MAY 2021 VOL 11 ISSUE 8
S P O RT B I K E S I N C M AG . CO M
2022
SUZUKI HAYABUSA
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CONTENTS
MAY 2021 - VOLUME 11, ISSUE 8 http://issuu.com/action/page?page=12 12 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR http://issuu.com/action/page?page=14 14 THE PRESS ROOM http://issuu.com/action/page?page=58 58 THE GRID NEWS http://issuu.com/action/page?page=64 64 MOTOGP WITH B.T. http://issuu.com/action/page?page=74 74 FEATURED RIDERS
92 THE NEW ISH
http://issuu.com/action/page?page=92
FEATURED RIDER: JAMES RYAN http://issuu.com/action/page?page=74 PAGE: 74
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FEATURES
MAY 2021 - VOLUME 11, ISSUE 8 THE PRESS ROOM: INDUSTRY NEWS
14.
http://issuu.com/action/page?page=14
2022 SUZUKI HAYABUSA FIRST RIDE REVIEW
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http://issuu.com/action/page?page=28
INDIAN FTR R CARBON FIRST RIDE REVIEW
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http://issuu.com/action/page?page=46
MOTOGP ROOKIES RULE QATAR II
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http://issuu.com/action/page?page=64
RUTS TO RACELINES FEMALE TRACK EXPERIENCE
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http://issuu.com/action/page?page=80
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STAFF PUBLISHER//EDITOR IN CHIEF: Allan Lane allan@sportbikesincmag.com
EDITORIAL STAFF WRITERS: B.T. bt@sportbikesincmag.com Devonne Duerbaum devonne@sportbikesincmag.com COPY EDITOR: Stacey Lane stacey@sportbikesincmag.com CONTRIBUTORS: Peter Jackson
ART & DESIGN CREATIVE DIRECTOR//LAYOUT//DESIGN: Allan Lane allan@sportbikesincmag.com CREATIVE SUPERVISOR: Leon Brittain leon@sportbikesincmag.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Baz baz@sportbikesincmag.com COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: Kevin Wing CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Kevin Wing, Jordan Pay, Brian J. Nelson MotoGP.com WorldSBK.com SportBikes Inc Magazine - May 2021 Volume 11, Issue 7 To receive SportBikes Inc Magazine’s 2021 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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FEATURE STORY
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2022
SUZUKI HAYABUSA PAGE 28
http://issuu.com/action/page?page=28
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FROM THE EDITOR
THE BUSA The Suzuki Hayabusa has always had a prominent appearance to me. My older brother, Greg rode a first-generation Busa. It was the coolest thing to me, when I was younger, that my brother was riding, at the time, the world's fastest production motorcycle. Watching him riding around on the Busa is one of the notable reasons that began my journey as a motorcyclist. What's interesting is that not once, did I ever ask him for a ride. I had to have my own bike. That's how it had to be.
meant to be an urban biker for many years. It even had a starring role in one of my favorite motorcycle movies, Biker Boyz.
So here we are, 20 plus years later and we are finally being introduced to the third generation of the Suzuki Hayabusa. Yes, Suzuki says that the 2022 Busa is not just a makeover of the prior generation, but a brand new version of the bike. But for me, I'll never forget the vibes that I get from the first-gen Busa. It just takes me back to memories of how the bike scene used to be. I know that I am not the only that The Busa, though... The iconic bird of appreciates the sentiment. I know that I'm not prey. The Peregrine Falcon of ancient lore. the only one that misses it. During the heyday of Black Bike Week and Daytona Bike Week, the golden age of bike Man... Times are changing. Changing times. customizations, you would see a plethora of custom Busas at every bike night, bike event, Best, gas station, parked on the strip or main street. Allan The Busa exemplified the persona of what it @mrblackmoses 12 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | MAY 2021
USING A RACETRACK AS A LIVING LABORATORY
As a recognised long-standing major motorsport player, Motul benefits from the world’s best laboratory in the most extreme racing conditions. At the Isle of Man TT, you must fully trust your machine around bumpy and winding public roads at 330km/h. Honda has chosen Motul to lubricate their racing engines: a reward for our ingenuity and performances.
Recognised by many teams worldwide as the best racing engine oil, the 300V has inspired a wide range of engine motor oil tailored to meet the most demanding constraints of daily rides. Find the one you need on www.motul.com
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THE PRESS ROOM
INDUSTRY NEWS THE RIZOMA STEALTH MIRROR
THE RIZOMA STEALTH MIRROR IS MORE THAN A REARVIEW MIRROR. IT IS ALSO AN AERODYNAMIC WING AND IS PATENTED AS THE FIRST CONVERTIBLE MIRROR.
road to effectively benefit from the downforce influence of the wings. Until recently, both the OEM and aftermarket options for street dedicated bikes, have leaned more toward the side of ostentatious.
It takes more than vision to provide innovation to a functional element of a motorcycle and make it into something more than what it is. Street motorcycles are required to have mirrors or at least one mirror to considered road legal. Thanks to MotoGP and WorldSBK, aerodynamic wings are all the rage, serving as both a functional element in reducing wind drag and providing a new look in the form and shape of the bike. The Rizoma Stealth Mirror combines both the form and function of the mirror and winglets.
My sentiment towards mirrors is similar. In my fleet of personal street bikes, one of, if not the first modification that I make is the removal and replacement of the stock mirrors with a single bar end of minimal design. In the three decades that I have been riding, mirror tech and selection have pretty much been more of the same. So, it is very exciting when something new is introduced that matches the design styles and concepts of today's modern sportbikes.
The Rizoma Stealth Mirror features a model-specific The issue that I've had with winglets on street devoted fixed part that is mounted directly on the fairing and motorcycles is that beyond looks, there isn't much a moveable component that when flat, from head-on, service in them. You're not reaching speeds on the looks and functions as a winglet. When rotated 90 14 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | MAY 2021
degrees, from the rider's vantage, a convex mirror is riding. revealed. The Rizoma Stealth Mirror is made from billet aluminum In wing mode, the Stealth maintains an angle of 25 with distinctive textures and contrasting laser scoring degrees ground clearance, achieving a downforce and is available in three different anodized color of 40N at 300km/h, at qualifying speeds. Other options: black, silver and thunder grey. benefits include improved grip and stability for safer
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THE PRESS ROOM: INDUSTRY NEWS ENGINEHAWK MOTORCYCLE JACKETS A NEW APPAREL BRAND BY RIDERS, FOR RIDERS, ENGINEHAWK MOTORCYCLE JACKETS IS STAGED TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE GLOBAL MOTORCYCLE COMMUNITY. Enginehawk is a new motorcycle apparel line of safety gear from the same United Kingdom-based outfit that brought you Ruroc helmets. The team at Enginehawk present their lineup in a very straightforward, no-nonsense manner. They endeavor to provide quality safety apparel for today's rider that not only looks the part but will deliver when it counts.
