"King" Kenny Roberts was born in Modesto, California on December 31, 1951. Roberts won two AMA Grand National Championships in 1973 and 1974; three consecutive Grand Prix 500cc World Championships in 1978, 1979 and 1980; victories at the Daytona 200; and countless other dirt track and roadracing wins along the way. He started being called "King" Kenny after he became the first American ever to win a Grand Prix 500cc World Championship, and the moniker has befit him throughout his career as a racer, safety advocate, team manager, and team owner.

Roberts is widely regarded as one of the first motorcycle roadracers to "get his knee down", using his knee to gauge clearance when tipping the bike into a corner. He was also one of the first riders to utilize engine power to spin the rear tire and steer the bike while exiting turns. It's a technique that he adopted from his dirt-track racing beginnings. Today, these riding techniques are commonplace in racing, but they were originated by "King" Kenny himself.

Because of his many legendary accomplishments, Roberts has received the following accolades: