Today in motorcycle history, August 6, 1983

 

                                                  

  1983 Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix was held at the Scandinavian Raceway in Anderstorp, Sweden.

  The eleventh race of the GP season turned out to be one of the most dramatic races in one of the most dramatic Grand Prix seasons in recent history.  And as we would've expected it ended in controversy as the championship's two stars of the show, Honda's Freddie Spencer and Yamaha's Kenny Roberts , both having won five of the season's ten previous races. 

  Roberts led Spencer led in points 117-115 going into the race.  On the final lap, heading down the back straight, Spencer placed his Honda right behind Roberts' wheel as they reached the second to the last corner, a ninety degree right-hander.  As both riders put some weight to their brakes, Spencer came out of Roberts' draft and managed to get inside of the Yamaha but, as they exited the corner, both riders ran wide off the track and plowed into the dirt.  Freddie was able to get back on the track first, crossing the finish line just ahead of Roberts for the deciding victory.  Kenny Roberts instantly started whining, saying he considered Spencer's pass to be foolish and dangerous and, exchanged, what mom would call "colorful" profanities with him on the podium.

  It was a controversial pass by the young Honda rider and one that the two participants still dispute to this day.   Roberts still insists that it was dangerous, while Spencer maintains it was a calculated risk he had to take to secure the championship and that Yamaha boy needs to get over it.

 

  The '83 Scandinavian Grand Prix is still referred to as one of the greatest of all time.