ROAD RACING • DRAG RACING • STUNT RIDING • CUSTOM BIKES • LIFESTYLE
JULY 2017 VOL 7 ISSUE 10
SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM TM
ANTI_PARALLALI
THE ELUSIVE FEMALE RIDER
THE LADIES ISSUE
WOMAN CRUSH | BRITTANY EWIN: FAMILY OVER EVERYTHING | THE LION'S DEN: LADIES TO THE FRONT | PATRICIA FERNANDEZ: ATTITUDE NOT GENDER MAKES ME A RACER | RED SPADE'S RIDE TO NOR CAL
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UNTIL NOW, WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO TA K E S I D E S. T O C H O O S E B E T W E E N W I C K E D O R V I R T U O U S , B R U TA L O R S O P H I S T I C AT E D , R E F I N E D O R W I L D , G E N T L E M A N O R B A S TA R D . Y O U D E S E R V E B O T H.
© Ducati North America 2016
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CONTENTS
JULY 2017 - VOLUME 7, ISSUE 10 http://issuu.com/action/page?page=16
16 THE PRESS ROOM http://issuu.com/action/page?page=22 22 THE GRID NEWS http://issuu.com/action/page?page=28 28 THE GRID LIFE - By Patricia Fernandez http://issuu.com/action/page?page=32 32 MOTOGP WITH B.T. - By B.T. http://issuu.com/action/page?page=42 42 THE NUMBERS - By Caroline Olsen http://issuu.com/action/page?page=50 50 ASPHALT AND OPPORTUNITY - By Brian and Julian Glascoe http://issuu.com/action/page?page=68 68 THE LION'S DEN - By Lion James http://issuu.com/action/page?page=74 74 FEATURED RIDERS http://issuu.com/action/page?page=82 82 IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS - By Eric Wood http://issuu.com/action/page?page=122 122 THE NEW ISH http://issuu.com/action/page?page=128 128 STAFF STUFF
FEATURED RIDER: MARY WAGNER http://issuu.com/action/page?page=79 PAGE 79 4 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
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FEATURES
JULY 2017 - VOLUME 7, ISSUE 10
THE GRID LIFE: ATTITUDE NOT GENDER MAKES ME A RACER
28
THE LION'S DEN: LADIES TO THE FRONT
68
http://issuu.com/action/page?page=90
106
http://issuu.com/action/page?page=114
http://issuu.com/action/page?page=28
http://issuu.com/action/page?page=68
RED SPADE'S RIDE TO NOR CAL
http://issuu.com/action/page?page=106
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BRITTANY EWIN: FAMILY OVER EVERYTHING
50
ANTI_PARALLALI: THE ELUSIVE FEMALE RIDER
90
http://issuu.com/action/page?page=50
WOMAN CRUSH
114
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STAFF
Publisher//Editor in Chief: Allan Lane allan@sportbikesincmag.com
EDITORIAL
ART & DESIGN
Drag Racing Editor: Rickey Gadson rickey@sportbikesincmag.com
Creative Director//Layout//Design: Allan Lane allan@sportbikesincmag.com
Fashion Editor: Kiana Gadson kiana@sportbikesincmag.com
Creative Supervisor: Leon Brittain leon@sportbikesincmag.com
Moto Tech Editor: Thomas Campion tommy@sportbikesincmag.com
Graphic Designer: Baz baz@sportbikesincmag.com
Riding Editor: Eric Wood eric@sportbikesincmag.com Staff Writers: Patricia Fernanzdez pf@sportbikesincmag.com Leon Brittain leon@sportbikesincmag.com Lion James lion@sportbikesincmag.com B.T. bt@sportbikesincmag.com Copy Editor: Angela Lane angela@sportbikesincmag.com Contributors: Red Spade Caroline Olsen
Cover Photography: Steven Spoons Contributing Photographers: Brian J. Nelson Asphalt & Opportunity Lion James MotoGP.com Hoffer Tom Turrill Arcy Steven Spoons Peter Levins
SportBikes Inc Magazine - July 2017 Volume 7, Issue 10 To receive SportBikes Inc Magazine’s 2017 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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EXH I LARATION COM ES STAN DAR D SPORT TUNED TO STICK You'll want to charge every corner and never let off.
S LI N G S H O T ®
SLI N GSH OT SL ®
SLI N GSH OT® SLR
Always wear helmets, seat belts, and don’t drink and drive. Drivers may need a valid motorcycle endorsement. Don’t drink and drive. SLINGSHOT® is a registered trademark of Polaris Industries Inc. ©2017 Polaris Industries Inc. SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM |9
FEATURE STORY
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ANTI_PARALLALI
THE ELUSIVE FEMALE RIDER PAGE 90
http://issuu.com/action/page?page=90
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10 YEA
C L CO
2THE
PENN’S LANDI 12 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
WWW.CLU
AR ANNIVERSARY
L U T C H ONTROL
0 1 7 ILLY IN PHILLY
ING•PHILADELPHIA, PA•SEPTEMBER 23, 2017
UTCHCONTROLUSA.COM SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 13
FROM THE EDITOR
F
emale motorcyclists still get a bad rap. While they are still the fastest growing demographic in the motorcycle culture, they appear to be the least understood. Male riders are simple. We want things fast, loud, tactical and performance driven. We want our gear to match our projected self image. The more aggressive, the better. This sentiment applies to over 75% of the male riding population. We tend to be very simple creatures. Consider the fact the motorcycle industry is run by predominately male front and back office, understanding what we want and then making it doesn't fall under the category of rocket science.
And that's what I was thinking when I decided to hold a contest to celebrate the spirit of the female rider with the prize of being featured on the cover of this illustrious publication's annual Ladies Issue. It was very simple. Post a pic on social media and explain how one represented the SBI lifestyle. For a few months, posts were made and it was awesome seeing how so many ladies stepped up and spoke out as female riders, telling their bike life stories of inspiration, trial, error, tragedy, and triumph. I'd like to thank all that entered and you can read the entries of the finalists in the article WOMAN CRUSH on page 114.
Female riders are more complicated. While a vast majority are indeed focused on performance driven machines and tactically sound gear, there is a portion of the demographic that isn't. And that's ok. I won't get into it more than saying that if you check Instagram for female riders, you'll find that there are two distinct classes of female riders. One class is definitely all in. The other appears to use the bike as an accessory and unfortunately tend to look like hood ornaments themselves. I wonder if they are in it for the ride... Or are they in it for the likes? The industry is wondering the same.
That brings me to congratulating our winner Anti_Parallali. Anti_Parallali's video entry was part entertainment, part slapstick and all the way live. If you haven't seen it, here's the LINK. Please watch and enjoy after you read about her life as a the "elusive female rider" in her own words on page 90. Welcome to the annual ladies' issue. Enjoy.
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Best, Allan allan@sportbikesincmag.com
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©2017 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
INDUSTRY NEWS SUTER MMX 500 AND MMX2 MOTO2 NOW DISTRIBUTED BY ARCH MOTORCYCLE COMPANY Arch Motorcycles, co owned by Gard Hollinger and Keanu Reeves, have been designated as the North American importers and distributors for Suter Industries. Arch will focus their attention on the sale and support of the Swiss company’s Suter MMX 500, MMX2 Moto2 models as well as other bikes.
The Suter MMX2 Moto2 model is a prototype four stroke, 600cc racebike birthed and developed on the Moto2 grid with a price tag of $40,000.00. There are four MMX2 bikes that are being raced in the Moto2 championship and are available for purchase at the end of the 2017 season. Any potential buyers that put a down payment on one of the four will have the opportunity to visit any of The Suter MMX 500 is a circuit specific bike that is the remaining MotoGP races and visit their bike in limited to a production run of 99 bikes. The MMX the team’s garage and meet the team and rider. 500 features a four cylinder V4 500cc two stroke engine and offers 195 horses with a weight of Suter Industries has, likewise, been appointed as just under 280 pounds. Retail is $139,500.00 the exclusive European importer and distributor plus destination fees. Currently there are 86 of Arch Motorcycles. Suter’s tasks will include bikes available to be manufactured and each making a Euro 4 compliant KRGT-1 available in owner gets to request their bike’s edition number the European market. Additionally, Suter will assist provided that the number is available. Arch Motorcycles to develop future models.
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THE PROGRESSIVE INTERNATIONAL MOTORCYCLE SHOW 2017/18 SEASON TOUR DATES Progressive’s International Motorcycle Show tour is gearing up for their next tour that will begin on November 17 in Long Beach, CA, making stops in New York, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Dallas
and Chicago. The tour runs through February 25, 2018 making a final stop in Washington D.C. Tickets for the seven stop tour go on sale September 7, 2017.
SUZUKI’S 2018 GSX-S1000Z Suzuki has announced several new models for 2018 with a special notation for the 2018 GSX-S1000Z. The naked styled sport cruiser is powered by a 999cc inline four cylinder, four stroke, liquid cooled engine. Ventilation holes between the cylinders that reduce pumping loss in the crank case work with the engine’s drive train to optimize the power range so highly sought after by today’s street rider. The GSX-S1000Z is spotlighted by the new Suzuki Clutch Assist System that offers smooth shifting and engine braking. Additionally, the bike’s Advanced Traction Control System allows the rider to adjust to the conditions of the road on the fly. Then there is the styling… Blacked out with just the right amount of burgundy trim gives the GSX-S1000Z an aggressive stance to round out the package. MSRP $10,999.00. SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 17
ROOM INDUSTRY NEWS THE PRESS ROOM: THE DUCATI PANIGALE 1299 R FINAL EDITION
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In true valor, the Ducati Panigale 1299 R Final Edition was unveiled at Pebble Beach, CA. The iconic legend of the Panigale and its twin cylinder engine comes to a close as the new chapter of the Ducati four cylinder engine comes to light. This Final Edition possesses a 209 horse power pumping Superquadro engine with WSBK derived technology and performance, wrapped in a Panigale R chassis, draped in the Italian tricolor color way and individually numbered. Equipped with a full titanium Akrapovic exhaust system that features dual high silencer, Ohlins suspension set up and an impressive electronics package, the Panigale 1299 R Final Edition is more than a collector’s item, it’s a part of history with a price tag of $40,000.00.
