From a press release written by Eddie Lawson’s girlfriend and issued today by Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S.:

EDDIE LAWSON SETS PERSONAL-BEST SPEED RECORD –
EXCEEDS MACH ONE IN BLUE ANGELS FLIGHT



El Centro, Calif., February 20, 2004 – Best known for his skills on two-wheels, four-time motorcycle road racing world champion Eddie Lawson today took to the skies with the famous Blue Angels. Lawson, who along with Lt. Justin Otto, flew the F/A-18 Hornet 12,000 feet above the Naval Air Facility in El Centro, Calif., the Blue Angels winter testing grounds.

“Wow, talk about shock and awe, I’m just shocked ya’ll let me fly in this jet,” exclaimed Lawson after stepping onto the tarmac. “What I experienced is simply indescribable, I always have had the greatest respect for our military and especially for these pilots and now even more so. They are so smart, they’re engineers, tacticians, and athletes all rolled into one.”



Founded in 1946 by Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, the Blue Angels represent the finest that the Navy and Marine Corps have to offer. Each team member, whether officer or enlisted, is handpicked from the fleet to be a part of the Blue Angels.

“Eddie epitomizes the characteristics we represent in the Navy and Marine Corps,” said Lt. Otto. “It’s an honor for us to share our passion for flying and our love of serving our country with him.”

Lawson began his professional racing career on the dirt tracks of Southern California during the mid-1970s. He made the switch to road racing by the late-1970s and won his first road-racing championship in 1980. After winning four American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) national titles, he moved on to the FIM Grand Prix world championship arena in 1983 to compete in the 500cc class. During his decade on the Grand Prix circuit, Lawson won four-world championship titles, the most by any American to this day.
Today Lawson continues his relationship with Yamaha, the company that he captured three of his world championships with, as well as the prestigious Suzuka Eight Hour endurance race, and two Daytona 200 titles, America’s top motorcycle racing event. He feeds his “need for speed” by competing in International Karting Federation (IKF) events in his Yamaha-powered twin-250cc superkart, and now, rides with the Blue Angels…whenever they’ll let him.