No matter how you measure greatness in American road racing, the name Miguel Duhamel tops the list. He's the king of the AMA Superbike class, with more Superbike wins than anyone else (23) and the longest win streak (six). And he's long been the ruler of the 600 SuperSport class, with the most championships (five), most race wins (37) and the longest winning streak (10). He's won the fabled Daytona 200 three times once with a leg so freshly broken he had to hobble to the bike on crutches. It was the kind of heroic performance that defines Duhamel's character.

Last season, Duhamel showed the same determination in the face of recurring bad luck. At Road Atlanta he had to pit to replace a tire. At Road America a slipping clutch held him to 12th. At Mid-Ohio he crashed while leading in both Superbike races, and in the 600 SuperSport race he got docked a position, losing a podium finish for running onto the grass after getting pushed wide by another rider. And that's after coming back from a second badly broken leg.

For many other racers, such misfortune would deal a devastating blow to their morale. But Duhamel, son of legendary racer Yvon Duhamel, has never been just another racer. Such experience helps Duhamel put things in their proper perspective and look forward.

"Last year was just a combination of having a new bike, new mechanics, coming back from injuries and a little bit of bad luck," he says. "Last year was kind of a blur, you know? I've kind of forgotten about it, really. I think this year is looking a lot better. I've worked with the new guys for a year now, so we know each other better, and I think that's going to help a lot for the 2001 season."

And they'll know how to get the right setup quickly on Honda's awesome RC51? V-twin. Last year the RC51 was brand-new, and the team had little data to rely on to get the setup correct. And at racing's elite level, that's crucial.

"If you have the good setup," Duhamel says, "you can run hard. But if the setup is bad, you'll struggle. Especially with the level of competition here in America, you can't afford to miss your setup by too much. With the RC51, I think it's just been a matter of getting to know the bike and developing it. Now I think I can do really well on it, particularly with the team I've got."

Duhamel's also looking forward to rekindling the dominance he's shown in the 600 SuperSport class. He'll have a fresh weapon in that fight, too: Honda's revamped CBR600 F4, with high-pressure fuel injection (PGM-FI), five percent more peak power and a stiffer aluminum frame.

"The 600 feels really solid this year," he says. "It feels a lot more positive, and the front end gives me a lot more feedback. I'm looking forward to going racing this year."

What Duhamel has to do to prepare himself physically shows another dimension of his determination. The leg that was broken twice is now an inch shorter, so certain avenues of training, such as running, a cornerstone of cardiovascular fitness are closed off to him. A stationary bicycle, weight training and riding a motocross bike give him the stamina to endure when other riders' physical reserves are gone.

"You just want to be in good shape," he says, "and make sure that you're ready to take on the challenge of the day. If it's 120 degrees outside, really hot and humid, or whatever conditions are thrown at you, it just makes it easier if you're in better shape."

"Mental strength is important too. Because if you've got the physical strength, but you don't know what to do with it, you're not going to go anywhere. Whereas if you're tired, but you know how to strategize, to get yourself into a position to win, you're far better off."

Miguel Duhamel has proven year after year that he's one of the sport's toughest riders, physically and mentally, with a never-say-die attitude that separates him from lesser racers. But, again, his experience gives him perspective.

"One day you're on top of it, you feel you've got everybody covered," he says. "The next day you're struggling. It's an ever-evolving process, so you've just got to try to adapt to it."

"There are a lot of ways of getting to a goal, but you've got to find the right one for you. The competition's pretty strong and they're really smart, all of them. So you've just got to try to do the best that you can and hope that you get on top of the box. These days, it's quite an accomplishment to be able to pull that off. Any time you can win, it feels pretty good."

Count on a revitalized Duhamel to feel pretty good at racetracks from coast to coast in 2001.
Born: July 30, 1981,Owensboro, KY

Residence: Owensboro, KY

National #: 69 (AMA Superbike)

Began Riding: 1984, age 3

First Race: 1986, age 5

Training: Riding dirt bikes, weight lifting, aerobics, bicycle riding

Hobbies: Dirt-track racing, hanging out with friends, music

Height: 5' 11"

Weight: 160 lbs.

Marital Status: Single

Current Race Bike: RC51

Mechanics: Dan Fahie, David Jones

Crew Chief: Merlyn Plumlee