SEPTEMBER 2019 VOL 9 ISSUE 12
SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM TM
BR I T TANY NGUYEN SOUL SURVIVOR
PODCAST 2 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
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CONTENTS
SEPTEMBER 2019 - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12 http://issuu.com/action/page?page=14
14 THE PRESS ROOM http://issuu.com/action/page?page=22 22 THE GRID NEWS http://issuu.com/action/page?page=28 28 MOTOGP WITH B.T. - By B.T. http://issuu.com/action/page?page=50 50 ASPHALT & OPPORTUNITY - By Ruth Harris http://issuu.com/action/page?page=68 68 THE INSIDE LINE - By Devonne Duerbaum http://issuu.com/action/page?page=74 74 THE LION'S DEN - By Lion James http://issuu.com/action/page?page=80 80 FEATURED RIDERS http://issuu.com/action/page?page=86 86 IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS - By Ana Mata http://issuu.com/action/page?page=118 118 THE NEW ISH
FEATURED RIDER: NAOMI MORGAN http://issuu.com/action/page?page=80 PAGE 80
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FE ATURING:
TESTED AND CERTIFIED ACCORDING TO EU STANDARD: prEN 17092-2:2017 CL ASS A A A
RIDEICON.COM
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FEATURES
SEPTEMBER 2019 - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12
ASPHALT & OPPORTUNITY: RUTH HARRIS
50
THE LION'S DEN: LOST & FOUND
74
http://issuu.com/action/page?page=86
BRITTANY NGUYEN: SOUL SURVIVOR
94
http://issuu.com/action/page?page=108
http://issuu.com/action/page?page=50
http://issuu.com/action/page?page=74
http://issuu.com/action/page?page=94
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THE MANY WOMEN IN MY LIFE
68
BREATHING LIFE INTO A DYING SPORT
86
http://issuu.com/action/page?page=68
YOU LEAD A CLUB OF GUYS ON MOTORCYCLES?
108
R HISTORY. YOUR FUTURE. WE R1.
2 0 2 0 Y Z F-R 1 M From the launch of the first Yamaha YZF®-R1 to today’s MotoGP inspired machinery, it has been a master class of domination. For 2020, the new R1M features next generation R Series styling, sophisticated electronic control, enhanced braking and suspension performance, and a refined crossplane engine.
YamahaMotorsports.com Professional riders on closed area. Model in action shown is modified to a racing specification and intended for circuit use only. Dress properly for your ride with a helmet, eye protection, riding jacket or long sleeve shirt, long pants, gloves and boots. Do not drink and ride. It is illegal and dangerous. ©2019 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.
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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: Leon Brittain leon@sportbikesincmag.com Lion James lion@sportbikesincmag.com B.T. bt@sportbikesincmag.com Devonne Duerbaum devonne@sportbikesincmag.com Copy Editor: Angela Lane angela@sportbikesincmag.com
Cover Photography: Ron Mercer Contributing Photographers: Ron Mercer Brian J. Nelson MotoGP.com Asphalt and Opportunity Devonne Duerbaum YCRS
Contributors: Ruth Harris Ana Mata Sara Cole
SportBikes Inc Magazine - September 2019 Volume 9, Issue 12 To receive SportBikes Inc Magazine’s 2019 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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JONATHAN REA
KAWASAKI RACING TEAM WORLDSBK
CORSAIR®-X REA-5 FALL 2019
ARAIAMERICAS.COM
@ARAIAMERICAS
No helmet can protect the wearer against all foreseeable impacts. Nothing is a substitute for safe riding practices. ©2019 Arai Helmet
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FEATURE STORY
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BR I T TANY NGUYEN SOUL SURVIVOR PAGE: 94
http://issuu. com/action/ page?page=94
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FROM THE EDITOR
ANA MATA (@R6_ANA), CONTRIBUTOR
EPIPHANY This will be the last annual ladies' issue of SportBikes Inc Magazine.
They shouldn’t have to.
This will be the last annual ladies issue of There is no longer a need to differentiate types SportBikes Inc Magazine because I believe of riders based upon gender. It’s a disservice to we should be more inclusive in every issue, our community and disrespectful to our culture. addressing the needs of male and female riders. Our culture is based upon inclusiveness. If you We will discuss topics and include articles and ride, you ride. It doesn’t matter what color you columns that appeal to both genders of riders are or where you are from. It doesn’t matter if throughout the calendar year. you are rich or poor, straight or gay, binary or non-binary, or whatever group you identify with. If it’s relevant to two wheels, it’s relevant to us. It doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is And that’s what matters most. that you ride. It doesn’t matter what sex you are. If you are a There should not be a solo issue in the course of rider, be a rider. Mount up. a year that is solely dedicated to female riders. Why should ladies have to wait for an entire year Best, to receive their proper for the amazing riders that Allan they are and for the contributions that they make allan@sportbikesincmag.com to our global riding community? 12 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
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
SEPTEMBER 2019 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 13
THE PRESS ROOM
INDUSTRY NEWS
THE 2020 SUZUKI KATANA IS SCHEDULED TO HIT DEALERSHIP FLOORS THIS FALL
Suzuki announced that the legendary Katana would be available in November of 2020 at your local Suzuki dealership. The announcement of the revamped Katana came toward the end of 2018 with two introductions. The first intro was at the International Motorcycle Show stop in Long Beach, CA, while the second intro was at the New York City stop on the IMS tour. The 2020 Katana's long-stroke GSX-R1000 engine is housed
inside the revered twin-spar aluminum allow frame chassis of the GSX-S1000. The 2020 Katana will be available in both solid black and metallic mystic silver, with MSRP of $13,499.