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Their gamut of jackets spans the range of current and popular street riding styles. They seem to have a look and fit for the cruiser, the sport rider, the cafe racer, and even the hooligan. Enginehawk worked with principles in both the fashion and motorcycle engineering fields to compose the look, fit and feel of their jackets. It shows. The designs are sleek, minimal, and straightforward but refrain from being boring. They are quite the opposite. They evoke excitement without being ostentatious. They are subdued but emphatically badass. If the television show, "Happy Days" was in production today, the
Fonz could easily be wearing Enginehawk's .50 Cal jacket or their Hawkeye UV jacket and be authentically cooler than he was before... Also taking into account that the Fonz would be riding something more modern and more riveting than his 1949 Triumph Trophy TR5.
the market today, Enginehawk is taking a different approach that is geared to create a significant connection between the brand and their customer base. The moto-apparel manufacturer has created an online community with their Task Force Echo Hotel which allows for direct feedback and input on current and Enginehawk's jackets provide ample safety future product developments from the global features that include SASTEC's CE-approved riding population. triple flex level 1 or 2 armor at the back, The Enginehawk male jacket line includes 11 shoulders, and elbows. styles, as well as a Thermo Bomber and Vest, The company states, "Enginehawk was born designed to wear underneath a jacket but can with the aim to revolutionize the motorcycle stand on their own as a point of style. A lineup industry and completely redefine what for ladies is currently in the works. The global motorcycle apparel can be." And while there website is live now. Official sales launch on are plenty of moto-apparel companies on April 27
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SLINGSHOT'S WOMEN BEHIND THE WHEEL INITIATIVE TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL FEMALE RIDE DAY
POLARIS LAUNCHES SLINGSHOT'S WOMEN BEHIND THE WHEEL, A SINGLE-DAY EVENT TO CELEBRATE THIS YEAR'S INTERNATIONAL FEMALE RIDE DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
we want to empower those aspiring riders and welcome them to the Slingshot community,” said Collett Mazula, Senior Marketing Manager for Polaris Slingshot. “Over the last several years, we have seen a steady increase of women buying and driving Slingshots. Women have always been driving, but gone are the days where the perception is that they’re only passengers. Now, the driver’s seat calls her name, as she cruises scenic roads, turns heads downtown, and customizes it to her style.”
Polaris Slingshot's Women Behind the Wheel Initiative is an experiential demo ride program designed to create an inviting space for likeminded women who share the same passion and enthusiasm for driving. In the spirit of celebrating International Female Ride Day, the single-day event will focus on bringing women together and Slingshot's Woman Behind the Wheel will take getting them out on the road in a Slingshot. place from 11 am to 5 pm at Team Mancuso Women and aspiring riders are invited to engage Powersports Gulf Freeway in Houston, Texas. in a full day of test riding the 2021 Polaris Product walkarounds and demo rides will be Slingshot model lineup and meet women who available throughout the day. A group ride is already own Slingshots. Professional racer Loni scheduled for 5:30 pm. Unser will be in attendance offering "pro-tips" for driving the SLingshots that feature manual The plan is to take the Slingshot's Woman Behind the Wheel program on the road after the transmissions. International Female Ride Day launch event with “We proudly celebrate the female riding quarterly activations in different cities across the community. As more and more women are U.S. turning to powersports as a recreational hobby, 18 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | MAY 2021
THE HUSQVARNA E-PILEN CONCEPT THE HUSQVARNA E-PILEN IS AUSTRIAN and swappable so that the power pack can be MANUFACTURERS FORAY INTO THE WORLD exchanged as other battery brands or options become available on the market. OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES. Joining the world of zero-emission motorcycles, the Husqvarna E-Pilen is Husqvarna's offering, engineered and developed for today's riders that flourish in urban settings. Taking notes from the Vitpilen and Svartpilen models, the concept E-Pilen possesses a power output of 8 kW (11 hp) and a range of 62 miles. The battery system is modular
Husqvarna is targeting the city rider with the E-Pilen. They are actively establishing a dealer network in urban and metropolitan markets. The E-Pilen is the brand's introduction electric vehicle, and they recently announced the Vektorr Concept, an eco-friendly scooter.
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THE PRESS ROOM: INDUSTRY NEWS 2022 SUZUKI GSX-S1000 - FIRST LOOK REFINED. SPORTIER. MORE AGGRESSIVE. MORE ATTITUDE. SUZUKI UNVEILS ITS 2022 GSX-S1000.
