SportBikes Inc Magazine April 2012 (Volume 2, Issue 7)

ROAD RACING . DRAG RACING . STUNT RIDING

CUSTOM BIKES . Moto tECH

APRIL 2012 Vol 2 Issue 7

SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM TM

DAYTONA 2012

ben bostrom | rickey gadson | daytona bike week | Ladies of the Paddock | Improve your skills: reference points

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The New Streetfighter 848:

Rule the Road The Streetfighter 848 delivers the power, precision handling and agility you would expect from a Ducati Superbike, perfectly balanced with an assertive riding position designed for maximum rider comfort on the street. The reign of the new Streetfighter 848 has begun. ducatiusa.com

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APRIL 2012 - VOLUME 2, ISSUE 7

THE FEATURES

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DAYTONA http://issuu.com/action/page?page=28 2012

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THE ROOKIE: WHAT I’VE LEARNED

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UNDERSTANDING GEARING

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FEAR & BLOATING http://issuu.com/action/page?page=38 IN DAYTONA

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THINGS DONE CHANGED...

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SPRING “BRIKE” WEEK

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THE USUALS INTERACTIVE

http://issuu.com/action/page?page=10 10 THE PRESS ROOM http://issuu.com/action/page?page=14 14 DEALER SPOTLIGHT - BATTLEY CYCLES CLICK ON NUMBERS TO JUMP TO A PAGE http://issuu.com/action/page?page=18 18 THE GRID NEWS http://issuu.com/action/page?page=20 20 THE INSIDE TRACK - By Corey Alexander http://issuu.com/action/page?page=24 24 LADIES OF THE PADDOCK - By Carrie Aquino http://issuu.com/action/page?page=46 46 THE BAKER’S DOZEN - By Phil Baker 52http://issuu.com/action/page?page=52 The youngest in charge - By Dystany Spurlock http://issuu.com/action/page?page=56 56 CAPO’S CUT - By Ashon CAPO Dickerson http://issuu.com/action/page?page=64 http://issuu.com/action/page?page=48 http://issuu.com/action/page?page=66 http://issuu.com/action/page?page=60 http://issuu.com/action/page?page=74 74 VIOLET STARS & HAPPY STUNTING - By Leah Petersen http://issuu.com/action/page?page=84 84 FEATURED CLUB - PROPHECY M.C. http://issuu.com/action/page?page=88 88 FEATURED RIDERS http://issuu.com/action/page?page=96 96 MOTO TECH - UNDERSTANDING GEARING http://issuu.com/action/page?page=100 100 IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS - REFERENCE POINTS http://issuu.com/action/page?page=118 118 SPORTBIKES INK!!! http://issuu.com/action/page?page=122 122 RANDOM http://issuu.com/action/page?page=124 124 THIS LIFE - By Tyson Beckford http://issuu.com/action/page?page=126 126 THE NEW ISH http://issuu.com/action/page?page=130 130 STAFF STUFF http://issuu.com/action/ page?page=22

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APRIL 2012

http://issuu.com/action/page?page=8 8 EDITOR’S LETTER

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EDITOR’S LETTER EDITORIAL

THETEAM

My big sister, Kendi Britton & I at Daytona Fun Machines for ICON Limiter Live.

Daytona 2012 may go down in history as one of the greatest episodes of a show that was never on the air! Fortunately, we have plenty of documentation. Feel free to insert “mysterious, evil laugh” here...

What was safe for publication, you’ll find in this issue. Friend of SBI, Ben Bostrom gives us his point of view on the race weekend. Brian Nitto chimes in with thoughts on what it’s like to run around like a mad man, covering all bases. Brittney Morrow wraps up her working vacation as she witnessed the birth of “Spring BRIKE Week.”

Enjoy the issue!

Best, Allan

ART & DESIGN

Daytona Bike Week never really seems to disappoint. There is literally something there for everyone. This year’s event happened to coincide with Saint Patrick’s Day and Spring Break. In other words... The perfect storm.

Editor in Chief: Allan Lane Lifestyle Editor: Tyson Beckford Moto-Tech Editor: Mark Rozema Technical Advisor: Thomas Campion Drag Race Editor: Ashon “Capo” Dickerson Riding Editor: Eric Wood Senior Staff Writer: Lisa Macknik Contributing Writers: Brittany Murrow Dystany Spurlock Corey Alexander Carrie Aquino Phil Baker Ben Bostrom Rickey Gadson Copy Editor: Angela Lane Creative Supervisor: Leon Brittain Graphic Designer: Baz Staff Photographers: Meekail Shaheed Brian Nitto Cover: Brian Nitto

SportBikes Inc Magazine — April 2012 Volume 2, Issue 7 To receive SportBikes Inc Magazine’s 2012 Media Kit and Advertising Rates, please email: info@sportbikesincmag.com.

SportBikes Inc Magazine (ISSN 2158-009X) is published monthly by Hard Knocks Motorcycle Entertainment.

Any and all items submitted to SportBikes Inc Magazine will become the sole property of SportBikes Inc Magazine and are subject to, but not limited to edits, comments and titles.

In no way can any part of this magazine be reproduced in print, digital, broadcast or any other manner without the expressed written permission of the publisher.

SportBikes Inc Magazine is not responsible for any advertising claims made by its advertisers or partners.

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Sportbikes Inc Magazine, staff and partners are not responsible for injuries, loss or damage to their being, vehicle or property, including death that may result from contest submissions.

FOLLOW US

/M1PowerSports

The Original Big Kahuna Nationals Atlanta April 20-22, 2012 For Tickets Call Toll Free 888-280-7848 or Visit www.m1powersports.com FREE PARKING & PADDOCK PASSES BIG SCREENS HISTORIC MOTO GRAND PRIX MOTORCYCLE STUNT SHOWS FAN PARTIES

the press room Triumph announces 110th Anniversary Edition of the Bonneville The 2012 Triumph Bonneville T100 is an iconic representation of the craftsmanship that has made Triumph the force that it is in the bike industry for the last century.

Recall the images of Steve McQueen atop his Bonneville from the 1960’s: the essence of super cool, straight up bad ass personified? The 2012 T100 Anniversary Edition is a throwback to the great classic standard. Limited to only 1000 models worldwide, about 250 will find their way to US dealerships and 25 are allotted for Canadian distribution with a scheduled release in May. MSRP: $10,499 U.S.

ROLAnD SANDS DESIGN OPENS RETAIL LOCATION

Roland Sands is giving the people what they want... directly. RSD is opening a retail location at the company’s headquarters in Alamitos, CA. The entire line of RSD Apparel will be available for purchase.

The grand opening is scheduled for mid April with food, music and fun on deck in addition to shop tours that showcase “where all the magic happens...”

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the press room The 10th Annual Chadds Ford Classic Motorcycle Auction The 10th Annual Chadds Ford Classic Motorcycle Auction will be held on Sunday, April 15 at William Bunch Auctions in Chadds Ford, PA.

The preview will be held on Saturday, April 14 from 11am to 5pm. The doors open Sunday at 10am and the auction begins promptly at 1pm. There is no charge to attend or to register as a bidder.

Organizer, John Lawless recalls a 1951 C Model Vincent Shadow that belonged to Ed Labelle that sold for $35,000.

Don’t be discouraged by that high price tag.

In the auction’s history, that was the highest bid ever placed on a bike. This auction is sure to have something in every classic bike lover’s budget.

DUCATI UNVEILS The DUCATI MONSTER DIESEL Ducati and Diesel have joined forces to create a motorcycle inspired by the essence of the two brands. The result is the Ducati Monster Diesel. Unveiled in New York in March, the collaboration between the two powerhouses is “dedicated to addicts of life in the fast lane and devoted enthusiasts of these two great Italian brands.” The bike will tour in company with Diesel’s premiere of their new line at retail stores in several cities abroad.

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SBK TECHNOLOGY FOR EVERYDAY ROADS. SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 13

Dealer Spotlight: Battley Cycles

Words: Allan Lane Images: Courtesy of Battley Cycles

Dealership name: Battley Cycles | Address: 7830 Airpark Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20879 Hours: Tuesday thru Friday 10am - 7pm, Saturday 9am - 5pm Year established: 1985 | Brands serviced: Yamaha, BMW, Ducati, Harley Davidson

E

very Saturday morning, Battley Cycles opens its doors and offers coffee and donuts to customers, riders, enthusiasts... It seems very simple but an act like this speaks volumes to the riding community. This is how you build relationships and strengthen your brand value. A dealership does not exist to only sell. It must serve, as well.

Battley has built themselves into a destination dealership. It’s not everyday that you walk into a dealership and realize that they sell Harley, Ducati, BMW and Yamaha. When you have a diversity of brands, you gain a diverse clientele. You must become a little bit of everything to everyone. The key is to remain authentic.

It seems as though Battley has that figured out. They define themselves as a “premium brand dealership selling the finest in motorcycles and clothing that cannot be found under one roof anywhere else in Maryland.

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Contact Info:

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Penguin Revs New Jersey

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Bike setup and analysis from top AMA technician Mike Himmlesbach Question & answers with Hall of Fame tuner Eraldo Ferracci For information go to

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THE GRID: NEWS Elena Myers makes history‌ AGAIN!

Elena Myers won her second AMA Pro Racing SuperSport race at the opening 2012 season round in Daytona Florida. Myers is the first and only woman to win any race, in any class, in any genre‌ at Daytona International Speedway.

Myers made the history books, the first time in 2011 when she became the first woman to win an AMA Pro Racing event at Road America.

Tommy Hayden officially riding for Yamaha Graves!

After his last minute, stand in performance at the Daytona 200, Tommy Hayden has been officially offered a ride with the Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha team for the 2012 season.

Tommy Aquino signs with FOGI Racing

Tommy Aquino has been signed as the primary rider for FOGI Racing in the CEV Spanish Championship Series.

Fogi Racing commented in a press release that Aquino has been chosen as the primary pilot for the Spanish CEV Moto2 program because of his consistency and experience. Even though Tommy is only 19 years old he has had significant experience as a National Factory rider in the AMA Daytona Sportbike Class running at the top of the field. He has also spent time racing in two significant tracks as part of the Spanish CEV where he has tested very well.