HJC HELMETS RELEASES ITS I10 HELMET PLATFORM HJC Helmets is replacing its CL-17 line of helmets with the all-new i10 platform. Targeted at street riders, the i10 is composed of a polycarbonate shell, equipped with replaceable vent covers, an impressive air ventilation system that claims three times more airflow, compared to the CL-17, and a mouth vent that boosts defogging performance. Inside you'll find a multi cool comfort liner with plush Nylex cheek pads. The i10 platform is Bluetooth compatible with HJC's Smart HJC device. The SNELL M2020 and DOT approved helmet is available in sizes XS through 3XL, in four different styles (base i10, i10 Rank, i10 Fear, and the i10 Taze) and a variety of color ways. 14 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
OBSESSION Protection. Comfort. Quality. Arai’s obsessive dedication to these and many other details help you enjoy every ride to the fullest. Lighter and more aerodynamic for less fatigue, the all-new RAM-X® shares the same shell construction and upper ventilation system as our flagship Corsair®-X for maximum comfort on even the longest rides. And the standard VAS-Z Pro-Shade shield enhances each ride even more. Arai. Handcrafted with an obsessive dedication to your protection and ride experience.
ARAIAMERICAS.COM @ARAIAMERICAS No helmet can protect the wearer against all foreseeable impacts. Nothing is a substitute for safe riding practices. ©2019 Arai Helmet
SEPTEMBER 2019 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 15
THE PRESS ROOM: INDUSTRY NEWS KAWASAKI'S 2020 NINJA 650 Loaded with new features, the 2020 Ninja 650 is poised to showcase its progression as a bike that is just as ready for aggressive action as it is for everyday commuting. Powered by a liquid-cooled, parallel-twin 650cc engine, the 650 is presented in a refined sporty styling with a new windscreen, passenger seat, and a new upper cowl with a new set of twin LED headlights. The Ninja 650 is fitted with Dunlop Sportmax Roadsport 2 tires, enhancing its handling and performance capabilities. But the most notable upgrade for the 2020 model is the all-new TFT color dash and BlueTooth smartphone app connectivity. The TFT screen delivers vibrant visibility with an adjustable and selectable background (either black or white). Kawasaki's RIDEOLOGY THE APP allows for smartphone connectivity that keeps the rider connected to the bike, even when you are away from it. The app allows for access to a variety of vehicle info, a ride log, display of incoming phone calls, and email on the dash, as well as small tuning adjustments. With an MSRP of $7,399, the 2020 Ninja 650 is available in the following colorways: Lime Green / Ebony (Kawasaki Racing Team KRT), Metallic Spark Black, and Pearl Blizzard White.
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THE PRESS ROOM: INDUSTRY NEWS THE ALL-NEW YAMAHA 2020 MT-03 Yamaha unleashes a new 321cc, parallel-twin engine powered Hyper Naked machine. Styled after Yamaha's MT-09 and MT-07, the new MT-03 continues the manufacturer's foray into the Masters of Torque lineage. Considered an entry-level machine, the MT-03 is a new face in the 300cc class. With lines and profile similar to its older siblings, the MT-03 looks the part with dramatic Hyper Naked presentation. At the front end, the MT-03 greets with you with an aggressive skull like fairing work that screams intensity. It has a menacing presence, not in spite of its small capacity... but because of it. Small capacity bikes often get a bad rap because of their aesthetics. With its "mass forward" body, wide-shouldered fuel tank, 37mm upside-down forks, lower cowl, air intakes, and sexy tail section, the MT-03 looks every bit as grown as the MT-07 and MT-09. The MT-03 is powered by a liquid-cooled, 321cc engine in a twin DiASil cylinder configuration. The DiASil cylinders are solely aluminum, offering weight saving properties. Along with heat resistant forged pistons, the aluminum cylinders keep things cool, minimizing the loss of horsepower when you need it most. Equipped with 37mm KYB upside-down front forks, the MT-03 is ready to deliver progressive handling and enhanced performance. The rear monocross shock features seven-step preload adjustability. Most notable on the MT-03 is the 22.6-inch long asymmetrical swingarm. The pivot points on the swingarm are close to the middle of the bike, maintaining the balance between the bike and the road beneath it. The result is a proper dose of handling performance while you are in the middle of the business. The MT-03 is spotlighted, literally by a set of LED dual headlights, and LED sophisticated front and rear turn indicators. The multi-function data cluster has a negative LCD layout with all of the information displayed in white on a black background. The all-new Yamaha 2020 MT-03 will be available in Ice Fluo and Midnight Black. With an MSRP of $4,599, the MT-03 is expected to hit the dealership floor in early 2020.
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THE PRESS ROOM: INDUSTRY NEWS
2019 SEASON SCHEDULE 3/14 Daytona Beach, FL
6/29 Lima, OH
3/23 Woodstock, GA
7/13 Weedsport, NY
4/20 Fort Worth, TX
8/4 Sturgis, SD
4/27 Chandler, AZ
8/6 Rapid City, SD
5/11 Perris, CA
8/17 Peoria, IL
5/18 Sacramento, CA
9/1 Springfield, IL
5/26 Springfield, IL
9/7 Mechanicsburg, PA
6/1 Lexington, KY 6/15 Loudon, NH
9/21 Shakopee, MN 9/28 East Rutherford, NJ
AmericanFlatTrack.com
20 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
DOWNFORCE SPOILERS For latest sporbikes models
puigusa.com SEPTEMBER 2019 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 21
THE PRESS ROOM
GRID NEWS LEON HASLAM AND KAWASAKI PART WAYS
Kawasaki has decided not to retain the services of Leon Haslam following the close of the 2019 season. At the time of this news, Haslam has earned six third-place podiums, along with twenty-one top ten results. He currently sits in sixth place in the 2019 championship, that his teammate Jonathan Rea just won, making history as the first five-time, back to back, WorldSBK Champion. No further details as to whom Kawasaki is eyeballing for the vacant second seat for the 2020 season.
