With the start of the 2005 AMA Superbike season only a month away, I thought I’d throw out one reason to watch Miguel Duhamel. I guess I should say “another reason” to watch him, since the primary reason to watch him is that he’s damned fast and may well be one of the few riders that can challenge Mladin for the title in 2005.

Over the last 15 years the Canadian born racer has won his share of both critics and fans. Throughout the 90s Duhamel, along with Scott Russell, was regularly chided by fans for his harsh treatment of backmarkers. TV scenes of Miguel flipping off slower riders at tracks like Daytona were common place. Despite those that screamed for his head on internet mailing lists, the number of fans who support him has grown into a veritable army. And why not? The guy has a better sense of humor that many comedians, has more on-screen personality that most of the TV commentators that interview him and, most importantly, has stamped his authority on the AMA scene with so many 600SS, Forumula Extreme and Superbike wins that nearly everyone has lost count. His heroic (yes, that is an overused word these days but re-watch the race…its true) 1999 Daytona sweep of both 600SS and Superbike was enough to get him a legion of sworn fans.

Well, none of those are the particular reason I think the guy deserves a little extra attention. I think it is because the guy showed himself to be a class act on two different occasions in 2004 and I’d like to see more riders follow his lead. The situations I’m thinking of where his podium speeches at both PPIR and VIR after winning Formula Extreme races. In both instances, he used that opportunity to recognize people who were less fortunate that himself. At PPIR, he commented on a woman with AIDS. At VIR, he mentioned Colorado racer Donna Bowden who was in the ICU with a flesh-eating infection and at VIR recognized cancer patient Shawn Hose and had her present his Superbike trophy.

Racers in general, and perhaps motorcycle racers in particular, can be pretty egotistical people. To master, even for just one race, all the complex aspects of a motorcycle and the tricks of a track is a great accomplishment. For someone like Duhamel who has done this so many times, it is understandable that he could develop a bit of an attitude about winning. After his triple sweep (both Superbike races and the Forumla Extreme race) at VIR, I don’t think anyone would have been surprised to see him on top of the podium pounding his chest and proclaiming he was number one. That, at that triumphant moment, he could see beyond himself and recognize people who are suffering is amazing. That he asked to for go the usual spandex clad trophy girl and have a common fan who was terminally ill with cancer present his trophy was wonderful show of humility and compassion.

I hope more racers can learn from that and perhaps do the same. While every race fan wants a racer that is skilled on the bike, I think even non-motorcycle fans would be thrilled to see well paid athletes spending more time showing compassion for the less fortunate.

Bravo Mr. Duhamel!

[image from AMA Superbike web site]