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Hayden was called into action when Garret Gerloff suffered injury during the practice session of the Daytona 200.

Rickey Gadson’s “LAND SPEED RECORD” Official Certificate!

It was at the 2011 Loring Timing Association’s Land Speed Trials that Rickey Gadson set a new land speed world record of 206.741mph on a stock engine 2011 Kawasaki ZX10R. “Before last year, the BMW S1000RR was the fastest production bike on the planet and no one expected another 1000 to come close for long time. And in 2011 Kawasaki came out with the new and improved ZX10R and I was able to prove that it was the fastest unmodified motorcycle in the world bar none! It was important to me because no one had ever taken a stock motorcycle and gone after the

record and actually went faster than some modified 1000cc motorcycles.

When I say unmodified, I mean it only had a Brock’s slip on pipe, a re-flashed ECU and a Bazzaz box. It was a proud moment for me having accomplished this with my family there to watch it. It also proves that I’m more than a drag racer.” – Rickey Gadson, 9 time AMA Dragbike Champion.

This past March, Rickey finally received his official documentation from the Loring Timing Association.

And if you’ve ever wondered what official paperwork from the Loring Timing Association looks like…

Penguin Road Racing School rolls into NJMP with special guests on May 7, 2012 You have read Eric Wood’s amazing articles in SportBikes Inc Magazine on technical riding and how to “improve your skills.” Wood is a vast wealth of technical know how yet has a relaxed and friendly method of teaching others what he has amassed over years of experience.

Now you have the opportunity to learn directly from Eric Wood with

hands on, in class and on track instruction.

On Monday May 7, Eric Wood’s Penguin Road Racing School is bringing its Ducati Revs NJ to New Jersey Motorsports Park. This school is open to ALL RIDER, ALL LEVELS and ALL MANUFACTURERS. Limited space is still available so register now.

Dani Pedrosa arrested! WHAT?!?!?!

Respol Honda MotoGP rider, Dani Pedrosa was arrested for allegedly cheating on his Yachtsman Test.

Reports state that Pedrosa was arrested when he was caught using an ear piece during his test in Valencia this past weekend in what seems like a sting operation constructed by the authorities.

Details are still unfolding.

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THE GRID

The INSIDE TRACK Words: Corey Alexnader images: Brian Nitto

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I

t seems as though its been months from my last article since the season has started and I’ve been so busy! Well, I had my first race of the season down at Daytona. Going into the weekend I was nervous as I was still recovering from my dislocated knee from a month prior. It was pretty painful to ride when we tested in Jennings so I was not sure how it would be during a race.

First practice proved to be positive and there was no pain. I always like to work my way into things so I used first practice as a way to get back into the zone and come to touch with Daytona as it is unlike any other track. There are very few places you can experience the feeling of riding around a pavement banked similar to a wall. When you add 180mph to this, you end up with g forces that suck you into the seat to the point where you can no longer move. With that said, it takes a little time to get used to the track.

Qualifying came next and this is when I really put my head down and ended up getting the provisional pole. At the time I didn’t realize that this would eventually stand as the final pole considering nobody could go faster in final qualifying the following morning. This was a pretty monumental point in my career as it was my first pole thus

far. I was tremendously excited but knew I still had my work cut out for me only qualifying a tenth of a second ahead of my teammate, James Rispoli.

In race one I think my nerves got the better of me and I got a terrible start moving back to eighth place. This meant I was at the tail end of a eight rider continuous battle that I had to work through. Unfortunately, I ended up getting fifth though it was a decent result. In race two I finally got a better start after a series of restarts and led the fifty plus rider pack into turn one. By the end of the race, it was only my teammate James Rispoli and two other riders battling for the lead. On the last lap after giving Elena Myers the lead in hopes of using her draft when coming to the finish, I ended up getting drafted by Hayden Gillim and we started bumping ultimately giving Elena the win. I got second place by .246. I was pretty happy with finishing second particularly after the first races mishap. With the points lead intact we headed to Miami to test. The test went well and it was cool to ride a new track. Now I am relaxing in cocoa beach Florida on spring break.

Connect with Corey...

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THE GRID

LAdies of the PaddocK Words and IMAGES: Carrie aquino

I

n addition to her blonde hair and great smile, Cori Maynard is one of the bright lights in the paddock that really stands out.

I’ve known her only for four years but it seems like we have been friends forever. Perhaps its because we are both from Buffalo, New York or the fact that people are just instantly drawn to her.

I’ll say it... out of all of the other women in the paddock she alone is probably the hardest worker. She travels the country

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with the Dunlop Tire crew, a crew that consists of about fifteen men!

Well respected and known as an energetic, all around fun person to be with, Cori has proven that she belongs in this paddock.

SBI: What is your job in road racing?

CM: I work for Dunlop Tires.

Dunlop is the spec tire for AMA Pro Road Racing. My official title is Motorsports Logistics Coordinator. My role includes attending all road race events to manage all accounting, inventory

and all logistical matters such as making sure all tires arrive for each event.

SBI: How long have you been doing this?

CM: Just started my fifth year.

SBI: Did you seek this job out or did it fall in your lap?

CM: I had been working for Dunlop as a financial analyst and my current position became available. At the time, I was looking for a change and this seemed like the perfect fit.

SBI: Has this become a passion or is it just a job?

CM: It started as a job and quickly became a passion.

People say you should love what you do. Now I know what they are talking about.

SBI: What is one thing you would like to share that people would be surprised to know about you?

CM: One thing people would be surprised to know about me is the fact that I have never ridden a motorcycle. I was a girl’s girl and helmets were never friends with my hair!

SBI: Do you find it hard being a woman in such a male dominated industry?

CM: It was very intimating at first but over time you realize that they are like you just trying to do their job. The intimidation goes away as soon as the sport becomes a passion to you. The minute they realize you know your job and know it well, they become people an not just men.

SBI: What kind of strengths do you need to be working in this environment?

CM: Thick skin, sarcasm, quick witted, humor, passion and confidence. I think if you are lacking anyone of these qualities, it would be tough to survive in this industry.

SBI: How does all the traveling affect you and your personal life?

CM: At first, the travel is exciting but it can quickly take a toll on your personal life. You miss a lot of weddings, funerals and my gatherings such as BBQ’s with

friends and family. It is difficult to be in a relationship. A majority of men still can’t except the concept of a women traveling while they are home working a nine to five job. They tend to long for a trip somewhere when you tend to want to stay home on your time off. It’s a tough balance and I think that’s why you need to lean on the people in the paddock as your family and friends. They are the only ones that can appreciate what you go through.

SBI: What do your family and friends think of your involvement in road racing?

CM: For the most part they think its exciting and think its a good fit for me. There are times when they see my struggles of being on the road and question it but overall they have become fans of road racing. I can say most if not all of them never knew this sport existed.

SBI: How would you describe The Paddock” to someone who

has never been?

CM: I explain the paddock to those who have never been as a form of a professional circus. The trucks roll in, the awnings go up and everyone works from sun up to sun down for four days. When its all over the awnings come down, the trucks roll out and its on to the next town. Once you get to the next town you will see all the smiling faces, yet again.

SBI: What one thing would you change in this series or class to make it better for the sport as a whole?

CM: I think the last few years we have experienced many changes which have all been tremendous to better the sport. The one thing I would like to see is increased spectators and overall exposure.

It’s a great sport and people need to know about it.

SBI: This sport is highly praised all around the world. Why do you think it is not widely known here in the USA? SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 25

THE GRID: ladies of the paddock

Carrie Aquino, Cori Maynard and Andrea Graves

CM: It’s popular in other parts of the world because motorcycles are a mass means of transportation. The USA is a car country and motorcycle riders here are stereotyped as the rebels.

SBI: What is the one word or sentence that would sum up your feelings of the life you have in “The Paddock”?

CM: Family. There are so many people in the paddock who have become part of my life.

The paddock holds many great people and the sport should pride themselves on that.

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Cori is double blessed, having not only a great family at home but also an extended family in her profession. In addition to her “brothers” at Dunlop, Cori really cares for the riders. Its amazing even with having to keep a professional manner, she still does make an effort to connect with the riders and teams on an equal level. That is a talent.

On “set up” days at AMA Pro Racing events, I personally make a point of heading right over to the Dunlop area greet the whole crew and get a big hug from

Cori. We only get a few minutes to catch up and then we both know its work time. The schedule that needs to be maintained is rough. Up at the crack of dawn, last at the track, dinner meetings and then we do it all over again.

As a woman, you want to look your best and this schedule can certainly take a toll on you. But Cori seems to always show up looking great with a smile on her face. You can tell that this is a passion for Cori and she is right where she belongs, in the paddock.

Great service, fast shipping. Call or email our knowledgable staff today!

866.931-6644 Support@RidersDiscount.com SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 27

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DAYTONA 2012

Words: Ben Bostrom Images: Brian Nitto

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THE GRID: daytona 2012

D

aytona... Rear tire spinning at 220mph with the front tire pulling 200 plus and trying not to kiss the wall that is three feet away. Love it or hate it, the season starts there. This is the place where every team learns real fast what homework has been done during the off season in the AMA paddock.

The thirty three degree high banks allow the riders to flat throttle their machines around the NASCAR turns three and four and fully test the motor work of their teams.

On the other hand, the tires are dual compound and the infield gives little indication of what the motorcycle is capable of in a more standard racing corner. Here the riders tip toe around just waiting patiently to twist the grips off the bike as soon as the tires grab the NASCAR straights. It seems the season always starts with a roll of the dice here.

Daytona itself, loves ya’ or hates ya’. I was the latter this year, but have been on the love side many times as well. My Jordan Motorsports team has done a ton of work and testing in the off season but my results did not show that, obviously. I sampled the pavement both races and had to hang my head entering the pit lane upon return. A tough situation when I know well 30 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

what the bike is capable of. Also, no fun crashing your horse in front of the boss.

Luckily my teammate Roger Hayden put his steed on the box both days. Not sure what to chalk up my two crashes to, yet. Nervous energy... I definitely lacked some front feel all weekend... I was way over due to crash, etc.