ALVARO BAUTISTA STAYS IN WORLDSBK, MAKES THE SWITCH TO THE NEW HONDA TEAM FOR 2020 The Spaniard will remain in the WorldSBK paddock for another year, announcing that he will join the new Honda Team, supported by HRC, for the 2020 season. "It was not an easy decision to make for me, as I am really happy with the Ducati family,” said Bautista. “We started with the new bike and a new project, and we were winning a lot of races. It was not easy, but the project that HRC offered me motivated me a lot, as we will start from zero. I feel like one of the most important people in this project.” 22 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
KTM AND JOHANN ZARCO PART WAYS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE: REPLACED BY MIKA KALLIO FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 2019 SEASON KTM has announced they have parted ways with Johann Zarco, ahead of schedule. Although KTM announced that Zarco would not be part of their 2020 lineup, Zarco was slated to complete the 2019 season. In a statement issued by KTM, Pit Beirer (KTM Motorsport Director) stated: “We have to make decisions to ensure that we use our resources in the best possible way and are currently in a positive direction with our MotoGP structure.” Zarco is still under contract with KTM until the end of the season but will not have any riding obligations. His seat for the rest of the year has been offered and accepted by Finnish rider, Mika Kallio. Kallio rode the KTM in its debut MotoGP season, and has performed duties as a test rider and has several wild card races under his belt. Pit continued, “We firmly believe that Mika can help us in this stage thanks to his knowledge and background. It is paramount that we verify our testing result in real race conditions to start our 2020 season in the best position.”
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SEPTEMBER 2019 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 23
THE PRESS ROOM: GRID NEWS THE XTREME DRAGBIKE ASSOCIATION'S 2020 SCHEDULE competitors and 22,802 race fans. The 2020 schedule was released, and like the 2019 season, it includes six events, begins in April and runs through September: PFR Spring Nationals, Maryland International Raceway April 24-26 MTC Summer Nationals, Virginia Motorsports Park May 15-17 Superbikes Showdown, Maryland International Raceway June 19-21 WPGC Bike Fest, Maryland International Raceway July 24-26 The Xtreme Dragbike Association had a tremendous Bike Bash, Virginia Motorsports Park August 21-23 2019 season. Over six events, the XDA series D.M.E. Fall Nationals, Maryland International averaged 730 drag racers per event with the largest Raceway September 18-20 race in July, yielding an overall attendance of 6,979. On the whole, the 2019 season saw a total of 4,435 For more information, please visit XDAracing.com.
THE 2020 MOTOAMERICA PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE The sixth season of MotoAmerica kicks off the weekend of April 3-5, 2020 in Austin, TX at the Circuit of the Americas. The ten-round season includes a new stop at Ridge Motorsports Park in Washington, and a return to an old favorite, Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana. The 2020 season wraps up on September 20, at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL 2020 MOTOAMERICA SERIES (PROVISIONAL) March 10-11 Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL (Preseason Test) April 3-5 Circuit of The Americas, Austin, TX April 17-19 Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA May 1-3 Virginia International Raceway, Alton, VA May 29-31 Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI June 26-28 Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA July 10-12 WeatherTech Raceway, Monterey, CA August 7-9 PITTRace, Wampum, PA August 21-23 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy, IN Sept. 11-13 New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ Sept. 17-20 Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL 24 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
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THE GRID
MOTOGP WITH B.T.
WORDS: B.T. IMAGES: COURTESY OF MOTOGP.COM 28 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
Brno, Spielberg
& Silverstone SEPTEMBER 2019 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 29
THE GRID: MOTOGP WITH B.T. GAMBLERS, HAYMAKERS
OVERAC HIEVERS
&
winner in the class.
On to the Spielberg Circuit in Austria or as everyone Sometimes when solving problems, a break is what calls it, the Red Bull Ring. Red Bull and KTM both hail you need. Step away from the problem, let the brain from Austria and are excellent hosts! With enough Red relax and then figure out the solution to the problem Bull on hand to keep the world awake, the Red Bull Ring is also the foster parent or stepdad to Ducati. from another angle. Although Mugello and Ducati are technically married, Yeah, that works in just about every other field except the Red Bull Ring is at least Ducati's mistress! Ducati MotoGP at the moment. The problem in MotoGP at the is undefeated at the Circuit since MotoGP began moment is Marc Marquez. He's winning everything arriving in 2016. This is a Ducati track! No pressure, in sight and quite frankly making it look too easy. No right, Ducati?! one is coming close to challenging the Champ and MotoGP at the moment, dare I say it, is looking a This was Custer's last stand if Ducati or specifically little like F1 with Lewis Hamilton leading the parade Dovi was to start challenging or have even a snowball's chance in hell of getting to within sniffing with no serious challengers. distance of the championship, they had to win here! Coming out of the holiday, the first track on the docket No pressure, right Ducati?! is the Brno Circuit in the Czech Republic. A circuit that has many lines and is a favorite amongst the The race day started ominously as once disgraced riders. This is a so-called Ducati circuit because of racer Romano "Last Chance at Life" Fenati scored his the long straights and where Ducati can make use of first Moto3 race win of the season. If you remember, their famed horsepower! The problem is that over the Fenati was kicked off of Valentino Rossi's Sky VR46 Winter, Honda worked on improving their horsepower Moto3 Team at Spielberg and was all but done in too, so... So much for that Ducati advantage and motorcycle racing in 2018 when, in a Moto2 race, most importantly, the runner-up in the championship he pulled the brake lever of a rival at full speed! Andrea Dovizioso. He needs a victory in the worst way. Otherwise, the championship could be sewn Some have never forgiven Fenati for that action and up by late September. Things were looking good for deservedly so, but talent sometimes outweighs morals. the Ducatis in practices until the qualifying day! A Romano Fenati is the F word of motorcycle racing. wet track that was quickly drying only to be outdone Speak his name in hushed tones. He is the O.J. again by mother nature, played havoc with the field Simpson of MotoGP! except for one Marc "The Champ" Marquez. After getting into a bit of a squirmish on track with Alex Moto2 was a crash fest that saw KTM rider Brad Rins, Marquez went onto a damp track with slicks and Binder give the hometown folk something to cheer as continued to ride the wheels off of that RCV Honda he literally held off attacks from everyone and gave even during a downpour that saw him take the pole KTM what may be their final victory in Moto2 as the and the souls of every rider on the grid! He was literally company plans to vacate Moto2 next season to focus Jason Voorhees from "Friday the 13th" on two wheels. on MotoGP. Only this time, he couldn't be stopped and went on to be unchallenged on Sunday in an otherwise MotoGP: Marquez looked to be more than motivated lackluster race that saw no real surprises. Dovi tried to after last week's butt whippin' at Brno as this is the only keep Marquez honest, but as Jason Voorhees does, circuit he has not claimed victory. Marquez looked Marquez slaughtered the field with his RCV Honda! hungry, but Dovi had a confident, sly smile that hid something. Like a kid that has a secret, he wants to It was a Marquez sweep as younger brother Alex tell it but he can't, Dovi seemed to brim with quiet won in Moto2, and Aron Canet regained the lead confidence. And why not? He had beaten Marquez in Moto3 by becoming only the second two time before at this same circuit. Ducati was undefeated 30 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
ARON CANET
ALEX MARQUEZ
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THE GRID: MOTOGP WITH B.T.
