ROAD RACING . DRAG RACING . STUNT RIDING
CUSTOM BIKES . MOTO TECH
AUGUST 2015 VOL 5 ISSUE 11
SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM TM
GARWOOD CUSTOM CYCLES
KAWASAKI NINJA ZX-14R
THE WAR ADMIRAL LEARNING TO RIDE LIKE A CHAMPION | THE SBI INDY MOTOGP TAKEOVER | THE LION’S DEN | BILLY MORRISON: MOTO WITHDRAWAL | MOTOGP WITH B.T. | ERIC WOOD: IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS
Ahead of the Curve
The New Ducati 1299 Panigale S
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THE FEATURES THE SHOW: THE WAR ADMIRAL
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THE LION’S DEN: SCARS
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THE SBI INDY MOTOGP TAKEOVER
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MOTOGP WITH B.T.
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LEARNING TO RIDE LIKE A CHAMPION
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DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS: MOTO WITHDRAWAL
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THE USUALS http://issuu.com/action/page?page=12 12 THE PRESS ROOM http://issuu.com/action/page?page=18 18 THE SHOW - THE WAR ADMIRAL http://issuu.com/action/page?page=32 32 THE GRID NEWS 36 MOTOGP WITH B.T. - By B.T. http://issuu.com/action/page?page=36 46 THE ROCKET - By James Rispoli http://issuu.com/action/page?page=46 http://issuu.com/action/page?page=52 52 TURN ONE - By Sandra Stammova 60 STAGED - By Will Torres http://issuu.com/action/page?page=60 70http://issuu.com/action/page?page=70 THE MAIN POINTS - By Dena Sodano 80http://issuu.com/action/page?page=80 FEATURED CLUB - 4 STAR HOOLIGANS 82http://issuu.com/action/page?page=82 THE LION’S DEN - By Lion James 88http://issuu.com/action/page?page=88 FEATURED RIDERS 94http://issuu.com/action/page?page=94 IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS - By Eric Wood http://issuu.com/action/page?page=126 126 DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS - By Billy Morrison http://issuu.com/action/page?page=130 130 THE NEW ISH http://issuu.com/action/page?page=136 136 STAFF STUFF
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FEATURED RIDER: BENNY BLANCO http://issuu.com/action/page?page=88 PAGE 88 SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 5
FEATURE STORY
GARWOOD CUSTOM CYCLES
KAWASAKI NINJA ZX-14R
THE WAR ADMIRAL PAGE 18
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EDITOR’S LETTER
I
f you could be better... If there was a way for you to improve yourself, a method, a course, a class that you could take to make you the best you possible... Wouldn’t you take it? I find that a lot of people often shy away from self improvement especially in the riding community. Granted, there is a large amount of bravado that backs up one’s own sense of grandeur thus prompting us to ride motorcycles in the first place. So how do you convince someone that is already confident in their abilities and has a healthy dose of the crazies, that although they ride like a bat out of hell and have the skills to pay the bills (Do the kids still say that?) that they could be better? Perhaps the better question is how do you convince someone that they could benefit from the joys of attending a track day school and actually be even better than they already think they are? Maybe it is not about convincing?
in the business of convincing anyone of anything. I subscribe to the reality that it simply is... what it is. You should never have to convince a real rider that improvements can always be made or that their game can be tighter. Any real rider knows this as fact. Thus they will be actively practicing, logging in seat time and miles, honing their skills. The serious rider that is really about being the best they can be is who I am interested in pointing in the right direction of higher learning. I ride a lot. On the streets and the track. It’s my job. And with all the seat time and miles that I pack in over the span of a year... I will still be the first one to sign up for a class if it means that I can be a better rider. I know a lot of things and one of those things that I know is that I do not know it all.
I often joke that my delusions of grandeur Best, are responsible for some of my greatest Allan accomplishments. I also freely admit that I am not allan@sportbikesincmag.com 8 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
THE TEAM Publisher/Editor in Chief: Allan Lane allan@sportbikesincmag.com
EDITORIAL
Drag Racing Editor: Rickey Gadson rickey@sportbikesincmag.com
Contributors: Will Torres
Fashion Editor: Kiana Gadson kiana@sportbikesincmag.com
Copy Editor: Angela Lane angela@sportbikesincmag.com
Moto Tech Editor: Thomas Campion tommy@sportbikesincmag.com
ART & DESIGN
Riding Editor: Eric Wood eric@sportbikesincmag.com Rev Limiter Editor: Dena Sodano dena@sportbikesincmag.com Bike Life Editor Lady Kim ladykim@sportbikesincmag.com Senior Staff Writer Red Spade redspade@sportbikesincmag.com Staff Writers: Billy Morrison billy@sportbikesincmag.com Michael Lawless lawless@sportbikesincmag.com Lion James lion@sportbikesincmag.com Sandra Stammova sandra@sportbikesincmag.com B.T. bt@sportbikesincmag.com James Rispoli james@sportbikesincmag.com
Creative Supervisor: Leon Brittain leon@sportbikesincmag.com Graphic Designer: Baz baz@sportbikesincmag.com Cover Photographer: Blair Phillips Contributing Photographers: Elizabeth Raab Blair Phillips Rick Hentz Michael Johnson Impact Images Balance Point Papapkevpix
SportBikes Inc Magazine - August 2015 Volume 5, Issue 11 To receive SportBikes Inc Magazine’s 2015 Media Kit and Advertising Rates, please email: info@sportbikesincmag.com.
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 (ISSN 2158-009X) is published monthly by Hard Knocks Motorcycle Entertainment.
SportBikes Inc Magazine is not responsible for any advertising claims made by its advertisers or partners.
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.
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.
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BMW Motorrad USA
bmwmotorcycles.com
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Whatever you do, throw yourself into it. Give it your all. It’s the only way to go farther than you ever thought possible. Learn more at bmwmotorcycles.com.
©2015 BMW Motorrad USA, a division of BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name and logo are registered trademarks.
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THE PRESS ROOM THE 2016 EMPULSE TT: VICTORY MOTORCYCLE’S FIRST ELECTRIC BIKE
The 2016 Empulse TT is Victory Motorcycle’s maiden electric powered motorcycle. It features adjustable inverted front forks and a single rear shock that allows for a sporty and spirited ride. Other spotlights include lightweight cast aluminum wheels and Brembo dual front disk brakes. Boasting top speeds of over 100 miles
per hour and high capacity 10.4kWh battery that has a range of 65 miles (100 miles with throttle management) and can be recharged with the factory installed battery charger. The engine produces a maximum of 54 horse power with 61 foot pounds of torque.
ERIK BUELL RACING FINDS A BUYER The assets of Erik Buell Racing have been sold at auction for just over $5 million. Atlantic Meals LLC paid $2.25 million for EBR’s manufacturing assets that included machinery, tooling, inventory, accounts receivable and intangible assets. Hero MotoCorp, EBR’s original investor, paid $2.8 million for the consulting assets of EBR. The New Jersey based Atlantic Meals LLC’s CEO Bruce Belfer stated that their intent was to get Buell Motorcycles back up and running, offering jobs to all employees that wished to return to work and that Erik Buell would be offered the title of president. 12 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
RECALL: HONDA RECALLS MODELS FROM 2014 TO 2016 Over 45,000 models produced from 2014 to 2016 have been recalled by Honda to fix an issue with the starter relay switch. The problem is rooted with the application of the sealant that could possibly increase the resistance across the main fuse. The problem is the increased resistance could interrupt the battery’s voltage to the bike’s electrical system. Honda is alerting their owners and the dealer network has been instructed to inspect and replace the starter relay switch if necessary. Click HERE to see if your model is listed as a recalled bike.
THE 2016 ISLE OF MAN SPECIAL EDITION SWISS SPORT WATCH The official timing partner of the 2016 Isle of Man TT races, Wryst, has revealed their 2016 time piece. The ultra modern styled chronograph features a black diamond like carbon coating that is durable as well as tough and is water resistant to 100 meters. On the underside, a three dimensional relief of the iconic three legs triskelion with the inscription “Isle of Mann”. Each watch has its own serial number and is marked “special edition”. Available for pre orders now, the watch will begin shipping worldwide in early 2016 for the price tag of $1100.00. SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 13
THE PRESS ROOM BONNEVILLE SPEED SALT FLATS AMA LAND SPEED CHAMPIONSHIPS CANCELED Blame it on the rain. The Speed Trials at the famed Bonneville Salt Flats have been canceled for 2016 because of the condition of the Flats. Originally scheduled for August 29 through September 3, safety issues and general competition conditions... or lack there of, lead event organizers to the difficult decision to cancel the event. For more information on the Speed Trials, please visit: www.BonnevilleSpeedTrials. com.
AGV HELMETS LCD SHIELD VIDEO STARRING ADEY Recently, AGV announced their new AGVisor technology of the LCD shield, AGV released a LCD helmet shield that transitions from light to short video featuring our buddy Adey of Adey’s dark in a matter of seconds. To demonstrate the World. Check it out below...
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THE FUTURE IS NOW R I D I N G PAC KS AN D G EAR BAG S R E I NVE NTE D
FOLLOW US TO LEARN MORE
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SHOP SPOTLIGHT: MONTGOMERYVILLE CYCLE CENTER
Words: Allan Lane Images: Courtesy of Montgomeryville Cycle Center
CONTACT:
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Dealership Name: Montgomeryville Cycle Center Location: 2901 Bethlehem Pike, Hatfield PA 19440 Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am to 7:00pm, Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm. Sunday: Closed Year Established: 1978 Brands Sold: Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Kymco, Suzuki, BMW
F
or over 35 years, Montgomeryville Cycle Center has serviced the powersports community of the Greater Delaware Valley of Pennsylvania. That type of time in the industry doesn’t come easy and is a true testament of the dealership’s commitment to not only the business... but their commitment to their customers as well. MCC has a service department that can boast over 100 years of combined experience compiled among their 9 full service technicians whose talents and knowledge are verified and certified. The service department holds a Yamaha Gold Level Certification and has been listed as a Pro Yamaha Dealer since 2011.