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The 2022 Suzuki GSX-S1000 is ready to take it to the streets. Armed with more power, striking new looks, and new technology, the 2022 GSX-S1000 returns to the naked sportbike fold with a vengeance. The 2022 GSX-S1000 employs the engine fundamentals of the GSX-R 1000 engine, housed in a lightweight twin-spar aluminum frame. The new engine offers an increase in horsepower and overall engine performance when compared to its predecessor. The 999cc, four-stroke, DOHC, liquid-cooled, inline four-cylinder engine is highlighted by new camshaft profiles and new valve springs, improved cam chain tensioner and adjuster, FEM (final element method) aluminum pistons and new ride by wire electronic throttle bodies. Suspension and braking duties are in good hands with fully adjustable KYB 43mm forks and Brembo 4 piston radial-mounted calipers with twin 310mm discs on the front end. At the rear, the GSX-S1000 employs a single, easy-to-adjust shock connected to the same swingarm as the GSX-R1000 and a single Nissin brake setup with a 240mm rotor. These factors, along with a curb weight of 472 pounds, contribute heavily to the new GSX-S1000's ease of rideability, handling, and agility. The GSX-S1000 is fitted with TRP six-spoke lightweight castaluminum wheels that operate on Dunlop's new Roadsport 2 radial tires. A new exhaust system for the 2022 Suzuki GSX-S1000 tucks a redesigned mid chamber behind the header pipes, with a second catalytic converter that lowers the center of gravity while delivering a boost in the low to mid-range revs. The flow from the mid chamber to the new muffler is managed by the SET (Suzuki Exhaust Tuning) valve. The 2022 Suzuki GSX-S1000 utilizes a six-speed, close-ratio gearbox that features staggered shafts. There is a new rotary sensor that transmits movement data to the ECM for an improved response from the bi-directional quick-shift system to the rider's input. The new GSX-S1000 also gets the most current edition of the SCAS (Suzuki Clutch Assist System) that increases plate pressure under acceleration but also acts as a slipper clutch when braking. The Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (SIRS) provides the 2022 GSX-S1000 with a three-mode (Active, Basic, and Comfort) drive MAY 2021 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 23
THE PRESS ROOM: INDUSTRY NEWS selector, a five-mode advanced traction control system as well as easy start and low RPM assist systems. The electronic suite continues with an oil-cooled, three-phased charging system for the factoryinstalled maintenance-free battery. Then there is the Computer Area Network (CAN) wiring harness that doubles an info network, allowing the GSX-S1000's sensors and microcontrollers to be in direct communication with one another. A high visibility LCD dash is centered at the handlebars, displaying all pertinent ride and motorcycle information. It also presents related info from the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System. Handlebar switches allow you to manipulate ride modes, data displayed, in addition to the expected standard switch functions. In the style department, this GSX-S1000 is operating on a completely new vibe. The body line work has been refined, hardened, and sharpened. The bike's newly aggressive stance is a case study in form and function. The new fuel tank now holds 5 gallons of petro. That's half-gallon more than prior models. A new lower seat at 31.9 inches lends to the new ergonomics for rider comfort and durability on longer commutes but still retaining a sporty attack riding position. Broad shoulders with sculpted lines connect the rider to the bike with confidence. A new matte black tapered cast aluminum handlebar is .90 inches wider with an upward rotation create an upright riding position. And yes, everyone is now on the winglet train. It seems now that it is more about how well you can disguise your winglets. The 2022 Suzuki GSX-S100 does an impressive job at it by blending the fuel tank cowling and the radiator shrouds where the winglets are mounted. Perhaps most notable is the new vertically stacked LED headlight assembly that creates a new face for the GSX-S1000. The headlights are topped with a single LED position light. The LED lighting tech continues with the thin front and rear turn signals and a flat rear combo tail and brake light. The 2022 Suzuki GSX-S1000 is offered in three color options: Metallic Triton Blue, Metallic Matte Mechanical Gray, and Glass Sparkle Black. The 2022 Suzuki GSX-S1000 is scheduled to arrive in Suzuki dealerships in the Fall of 2021.
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2022
SUZ
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2
ZUKI HAYABUSA
THERE ARE MOTORCYCLES... AND THEN THERE’S THE SUZUKI HAYABUSA. WORDS: PETER JACKSON IMAGES: KEVIN WING MAY 2021 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 29
THE FIRST RIDE: 2022 SUZUKI HAYBUSA
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POP CULTURE IS full of such references. If you stroll up to a stranger and yell “D’oh!”, chances are he’ll know you’ve watched The Simpsons once or twice. Or if you suddenly start walking backward like you’ve got grease on your feet, it’ll be safe to assume you’re a Michael Jackson fan. And if you happen to say the word “Hayabusa”, accompanied by those saucer-like eyes that so often proceed a ride on the motorcycle named after the Japanese Peregrine Falcon hunting bird, people around you shall immediately know you’re a lover of going fast. Real, recklessly fast. The Suzuki Hayabusa is one of the very few motorcycles that has transcended its own genre. Moving from a beloved vessel delivering speedy sensations to a bunch of bike junkies to one the wider public knows, admires, and fears in equal measures. The Hayabusa is a hugely important machine to Suzuki, first appearing on the scene in 1999 and promptly snatching the title of World’s Fastest Motorcycle away from the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird. Since then, however, it’s only received one model update. That was in 2008 when the 1298cc inline four-cylinder was enlarged to 1340cc. It was matched to a new chassis wrapped in slipperier, faster bodywork, and left at that for, wait for it… the next 14 years. That’s a tragically long time to leave such an icon untouched. And for a while, it looked as though the Hayabusa would be moved to pasture to join Suzuki’s catalog of greatest hits. The list of which includes the GSX-R1100, GS750, and the RG500. But that’s not what the Big S had in store, for they, ladies and gentleman, have given new life to
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THE FIRST RIDE: 2022 SUZUKI HAYBUSA their own aging Peregrine Falcon. The $18,599 MSRP 2022 Suzuki Hayabusa is not a ground-up redesign. In much the same way the 2008 model was an evolution of the original, so too is the 2022 edition. Retained is the 1340cc inline-four engine, producing 187 hp at 9,750 rpm and a 110 lb-ft of torque at 7,000 rpm. That compares ill-favorably to the 2008’s 194 hp and 114 ft lb-ft, but that bike didn’t have to contend with the miles of strangling emissions laws this one does, in everything from electronics to exhaust design. The majority of the engine has been thoroughly overhauled, with engineers going from top-tobottom to make everything smaller, lighter, and more efficient. And besides, this is no longer a bike about pure top speed. Suzuki’s beefed up the midrange torque substantially for 2022, ensuring the Hayabusa has more than enough go on tap for the majority of riding ’Busa owners will do on the street. The chassis is similarly un-new, a revised version of the original twin-spar unit. It’s slightly steeper in the steering at 23 degrees (down 0.4 degrees), and with a wheelbase of 58.3 inches, it’s some 2.4 inches longer than a GSX-R1000R. This is coupled with a 582 pounds of ready-to-ride weight with a full 5.3 gallons of gas, a whopping 137 pounds more than a GSX-R. Conventional, fully adjustable KYB suspension working with Bridgestone’s brilliant S22 tire and Brembo Stylema four-piston calipers keep everything on the straight and narrow. Suzuki has reshaped the bodywork to make it even more wind-cutty than before thanks to hours in its new wind tunnel, and you’ve got stunning touches like the flush-mounted indicators and the LED lighting that looks bad as a mofo under the night sky. Whereas the old 2008 model was
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THE FIRST RIDE: 2022 SUZUKI HAYBUSA
TO RIDE A SUZUKI HAYABUSA IS TO EXPERIENCE MOTORCYCLING FROM ANOTHER AGE...