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MARC MARQUEZ
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THE GRID: MOTOGP WITH B.T.
ROMANO FENATI
BRAD BINDER 34 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
here, and he was on the front row after qualifying third.
But because Marquez is a G, he gave it all he had protecting the line going into the final turn. Finally, he If Marquez was Jason Voorhees, then Dovi was Freddy was in the position that Dovi was in previous years. Krueger because no matter how hard Marquez tries, at There was no way Dovi could win this. Or was it? least at the Red Bull Ring, Dovi will haunt his dreams. Marc left just enough of an opening, and Dovi ran up The race started with Marquez on pole and super inside Marc with a block pass that would've made freshman Fabio Quartararo lining up second, followed James "Bubba" Stewart proud! by Dovi. What happened next on a cool Summer day in Austria turned out to be an instant classic. Dovi ran Marc just wide enough into turn 10 that Marquez couldn't get it turned and accelerated quick In one of the few blunders for Marquez, he chose the enough, allowing Dovi to take the victory and leaving medium tyre and directly knew that was the wrong Marquez shaking his head in disbelief as he wheeled choice as he immediately dropped back as far as fifth. across the finish line in what was so far the race of For any other racer, this would've proved disastrous, the year! but we're not talking any other racer. We're talking about Marc Marquez! A racer who would block-pass These two will be forever linked to some of the best his own mother if he had to. racing MotoGP has seen in the past two years. Congrats to these combatants. The Championship The race was now on between Dovi and Marc. Props is still firmly entrenched in Marc's hands with a 58 go out to Fabio Quartararo as he managed a podium point lead going into the British GP. But with British and beat out Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales to weather, a bumpy track that is unforgiving at times to be the top placing Yamaha, on a bike that was sourly MotoGP riders and the return of Jorge Lorenzo, who lacking horsepower. knows what MotoGP has in store for us GP Geeks. And if it's even close to what transpired at the Red What Fabio Q did was nothing short of incredible Bull Ring, we could be in for another thriller, and that's by placing that bike on the podium. It'd be like me alright by me. getting a bronze medal in the 100-meter dash at the Olympics, with Usain Bolt getting the gold! Okay, GREAT RACE, WATCH, RINS REPEAT: maybe not that extreme, but you get the picture! MARQUEZ LOSES TO ALEX RINS IN A RIVETING SILVERSTONE GP! The race was now set. Marquez versus Dovi! The twowheeled Ali versus Frazier of our time, and if that's the At the Austrian GP, championship leader Marc case, then Spielberg was the Thriller in Manila! Both Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso served yet another riders traded leading this spectacle with the second MotoGP classic that came down to the last corner with place rider studying the leader. Desmo Dovi getting the best of Marquez, yet again! If you're keeping score, at Spielberg, Dovi leads 2-0! Marquez, at one time, while side by side with Dovi, looked over at his competitor, and although his shield As the series moved to Silverstone in Great Britain, hid his facial expression, I imagined Marquez had a the question on everyone's mind was, "How will the smile inside that helmet and was saying, "We doing newly repaved circuit be received? Can it withstand this again, huh?" the rain?" As last year's debacle was on everyone's mind, all those fears were put to rest after the first These two were like watching a prizefight with both day. "The track was great and grippy!" That was the fighters in their prime! Every time it seemed that consensus from all of the riders. The weather called Marquez would get the lead, Dovi would suck him for England to be "baking" for the weekend! And take back up like a three-year-old eating chicken noodle it from yours truly, who was there, England was hotter soup. Marquez had to know Dovi's medium rear tyres than a boiling tea kettle. as opposed to his soft rear tyres would be his demise. Could this track deliver the same classic that we saw SEPTEMBER 2019 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 35
THE GRID: MOTOGP WITH B.T.
