The Transatlantic Trophy (initially called Anglo-American Match Races) was an annual series of motorcycle races between the United Kingdom and America held from 1971 to 1988 and again in 1991.

They were mostly held over the Easter weekend at Brands Hatch, Mallory Park and Oulton Park, although some races were held at Donington Park and Snetterton. Three different specifications of motorcycles were used in the series at various times: AMA/F750, Superbike and GP.

History British journalists, Gavin Trippe and Bruce Cox, ran California based Motor Cycle Weekly and promoted motorcycle races in the US. The pair were keen to promote American racers in the UK. They met with Chris Lowe of Motor Circuit Developments (MCD), who ran Brands Hatch, Oulton Park and Mallory Park circuits, and Jim Swift of the British Motorcycle Racing Club at the 1970 Daytona 200 and the plan for the Transatlantic Trophy was formulated. Ron Grant, the leader of the US Suzuki team supported the scheme. Lowe approached BSA/Triumph who agreed to supply 750 cc racing triples for the riders and to support the series.

BSA/Triumph withdrew after the 1971 event and John Player became the title sponsor from 1972. The name of the series was changed to Transatlantic Trophy in the same year.

The initial format was 2 races at each of the three tracks over the Easter weekend: Brands Hatch (Good Friday), Mallory Park (Easter Sunday) and Oulton Park (Easter Monday). Marlboro became the title sponsor in 1979. Motor Circuit Developments sold Mallory Park in late 1982, and for 1983 Snetterton Circuit was used as the third circuit. To fit in with Snetterton's schedule the races were moved to May Day weekend. There were allegations of financial irregularities by Motor Circuit Developments, in late 1983. Tom Wheatcroft, owner of Donington Park, stepped in and the entire series was staged at Donington Park from 1984. There was no title sponsor for 1984 but Shell Oils sponsored the series from 1985 to 1987. Brands Hatch returned as a venue in 1987, with 3 races at brands and six at Donington.

Donington was to host the inaugural round of the Superbike World Championship on Easter Sunday 1988. For the mutual benefit of both WSB and the Transatlantic Match (which both used similar specification machines) the Transatlanic series was expanded to four teams and renamed the Eurolantic Challenge as it included European riders. No matches were held in 1989 and 1990. The final match, known as the Transatlantic Superbike Challenge that year, was held at Brands Hatch and Mallory Park in May 1991.

In 1984 Honda works rider Freddie Spencer crashed and broke bones in his feet. This caused him to miss the Spanish GP. Team mate Ron Haslam had also crashed. Honda withdrew its support for the non-championship event. Other manufactures followed suit over the next few years. Without the top riders the series declined and was cancelled after the 1991 matches.

Results + Winners Anglo-American Match Races Year Team Results Team 1971 183-137 USA Transatlantic Trophy Year Team Results Team 1972 252-210 USA 1973 416-398 USA 1974 416-401 USA 1975 UK 242-279 1976 412-384 USA 1977 UK 380-405 1978 435-379 USA 1979 UK 352-448 1980 UK 370-442 1981 466-345 USA 1982 491-313 USA 1983 245-198 USA 1984 British Commonwealth 136-259 1985 336-254 USA 1986 314-214 USA 1987 UK 745.5-993.5 Eurolantic Challenge Year Team Results Team 1988 586-570 USA UK 2 281-287 Europe Transatlantic Superbike Challenge Year Team Results Team 1991 625-161 USA Winning teams in

Matches 1971

The inaugural Anglo-American Match Races event matched a 5 man British team with a 6 man American team, although only 5 Americans could race in any one race. American captain Gary Nixon fell in practice for the first race and broke his wrist so was unable to ride in any of the races. All riders were on BSA/Triumph 750 cc triples.

BSA/Triumph had updated the racing triples for the 1971 Daytona 200, which BSA works rider Dick Mann had won. The changes included the compact "lowboy" frame, which was lower and lighter but had more ground clearance. Disc brakes had been fitted and the engines produced slightly more power. There were only a limited number of 1971 machines available. The British team plus Mann and Nixon received the upgraded machines. The rest of the American team used 1970 machines. This led to claims that the American team was disadvantaged.

The UK won all races and the series 183-137. Ray Pickrell and Paul Smart were the top scorers.

