Kenny Roberts arrived at the 2009 AMA Lucas Oil Indy Mile Grand National event at Indianapolis last August, and spectators enjoyed a special appearance.

Approximately 34 years since he won on the Yamaha TZ750 in 1975, Roberts delighted fans by riding the engine at the Indy Mile, later being congratulated by current MotoGP hero Valentino Rossi.

“I was a little bit nervous about doing this, I had my bone doctor on standby!” says Roberts. “Watching a mile, and especially the Indy mile, is the most fun part of motorcycle racing – I think Valentino found that out. I didn’t practice before the event because there wasn’t any kind that could gear me up to ride the TZ750 at that mile. It was almost like being there in 1975, it was very moving for me.”