ANDREA DOVIZIOSO
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THE GRID: MOTOGP WITH B.T. at Spielberg? Surely not! With the finish line mere in what amounted to a very, very scary-looking crash. meters from the final corner, it would be difficult for a Luckily, everyone walked away, pretty much okay. drag race to the finish, so surely it couldn't top what we witnessed at Spielberg. Or could it? The Race: Marquez grabbed the holeshot and looked to want to run away, but the powder blue Suzuki of Silverstone is a grand circuit of over 5.9 km and 18 Alex Rins had something to say about that. Rins, with turns. It favors no particular bike as it has everything: absolutely nothing to lose, proceeded to hound, harass long straights and flowing corners. Any bike on the and torment Marquez for the next 20 laps, even taking grid has a shot at the victory. the lead at times. What made this race great was the fact that Marquez has such an insurmountable lead in Moto3: In truth, Moto3 is that bar you go in knowing the championship (58 points at this time) that he could that there is going to be a fight. You just don't really afford to battle, not settle. As a race fan, this is what know who's going to walk out. This weekend, the we want. Not one to play it safe, go for it! You gotta boys seemed a bit tamer, and instead of fighting, love Marquez just for that simple fact alone! He's the it was more of a shoving match! A shoving match MotoGP equivalent to Mike Tyson! He's aggressive that championship runner-up Aron Canet got sucker and will definitely punch you in the face to get that punched and had to scramble from last because of victory, but on this sweltering Sunday afternoon in a crash. He managed to finish 13th and still keep August, it would be the Babyfaced Assassin who his championship aspirations alive as championship would meet his Buster Douglas! leader Lorenzo Dalla Porta was outfoxed by his teammate Marcos Ramirez for the victory but still The Suzuki is one of the best handling bikes on the maintains a 14 point lead in the standings. grid. It's cornering is second to none, and it is that cornering that would be to Marquez's detriment. With Moto2: The great thing about Moto2 is that it is a lap to go, Alex Rins attempted a pass on Marquez Moto2. Just when you think you got it figured out, on the outside around Woodcote! Gutsy? Well, duh! a monkey wrench is thrown into the mix, and that's But even more, was this a prelude to a move that exactly what happened! Championship leader Alex would be executed on the next lap? Marquez looked about ready to put his stamp of approval on another Moto2 victory, and then disaster Who knows? All I do know is that Marquez was riding struck as he crashed out, allowing the rest of the field a rocket with tyres that were failing him, but being the to slug it out for the victory and that's what they did. warrior he is, he fought bravely. When a fighter goes Brad Binder looks about as good as anyone in Moto2 for a knockout and can't get it, he realizes he's in a at the moment, Marquez excluded, but a slow start -- fight to the finish. The game plan is adjusted, and he by no fault of his own -- has Binder basically racing for prepares himself for the fight. A fight was what we got. race wins as he's too far back to challenge for a title. Marquez, losing traction, knew that Suzuki was going But surviving Binder's haymakers was Augusto to out-corner him, so he parked the bike in the corner Fernandez, who not only outslugged Binder but also and took away Rins' line. But it was not enough as Rins chased down race leader Jorge Navarro to claim his got a great drive out of Woodcote. Looking like he second victory of the season. was going to pass on the outside, Rins positioned the bike and passed Marquez on the inside and clipped MotoGP: Going into Silverstone, the buzz around him at the line in the fourth closest finish in GP history! the paddock was, "Will Quartararo finally get his first victory, or would Marquez and Dovi serve up another It was a brilliant move and hats off to Rins for going for classic?!" That question was answered less than thirty it. With Dovi's Crash, Marquez increased his lead in seconds after the race started as Quartararo, trying to the championship to 78 points, and the championship avoid a shaky Alex Rins, high-sided going into the first is pretty much a formality at this point. That's the bad turn, unfortunately, taking out Dovizioso in the process news. The good news is that with such a grand lead, 38 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
MARCO RAMIREZ
AUGUSTO FERNANDEZ
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THE GRID: MOTOGP WITH B.T.
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LESS THAN THIRTY SECONDS AFTER THE RACE STARTED AS QUARTARARO, TRYING TO AVOID A SHAKY ALEX RINS, HIGH-SIDED GOING INTO THE FIRST TURN, UNFORTUNATELY, TAKING OUT DOVIZIOSO IN THE PROCESS
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THE GRID: MOTOGP WITH B.T.
ALEX RINS
hopefully, we'll be seeing more all-out races such as The soon to be greatest of all time is nearing the Spielberg and Silverstone! No holding back. Just all nearly untouchable stage of his career. He's in a out! All race! zone, and the others know it. And that's why it's so satisfying watching him get beat. It's like watching But it is interesting to see how Marquez responds Tom Brady get a busted lip. Sure he's great, and to getting a bloody nose two races in a row! The you appreciate his greatness, but if you can watch Champ is the Champ! He's been phenomenal this Superman be brought back to Earth and standing in year, finishing no lower than second when he does line at McDonald's waiting on his fries like the rest of finish. He's gotten pole in 60 of his 120 starts! us, well... Who wouldn't want to see that? 42 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
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THE REV LIMITER: ON THE COME UP
DAVE EVANS, JR.
ADRIAN HACKETT
46 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
NAME: Dave Evans, Jr. HOMETOWN: Lorton, VA SPONSORS: RynoPower Supplements, ODI Grips, OGIO Bags, Spy Optics, Evans Coolant, Xtremely Fit, Skull Candy, Rokform, Motorcycle Factory Inc, Heavy Duty Racing, WER Suspension, Flywheel.com SERIES: AMA District 6/7, AMA All-Star Series ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Top 10 in points at District 6, 3rd place at Delta. Multiple Delaware Outlaw series Championships. 3rd in VA State BMX Championship. 4th in Daytona Road Racing. A handful of top 10's in F-USA Amateur Nationals Road Racing. GOALS: To consistently reach my full potential on the motorcycle every time I race the bike. DEFINE YOUR PASSION IN ONE SENTENCE: My passion is deeply seeded in the fight or flight of competition, primarily on two wheels.
IMAGES: COURTESY OF DAVE EVANS, JR.
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THE STRAIGHT LINE: ASPHALT & OPPORTUNITY
ASPHALT & OPPORTUNITY
WORDS: RUTH HARRIS AND.IMAGES: BRIAN AND JULIAN GLASCOE 50 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
Ruth Harris
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THE STRAIGHT LINE: ASPHALT & OPPORTUNITY
52 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
I'M A SEMI-PROFESSIONAL MOTORCYCLE DRAG RACER, MOTORCYCLE ENTHUSIAST, RIDER, OCCASIONAL MODEL, AND PERFORMANCE PARTS SALES MANAGER. Since I was a little girl, I have always had those sparkles in my eyes about all kinds of motorcycles. It never mattered the make or model. I appreciate flowing body lines, tasteful modifications no matter how mild or wild, even the totally absurd with eyecatching details that make you have to look to figure it out. I've always loved going to bike week and different shows to see all of the different styles and builds. I began riding at 15 and been having a blast since then while meeting new people and enjoying dodging potholes with the best of them.