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THE FIRST RIDE: 2022 SUZUKI HAYBUSA
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THE FIRST RIDE: 2022 SUZUKI HAYBUSA like precious stones and metals in the electronics department, the 2022 edition of the Hayabusa legend is like bitcoin. As part of the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (S.I.R.S), there’s a six-axis IMU, 10-stage traction control, 10-stage wheelie control, six different power modes (three preset and three customizable). There's a sublimely smooth twostage up-and-down quick shifter, three-stage engine brake control, three-stage launch control, cornering ABS, cruise control, an active speed limiter, hill hold control, and even slope descent control, which prevents the rear wheel from lifting under heavy braking when descending. But the question is, does it all work? Glad you asked. To ride a Suzuki Hayabusa is to experience motorcycling from another age. Sportbikes have changed dramatically since 1999, and even though the new edition has enough electronics to safely land you on the moon, it still feels very much like the old one. Get the motor fired above 5000 rpm in second gear and the closest comparison must be like getting shot out of a canon. You are vaulted into your near future at an epic rate, the Hayabusa flying low and straight with a kind of mature intensity compared to something like a GSXR1000R. Dialing in the power hard while exiting long corners is pure sex for motorcycle maniacs, as you allow the Busa’s intoxicating induction roar to fill your ears like a symphony of sensual screams. The Hayabusa glides through long, sweeping corners like its namesake. This is not an agile, canyon carving motorcycle in the current sense of
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THE FIRST RIDE: 2022 SUZUKI HAYBUSA
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THE FIRST RIDE: 2022 SUZUKI HAYBUSA
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the term. You’ve got nearly 600 pounds to play with here, so respect is very much the order of the day and you can’t smack it around like a 600. You’re saved from imminent doom by the massive army of electronics protecting your ass. The traction control is especially good. Its activation as unobtrusive as a stagehand on Broadway. You’ve such adjustment at your fingertips, you will easily be able to find the ideal ride settings that will have you munching miles for years. It’s a little hard to know exactly who will buy the new Hayabusa because times have indeed changed. The Hayabusa is a motorcycle for a very particular type of rider. And Suzuki is aiming this as their premium grand sports tourer, a bit like a Mercedes AMG GT 63 S. To that end, it’s disappointing not to see little things like the self-canceling indicators or steel brake lines, but Suzuki has managed to keep the price south of $20k, so that should be commended. Those faults aside, motorcycling as a whole is better for having a name as legendary as that of the Hayabusa back front row center. Like Marc Marquez missing from MotoGP, going fast just wasn’t the same without the Hayabusa.
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2022 INDIAN
FTR R CARBON
WORDS: PETER JACKSON IMAGES: JORDAN PAY MAY 2021 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 47
THE FIRST RIDE: 2022 INDIAN FTR R CARBON
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INDIAN MOTORCYCLE’S FTR has grown up. No longer the long-haired hell raiser it was back in 2019 with its 19-inch front and 18inch rear wheels wrapped in Dunlop DT-3 dirt track-style rubber, the FTR has a new, more civilized demeanor. Now a fully-fledged member of the naked bike establishment, the FTR (no longer named the FTR1200) comes complete with the class’s ubiquitous 17-inch wheels wrapped in sporty Metzeler Sportec M9 RR rubber. New fuel injection mapping has cleaned up the jerky throttle response that plagued the first generation FTR1200, and the R Carbon member of the family gets a pair of shiny new gold fork legs from Sweden to show off its new level of worldly sophistication. But as they say, a leopard can’t change its spots. When you strip away the façade, the FTR is still an American brat with a middle finger squarely up at the Europeans and Japanese who dominate the big-bore naked bike category. It’s a four-strong in a line-up that consists of the $12,999 base model, $14,999 FTR S, the $16,999 FTR R Carbon and the $11,499 FTR Rally that still uses the 19-inch/18-inch wheel combination. The FTR is the only true American performance naked bike if you’re looking for an alternative to the norm, and being the posh bastards we are at Sportsbike Inc., we decided to go straight to the top and review the King Daddy FTR R Carbon. Only the finest here at SBI… So what do you get for the $17K? Well, for one thing, you get lots of carbon fiber. Carbon tank shrouds, front and rear guards, MAY 2021 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 49
THE FIRST RIDE: 2022 INDIAN FTR R CARBON headlight nacelle abounds. The woven black exclusiveness matches beautifully with the fully adjustable gold 43 mm Ohlins fork and shock that pivots directly off the swingarm with no linkage. The fitment of the Ohlins makes for a far more tolerable ride than on the Sachs units on Gen 1 FTR, with better damping control, less shock transmitted to the rider over bumps and better overall braking and acceleration performance. The brakes remain unchanged in the Brembo four-piston monoblocs, and the Akrapovic exhaust is now a blacked-out unit on the R Carbon. There are little cosmetic improvements everywhere. Like the now silver seat unit that accentuates the ribbed design aesthetic. The premium seat cover with lovely red stitching and the sharper angle of the tail light all giving the FTR R Carbon a very premium feel. And you get cruise control as standard on the R Carbon. Halle-fucking-lujah! Indian’s Ride Command electronic control center is also unchanged in the 4.3-inch touchscreen TFT dash that allows you to change riding modes and switch traction control on and off. Although hooligans out there will lament the fact ABS can no longer be switched off, so backing the bad boy in under brakes is sadly a thing of the past. Sometimes, growing up hurts. Ride Command gives you three modes with which to play in Sport, Standard and Rain. And after the first hour on board in Sport, I dropped a level to Standard and kept it there. Sport is, well, sporty, to say the least. The 50 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | MAY 2021
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THE FIRST RIDE: 2022 INDIAN FTR R CARBON
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INDIAN’S FTR IS NOW A FUNCTIONING MEMBER OF THE NAKED BIKE SOCIETY...
