Joe Leonard

An independent rider in the 1950s, he was not backed by the factory, but nevertheless won the US National Championship on a KRTT. In fact, while the KR was Harley's official racer, the championship was won more often by private riders (notably Carroll Resweber and Brad Andres as well as Leonard) than by factory-backed ones. Between them, Leonard, Resweber and Bart Markel won the title ten times.