-1972 - First race on a mini-bike (Kawasaki). Age: 4 years old.

-1981 - Competed in amateur dirt oval races.
          - Won the AMA National Amateur Championship qualifier in 125cc and 250cc categories.
          - Entered first road race on a Modified Yamaha YZ80, winning the 125cc class, and finishing 2nd in the 500cc
            class, and 3rd in the 1000cc class!!! As a privateer.

-1982  - Won two AMA National Amateur Championships. Age: 14 years old. As a privateer

-1983  - Won two AMA National Amateur Championships. Age: 15 years old. Team Honda Interceptor.

-1984  - Rookie season in AMA Superbike racing . Finished two races while competing with an unmodified engine.

-1985  -Won the Brainerd Formula 2 National road race. Team Cycle Tech.
           -WERA National Endurance Champion  with Suzuki 750cc. Team Cycle Tech.
           -Finished 3rd at Daytona  Pro-Am Superbike race with a Honda.
           -Finished 5th at Mid-Ohio Superbike race.

-1986 - 9th AMA Superbike Championship  (U.S.A). Team Yamaha.

-1987 - Finished  2nd in his first race with Nordica Team Roberts at the Daytona 100.
          - 3rd in the Suzuka 8 hours race. With Team Lucky Strike Roberts. Yamaha YZF 750
          - AMA 250cc Grand Prix National Champion. Won five races in the nine-race series, including four in a row:
             Loudon, Elkhart Lake, Laguna Seca, Mid- Ohio and Sears Point. With Team Nordica Roberts
          - 2 victories of two races at All Japan Road-race Championship 250cc class.

-1988 - AMA 250cc Grand Prix National Champion for second year in a row. Team Yamaha Nordica Roberts.
          - 5th at Japan Grand Prix 250cc.
          - 4th at U.S.A. Grand Prix 250cc. Fastest qualifier.
          - Champion of Daytona 100
          - 3er in Fuji Super Sprint 250cc. Team Yamaha Lucy Strike factory
          - 2 victories out of 2 races in All Japan Championship 250cc

-1989 - AMA 250cc Grand Prix National Champion.
          - Winner of Daytona 100 and Supersport 600.
          - Winner of Japan Grand Prix 250cc.
          - Winner of U.S.A. Grand Prix 250cc.
          - 5th Belgian Grand Prix 500cc.
          - Winner of Daytona 100. Team Viceroy.
          - 1 victory out of 1 race All Japan Championship 250cc.
          - 1 victory out of 1 race All Japan Championship 500cc

-1990 - 250cc WORLD CHAMPION. The first time out.
          - First full season in the 250cc World Championship. Team Yamaha-Roberts.
          - Won 7 Grand Prix: Laguna Seca (U.S.A), Jerez (Spain), Missano (Italy), Assen (Holland), Spa (Belgium),
          - Hungaroring (Hungary), and Philip Island (Australia).
          - Won his first and only race in the all Japan Road-race 250cc. Championship (Sugo event production Bike
            TVC)

-1991 - First full season in the World Championship 500cc. Team Yamaha-Roberts.
          - Winner of Malaysian Grand Prix (Shah Alam).
          - Fourth position in the 500cc class World Championship.

-1992 - Winner of South-African Grand Prix in 500cc class.
          - 3rd position in the 500cc class World Championship. Team Yamaha-Roberts.

-1993 - 2nd in the Australian Grand Prix with a 250cc Suzuki. First podium for a 250cc Suzuki ever.
          - 3rd in Holland Grand Prix (Assen) and last race with the 250cc Suzuki.
          - Winner of the U.S.A  Grand Prix in Laguna Seca on a Cagiva 500cc. First victory in a dry race for Cagiva.
          - 11th position in 250cc class Word Championship.
          - 10th position in 500cc class Word Championship. (John just raced 4 races in the 500cc class:
             he twice finished 4th, one victory and one D.N.F when he was leading the race.)

-1994 -  Winner of Australian Grand Prix on a Cagiva 500cc.
          -  3rd position in the 500cc World Championship.

-1995 - 2nd position in the Daytona 200, 600cc stock classes. Team Erion-Honda.

-1996 - 3rd position in World Superbikes with Ducati.

-1997 - SUPERBIKES WORLD CHAMPION with team Castrol- Honda.
          - 2nd position in the Suzuka 8 hours.
          - 4th position in TBC Big Road Race 500cc class.

-1998 - 12th position in 500cc class with team Honda-Pons-Movistar

-1999 - 8th position in 500cc class with team Kanemoto Honda Racing.
          - 7th position in Suzuka 8 hours. Starting from place 100.

-2000 - 7th position in AMA Superbike Championship with team Vance & Hines Ducati.

-2001 - Yamaha test rider: developing the new competition motorcycles: The M1

-2002 - Yamaha test rider developing the new prototipes.