Both crashes came as a result of me not slowing down when I got a lack of front end feed back. I was too driven to give one hundred percent every time I

throw a leg over the Jordan horse, it seems. I struggled last year and I remember too well what it feels like to not ride the bike to its limit. That is a shitty feeling. This year the horse and I have become one and that is awesome. So I kept my head high and waited patiently for the Miami Test, which was two days later. “Just let her go, Ben...” That is what I kept telling myself or as Eddie Vedder would say, "Better to live in the present tense."

Two days in the Florida Keys on the beach felt like two weeks. I just wanted to ride my horse again

and surf the asphalt. That's all.

When that day came and 8:45 am rolled around, I remembered why it took so long to arrive.

My Jordan Suzuki and I were making sweet love to the track and riding high on the TV monitors again. The boys had done their homework and Roger and I were two happy jockeys. Every team stepped up their game this season and kudos to them. However, the Jordan boys have taken two steps and Roger and I topped the Miami Test results page on the final day. What a feeling and what a difference a year makes.

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THE GRID: daytona 2012

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THE GRID: daytona 2012

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THE GRID: daytona 2012

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THE GRID

fear and bloating in daytona Words and IMAGES: Brian Nitto

I

f you were to ask me about the Daytona 200 and the past couple of years attending for fun or work or both, I would most likely have a smug look on my face and snide comment on deck. Usually Daytona or Daytona Speedway is a hit or miss with me. I can not say the last couple of years felt...hmm, right. Yes, Daytona has all this history of famous races but I am the type of person that lives in the now. I don’t expect epic things to occur. Seems like the race aspect of things when I have attended were always so so. Last year’s race was unusual with

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the dreaded red flag that held up the race. If my memory serves me correct, like one to two hours; the Dunlop tire issue. The reason I remember this was due to the sun poisoning. No sunblock means I lose. I was unable to leave the turn I was taking photos at and basically stuck in one location with no shade, no water in the blazing sun. Security being secure, locked the gates by my area for “safety reasons”. Yeah, I thought that was a dumb response too when I heard it from the retired seventy something year old mouth as he sipped his cold water and mentioned “hot one

today”. So much for southern hospitality. Then the crash with Dane Westby which was shocking to see unfold right at the finish line.

Throughout the years I assume all the bad press and negativity with the AMA, lack of promoting the race series, the economy, lack of factory support, the economy, the economy, the economy...You get the gist. It kind of set the tone of a bad vibe for me. I think others picked up on this vibe, too. Like the makings of a bad acid trip.

You know it’s going to suck just immediately after you drop. For me, it was ever time I bought the plane ticket to Daytona. You commit and smile. I committed to Daytona a couple of times.

Usually it’s poor weather, lack of exciting racing, lack of crowd excitement... Each year, you can tell the times were tough. The impact is noticeable. It just never felt right.

I kind of was hesitant with this year committing to Daytona and all it’s festivities. Bike Week always lands on the race week; make sense to host a bike week when a big American bike race is around, huh? Jaded, I had a “can give a shit less” point of view about this race. I am just being frank. I thought, how many times could I go down to Daytona and see all the yuppies on their Harley fatboys or baggers with their freshly purchased Harley leathers with the stereo-

typical Florida porn star looking girlfriends on the back riding down International Speedway Boulevard with half a buzz on playing Nickelback through their cool custom radio installed by their gorilla grip handlebars.

Been there and seen that. Then at the other end of the spectrum, you have the white trash with four teeth and no shirt riding their bucket of bolts around trying to relive the seventies. Been there, seen that. And I’m getting sick of having to leave a bar, just as I order a drink after a long day of shooting when a fight breaks out. Happens every year, like clockwork. Kind of like the movie Ground Hog Day, same shit, just a different year.

Each year, in the beginning of the race season, you would hear all about the lack of money for racing. This one has a one off ride. This sponsor drop out at the last minute. Kind of buzz kill in the sense of “ I’m all hyped for this race season and oh...Wait, no factory rides, no promotion, what kind of rules, what kind of guidelines? Just in general, it all came down to this economy.

People love to point fingers at the promoters of the AMA. Really, the big picture is the economy.

No job, no money, can’t afford the gas to travel to the race, no attendance, no interest...Boom, the slow death of a race series.

Every since I can remember, the US economy has always

struggled. My parents recall the economy being poor for their generation. Think about it, has the economy ever been good?

Has unemployment ever improved? I think this year, people actually woke up. Nobody wants to whine about the same shit year after year. People get sick of being sick of things. I think everybody had the same thought. Fuck it. I am going to have fun. I don’t care I have the funds, I don’t care I am not getting factory support, I don’t care if this is a one off ride, I am not sure about the next race, I am focused on this race.

I know for a fact that’s a lot of point of views from a ton of racers. It showed with Joey Pascarlla this year. That guy rode his ass

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THE GRID: fear and bloating in daytona off. I never before behind the camera was biting my lip with shear terror, fear, concerned that he was riding on the edge. The edge of defying laws of gravity. I never saw late braking from him and a variety of other riders in the Daytona 200 before until this year. Indeed, The overall vibe in the pits and garages were just so variably different that you can feel the excitement and positive vibe in the air. You saw on the riders, you saw on the people working, the crews, the AMA staff, the retired security guards that get paid in Big League Chew, everybody was enjoying the time.

The weather was perfect, mid 80’s, a nice breeze here and again, but overall all a sense of unity, a sense of friendship was felt all around. No tension in the air. Riders talking to other riders.

Joking about. Tommy Aquino was running around tagging stickers on the back of ex-team Chris Clark. Danny Eslick, well being Danny. I have never seen anyone light up a room or a tent like Danny. It seems like the riders are being more personable this year. More down to earth.

More approachable. Coming in and out of the press room was like a reunion. A great gathering of old friends you haven’t seen in a few months. Catching up on what’s new, what’s good and compliments of your and their latest works. Photographers outside of the race community are kind of well, are paranoid, selfish, arrogant a-holes. I said it. It’s true.

Work in NYC. This start of the reason season 40 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

seems very promising. The racing is there. It shows that the riders brought their A-game this year. I had a brief moment to speak to Scott Russell and Kevin Schwantz about the racing this year. Both agreed the racing this year has improved and is far from the racing they had experienced when they were in the peak of their careers. I talked to Scott Russell more about this because he is well, Mr. Daytona. The man kind of knows a thing or two about this place. They should actually call Daytona International Speedway “Scott Russell house”. I kind

of wished Scott was going to ride this year the Harley in the series; that was impressive watching this last year when he rode the XR1200. Scott mentioned it was particularly difficult but somewhat easy to race this year at Daytona. I got it. I ride. I understood his terms and hand gesture he made. I’ll explain because I get it. I’ll break it down. “All the bikes are so tuned and the track is so flat that it doesn’t make it difficult to ride”. “It’s a very easy track” explains Scott. The drafting and the endurance of the Daytona 200 makes it difficult to

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THE GRID: fear and bloating in daytona race. “You have to ride in a pack to get the draft off one another in the last banking to make it”. “If you don’t have anyone in front of you, good luck, your screwed”.

“You need someone out front to do all the grunt work during the race”. I witnessed this throughout the years in Daytona but it was clearly evident watching Jason DiSalvo come from 14th to 2nd; just another sick example of riding on the edge.

By Saturday night, I was satisfied with the start of the year. I was a believer again. I believe this struggling race series, this Daytona 200 race was the perfect way to start of the year. I needed this. Everybody needed this. It seemed genuine. It’s no longer in my head as the bad acid trip. It’s the land of sunshine. Blue skies and happy faces. Race fuel in the air. The great escape to Florida to watch/work the Daytona

200. Good riding, good conversation and great action. The past race was genius. My faith in the AMA is being restored. I forget to mention, I had a scooter this year courtesy of my friend Chris from MOB racing. This also was a perfect for the week. A scooter is a must at Daytona. I loose 5 to 8 pounds the week of Daytona from just walking. Not this year. Fatty had some wheels.

THANK YOU TULLOCK! Fatty had nothing but pork products to eat. Fatty had a mixture of pork, pulled pork, with an addition of BBQ sauce on everything that week. Even breakfast consisted of something pork. The plane ride back was a painful 2 hours back to Newark liberty Airport with a seat belt tightly fastened holding my fat bloated stomach in place. I lie, I did have a salad or two at dinner and a couple of dirty martinis to wash it back; need the green olives in the drink

for roughage. Thinking back to that Saturday after the race, in the little beach bar sipping my Jack & Coke, I realized, life is good. This season is going well. I am getting that excitement again like when I was growing up watching the race with the volume maxed out in my parents living room. One thing I realized is that American are determined people. Regardless of obstacles, we overcome and have a kick ass time doing it. We can’t each year play the blame game. Can’t blame Obama for the economy.

Can’t blame Bush for the economy back then either. It’s always sucked. Let’s move forward, deal with the situation. Let’s enjoy life and racing. Bad ass racing.

I am glad Daytona has the fun factor again. Glad I took the leap of faith in the track and committed to shooting this race.

I am glad that the Daytona 200 this year turned my frown upside down.

Looking forward to the next race in Atlanta. I am curious of the outcome of this race. Who picked up another one off ride? Who will be the next in line for the win? Will the hype and positive vibe in the air continue? Time will tell. Keeping positive thoughts in my head, I think we are in for a treat this year...

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THE GRID

the rookie: WHat I’ve Learned Words: Allan Lane IMAGES: Brian Nitto

I

t is a gift and a curse when one of your best friends is known internationally as the first Black Male Supermodel. I mean, how do you follow that? You can’t. So let’s move on. On the plus side, having someone like that pretty much as an older brother definitely has its perks. I have access to a wealth of nutritional and health knowledge, courtesy of Mr. Tyson Beckford.

Tyson once said to me, not at the same time but it sounds more epic...

“Drink more water and keep both hands on the wheel.” Great advice.

Along with all of the other advice that I have received from him, for that matter... all of the insight, research and understanding that one can gather from any source, I’ve learned the following: It only matters if you apply it.

So what I have I learned thus far in my journey to post up in the grid and chase down a win in an AMA Pro Racing event? I think the most important thing is that there is no end to the journey. What I mean is

that you must commit yourself to a lifelong position of student.

I learned a lot last season. I participated in more track days than I had ever before. I got a grip on my health and diet. I paid more attention to how I existed. I transformed my manner of living into that of a pseudo athlete... well almost. Don’t get me wrong, I still can celebrate with the best of them and that most likely is my undying vice. I have to figure that one out.

Moving on...

My point is that I began to understand what the point of these things were. I began to grasp the concept of cause and effect. If you want to do well in anything, you must prepare and train well. If you want to be great, you must train great. That’s not rocket science.

The struggle comes into play when attempting to apply the theory.

Here is what I know about myself as a rider on the track... I can be a better student of my environment. I

mean I need to pay more attention to what is occurring around me in the paddock, on the track, the track itself. I know that I can have body language when on the bike. I know that I can be faster. I know that I need to prepare my mind, body and machine better than I have. I know that I need to relax. I know that I can be better.

“We can always be better, homie.”

Tyson has an uncanny talent of telling me what I need to hear right about the time that I need to hear it.

He does it often.

I’m going to train harder and focus more on what is important. What I’ve realized is, what began as a wager between Jason Britton and I has transformed into motivation for me to be in the best shape of my life. Add to the mix that I just turned 37 and my nine month old son Brock is going to be a very active child (just as I was), my health is a paramount factor.

Racing is an end to justify my means of training so that I am in the best shape of my life, so that I’m around to be the best dad that I can be for my kid. When you put it like that, it doesn’t sound crazy at all, now does it?

My first track day of the 2012 season is about two weeks away.

I’ve got a lot of work to do. But that’s just it... there is always a lot of work to do. It’s an every day struggle. I’m fine with that.

Nicky Hayden, Tyson and I in New York, circa 2010 44 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

Your fastest lap could most likely be someone else’s warm up lap.

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THE GRID

The baker’s dozen One man. Twelve topics. One opinion... HIS! Words: Phil baker

ELEna myers’ daytona win: The best thing that has happened to AMA for some time. Good for her and in a man’s world, she has shown that there is room for the girls.

Bring it on!

Tom Sykes and Kawasaki in WSB: Fantastic! Way to go, Tom! What a great start to the season and showing his true potential on what is now a great bike.

What MotoGP team has it together for the 2012 season? Both Yamaha and Honda have proved that they are totally on it. Take your hats off to Yamaha for apparently closing the gap, but until the lights go out, anything could happen.

What’s next for Dani Pedrosa after 2012? Remember, he was the golden child that was going to be the next Spanish multi world champ at GP level. When Nicky first put his leg over the 800 the morning after he won the world championship, he couldn’t believe how much smaller the whole bike was. He looked across the garage and saw his team mate fit the new bike like a glove. Yet, Pedrosa still has not delivered a title for Honda Repsol and in fact, the next Spanish champion was Jorge Lorenzo. He has big support from Spanish oil giant Repsol, so will there be change. Only time will tell.

But if I was his manager, I’d be pushing for him to get off to a good solid start while still seeing what the other possibilities were for 2013.

Leon Haslam on the BMW S1000RR: Too early to tell. He needs to be on it though, as BMW expect the very best and they need to get results quickly.

Alpinestars D-Tech Air Suits: Amazing! I know Gabriele, the owner of Alpinestars well and know how long this has been in development. They are constantly developing products to make it safer for riding and they lead the way with their technology in my view. An outstanding company that is based on quality.

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Traction Control: The great equalizer or a handicap?

Unfortunately, some riders adapt to it better than others. Personally I’d like to get rid of it and leave it more to riders ability, but then don’t forget that this is about development for the manufacturers and what goes on at the track relates to the development of bikes of the future on the road.

By the numbers - How much money does it take to race? At Moto GP factory level and including development costs, it has to be close to 40 or 50 million Euros, but getting a precise answer from the manufacturer would be tricky!

Has there ever been a Black (of African descent) MotoGP Rider?

No and I wish it would be. It’s only a matter of time. Look what happened to the popularity of James Stewart in Supercross? No doubt the first guy or girl through will be a huge star and I’ll be applauding it. It’s what the sport needs.

Top 3 helmet manufacturers? You can’t go wrong with an Arai or Shoei. These helmets are amazing in my view, but HJC and AGV are both right up there with their lightweight helmets. I took a close look at the latest Valentino AGV and also the latest Spies HJC and they really are beautiful helmets and extremely well put together. At the end of the day it is a personal thing. Look at Hayden with Arai for so many years and Rossi with AGV and Spies with HJC. Each have been with their respective brands for more than ten years so it really is a decision based upon the individual.

What is your favorite race memory? There are two really. The first was when Nicky won his first GP at Laguna Seca back in 2005 followed

by Valencia in 2006 when he won the championship.

Jeremy McWilliams, the King of Slide? For sure one of the best, but then I remember Melandri coming through the last turn at Phillip Island a few years back.

Also, seeing King Kenny on his dirt track bike was pretty spectacular.

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THE GRID: ON THE COME UP

Images: Courtesy of Ray Bradlau, Brandon Paasch

NAME: Brandon Paasch AGE: 10 Association/Affiliations/Series: NJMINIGP, ESMRA, TPM, WERA, Triple Crown Industries, The SB Image, MDM, Heroic Racing Apparel, Monmouth Cycles, RAD Mfg., RoadRace Factory, The Service Pavilion/ARAI, Sector Five Racing, Lizzy Leather, Impact Armor

Goals: To improve my skills and learn as much as I can while riding with Team Pro Motion & NJ MiniGP all while trying to finish in the top 5 this year with WERA. Accomplishments: I have been riding motorcycles since the age of three. I raced motocross for two years on an XR 50. My first season I was third overall and my second season I took home the championship. Then I discovered the great sport of road racing with New Jersey Mini Gran Prix. My first season with NJ MiniGP was 2009. I raced five races and was fifth overall. In 2010, I rode my Honda NSR 50 every week. I was training with PJ Jacobsen over the summer at Oakland Valley Race Park. Round 8 with NJ MiniGP, I lapped everyone except second place! The last race I won the NJ MiniGP Championship.

The 2011 season, I raced 4 classes with NJ MiniGP. I rode my Honda NSR 50 in two classes. I rode my KX65 in one class and my Honda 150R in Supermini class.

I missed two rounds and won two out of the four championships! I was first place overall in F2 and NSR and second overall in F1 and third overall in Supermini. I also raced a four hour endurance race on an Aprilia RS50.

Define your passion in one sentence: For me, racing is my life. I hope to make it to Moto GP & have a successful racing career. I will continue to cross train & race & ride as much as possible.

Contact: http://www.brandonpaasch.com

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THE STRAIGHT LINE

The youngest in charge Words: Dystany Spurlock images: Robin spurlock

I

get asked lot of questions on a day to day basis. They range from, “How long have you been racing motorcycles?” to “Dystany, what is your favorite food?” The one question that I get asked most often is, “What is your checklist when you go over your bike before a run?” Well, I would definitely say it is a lengthy one.

It starts with me wiping off my bike. DJ Lockwood, a very good friend of mine, taught me that concept. I will never forget the day when he said “You never know what you will find on your bike when you wipe it off.” He is so right!

When I am wiping off my bike, I check for loose or missing bolts. I make sure my chain isn’t too loose and is properly lubed. I then check my tire PSI to make sure that it is set correctly, considering the weather conditions. Then I’m almost there. Next, I put air into my air shifter. For the record, I still love foot shifting! Once all of that is done, it’s time for me to get suited up.

My bike is my heart. I treat it just as if it’s my child. It is a fact that the more you are in tune with your bike the better you will perform. I say that because if you know your bike inside and out, if there is ever a problem you will

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be able to pin point it, right off the back.

Let’s say that you are going down the track and you normally run 8.60’s but in the last pass you went a 9.00. There could be a number of issues that are slowing you down. But if you don’t know

your bike then you may not have been able to realize what the problem is. Knowing your bike helps you to pinpoint issues, solve problems, save time and ultimately... go fast! Be as one with your bike. It will definitely make a difference.

Connect with Dystany...

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THE STRAIGHT LINE

Capo’s cut

Words: ASHON “CAPO” DICKERSON IMAGES: Meekail Shaheed

I

have taken you guys for a ride inside my helmet in a previous issue and let you guys in on some personal things on and off the racetrack. I'm very thankful for the love, respect and loyalty from you the people by checking in every month.

I said in last month’s issue that we had some big things going on. I would like to congratulate my wife, Stefanie for her new job in the motorsports industry. She is now the Public Relations and Sponsorship Manager for the Schampa USA! Also, my DVD trailer will drop soon and that will feature some of your favorite Hip Hop artists so stay tuned for that.

My season started off the way my team, sponsors and I planned and envisioned it to be... with Capo hitting the bricks running hard! At the MIRock Superbike Series Season Opener in Rockingham, I took runner up in the Pro DME Real Street Class with my Schampa, Carpenter Racing, Pirelli, Motul, Schnitz, Biggavelli, Harvel Performance, K&N, Nicecycle, Barnett, Contour, Performance & Perfection, Scorpion Helmets,World Wide Bearings, NOS, Huffing Small Block , Suzuki GSXR 1000! (Editor’s note... Capo, did we miss anyone? Just kidding! - AL) Running an elapse time in

testing on Friday of a 7.98 and 8 seconds at 182mph and qualified with a 8.03 at 180mph still with tons of horsepower to unleash. The power of preparation, having the right people around you and in your corner and the right attitude, hard work, dedication, and great sponsors will always equal success. Also I collected my two Top Ten plaques in two different classes from the 2011 race season. I returned home feeling very gratified and even more hungry to bring my sponsors a championship this season. Its go time!

Loyalty is Everything!

Check out Capo’s 8.00 pass at The Rock in North Carolina!

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Connect with Capo...

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Things DONe CHANGED

words: rickey gadson images: courtesy of Rickey gadson/stock

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THE STRAIGHT LINE: things done changed

Images: Courtesy of Brice Lloyd

P

erformance and horse power numbers have always been the best marketing tool an OEM could use to help launch a new model or, as in many cases, an updated model.

This started way back in the 70's with the Kawasaki Triple, then Honda upped the game with their 750 Supersport in 1976.

This was the only bike with a single exhaust pipe that exited on the left side. Fast forward to the 80’s... Honda did it again with the CB1100F which was the first bike in that era to get respect for having a slightly better 1/4 mile ETS than the Suzuki 1100E and the newly released 1983 Suzuki Katana 1100.

Suzuki nor Kawasaki worried about it because they knew that they were about to rewrite the books in 1984 with the release of the first 10 second street bikes: The GS1150 and the 900 Ninja. These bikes totally overshadowed Honda's release of the V65 Magna and the 1000 Interceptor as well as Yamaha's game changing, almighty V-max. Yamaha tried to fire back with the FJ1100 but it wasn't until 1987 when Honda released the 1000cc

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Hurricane. At the time, the media recognized it as the first 160mph bike.

Once again, Kawasaki fired back in 1990 with the world’s fastest streetbike, clocked at 175mph. The ZX11 would hold down that title for 9 years until Suzuki shocked the world and completely dominated the motorcycle world with the GSX1300R Hayabusa which was the quickest and fastest production motorcycle on the planet, bar none!

Not to be outdone, in 2000 Kawasaki unleashed the ZX12 to try and stop “Hayabusa Mania”, which was unsuccessful due to the"Gentleman's agreement". The agreement placed a top speed limit of 186mph on production motorcycles. This was despite the fact that Suzuki already posted 193mph trap speeds.

Fast forward to 2006...

Kawasaki unveiled its new flagship ZX14 which definitely put them on the radar and had some Suzuki fans nervous when sitting at a traffic light next to it. Because the big bird was absolutely dominant on the streets as well as the dragstrip, the Hayabusa following SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 63

THE STRAIGHT LINE: Things done changed

Images: Courtesy of Brice Lloyd

continued to grow and refused to slow down as it became the best selling streetbike of all time.

Since the ZX14 was introduced in 2006, I continued to put unbelievable numbers on the board every time I tested and raced the motorcycle. The ratio of Busas to ZX14’s went from 10 to 1 in 2006 to 10 to 6 in 2011. Close... but still no cigar.

Because of my relationship with Kawasaki I knew in 2009 that they were working on the next generation of the ZX14 but wasn't sure if it was going to be a 1400cc or 1500cc machine.

This past summer they flew me out to San diego to do a photo shoot at the Barona 1/8th mile drag strip with the new 2012 ZX14R. Of course, I used this as an opportunity to make some time runs to see if this really was the real deal or just added hype.

After the runs, I posted on my Facebook that this was, without a doubt, the fastest ZX14 I have ever tested. This is a fact since I have tested every ZX14 model year since 2006! Kawasaki had me test the bike several times at several different tracks in 100 degree weather and every time I threw a leg over the ZX14R, it showed its prowess.

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The hardest part about being the first to ever see or ride a motorcycle nobody has ever seen before, is keeping the results under cover, especially when it runs numbers that will shock the world.

It wasn't until October 10, 2011 before the info and pics were released to the public.

That's when the fun began.

At the Kawasaki press intro in Vegas I tested all 20 bikes and ended up running 9.26 151 on a lowered ZX14R with nothing more than lowering it and getting the power to the ground a lot faster. That 9.26 was absolutely the fastest a production motorcycle has ever gone in Vegas. As good as that was, I kept telling the journalist in attendance that the same bike, setup the same way, would run two tenths faster. So when I got home, I picked up my new bike from Cross Road Powersports, went home and set it up the same as the press bike. I then headed to ATCO Raceway in New Jersey.

Before heading to the track, I borrowed my friends  2011 ZX14 to do a Dyno comparison against the 2012. Once again, SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 65

THE STRAIGHT LINE: Things done changed

Images: Courtesy of Brice Lloyd

the 2012 ZX14R proved to be superior by trouncing the 2011 by 30hp.

At the race track, the 2011 with an identical setup as the 2012 ran 9.50 147. The new ZX14R ran a unbelievable 9.08 155 which is two tenths and 5mph faster than the one I rode in Vegas. With nothing more than bolt-on swingarm extensions, the same bike ran 8.79 155 at ATCO Raceway.

I bet this year you'll see more ZX14's than you ever have. The 2012 Kawasaki ZX14R has made the cover of every major magazine. Kawasaki’s plan to put a dent in the Busa market is well under way and building momentum.

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“T

he hardest part about being the first to ever see or ride a motorcycle nobody has ever seen before, is keeping the results under cover, especially when it runs numbers that will shock the world.�

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Spring

nationals April 28-29, 2012

• • • • •

at Maryland International Raceway

Wild Pro Mod Class 200mph Pro Street Class Short Wheelbase Real Street Class Sportsman Motorcycle ET Classes Smack Talkin’ Grudge Class

• • • • •

Vendor Midway Great Food & Cold Beer Motorcycle Club Hot Spot $1,200 Bikini Contest Huge Streetbike Corral

Over $400,000 in Cash and Contingencies!

First MIROCK Event of the Season at MIR!

The Nation’s Top Motorcycle Drag Racing Series!

ADMISSION

Two Hours of Trash Talkin’ Grudge Racing on Saturday Night!

All bikini contestants must send photos to bikinicontest@mirdrag.com for casting

1-Day $20 • 2-Day $35 • Kids 6-11 $5

SCHEDULE

Saturday: Open 9am - Elim 3pm Sunday: Open 8am - Elim 12noon

MIROCKracing.com

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THE STRAIGHT LINE: ON THE COME UP

Images: Mike Courtesy Levin of Brice Lloyd

NAME: Ethan Barkley AGE: 37 Association/Affiliations/Series: Canadian Motorcycle Drag Racing Association (CMDRA)

Goals: My 2012 goal is to run 7.3 @ 200 and take home another national title.

Accomplishments: 12 time CMDRA Champion.

Define your passion in one sentence: My company’s motto is “Racing is our passion, winning is our business” CONTACT: http://www.ebspeed.com

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SPORTBIKE IPHONE GPS CAMERA MOUNT

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The Rev LIMITER

Violet Stars & Happy Stunting Words and images: leah petersen T

he sound of a motorcycle echoed down the empty street. My "moto-instinct" kicked in and I craned me neck to catch a glimpse of the bike. I unconsciously look to check out the bike...see what the rider is wearing...whatever the reason, motorcyclists can't help but stare at other motorcycles.

The bike finally rolled into sight and I could see a man wearing a long, hooded cape and dusty sandals driving a motorcycle that had been fashioned to pull a small cart, which was stacked nearly five feet high with crates

of eggs. There must have been hundreds of eggs bumping along behind the rider. Like any tourist I instinctively reached for my camera to document this fascinating, however locally mundane, phenomenon.

It was my first morning exploring Marrakesh, Morocco and my definition of a "motorcycle" and a "motorcyclist" was about to be broadened. For me, motorcyclists have always meant fun. This is true for most American and European riders, we gravitate to bikes by choice and use them to make our lives more enjoyable. After a week in Morocco I was able to see motorcycles in a new light.

Motorcycles in Morocco assist with daily life and ease the unique burdens of work inside the ancient city walls of Marrakesh. The city of Marrakesh is divided, one side containing the new, modern businesses and buildings and the other side an ancient, historic keepsake from over a thousand years of development. The ancient side or the "Medina" is a seemingly endless labyrinth of narrow passages, with sometimes no more than three feet between the tall buildings that nearly block the sky.

No cars or trucks can access the Medina, which houses the

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famous "souks" or street vendors, restaurants, bakeries and thousands of citizens. Their solution to deliver food, raw goods and remove waste is motorcycles, mopeds, burro's or

manpower.

The mopeds are most abundant, quite literally terrorizing most tourists as they fly down the narrow streets, sometimes honking

and certainly never yielding for those moving out of the way too slowly. After my week in Marrakesh I could quite skillfully navigate the narrow corridors, moving around people, dodging

puddles and steering clear of the steady stream of mopeds. The mopeds normally hauled one person, sometimes a child on the back and occasionally an entire family somehow balanced on the SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 75

The Rev LIMITER: VIOLET STARS...

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tiny machines.

The next motorized cycle I began to notice were the "work motos" and these three-wheeled machines did the heavy lifting in the citycenter. Bringing large amounts of bread to bakers, piles of mint leaves to the stands and of course, the mind-blowing amount of eggs to the people inside the old city walls.

While these mopeds and motorcycles clearly are quite utilitarian, there is no lack of culture surrounding them. One step outside the city walls every other store front provides some type of service for the cycles; cleaning, engine work, oil changes and bottles (literally water bottles) of fuel. The bikes spill out of the shops onto the streets, most stacked on top of each other, people washing, servicing or just hanging out sipping on tea to be near the commotion.

The whole trip I only saw one sportbike, a dusty R6, which navigated with an alien-like growl through the burros and mopeds. It shocked me, the sportbike, something so intrinsic to me as a person, seemed awkward and unnatural in a cityscape. But that's the beauty of traveling, you start to see things differently.

Despite the differences, I imagine many Moroccan riders acquire a fondness SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 77

The Rev LIMITER: VIOLET STARS...

for their two or three wheeled machine. While they are not the leisure machines they are in America and Europe, the motorcycle still stands for similar concepts.

Morrocan, American, European or otherwise, a motorcycle always provides its rider freedom and opportunity. Whether you're enjoying your Saturday after a hard 40 hour week at the office or delivering eggs to your clients within the walls of an ancient city, your motorcycle is to thank.

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The Rev LIMITER: ON THE COME UP

Images: Courtesy of Chad Mayle

NAME: Chad “Chizzy” Mayle AGE: 31 Association/Affiliations/Series: Canton Biker Boyz, BikeStyles, Kill It Clothing, Racing905, Hel Brake Lines and Dr. Wraps

Goals: To be successful in anything I do: sportbike freestyle, tattoos, personal training and I can’t be beat in the cycle salvage business!

Accomplishments: The empire I built for myself. I also started Canton Biker Boyz in 2006 and have come a long way. I have been tattooing since I was 15 and started a motorcycle salvage company in 2010.

Define your passion in one sentence: My passion is every time I jump on my ZX636, I never let off that rev limiter!

Contact: http://cantonbikerboyz.com

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SS-Shirt

Brotherhood

XXR

Reaper

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THE LIFE Featured Club

Prophecy M.C.

Chapter: Northern VA | Founded: 2000 | Elected Officials: President - Easy | Vice President - Rayven | Sergeant at Arms - Lead Dog | Secretary - Coach | Treasurer - Big Worm | P.R.O. - Protector | Road Captain - Triple A | Business Manager - Sho Nuf

Rocker Interpretation: The Prophecy’s rocker states who they are and where they are from. The name of the club is based upon the definition of the word. The image of a Wizard graces the back of their vests, denoting the wearer as a person of amazing skill or accomplishment.

History/Origin of Club: With a motto that reads: “Take ’em out, ride ’em hard and bring ’em back alive”, the Prophecy Motorcycle Club, 84 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

like so many others, is a family oriented organization that weighs heavy on the proper outlook on priorities. What would you expect from a club that was formed by a group of Leathernecks? In fact, the club consists of department of defense personnel, professional fire fighters, public workers, law enforcement personnel, and professional entrepreneurs.

It was February of 2000 when the club was founded in Beaufort, South Carolina

by a group of likeminded United States Marines. There vision was clear: to extend the liberties afforded by the US Military outside the confines of the military installation and into the surrounding communities.

They wanted to give back to their community and did so by supporting those who had gone before them into service and returned as well as the multitudes of the less fortunate individuals and families.

Two years from the date that

the original chapter was founded, a new chapter was established in 2002 in the Northern Virginia region which now serves as the mother chapter.

Prophecy MC cofounded and are members of the Northern Virginia Coalition (NOVAC).

NOVAC is a conglomerate of clubs that have dedicated themselves to “bettering their communities and supporting the future of their children.

Club Milestones/Memorable Moments: Since the club’s early beginnings, they have had a serious impact on their community: helping the elderly, mentoring children, supporting and reaching out to the homeless shelters and volunteering.

Future of the club: Prophecy MC is looking to grow and expand its positive impact in different areas of the world to include active and retired military members.

We will continue to serve our communities by making a positive and lasting impact for those in need.

Want to see your club featured here?

Drop us an email!

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BELLSTARCARBON • Ultra lightweight 100% carbon fiber shell reduces strain on neck • Super stable aerodynamic profile resists buffeting and lift • Velocity flow ventilation system keeps you cool and comfortable • Removable and washable interior provides maximum comfort • Anti-fog, anti-skratch, and UV protected shield for excellent visiblity • Star Carbon comes with padded, lined Bell helmet bag

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STAR RSD BLACK BEAUTY CARBON

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THE LIFE: FEatured riderS Yolanda Scott AKA Rogue

Bowie, MD

Nurse and Fitness Specialist

STATS Yolanda Scott

Years Riding: 12 years.

RIDING STYLE: Street and soon track. bike(s) Owned: 2007 Yamaha R1

FAVORITE BIKE MOD/ACCESSORY: My tires because they help me get into those leans and turns I like so much.

Favorite piece of riding gear: My Arai Helmet because of the perfect fit and quality.

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most memorable ride: The DCSportBike Rider ride to Cleveland Ohio on my 2005 Yamaha R6.

FEatured rider of the month

Sean Waterloo

Pittsburgh, PA

Site Security Supervisor

Sean Waterloo

STATS Years Riding: 16 years.

RIDING STYLE: Street. bike(s) Owned: 2006 Suzuki GSXR 600 FAVORITE BIKE MOD/ACCESSORY: Vortex 520 Conversion Kit with 48T Rear Sprocket.

Favorite piece of riding gear: Black Shark RSI Helmet.

most memorable ride: To Philadelphia in 2009 for Clutch Control.

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FEatured THE LIFE: LIFE rider FEatured FEaturedriderS riderS

Vincent lafargue

Vincent LaFargue

Las Vegas, NV

Creative Communications

STATS Years Riding: 42 years.

RIDING STYLE: Street. bike(s) Owned: 2001 Ducati ST4

FAVORITE BIKE MOD/ACCESSORY: Love my carbon pipes! Also chipped.

Favorite piece of riding gear: My Scorpion Summer Jacket... Ask Allan! It gets hot here in Vegas, baby! most memorable ride: From southern Spain to London on a Triumph Bonneville in 1971!

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Blythe Caddy

Ormond Beach, FL

ParaMedic

STATS Blythe Caddy

Years Riding: 8 years.

RIDING STYLE: Street and dragstrip. bike(s) Owned: 2005 Suzuki GSXR 600 Favorite BIKE MOD/ACCESSORY: By far my favorite part about my bike is my amazing paint job done by Brian Boan at Devil’s Candy Customs! House of Colors “Hot Pink Pearl” with ghosted Playboy bunnys and brass knuckles!

Favorite piece of gear: I love all of my ICON gear but my ICON Sub Etched Gloves are my favorite. I don’t ride without them! most memorable ride: My mother and father both ride, so I would have to say the best time I ever had on my Gixxer was in Myrtle Beach for bike week a few years back! Its an amazing feeling to be riding next to your parents! They have just as much fun as I do on their Harleys and cause just as much trouble!

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MOTO TECH: The war ROOM

Words: Allan Mark Lane Rozemo Image: Courtesy of Motion Pro

2 0 1 1T TRIUMPH DAYTONA 6 7 5 r

he 2011 Triumph Daytona 675R was designed to be a bike that could be taken off the showroom floor and right to the track. Factory kitted with Brembo components and Ohlins suspension, the 675R is up for that challenge. Add these items from the War Room and you can consider your ride, official.

The War Room is interactive. See something that you like? Click on it...

TWO BROTHERS RACING | V.A.L.E. Slip-On Exhaust Systems The stock pipe on the 675 weighs in at fifteen pounds. The TBR pipe weighs four pounds. Do the math. Also adds that deep throaty growl that every bike needs. Includes a fender eliminator kit. $439.98 - $579.98

LIGHTECH | CHAIN ADJUSTERS Adjusting your chain on the fly just got easier with these indexed adjusters from LighTech. $281.95

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DRIVEN RACING | D - AXIS REAR SETS Driven has really stepped their game up in the aftermarket rear set arena. The D - Axis Rearsets are machined from aerospace grade 6061-T6 and fully adjustable. They offer up to fourteen different mounting positions on each mounting plate. $549.95

SHORAI | LFX Standard Lithium battery Lighter than the stock battery by 4.61 pounds and offers greater cranking performance. $159.95

ZERO GRAVITY RACING | DOUBLE BUBBLE WINDSCREEN Belly to the tank in full tuck, this the windscreen that you want to be behind. $109.95

MOTOVATION | FRAME SLIDERS These frame sliders protect the frame, radiator and crankcase during a slide and are specially made for the Triumph Daytona 675. $218.00

FERODO | Sinter Grip - ST BRAKE PADS Ferodo is a front runner in sintered braking technology. These pads are a full metal compound that offer three times the life of other organic braking materials. $35.00

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MOTO TECH Words: Mark Rozemo Image: Courtesy of Motion Pro

Understanding gearing Words: Mark rozema images: Brian Nitto/Meekail Shaheed Y

ou want the best performance bang for your buck? Take a closer look at your gearing.The proper gearing can make a huge difference in the performance of your motorcycle.

Road Racing For road racing we start by choosing gearing that keeps us just under maximum rpms at the end of the longest straightaway.

Then we fine tune the gearing from there so that we can maximize the power of the engine for the best combination of power exiting the corners and top end speed. We also consider different combinations

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of front, rear sprockets and chain length to give us the desired wheelbase for the best possible handling. The proper selection of gearing can add up to seconds on the race track.

Switching from a standard 530 or 525 chain to a lightweight 520 chain will also free up some horsepower and allow for quicker acceleration.

Drag Racing For drag racing it’s important to not only gear the motorcycle to give you a fast launch off the line but also to pull maximum power through the speed traps. Gear too short and you will spin the

tire too much off the line and possibly overrev at the end or gear too tall and the motorcycle may bog off the line costing you valuable time.

Highway Riding If you do a lot of highway cruising you may want to gear your motorcycle a little taller so that the engine is running at a

lower RPM in top gear. This will not only raise your fuel economy but also reduce some of the buzz experienced on some motorcycles

at higher RPMs. By examining a basic gear ratio chart we can see that 13/39,

14/42, 15/45, 16/48, 17/51 and 18/54 all have the same ratio of 3.00 (rear sprocket tooth count/ front sprocket tooth count= final drive ratio). So why would we consider running a different combination than let’s say 15/45?

Maybe we are looking for the bike to turn a little quicker; a 16/48 will give us a shorter wheelbase and may improve handling. The bike wheelies too much, let’s try a 14/42 for a longer wheelbase.

Another thing to consider is that the smaller the front sprocket the more horsepower you lose, bending the chain tighter robs power, and we usually avoid a 13T front sprocket for that reason. Having gearing options offer you methods to fine tune your motorcycle.

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improve your skills

Reference Points words: Eric wood images: Brian Nitto

O

ne of the most frequent questions that a riding instructor will get is regarding reference points in a given corner. When we introduce riders to the track at the Penguin School, the first part of the curriculum is always focused on building a strong foundation that consists of a solid set of reference points and a good baseline body position on the bike. Once a rider has these two pieces in place, the rest of the puzzle comes together much more easily.

For this article, we will focus the benefits of establishing a sound set of reference points and some simple strategies to make the process easier.

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Before we discuss what reference points should look like, let’s discuss why we need them at all. The most important reason to establish reference points is that it dramatically reduces stress while riding. If you took a rider off the street, placed him in the entrance of the first big braking zone at your home track, and told them to hold it wide open up to the brake marker of a top expert, they would think you were nuts. When rocketing into a corner at 100+ mph, our basic instincts for survival tell us to pull the brake lever long before we really need to. It is only through a combination of experience and feedback from the motorcycle

that we can convince ourselves to drive it in as deep as we do. If a rider does not KNOW that he can get exactly to the 2-board (for example) and still make the apex, that rider will instead guess when the lever should be applied. Getting the bike slowed down early enough then becomes the entire focus of the preceding straightaway and leaves very little room to consider analysis of anything that is truly important. This includes braking strength, roll speed, body position, front traction and all the other things that help the rider go faster. It is very important to note that speed does not come from riding the right line, it comes from

utilizing the available traction as a result of riding the right line.

The second reason for getting a solid set of visual markers down is consistency. Human beings have pretty poor internal speedometers, especially as speed increases. I don’t know anyone who can “feel” the difference between 100 and 105 mph. However, we have the ability to make very accurate physical observations. A good rider can focus on a six-inch diameter dot and consistently run it over lap after lap. That same rider can also apply the brakes right at a cone and adjust that point to be ten feet

before or after that cone. Why this accuracy so important? In order to drop one second per lap on an average racetrack (which is a significant gain), a rider only has to average about 1mph faster around the whole track. A set of well established markers will allow a rider to ride close to his or her limit every lap, eliminating the small 2-3 mph variations in roll speed that occur from lap to lap with a rider that relies too much on the “internal speedometer”.

Although it is a common point of instruction in every school I have ever attended, I have heard riders at all levels (even some

experienced ones) tell me that they do not have any reference points. They claim to ride by “feel” instead of using visual markers around the track. Some of these riders are probably telling the truth, especially the newer ones who tend to be inconsistent. Other riders are likely using references without even knowing it. The truth is that when a rider knows exactly where he or she is going well before arriving at the corner, track position and lines take up very little available attention and all of the focus eventually becomes on the assessment of traction. I’m sure that there is always that rare exception to the rule, however, SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 101

improve your skills: reference points if a rider can run consistent laps and claims to not use reference points, the truth is most likely that the track is so well ingrained that choosing lines does not even enter his mind‌.and that is a great place to be. The goal of every rider should be to get to the point where location on the track is almost automatic, leaving lots of room for the development of new riding skills.

When looking for reference points, the first characteristic to consider is that they should be visible from a distance. Color changes in the asphalt, cracks in the pavement, paint stripes, marker boards and cones are good items to look for. The reason why this is so important is that the further down the track you can see a marker, the more the racetrack will slow down in your mind. This is the old “picket fence� theory, which notes that a person driving down the street can look well up the road at a picket fence and clearly see each fence post. The high horizon and clear focus makes the car fell like it is driving in complete control. However, if that same person looks at the same fence out the passenger window, the fence posts are a complete blur and this creates a feeling of speed. Scanning up to points well down the road reduce the perception of speed, reduce stress and promote smoother lines.

Reference points should also be located in the general

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direction that you are pointing on the track. This is particularly important on the entrance of a corner when your eyes should be rapidly scanning back and forth between your current reference markers and the apex (your primary focus on the way in).

Riders should avoid using any reference points that require them to turn their head in order to see.

It is fine to have visual cues in your peripheral vision, but your major references should all be generally along the line that you travel.

A mistake to be careful to avoid is to choose a reference point that can move. This seems obvious as it is written, but I have seen more than a few Novice riders get sucked into a corner too deep when the corner worker that they used as

a reference marker decided to go for a walk down the track. I have also witnessed riders get into trouble when they have used shadows cast by bridges or other large objects as reference points, only to discover that these lines change significantly from morning to afternoon. In short, make sure that your reference points stay put!

Perhaps one of the most important points that is not always taught about reference points is that they should be used in groups as opposed to singly. Riders should not stare at one reference point until they reach it and then look for the next. In most cases, you can see that you are headed for a reference point long before you reach it. As soon a rider sees that the bike is pointed toward

the next marker, that rider should immediately scan forward to the next reference. That rider will then have at least three points of reference; the current location, the upcoming reference point, and the following reference point. These three points will help that rider envision the complete trajectory of the motorcycle, effectively painting an imaginary line on the track.

By consistently scanning back and forth, riders will begin to ride proactively (anticipating inputs) instead of reactively (making corrections in response to problems). This lowers stress, increases mental capacity, promotes consistency and gets riders thinking about strategies for speed as opposed to survival‌. and that’s what riding the track is all about.

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FRICTION ZONE

THE HIT

LIST

Do you ever wonder what music your fellow riders are listening to when they are not on the bike? We do... so we decided to ask them.

Eric Hoenshell! What’s on your hit list?

“R

ight now, I have Chevelle on my playlist. My top three albums are Hats off the Bull, Sci-Fi Crimes and Vena Sera because they fit my lifestyle the best.

They have the most inspiring music. I have listened to them for a really long time and will for a lot longer! I can’t pick my top three songs because all three albums are awesome to me.”

Eric Hoenshell, Professional Freestyle Stunt Rider, Team No Limit

For more sportbike news and announcements:

VISIT THE SPORTBIKES INC BLOG

HTTP://SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM/BLOG

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Spring “Brike” Week words and Images: Brittany Morrow

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FRICTION ZONE: SPRING “BRIKE” WEEK

I

’m a student at the University of Kentucky (Go Cats!) and recently had the opportunity to spend my Spring Break at Daytona Beach Bike Week. I’m no stranger to Daytona’s charm.

When I lived in Florida, circa 07 to 09‘ish, I attended both Bike Week and Biketoberfest on an annual basis. Every year brings a new adventure, and 2012 would prove to be no exception. So far this year, I’ve been traveling the country with the International Motorcycle Shows, a different city every weekend and a whirlwind schedule that could make any travel aficionado blush. When the word came down from the boss-man that I would be working the final stop, Daytona

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Bike Week, it added a third dimension to my Spring Break.

Before even reaching the Florida state line, the warm air of Georgia was enough of a welcome to get any girl excited for the week to come. My digs during the event included a house directly on A1A Highway, with private beach access through the backyard and a view to die for. The location of the house put my headquarters for the week just three miles north of all the action on Main Street, and a quick ten minute ride away from the Daytona International Speedway. Smart move on my part. If and when you make it down to Bike Week, I highly

suggest staying in town and on the water. Without a chance to spend every morning on the white sand with a warm ocean breeze on my face, it just wouldn’t have been the same.

I arrived on Saturday night and the first thing I did was roll immediately over to the Daytona Supercross race at the Speedway. Despite the torrential monsoon (if you watched the race on television you know what I’m talking about), the race was hugely entertaining. Vendors were set up along the infield slinging everything from t-shirts and ponchos to framed poster sized photos of the riders in action.

In the grandstands, and I do

mean grandstands, the view was phenomenal. Not only did I have full vision of the entire course, but I could see the rest of the Speedway, the airport, and the new Daytona sky-train from my seat. I planned ahead and wore my ICON PDX rain jacket to the race, so I was a pretty happy camper even while getting poured on.

I spent my first few free days at the International Speedway.

Here, the big OEMs and several well known brands set up shop and dug their heels in for twelve days. Free bike parking was the first plus, in addition to a working restaurant and clean bathrooms inside the Speedway welcome

center. As I made my way through the OEM tents, I had the option to do demo rides at Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Can-Am. I ride a Yamaha YZF R6, so I decided to switch things up and demo a 2012 Yamaha Stryker. The demo ride took us through the backroads of Daytona and even a few twisties...In Florida? No way!

Way! The Stryker is 1304cc’s of pure sex. As a sportbike rider, I crave the quick throttle response I get from my R6, and the 2012 Stryker didn’t let me down. At 5’4”, it wasn’t too big for my short reach, both hands and feet. Needless to say, I wouldn’t mind a cross country bout on the big beast, not in the least.

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FRICTION ZONE: SPRING “BRIKE” WEEK Next, I visited J&P Cycles and Bruce Rossmeyer’s Harley Davidson, where I ran into Michael Ballard and Angie Carlson of TruTv’s Full Throttle Saloon, live music, tons of vendors, port-o-potties, traffic, police, and an all around lame time. Attendance was limited to nonsportriders and the selection of accessories and featured vendors reflected this perfectly. Not even a sweet honey bee of a honey riding a beer bicycle could bring the event full-circle, but she was close. In a nutshell, if you ride a metric bike, this is not a playground for you.

I would have rather spent an afternoon at Brickyard Burgers chowing down on a $15.00 masterpiece of beef and bun.

Lesson learned. Just down the road, the Broken Spoke Saloon called for attention, but I chose to steer clear of the crustiness and instead headed back to the beach for some sun and sand like a true spring breaker.

Cycle Gear of Orlando held a Bike Night with a twist on Thursday evening. The National Guard brought Jordan Suzuki racing’s Ben Bostrom and Roger Lee Hayden for an autograph session, along with a sound system and a DJ wearing full BDU’s. Several local 114 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM

vendors were set up, including a mobile Dyno unit with a chance to win the nightly shootout. I worked the Cycle Gear tent and gave away a ton of free ICON swag and gear. There’s no better job on the planet! I also gave away a GoPro Hero II. The event brought riders from all corners of Orlando, Daytona and even some out of town guests.

Back in Daytona, Main Street was its normal self. People packed the sidewalks and bikes crowded the curbs. The smell of burnt meat, beer and exhaust wafted through the air. Sexy ladies exploiting the wallets of dirty old bikers wore next to nothing tops and booty shorts, which was only helped by the warm weather. Live music and the roar of engines filled the street. An occasional brave group of spring breakers would wander by; mouths open in awe of the spectacle they were witnessing.

On Friday night, I ran into Icon’s Team No Limit, Jason Britton and Eric Hoenshell, while they chilled out in the Affliction store. Cruisin’ Café hired their usual DJ and young coeds were happily grinding the night away as biker trash watched from the deck.

Attendance might have been slightly down this year, but you

wouldn’t have been able to tell on any given night on Main Street.