INDIAN’S SCOUT BOBBER Building on the successful platform of the Scout, Indian took it a few notches deeper with their latest release… The Scout Bobber. Stripped down to the essentials, the Scout Bobber is the Scout in its rawest, most aggressive form. The mandatory Bobber style knobby or dynamically treaded tire states that this bike is right on concept when you look at its low profile, husky stance and a blacked out, “less is more” styling. The Scout Bobber is powered by a liquid cooled V Twin 69 cubic inch engine that produces 100 horses and 72 foot pounds of torque. With a seat height of 25.6 inches, an overall height of 45.4 inches, a wheelbase of 61.5 inches and a wet weight of 554 pounds, the Scout Bobber is a tight and spirited package. Available in the following color ways: Thunder Black, Star Silver Smoke, Bronze Smoke, Indian Motorcycle Red and Thunder Black Smoke, the Indian Scout Bobber has a starting MSRP of $11,499.00.
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20 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM F i n d your favorit e loc al de ale r on w ww.t a wp er f or man ce.com/d ealer s
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THE PRESS ROOM
GRID NEWS
GENUINE BROASTER CHICKEN IS SET TO SPONSOR THE FINAL ROUND OF THE 2017 MOTOAMERICA SEASON
Genuine Broaster Chicken has been announced as the presenting sponsor of the final round of the 2017 MotoAmerica season, to be held at Barber Motorsports Pa r k i n B i r m i n g h a m, Alabama. The final race of the season will include racing action times two for all five classes over the race event weekend. The 10th and final round will happen September 15 through 17.
JAKE GAGNE SCORES HIS FIRST POINTS IN WORLD SUPERBIKE Honoring the legend Nicky Hayden, American Jake Gagne stepped up to race in his honor at the World Superbike GEICO US round at Laguna Seca. Gagne finished both race 1 and 2 in 15th place while his teammate, Stefan Bradl finished in 11th. Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team pair reflect on point-scoring Race 2 results at Laguna Seca. “At the beginning I was a little disappointed with the result as obviously I would have loved to stay closer
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to the guys ahead of me, but I learned so much this weekend. The team is amazing, they’re such great and smart guys! I struggled a little bit compared to Saturday’s race, especially with the rear end and that caused some vibration which gave me some problems. I had a couple of big moments and almost crashed, so I’m happy to have brought the bike back to the pit-box in one piece. In any case it’s been a wonderful experience and the fans were absolutely unreal.” Jake Gagne #45
JOE ROBERTS WILL FINISH THE 2017 SEASON IN MOTO2 American Joe Roberts has been promoted by his team to compete in the Moto2 class by his FIM CEV Repsol Moto2 European Championship team for the remaining rounds of the 2017 season, replacing Yonny Hernandez. Roberts won the inaugural 2015 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 series, earning 9 race wins. Roberts will begin his Moto2 efforts in the Czech Republic at the Brno round, piloting the Arginano & Gines Racing (AGR).
DAVID GIUGLIANO TO RACE FOR THE RED BULL HONDA WORLD SUPERBIKE TEAM Italian David Guigliano has earned a seat with package. The 27 year old Italian will make his the Red Bull Honda World Superbike team after official debut at the Lausitzring round in teammate completing a successful round of two day testing Stefan Bradl’s home country of Germany. aboard the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2
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THE PRESS ROOM: GRID NEWS THE 2017 ISLE OF MAN TT OFFICIAL REVIEW IS NOW AVAILABLE Did you miss all of the action from this year’s Isle of Man TT? Fret not as the official DVD and Blu ray of the time honored race event has been released and is available for purchase or download. In addition to highlights and best moments of the race action from the two week event, the coverage includes press conferences and interviews. Visit http://iomtt.com to get your copy today.
BILL WERNER SELECTED AS 2017 AMA MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME LEGEND In September of 2017, Bill Werner will be honored as a AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend at the annual ceremony that will include the induction of five new Hall of Famers. Werner, himself was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000 for his success in being a master engine tuner and mechanic. Werner built several championship winning bikes over the years, a total of 13 AMA Grand National Championship machines. His list of tuned bikes has earned more than 150 wins. He’s won the prestigious title of AMA Mechanic of the year 13 times and also won the inaugural AMA Pro Racing Award of Mechanical Excellence in 1996. The 2017 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend Ceremony will commence on September 22 in Columbus, Ohio. 24 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
april 21 - 23
Circuit of the Americas
april 28 - 30 road atlanta
May 12 - 14
virginia international raceway
june 2 - 4
august 25 - 27
june 23 - 25
utah motorsports campus
pittsburgh international race complex
july 7 - 9
september 8 - 10
mazda raceway laguna seca
august 11 -13 sonoma raceway
new jersey motorsports park
september 15 - 17
barber motorsports park
road america * schedule subject to change
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CORNERING LEARN THE SKILLS DISCOVER THE ART
Would you like to improve your riding skills? The California Superbike School trains riders at tracks worldwide in 14 countries. Its 38 year history has produced 140,000 graduates. Most riders have no clear idea of how good they really can be. Sign up for the California Superbike School and find out. www.superbikeschool.com 26 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
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THE GRID
THE GRID LIFE
WORDS: PATRICIA FERNANDEZ IMAGES: COURTESY OF PATRICIA FERNANZDEZ 28 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
A
TTITUDE NOT GENDER MAKES ME A RACER YAY!
The ladies issue! I was so excited when I was told that my next column would be in the women’s issue. What could be a better combination than women and motorcycles?! I know that being a professional motorcycle pilot in a sport that is male dominated gives me a lot to talk about, but how do I narrow it down to a few paragraphs? The truth is I can’t. There is so much to say but here is just one topic. I was recently at Laguna Seca with Motul during the MotoAmerica race weekend. I was not competing that weekend so I was able to spend time with a lot of fans and answer questions for those who may not have had the opportunity to speak with a racer so personally. The question I was asked most was “Do you feel that you are treated differently because you are a female?” My answer was, "No." Motorcycle racing is one of the few sports left today that is not sex divided. I get no special privileges, extra qualifying time, or a faster bike. Once the helmet goes on, we are all equal. However, in the environment of the paddock, before you ride, there is a lot of interaction that takes place. Maybe when you first meet a new team or mechanic, ones that have never worked with you before, they may act differently because they aren’t sure of your personality yet. I find this true whether you are male or female. Your crew is going to treat you the way you want to be treated. What I mean by that is how I carry myself, my professionalism, and my determination will all be the factors that people read and react to. It does not matter if I am a man or woman. If I goof off, don’t train, or throw a fit on a bad day, my crew will feed off my energy and not respect me. SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 29
THE GRID: THE GRID LIFE
I remember my first time competing in a road race in Europe when I had to let my team know who I was. They had never worked with a female before and I was the only American. There was a lot of publicity about me competing and between the cameras, news crews and fans I was swarmed. I was spending every moment I could, trying to give everyone my time. But my priority and job were to make sure I did my best racing. I had just come off the track from a session and was talking to my crew chief and another member of the team kept interrupting trying to get me to do a TV interview. I immediately held a team meeting behind the trailer. In the firmest most serious tone I could use, I told everyone that my life and my ability to race was 100 percent more important than TV. My job was 30 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
to make sure the bike was setup so that I could feel confident on the track. I needed them to understand that I was a racer first, then after I would socialize. They needed to know who I was and how I would be treated. They understood and respected me after that. It doesn’t matter your sex or your environment, the way you carry yourself and the standard to which you want to be treated is what others will respond, too. I know that there are many women out there at every skill level and different forms of two wheel enthusiast. I love seeing every year more and more women learn and love to ride. It is very empowering to throw your leg over that machine and tell it what to do! My advice to you is never be scared to try or fail. It’s bound to happen but carry a positive attitude and don’t take nonsense from anyone!
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THE GRID
DESMO DOVI
! a i M a m Ma
MOTOGP WITH B.T.
WORDS: B.T. IMAGES: COURTESY OF MOTOGP.COM 32 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
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THE GRID: MOTOGP WITH B.T. MUGELLO MAGIC ver see those parties in those beer commercials where everybody is pretty? Their teeth are white and straight. The girls are hot but nice and smiling. The guys seem cool. Everybody is dancing and just having the time of their lives! No fights. No girls crying in the corner of a room for no damn reason. Just the perfect party.
E
the greatest conversations with the strangest of people. Well, that's what Moto3 was.
I can only imagine what it's like to ride a MotoGP motorcycle around this 5.245km circuit with a straightway a mile long and so frighteningly fast that at one time both wheels on the motorcycle actually leave the ground and still be able to hear the Italian fans screaming your name! If that doesn't give you extra motivation then I don't know what does. And it did! But I will get to that later.
Moto3 no doubt produced the wildest race of this picturesque day as on any given lap at least twenty riders could have easily taken the top spot. The top twenty seven riders were separated by less than three seconds! This race was a nail biter to watch all the way to the end until somehow Andres Migno found some Mugello Magic and edged out fellow countryman Fabio Di Giannantonio to grab the top spot on the podium. And what team does Migno ride for and who came out on pit road to congratulate Migno in person? None other than the Doctor himself, Valentino Rossi. Could this have been an omen of things to come? Patience, dear reader...