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THE FIRST RIDE: 2022 INDIAN FTR R CARBON
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throttle response is ultra-direct. Which is great fun if you’re getting after it on a track or in the twisties but it’s a bit too much everywhere else. There’s a claimed 120 hp on tap with the FTR R Carbon, and it’s a rowdy party between your legs. The FTR has performance to burn. You don’t need 160 hp to have a good time, especially when you look this good. This is a motor that likes to lug. Keep the revs in the medium range of about 5-7000 rpm and you’ll have a happy Indian below you. Revving the FTR out isn’t the name of the game as the vibes coming from the motor into the frame will kill your vibe. So it’s best to take everything with a bit more a relaxed frame of mind. But the elephant in the room is the question of the wheels. Do they make the difference? Absolutely they do. The 17-inch wheels and sticky-as-honey Metzeler RR rubber turns the FTR from a wayward headbanger into a dance partner you’re happy to tangle with. Everything is improved —braking stability, initial cornering performance and feel, and exit acceleration thanks to a tire that wants to bite and grip. Not just spin for show. You can now hustle the FTR with the kind of speed reserved for Europe’s finest, and the individuality born into an FTR R Carbon especially will ensure no one will ever mistake you for being on any other machine on the road. Indian’s FTR is now a functioning member of the naked bike society, and although it’s lost a touch of its charm with its new 17-inch shoes, it’s gained so much more in the process. MAY 2021 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 55
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THE PRESS ROOM
GRID NEWS
BRANDON PAASCH JOINS PTR DYNAVOLT TRIUMPH'S BRITISH SUPERSPORT EFFORTS
2021 DAYTONA 200 WINNER AND FORMER BRITISH MOTOSTAR CHAMPION BRANDON PAASCH JOINS FORMER WORLD SUPERSPORT BRITISH RIDER KYLE SMITH AT PTR DYNAVOLT TRIUMPH FOR THE QUATTRO GROUP BRITISH SUPERSPORT 2021 SEASON. The PTR Dynavolt Triumph British Supersport team announced its team lineup for the 2021 season. Joining Kyle Smith will be the 2021 Daytona 200 Winner, former British MotoStar Champion and New Jersey native, Brandon Paasch. The two factory riders will pilot a pair of Triumph Street Triple 765 RS race weapons. “I have to say, on behalf of PTR and Dynavolt and Triumph, I am really very proud of this machine and I really cannot wait to get started. I feel confident and slightly nervous; it’s a brand new project but we have to aim at challenging to win. That has to be our goal for the season.” - Simon Buckmaster, Dynavolt Triumph’s Team Principal. “Visiting the Triumph factory was an awesome experience, it’s amazing to see how much time and effort they put into every detail. That’s something that gives a rider an 58 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | MAY 2021
extra bit of confidence. It was also great to finally get to meet up and chat with the team and see the Dynavolt Triumph race bike! I’ve been thinking of this moment for months now, so to finally see everything coming together was so exciting! I’m fully focused on getting testing here pretty soon, and I can’t thank Triumph enough for all the hospitality and support! I hope everyone else is as excited about this opportunity as I am!" - Brandon Paasch, Dynavolt Triumph Factory Rider #96. “I am keen to get started in what will be a new challenge for me in a new championship with a new bike. When I got the call from Simon it was a no-brainer. I can't wait to start testing at Silverstone to get our base set-up. I have no doubt the new Triumph will be a good bike and having worked with the PTR crew in the past, I am confident we can be competitive.” - Kyle Smith, Dynavolt Triumph Factory Rider #11. The PTR Dynavolt Triumph team is prepared to debut the 2021 Dynavolt Triumph Street Triple 765 RS at Silverstone for the first official BSB test, April 28, 2021.
CZECH AUTODROM SCHEDULED FOR ITS WORLDSBK DEBUT THE CZECH AUTODROM MOST IS ADDED TO, as well as the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European WHILE PHILLIP ISLAND IS SUBTRACTED FROM Cup. The race weekend will also serve as the THE UPDATED WORLDSBK 2021 CALENDAR. home round for two Czech riders competing in the WorldSSP300 class, Petr Svoboda and Oliver The FIM, the Czech Autodrom Most and Dorna König. The Jakub Smrz-run Accolade Smrz Racing WSBK Organization have signed a five-year team will have home track advantage. contract that secures MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship racing in the Czech Republic from Elsewhere, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit and 2021, through 2025. the Dorna WSBK Organization have agreed to cancel the 2021 Australian round due to Covid The Czech Autodrom Most will host the sixth round restrictions. The two bodies are making concerted of the 2021 season, scheduled from August 6th efforts for the venue's return in 2022 as the to 8th, with all three classes seeing race action, opening round. Stay tuned.
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THE PRESS ROOM: THE GRID NEWS TEAM SUZUKI ECSTAR WILL REMAIN IN MOTOGP THROUGH 2026 DORNA CONFIRMED THAT SUZUKI HAS EXTENDED THEIR AGREEMENT TO COMPETE IN THE FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP THROUGH THE 2026 SEASON. The Suzuki Motor Corporation has renewed its current contract with Dorna Sports. The contract extension secures Suzuki's factory team in the GP paddock from the 2022 season through to the 2026 season. In the very challenging Covid stricken 2020 season of MotoGP, Team Suzuki Ecstar pilot Joan Mir earned the Championship while his teammate finished the year in third place. This achievement also garnered Suzuki Motor Corporation the Manufacturer's title. "As Suzuki Motor Corporation we are proud to continue to compete in the MotoGP World Championship, as we all share the challenging ambition of measuring ourselves against the
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top motorcycling competition in the world. We started this new journey in 2015 and in only six years we achieved the Riders’ World title, together with the Teams’ title, and we are still hungry for more success. For these reasons we have extended our agreement with Dorna, with the hope and the commitment to continue the development of the technical and racing sides of the company." - Shinichi Sahara, Project Leader and Team Director. "We are very happy with the renewal of the agreement with Suzuki, a factory with which we have been racing for years in the World Championship and enjoy great cooperation. Their return to MotoGP in 2015 immediately proved a success, confirmed with the culmination of winning the riders' World Championship in 2020 with Joan Mir. We proudly extend this partnership and hope to continue setting milestones with this iconic brand." - Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports.
APRILIA RACING COMMITS TO MOTOGP THROUGH 2026
APRILIA RACING AGREES TO KEEP THE APRILIA next season, we will be participating in an official RS-GP IN THE GP PADDOCK FOR THE NEXT FIVE capacity as a manufacturer. This opens up new and hopefully great opportunities and we will need to SEASONS. manage many additional responsibilities. It is a natural Dorna announces their agreement with the Aprilia step that we are taking just as we are beginning to Racing team that secures Aprilia competing in the see the first positive signs from the hard work we’ve FIM MotoGP World Championship from the current done in Noale, first and foremost on our structure, and consequently on our beautiful RS-GP bikes. At 2021 season, through the 2026 season. this time, our thoughts and gratitude go to Gresini Aprilia holds an illustrious career in motorcycle Racing, who have accompanied us in these years. racing, having won 54 world titles. 38 of those titles In heartfelt memory of Fausto, I wish the team and in World Championship GP Motorcycle Racing. 7 all its staff the best success for the coming seasons." titles in Superbike. And 9 in Off-Road racing. Aprilia - Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing CEO. Racing has won 294 races in GP, earning the status of the most successful European brand in World "Dorna and Aprilia extending their partnership is Championship GP Motorcycle Racing with a tip of the really positive news for the FIM MotoGP World helmet to notable riders by the likes of Max Biaggi, Championship. We are excited to continue this Loris Capirossi, Alex Gramigni, Valentino Rossi, Jorge association with the Italian manufacturer in a project Lorenzo, Casey Stoner, Manuel Poggiali, Marco that has set many fascinating goals, not just in racing performance, but in overall technical excellence in the Simoncelli and Alvaro Bautista. Championship." - Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna CEO. "I am obviously happy about this agreement. From MAY 2021 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 61
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THE GRID
MOTOGP WITH B.T.
