Introdcued in 1975, the KR750 was Kawasaki’s top tier road racing machine, piloted by legendary names such as Gary Nixon, Steve Baker, and Mike Baldwin. Normally when I feature something that looks like a KR750, it’s a tribute – but today someone’s got Baldwin’s actual machine up for sale!
Mike Baldwin was one of the most successful American road racers of all times – the all time wins leader (17) in Formula 1/Formula 750, 10 time winner in AMA Superbike, and a five-time AMA Road Racing Champion. The seller shares a great story about Baldwin in 1979, on what presumably was this machine:
“At Daytona in ’79, Baldwin appeared to be a real threat to win the Daytona Triple Crown (the Daytona 200, the Daytona Lightweight and the Daytona Superbike races). He was easily the fastest in Superbike and battled for top billing in the Daytona 200 and Lightweight qualifying. Unfortunately, Baldwin high-sided in practice on Thursday and broke his collarbone. Without racing in the qualifying race, Baldwin had to start from the back of the grid in the 200. The leaders had completed nearly three-quarters of a lap by the time the third wave of riders, of which Baldwin was in the back, was given the green flag. In spite of his huge disadvantage and riding in pain with the broken shoulder, Baldwin tore through the field on the factory Kawasaki KR750 and finished a strong fourth, giving him at least a moral victory.” For more on Mike, check out this profile on the AMA Hall of Fame website.
This example was restored by Stephen Wright and the current owner acquired it from him in 1999. Find this Kawi for sale in Concord, California for $125,000 here at Car Buffs.
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