Wayne Gardner AM - Phillip Island V.I.C., Newhaven, Vic, Australia - Living Statues on Waymarking.com

If you want to have a Champion as a mentor, that goes FAST, then maybe Wayne Gardner is the one for you. He has won 18 premier-class Grand Prix in the 500 cc motorcycle class races in time racing. (Only Stoner, and Doohan - both Australians, have won more! And they are also represented 'here' with their sculpted busts.)

Wayne Michael Gardner was born in Wollongong, NSW, in October, 1959. His successes on the world racing circuit earned him the nickname, 'The Wollongong Whiz'.

He began his motorcycle racing in 1977, at Amaroo Park on a second-hand Yamaha TZ250, with a 2nd placing on his debut; and a couple of weeks later winning a race at Oran Park Raceway - both in Sydney. From 1981 he began racing in the Australian Superbike series, frequently winning, or getting on the podium.

In 1987 He won the 500 cc World Championship, having won SEVEN of the 16 races, and placed well in many of them. Even though retired from 'two-wheel' racing in 1992, he has been helping others, including his own children who race. He had already started '4-wheel' racing, with touring car racing in 1992, and retired from car racing in 2002.

He was made a 'Member of the Order of Australia' in 1988, and inducted into the 'Sport Australia Hall of Fame' in 1991. [Some info from Wikipedia: (visit link) ]

As a Registered Nurse, I enjoyed an anecdote he recalled in 'Australian Motor Cycle'. Worth a read, I won't spoil it: (visit link) Ha ha ha!

Visited: 1134, Friday, 27 May, 2016

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