Additional photos of this bodywork are available here for your perusal.
Having spent his childhood in his parents’ motorcycle dealership, Kevin Schwantz began riding a Bonanza minibike as early as age three. In no time at all, he was competing in youth trials events, after which he moved up to motocross during his teenage years.
Come 1984, Schwantz finally made his start in road racing when he got a test ride for the Yoshimura Suzuki Superbike team at Willow Springs. There, he nearly broke the track record, immediately earning him a starting spot for the following year.
During the 1987 season, Kevin Schwantz battled Wayne Rainey in one of the most intense battles in AMA Superbike history. On and off the track, the two proved fierce rivals — beyond their personal disagreements, they demonstrated markedly different riding styles. Though Rainey was precise and calculated, Schwantz liked to keep things fast and loose (and often dangerous).
In fact, because Suzuki’s RGV500 couldn’t keep up with the competition, Schwantz famously developed a strategy for braking extremely late — something he coined as “See God, then brake.”
The Schwantz and Rainey era eventually came to an end in 1993 when the latter suffered a career-ending crash that left him paralyzed from the chest down. While this allowed Kevin Schwantz to secure his first world championship, it also served as a reality check. He retired just 18 months later with 25 Grand Prix races to him name, one more than his rival and second only to Eddie Lawson in American competition success.
This was the bodywork for Schwantz’ Team Lucky Strike RGV that he raced during that championship 1993 season.
As noted in our recent VJ22 Team Suzuki listing: because some countries prohibit cigarette sponsorship in motorsport, the Team Lucky Strike graphics have been covered with a set of Team Suzuki decals.
Cosmetic Blemishes:
Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California (please make an appointment for an inspection), this bodywork is offered on a Bill of Sale only. Have any Schwantz stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