As with every party, sometimes the best part is at the very beginning when before a throng of people arrive you have
Next up was Moto2 and points leader and fellow Italian Franco Morbidelli was on pole and surely he could grab
Now transfer that to the Tuscany Hills on June 4, 2017, and throw in about 100,000 MotoGP fans keen on Valentino Rossi and his countrymen doing a two wheeled tango on perhaps the most beautiful race track I have personally laid eyes on and you got yourself a party! Unfortunately, at the start of the week, things looked about as gloomy as a Hillary Clinton victory party as Italy's favorite son Valentino Rossi was injured in a motocross training accident and spent a night in the hospital for observation. Although cleared to ride by the MotoGP Medical staff, his weekend did not look promising. But this is Mugello!
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To be honest, Morbidelli was never in this race from the beginning and settled for a lonely fourth. The three way battle for victory was a dogfight between Swiss rider Thom Luthi, Spaniard Alex Marquez and Italy's Mattias Pasini! This was Italy on a Sunday and you just felt and just knew some more Mugello Magic was coming and, oh boy... Did it! How else could you describe Pasini's victory on Sunday? Some eight years after his last victory, at Mugello of all places! The last lap that saw him third at one point, pushed wide by his fellow younger racers, looking to be out of it, but somehow gathered himself enough to hold on for a victory! How else could you describe it but Mugello Magic?
FRANCO MORBIDELLI the top step on the podium right? Franco's nickname should be the Iceman. This just might be the coolest rider ever to straddle two wheels. Period! Rarely rattled, surely he could grab that 25 point payoff. But that is why they race!
This all set the stage for the Finale! Could Rossi summon up one more sprinkling of magic from the wand of the Mugello faithful? The crazy thing about parties, they can be great without the desired outcome. You may not have hooked up with the beautiful girl everyone was eyeing but you had a great conversation with someone, a great laugh that lasted you the night and a buzz that didn't seem to want to leave you. Great party.
Mugello went something like that. As is the case with the start of any GP race, it was tooth and nail for the first three or four laps, with a, believe it or not, Lorenzo in the lead.
ANDREA DOVIZIOSO SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 35
THE GRID: MOTOGP WITH B.T.
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"DOVI" RAN A BEAUTIFUL RACE THAT WAS NEAR PERFECT...
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THE GRID: MOTOGP WITH B.T. Surely it wouldn't last. Talk about the ultimate party pooper. And it didn't last as Lorenzo fell like the Dow Jones in 2005 and eventually finished in eighth place. At one point as the race progressed it looked like Rossi would get that first victory of the season. Sadly that would not be the case as even Superman with cape and all can only do so much. With Rossi, there was only so much magic dust to go around. Still ailing from injuries that made it hard to even breathe, Rossi gave it his all and finished a respectable fourth. Remarkable considering he almost didn't race at all. But that's not where the fairy tale ended. As is such the case, with everyone talking, thinking Rossi, Andreas "Dovi" Dovizioso ran a beautiful race that was near perfect. An Italian, on a Ducati, on their home track? And to take home just your third victory in the premier class? It truly was special and emotional as fellow countryman Danilo Petrucci joined him on the podium making it an Italian sweep over the weekend. Even more praiseworthy? Dovi did it with a bout of food poisoning in his system! Navigating Mugello when one is 100% healthy is scary enough. With an upset stomach? I can't even imagine and I'm sure those Leathers were burned as soon as the sun set! Dovi became the unlikely hero on a magical weekend. A weekend that saw MotoGP say goodbye to the late Nicky Hayden in an emotional tribute that "The Kentucky Kid" would have been proud of! The Mugello Race weekend could not have gone better for the Italian riders. Well if Rossi would have won, I'm sure I'd still be hungover from the party and this article would have never gotten done. The Italians are known for their passion and it definitely showed.
JOAN MIR 38 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
How else could you describe an all Italian victory in every class, an unlikely manufacturer who hasn't tasted victory since 2006, winning in their own backyard with a rider nobody had winning? It can only be described in two words... Mugello Magic! DESMO DOVI It was only a week prior that the flying two wheeled circus that is MotoGP invaded Italy and had what was almost the perfect GP weekend, if you were Italian, that is! Three Italian winners and to top it off, Ducati, the home manufacturer, won on home soil. With an Italian Rider. It doesn't get any better than that. Cue, seven days later. Barcelona, Spain and the Catalan GP. It was now Spain's turn to return the favor. MotoGP is like an ice cream shop that basically has two flavors with sprinkles of other countries. The Italian and Spanish flavors dominate and occasionally you'll get a sprinkling of South Africa, English and Asian seasoning with not even a hint of good 'ole Americana. Hopefully, that will change soon, but until it does... It is what it is. The weekend started out on a strange note in that the track was reconfigured for that weekend specifically because of the death of Luis Salom last year. Everyone seemed to adhere to the new layout except Jack Miller who continually rode last year's course until he received a black flag in practice and that straightened him out. Only to have the course reconfigured again overnight. Confused yet? First to test the new/old layout were the Moto3 kids. And true to form, whatever you throw at them, they adapt and
ALEX MARQUEZ
do the business! And that is exactly what they did. During the race, it was learned that Joan Mir, the points leader, would be leaving for Moto2's Estrella Galithia's Marc VDS Team. He then promptly went about and won the race with two passes on the last lap that would've made Marc Marquez proud. Getting a promotion on the same day you win a race is like winning the lottery on pay day. In Moto2, Alex Marquez checked out of that field quicker than Chloe Kardashian does NBA Players. Marquez has been so impressive that there is talk of him jumping to MotoGP. But even Marquez said another year of Moto2 seasoning will be needed for that to happen. Two races down, two Spanish Winners... Could they make it a clean sweep in the premier class? One thing was certain. This race would boil down to tire durability and who could manage that the best. The race favored Dani Pedrosa, a man who is the size of your average sixth grader and is easy as Sunday morning on the brakes. Surely Dani could win on Spanish soil and make the Spanish Armada strong again. Surely, right?
Honda and Ducati. The team that didn't test was Yamaha and boy did it show. Valentino Rossi and points leader Maverick Vinales were so lost this weekend that they actually placed their pictures on the back of milk cartons, to no avail. The Yamahas were nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, at the front, Ducati and Honda were battling on a track so slick and greasy that the only rubber compound that should've been used was Waffle House Waitress Shoe Compound. If you can deliver a tray of Smothered and Covered, this track would've been a breeze. Pedrosa looked poised to win his second race of the year but apparently, no one told Desmo Dovi as he passed Pedrosa with less than ten laps left and going on to win over Marc "Crash" Marquez" by over three seconds. The interesting thing is that Dovi expressed that he wasn't really pushing. Just a Sunday afternoon stroll through a Spanish GP!
The race started out with Danilo Petrucci sideswiping Marc Marquez and nearly ending his race, which would've been fitting for Marquez as he crashed five times over the weekend, twice in one session. It actually had gotten so bad for Marquez that he actually tripped over his roller starter on pit lane. Yeah, that kind of weekend.
Not only did Dovi break up the Spanish sweep but he cut Maverick Vinales' lead in the championship to 7 points! At this point in the season, who could have predicted that Marc Marquez would have only one victory, Valentino Rossi none and a Ducati rider not named Lorenzo would be second in the championship? Jorge Lorenzo, who finished fourth, said it best, "This year in MotoGP is crazy! Anything can happen!"
Before the race, the teams that tested at the circuit were
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THE GRID
THE NUMBERS EVERY MONTH, WE ASK PROS AND AMATEURS WHY THEY CHOSE THE NUMBERS THAT IDENTIFY THEM ON THE GRID...
CAROLINE OLSEN
#43
"I had to give up my #44 when MotoAmerica changed the rules to where no bike, regardless of class, could run with the same number. It was the perfect time to pick up #43 who my coach, Jason Pridmore, had run for so many years during his career. I kept this number in the JP43 Training family and hope to make him proud!"
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IMAGES: BRIAN J. NELSON SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 43
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44 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM www.N2TD.org N2 Track Days, LLC. P.O. Box 27326 Philadelphia, PA 19118 | e: info@n2td.org | p: +1 (855) 263-0200
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THE GRID: ON THE COME UP
LIZÂ CAMPBELL
ADRIAN HACKETT
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BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
NAME: Liz Campbell HOMETOWN: New Windsor, NY AGE: 26 years old. SPONSORS: Kansas City Design, MotoGirl GT SERIES: CCS, CVMA Winter Series, AHRMA ACCOMPLISHMENTS: I have been on the podium 7 times in less than 1 year of Amateur racing. I'm currently 2nd in points for CCS Atlantic Supertwins Class and 7th in points for CCS Atlantic Heavyweight SuperBike Class. GOALS: Gain sponsorship to continue racing and introduce more women to the sport. I'm aiming to win both the Atlantic CCS and Daytona Race of Champions Supertwins Championship, place Top 4 in Atlantic CSS Heavyweight SuperBike class and Top 3 in the upcoming CVMA Femewalla Winter series. DEFINE YOUR PASSION IN ONE SENTENCE: There is no feeling comparable to the immense joy, pride and exhilaration of crossing that finish line!
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THE STRAIGHT LINE
Brittany Ewin
FAMILY OVER EVERYTHING
ASPHALT & OPPORTUNITY
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THE STRAIGHT LINE: ASPHALT & OPPORTUNITY
T
his edition we visited with Brittany Ewin out of Nashville, Tennessee for a one on one interview. I’ve been a fan of this young lady since the day that I met her. We’ve been trying to get this particular article together for awhile, but when
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you’re a mother, a registered nurse and a grad student… it makes things difficult. But it was well worth the wait. She’s currently one of the fastest female drag racers from across the south and she explains where her drive, determination and
her motivation comes from. It never helps when your little brother is Patrick Ewin, with one of the best left hands in drag racing and he’s your #1 Supporter. Family Over Everything.
