Kenny Roberts receives MotoGP Hall of Fame medal

He’s already a Moto GP Legend and was added to MotoGP’s Hall of Fame last year, but Kenny Roberts only recently received a tangible form of that latter honour. At the Grand Prix of the United States, ‘King Kenny’ was officially presented with the medal that sees him join a select group that includes compatriots Freddie Spencer, Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Rainey and Eddie Lawson, as well as Giacomo Agostini, Barry Sheene, Mick Doohan, John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi, amongst others.

MotoGP introduced the Hall of Fame in 2025 to recognise significant figures in the sport – on track and off – who have multiple championships, significant successes or have otherwise defined their era. Being added to the Hall of Fame is seen as bringing further recognition to exceptional individuals beyond MotoGP Legend status.

At the initial Hall of Fame inauguration ceremony that was held last October, seven living inductees received their medals, including Schwantz, Stoner, Spencer, Agostini, Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa. Roberts was unable to attend then, so received his medal at CotA during the Grand Prix of the United States race weekend this past March.

Arguably the greatest ever American rider in Motorcycle Grand Prix competition, Roberts made a name for himself in domestic flat track racing with Yamaha before getting his first taste of GP competition, in the 250cc class, in 1974. Four years later, Roberts returned, contesting the 500cc class and a handful of 250cc races for Yamaha.

Against competition that included Johnny Cecotto, Pat Hennen, Wil Hartog and defending champion, Barry Sheene, Roberts won four GPs and finished on the podium an additional four times to win the 1978 500cc World Championship – the first for an American – although Steve Baker had won the FIM-sanctioned Formula 750 crown a year earlier.

World Champion again in 1979 and 1980, Roberts continued racing in the 500cc class until 1983, finishing a close second behind Freddie Spencer that year. After 1983, Roberts made sporadic appearances at US road and flat track events, as well as the Suzuka 8 Hours. In 500cc racing, Roberts’s record stands at three world championships, 22 race wins, 39 podiums and 18 poles from 57 starts.

Turning to team management after retiring from racing, Roberts remained in the GP Paddock from 1984 to 2007, fielding Yamahas initially, then his own ‘KR’ series of two- and four-stroke racers, before finishing with Honda-engined bikes.