WORDS: B.T. IMAGES: MOTOGP.COM 64 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | MAY 2021
MOTOGP ROOKIES
RULE Q ATA R I I MotoGP Rookies Pedro Acosta, Raul Fernandez, and Jorge Martin cut up at the Losail Race Circuit...
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THE GRID: MOTOGP WITH B.T.
TIME WAITS FOR no one, is what they say. And on a Sunday night at the Losail Race Circuit in Qatar, that was never more evident. Veterans who’ve settled in GP were put on notice as a wave of rookies, in all classes, emerged like Jason Vorhees out of the woods and staked claim to the new blood in MotoGP. “Since I was born, they couldn’t hold me down” This entire article centers around Pedro Acosta. What he did to the entire Moto3 field was so impressive that garages of other teams lined up on pit road to shake this 16-year-old's hand! That impressive. If you didn’t see it, Acosta started from pit lane for being a bad boy during qualifying. He not only started from pit lane with seven others because when you’re a teenager you never just do stuff by yourself, he started from pit lane plus had to wait for five seconds and then he was able to unleash his wrath upon other teenagers and grown men, alike. It may have been the greatest display of dominance I’ve ever seen. For damn sure in Moto3. And that is saying something. Even Marc “Daddy’s Home” Marquez tweeted, “Acosta is good, really good!” ‘Nuff said. Along with Acosta, another rookie Izan Guevara who I predict in the next five years will be giving other riders fits. “The Writing’s on The Wall” Moto2 has rookie Raul Fernandez who has never, 66 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | MAY 2021
RAUL FERNANDEZ
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THE GRID: MOTOGP WITH B.T.
FABVIO QUARTARARO
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JOHAN ZARCO
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THE GRID: MOTOGP WITH B.T.
PEDRO ACOSTA
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never ever, never eva'... Never eva' qualified lower than sixth in Moto3, and so far Moto2. He got his first podium in Qatar on Sunday night but it seems like it's only a matter of time before his first win. This kid has a future in MotoGP sooner than later. My only problem with Fernandez? I want to see him in a scrap. How can you tell anything about a person unless you've seen 'em in a fight?!
This great race was a literal freight train of topnotch talent playing chess at almost 200 mph. There were elbows, there was drama, and there was a nine-time World Champion unable to score a point! All of which was underscored by rookie Jorge Martin who led for 17 out of 22 laps aboard a Ducati rocket ship.
Regardless, Fernandez has Sam Lowes looking over his shoulder and wondering if an early retirement would be more suitable than battling this kid every Sunday. Make no mistake, Raul Fernandez is tha' truth!
Fabio Quartararo still smells like baby powder. Jorge Martin still has to be burped. And yet these two have given MotoGP the brightest future I've seen in a decade. One race or even two does not a career make. But you see the potential for greatness and MotoGP is serving up excellence at the current moment all lead by the youth!
"We Stand and We won't fall"
"They Call us Problem Child"
In MotoGP, Rookies not only permeate the Qatar II showed the future of MotoGP. The youth landscape but they are producing. None more inject energy into the mundane and Sunday so than Jorge Martin. Night's slugfest was anything but mundane. For the mature riders in all classes, it served as a Martin's Pole on Saturday, which put him in the wake-up call. Time waits for no one. That being company of Marc Marquez and Casey Stoner said, we turn our heads to Portugal, where, with as the only riders to garner a pole in only their luck and a doctor's blessing, we shall see whether second GP race and subsequent podium on a certain eight-time World Champion can serve Sunday, night only added to the record-breaking a mature ass-whooping and put these young'uns night which saw the closest ever top fifteen in to bed. MotoGP history. It also saw two French riders stand on the podium together for the first time MotoGP truly is "The Youth Gone Wild!" It is the since 1954, with Fabio Quartararo taking victory two-wheeled soap opera we call MotoGP. Stay tuned, GP Freaks! You ain't seen nothing yet. and Johan Zarco following up with a second. MAY 2021 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 71
IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN Triumph power re-wrote the history books in the 2019 Moto2™ season when racers powered by Triumph’s 765cc triple engines set Moto2™ records at 16 races. The new top-spec 2020 Street Triple RS delivers in every dimension, with more power and torque from its significantly updated 765cc triple engine developed from the 765 that’s powering the Moto2™ race series. With more aggressive streetfighter looks and even better technology, the new RS is the lightest bike in class with the highest specification ever. Nothing else comes close. Find out more, visit triumphmotorcycles.com
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THE LIFE: FEATURED RIDERS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
James Ryan LOCATION: I'm currently in sunny San Diego, California. OCCUPATION: I'm not working due to my accident but otherwise I'm in manufacturing. YEARS RIDING: I've been riding for 15 years. RIDING STYLE: I mainly just ride on the streets. And I used to ride the canyons. BIKE/S OWNED: My baby is a 2015 Yamaha R1 Raven. FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: I'm loving my SC Project Exhaust!. Sounds so mean and throaty. FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: I would say it's my one piece leather suit which saved me from the worst when I crashed recently. MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: The blessed day I will never forget is the day I survived when I went down at the canyons. 74 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | MAY 2021
Motogirlvlog Marcy LOCATION: Toronto, Ontario OCCUPATION: Med Student. YEARS RIDING: 1 year. RIDING STYLE: Street. Looking forward to testing the track out by the end of the summer. BIKE/S OWNED: Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R. FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: Two Brothers full system exhaust and Nardo Grey paint job. Something about a Two Brothers on a Kawasaki. Like they were made for each other. FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: Alpinestars Baika gloves. MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: Hitting the highway on a loop on a cool September night at 3 am, alone. Nothing beats the darkness and open roads. My most enjoyable moments on my bike happen to be when I’m alone at night, it’s very soothing and therapeutic to be able to get on such an incredible bike and focus on just the road, and nothing else
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THE LIFE: FEATURED RIDERS
Polly Lesaguis LOCATION: Daly City, CA OCCUPATION: Part time at Dainese. YEARS RIDING: 6 years. RIDING STYLE: Street and track. BIKE/S OWNED: 2013 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R. FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: Two Brothers exhaust and Bike Buddyz reservoir cover. FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: Pista R Rossi Soleluna 2016 helmet with a custom blue spoiler painted by Venni Orona. MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: Rode my Suzuki GSXR from San Francisco to San Diego, and back 76 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | MAY 2021
Trey Lancaster LOCATION: Winston-Salem, N.C. OCCUPATION: Entrepreneur. YEARS RIDING: Street, 5 years. Track, 4 years. RIDING STYLE: Mostly street with a few track days here and there. BIKE/S OWNED: 2016 Yamaha YZF-R1M. FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: My Quick shifter. FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: My helmet. MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: Friday trackday before a race weekend at Virginia International Raceway. Advanced group had some faster riders than normal so I got a new wind of what “fast” really was. One of the MotoAmerica Superbike riders, Mathew Scholtz was there testing. Took a couple passing and lines lessons from watching him blister past me and was able to apply them later. One of which was how to carry enough corner speed to elbow drag T3 AKA "Nascar Bend."