MCC’s shining performance record is only outshined by their community outreach. Throughout the year, the dealership hosts several event days that cater to just about every type of rider: Female Rider Day, Cruiser Day, SportBike Day, Race Viewing Parties, Tech Seminars, etc. The large showroom and accommodating parking lot lend very well to their destination dealership status. A friendly and knowledgable staff behind the counters and on the sales floor compliment the culture that has been developed at MCC, fortifying their relationship with their customers and the community at large.
Want to see your shop or dealership featured here? Drop us an email!
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GARWOOD CUSTOM CYCLES
KAWASAKI NINJA ZX-14R
THE WAR ADMIRAL 18 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
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THE SHOW: THE WAR ADMIRAL
G
arwood Custom Cycles has created some of the most colorful and unique custom bike builds in the last decade, catapulting them to the front of the custom builders class. With all of the custom work being completed in house, from fabrication to color, it is easy to expect that the parade of wild colored, one of a kind custom bikes would continue to roll out of their shop. And while they do, there was something different when Jarrad Davenport approached the team at Garwood Custom Cycles with his Special Edition 2013 Kawasaki ZX-14R. He wasn’t looking to completely change his bike. He was just looking to enhance it, just a tad. More power. More presence. More grunt. No problem for the team at Garwood. That’s what they do all day. But Davenport didn’t want a paint job, just the boost. GCC delivered more than a boost, and then some. Beefing up the back end with a C and S 20 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
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THE SHOW: THE WAR ADMIRAL
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THE SHOW: THE WAR ADMIRAL
Custom 360 single sided swingwarm wheel kit and the Eclipse Majestic Wheels from RC Components, the ZX-14R rolled into a lane of its own. Performance driven component such as the Brock’s CT exhaust system, power commander, air filter upgrade and of course, the dual nitrous system, were installed to match the power with the bike’s presence. Davenport’s ZX-14R was now a very Special One Off Edition. Aptly named “War Admiral”, it remains a ZX-14R, yet it is more. It stands out among Garwood’s line of the custom builds. Even without a paint job, Garwood Custom Cycles accomplished the goal of creating a unique custom build that is powerful, intimidating and polished. Being able to give their customer a truly custom experience from beginning to end is what places Garwood Custom Cycles in the Master Class of Builders.
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GARWOOD CUSTOM CYCLES “THE WAR ADMIRAL” 2013 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R Special Edition
Engine: Power Commander V, K&N Air Filter, Dual Nitrous System. Brakes: Performance Machine Rear Brake System. Exhaust: Brock’s Performance Titanium CT Exhaust. Suspension: Front and Rear Air FX Air Ride System. Swingarm: C&S Custom 360 Single Side. Wheels: RC Components Eclipse Majestic. Tires: Vee Rubber 360 Monster Rear. Custom/One Off Accessories: Ultra Bright Green Light Kit with Headlight Halos, Transparent Clutch Cover, Custom Ostrich Seat by Shawn, Custom Grips and Spike Kit, Custom Mirrors, Frame Sliders, Carbon Fiber Windshield, Driven Racing Adjustable Rearsets. Builder: Garwood Custom Cycles Owner: Jared Davenport.
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THE SHOW: THE WAR ADMIRAL
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Sidewinder
$899.
95
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THE GRID: NEWS SBI CONTRIBUTOR JAMES RISPOLI MAKES PODIUM AND SETS A NEW LAP RECORD AT THE THRUXTON CIRCUIT In race one of the 7th round of the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship, James Rispoli set a new record of 1:16:247 on the second lap and would go on to complete the race
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with a third place finish. Rispoli would start from pole position in race two but would suffer a low side after another rider collided with him with only 1.5 laps to go.
PJ JACOBSEN CLAIMS HIS MAIDEN VICTORY AT SEPANG AND MAKES HISTORY After securing his first pole position in World SuperSport, PJ Jacobsen went on to claim his first win in the 9th round of the 2015 season on his CORE Motorsport Thailand Honda at the Sepang International Circuit. His win wasn’t handed to him, he fought for it every second of the race dueling with Jules Cluzel and his MV Agusta Reparto Corse. Jacobsen finished 0.091 seconds. Not only is this Jacobsen’s first win, it also marks the first win for an American in WSS. Currently, Jacobsen is in third place for the championship with 140 points.
HONDA CAPTURES THEIR 700TH GRAND PRIX VICTORY With Marc Marquez’s victory at the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix, the Honda Racing Corporation claimed their 700th GP win. HRC’s first win came in 1961 when Australian rider Tom Phillis won the opening round on a Honda RC142 bike in the 125cc class. SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 33
THE GRID: NEWS APRILIA SIGNS STEFAN BRADL FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2015 Stefan Bradl will join Alvaro Bautista at Aprilia Racing Gresini for the rest of 2015. The German rider made his debut on the Aprilia RS GP at the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand prix.
LCR HONDA SIGNS WITH CAL CRUTCHLOW FOR 2016
LCR Honda announced that they will retain the services of Cal Crutchlow for 2016 with an option for 2017.
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#TriumphAmerica and #Castrol are proud to support #LatusMotorsRacing and #BobbyFong50 piloting a #Daytona675R in the #MotoAmerica #Supersport series. TriumphMotorcycles.com • (888) 284-6288 SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 35
THE GRID
MOTOGP WITH B.T. WORDS: B.T. IMAGES: MOTOGP.COM
A
t the conclusion of the German MotoGP races, during the post race press conference, Valentino Rossi was asked, "What's wrong? You don't seem interested?" To which Rossi replied, "I'm just ready for Holiday!" And boy did he hit the hammer on the nail. Maybe it was just me, but the entire German GP had that "day before Christmas Break" feel about it! Don't get me wrong; it was some great racing but all the riders seemed like they had a car waiting, the engine running and there was a hot chick in the passenger seat with a bikini on and a cold tasty beverage in one hand. Get the picture now? That being said, the children known as Moto3 went out and did what they always do; steal the show before "The Show". Luckily for Moto3 the race was in Europe, where they appreciate all two wheeled racing, so the stands were full and enthusiastic! Usually, most Moto3 races are an eight bike freight train to see who's going to take the top spot but apparently Danny Kent's family van was double parked because he took off from the field and won with ease by well over five seconds. Danny’s teammate, Efrén Vázquez, secured second place but it was the race for the final spot on the podium which had the crowd in a frenzy. Enea "The Beast" Bastianini outgunned a cavalcade of riders to place third and he showed why I think he will be the "Bell of The Ball" in 2016, but it’s Danny Kent's world in 2015. Frankly, I'm just happy to be living in it! He truly is a man among boys and it shows on the track! Practice saying these words, “Danny Kent, 2015 Moto3 Champion!” Moto2 gave us a little flash from the past with some great racing coming down to the final lap with Belgium rider, Xavier Siméon, notching his first race win in Moto2! You couldn't help but feel for Siméon. He's one of the nicest riders in the 36 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
paddock. He's come so close to victory in the past and he's from Belgium! Nobody hates anyone from Belgium. You know why? They make great chocolate; 'nuff said! MotoGP saw “The Champ”, also known as “The Boy Wonder” find his winning ways on his "Frankenstein Bike". Why Frankenstein? It’s his 2015 bike with last year's chassis, which made his bike "fun to ride" and a happy champ is a dangerous champ and from the first practice you could tell Márquez wasn't ready to hit the beach just yet! Plain and simple, he dominated! It was interesting to see who would finish second and would this be the weekend Rossi would surrender his Championship to his teammate Jorge Lorenzo? Funny thing happened on the way to Germany. Dani Pedrosa put on his "big boy" leathers and came to race! Lorenzo grabbed the pole on a brave move around pole sitter Márquez and Dani Pedrosa. He looked like he was going to take off like Superman to Lois Lane's house but like I said, this was a Marc Márquez party and Lorenzo didn't have an invitation as Márquez blew by the Yamaha rider as did Pedrosa and Rossi. All Jorge could do was manage a lonely fourth. Once Márquez grabbed the lead it was "Auf Wiedersehen.” The Champ looked to be in 2014 form as he crossed the finish line, well ahead of his rivals but it was the battle between Pedrosa and Rossi that was intriguing. Rossi, it seemed, would get by Dani and then pursue Márquez, but that was not to be the case as Dani became that pesky fly that won't leave you alone at a picnic. He eventually battled back, got by Rossi and made it a one, two Repsol finish. It was joyous Valentino Rossi finishing third! Why joyous? Because he still maintained his lead in the Championship going into "Holiday", which was evident by his demeanor
DANNY KENT
VALENTINO ROSSI
XAVIER SIMÉON
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THE GRID: MOTOGP WITH B.T.
ALEX RINS
during the post race press conference. Rossi had an "it's time to go" feel about him the entire time; whereas Márquez and Pedrosa knew they had to test in two days, which kind of delays happiness when you know you have work to do. I found this significant in that most people see the Championship coming down to Rossi or Lorenzo with Márquez being 65 points down to Rossi but... with Márquez winning the last race before break and Pedrosa finding his groove again, I see the Championship shaping up a bit closer as we'll see Márquez fight tooth and nail for victory but this time with a bike he likes. He'll also have a viable teammate that can take points away from a Yamaha rider and just shake things up enough to keep fans interested and hoping for a final race showdown in Valencia in November. Márquez fired a shot that said "don't put your feet up just yet. I still have a little work left!" 38 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
NOW ON TO INDIANAPOLIS... The great thing about MotoGP being stateside is the chance to see friends you only communicate with via social media. It’s like having a family reunion with all the cool relatives. You know, the ones that bought you stuff you should not have gotten in the first place and all they said was "Shhh!" Yeah, that relative. That's what a GP is like, specifically in Indy. Nobody sets a mood for racing like Indy. Whether it's "Bikes on Meridian" or renaming the streets after the top racers; Indy does to racing what Victoria’s Secret does for romance! Like that? Like that! Put it this way, as of this writing I'm still exhausted from the race weekend and it’s Wednesday! But enough about my debauchery, let's get to the racing! The Moto3 race was crazier than Joaquin Phoenix after an appearance on Letterman. This race truly
MARC MARQUEZ LEADS JORGE LORENZO
MARC MARQUEZ
provided drama and strategy as it began to rain just as the bikes were on the grid. This would prove to be a test for all the teams, whether to switch to rain tires or cross their fingers and hope for the track to dry out. Some teams passed while others failed miserably, as in Danny Kent's team. It wasn't the fact that they decided to quit during the race; it was the fact that they took their sweet time, like it was an order at Starbucks on a Monday morning. Kent finished with no points but should be safe with a fifty six point lead. The entertaining part of the whole ordeal was watching "The Boardmen" sprint down pit lane to
their perspective box, knowing these guys haven't run that fast since the last "Flag to Flag" race! The biggest thrill was watching first time podium placers and race winner, Livio Loi. You couldn't help but feel elation for Loi who was dropped like Marcia Brady after “her nose got hit by that football" by the Marc VDS Squad. The look and smile on his face told the story. He gambled by staying out on slicks and won. Congrats to Philipp Öttl and John McPhee who rounded out the podium. A special mention goes out to Enea Bastianini and Romano Fenati who both picked up valuable points. These two were actually a lap down and lapped the race winner to finish sixth and fourth, respectively. SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 39
THE GRID: MOTOGP WITH B.T.
A return to greatness is what the Moto2 race should have been called as it was a five, sometimes six man battle for the lead. This race had you on the edge of your seat like watching a toddler run across a tile floor. It would eventually give way to Álex Rins who would earn his first ever Moto2 race win. We saw a first time podium for Italian, Franco Morbidelli, and saw a determined Johann Zarco bully his way to second place. The MotoGP race never lacked drama and it looked like Jorge Lorenzo was going to cement himself atop the Championship as he took off like a rocket to lead the entire race with Marc Márquez stalking him like a bad Tinder date! Lorenzo was 40 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
never able to shake Márquez and eventually gave up the lead for a good four laps from the finish, but it was the Rossi and Pedrosa battle that was truly the race within the race. Pedrosa can only play spoiler in the hunt for the Championship and although he gave a gallant effort, Valentino Rossi managed to scrap for the final podium spot and retain his lead in the Championship. The Indy GP gets better every year and hopefully the rumor of this year being the last at Indy will be just that…a rumor. Although exhausted and barely able to talk, Indy GP is a family reunion built around speed and the love of motorcycles. How can you stop that or want to? Sure we're all exhausted come Monday morning, but as I see it, that's a great problem to have!
MARIA HERRERA SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 41
THE GRID
Images: Courtesy of Triumph Motorcycles
THE NUMBERS EVERY MONTH, WE ASK PROS AND AMATEURS WHY THEY CHOSE THE NUMBERS THAT IDENTIFY THEM ON THE GRID...
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BOBBY FONG
#50
“I
chose my race number because my little brother Anthony used to race with me growing up. He was always in a class lower than me but his was number 50. He was such a badass with more natural talent than me. He stopped racing but I figured I could carry his number along with me since he was such a little badass!� SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 43
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THE GRID
THE ROCKET: BRANDS HATCH AND THRUXTON
WORDS: JAMES RISPOLI IMAGES: IMPACT IMAGES
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T
he good news is that England is really nice now and it’s finally summertime! I’ve had the chance to be outside more and get the same kind of training regime going that I have when I am back home in Florida. Before Brands Hatch, I started getting back into motocross again. Motocross is probably the best training because of how physical it is. You have to be very careful though because it’s very easy to cross rut and put you on your head. We have to ride hard but we always have to ride within our limits. I was invited to a big Monster press event. We had an awesome Rig Riot; they are such a great sponsor and those events are always really fun, too. Lots of fans came out, and it’s great to get the crowd moving and to see the enthusiasm.
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THE GRID: THE ROCKET
When we have good press events, they really help me have a good weekend on the track. I think it helps ease the mind going into the weekend and getting good vibes from the fans. We had a really good Brands Hatch overall. Through practice and qualifying, we have been setting goals and accomplishing a lot of them. I had hard and brutal battles with my team mate which were a blast! We were so close all the time and it was one of those battles where you gave it all that you had and the way it played out wasn’t in my favor but you couldn’t predict the outcome and the lunges were out of flash efforts. There wasn’t a strategy and that’s what racing should be like. That’s the only way I could take losing, in a battle like that. The last lap was everything we had. We then went on to Thruxton and we had another media event at the nearby Mall. It was cool as we had never done anything like that in America. It’s really crazy to see all the participation from the people who make the effort to come out to the media days. They are as buzzed about it as we are to race! At Thruxton, we had a good outright pace all weekend. It was the best I had felt on the bike all year. It was a bit of a different mindset, too, as I was more chilled and into having fun. It was my territory with the rear wheel spinning and with the attitude of doing the best I could. We were on the pace. To be back on the box, a track record then have my first pole in Supersport for race two was awesome. I was fuming to be taken out of race two. I 48 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
gave the good old American sign for it, too, but I redeemed myself afterwards! I was so mad as I had a podium in the bag and when I was on the ground, all I could think was, “Are you kidding me?”. Nobody does the backwards V sign in the U.K. so I think that amused some people! The fans seemed to love it and they were hollering and going nuts for it! I am looking forward to Cadwell next. We were top Yamaha there last year, and we will be stupid if we don’t get a podium, as I have the legend Roger Marshal in my corner. The package we have at Team Traction Control is awesome and there should be no reason as to why we can’t carry the momentum into that weekend too. That track always puts on a good show and it’s tons of fun. I love the series here in the UK. That’s not blowing smoke or anything, but the fans here are so into the whole thing. Being an American, people might not like you because of that, but now I have a really good response from the fans at the different tracks, new fans and to race in front of that many people is rad. This series is awesome. You get off the bike and fans are cheering and going crazy for it; you wave and they love it. I definitely think being outside, getting back on a bike a lot more has made a huge difference in the last meetings. I love racing and love the support I am getting from all of you. Hopefully, we will be back on the box for my next column after some more massive battles at Cadwell.
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THE GRID
TURN ONE: A TEAM OF MY OWN
WORDS AND IMAGES: SANDRA STAMMOVA
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et me explain how I started my own “511 Racing“ team. I approached BMW South Africa for support after the second round of the National Championship in 2015. And I am very happy I did it! I can’t even explain how thankful I am and how much I appreciate the massive support of BMW SA and BMW Bavaria which have helped me find the courage and start my own team. It wouldn’t have been possible without them. Many thanks! I knew I needed the rest of the sponsorship to be able to run my BMW, and at least I had a chance to make a plan and start somewhere. I have met fantastic people this year and they have been willing to be involved in my racing team and help me where they can to get going. So here we are, it’s May, second half of the season and we made the decision to do a first test and race in Cape Town at Killarney Raceway in their Championship. The Championship is strong with fast riders including David Mc Fadden and Ronald Slamet. They have been racing mostly overseas in the European Championship. On my first proper day at the bumpiest track in South Africa on my new BMW, I was extremely nervous as I knew we were SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 53
THE GRID: TURN ONE starting from 0 and we had to make big progress in seven sessions before the race day. I was also very aware of the fact that I can’t crash, which was not easy if you know my crashing history. I am definitely not proud of it! But it is what it is and I felt like this is a new start. I must start riding more responsible and use my brain to improve step by step the safe way. I must admit it’s something very new to me and to be honest I should have ridden like that
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before. But life is a learning curve and I learn every day. We also understood that the new BMW is a fantastic bike and very sophisticated, but at the same time we had no experience with all of the electronics. We knew things wouldn’t happen overnight and we would need lots of track time for development and to try different things. Here in South Africa, you must run the bikes in Super GP National class almost stock standard, with only a few modifications
like a slip on pipe etc. In the Cape Town race, the rules are different and you can run your superbike as modified as you want to but we needed to find the right set up for the National round so we kept the bike in National rules. We have made a lot of progress in testing and we trimmed down another second in the races which put me in ninth position overall out of twenty seven riders. We were experiencing a few issues with
the quick shifter not working and the power delivery and some instability, because we didn’t have the right map in yet, so my bike felt wild! I liked it in a way but it doesn’t make you faster. We realized the big potential of the bike but we were still far from where we wanted to be. The track is very, very bumpy and it’s critical to have a stable bike to be able to get out of the corners fast onto the straights. I felt like I rode the wheels off it and was able to push on the brakes in
the turns where I made up the time I lost coming out of the turns. We really put in all we had and we were more than happy with the lap times and results we achieved! I know where we were losing and I am sure we will make another big improvement when I test next time at the beginning of September in Cape Town. You can’t imagine how happy I was knowing that I can ride, push, improve and stay on the rubber at the same time, considering to my previous
“lunatic” style. Well done to Danie Maritz Racing who worked on my bike and to the team manager, Paul, who organized all things necessary. He was full of enthusiasm and encouraged me to take the risk and get back on the bike with the modest set up. Now, I am over motivated again and I won’t stop until we do the best possible job as a race team. I understand you can still do a lot if you put your mind to it and you really want it. Nothing is impossible. SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 55
THE GRID: ON THE COME UP
Images: Courtesy of Sic Racing Team
ZULFAHMI “FAHMI” KHAIRUDDIN
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NAME: Zulfahmi “Fahmi” Khairuddin HOMETOWN/COUNTRY: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia AGE: 23 ASSOCIATION/AFFILIATIONS/SERIES: Moto3 Championship MotoGP GOALS: Year by year I want to improve. My main goal is always to be better. ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
The second rider from Malaysia to compete in the World Championship. Debuted as a wildcard at the 2009 Malaysian GP, finishing 20th. Finished in the points on four occasions in 2010. Competed in the Moto3 class riding for the AirAsia-SIC-Ajo team, scoring his first two podiums and first pole position. Joined the Red Bull KTM Ajo team in 2013, moving across to the Ongetta-AirAsia for 2014 on a Honda Moto3 bike. Khairuddin now represents the Sepang International Circuit team on a KTM.
DEFINE YOUR PASSION IN ONE SENTENCE: Motorcycles are my life. CONTACT: WWW.SICRACINGTEAM.COM
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2015
schedule
april 24-26, 2015
Maryland International Raceway
may 29-31, 2015
Maryland International Raceway
july 24-26, 2015
Maryland International Raceway
september 11-13, 2015 Atco Dragway
october 2-4, 2015 Maryland International Raceway
RaceIDBL.com
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46th Annual
ATCO DRAGWAY • NEW JERSEY
SEPTEMBER 11-13, 2015
motorcycle Drag Racing • Vendor Midway • streetbike corral • Great food & cold Beer Follow us: @RaceIDBL
Rollin’ to jersey!
SPIDERMAN vS. vANTINE 5 second, 240mph, fire breathing, nitro-burning top fuel bike match race!
TOP FUEL • pRO sTREET • REAL sTREET • 4.60 iNDEX • 5.60 Index • cRAZY 8’S TOP sPORTSMAN • pRO e.T. • STreeT E.T. • Grudge • AfTERDARK UNDERGROUND
RaceIDBL.com SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 59
THE STRAIGHT LINE
Images: Courtesy of Brice Lloyd
STAGED: HEAD OF THE CLASS
WORDS AND IMAGES: WILL TORRES
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THE STRAIGHT LINE: STAGED
Images: Courtesy of Brice Lloyd
C
hasing throttle. Chasing clutch. Load the motor. Some of the terms I knew. Others where foreign to me. However, within the first two hours of the two day course, I was absolutely certain this class was worth every penny. Eleven time National Drag Racing Champion, Rickey Gadson, has been offering direct instruction since early 2000. I met the champ during a Manufacturers Cup event about three years ago. New to the sport and definitely a fan, I waited for a moment when he appeared to not be too busy. I walked up, said hi and hit him with a barrage of questions. Sure enough he took the time to answer them all. If you want to excel at a particular activity, in a relatively short period of time, find those that are successful at what it is that you want to do and learn from them. I’ve been able to apply that mentality to other areas of interest in my life and have had positive results. So when I plateaued at 9.0s in the quarter mile, then consistently started to go backwards, I knew I had to do something
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different. Time to learn how to do it right versus guessing at what I may or may not have been doing wrong. From online registration to the day of class, communication was consistent. Emails and direct calls from Kiana Gadson made logistics smooth and uneventful. With fresh oil, a new clutch stack and rear tire, I rolled into class excited and ready to learn. I chose to learn on my BMW S1000RR. The school can provide great conditioned ZX-14’s for students to learn on as well. Orlando Speed World Dragway provided an environment conducive to learning. The quiet third floor classroom is in full view of the freshly poured concrete quarter mile track. It made the track references Rickey discussed easy to see and understand. Rickey likes to keep student class sizes relatively low. This ensures a lot of track time and one on one instruction. There were five students total in our class which was great for quality instruction. We could
learn and implement instruction at our pace with no pressure to move on or keep up. From staging to crossing the line, and everything in between, we learned how to really read a time slip. What is the most important part of the slip and why? What to look at when the back half is not showing the numbers that the front half should have gotten you. Drills were very specific to each aspect of racing down the strip. One of the biggest things I walked away from class with, was an “on bike” drill. A launch technique that I can practice every day, anywhere! At a light, in my driveway, or empty parking lot. Off track practice that will make huge improvements on my quarter mile times. Two days of quality practice and applying proper techniques erased a lot of bad habits. I was able to achieve new personal bests at the 60’ and 1/8 mile marks. I left with new techniques to practice, bike setup recommendations to make, a renewed feeling of excitement and a few new drag racing friends.
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For Professional Performance Parts Visit store.1stopspeed.com
Richard Gadson 2015 Street ET Winner
Jeremy Teasley 2014 Crazy 8’s Champion
Authorized Distributor
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THE STRAIGHT LINE: ON THE COME UP
Images: Courtesy of Jimmy Brice Lloyd Lane
JIMMY LANE
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NAME: Jimmy Lane HOMETOWN: Joplin, MO AGE: N/A ASSOCIATION/AFFILIATIONS/SERIES: MOKAN Dragway, PMRA, ZRXOA GOALS: Win 6 Championships. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 2007 Mo-Kan Track Champion 2007 PMRA Pro ET Champion 2007 PMRA Racer of the Year 2008 Mo-Kan Track Champion 2009 Mo-Kan Track Champion 2010 Mo-Kan Track Champion 2011 Mo-Kan Track Champion 2012 Mo-Kan Track Champion DEFINE YOUR PASSION IN ONE SENTENCE: Being consistent and doing the same actions every time. Contact:
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Fi n d yo u r fa v o rit e loc al de ale r on w w w.t a w p e r f or m a n c e .c om / d e a le r s SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 69
THE REV LIMITER
THE MAIN POINTS
WORDS: DENA SODANO IMAGES: BALANCE POINT//PAPAPKEVPIX
P A U L
H O
A.K.A. HPAU 70 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
O R O W S K I
UL MTFOSHO SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 71
THE REV LIMITER: THE MAIN POINTS
H
e is another one of those crazy Polacks. Known for his insanely lengthy coasters and a fast paced and zero care level aggressive riding style, HPaul MTfosho is no stranger to riding on the ice, asphalt and whatever other surface he can, purely for the fun of it. DS: What started it all for you? HM: I first started riding motorcycles in 2004. I am originally from Poland, but moved here at the age of 11 and grew up in Chicago, which is where I still ride today. It’s where I started riding. I got into riding when I saw my brother George get a sport bike. Shortly after that I bought the bike from him. My main inspiration for stunt riding came from the adrenaline that it gave me. DS: What bike or bikes do you have now? HM: I have a Honda F4i, a Kawasaki 636 and a Honda CBR 1000RR. DS: What are some of your favorite tricks? HM: Some of my favorite tricks are coasters, tank circles, hand stalls and drifting.  I have owned different bikes since I started riding, such as a Suzuki GSXR 600 and Honda F4i. But once I bought my first Honda F4i, 72 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
it stuck with me from 2005 until now. I’ve had a couple of injuries from riding but never have I had a serious injury that affects my everyday life. I try to always wear my helmet and back protector. DS: Which year bike and setup is your favorite? HM: I like to ride the 636 that
I have now. My favorite bike setup is my F4i with a four piston handbrake and single piston footbrake, adjustable clip ons with no fairings. DS: How is the riding scene in your neck of the woods? HM: The stunt riding scene in Chicago is great. Spring and Fall are my favorite seasons to ride.
DS: What else do you like to do for fun besides never-ending coasters? HM: Besides riding, I like being outdoors, fishing, shooting basketball or just hanging out. DS: What are your future plans? HM: I’ll be going to Poland in 2016. I also plan on traveling to Europe to see The Isle of Man TT races. Other than that, riding. SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 73
THE REV LIMITER: THE MAIN POINTS
Folding Brake & Clutch Levers ● Sportbike Brake & Clutch Levers ● Six (6) Adjustment Positions ● Factory Spec Brake Plunger Pocket ● Billet T-6061 Aluminum ● 90˚ Folding Design ● Machined Bearings ● Lifetime Limited Warranty
99.99/pair
$ $
www.motoDracing.com
Performance riding motorcycle aPParel and accessories
PERFORMANCE RIDING MOTORCYCLE ACCESSORIES
Strapless Transport Motorcycle Stands ● The Original Trailer Restraint System, Since 2004 ● No Stress on Suspension or Handlebars ● Bolts to Trailer / Long Bed Truck Floor ● Solid Steel, Axle Bar Included, 100% Secure
WWW.MOTODRACING.COM /MOTODRACING
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motoDracing/
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THE REV LIMITER: ON THE COME UP
Images: Courtesy of Ashley Trent/Bryan Marino
BRYAN MARINO
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NAME: Bryan Marino HOMETOWN: Tampa, FL AGE: 30 ASSOCIATION/AFFILIATIONS/SERIES: AFS/STUNTWARS, MIR EAST COAST STUNT JAM. GOALS: Continue traveling and riding in new scenes. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Performing at events all year and being a brand ambassador for so many great companies. DEFINE YOUR PASSION IN ONE SENTENCE: Building my own bikes is just as important as riding to me. Everything has to be spec and operate properly so I can focus on riding consistently at every event. CONTACT: WWW.BRYANMARINO.COM
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THE LIFE: FEATURED CLUB
Images: Courtesy of 4 Star Hooligans M.S.C.
4 STAR HOOLIGANS M.S.C. Rocker interpretation: The founders the 4 Star Hooligans are represented by the 4 stars placed in the knuckles of the group’s logo. The fist symbolizes the strength from within that all of the members rely on to overcome life’s hurdles and hardships. Those troubles are also part of the logo, displayed by the color selection of black and blue. Club history: The 4 Star Hooligans make it very clear that are not a motorcycle club. Rather, they are a group close friends that include male and female members alike. They consider themselves a motosports club, or MSC. The group was founded in 2011 by four friends that wanted something more out of their lives in the bike community. What began as a small group
CHAPTER: New Jersey FOUNDED: 2011 MEMBERS: 12 ELECTED OFFICIALS: PRESIDENT: Ill Will VICE PRESIDENT: Bullee SECRETARY: Prncezz SERGEANT AT ARMS: Blade EAST COAST REGIONAL REP: Big T
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quickly expanded into a movement spanning several states with several hundred members from a multitude of chapters. Club milestones/memorable moments: Collectively participating in feeding the homeless in Camden N.J. was nothing less than life changing for the 4 Star Hooligans. For the members, it opened their eyes to the reality of the world in which we all live. At the same time, by being agents of change and positivity, they touched the lives of people in need creating an uplifting and memorable moment. Future of the club: Their mission is to simply improve the lives of their family, friends and community. The 4 Star hooligans actively participate in charitable events that reflect positivity and encouragement and see that as a way to create a better tomorrow.
Want to see your club featured here? Drop us an email!
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THE LIFE
THE LION’S DEN: SCARS WORDS AND IMAGES: LION JAMES
I
live with a chronic pain that has tormented me for the past few years. At times the impinged nerve in my neck is little more than a nagging irritation that makes me wince when I turn my head a certain way or after sleeping with my neck in an awkward position overnight. At other times 82 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
I am in agony which keeps me from enjoying many activities and I am left with no option but to seek relief from prescription muscle relaxers and pain killers, depressants like alcohol and solitude. My neck goes into spasm several thousands of times per minute which is well beyond normal.
My impinged nerve, more commonly referred to as a pinched nerve, flares up and causes me discomfort due to stress, overly strenuous activity or lack of sufficient sleep. More times than I care to remember my neck pain, which I feel just as severely in my shoulder as I do in my neck, has kept me from throwing a leg over and riding my motorcycle. Several times it has been made more painful from riding. One of my biggest concerns is that one day my pain will be so great that I will no longer be able to ride and that, my friends, would be a tragedy. Another concern of mine, one that is less hypothetical than the previous, is that I will ride far from home and my neck and shoulder will make it difficult or impossible to ride back. I’ve ridden home in pain before and accept it as part of the ride but never (knock on wood) have I been grounded when I got to where I was riding and needed to wait out the pain, trailer the bike back or
make other arrangements. What’s annoying about my debilitating neck pain is that after taking muscle relaxers to make the pain subside I am not in a state that is conducive to safe riding and cannot ride anyway. It’s a double edged sword, “damned if I do and damned if I don’t” scenario. My frustration with this condition is that it’s never going to go away and there’s no warning or indication that will alert me as to when I will have a bout with my cruel motorcycle ride preventing neck pain. Many years back I had a low side crash while riding my bike that, while seemingly injury free when first I stood up from the wreck, resulted in a torn ACL and ripped meniscus. I thought I could still ride home (the injury occurred about two hours north of where I live) and even tried to get on my bike but my friends wouldn’t allow it and threw me in a car for a ride to the hospital near SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 83
THE LIFE: THE LION’S DEN home. The bike only suffered a few small bumps and bruises and was no worse for the wear but I required surgery, two 7mm titanium screws in my knee, physical therapy, crutches, two different knee braces, prescription pain pills, a huge three inch scar (I’m told chicks dig scars) and a lifetime of thorough security screenings and searches when boarding flights. I can’t remember what the recovery time was for this particular injury and subsequent surgery (perhaps I have repressed that memory) but the time spent unable to ride was arduous and excruciating. I don’t think I am being dramatic when I say that the period of bikelessness (it’s a real word damnit!) immediately following the crash, surgery and recovery was exponentially more painful than the injury and surgery themselves. Several years before that incident, I had a pretty bad high side on my first sportbike that also left me scarred, stitched up, battered and bruised, landed me in the hospital and recovering for about nine months before I could ride again. This was by far the most severe of my downs and I have a scarred left hand after ten stitches, chipped bone in my knee, bruised hip bone that had to have surgery performed on it years later because of a bout with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (also known as MRSA) which left me with a zipper like rather large scar on my hip, laceration on my head (also a permanent scar), road rash as to be expected, stinger in my neck (I wonder if that has anything to do with my impinged nerve), nerve damage from my shoulder to my fingertips on one side and a broken pinky on the other side. I’ve been beaten and almost broken by life both before and since becoming a motorcyclist and have the marks to show for it. Though the pain may have been temporary, the evidence of such incidents will remain with me for the rest of my life and much worse than the perhaps unsightly blemishes on this otherwise perfect masterpiece of a body (if you believe that, I have some beachfront property in Idaho to sell you) is the memory of these occurrences that still haunt me. Of course, like most people, I would love to rid myself of these physical scars because quite frankly I dislike them. I don’t like what they represent nor do I like what they are reminders of. They are a part 84 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
of me now and even though I must accept that, it doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it. I never want to lose the lesson from the injury and while it may be a cliché, the old adage stands true that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I suppose that our ego and our pride, fragile as they are, take much longer to heal than our bodies and it seems that I wear my cool stories on my skin in the form of scars. The one good thing, if the only good thing, about the injuries and scars I’ve suffered as a result of my love affair with motorcycles, albeit a tumultuous and abusive relationship at times, is that once all the healing is done, the pain and difficulties associated with the injury and recovery goes away with it. There hasn’t been any residual discomfort or difficulty performing any of the activities that the injuries affected since making a full recovery. I have recovered from injuries that have ended the athletic careers of men and women who were much more athletically inclined, with much better physiques and in much better health and have gone on to ride again. My scars from injuries have merely changed the landscape of my body but have had little or no influence on my ride, save for an eagerness to never repeat the actions that led to that handful of offs in the first place. I suppose I’m lucky in that regard because some people never fully recover from their injuries. Some people have their future riding or even their entire lives beyond the injury defined by their injuries or worse. I’ve lived to ride another day; I haven’t had to cater my ride to anything as severe as a prosthetic limb or something trivial like a splinter in my finger and I have persevered and been able to ride with no need to adjust to riding with an injury. Even my motorcycles (except for the one that was a total loss) have been able to bounce back from my downs with some minor scrapes and scars to show for it. I think that in my effort to “not lose the lesson” in my injuries and various spills while on two wheels, I have subconsciously or maybe not so subconsciously refrained from smoothing out and painting over the three inch scratch on my bike. Perhaps it’s a way for my bike and I to relate to one another and identify with the injury and recovery we both experienced as a result of
our “oops” moment; maybe it’s a way to not feel so bad about my own scars because the bike also wears her scars or it could be that when something is perfect and pristine you dread that first blemish. I don’t want that added anxiety on top of everything else we motorcyclists have to constantly think about while on two wheels. There are all sorts of scars, physical, emotional, visible, perceived, mental, self-inflicted or intentional, imaginary and internal. It doesn’t make much difference if the scars are on your body, in your psyche or on your machine and gear; they are all as a result of some sort of injury. If you’re lucky, you get the lesson without the pain but more often than not, that’s just the case. If you ride long enough you will have scars. If you ride long enough your bike will have scars. If you ride long enough you will be lucky enough to wear your cool stories
on you at all times. Though not a particularly cool story, my neck and shoulder pain does more to keep me off my bike than any of the broken bones, stitched up lacerations or surgeries have ever managed to and it’s not the type of scar I can show anyone in order to get sympathy or play scapegoat to my non-riding days. The marks on my body are not pretty but I’d rather be a less than shiny penny on two wheels than have these invisible scars keep me grounded like they do. It’s hard to say which hurts more, the physical pain or the pain of missing out on the ride. When I see my scars or think about them it strikes me as odd that sometimes the scars which are obvious and evident to others can make the least impact while those which cannot be seen can be the most impactful.
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Replacement of Highway Patrol Motorcycles All 51 members of the Highway Patrol are qualified as motorcycle patrol officers, certified to operate one of the Unit’s 45 motorcycles. In addition to its routine patrolling of highways in marked and unmarked vehicles, this unit also performs a multitude of other important and very public functions on motorcycles including escorting dignitaries, traffic and crowd control for major city functions and events, and performing in the annual Hero Thrill Show to raise funds for the college tuition of children of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty. The unit also has a unique role in the Department’s “Rolling Thunder” strikes which saturate certain high crime areas of the city several times a year.
Unfortunately, 14 of the Unit’s 45 Harley Davidson Road King motorcycles were manufactured in 1991, almost 25 years ago. For all practical purposes, because of the inability to locate engine parts, the exceedingly high mileage, and just the routine wear and tear of 25 years of heavy street use, these 14 motorcycles are obsolete, unreliable or simply out of commission. With Philadelphia being the host city of several national and international events in the coming years, the Department is seeking funding to replace as many of these motorcycles as possible.
Individual Motorcycles $18,100 Total Cost for 14 Motorcycles
$250,000
Since May 2015, the Foundation’s Board of Directors has raised $165,000 in funds contributed for the purchase of the first nine of 14 motorcycles. To contribute to this important project, please send your gift to the Foundation at the address below. Thank You!
Philadelphia Police Foundation 4040 Chestnut Street | Philadelphia, PA 19104 86 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM 215-898-7515 | admin@phillypolicefoundation.org | www.phillypolicefoundation.org
ALL-NEW YZF -R3 ®
TM
56mpg estimated*
TT-R230
WELCOME TO THE R WORLD. • All-new model • The easiest way ever to enter the world of Yamaha R-series supersport performance • Class-leading, fuel-injected 321cc, liquid-cooled twin-cylinder engine • Slim, lightweight chassis for agile handling • Yamaha supersportinspired styling with full fairing • Low 30.7” seat height and a flat seat design to get both feet firmly on the ground for added confidence. • Perfect for 1st time riders or experienced riders who prefer an ultra-light, nimble machine
See these participating Yamaha dealerships for more information
4911 Buckeye Rd. Emmaus, PA 18049 610-965-9865 www.blackmanscycle.com
8738 West Chester Pike Upper Darby, PA 19082 610-446-2002 www.crossroadpowersports.com
1037 Unger Lane Boyertown, PA 19512 610-369-3120 www.martinmoto.com
2901 Bethlehem Pike Hatfield, PA 19440 215-712-7433 www.montgomeryvillecc.com
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*Fuel economy estimates are based on US EPA exhaust emission certification data obtained by Yamaha. Your actual mileage will vary depending on road conditions, how you ride and maintain your vehicle, accessories, cargo, and operator/passenger weight. Professional rider depicted on a closed course. Dress properly for your ride with a helmet, eye protection, long sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves and boots. Do not drink and ride. It is illegal and dangerous. Yamaha and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation encourage you to ride safely and respect the environment. For further information regarding the MSF course, please call 1-800-446-9227. Pre production model shown. Specifications subject to change. ©2014 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. • YamahaMotorsports.com
FEATURED THE LIFE FEATURED LIFE:RIDER FEATURED RIDERS RIDERS
Benny Blanco LOCATION: Philadelphia, PA OCCUPATION: Agent. YEARS RIDING: 10 years. RIDING STYLE: Street. BIKE/S OWNED: 2014 Suzuki GSXR 750. FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: Full power mode and the lights. FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: My club colors, my vest. MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: Bear Mountain.
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Tamu AKA Wisdom LOCATION: Wilmington, DE OCCUPATION: President/Supervisor/Elder/Chaplain. YEARS RIDING: 6 years. RIDING STYLE: Street rider. BIKE/S OWNED: 2001 Suzuki GSXR 1000. FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: My windshield wrap in memory of my Mother. FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: My all black Bluetooth helmet. MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: Riding to Virginia with Andre AKA “The Mr.” in the pouring rain.
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FEATURED THE LIFE FEATURED LIFE:RIDER FEATURED RIDERS RIDERS
Sharon Morris AKA Shaybaby LOCATION: New Castle, DE OCCUPATION: Bus Operator. YEARS RIDING: 5 years riding. RIDING STYLE: Street. BIKE/S OWNED: 2005 Kawasaki ZX-10R FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: I love the sound of my Dan Motor Exhaust. FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: Anyone of my ten helmets. MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: This year’s Shut The City Down Ride. It was so beautiful to see that many beautiful bikes and people of all origins come together and have an awsome, no nonsense, ride with pride through the city of “Philly, Philly..Where I’m from!” Meeting new people is always a plus. It felt like my extended family. 90 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
George Sullivan LOCATION: Douglassville, PA OCCUPATION: Self made. YEARS RIDING: 18 years. RIDING STYLE: Street and dirt. BIKE/S OWNED: 2006 Honda CBR 1000RR, 1998 Honda CBR600 FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: My exhaust system. FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: My helmet. MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: The Shut the City Down Ride in Philadelphia.
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IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS
7.5 KEYS TO ENTERING A ROLL SPEED FOCUSED CORNER WORDS: ERIC WOOD IMAGES: RICK HENTZ
A
t nearly every track I have ever ridden there are at least a couple corners whose focus is simply to roll through them as quickly as possible. There are a number of factors that can create this type of strategy. If the corner itself is fast (perhaps third or fourth gear), the more important it is to maintain that speed through the apex. Sometimes a corner is just a “connection� corner that does not require much braking and does not have a significant drive and the only strategy that makes sense is one that maximizes roll speed. Either way, the most important segment of these corners is from turn in to apex, and improving this section of track will be the focus of our article this month. STRATEGY: The most important factor for success in any corner is to start with the right strategy. In a roll speed focused corner, our primary focus is to make the radius as large as possible. From a pure physics standpoint, this requires us simply to make the largest circular arc that we can. This places the apex right in the center of the corner. While we cannot always achieve this perfect arc in every corner of this type, Figure 1 shows the theoretical path for maximum mid corner roll speed. VISION: In order to achieve this ideal path, riders need to be sure that they not only locate the apex, but that they also associate a direction with that apex. There are two basic methods to accomplish this goal. If you can see through the corner then
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IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS: 7.5 KEYS
STRATEGY
you need to draw a line with your eyes from the mid corner apex to an exit reference on the outside of the track. If you can’t see through the apex to the outside of the track then you need to seek out a visible cue on the track at the apex to help with direction. Many corners have patches, skid marks and pavement wear patterns that riders can use to identify an ideal trajectory at the apex. With either of these two methods, riders will be able to scan back and forth with their eyes to paint a trajectory back to a point on the outside of the entrance that will allow them to perfectly time their turn in. PROPER WEIGHT SUPPORT AND PRE POSITIONING:
In order to free up traction and create rider feel, the most important thing a rider can do is eliminate as much bar input as possible at full lean. This should start by “pre positioning” your body by sliding back from the tank, getting off the seat with one cheek and locking your outside leg on to the tank at mid thigh. This will help keep your body from sliding forward on the brakes and make the transition from braking to turning as smooth as possible. Once at full lean, continue to lock in with your outside leg, point your inside knee into the turn and relax your inside elbow and shoulder. TIMING OF INPUTS: There are two critical inputs to consider in the entrance of a roll speed focused corner, and they both consist of two simultaneous actions. The first is the release of major braking
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effort with the initiation of the turn. Since the theoretical line through these corners is a perfect circle, there is no need to adjust bar input once the circular arc is set. All of the major bar input should start off the outside edge of the entrance and be finished as soon as possible (more on this later). Second, since a roll speed focused corner is all about keeping the minimum speed between two straights as high as possible while on a circular arc, the minimum speed should occur right in the center of that arc (which happens to be the apex). With this being the case, the simultaneous release of trail braking and application of the throttle should happen right at the apex. QUICK, PRECISE TURN IN: The number one problem riders have in these corners is that they do not arrive at the apex pointed in the right direction. Once riders understand the strategy and use their vision to construct the path of the bike with their eyes they are much more confident with their inputs. Making a decisive initial turn will not only allow riders to open the throttle much quicker but will also reduce the risk of a crash resulting from post apex bar input. Quick turn in is not only faster, when combined with the proper weight support as outlined in step three, it is much safer as well. TRAIL BRAKING: In order to have maximum control from turn in to apex, riders must trail brake through the entire entrance of the turn. This practice
stabilizes the bike by keeping it from “floating” at the top of the suspension travel. Trail braking also allows the rider to adjust the trajectory to the apex using very light (one finger) braking to either tighen or open up the line. The brake lever acts more as a suspension tool than a stopping tool in this scenario. In order to be able to have the proper “feel” for trail braking, riders must first master the weight support concepts in step three. Until that step is completed, riders should take an intermediate step to approach trail braking. At the Penguin School, we ask riders to “make the
(it probably did) then the next step is to raise your entrance speed in a sensible fashion. The easiest way to adjust this is to brake at your normal brake marker but use slightly less maximum force. This will incrementally raise your entrance speed without creating a feeling of panic. Adjust the timing and magnitude of your initial turn in as needed as you brake less and less. After you’ve adjusted to your new roll speed, then go back and adjust your brake marker so that you arrive at your turn in point at the desired speed while braking properly.
TIMING OF INPUTS
brake pads just touch the rotors” while learning trail braking. COMMITMENT TEST: How do you know if you have extra traction left? The answer is actually easier to find than you think. Once on the edge of the tire, test with a slight turn effort to see if you can carve in on a tighter line. If you can carve a tighter arc, then you have extra traction available. The perfect entrance speed when combined with a decisive turn in, should just allow you to make the apex. It takes many years to perfect this art, which brings us back to step three; you must first do all you can to relieve pressure on the front tire at full lean. TESTING HIGHER ENTRANCE SPEED: If your test in step seven shows you that you have room to go
These 7.5 steps have been crafted carefully to give riders a blueprint to follow when working on a roll speed focused corner. It is important to work on the steps in order (and not to skip any steps). Please don’t be tempted to move right to the end and work on the speed improvement test. Strategy, vision, timing and body position are critically important before working on the next steps. Many riders work for multiple weekends before getting the weight support part of this formula correct. Even after racing for more than twenty five years, I find myself repeating the final few steps of this process many times, even at tracks I know well. Perhaps this endless pursuit of perfection is what makes this sport so interesting. Until next time... Ride fast, ride safe! SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 97
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LEARNING TO RIDE LIKE A CHAMPION
WORDS AND IMAGES: ALLAN LANE 100 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
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NICK IENATSCH
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F
or almost two decades, Nick Ienatsch has been teaching riders how to go faster and safer. An accomplished racer with several accolades and books that he wrote on his shelf, Nick has developed a program that consist of years of experience and serious seat time. Equipped with a fleet of 2015 Yamaha YZF R6's and a team of committed instructors, Nick's curriculum is set on the goal of teaching his students how to improve their riding ability every time that they throw a leg over the bike. So if you are looking to ride like a champion... Well, there’s a school for that and this is it. For the last year or so, Nick’s Yamaha Champions Riding School has been
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IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS: RIDE LIKE A CHAMPION headquartered at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey. Aided by long time buddy Ken Hill who fills the position of Lead Instructor, Nick has put together an all star team of coaches. The roster is compiled of a few notable professional racers... Kyle Wyman, Chris Peris, C.J. Laroche, Mark Schellinger, to name a few. During the two day class that I attended, we had the privilege of having Mr. Daytona himself, Scott Russell as the guest instructor. Over two days, students spend a majority of their time outside of the classroom engaging in a series of exercises and drills that bookend track sessions. The number of students per class are kept relatively small so that the ratio of coach to students remains more than reasonable. At the beginning of each track session, before you can roll onto the front straight, a coach will ask his student, "What is your plan?" It’s a great brain exercise that makes you mentally check in for the session. This has real life application. Every time that you throw your leg over your bike, you need to have a plan, a goal, a purpose. This mentally connects you to your motorcycle at the start of your ride and that connection will hopefully remain with you for the duration. On the first day of class, the students fill up a few vans for a track "drive". This serves several points with the first being the understanding of the track layout along with corner entry points, apexes and exits. Stops are made along the way to discuss and display key notes and characteristics of the course. While exploring the track, students also experience the power of braking and its affects on direction and speed. The coaches will barrel into a turn displaying both proper and improper braking techniques, then explain the difference of the two. Regardless of the vehicle... Bike, car or van, better braking control results in better control of 104 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
KYLE WYMAN
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IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS: RIDE LIKE A CHAMPION
SCOTT RUSSELL your vehicle. While that is an exhilarating way to discover track layout, taking a two up ride with Scott Russell is unlike any other experience and was a major highlight to me during the school. Don't think that Scott is taking any easy laps. He's coming in hot, nailing his apexes in full lean before blazing out of the corner with the throttle pinned. The opportunity to have one on one time with a true national icon and racing champion like Russel is priceless. His openness and frankness about his approach to riding is remarkable. It should be noted that the entire staff is more than accommodating. They want you to succeed and to improve your skills as 108 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
MARK SCHELLINGER
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IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS: RIDE LIKE A CHAMPION a motorcyclist whether you have aspirations to compete or you just want to be faster and better than your buddies. Throughout the course, the fundamentals of body position are deconstructed. You learn to focus on where your head should be, how your arm should come in contact with the fuel tank and the manner in which you push the inside of your ankle forward creating a “triangle of light”. Understanding how the percentages of contact patches when leaning the bike over relates to the manner of how the bike handles, brakes and accelerates is broken down into an applied science. The method of teaching by example and with visual aids aided in translating the theory into technique. The theory is quite simply, control your speed through braking. If you know that you are going to use your brakes, you can then go faster, safely and with confidence because you are going to apply the brakes to control your speed. You then aim or steer your bike in the direction desired. Once you have direction, you can then open the throttle. If the throttle is closed, you should be braking even in the slightest of contact of pads to rotor. Often, just enough to activate the rear brake light. Here's an example: You are coming down the front straight, approaching a right handed corner. Instead of braking hard quickly before releasing the brakes then tipping the bike in at the entry point... You brake lighter and longer, trail braking into the corner. As you pass the apex you should have your exit point well in sight and should steer your bike in that direction. Once you have that direction, you can roll on the throttle and thunder on to the next corner. You can then measure and control your speed through proper brake management. Brake management is transferable regardless of the bike being ridden and for the most part, where it is being ridden. On the track, the 110 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
back roads or the street, this technique has application. Brake management is a massive factor when it comes to controlling your motorcycle. What the Yamaha Champions Riding School offers you is the opportunity and environment to learn. The program is designed to get you to think differently as a rider. That's where the real improvement begins. Riding faster and safer is a by product of becoming a more mentally involved rider. Thinking ahead. Looking ahead. Planning ahead. The elements of evolving from an average rider into a rider with purpose are laid out for you to absorb. It's up to you to be the sponge.
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NJMP
2015
NEW 1 DAY CLINICS $999 MAY 30 RIDERS 7 8
PER DAY
$1200 WITH YCRS YAMAHA
MAY 5 6
2 DAY SCHOOLS $2395 JUNE JULY AUG SEP 2 3
17 18
14 15
20 21
Expert-level motorcycle training keeps riders healthy, and healthy participants always grow an industry. The Yamaha Champions Riding School (YCRS) approaches the complex task of motorcycle riding very simply: Who designed the bike and how does that (expert) rider ride? Even the name "Champions" speaks to this approach because a champion must have consistency and speed, but most importantly consistency. In every two-day Champions school riders of all levels immerse themselves in the intricacies of championship-level riding, no matter what bike they ride or where they ride it. The curriculum is precise and exact because this sport is precise and exact. When the "pace is up or the grip is down", the precision of our curriculum becomes crystal clear. YCRS is growing motorcycling by training riders to ride like champions.
RIDELIKEACHAMPION.COM
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2015INDY MOTOGP TAKEOVER
WORDS: ALLAN LANE IMAGES: MICHAEL JOHNSON
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FRICTION ZONE: ERIKINDY BUELL MOTOGP ZONE: SBI AT FIVE YEARS TAKEOVER
T
he SBI Indy MotoGP Weekend Launch Party was the perfect pre game event for the 2015 Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP weekend. It all went down at Blu Lounge, in downtown Indy on that Friday night. MotoGP fans, enthusiasts and industry insiders properly set the tone for the next two days as they indulged in great company, great spirits and great music provided by resident DJ Blockstar and special guest, Red Bull Superstar, DJ Four Color Zack. While the event gets everyone amped for the weekend, it also serves as a reunion for friends that may have not seen one another since the last U.S. GP round back in April. With the crowds outside enjoying the sights and sounds of Motorcycles on Meridian, guests inside Blu got their dance on, enjoyed libations courtesy of event sponsor, Stolichnaya, and rubbed elbows with the industry’s finest. Custom motorcycles by Garwood Custom Cycles and C&S Custom lined the front of the venue as Ernie Vigil’s custom ICON Motosports Triumph Speed Triple took center stage inside. As the night went on and the pulse was pounding, Jason Nonemaker, owner of 10 Designs Inc walked in with the weekend’s roster of Red Bull Umbrella Girls. That’s when the party became so much more than an event. SportBikes Inc Magazine would like to thank everyone that made the party such an epic event: ICON Motosports, Triumph Motorcycles, Garwood Custom Cycles, C&S Custom, 10 Designs Inc and Red Bull. Additionally, a very special thank you to the staff at Blu Lounge for their incredible hospitality and uncanny tolerance: Brandy, Molly, Morgan and the rest of the crew. We’ll see you next year. #SBIMOTOGPTAKEOVER 116 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
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FRICTION ZONE: ERIKINDY BUELL MOTOGP ZONE: SBI AT FIVE YEARS TAKEOVER
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FRICTION ZONE: ERIKINDY BUELL MOTOGP ZONE: SBI AT FIVE YEARS TAKEOVER
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FRICTION ZONE: ERIKINDY BUELL MOTOGP ZONE: SBI AT FIVE YEARS TAKEOVER
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FRICTION ZONE ZONE:: ERIK BUELL SBI AT FIVE YEARS
DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS: MOTO WITHDRAWAL WORDS: BILLY MORRISON IMAGES: ELIZABETH RAAB
I
’ve been through a few withdrawals in my time. The best and most documented would be my many withdrawals from, um, this is a family magazine, and so what’s the best way to phrase it? Let’s say an unadvised and prolonged exposure to narcotics! But I have also had to withdraw from nicotine before surgeries (that’s one that has to go, kids. Smoking is not the way forward.), withdraw from certain members of the opposite sex. In fact learning to live without things is a part of life and something everyone does during periods of change. I have to tell you that withdrawing from my motorcycles this year because of the extended touring with Billy Idol in support of the new album has been extremely difficult! I didn’t realize just how much I rely on being able to blast away the cobwebs and clear my mind by getting on one of my bikes until I found myself in the middle of the never ending world tour that is still going on! We started touring last October (2014), and yes of course there are periods of a few weeks in between legs of the tour. But usually those periods are spent catching up on all the life stuff that piles up when you are away from home for months at a time. It seems that I get home from tour, spend a couple of days recovering from the brutal travel schedule, and then run around like crazy paying bills, sorting out problems, running errands; and then it all gets done just around the time that we gear up again and get on another plane! There is no time to ride. And after two U.S. tours, Australia, New Zealand, South America and Europe, I find myself staring down the barrel of a third U.S. run and wondering when I get to just take a day to hit the mountains and ride! The tangible benefits of a day in the saddle are
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becoming more apparent by the hour. I am less stressed when I ride regularly. I’m more aware of the roads (and the asshole drivers that occupy them). I’m more in tune with our countryside, the scenery, the majesty of the world that we live in. In short, I think I’m a better person when I get to ride motorcycles regularly. Of course I stay connected while I’m touring; following many two wheeled social media sites, reading magazines (SBI is a great monthly source that I look forward to) and I have my MotoGP and WSBK Sundays that keep me going. But nothing is a true substitute for throwing a leg over a machine and getting out of town into the surrounding Southern California countryside and losing myself in set after set of smooth, twisty corners and roads that seem to just go on forever. There is also the social aspect. I’m not really one for BBQs, get togethers, large groups of people that don’t really know each other, etc. In fact, I would go so far to say I’m not particularly a people person! But riding is different. Here in Los Angeles, a few years ago we had a loose collective of riders (most in the entertainment industry in some shape or form) that would meet up on a Sunday, eat some breakfast together and then just ride all day. This is my kind of social interaction. It became known as the H.F.C.C. (Hellfire Canyon Club) and spawned a whole range of killer tee shirt designs. As with all good things, it came to an end eventually. I guess we all just got too busy, or grew bored of each other’s company. But I miss it, before all the hangers on and randoms started showing up to ride with us; it was a beautiful thing. And then there are the practical implications of leaving bikes sitting there, month after month. I get
I’m
more in tune with our countryside, the scenery, the majesty of the world that we live in. In short, I think I’m a better person when I get to ride motorcycles regularly. SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 127
FRICTION ZONE: ERIK BUELL LITTLE SECRETS ZONE: DIRTY SBI AT FIVE YEARS
back and they are covered in the grimy dusty smog that envelopes Los Angeles, even though they are kept in a garage. The batteries are dead and I have to buy new ones. (Billy, buy a couple of trickle chargers, for God’s sake!). It’s not a good scene! And I feel bad for neglecting the machines. I was taught by my Dad to treat motorcycles well and they will treat you well. At this point, I think my rides hate me and are waiting for me to get on so that they can get me back! I know that by the end of 128 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
this next U.S. tour, I will have a few weeks free. I think I should make a couple of dinner reservations, get some flowers sent over, and wine and dine my bikes. Show them some love. Make sure they know that even though I have been absent for a year or so, they are my bikes, I missed them, and they mean the world to me. Maybe I’ll even get them a new sibling. Now let’s have a look at that Norton Café Racer I’ve been thinking about!
