Doug Chandler


John Douglas Chandler is an American former professional motorcycle racer. He earned a reputation as one of the most versatile racers of the 1980s and 1990s. Chandler is one of only four riders in AMA racing history to win the AMA Grand Slam, representing national wins at a mile, half-mile, short track, TT and road race. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2006.

Motorcycle racing career

Born in Salinas, California, Chandler began competing in dirt track oval racing after experiencing success in motocross competitions. In 1983 he earned the prestigious AMA Rookie of the Year Award. His first-ever road race win was in 1988 in the Pro-Twins class at Mid-Ohio. He went on to take the AMA Superbike title in 1990 on a Muzzy Kawasaki, also taking World Superbike wins at Brainerd and Sugo that year.
In 1991 Chandler travelled to Europe to compete in the Grand Prix motorcycle racing series. He rode for former world champion Kenny Roberts on a satellite team aboard a Yamaha. He finished a respectable 9th in his first year on the Grand Prix circuit. He accepted a job from Suzuki in 1992 finishing 5th overall, only just behind experienced teammate Kevin Schwantz. Chandler spent 1993 and 1994 riding for the Cagiva team. He opened 1993 with a podium finish in Australia before things went sour and the team's support moved towards countryman John Kocinski.
After the 1994 Grand Prix season, Chandler left Europe and returned to the AMA Superbike series with Harley-Davidson. After a less than successful year in 1995 developing the Harley-Davidson superbike, he rejoined the Muzzy team for 1996, and won both the 1996 and 1997 AMA Superbike titles. As a result, he joined Fred Merkel and Reg Pridmore as three-time AMA Superbike champions. Despite a severe crash in World Superbike competition at Laguna Seca in 1998, he finished second overall to Ben Bostrom in the AMA Superbike championship. Chandler remained with Kawasaki until 2002, before a final year of road racing with Ducati. In 2003, Chandler tried his hand at Supermoto racing in the inaugural season of the AMA Supermoto Championship. Showing his impressive versatility, Chandler won a race in the new series.
Chandler currently runs motorcycle training courses. In 2015, he began working to assist with race control operations for the American Motorcyclist Association sanctioned American motorcycle road racing series, MotoAmerica.

Career statistics

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

By season

SeasonClassMotorcycleRaceWinPodiumPoleFLapPtsPlcd
1991500ccYamaha150000859th
1992500ccSuzuki130420945th
1993500ccCagiva1201008310th
1994500ccCagiva140100969th
Total540620358

Races by year

YearClassTeamBike123456789101112131415Pts
1991500ccTeam Roberts Yamaha/CastrolYZR500JPN
11
AUS
12
USA
Ret
SPA
10
ITA
6
GER
9
AUT
7
EUR
9
NED
11
FRA
6
GBR
Ret
RSM
9
CZE
10
VDM
7
MAL
Ret
9th85
1992500ccLucky Strike Suzuki 500RGV500JPN
2
AUS
5
MAL
5
SPA
10
ITA
4
EUR
3
GER
8
NED
Ret
HUN
2
FRA
Ret
GBR
Ret
BRA
3
RSA
4
5th94
1993500ccCagiva Team AgostiniC593AUS
3
MAL
9
JPN
11
SPA
Ret
AUT
8
GER
6
NED
4
EUR
Ret
RSM
DNS
GBR
DNS
CZE
9
ITA
10
USA
Ret
FIM
5
10th83
1994500ccCagiva Team AgostiniC594AUS
9
MAL
9
JPN
10
SPA
7
AUT
Ret
GER
7
NED
6
ITA
Ret
FRA
Ret
GBR
5
CZE
Ret
USA
5
ARG
2
EUR
10
9th96

Superbike World Championship

Races by year