1---ride/ |website=www.motorcyclenews.com |access-date=3 April 2021 |language=en |date=13 February 2016}}

8 races were run over the Easter weekend. Kevin Schwantz won 4 and Fred Merkel two. Britain beat the USA 314-214. Kevin Schwantz was the top scorer with 84 points.{{cite magazine |title=Parade Lap |magazine=American Motorcyclist |date=June 1986 |page=75 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8fkDAAAAMBAJ&q=Transatlantic+Trophy&pg=PA75 |access-date=2 April 2021 |publisher=American Motorcyclist Assoc |language=en}}

Brands Hatch returned as a venue, with 3 races on Good Friday. Donington hosted six races on Easter Sunday and Monday. A 12 man British team were matched against an 11 man American team. Only the top ten riders of each team were awarded points in races. The motorcycles were to American Superbike specification.{{cite web |title=Brands Hatch Programme |url=https://daveriley.weebly.com/uploads/4/8/4/5/4845046/brands_hatch_17-4-87.pdf |via=daveriley.weebly.com |access-date=2 April 2021 |date=17 April 1987}} 1987 American captain Fred Merkel couldn't agree terms for 1988 so wasn't in the team. Three Canadians joined the American team: Michel Mercier and Gary Goodfellow with the backing of Suzuki Canada and Reuben McMurter from Yamaha Canada. American Bubba Shobert crashed in practice and was unable to compete in the races.

The intense rivalry between Kevin Schwantz and Wayne Rainey carried over into the match races giving the British audience a preview of future battling between the pair in GP racing.{{cite web |url=http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=268&lpos=0px&letter=S&txtFname=&rblFname=S&txtLname=&rblLname=S&discipline=0 |title=Kevin Schwantz at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame |publisher=motorcyclemuseum.org |access-date=3 April 2021 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=86&lpos=0px&letter=R&txtFname=&rblFname=S&txtLname=&rblLname=S&discipline=0 |title=Wayne Rainey at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame |publisher=motorcyclemuseum.org |access-date=3 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303194138/http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=86&lpos=0px&letter=R&txtFname=&rblFname=S&txtLname=&rblLname=S&discipline=0 |archive-date= 3 March 2016}}

All the races were won by Americans, Wayne Rainey won 5 of the races and Kevin Schwantz 4. America won the series 993.5-745.5.

Donington was to host the inaugural round of the Superbike World Championship on Easter Sunday. For the mutual benefit of both WSB and the Transatlantic Match (which both used similar specification machines) the Transatlanic series was expanded to four teams and renamed the Eurolantic Challenge as it included European riders. For the promotors this allowed them to spread the costs over two series, and for the riders this offered the prospect of extra payday.

The British No 1 team were led by Ron Haslam and the riders were all factory backed. The American team was led by Bubba Shobert on a works Honda VFR750. For the first time, Yoshimura Suzuki sent a factory crew to support Doug Polen and Scott Gray. Four Canadians joined the American team on works bikes.

Norton had introduced a twin rotor Wankel engined racer, the RC588. Although nominally 588 cc, the FIM had yet to agree with Norton the method of measuring displacement of the rotary engine. Until this was resolved the Norton could only race in national and non-championship races. Two machines were entered into the Eurolantic Challenge, ridden by Trevor Nation and Simon Buckmaster. This would be the first time the machines were raced.

There were 3 races at Brands Hatch on Good Friday and 3 races at Donington on Easter Monday (the WSB races being on Easter Sunday). Polen was the top scorer and had won four races. Shobert had won the other two. The British No 1 team were overall winners with 586 points, the Americans second with 570 points. Most of the European team left after the WSB and didn't compete on the Monday. This was reflected in their score of 287 points. The British No 2 team scored 281 points.

The series consisted of three races at Mallory Park and three at Brands Hatch, the series was called the Transatlantic Superbike Challenge and run in early May. The British team, led by captain Ron Haslam, was well known to racing fans but apart from captain Freddie Spencer, the American team were relatively unknown. Canadian Miguel Duhamel, son of Yvon Duhamel, who had competed in the 1973 and 1974 matches, was in the American team.

Ray Stringer won all three races at Brands Hatch. Haslam won two and Rob McElnea one at Mallory. Britain won the series 625-161 and Stringer was the top scorer.{{cite AV media | people = | date = 8 November 2013 | title = 1991 US vs UK Mallory & Brands | trans-title = | medium = | language = | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvgAfB-scyI | access-date = 2 April 2021 | via = YouTube }}

Triumph Motorcycles Ltd revived the concept in 1996 with a single-make 3 race match at Donington using the 900 cc Speed Triple. Amongst the Americans competing was Dave Aldana, who had competed in the first Anglo-American Match Races in 1971. Britain won overall 614-426.{{cite journal |last1=Edwards |first1=David |title=Notes from Seat 21A |journal=Cycle World Magazine |date=August 1996 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pCxagksl33AC&q=speed+triple+Trans-Atlantic+Match+Race&pg=RA7-PA10 |access-date=2 April 2021 |language=en}}

The concept was again revived in May 2015 as part of the MCN Festival of Motorcycling at the East of England Showground when a Transatlantic Trophy was staged between British and American teams flat track racing.{{cite web |title=Historic race bikes line up for MCN Festival |url=https://classic-motorbikes.net/historic-race-bikes-line-up-for-mcn-festival/ |website=Classic Motorbikes |access-date=29 March 2021 |date=16 April 2015}} The event was repeated at the 2016 show.{{cite web |title=The MCN festival of Motorcycling – Sidecarland |url=http://sidecarland.co.uk/the-mcn-festival-of-motorcycling/ |website=sidecarland.co.uk |access-date=29 March 2021}}{{cite web |title=British domination at DTRA |url=https://mcfederation.com/news/british-domination-dtra |website=MC Federation |access-date=29 March 2021 |language=en |date=20 May 2016}}

In late 2015, MotoAmerica and BSB officials looked into the possibility of reviving the Transatlantic Trophy races, with races at three different circuits over a long weekend.{{cite web |title=MotoAmerica, BSB Officials Considering Reviving Trans-Atlantic Match Races |url=https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/motoamerica-bsb-officials-considering-reviving-trans-atlantic-match-races/ |website=Roadracing World Magazine {{!}} Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News |access-date=2 April 2021 |date=30 December 2015}}

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• {{cite web |title=1980 Transatlantic Race Brands Hatch |url=https://www.britishpathe.com/video/VLVA681QGP8P5KB6N34PBSIP5UDEI-UK-TRANSATLANTIC-RACE-BRANDS-HATCH/query/Transatlantic |website=British Pathé}}

Category:Motorcycle road racing series

Category:Motorcycle racing in the United Kingdom

Category:1971 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:1991 disestablishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1971

Category:Recurring sporting events disestablished in 1991