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THE NEW ISH MOTO D RACING • KEVLAR TANK SLIDERS
Tank sliders offer protection for the fuel tank in the event of slide or crash by minimizing damage to the tank or in worse case scenarios, fuel fires from a puncture during a crash. Made from carbon fiber and reinforced with DuPont Kevlar for serious strength and durability. Both left and right sides are included in the box. Installs with ease using a silicon adhesive (not included). Price: $119.99 Contact: http://motodracing.com
DELTRAN • MOTORCYCLE USB CHARGER
DRIVEN RACING • TT REARSETS FOR THE SUZUKI HAYABUSA Change the look of your Busa while improving its handling with the Driven Racing TT rearsets. The rearsets are adjustable with four different mounting positions and feature GPU style foot pegs. The set ships complete with shift and brake pedals that have folding toe pegs and can operate in either standard or reverse shifting patterns. Fits all model years of the Suzuki Hayabusa in a selection of anodized colors. Colors: Black, Blue, Gold, Silver, Red Price: $429.99 Contact: http://drivenracing.com 130 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
If you are looking for a great way to keep your smartphone, tablet or GPS powered up when you are on the go, the USB Charger from Deltran is what you need. Connect the Charger to a Deltran Ring Terminal Harness, sold separately, that is attached to you bike’s 12 volt battery and you are all set. Price: $14.95 Contact: http://batterytender.com
COMPETITION WERKES • BMW S1000RR INTEGRATED TAIL LIGHT
Eliminate the need for rear turn signals by integrating them into a rear tail light on your BMW S1000RR. Available in clear, smoke and black out with diffuser options that intensify the lights over the regular LEDs. Wire modification is required for installation. Price: $129.95 - $169.95 Contact: http://competitionwerkes.com
AMERICAN KARGO • TURBO 2.0 BACKPACK
Billed as the perfect day trip backpack, the Turbo 2.0 with cargo space for the immediate necessities. It features a microweave construction with double needle seams. A butterfly harness with quick release buckles offer comfort and stability on and off the bike. A thermal lined bladder compartment is ready to house a 1.5 or a 2.0 liter bladder to keep you hydrated on the road.
DYMAG •
Colors: Black, White, Hi VIz, Red, Blue, Green, Orange, Pink Price: $120.00 Contact: http://americankargo.com
CARBON FIBER 5 SPOKE ULTRA LIGHTWEIGHT WHEELS
The CA5 Carbon Fiber wheels feature a 5 spoke design. The uber lightweight wheels sheds pounds off of your overall bike weight. The carbon fiber construction ensures strength and noticeably improves your machine’s handling and suspension. The set includes both front and rear wheels and a rear sprocket set up for most applications. Price: $3,895.00 Contact: http://orientexpress.com SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 131
THE NEW ISH ALPINESTARS • SUPERTECH BOOT R
New for the fall of 2015 are the are the redesigned Supertech R Boots from Alpinestars. The top model of the Alpinestar boot lineup has been upgraded in terms of protection, comfort and durability. The external TPU shin protection has redesigned to fit the profile of the rider’s outer calf while replaceable toe sliders protect the boot’s outer toe box. The upper and main shell of the boot are composed of microfiber material for flexibility and for saving weight. The Supertech R Boots are CE certified and have be engineered to give the highest level of performance that riding boots can offer. Sizes: 39 - 48 (Euro) Colors: Black, Black/White, Black/White/Red, Black/White/Yellow Price: $499.95 Contact: http://alpinestars.com
WOODCRAFT CFM • FRONT AXLE SLIDER KIT FOR THE YAMAHA R1
Featuring a quick release pin for easy removal in the need of a wheel change, the front axle slider kit is designed to be convenient without sacrificing quality protection of your front forks. The slider pucks have a perpendicular mount point for maximum puck surface area and easy replacement
HOTBODIES RACING • TAG BRACKET FENDER ELIMINATOR FOR THE YAMAHA R1 This fender eliminator kit from Hotbodies Racing is a great way to clean up the rear end of the 2015 Yamaha R1. It replaces the stock plate holder and mounts into the same place with no modification needed. The ABS plastic bracket kit is available with three options: bracket with signals, without signals and with turn signal light pods. Price: $59.95–$159.95 Contact: http://hotbodiesracing.com
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Price: $59.99 Contact: http://woodcraft-cfm.com
ZERO GRAVITY RACING • WINDSCREENS FOR THE KAWASAKI NINJA H2 AND H2R
The team over at Zero Gravity have released their series of aftermarket race screens for the Kawasaki Ninja H2 and H2R. The screens are available in the SR, Double Bubble, Corsa and Marc 1 series. Price: $119.95 - $129.95 Contact: http://zerogravity-racing.com RACER GLOVE • RALLY GLOVE Made of light weight mesh material for the upper and goatskin palms, the Rally gloves feature great ventilation and durability. A flexible TPU protector rest across the knuckles and a gel pad and a leather insert offer protection of the palm. The Rally gloves feature Touch Tech material for use on touch screen products. Sizes: S-XXXL Colors: Black, Black/White, White/Orange, White/Red, White/Green Price: $79.99 Contact: http://racergloveusa.com
BROCK’S PERFORMANCE • CT MEGAPHONE FULL SYSTEM FOR THE BMW S1000RR
This full system from Brock’s can shave off over 8 pounds from your S1000RR. Constructed entirely from titanium with a carbon fiber muffler tip, the system enhances the line work of the bike while improving performance and sound. The CT ships with two 12mm O2 bungs installed on the header as well as one 18mm bung for a wideband sensor. Price: $1,895.00 Contact: http://brocksperformance.com
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THE NEW ISH: FEATURED ITEM ICON MOTOSPORTS • AIRFRAME PRO GHOST CARBON HELMET ICON has released their new fall line up of helmets and apparel. In that line up was this gem. The Airframe Pro Ghost Carbon Helmet. Constructed of true carbon fiber with a detailed weave, the helmet is the lightest helmet that ICON has manufactured to date. The Pro Ghost helmet features an all new shell structure and is designed with ICON’s distinct “Angle of Attack” orientation with a minimized shell profile and a sculpted neck roll to lessen interference with your jacket or suit. The helmet has nine intake ports for maximum ventialtion. The Pro Ghost Carbon ships with a Dark Smoke Tracshield, a first for an ICON helmet. The Tracshield features post for attaching “tear offs” making this helmet a premium selection for both street and track use. Void of any graphics, the Airframe Pro Ghost Carbon holds its own as an aggressive, lightweight and performance driven helmet. Expect this helmet to win a few design awards in the coming year. Sizes: XXS - XXXL Price: $600.00 Contact: http://rideicon.com 134 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
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STAFF STUFF LIGHTECH RACING • RAPID LOCKING FUEL TANK CAP Allan Lane With all of my bikes, on the short list of items that must be upgraded as soon as possible is the fuel cap. I’ve always found it annoying that I had to remove the bike key from the ignition to unlock my gas cap. I know it doesn’t take a lot of effort but the point is that I just find it annoying. In my never ending pursuit of removing or at least minimizing the annoying in my life, I came across the Rapid Locking Fuel Tank Cap from LighTech Racing. I’ve used other keyless tank caps before that featured spinning lock operation and thought they were great. What is nice about the Lightech set up is that it has a quick release inner cap that only requires a
136 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
quarter turn to lock and unlock, making filling up at the gas station quick and simple. The Lightech cap has a unique design aspect that lends to my bike aesthetics. Aftermarket components should make you feel good about your bike and make your life less complicated and far less annoying. It is small upgrade but one that I can appreciate overtime that I look down at my fuel tank or when I pull into a gas station. http://lightech.it Rating: 6 (out of 6)
SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 137