Doug Polen

Background

Polen was born in Detroit, Michigan.

Career

He raced successfully in American Medical Association Superbike, Japanese Superbikes, Superbike World Championship and Endurance racing. He was a privateer in American Medical Association competition in the early 1980s, before quitting racing to concentrate on business commitments. In 1986 he returned to American Medical Association, ultimately getting a works Yoshimura Suzuki ride in 1988 before going to international racing.

Polen joined Eraldo Ferracci"s "Fast By Ferracci" Ducati team in 1990.

In 1992 he also finished third overall in the American Medical Association national championship. In 1994 he joined the United Kingdom-based Castrol Honda team to race the then-new RC45 in the Superbike World Championship, insisting that the team use Dunlop tyres due to his close ties with the company.

His total of 18 American Medical Association pole positions was a record until Mat Mladin matched it in 2006. His 13 fastest laps in World Superbike competition in 1991 is a single-season championship record.

Polen was inducted to the American Medical Association Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2011.

Achievements

• After breaking his contract to go to the Superbike World Championship, he won the title in both 1991 and 1992. Foreign 1993 he left the world championship to compete exclusively in the United States and won the American Medical Association national crown. He left the team abruptly in early 1995 but not before teaming up with Aaron Slight to win the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race for Honda. After returning to the American Medical Association series, he set his sights on the Endurance World Championship and eventually won that championship in 1997.