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LINES
DON'T CALL IT AN ALL-FEMALE TRACK DAY. MARIKA PRAMART'S RUTS TO RACELINES IS AN ALL-FEMALE TRACK EXPERIENCE. WORDS: ALLAN LANE IMAGES: COURTESY OF MP MAY 2021 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 81
THE LIFE: RUTS TO RACELINES WHAT CAME TO be Ruts to Racelines started as a females-only group, that operated in the schedule of an existing track day. As the females-only group grew in popularity and attendance, Marika Pramart knew that she was on to something. For some ladies that ride, getting on the track for the first time in a co-ed environment is intimidating. Marika's program offered a safe haven for women that wanted to experience the exhilarating rush of track riding sans the testosterone-driven aggression that their male counterparts often display. The original concept of an all-female track session, for a while, was doing better than good. But the proverbial rug was pulled from underneath Marika and she was left with the decision to let it be or to let it ride. Marika chose the latter and Ruts to Racelines is flourishing more today than ever before. Marika took time from her busy schedule to chat about Ruts to Racelines program and what is on deck for the 2021 track season. Allan Lane: How did Ruts to Racelines come together? Marika Pramart: It started out as an all-women group with the track day organization, Team Promotion. It was called TPM Track Day Girl. I approached Glen Goldman, owner of TPM at the time, with the idea of providing an all-women group during the regular track day rotations so women would have a less crowded track group and get to ride with like-minded women. Some women needed a less intimidating environment to give riding on the track a try. All of them loved it and TPM Track Day Girl began to grow. Some women told me that they would have never gotten on the track if it wasn't for the women's group! Glen had a requirement of at least ten women signed up for the group to be put into the rotation. We always got our ten-plus on the days that Track Day Girl was offered. It grew to the point we had two all-women track day events. 20 to 25 women riders signed up! Allan Lane: What was the inspiration? Marika Pramart: My inspiration is paying it forward. A really close girlfriend talked me into my first track day and she was there for me every step of the way. She answered my newbie questions. Helped prep my street bike. Introduced me to a great coach and checked on me after every session. She made sure my first track day was less intimidating and made sure I had the best day possible. So I want to be for others, what she was for me. Allan Lane: So what changed? Marika Pramart: In 2017, TPM had told me that they no longer 82 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | MAY 2021
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THE LIFE: RUTS TO RACELINES
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had a place for Track Day Girl and I was faced with a decision. Let my vision fade away. Or try doing it on my own. With the encouragement of my husband and a group of badass women pushing me, I tried it on my own! TPM Track Day Girl ended and Ruts to Racelines began! Allan Lane: How did you come up with the brand name, Ruts to Racelines? Marika Pramart: Ruts to Racelines comes from my passion for dirt bike riding... Ruts. And track days and road racing... Racelines. It started back when I was moving up in the skill groups of track days. I hit a plateau and it just seemed like I was stuck there. My coaches suggested that I get a dirt bike and get used to a bike moving around underneath me. I was hesitant because I was intimidated by dirt riding. It was scary and unpredictable. The ground moved underneath you and I had no clue what I was doing! But I listened and got myself a lil dirt bike. And dammit! Those coaches were right! It totally helped my riding! It helped me gain confidence and control on the track, pushing past my barriers and moving forward into some club racing. It also helped me become a better and safer street rider. Allan Lane: That makes sense. So many pro riders use multiple disciplines to sharpen their skills. I attended Colin Edwards' Texas Tornado Bootcamp a few years back. It really opened my eyes and changed my riding for the better. When was the first Ruts to Racelines event? Marika Pramart: The first Ruts to Racelines track day event was September 1, 2018, at NCBIKE in Garysburg North Carolina. After the event in 2018, I walked out onto the track, looked into the paddock and cried! Happy tears! Allan Lane: What have been some of the obstacles that you’ve overcome to maintain and to grow Ruts to Racelines since that first event? Marika Pramart: The two biggest obstacles are finding tracks that are willing to sponsor the event and help with track rental expenses and finding new riders to bring to the track. Track rental is very expensive and I don't do this as a business. I do it to provide the women with a less intimidating environment. To provide them with the things I wish I had when I was starting out riding on the track. I also don't want to charge them a ton of money to register. They already have expenses just to get to the event. So all the money from registration goes back into paying the expenses of renting the track, insurance and other expenses that may incur. MAY 2021 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 85
THE LIFE: RUTS TO RACELINES
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THE LIFE: RUTS TO RACELINES Allan Lane: That's refreshing to hear. Track days are not cheap. And riders look for every break they can get. It's cool that you are reinvesting the funds received directly back into your program. Any other challenges? Marika Pramart: Ruts to Racelines has grown into a very supportive moto family and it has its faithful followers. But the challenge is to constantly bring more riders off the streets and try the track. Getting them to understand that riding on the track is safer than riding on the street. And the skills you learn on the track will help you become a better, safer and more aware rider on the street. I have also learned the importance of having hand-picked coaches! I usually have 20 coaches at my big event of the year, MK's Moto Extravaganza. Having these coaches and their continued support is one of the main reasons Ruts to Racelines is so popular and successful. I mean you have been to track days. And you know how many coaches are usually there to help... Five to eight for like 150 riders! I have twenty for like fifty! Want to work with a coach? Ruts to Racelines gotchu! Allan Lane: It can be slim picking for coaches in most track day scenarios. I say, the more coaches the better. Especially in your case where Ruts to Racelines