Show once again shut down the Daytona Lagoon and for $5 each, fetched spectators of all shapes and sizes. Just Just around the corner from down the road Myrtle West Main Street, the Ocean Center held Daytona Bike Week’s sat quietly, singing a siren “first ever” sport bike night at song of air conditioning, clean the Bishop Tavern and Lounge. bathrooms, free gear check, It was a custom painted, a custom build-off, celebrity dropped, stretched, fat rear appearances, stunt shows, tire lover’s heaven. Across and more bike giveaways than the Seabreeze Bridge over anyone could ask for. the Intracoastal Waterway, the Icon Limiter Live event The IMS was a great success, was off and poppin in Holly as the goal was to put on the Hill. To me, this was the true country’s best free custom bike sportrider’s Mecca. Who says show and increase foot traffic you can’t shut down an entire for our regular exhibitors and a highway in Daytona for a few local vendors. To the shock stunt show to shame all stunt of nearly 3,000 spectators, shows? I’ll let someone else Paul Jr. Designs unveiled tell that story. Back towards their new Camaro custom International Speedway kit. The Discovery Channel Boulevard, Harley Davidson filmed the 45-minute wait (of headquarters held a ride course Pauly was late), the in bike show sponsored by disappointment of some and American Iron and Motorcycle the excitement of many. The Bagger Magazine. Back over Ultimate Builder Custom Bike the Intracoastal via the ISB US Championships crowned Bridge, the Boardwalk stayed Jeremy Cupp as the victor, packed between the bikiniwhile several other awards wearing Spring Breakers and and prize money were handed the Annual Boardwalk Classic out to the country’s cream of bike show. Never a dull the crop. The Smage Brothers moment, I assure you. rounded off the event with several trials stunt shows a day, By Sunday, I was out of autograph signing sessions, breath, out of time, and out of and general hooliganism. money. What a week! I had an amazing experience and Across the street, the 40th wouldn’t have had it any other Annual Rat’s Hole Custom Bike way.

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Markbilt Racing was founded in 1998 by Racer and motorcycle enthusiast Mark Rozema.

From its humble beginnings the Markbilt mission has always remained steadfast, to build and tune race winning motorcycles. Markbilt is proud to have been the driving force behind the success of such factory-backed teams as: Team Pepsi Suzuki, Celtic Racing Yamaha, Attack Kawasaki and Markbilt GYTR Yamaha. Markbilt has had the honor of working with many talented riders and winning over 23 regional and national championships including the prestigious Daytona 200. Markbilt proudly offers CNC manufacturing capabilities, welding, fabrication, engine & chassis shop and a fully featured Superflow chassis dynamometer and tuning center. At Markbilt, racing is a passion not a job.

DEALER

Sam Gaige #20 WERA

Service Center

Eric Stump #77 AMA

Miles Thornton # 72 AMA

Located right next to New Jersey Motorsports Park!!!!

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AND MORE….

Dyno Tuning Suspension and Chassis setup Race and track day bike prep SERVICES Fuel Injection & Ignition Mapping Engine Rebuilding Supersport & Superbike engine Packages

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Performance 2 Stroke Tuning Supermotard Conversions Stoarage and Maintenance Custom Fabrication Accessories & Decals Tires

Website: www.markbiltracing.com

Phone: 201-406-1921

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FRICTION ZONE: SPORTBIKES INK!!!

Words: Baz

K

eep sending the pics of your ink and remember to watch this space every month for more awesome tattoos!

Want to show off your SPORTBIKES INK? Please click on the icon to send clear, high quality, hi res photos.

RIDER// Karen Morris BIKE// 2008 Kawasaki ZZR600 TATTOO ARTIST// Tone

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RIDER// Matt Altman BIKE// 2004 GSXR 600 TATTOO ARTIST// Matt Destefano

RIDER// Will Torres BIKE// 2010 BMW S1000RR TATTOO ARTISTS// Micheal Angelo and Denise De La Cerda

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FRICTION ZONE: random

Image: Michael Mancini

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this life: Spring fever Words: Tyson Beckford Images: Geoffrey McCarthy

I

t’s spring. Most of you are already riding or getting ready to ride. This time of the year is the most dangerous time on the streets because it’s like a fever to get out, ride, drive and party! But we all know not to drink and ride. That’s a dangerous mix!

The fever can have a tremendous effect on the new riders. It can have an even greater effect on the rookie “mistake making” riders who go down in the first two weeks of spring and don’t recover until fall. Then, he wants to ride everyday until it snows!

Don’t be that guy!

Be cool and pace yourself. I always say to myself, “Wait until the fever riders are off the road and ride with the real riders!” Real riders enjoy a whole summer of riding and experience great events.

I’m not even gonna sit here and have you read a long ass article this month because I wanna go ride instead of write! Be sure to get your bike in shape cause it’s gonna be a hot one. I can feel it.

Track days, here I come!

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Connect with Tyson...

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THE NEW ISH JOE ROCKET • RASP 2.0 HYBRID JACKET The Rasp 2.0 is designed to offer greater functionality to the everyday rider. Constructed of a textile chassis, the Rasp 2.0 features reinforcement in the elbows, forearms, external armor on the shoulders and an internal spine pad.

This level of protection does not come at the cost of comfort. In the chest area, you’ll find removable panels that expose mesh for extreme airflow when the heat is on. A highlight is the eight point surefit custom adjusting system that keeps the CE approved protection where it belongs.

Size: S - 3XL Color: Black/Black, Black/Gunmetal, Black/Red Price: $219.99 - $230.99 Contact: http://joerocket.com

OAKLEY • DEVIATION SUNGLASSES Redefining the word cool, the Deviation sunglasses from Oakley give great shade on a sunny track day in between sessions or provide great cover if you need to hide from the paparazzi. A classic style with a comfortable fit, the Deviation sunglasses are a lightweight frame composed of a C-5 alloy. Available in several frame and lens combinations, the Deviation shades are a “gotta have” accessory for any outside activity.

Price: $130.00 Contact: http://www.oakley.com

AKRAPOVIC • TITANIUM SLIP ON FOR THE DUCATI DIAVEL If you are a Diavel owner, more and more aftermarket accessories are becoming available for your machine. The Akrapovic Titanium slip on exhaust not only offer a cleaner aesthetic to the stock pipes, but it offers an increase of 4.4 in horsepower.

Price: $2049.95 Contact: http://akrapovic.com

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REV’IT! • TARMAC Leather JACKET Take MotoGP engineering, Grade A leather, and the finest pieces and parts from the REV’IT! racing arsenal, and combine them in a jacket. TARMAC will suit your dual personality. For the track you get the best in safety, with dual-comp hard parts, Pro-Life CE approved armor, and a speed hump that is Hydra bag-ready. For the street you get comfort that is second to none, strategically placed stretch panels for freedom of movement, and a removable thermal body warmer for cooler days. All of this is wrapped up in an aggressively styled, performance jacket that says one thing: go.

Size: 46 - 58 (Euro) Colors: Black, Black/Red, Black/White Price: $649.99 Contact: http://revitusa.com

SPIDER GRIPS • PEAK GRIPS It doesn’t matter if you are the next undiscovered MotoGP Champion or the Sunday back roads rider, grips can make or break what should be enjoyable seat time on our bike. The Peak Grips feature an aggressive tread pattern, traction gel and a tapered shape to give you the control and manageability that transforms seat time into quality time.

Color: Black, Red, Grey Price: $17.95 Contact: http://spidergrips.com TISSOT • T-RACE “NICKY HAYDEN” LIMITED EDITION WATCH The official time keepers of MotoGP have once again, honored MotoGP Champion Nicky Hayden with a limited edition wrist watch. Masters of their craft, Tissot has captured the style and spirit of Hayden in this collector’s item. Styled in Hayden’s team colors, the T-Race model features quartz chronographic movement, scratch resistant sapphire crystal and water resistance up to 330 feet. The piece is limited to an edition of 4,999 and is presented in a scaled replica of Hayden’s helmet.

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THE NEW ISH: Featured Item ICON MOTOSPORTS • ALLIANCE CHRYSALIS HELMET One of the best features on this helmet are the graphics. At first, you may be thrown slightly off course with the possibility of, what some may consider, the most peaceful insect on the planet silently gracing the shell of a helmet from Portland’s bad boys. Look again... that’s no ordinary butterfly. It’s the Monarch of Death with wings adorned with skulls, designed by talented artist Tanner Goldbeck. The Chrysalis meets all safety requirements in the US and abroad. Available in purple for those that are not such huge fans of pink... But also available in pink for those that are.

Size: XS - XXL Colors: Purple, Pink Price: $250.00 Contact: http://rideicon.com

For more sportbike news and announcements:

VISIT THE SPORTBIKES INC BLOG

HTTP://SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM/BLOG

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AD DESIGNED & PRODUCED BY OTLMP.COM

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staff stuff SCORPION •

Helmet Street Race Cases

Leon Brittain We may not always think of what to do with our helmets when not in use or a safe way to transport them other than the helmet bag provided with your helmet. If you fall into this category, consider Scorpion’s Street Race cases. My particular model is discounted, but still very much one of my favorite products. This piece of equipment has come in handy on numerous occasions with short press trips that didn’t require checking in my luggage, track days and everyday storage. The Street Race case is made of semi-stiff material that maintains a helmet shape even when not in use. Features include a padded carrying handle, mesh front pocket for a spare face-shield, elastic strap within to hold your helmet security in place and four “feet” that allows the case to sit upright as well as securely horizontally with a rubber padded stubbed bottom. http://scorpionusa.com Rating: 6 (out of 6) Pirelli • Diablo Rosso Corsa Tires Allan Lane I’m just going to say it... I trust these rubbers!

The Rosso Corsas three compound construction and unique tread pattern are more than just confidence builders. They are confidence boosters. I run these tires on my street and track bikes. As a track day tire, I don’t feel the need to use tire warmers (I do, but have gone out a few sessions without). They warm up quickly and are stable in the corners. On the street, these tires are the truth. I’m an all season rider so performance is elemental. While the absence of tread on the outer edge of the tire is a plus on the track, it does limit their use in the wet. The Rosso Corsas pass the test. http://pirelli.com Rating: 5 (out of 6)

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THE BACK SHOT!

Image: Brian Nitto Location: Daytona International Speedway