I started drag racing bikes at 18, and boy has it been a ride! I raced for several years as a bracket racer, just trying to develop my skills, and I did fairly well. I won some and lost some, but gained lots of knowledge from my racing family and got to see so many places and new faces. Bracket racing is all about skill and running the exact same number every pass. It really takes a lot of focus and having a great machine to be competitive. The racers in this category are mostly veteran riders that know their stuff. I remember racing in my first Ironman event. I had a blast and was doing great until I got to the finals and ended up hitting my kickstand trying to shift, which cut the bike off and ultimately cost me the race and the winner's circle. Those rookie errors always seem to get you. I spent lots of time at the track on the weekends doing lap after lap trying to develop my skills. Several of the veteran racers took me under their wing and helped mold me into a better racer. I am forever grateful for them for taking their time to help me. One of the best parts of being a racer is that the majority of everyone around treats their fellow racers and competitors like family. I entered into the grudge racing side of the spectrum about six years ago. The idea of grudge racing is to be the absolute fastest you can be. Grudge racing is so much fun for a speed addict, but it gets expensive SEPTEMBER 2019 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 53
THE STRAIGHT LINE: ASPHALT & OPPORTUNITY
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"THE IDEA OF GRUDGE RACING IS TO BE THE ABSOLUTE FASTEST YOU CAN BE. GRUDGE RACING IS SO MUCH FUN FOR A SPEED ADDICT, BUT IT GETS EXPENSIVE QUICKLY. I ACCOMPLISHED SOME DECENT RACING TIMES AND SPEEDS ON A STREET BIKE THAT IS COMPLETELY INSANE." SEPTEMBER 2019 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 55
THE STRAIGHT LINE: ASPHALT & OPPORTUNITY quickly. I accomplished some decent racing times and speeds on a street bike that is completely insane. At one point, I was able to touch into the seven-second area in the 1/4 mile. I almost reached the 200 mph mark, which has been a long-time goal of mine. I went on to compete in several women-only shootouts. These events bring a huge crowd. I never thought being a female racer got as much attention as it does. It was empowering yet humbling to sit side by side with some of the quickest and fastest women in the southeast and go toe to toe in a Battle Royale. In July of 2017, I got married at my favorite racetrack. I was on cloud nine and a half. You couldn't tell me anything. I was fast. I was successful, and I was having the time of my life! Then when all seemed to be going great, I had a catastrophic structural failure in August of 2017. I totaled the bike and beat myself up pretty bad. The accident put me out of commission for the rest of the season. We had to rebuild the bike and give me time to heal, something no rider ever wants to have to do. We all seem to be rather impatient. But fast forward to today. I'm back at it having more fun than ever. My husband and I have rebuilt my crashed bike to be better than before. I've worked my way up to a separate more purpose-built race bike. I am now competing in several different series: the Manufacturers Cup series, Kings of Grudge, Major League Grudge series, as well as participating in local events. I landed a position on one of the most successful race teams in the sport and scored a few other major sponsors in the game, including Rob Bush Motorsports, 190hookup.com, Hickman Customs, and Vanson Leathers. Having some support on equipment and parts is huge in racing, especially if you are an owner and rider. I also managed to land a job with one of the best sport bike performance shops in the southeast, which is super cool. I get to work on bikes and sell parts to all my fellow racers and do a job I truly love. Bonus points: my boss is awesome! I'm looking forward to finishing what's been a great 2019 season with fun and sun. 56 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
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THE STRAIGHT LINE: ON THE COME UP
TANYA LOVETT
ADRIAN HACKETT
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BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
NAME: Tanya Lovett HOMETOWN: Seaford, DE AGE: 47 years old. SERIES: XDA Series. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Being respected as a good contender amongst fellow races as a female rider. GOALS: My goals are to move up to the 5.60 index class and to travel to different tracks outside the country. DEFINE YOUR PASSION IN ONE SENTENCE: Since being diagnosed in 2008 with multiple sclerosis my passion is to love, laugh and to live life to the fullest.
IMAGES: COURTESY OF TANYA LOVETT
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THE REV LIMITER: ON THE COME UP
HUSK LUCIYA JOJI TANA
ADRIAN HACKETT
64 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
NAME: Tana Luciya Joji HOMETOWN: Kottayam, Kerala, India AGE: 22 years old. AFFILIATION: StreetLordz Stunt Team. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Currently India’s Youngest Professional Female Stunt Rider. GOALS: In simple words, becoming a great stunt rider is indeed my goal. Stunt riding is a big world with lots of tricks and skills. It is certainly a long way to go, but I dream of conquering all of them. Also, down the line when I feel confident enough to teach another person, I want to start a stunt school, especially for girls. DEFINE YOUR PASSION IN ONE SENTENCE: Stunt riding makes me feel alive, and nothing else can give me the happiness, adrenaline and satisfaction that stunt riding does.
IMAGES: COURTESY OF TANA LUCIYA JOJI
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THE LIFE
THE INSIDE LINE
WORDS: DEVONNE DUERBAUM IMAGES: DEVONNE DUERBAUM 68 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
THE MANY WOMEN IN MY LIFE VICKI SMITH, everyone knows Vicki. And
if you don't, you've been missing out on life! Vicki Smith has been in the industry more than, well, everyone. She's the "O.G." of motorcycles and even female riders. Vicki is known for many things, from being the owner of ducati.net, which she founded in 1993, yes you heard right, 1993. She was the one who basically told everyone in the industry that the internet was going to be where it is now. Vicki has participated in many week-long endurance and touring events, such as the Motogiro d'Italia. She started Ducati Island at events and is still running them to this day! Vicki is an amazing woman, rider, and friend. I've been lucky to know her as long as I have, traveled with her everywhere for motorcycle events, including events where we rode Scramblers in Sardegna to driving an old school Panda Rally car that has participated in the Mongol Rally. Whether we are riding around in our home town, or another country, it's always an adventure! Sara Cole is another beautiful soul I've met. Sara lights up the room when she walks in. Sara is a beautiful, warm-hearted person, and can tear it up on the track. Sara's not only a rider, but she's also president of the Houston Ducati Club. I was lucky to SEPTEMBER 2019 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 69
THE LIFE: THE INSIDE LINE
meet her some years back at a MotoGP race, and ever since then, I can't get enough of her. Sara knows many people, which isn't surprising. She's constantly at events, throwing events, doing track days, and gets more seat time than anyone I know.