SBI: When did you start riding motorcycles? BE: I started riding motorcycles when I was in high school. My brother, Patrick Ewin, and I had a bunch of friends who rode and he pretty much refused to let me ride on the back. One day my dad bought a motorcycle and my brother and I started sneaking it out while he was at work. My brother was 12 years old and he was teaching me how to ride. I’m 5 years older. It took a little bit getting used to the clutch, but I’m a quick learner. A couple of days later, I rode out with the guys and got left behind and lost. They broke me in pretty quick, but that was the first and only time it happened. SBI: How did you get into drag racing and who has been your biggest influence, so far? BE: That credit goes to my little brother also. Around the same time that I learned how to ride, my dad took us both to a bike race at our hometown track and we’ve both been hooked since that day. That next season, my brother started racing. One day, he dared me and told me that I was chicken and he bet I couldn't do it. I couldn't let my little brother punk me out, so it was a bet. That same day, we went to this place where we street race in Nashville and I started working on my hole shot. We went to the track that following week and I've been racing ever since. That was roughly 12 years ago. If you know me or follow me on social media, although I race all the time, most of my posts are races between my brother and I. He's one of the best riders that I know and he’s the one that pushed me to get into it. He can do it all, from the wheelies and street tricks to the racetrack. He's just a natural on anything. So you can imagine the feeling whenever I beat him. I feel like I've SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 53
THE STRAIGHT LINE: ASPHALT & OPPORTUNITY
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BRITTANY EWIN
HOMETOWN: Nashville, TN HOME TRACK: Music City Raceway BIKES : 2012 Kawasaki ZX-10 2007 Suzuki GSXR-1000
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THE STRAIGHT LINE: ASPHALT & OPPORTUNITY
won the Superbowl, World Cup, Heavyweight title, whatever you want to call it! We are so competitive! He has never "let’" me win a race, ever. When we meet up in a round, he's like "You better earn it!" I've raced several bikes from the ZX-9 that I started on to 1K's, old school 1100's, Hayabusa’s and ZX-14's. All true hand clutch. Between my brother, my dad and my partner John Childrey, I'm pushed to ride hard no matter what I'm riding and who I’m racing. They'll bring me a bike and tell me to ride that "thing", send me out to the tagging lane all the time! "Thing" isn't usually the word they use though. I would ask to turn bikes down powerwise until I could get used to them but they always replied with tough love. John always said "They don't go down." Patrick would tell me to man up and just ride and my dad always told me to do some push ups. When I was learning, I used to make my brother ride first to see where I needed to be and when I hit his numbers, I knew I was on point. Now, I better be at his time or lower, especially if I'm lighter on that bike set up. There are no free passes for me. Within the first couple of passes I better be on my A game or they're on my butt! I can hear what they'll say to me before I ever make it back to the trailer. My dad used to race but between my brother and I racing now, he's happier pitting, hopefully, and making sure we're together. I’m blessed to have such an awesome team comprised of family. I'll tell anyone that I’m not the best, but I'm thankful they never gave me a pass or made it easy. As far as other racers, I admire so many that it’s too many to name. And for lots of different reasons. I've always loved to watch other women 56 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
race. It's pretty awesome to see so many killing it these days! SBI: You had your son a few years ago and took a break from racing as any mother would. Every time that we see you at the track he is with you. Talk to us about what it’s like having him there with you? BE: Yes! I had my son, Maddox, two years ago. I raced until I was about 3 months pregnant... when my suit got too tight to breathe. I rode until I was about 7 months thanks to a custom tank. The sound of a motorcycle is about as normal to him as my voice. We come from a racing family, so I bring him to almost every race. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have it any other way. He's been riding on my gas tank to the staging lanes since he could sit up. It's "our little thing" and he loves it. We’re not normal. Most kids watch cartoons but I play racing videos on my phone to make him stop crying. He's been imitating racing on his Strider, the sounds from the burn out, to the leave, hitting gears down the track since I can remember. I race pretty frequently in my hometown. Whenever I receive a trophy, he likes to carry it. So he's my motivation to win them! SBI: What racing plans do you have for the rest of the 2017 racing season and what can we look forward to? BE: Ideally, I'd love to consistently race with a series or two. I'm a registered nurse and an assistant manager at a Children's ER in Nashville. I'm also in graduate school so that takes up most of my time even though some days I'd rather be racing! We do have a couple of things we're working on like another bracket bike and a hand clutch street tire. I may be looking to Grudge a little more before the season is out. Jesus send a
BETWEEN MY BROTHER, MY DAD AND MY PARTNER JOHN CHILDREY, I'M PUSHED TO RIDE HARD NO MATTER WHAT I'M RIDING AND WHO I’M RACING. THEY'LL BRING ME A BIKE AND TELL ME TO RIDE THAT "THING", SEND ME OUT TO THE TAGGING LANE ALL THE TIME! sponsor! A few years ago, John and Anibal of AM Performanc, started working on some programs to see what I could do with some heads up racing. But I took a baby break and things got put on hold. They've recently been back in the lab so we shall see! I just love to ride! Thank you for all of your support and highlighting us for just doing what we love. Race days can get pretty hectic and it's easy to get lost in moments. Races are only a few seconds, but you manage to capture so much and give us something to physically hold on to. Once again, thank you! You guys are amazing. SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 57
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THE GRID: ON THE COME UP
NIKKI BUSH
ADRIAN HACKETT
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BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
NAME: Nikki Bush HOMETOWN: Detroit, MI AGE: 42 years old. SPONSORS: JohnQuickRacing SERIES: Grudge Racing, True Hand Clutch No Time Shootouts ACCOMPLISHMENTS: I was the first female to ever enter, qualify and race in Prostreet Prostar Series. Winner of many Grudge Races. Winner of many True Hand Clutch shootouts. Most recent being at US 131 Motorsports Park in Michigan. GOALS: To be the quickest True Hand Clutch in the midwest, not just the fastest female. DEFINE YOUR PASSION IN ONE SENTENCE: When they say you can't, then you have to.
IMAGES: TOM TURRILL
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Distributed by:
SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 63 www.VooDoomoto.com
THE REV LIMITER: ON THE COME UP
LISA SHELBY
ADRIAN HACKETT
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BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
NAME: Lisa Shelby HOMETOWN: San Diego, CA AGE: 29 years old. SPONSORS: Freestylelife Streetwear ACCOMPLISHMENTS: I went from winning back to back dirt track racing championships to sport bike freestylelife riding. GOALS: To continue being a role model, help others challenge themselves and contribute to the growth of the stunt riding community. DEFINE YOUR PASSION IN ONE SENTENCE: I love feeling alive, the adrenaline rush and striving to be the best I can be.
IMAGES: COURTESY OF LISA SHELBY
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THE LIFE
THE LION'S DEN
WORDS// IMAGES: LION JAMES 68 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
LADIES TO THE FRONT L most motorcyclists, bikers or riders in possession of both an X and Y chromosome, women’s attraction to bikes and to those of us at the controls of those bikes has an undeniable appeal to me. Men are attracted to that which attracts women, it starts in high school and only gets worse as we grow. Who among us hasn’t looked at a guy on a motorcycle with a woman on the back and thought to ourselves “he’s cool,” “he got the girl” or “she’s got it going on because he chose her"? Motorcyclists are universally cool and sexy and motorcycles themselves even more so. Bikes and babes have gone hand in hand all over the globe ever since motorcycles made their way from the battlefield to roads and streets everywhere but you know what is even sexier and even cooler than a woman on the back of a guy’s motorcycle? A woman at the controls of her own motorcycle. I’ve had the pleasure of riding with many lady motorcyclists in my life thus far and have known even more. Women motorcyclists may see it as an insult but in my opinion, the unexpectedness of a skilled lady on two wheels adds to the appeal. It is my belief that most men and women in the motorcycle community don’t anticipate lady riders to be as talented, as skilled and as badass as their male counterparts... I know that set women’s liberation and equality back 13 minutes... But therein lies their power. The power to overwhelm and surprise. This is not the way I think of course but I recognize the widespread shared thinking in many others. It is nice to surprise your doubters and naysayers. I imagine that for women in the motorcycling community, to change the way others view them as a result of their riding must be equally as rewarding as the ride itself. Perhaps more. Sure it’s cool to catch a ride on the back of someone’s motorcycle but we’ve all heard the disparaging names for women who ride on back as opposed to operating motorcycles themselves. Curb monkeys, backpacks, groupies, biker bitches, luggage, property and smuts just to name a few. Groupies belong backstage at concerts, not in the paddock or parking lot and there is no amount of ass, gas or cash that can motivate me to put the pillion and passenger pegs back on my motorcycle and invite a young lady to throw a leg over behind me to go for a blast. Okay, I’m lying because there is definitely enough cash for me to abandon my “no passenger” policy and take a woman for a ride. After all, I am principled. Not stupid. SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 69
THE LIFE: THE LION'S DEN Motorsports may be a male dominated industry but women are the fastest growing group of new riders and for good reason. Women’s propensity for patience lends itself to learning and progression while riding, putting them in prime position to match and even surpass us men in capability and achievement. More female riders have taken to the street on their own bikes and are looking better than us men while doing it. With two wheeled role models like professional MotoAmerica racers Patricia Fernandez and Melissa Paris, successful motorcycle dealership owner and operator Donna Coryell and the hundreds of female riders, ladies only Motorcycle Clubs and female centric motorcycle organizations and track day organizers, how can women not be inspired to take control of their own ride? Motorcycles are cool and women are incredible so combining the two makes me excited about who might be next to, behind or in front of me next time I’m on two wheels. I am increasingly motivated to help the ladies into the dealership for their first bike or onto bikes to learn to ride. Many close to me know I frequently invite my lady friends who ride out to events, rides or just to spend time with no objective other than to learn as much from them as they hopefully can from me, spend time with like-minded people whose company I enjoy and to log some saddle time with some cool ass sexy ladies. I’ve both led and been led by ladies on rides and they have been some of the more enjoyable and memorable rides I can remember. I may not be the most patient person in the world but when I am passionate as well as knowledgeable about something I am able to somehow put aside my impatient nature and discuss, teach, guide and encourage others on matters concerning that passion. I am always willing and interested in helping my fellow motorcyclists in any way I can but especially so when that fellow biker is of the female persuasion. We all owe it those who came before us to impart the wisdom of our experiences on those who come after so anyone new to this sport will always have encouragement coming from my corner. Women are no exception. I have been inspired by several ladies in this sport and lifestyle and hope to pay that inspiration forward. Often I am consulted when someone I know is interested in buying their first or next motorcycle and I love that process for them as much as I did for me my first time. That process of looking at options, prioritizing requirements and features you would like, narrowing down your choices and ultimately that first ride. There’s an expression I am fond of and have said on multiple occasions that goes “the streets aren’t for everyone and that’s why sidewalks exist.” Not everyone should be on two wheels and those that know they should stay off bikes and do have my gratitude but for those who long for the ride, they ought to know that they will not achieve it from the back seat. Motorcycles only come with pillion seats and passenger pegs as a legal requirement for passenger vehicles. Trust and believe motorcycles are for pilots, not passengers. No self respecting man wants 70 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
to be on the back of another motorcyclist’s bike and women should not settle for the back seat either. I’m sending an open invitation to all the ladies out there that have been thus far content to ride on the back. I am putting out a rallying call to all the “I’ll do it next summer” wanna be and would be but haven’t yet prospective women bikers. I am sending a welcoming message for all the ladies already on two wheels who are too timid to push themselves further, farther and faster to join me for a ride. Not as passengers, not bringing up the rear from a watch and learn vantage point and not as mere motorcycle window shoppers but from the front of the pack, from the rider’s seat at the controls and atop their own motorcycles. Ladies come ride with me, let me ride with you or put out calls of your own to ride with one another. Instead of flocking to bike weeks and motorcycle rallies with your $50 flea market helmet looking to catch a ride on the back of some random guy’s bike, invest in your own motorcycle, proper gear and your own development and experience. Women you have been on the backseat for far too long, it’s time for the ladies to move to the front of the bikes and open the throttle. Show the rest of the motorcycle community that you belong on the race track claiming a podium spot, on public roads kicking gears and in the pages of motorcycle publications like this one instead of just on the cover draped across some custom motorcycle as mere eye candy. Pump some empowering ladies anthem through your helmet’s audio system or earbuds and ladies get to the front!
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JANUARY 28 ARIZONA MOTORSPORTS PARK
FEBRUARY 20-21 INDE MOTOSPORTS RANCH
MARCH 6 BUTTONWILLOW
MARCH 7-8 BUTTONWILLOW
MARCH 20-21 INDE MOTOSPORTS RANCH
APRIL 17-18
STREET OR TRACK
INDE MOTOSPORTS RANCH
MAY 8-9 INDE MOTOSPORTS RANCH
MAY 22 NEW JERSEY MOTORSPORTS PARK
MAY 23-24 NEW JERSEY MOTORSPORTS PARK
JUNE 8-9 NEW YORK SAFETY TRACK
JUNE 20 NEW JERSEY MOTORSPORTS PARK
JUNE 21-22 NEW JERSEY MOTORSPORTS PARK
JULY 11-12 NEW JERSEY MOTORSPORTS PARK
AUG 3-4 NEW YORK SAFETY TRACK
SEPT 11-12
CHAMPSCHOOL.COM
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NEW JERSEY MOTORSPORTS PARK
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THE LIFE: FEATURED RIDERS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
Ria Domingo LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA OCCUPATION: Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse. YEARS RIDING: 5 years. RIDING STYLE: Street. Next goal is to hit the track. BIKE/S OWNED: 2017 Ducati 959 Panigale. FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: A garage switch that I installed on my bike which is so convenient and easy to use, even when wearing gloves. FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: Right now I would have to say my Dainese Street Rocker Boots. Versatile in that I can ride with them and wear them casually with jeans. I especially love how the reflective inserts look at night. MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: My most memorable ride would have to be when I rode down to San Diego from West Hollywood for memorial day weekend. 74 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
Lustrina Flores-Ziegler LOCATION: Fishersville, VA OCCUPATION:Â Business Manager. YEARS RIDING: 51 years riding. RIDING STYLE: Street. Started riding dirt bikes at age 10. Did some quarter mile street racing in the 1970's on Bartram Avenue, near the Philadelphia airport. BIKE/S OWNED: 2011 Suzuki Boulevard and a 2017 Harley Davidson Street Glide Special. FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: On my Boulevard, my Vance & Hines Straights. On my Street Glide it is my boom box. MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: I've had many so it's hard to choose. When I rode from Florida to Niagra Falls.
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THE LIFE: FEATURED RIDERS
Seoul LOCATION: Sicklerville, NJ OCCUPATION: Outpatient Access Coordinator. YEARS RIDING: 2.5 years. RIDING STYLE: Street. Â BIKE/S OWNED: 2002 Suzuki GSX750F Katana. FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: Black and pink custom paint job. FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: My helmet. They save lives. MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: Fredrick, MD. It was the furthest distance as a newer rider in 2016.
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Ashley Hyde LOCATION: Irvine, CA OCCUPATION: Marketing Coordinator at the International Motorcycle Shows. YEARS RIDING: 3 years. RIDING STYLE: All track, baby! BIKE/S OWNED: 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300, 2010 Kawasaki KX65. FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: Flash Tune ECU versus the Yoshimura exhaust system. It’s a toss up! FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: Authentic Josh Hayes Arai Helmet MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: Coincidentally I was not riding. My two up ride with the one and only Jason Pridmore takes the cake.
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THE LIFE: FEATURED RIDERS
Stephanie Frails LOCATION: Augusta, GA OCCUPATION: Business Coordinator. YEARS RIDING: 7 years. RIDING STYLE: Street. BIKE/S OWNED: 2014 Harley Davidson Sportster. FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: Saddle bags, I can pack them full of everything and go. FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: My Harley Davidson bandanas. MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: Riding along the coast of Florida.
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Mary Wagner LOCATION: Binghamton, NY OCCUPATION: Promotional Model. Fulltime Mother. YEARS RIDING: 10 years. RIDING STYLE: Dirt my entire life. 10 years of street. 2 years of track. Dabbled here and there- with dragstrip and ice racing. My biggest obsession is road racing. BIKE/S OWNED: 2016 Polaris Slingshot, 2008 Honda CBR600RR, 2006 Kawasaki ZX1000R FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: Suspension. FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: I'm a true shoe addict for life. Love my heels. And love my Sidi's! MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: In 2008 when my dad was Road Captain for our local motorcycle club, "American Spirit". The club which was my family growing up, threw an annual charity ride for kids battling severe illnessese.
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IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS
BIG BIK
IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS WORDS: ERIC WOOD IMAGES: ARCY 82 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
KES VS LITTLE BIKES
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IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS: BIG VS LITTLE
S
ometimes the timing of things works out perfectly. I had just returned from a Penguin track day that had one of our annual women's groups and was greeted Monday with an email from our editor Allan Lane who asked me to put together an article for his annual Women's Issue. Since I ride a ZX10R and several of the women attending chose smaller displacement motorcycles, I got some questions on the differences between riding big bikes and little bikes on the track. They were some very good questions, and we'll address both the similarities and differences here.
similar place on both bikes. When considering the differences, we will look how we might change our approach in an entrance focused corner, a roll speed focused corner and a drive focused corner on each bike. Of course, not every corner will fit neatly into one of those boxes, but we can apply these principles in each segment of the track where we have a particular focus. In the end, your strategies and timing will differ those sections where the more powerful engine (and often brakes) on the bike shorten the time to complete an action and require more force on the handlebars. As riders get faster, the top priorities for small bikes become a balance between raising the minimum roll speed, nailing the entrance trajectory and allowing themselves to get the throttle wide open early. Timing is everything. For big bikes, the trajectory at the apex remains important and the primary focus becomes application rate of the powerful throttle and brakes along the way. The best riders in the world have the slowest hands when the speeds increase.
The biggest thing to remember regardless of the bike you ride is that correct fundamentals are universal. Proper track vision that scans the track, supporting your body weight with your inner peg and outer thigh, soft arms at full lean, smooth initial inputs at the controls. These concepts are all the same. Our goals of carrying our straightaway speed deep into the corner, hitting our apex at the right trajectory and getting to wide open throttle as early as possible also remain the same. In corners that require brakes on the entrance, we also find that the release point for the brake lever (the slowest point in the corner) is also in a very In a pure entry focused corner, we will be on the
DIAGRAM A
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edge of the tire. The later the pre-turn, the more angle you can take away (see Diagram A). By our definition, the pre-turn is simply a direction change that happens with the rider having to ask anything extra of the front tire. Since braking asks a lot of the front tire, the pre-turn often happens in conjunction with the dual action of rolling off the throttle and applying the brake. Since small bikes brake later and take less effort to turn, they can always pre-turn later than big bikes in these entrance focused corners. In an entrance corner that does not have a pre-turn (for example, one that connects a right/left bend allowing a For those new to the term, "pre-turn" is a phrase completely straight entrance) the lines of a big that Penguin uses to describe the process of bike and little bike will be exactly the same. entering a corner at a better angle of attack. It takes a 90 degree corner and turns it into an 80 In roll speed focused corners, the line is more degree corner, thereby shortening the time on the a question of geometry. Riders in these corners brakes all the way through (and often past) the apex. The two goals in these corners are to keep the bike upright for as long as possible while planning the most advantageous angle of attack at the apex. An entrance corner by definition will have a higher speed entrance and will be followed by a section that does not allow for the bike to accelerate (often a very long corner or a set of esses). Since the big bike will enter much faster, the brake application must start earlier. This affects our "pre-turn" location on the corner entrance.
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IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS: BIG VS LITTLE
DIAGRAM B simply try to make the largest radius corner they can fit between the outside edges of the track. Bike size has no bearing on this. All bikes follow a roll speed strategy will trail brake approximately to the apex, release the brakes and almost simultaneously start rolling on. Remember that the end of braking and the beginning of the throttle are the most critical time to have slow hands. The only question is if the roll speed line is right for your machine. The simple answer is that if the speed of the corner is high enough that your bike cannot spin the tire, then the roll speed line is the right choice. Penguin calls the speed at which your bike can no longer spin the tire (barring bad handlebar inputs) as the Threshold of Traction (TOT). That speed may be 50 mph on a Ninja 300 and 100 mph on a ZX10. In a 75mph sweeper, the 300 will be on a roll speed line, while the ZX10 will need to slightly square off the entrance and set a slightly later apex in order to 86 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
release some lean angle on the exit. The exit of a drive focused corner produces the most pronounced differences between big bike and small bike lines. Smaller bikes will apex slightly earlier and will run much wider trajectories out of these corners. Since riders must always release lean angle as throttle is added, smaller bikes separate from the apex much more quickly than their high horsepower counterparts. On a superbike, I will always turn a little harder and longer as I come through the apex, which points me up track more and allows me to use all that horsepower that I paid for. Drive focused corners are usually slower at the apex, which puts them below the TOT for much of the exit. Until you pass by your bike's TOT, riders are not able to use any bar input to help finish the corner. Since the small bike will usually accelerate past its TOT midway through the exit, those riders
"PRE-TURN" IS A PHRASE THAT DESCRIBES THE PROCESS OF ENTERING A CORNER AT A BETTER ANGLE OF ATTACK. IT TAKES A 90 DEGREE CORNER AND TURNS IT INTO AN 80 DEGREE CORNER, THEREBY SHORTENING THE TIME ON THE EDGE OF THE TIRE.
can then complete their corner in the latter stages of the drive. It bears repeating that it is never okay to add or even maintain bar input in the initial portion of the drive on any bike. All bikes must be allowed to stand up in the first portion of the drive off the apex (see Diagram B). There are many other nuances between big and small machines, but understanding the basic principles will go a long way to keeping your tires firmly planted on the asphalt. Until next time... Ride fast. Ride safe!
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ANTI_PARALLALI
THE ELUSIVE FEMALE RIDER
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WORDS:ANTI_PARALLALI IMAGES: STEVEN SPOONS
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FRICTION ZONE: ANTI_PARALLALI
A
Anti_Parallali is a combination of my nickname, Lali, and the anti parallel strands of the DNA helix which run opposite to each other. I came up with it to describe my own dual nature. On one hand, I'm a scientist. I love biochemistry and I'm pretty quiet and methodical. On the other hand, I love loud motorcycles and adrenaline. A lot of people who don't know I ride are really surprised when they find out. They just don't expect it from me. The first time I sat on a motorcycle was in Romania when I was five years old. It was an old Honda CB500 and my dad and his friend helped me up on the passenger seat. I was so excited! I wanted to be taken up and down our street on this machine because it looked so much cooler than my bicycle at the time. When my dad’s friend started up the motorcycle, the engine roared, the bike vibrated and I immediately started crying. They had to take me off before we even made it two feet down the street and then I ran home crying and scared. As unfortunate as that experience may have been, little did I know that I had just been infected with the bug, a dormant virus that would remain in my system until I was old enough to appreciate loud noises and the sound of aftermarket exhaust systems on sportbikes. In my third year of college, I found a video of some guy riding around on his bike with a camera strapped to his helmet. Somewhere between the hypnotizing first person point of view of his action camera and the amount of fun he was having, it made me think, “Wow, this looks awesome! I need to try it!” A few weeks later in December of 2014, I found myself skipping some biochemistry classes to go take my written exam and get my motorcycle permit. When spring came around I signed up for a motorcycle safety course where I sat on a motorcycle for the first time again since my teary eyed experience on the CB500. This time I was on a Kawasaki VN250 Eliminator and still 92 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
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FRICTION ZONE: ANTI_PARALLALI
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suffering from "crying on a bike" syndrome, I was smiling so hard underneath the helmet that my tear glands were practically being squeezed to death. I was so happy and grateful to be out learning to ride in a parking lot on that scorching, hot day with all the other students that I even baked muffins for our class and the instructors. After four days of training and stalling more times than I want to admit, I finally passed the exam and got my license. When the instructor handed me my certification I squealed a joyful “Yes!� I even hugged the stranger sitting next to me who looked at me weird. Oddly enough he became my boyfriend later and now we ride together and share a mutual love for everything in the world of motorcycles. With his help, I purchased a gorgeous 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R and have been riding around on it ever since. I am looking forward to buying a second bike for the street. The 2017 Ninja 650 has been calling my name for a while and converting the 250 into a track bike that I can use to improve my riding skills professionally. My riding philosophy is shaped by my own experiences and by watching other riders. I take the habits of good riders and try to learn from them. I learn the habits of bad riders and put a few bike lengths between me and them. I do not want them catching up to me. It is very easy to pick up bad riding habits and motorcycling is not a sport that is forgiving of mistakes so it is important to know your skill level and manage your risk tolerance, especially on the street. I want to enjoy riding motorcycles for as long as possible. If I constantly get injured, or worse, that limits the time that I could be out riding, so there is a strong incentive for me to be a smart rider if I want to be able to enjoy the sport in the future and set a good example for new riders. Motorcycling is not a gender specific sport and I love that. There is no advantage to be a female that rides or to be a male that rides. You see the SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 95
FRICTION ZONE: ANTI_PARALLALI
THERE IS NO ADVANTAGE TO BE A FEMALE THAT RIDES OR TO BE A MALE THAT RIDES. YOU SEE THE GIRLS AND GUYS ON THE SAME TRACK RACING AGAINST EACH OTHER AT ALL LEVELS. 96 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
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FRICTION ZONE: ANTI_PARALLALI girls and guys on the same track racing against each other at all levels. It is not like many other sports where you have to have traditional male and female teams. I think there is a complicated psychology behind why we do not see more females in competitive racing but it also comes down to the fact that there just are fewer female riders than male riders. However, riding is for everyone and I am happy to see that more ladies are getting into it! A survey done in 2015 by the Motorcycle Industry Council cited that 14% of motorcycle owners are women. In 1998 it was only 8%. Since starting my Instagram page, I’ve gotten to know about a lot of awesome ladies that ride from all over the world but especially here in the US. What I have noticed is that everybody comes to motorcycling via their own path. Some ladies ride out of necessity because they live in crowded cities or in areas where mopeds and motorcycles are a main form of transportation. Other ladies come to the sport through modeling for motorsport events and they fall in love with the bike life, others do stunts and shows, others are convinced by their partners to try it, others are brought up with it as little girls, the road to riding is so diverse. I am sure for every rider you meet you would hear a different interesting story. I am thankful for the first female pioneers in the motorcycling industry like Augusta and Adeline Van Buren and Dot Robinson in the early 1900's. They were the ones that faced the true adversity and really paved a trail for us to ride on. But we have a long way to go. 14% still leaves us as the minority of riders and like every minority we still have our own battles to fight. The industry knows we are a minority so I feel like we have to shift into a higher gear when it comes to having our voice heard and letting the world know that we love these machines as much as the guys. After all, a group of 14 riders has to rev louder than 98 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
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a group of 86 riders if they want to be heard. My personal mission statement is to be a motivator, innovator, and norm breaker so that I can achieve success and happiness on my own terms and inspire others to do the same. I hope that by bringing more attention to female riders I will encourage more ladies to ride. It is motivating for me to learn about the industry and grow with it as a rider so that I can help other ladies do the same. If I meet another female that wants to ride I want to be knowledgeable enough to guide them down the right path and be the source of support that I wish I had. The world of motorcycles has so much to offer and I think it will have even more to offer when more ladies start riding. Ride on and rock on everybody! SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 101
FRICTION ZONE: ANTI_PARALLALI MY RIDING PHILOSOPHY IS SHAPED BY MY OWN EXPERIENCES AND BY WATCHING OTHER RIDERS. I TAKE THE HABITS OF GOOD RIDERS AND TRY TO LEARN FROM THEM. I LEARN THE HABITS OF BAD RIDERS AND PUT A FEW BIKE LENGTHS BETWEEN ME AND THEM.