brings out a lot of ladies participating in their first on-track experience. Ok, 2021 track season... What's on deck for Ruts to Racelines? Marika Pramart: The women's focused track day part of the schedule is... May 29 and 30 at NCBIKE in Garysburg, North Carolina. July 22 at NY Safety Track in Jefferson, New York. And September 11 at NCBIKE in Garysburg, North Carolina. We also have our dirty side, which is all women's dirt bike riding classes, with rentals. We offer that at all of our NCBIKE events, as well as different locations throughout the season. Allan Lane: I know the sign-up process for a Ruts to Racelines event is different than how other organizations register riders for events. Run it down for the folks at home. Marika Pramart: I require them (registrants) to email me first. I respond with a couple of questions to ensure they are in the right group. I answer all their questions and then I provide them with the sign-up info. I want it to be intimate and personal. Otherwise, it's just another track day which I don't want to become. Allan Lane: We were recently talking about the event at NY Safety Track and you are really excited about it. I know that all of your events are important to you. But why is the NY Safety Track event 88 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | MAY 2021
so special? Marika Pramart: I have been fortunate to create successful events at NCBIKE for three years and they have grown in attendance at every event. There were 28 women at our first event and over 60 signed up for May this year. Ruts to Racelines' Southern women riders are so grateful for the experience and training that Ruts to Racelines offers. I have been wanting to bring it North for the Northern women riders. The amount of coaching, comradery and support women get at Ruts to Racelines just does not exist at any other track day event. And I want the women up north to experience the same awesomeness that the women down South have grown to love! Ruts to Racelines continues to provide opportunities for ladies that ride and want to experience the track life in an easy-to-approach format. Marika plans to grow the events to include several different tracks, each year, yet keep things intimate with a maximum amount of 75 riders per event. "Ruts to Racelines is giving women an opportunity to learn some of the things that I learned when I was first starting out in my moto journey," Marika concluded. "Experiencing different disciplines of motorcycling helps in all disciplines of motorcycling. There is more to moto than just street riding and each has its own rewards and challenges." MAY 2021 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 89
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THE NEW ISH JOE ROCKET • CROSSFIRE JACKET The Crossfire jacket from Joe Rocket features a waterproof breathable Invista Cordura outer shell and a zip-out fullsleeve insulated liner. Excellent ventilation is thanks to the Cross-Linked Ventilation system and the additional sleeve and back vents. Protection is provided via CEapproved armor in the shoulders, elbows and spine as well as lower back memory foam padding. Colors: Black, Red, Blue, Grey, Orange Sizes: S - XXXL Price: $249.99 Contact: www.joerocket.com
BONAMICI • MV AGUSTA QUICK ACCESS GAS CAP
This Bonamici keyless gas cap for the MV Agusta F4 and Brutale offers quick release access to make fueling up quick and easy especially for racers and performance street riders. It weighs up to 50% lighter than OEM gas caps and made from CNC Aluminum T-6061. The gas cap is anodized in black and includes a rubber seal o-ring and stainless steel screws. GB RACING • 2021 DUCATI STREETFIGHTER V4S CLUTCH COVER GB Racing’s revolutionary new tough, high-impact composite material made from 60% Long Glass Fiber Nylon provides the ultimate protection for your machine. The tough long glass fiber nylon is a high-impact material that is designed to absorb energy without cracking in most situations. Designed with aesthetics in mind and to be installed over your existing OEM engine cover. This is a bolt-on product, allowing fast and easy removal and/or replacement, not a replacement cover. All covers come supplied with replacement bolts for your clutch cover. There is no need to remove stock casings or gasket seals. Price: $116.44 Contact: www.orientexpress.com 94 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | MAY 2021
Price: $74.99 Contact: www.motodracing.com
MOTION PRO • TUFF HOOK Anyone that has experienced the joy of installing an exhaust system on their bike will appreciate the Tuff Hook. The Tuff Hook's heavy-duty design for use on large exhaust and kickstand springs makes the installation a little more enjoyable. Its multi-function tip easily pulls or pushes large springs on and off mounts while its flexing shaft is ideal for hard-to-reach springs with minimal working space. The locking shaft slider allows the center of the shaft to be rigid or flex. Construction details include a billet aluminum construction handle and locking shaft slider and a steel shaft with a heavy-duty stainless steel flex insert. Price: $59.99 Contact: www.motionpro.com
ALPINESTARS • RIDE TECH V2 TOP LONG SLEEVE SUMMER Designed for warm weather riding and to prevent the build-up of heat and sweat, Alpinestars Ride Tech v2 Top Long Sleeve Summer keeps you cool and comfortable under your suit and jacket with the added benefit of aiding getting in and out of a suit. Sizes: XS-XXL Price: $74.95 Contact: www.alpinestars.com
YOSHIMURA R&D • TRIUMPH TRIDENT AT2 STAINLESS STEEL FULL EXHAUST
The system is part of the Yoshimura Race Series lineup. Horsepower increases 6.9% and torque is boosted by 1.3%. The system features a specially designed collector that incorporates a pre-muffler which enhances the power and adds a very unique exhaust note. The AT2 Stainless Steel Full Exhaust is proudly developed, designed, and made in the USA. Price: $1,199.00 Contact: www.yoshimura-rd.com
MAY 2021 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 95
THE NEW ISH: FEATURED ITEM ENGINE HAWK • 916 INFERNO LIMITED EDITION LEATHER JACKET
Constructed with a classic and simple silhouette in mind, the 916 Inferno is constructed from sustainably sourced Cow Dutch Leather, worldrenowned for its slide-resistant qualities. The inclusion of thumb-loops to keep the arms down in riding position keep things practical; while the SAS-TEC armor inserts compatibility keeps things safe (level 1 included). Other jacket features include a tapered fit, two-way zippers and gel injected embossed logos. Sizes: S - XL Price: $399.00 Contact: www.enginehawk.com 96 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | MAY 2021
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 MAY 2021 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 97
