[1][3] Baker is notable for being the first American to win a road racing world championship when he won the 1977 Formula 750 title.

[3] Born in Bellingham, Washington, Baker began his career racing on the dirt track ovals of the Pacific Northwest.

[5] Baker began competing in the AMA National Championship in 1973 and experienced his first success when he finished second to former world champion Kel Carruthers at the Talladega Superspeedway.

[5][6] Although Baker's Yamaha motorcycle experienced a mechanical failure at the 1976 Daytona 200, he won the prestigious Imola 200 pre-season race in Europe, then traveled to Great Britain to compete for the North American team in the 1976 Transatlantic Trophy match races which, pitted the best British riders against the top North American road racers on 750cc motorcycles in a six-race series.

[14][15] At the end of the season, the Yamaha team announced that they wanted Baker to return to the United States to compete in the 1978 AMA Grand National Championship.

[5] However, Baker was determined to stay and compete in Europe, and with the help of the reigning World Champion, Barry Sheene, he was able to secure a motorcycle and sponsorship as Graziano Rossi's teammate on the Suzuki of Italy racing team operated by former Grand Prix competitor, Roberto Gallina.