+ Teams UK USA Rider Machine Rider Machine Percy Tait (captain) Triumph Gary Nixon (captain) Triumph John Cooper BSA Jim Rice BSA Paul Smart Triumph Dave Aldana BSA Ray Pickrell BSA Dick Mann BSATony Jefferies Triumph Don Castro Triumph Don Emde BSA References

1972

The series was sponsored by John Player and the name changed to Transatlantic Trophy. No longer a one-make series, the BSAs and Triumphs were joined by Nortons, Suzukis and a Harley Davidson. The British won the series 252-210. Cal Rayborn, on an obsolete Harley Davidson as the factory refused to let him use his works machine, and Ray Pickrell were the top scorers with 3 wins each. Don Emde crashed heavily during practice at Oulton Park. His bike ended up in the lake and was hosed down by the Fire Brigade to remove the mud.

+ Teams UK USA Rider Machine Rider Machine Phil Read (captain) Norton Dick Mann (captain) BSA John Cooper BSA Cal Rayborn Harley Davidson Tony Jefferies Triumph Don Emde Norton Ray Pickrell BSA Ron Grant Suzuki Peter Williams Norton Art Baumann Suzuki Tony Rutter Norton Jody Nicholas Suzuki References

1973

BSA-Triumph was now part of Norton Villiers Triumph and the BSA brand had been dropped so only Triumph badged triples were entered. Kawasaki bikes appeared for the first time, making 5 different marques on the grid. Britain won the series 416-398. Yvon Duhamel and Peter Williams were the top scorers in the wet races.

+ Teams UK USA Rider Machine Rider Machine Paul Smart (captain) Suzuki Cal Rayborn (captain) Harley Davidson Barry Sheene Suzuki Mert Lawwill Harley Davidson John Cooper/Dave Croxford John Player Norton Doug Sehl Harley Davidson Peter Williams John Player Norton Gary Nixon Kawasaki Tony Jefferies Triumph Yvon Duhamel Kawasaki Percy Tait Triumph Art Baumann Kawasaki Mick Grant Seeley-Kawasaki Ron Grant Suzuki Dave Potter Kuhn-Norton Dave Aldana John Player Norton References

1974

Yamaha motorcycles entered the series for the first time this year with the Yamaha TZ750. Britain won the series 416-401 although American Kenny Roberts was the top scorer with 4 wins. Roberts bike, which was fitted with the newly introduced slick tyres, nearly failed scrutineering for "bald tyres".

+ Teams UK USA Rider Machine Rider Machine Paul Smart (captain) Suzuki Yvon Duhamel (captain) Kawasaki Peter Williams John Player Norton Kenny Roberts Yamaha Dave Croxford John Player Norton Gary Fisher Yamaha Barry Sheene Suzuki Gene Romero Yamaha Stan Woods Suzuki John Long Yamaha Barry Ditchburn Yamaha Dave Aldana Norton Mick Grant Yamaha Art Baumann Kawasaki/Yamaha Percy Tait Triumph/Norton Gary Nixon Suzuki Ron Chandler (reserve) Kawasaki Jim Evans (reserve) Yamaha References

1975 The Brands Hatch races were cancelled due to snow. The first race at Mallory Park started dry but snow started to fall near the end of the race. The second race was wet and shortened from 20 to 15 laps. Dave Aldana was the top scorer, although Kenny Roberts had won 3 races. The American team had their first series win scoring 279-242.Classic Racer, September/October 2008, Issue 133, p. 36, William Gibbons & Son, Wolverhampton. ISSN 1470-4463

+ Teams UK USA Rider Machine Rider Machine Percy Tait (captain) Yamaha Kenny Roberts (captain) Yamaha Stan Woods Suzuki Gene Romero Yamaha John Newbold Suzuki Don Castro Yamaha Mick Grant Kawasaki Steve Baker Yamaha Barry Ditchburn Kawasaki Steve McLaughlin Yamaha Dave Croxford Norton Pat Hennen Suzuki Dave Potter Yamaha Dave Aldana Suzuki Pat Mahoney Yamaha Phil McDonald Yamaha Charlie Williams (reserve) Yamaha Randy Cleek (reserve) Yamaha References

1976

The British team had included John Newbold, but he dropped out. Reserve Steve Parrish was promoted to a full team member and Ron Haslam brought in as the reserve. Phil McDonald was to have been in the American team but was injured prior to the matches.