SARA COLE
Patty Castro and Marilou Gonzalo are two electric women. Patty used to be a Ducati president as well, but still rides and attends just as many events as she used to. When you see Patty and Marilou, you can't help to smile. They're such kind people, and the fact they love motorcycles just as much as I do is a given. Marielle is one of my favorite human beings. I met her at Silverstone at a pre-event for the weekend. We were sitting next to each other. She put on some perfume with a pleasant scent, so of course, I started talking to her about it. I'm not going to say we became best friends right away, because that isn't what happened. We kept seeing each other throughout the weekend, then it continued throughout the year at more races and eventually we became good friends. Now you may wonder why am I talking about her and nothing about motorcycles. I'm getting there‌ She's been in the industry for a few years now and really has a passion for it. She doesn't have a motorcycle nor rides every day, but she's learning, and that is what counts. When I walk around the paddock with her, or when we're out having dinner, she's always talking about motorcycles, and that is what I love. I love being able to continually carry conversations about what I love and having that other person feel the same way. Not everyone has to ride every day, race, etc. It's the passion that counts. There are so many women I know that share our love for motorsports, and this is just a few of them. The industry is no longer a male-dominated sport. Women are at an all-time high, and our growth will continue to skyrocket. For the women who aren't there yet, it's your time! Do what you love, have fun and ask for help if you need it. Many women and men are there to help. Motorcycling isn't just a sport. It's a family. 70 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
VICKI SMITH
PATTY CASTRO
MARIELLE
MARILOU GONZALO
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THE LIFE: THE LION'S DEN
THE LION'S DEN WORDS: LION JAMES IMAGES: LION JAMES 74 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
lost & found
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THE LIFE: THE LION'S DEN TODAY I went for a ride and got lost. In most
circumstances, getting lost would be a bad thing or a negative experience. That, however, was not the case for me. Let me back up and set the scene to paint a more complete picture. About a week ago, I had been going back and forth with one of my friends who rides, and she wanted to get out on two wheels as she had recently gotten her motorcycle fixed and doesn’t get to ride frequently. She wanted me to take her for a ride and show her some backroads and routes in our area to enjoy the road under our rubber and the breeze in our faces. Considering that it had been a while since I had taken a ride with no destination, I thought I’d rally the troops and put the call out to a few motorcyclists I know with whom I haven’t ridden in a while and who I thought could benefit from some quality pressure-free saddle time. As the weekend drew near, I had six people committed to riding with me, and I felt good about that number of bikes. I was looking forward to catching up with some friends I hadn’t seen in quite some time. I was ready for a spirited ride on some nice stretches of asphalt and most likely going to enjoy a roadside meal with my two-wheeled compatriots at some sort of gas station or convenience store. We had a good mix of new and experienced riders, cruisers and sportbikes, and even a stretched Hayabusa joining our motley crew of miscellaneous motorcycle misfits.
SBI Nation, you and I have spoken before about the therapeutic benefits of riding motorcycles, and we’ve also discussed the “solo mission” in great detail. This one was a little different. The ride was serene, the ride was contemplative, the ride was peaceful, and the ride was just what I needed. I didn’t realize how much I needed a ride alone until halfway through the almost five hour day atop my motorcycle. I was two and a half hours into the ride before I had even remembered that there were supposed to be other motorcyclists with me. It was about this same time that I realized that I had been riding in the same direction so long that I no longer knew where I was. Not recognizing my surroundings and simply lost in the moment, I found myself uncharacteristically comfortable with my current state. At first, I experienced a brief moment of mild concern because I had lost track of the turns I made, so simple backtracking would not have been practical. Then I noticed that I couldn’t recall the last time I saw a gas station. My plan when I set out alone was not to use my gps to get to a destination nor to return home (unless there was an emergency), and that was what I was planning on sticking to.
The scenery changed so much that I was constantly entertained by my surroundings and had plenty of time with just my thoughts and my bike. Sometimes my bike is the best listener I know, and I unload all my problems on my bike. The more lost I became, the more I realized how lost I was with regard to a few serious things I have been stressing over and giving a lot of attention to lately. I am typically a very decisive person and can plan, prepare, and execute with Saturday arrived, and not a single member of the confidence, but the past six weeks have seen me at group responded, showed up, or reached out to me a loss for what to do and how to do it. I’m honestly to let me know they were going to fraud on me and disappointed with myself for not thinking sooner to go why. Damn. The ride wasn’t even originally my idea. for a ride to clear my head and find what I needed. My friend asked me to ride with her, and I decided to make a day of it. The group ride was meant to On this ride, I found myself in the middle of a bicycle start in South Jersey and head down through the Pine marathon of sorts. I stopped by a public shooting Barrens, then we were going to end the ride at Clutch range (I will be revisiting that if I can find it again) Control in Philadelphia, PA, but it was looking like I and I became an unknowing participant in a street was on a solo mission now. race with a pair of muscle cars which made a lot of noise and beat me off the start but saw nothing but Since I have had a lot on my mind lately and I was in my ass and elbows in the twisties. Silly cagers, don’t need of some serious two-wheeled therapy, I decided you know us bikers love us some curves? I got to lean to go on the ride despite all the no-shows who ghosted the bike over and really open the throttle through a on me for our planned outing. series of twists and curves in a corridor of wooded landscapes to my right and left, which was probably 76 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
the most enjoyable part of the ride. And then as if a cosmic message from the universe to slow down, I rode clear through a small town with a police officer behind me the whole time undoubtedly running my license plate for anything he could use to pull me over which would have sucked considering I did not know where I was nor how long it would take anyone to come to pick me up should my bike be impounded. I got to see motorcycles, other bikers, and a motorcycle dealership I had never heard of before. I saw water and woods. I saw beautiful homes and farmland alike. I saw beautiful stretches of road and traversed gravel and dirt roads that were it not for the street signs I would have thought I was trespassing on private property. I got to hit triple-digit speeds and leisurely cruise through a small town. I listened to several podcasts and had conversations with myself aloud inside my helmet. At one point, I pulled over to piss in the woods and later ate surprisingly decent
