Fred Merkel circa 1988. (Larry Lawrence photo)
Happy birthday goes out today to two-time World Superbike Champion, three-time AMA Superbike Champion and Hall of Famer Fred Merkel. It’s hard to believe, but Fred turns 48 today, even though he looks 15 years younger.
Merkel grew up in Stockton, Calif., racing flat track and switched to road racing while still a teenager. Fred spent his early years racing 250 Grand Prix bikes before Honda pegged him as the young up and comer to race AMA Superbike in 1983. Merkel racked up an amazing 20 Superbike wins making him the all-time winningest rider in AMA Superbike, a record which stood until eclipsed in 1998 by Miguel Duhamel.
Merkel won three consecutive championships for Honda. His reward from Big Red? A pink slip. Merkel used the firing as an opportunity. He moved to Italy, started racing Italian and European events and then became World Superbike’s first superstar when the series was launched in 1988. He will go down in history as the first ever World Superbike Champion. He backed it up and won a second world title in 1989.
As it turned out getting fired from American Honda turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to Merkel.
Merkel raced until 1995 when he hit an unprotected wall at Firebird Raceway and was forced into retirement. Fred moved to New Zealand, a country he fell in love with when traveling the World Superbike tour.
Today Fred lives in New Zealand with wife Carla and their new baby boy.
When the book of Superbike racing history is written Fred Merkel should have his own chapter.
John Blackstock says:
Great story as always Larry. I do know Fred was a great racer but for some reason people say he won National and even World Championships in years when the competition was weak. My opinion is if you ever win a National or World championship, you are the best of the best. Congrats, happy birthday and best wishes to Fred Merkel.
September 28, 2010, 9:33 pmadmin says:
Let’s see, he beat Rainey, Shobert, Kocinski, etc. in ‘86. Then in WSBK he beat riders like Marco Lucchinelli, Davide Tardozzi, Raymond Roche, Stephane Mertens, Giancarlo Falappa and Terry Rymer just to name a few. Pretty good group I’d say.
September 28, 2010, 10:50 pmGary says:
I generally don’t favor one rider over another but Merkel was a very high on my list,decent guy and fast.
I had an old photo of him at Ontario on his 125 Honda from his club days that I showed him at Sears late in his career,the pleased smile he had was about the best part of my weekend.
September 29, 2010, 12:51 pmPat Hernon says:
Great racer and good guy. I had the opportunity to enjoy Fred’s very generous hospitality at his condo on Huntington Beach during the ‘85 Superbike season. Sadowski and I carried on for two days with him. Fred would entertain until the cows came home…although there never were any “cows”, just 18 year old California hotties!! Dinner at Huntington Beach marina one night was some kind of story…
Pat Hernon
September 29, 2010, 6:10 pmfred merkel says:
Thank you all for a b- day wish and good will! The Merkel family hopes all is well in your wourld! I hope all is happy, healthy and well, my beautiful wife carla and new son jhett at 1.5 years now are loveing life down here in N.Z p.s our 19 year old travis merkel is the fastest 600 supersport rider down under look out ama! HA! who knows- my love to all, look us up on facebook or try flyinfred@xtra.co.nz
October 1, 2010, 5:28 amadmin says:
Fred!
Thanks for leaving the kind comments. Congrats on your new baby boy. I didn’t know Travis was racing. Wow, another Merkel on the track! That’s awesome. From everyone here on Rider Files Happy Birthday wishes.
October 1, 2010, 9:55 amneil barker says:
The Archives page was outstanding in the paper version of Cycle News, and it was not until just now, reading thru this Rider Files offering that the reason became apparent. This site and the Archives speak to the fact that it is the participants that make the sport great and not the other way around.
October 14, 2010, 10:19 amDANILO DI LORENZO says:
Ciao Fred,
March 14, 2011, 2:16 pmho ancora una tua foto di Vallelunga 1989, dove ci guardiamo e ridendo abbiamo pensato ma siamo fratelli???
Sei e rimarrai per me un mito su 2 ruote, ancora oggi quando parlo di te con gli amici ti esalto come pilota e come uomo.
Un abbraccio
Fred Merkel Fan says:
I have wondered for many years how you were. From time to time I think of you and while I am happlily married I do not think I ever completely got over you or stopped wondering how your were and what you were doing. Ironically my sons name is Travis as well. I had heard your were divorced but remarried. I am glad to hear you are doing well and it would be great to hear from you.
June 28, 2011, 12:01 amGary&Pat Merkel says:
Thank you all for the kind words and thoughts of our son Fred. We are very proud of his family and his sister, Jerri’s family.
July 25, 2011, 2:29 pmbill thomas says:
I really liked Fred. Spent some time talking with him, maybe Brainerd? Can’t remember now. Anyway, good to hear he’s enjoying life.
March 29, 2012, 10:50 am