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R T- RA C E
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s ' e d a p Red S
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! l a C r o N iR de to words//images: red spade
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FRICTION ZONE: REDSPADE'S RIDE TO NOR CAL
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So
for the last couple of years, I’ve made it a personal goal to try and have as many new experiences as I can. I’ve long stopped collecting things and started collecting memories. Memories are amazing because you carry them with you forever, but more so because they shape your personality and mind. I actually learned this from my husband’s aunt before she passed away some years ago. I remember her stressing how important it was to travel and collect experiences. At the time I didn’t realize how it would shape me, but now I am so grateful that I received her advice. As far as life experiences go, I still have a long way to go, but the journey has been started and now I’m always open to new adventures. So when just several months ago, Mo from EagleRiders of San Francisco, reached out to me with a proposition that I was very excited to accept. The scope of the project entailed a two day road trip from San Francisco to Santa Cruz through some beautiful twisty Northern California terrain. The goal was to fly out and experience what EagleRiders had to offer in their self guided tours, all along, documenting the experience. This type of trip was exactly something I was wanting to add to my bucket list but had no idea how to go about doing it. I’d never rented a motorcycle and honestly didn’t really know what style to go with and where to even get started. So having Mo reach out to me at the beginning of the season was quite a blessing. SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 109
FRICTION ZONE: REDSPADE'S RIDE TO NOR CAL
Let me preface this with the fact that I am not a terribly outgoing person. As a matter of fact just three years ago I was still battling severe social anxiety. Back then, the thought of jumping on a plane to meet up with complete strangers and put my well being in their hands would have absolutely terrified me. But if life has taught me one thing lately is that if you do something enough it becomes second nature. So I gladly accepted the invitation with the hopes of having a great adventure. Fortunately, I would not be alone in my travels. The Redline Ravens, a group of SoCal local girls, would be traveling with me as they already worked with Eagleriders on several projects. The "all ladies’" riding group consists of Annette, Mizziel and Keerati, whom I had the pleasure of briefly meeting at the Dainese store reopening in Orange County back in 2015. Ever since then I’ve been chatting with the girls online and keeping in contact with them. Along for the ride came my dear friend Min, who is actually from San Francisco but now lives on the East Coast by me. Together, us girls and a couple others set out on a route that Mizziel had planned out. I won’t lie. I was definitely nervous. I would be riding a completely new to me bike, a lovely Ducati 821 Monster, in completely unfamiliar terrain. I don’t consider myself a very skilled rider and definitely struggle on technical roads. But I pushed all that 110 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
out of my mind as I wanted to have this experience. Surprisingly I took to the bike right away and found it perfect for our trip. The upright positioning and low center of gravity made the bike very maneuverable in super tight situations. I’m not sure I would have been okay riding a supersport on some of the roads we took. I even had a total freak out moment when we got lost! Somehow we ended up on a very hilly one
lane backwoods road that was covered in wet pine straw. I remember coming up to the crest of the downhill slope that curved its way down so aggressively that you couldn’t see ahead at all. A moment of sheer panic swept over me and I remember coming to a stop uttering the words “I can’t do this...” All the while trying not to hyperventilate. Obviously “I can’t do this” wasn’t an option and I very well knew it. I must continue. Thankfully I
had an awesome support team as my new found friends talked me off the ledge and gave me the mental support I needed to get up and over this hurdle. In the end, I didn’t die nor dump the bike! I did, however, get to experience some crazy ABS going to work on the Duc. So aside from getting to experience the stunning scenery that Northern California SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 111
FRICTION ZONE: REDSPADE'S RIDE TO NOR CAL
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So while my journey wasn’t as crazy as traveling through Africa on a dual sport, I did get to step out of my comfort zone and experience something new. We traversed through tight twisty roads, dealt with all types of temperatures where at one point my teeth were chattering so hard I thought they would crack and rode through pouring rain at night. Did I mention I’m night blind and had only a dark visor? There were moments I got scared and moments where my smile was larger than life. All in all my short weekend to Northern I can’t tell you how awesome it is to meet California was a success and I couldn’t have other women that are passionate about done it without the kindness of both old and something and want nothing more than to new found friends. support each other. Even though we all come from very different backgrounds never I salute the many amazing women that have once did I feel alienated or judged. I have to walked into my life and inspired me to push attribute that to self worth and inner strength myself in this challenging sport. From my though, I could tell that we are all strong riding buddies to ass kicking female racers, willed and know our self worth. But instead I thank you all for making me feel less alone of butting heads or comparing one another and helping me see what I am made of. we all worked together and supported each other. I think that camaraderie is probably A special thank you to my sponsors for the single most important thing I look for in this trip: Eagle Rider of San Francisco who people these days. It’s an amazingly uplifting facilitated the trip and provided us all with quality and something we all can benefit motorcycles. Street Style Riding Gear for from. providing Kevlar leggings. Dainese and AGV Helmets for outfitting me with safety gear. has to offer atop a motorcycle, I got to spend quality time with the girls and get to know them better. It was very cool to get to room with them and ride along; they are all very skilled riders and totally blew me away! On top of knowing their stuff, they are extremely kind hearted and really awesome individuals each in their own special way. My time with them was short unfortunately and so I hope to be able to get some more girl bonding in soon!
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WOMAN CRUSH W
e had so many great entries for this year’s SportBikes Inc Magazine Ladies Issue Cover and Feature Contest. While there can only be one winner, it is only right that we spotlight the other finalists that truly represent the #SBINATION lifestyle. Please check out their social media accounts and give them a follow! Thank you to all that entered. Best of luck for all that are entering next year!
WORDS: ALLAN LANE IMAGES: COURTESY OF THE ENTRANTS SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 115
FRICTION ZONE: WOMAN CRUSH "One of the best things I've learned from my amazing coaches is to pick one thing and work on it over and over. When I get out on the track, I want to master it all right away, but I know that's not the way it goes. You won't learn a language by trying to study the entire book. You have to learn one chapter at a time. Just like any new skill, it takes time, patience, dedication and an open mind. You have to put your pride aside and remember everyone started somewhere. This 3 part section of the track used to make me really nervous but working on it a little at a time, I'm now able to see how far I've grown." @aamanda__rose
"I was fortunate to grow up in a family of motorcyclists dating back generations. I was on two wheels at the age of 4 and never looked back. Owning and riding several different bikes over the years has given me so many awesome experiences and opportunities I now realize I would never have had otherwise, I've met some awesome people, travelled and ridden in epic places. I can't wait for more! And have grown not only as a rider but as a young woman. Riding a sportbike gives me my adrenaline fix, and a sense of freedom that is hard to explain unless you ride. I represent the #SBINATION lifestyle because I continue to promote, support and mentor riders, especially women riders, as much as I can through social media, writing magazine articles, or posting videos. At the end of the day, we all have a role to keep this industry moving forward if we want it to continue to succeed." - @motogirl_jess
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"I was born and raised in Michigan, never having ridden motorcycles as a kid. Nobody in my family had but hearing the rumble of a sportbike, with an obnoxiously beautiful Two Brothers shorty pipe for the first time, I couldn't help but want to throw a leg over and taste the kind of freedom and joy that can only be found on two wheels. I sought out someone who was willing to teach me on a Yamaha 125 in their back yard. It wasn't a month later I found a F4i and convinced a friend to let me make payments. I busted my tail to get this thing! And she was beautiful The first night I picked it up I received my first speeding ticket. Within the first week I had my first get off. Banged up my knee and picked pebbles out of it for days! It was nasty. I got back on the day after and went to pull out onto the road when the car in front of me stopped. My knee was so sore I couldn't get my leg down fast enough and there she lay again. My poor Honda! Long story short I had street bikes on and off for years from age 17 until about 25. June 2015 was my first day on a racetrack with Sportbike Track Girl. It was love by turn 3. Well, love and terror. Grattan turn 3 is terrifying for a newb. Those of you who know Grattan understand. Left hand and down hill then up hill off camber. I owe the some of the guts I've acquired to being initiated at Grattan.