Norton had commissioned Cosworth to build a twin-cylinder engine based on their highly successful DFV Formula 1 engine. Dave Croxford entered the series on one of the Cosworth-Nortons but the underdeveloped machine performed poorly at Brands and was withdrawn for the other two rounds.

Steve Baker was the top scorer with 4 wins.

+ Teams UK USA Rider Machine Rider Machine Phil Read (captain) Yamaha Kenny Roberts (captain) Yamaha Mick Grant Kawasaki Gene Romero Yamaha Barry Ditchburn Kawasaki Gary Nixon Kawasaki Dave Potter Yamaha Randy Cleek Yamaha Barry Sheene Suzuki Steve Baker Yamaha Steve Parrish Suzuki Pat Hennen Suzuki Dave Croxford Cosworth-Norton Pat Evans Yamaha John Williams Suzuki Ron Pierce Kawasaki Ron Haslam (reserve) Yamaha Marty Lunde (reserve) Yamaha References

1977

The American team was to consist of Dave Aldana, Steve Baker, Randy Cleek, Pat Evans, Pat Hennen, Ron Pierce, Kenny Roberts, Gary Scott and Dave Emde as reserve. Following a disagreement with his sponsor Pierce withdrew from the team. Emde was promoted to a full team member and Skip Aksland brought in as reserve. Evans was killed at the Imola Circuit the weekend prior to the Transatlantic Trophy and Cleek killed in a road accident on his way back from the Imola track. Pierce re-joined the team, Aksland was promoted to a full team member and Kevin Stafford introduced as reserve.

Barry Sheene won one race for the UK but the other five races were won by Americans; Roberts won four races and Hennen one. Hennen was the top scorer. The Americans won the series 405-380.

+ Teams UK USA Rider Machine Rider Machine Percy Tait (captain) non-riding Kenny Roberts (captain) Yamaha Steve Parrish Suzuki Pat Hennen Suzuki Phil Read Kawasaki Gary Scott Yamaha Dave Potter Yamaha Dave Emde Yamaha Barry Sheene Suzuki Dave Aldana Yamaha Paul Smart Yamaha Ron Pierce Yamaha John Williams Yamaha Skip Aksland Yamaha Mick Grant Kawasaki Steve Baker Yamaha Barry Ditchburn Kawasaki Kevin Stafford (reserve) Yamaha Roger Marshall (reserve) Yamaha References

1978

Barry Sheene, Mick Grant and Dave Potter were seeded into the team. The rest of the teams was decided by lap times during a qualifying session prior to the first race at Brands Hatch.

The UK won the series 435-379 in front of a combined crowd of 150,000. Pat Hennen was the top scorer.

+ Teams UK USA Rider Machine Rider Machine Barry Sheene (captain) Suzuki Kenny Roberts (captain) Yamaha Mick Grant Kawasaki Pat Hennen Suzuki Dave Potter Yamaha Gene Romero Yamaha Barry Ditchburn Yamaha Dave Aldana Yamaha Roger Marshall Yamaha Skip Aksland Yamaha Ron Haslam Yamaha David Emde Yamaha John Williams Yamaha Dale Singleton Yamaha Steve Manship Yamaha Mike Baldwin Yamaha Steve Wright (reserve) Yamaha Bruce Hammer (reserve) Yamaha References

1979

Barry Sheene, Mick Grant, Dave Potter, Barry Ditchburn, Tom Herron and Steve Parrish were seeded into the British team. The remaining three members qualified for their places in a qualifying session on the day before the first race at the Brands Hatch round.

The American obtained the highest winning margin to date, 448-352, winning all 3 rounds. Mike Baldwin was the top scorer.

+ Teams UK USA Rider Machine Rider Machine Barry Sheene (captain) Suzuki Dave Aldana (captain) Yamaha Mick Grant Yamaha Steve Baker Yamaha Dave Potter Yamaha Mike Baldwin Yamaha Barry Ditchburn Kawasaki Dale Singleton Yamaha Tom Herron Suzuki Gene Romero Yamaha Steve Parrish Suzuki Randy Mamola Yamaha John Newbold Yamaha Rich Schlachter Yamaha Ron Haslam Yamaha Wes Cooley Yamaha Keith Huewen Yamaha John Long Yamaha References