Three months after my first track day I drove 8 hours to Osh Kosh Wisconsin to pick up my track bike. I wanted the goodies: the quick shifter, the slipper clutch, the case covers, the rear sets... And I'm still riding that GSXR 750 today. After racing a partial season in Wisconsin I relocated to Texas to race a longer season in a more agreeable climate. Rockit Girl Racing completed our first round of CMRA last weekend with one 1st Place, one 4th two 7th's and a 12th. I can almost say I didn't have anything until I had racing. Being a female in this sport has given me confidence and guts to do things and go places I never thought I could. It's brought me to discover that quiet place within myself I can only find on my bike. Here I find peace like nowhere else. I am #SBINATION!" - @ rockitgirlracing SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 117
FRICTION ZONE: WOMAN CRUSH "I currently own two bikes. A GSXR 1000 that was custom painted by my hubby and a GSXR 600 that he likes to call my “corner carver”. I’ve been riding street bikes since 2001 and before that it was quads. When I started riding they didn’t have a lot of gear for women like they do today and I used to have to wear men’s gear. I used to get chastised for being a female rider, and have even been told “you can’t handle that much power!” A female sport bike rider wasn’t something people would see very often back then. But that never stopped me because I’ve proved all the doubters wrong! I loved it and still do! I’ve encouraged many women over the years to follow their dream to ride. You can do anything if you want it bad enough! Never doubt your abilities! I’ve been a part of the stunt community since 1999 and have done tandem stunts with some of the best riders from our area, have drag raced at several race tracks, but mostly just tear up the streets! Riding to me is freedom and adrenaline all wrapped up in one!" -
@kimqb1000 "My riding name is "Twice" and I represent the #SBINATION lifestyle because I learned that riding has become a new passion of mine and age is really just a number. I am 43. As an artist and painter, art has always been my outlet and form of expression but after learning to ride... I realized riding has become a part of my life and allows me to express so much more. My strength, endurance, focus, courage, sexiness and more. 5 years on twos! "Twice" represents so many things. Second chances. Taking time to appreciate life and my favorite... The look on others faces when I ride past. Always making them look twice! Looking good is just half of the lifestyle. Being safe is a must! I want to represent all women who ride!" - @bike2wice
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"Have you ever felt like it was almost impossible to make it in a male dominated sport? I grew up rough and competing with guys. In my heart I knew there was nothing I couldn't do. Recently I decided to stop riding on the street and hit the drag strip. The best decision I've ever made. Ever heard the saying " I go to work so I can have money to race"? That's me. As I became more interested, my bike became my main focus. From ordering cosmetics to having a motor built. Although I'm far from the best I want my bike to be the best. I've won races. I've lost races but I've never given up. I've sat and cried because my bike blew up. I've cried even harder when my bike blew after having it built and spent a couple hours at the track and blew up again. I use things that knock me back as encouragement to come back that much better. It takes more than a pretty face to get attention. People are drawn to ambitious, goal driven, positive and easygoing people and that's exactly what I try to be. The track is my 2nd home and there's nothing else I'd rather do with my spare time. I had the opportunity to be in Sportbikes Inc Magazine's "On The Come Up" section and this time I'm hoping to get that cover spot. As much as I'm cheering the other ladies on, if not chosen this go round I'll definitely try again next time. Best of luck to everyone and let's show these guys that ladies do itx, too!" - @prettygirl_tink
“I have been dedicated to this sport since I was younger, following the Dunlops and their road racing careers! Now, as an adult I work as a Promo Model or Umbrella girl, in order to be involved with the teams of MotoAmerica and MotoGP. I ride as often as I can and typically travel with N2 Trackdays to the different tracks, learning, progressing and getting faster with them!" @marywagnerzx10 SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 119
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THE NEW ISH ICON MOTOSPORTS • TUSCADERO JACKET Clean lines and functional armor makes the Tuscadero jacket an optimum selection for today’s female rider. Specifically designed for a lady’s torso in a sport fit, the Tuscadero features a nylon textile chassis that is equipped with Level 1 waterproofing and is fortified with D3O armor in the back, shoulders and elbows. Sizes: XS - XXL Price: $250.00 Contact: http://rideicon.com
LIGHTECH RACING • MIRROR ELIMINATORS FOR THE 2017 SUZUKI GSXR 1000
Machined from billet aluminum, these mirror eliminator caps help to redefine the front end of the new 2017 GSXR 1000. The caps are hard anodized in a selection of colors with the Lightech logo embossed. Ships with all necessary hardware for a painless install. HOTBODIES RACING • WINDSCREEN FOR THE 2017 YAMAHA R6 Available in both stock replacement or Supersport and a higher profiled style or Grandprix style which is one inch higher than stock, the Hotbodies Racing windscreen for the new Yamaha R6 offers you a great option for changing up from the stock screen. Made from acrylic via a pressure and vacuum forming method, theses screens are CNC trimmed and have a flame polished edge. No modifications are needed and you use your stock hardware for a simple installation. Colors: Clear, Dark Smoke, Black Price: $89.95 Contact: http://hotbodiesracing.com 122 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
Colors: Black, Blue, Gold, Red, Silver Price: $47.30 Contact: http://tawperformance.com
DP BRAKES • SINTERED BRAKE PADS FOR THE HONDA CBR500R Available for the Honda CBR500R, model years 2013 through 2016, the DP sintered brake pads are composed with high performing sintered metal compounds that feature a quick break in time for maximum performance and greater dollar value. DP Brake pads are known for their ability to bring you to hard stops consistently throughout the life of the pads with no fading. Price: $45.95 Contact: http://www.dp-brakes.com
JOE ROCKET • ROCKET NATION 2.0 LADIES GLOVE The Rocket Nation 2.0 Gloves offers great comfort and style with considerable protection for warm weather riding. In the knuckle area, you’ll find injection molded polymeric armor working with the double reinforced thumb section and the double layered fabric that forms to your hands for a proper fit. Available in a number of spirited color ways. Colors: Black, White, Pink Sizes: XS - XL Price: $34.99 Contact: http://joerocket.com
HELD GLOVES • AIR N DRY LADIES GLOVES
The Air N Dry gloves house a great number of features that make them a optimum selection when it comes to riding apparel. The Gore Tex membrane will keep your hands dry and warm when the weather drops. The perforated kangaroo leather palm, perforated back of hand and air vents in the knuckles will keep your hands cool when the temperatures rise. Equipped with 3M Scotchlite reflectors on the edges, hard plastic knuckle protection and a visor wiper, the Air N Dry offer great comfort and dexterity when controlling your ride. Colors: Black, Black/Grey Sizes: S - L Price: $250.00 Contact: http://heldusa.com SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 123
THE NEW ISH ALPINESTARS • STELLA MOTEGI V2 1 PIECE LEATHER SUIT Made with 1.3mm high quality leather, the Stella Motegi V2 suit from Alpinestars features removable CE certified armor in the elbows, shoulders and knees as well as external shoulder protection and foam padding on the chest, hips, coccyx and upper arms. Designed for the female body, the suit has stretch fiber panels on the torso arms, crotch and legs that work in harmony with accordion leather stretch inserts at the knees, elbows and rear shoulders to offer the best fit and maximum comfort while in the riding position. Colors: Black/White/Red, Black/White/Fuchsia Sizes: 38 - 50 Price: $999.95 Contact: http://alpinstars.com
PUIG RACING • HI TECH RADIKAL GRIPS Visually aggressive, tactical and functional, the Hi Tech Radikal grips are spot on with their namesake. The insertions of the grips are available in several anodized colors to coordinate with your bike while the grip itself, features a non skid texture and a softer compound for comfort. They fit handlebars that measure 22mm and come in two different lengths: 119mm and 123mm. Colors: Blue, Red, Gold, Silver, Black Price: $75.19 Contact: http://puigusa.com
AGVSPORT • AURA LADIES KEVLAR JEANS
The Aura jeans are ideal for both the ride and the destination. Compose with 12.5 ounce denim with Kevlar fiber coverage in the hips, knees and upper shins as well as other key areas. The Aura jeans are equipped with internal knee pockets for optional pads not to mention the two front, two rear and change pockets for stashing stuff. Sizes: 0 - 14 (Short, Long, Regular) Price: $109.00 Contact: http://motonation.com 124 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM
MOTION PRO • PBR CHAIN TOOL Every rider should have a chain tool kit in their garage. Motion Pro Tool has designed a single tool that does the job of many and packaged it as the PBR Chain Tool. The PBR stands for press, break and rivet and it does all three and then some. The PBR works on chain pitches ranging from 520 to 530. You can remove chain pins, press master links plates, rivet hollow and soft nose master link pins. The design of the tool makes it simple to transform it into the configuration that you need. Made from steel and heated treated so that it will prove tough and durable. Price: $86.99 Contact: http://motionpro.com
REV’IT! • XENA 2 JACKET The Xena 2 is a race fit, performance driven jacket designed for the active female rider. It’s armed with Seeflex Level 2 CE protection in the in arms and shoulders and Seesoft CE level 2 armor in the back. The Xena is constructed with safety stitching that maximize the durability of the jacket, preventing ripping or tearing at the seams in the event of an impact. For the colder days of riding, the Xena has a removable thermal bodywarmer. The outer shell of the jacket is a combination of Monaco Performance cowhide and Lorica, giving it a stylized look that is both formidable and fashion forward. Colors: Black/White, White/Red, White/Fuschia Sizes: 34 - 44 (Euro) Price: $469.99 Contact: http://revitsport.com
MOTOCHIC GEAR • THE LAUREN SPORT BAG
For the rider that commutes to work on two wheels or anywhere else, the Lauren Sport Bag offers you the versatility of a backpack that is perfect when you are riding, then converts to a fashionable carry all tote when you arrive at your destination. Spotlighted by a durable construction with 100% vegan friendly materials, the Lauren Sport is loaded with safety features like the large reflective panels enhance visibility. Inside, you’ll find plenty of space and compartments for your daily needs, including a built in LED interior light so that you can easily navigate through all of your items. Price: $195.00 Contact: http://motochicgear.com SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 125
THE NEW ISH: FEATURED ITEM SIDI • APEX LEI BOOTS
Built on the same foundation as the Sidi Apex Boot, the Apex Lei is engineered specifically for today’s lady rider. Packed with features to offer style, performance and protection like the Achilles Tendon protecting Vertebra System. The Apex Lei is further highlighted by it’s dual compound sole, full length zip open entry and shock absorbing heel
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cup. Composed of a technomicro base material, the Apex Lei is equipped with double stitching, nylon inner with a removable arch support pad. Sizes: 36-43 (Euro) Price: $225.00 Contact: http://motonation.com
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STAFF STUFF ARAI • CORSAIR-X HAYES X-15 Devonne Dürbaum Arai is one of my favorite helmet brands out there, as it is to most people. I’ve been lucky to attend their press launch when the Corsair-X helmet came out and realized the Corsair itself is my favorite helmet, especially for the track. That day I was given the Arai Corsair-X to test out at Thunderhill in 2015 on a Ducati 899. I had never ridden that bike, nor the track, so the fact the helmet made me confident was something everyone should feel. Not only does the Arai look good, but it also feels good. The shell fits my head to a T, which isn’t the easiest with such a
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small head. As a women in this industry, I find it hard to find a helmet that not only fits, but isn’t covered in pink, purple or butterfly’s. Arai has changed that for me and for many women. For some reason, many women seem to have a small oval shaped head and our neck can’t seem to enjoy holding up a heavy helmet. The Corsair helmet takes that weight off our shoulders, weighing 3.55 pounds. The peripheral vision, also known as “side view” is amazing. Compared to the previous designs, this one has
an average of 24mm, which doesn't seem much of a difference to people who don’t count on their peripherals like I do. The fact that I can see that much more on the side is something really important to me.
many different types of weather. The chin curtain is another one of my favorite specs for the reason I cannot stand when air comes up my chin into my helmet and the fact that Arai has been able to block air from the underside is appreciable.
The Corsair-X comes with a removable interior liner with Eco-Pure material, which maintains a neutral pH level, which commercials seem to tell us we need, although Arai is talking about our head. This material is super comfortable and the fact its removable and can be replaced is another thing important to someone who is a little bit of a clean freak as myself.
This past July at Laguna Seca after WSBK, I attended and was given the Arai Corsair X Josh Hayes replica helmet. The Josh Hayes replica has a pretty cool paint job, and of course the normal top of the line specs from Arai. There's nothing more that a woman wants more than racing in style‌ and of course comfort. http://araiamericas
The airflow is magnificent, especially riding in South Florida. The shield has amazing visibility in Rating: 6 (out of 6) SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 129
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