fried chicken from a gas station. Of the many things I got to see and experience on this ride that started off as trying to salvage what was supposed to be a group ride, the most important thing I did was find clarity. I had to get lost to find what I was in need of. I started the bike in the afternoon with a problem and parked the bike later in the evening with a solution. I didn’t realize I was looking for the answer on this ride, but sometimes I suppose answers can find you. I had to get lost to find the answer and had to find my way home to put the answer to use. I lost my riding partners but found new areas to ride to and through. I lost all the stress that had been weighing heavy on my mind previously and found some peace at the controls of my motorcycle. I lost track of time and found out that I missed out on attending Clutch Control. Of all the things I lost and found, I found it most amazing that absolutely nowhere is exactly where I needed to be. SEPTEMBER 2019 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 77
THE LIFE: THE LION'S DEN
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THE LIFE: FEATURED RIDERS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
Naomi Morgan LOCATION: Manchester, UK OCCUPATION: I co-own a Harley Davidson customizing company with my partner. YEARS RIDING: 2 to 3 years. RIDING STYLE: Street. BIKE/S OWNED: Harley Davidson 883 Sportster. FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: My Biltwell Alumicore Grips and MX Style foot pegs really completed my build! It’s the little details. However, my fully blacked out and powder coated engine is what makes my bike! FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: My Dr. Martens! Nothing beats them! MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: A beautiful journey was from Rome to Naples. The scenery was breathtaking, and the Italian roads are crazy! I haven’t had the pleasure of riding much abroad and plan to explore a lot more, starting with America. Apart from that, I genuinely love my commute to our workshop. It’s through the City Centre and driving through the tall city buildings, the echoing off my shotgun pipes just makes me grin ear to ear! 80 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
Patricia Cauley LOCATION: Mount Holly, NJ OCCUPATION: Law Enforcement. YEARS RIDING: 8 years. RIDING STYLE: Street. BIKE/S OWNED: 2005 Suzuki GSXR-600 FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: Brock's Performance Exhaust. FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: Alpinestars Stella Boots. MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: 2015 Riding on the track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the fan lap of the MotoGP Race.
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THE LIFE: FEATURED RIDERS
Gia Martin LOCATION: Williamstown, NJ OCCUPATION: I currently do landscaping and construction, but I am in the process of becoming a firefighter. YEARS RIDING: Less than a year. RIDING STYLE: Street but would like to get into track. BIKE/S OWNED: Kawasaki Ninja 300. FAVORITE BIKE MODIFICATION/ACCESSORY: The color changing lights are my favorite part of the bike. FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: My cat helmet. MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: It hasn’t happened yet, but I will be riding to Graffiti Highway with my Canadian best friend. Then after, me and a group of friends will be riding around with LED purge masks on, that match the color of our bikes. 82 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
Yvonne "BabyFace" Stevens LOCATION: Philadelphia, PA OCCUPATION: TSA Agent. YEARS RIDING: 3 years. RIDING STYLE: Street. BIKE/S OWNED: 2004 Suzuki GSXR 600, 2007 Suzuki GSXR 1000. FAVORITE PIECE OF RIDING GEAR: I love my helmet. MOST MEMORABLE RIDE: My most memorable ride was to Virginia. Â
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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 84 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
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IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS
BREATHING LIFE
INTO A DYING SPORT
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IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS: BREATHING LIFE
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"I also have a responsibility to younger riders to speak up when I see them doing things that is a danger to themselves or others." IN A BIKER'S WORLD, living on two
is far more than a hobby. It is just a simple fact of life. So it's hard for die-hard riders to imagine that their way of life is steadily becoming a dying industry. While manufacturers have been pushing the limits of technology to build faster, more advanced motorcycles, riders to pilot those bikes are moving further and further away out of the fear of going down. With social media putting every off, down, and fatality in the palm of everyone's hands, and DMV requirements to obtain an M1 license being easier to get than ordering a Starbucks, it's no wonder that the public perception of a biker's life is one of sure and imminent death. So how do we show future generations that the sport we love is a lifestyle to embrace, not one to fear? To me, the answer is simple. If more riders embraced the mentality that until we are all Valentino Rossi, we have much to learn about how to ride a motorcycle properly, and learning how to be safe and confident on a motorcycle is far more important than how cool you look sitting on one. Then maybe, just maybe, we could revive the greatness that is bike life. SEPTEMBER 2019 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 89
IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS: BREATHING LIFE A huge draw to many bikers is the sense of community that comes with owning a bike. You're not just purchasing a set of wheels. You're entering into a world of shared passion, ridership, and unity, a lifestyle that turns strangers into immediate friends, and friends into family. But that also comes at a cost. Every rider makes a deal each time they throw their leg over their motorcycle, and that's to do their best to survive that ride to ride another day. But why then, do so few riders take the extra steps to receive education on proper bike mechanics and riding skills? It's almost inexcusable given how many schools, track organizations, and race tracks that exist these days. But instead, the focus has shifted to a culture of how cool do you look on your bike instead of how skilled are you at riding your bike. And yet so much scrutiny exists within the community on whether or not certain riders are "real riders." I don't ever like to sound like I'm lecturing, but I'm a huge advocate for riders seeking professional training and schooling and learning how to ride their bikes properly. I'd say the vast majority of accidents are caused by rider error or lack of know-how. It's easy for us to chalk it up at just an accident or blame the distracted drivers, but the way I see it, my life is in my hands, and I have a responsibility not to let anyone's poor driving affect my ride. I also have a responsibility to younger riders to speak up when I see them doing things that is a danger to themselves or others. Fostering an atmosphere of safety and keeping our fellow riders safe is the key to breathing life back into our sport. Whether you ride a sportbike, a cruiser, or off-road motorcycle, my ask is this: if you see another rider doing something "unsafe," offer some perspective to them on a better way to represent their bike life. You never know, you might just save a life and this sport that we love so much. 90 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
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"MY HEART BEATS RPMS. IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF ME NOW. IT’S MY PASSION. WHAT I LIVE AND BREATHE. ALL I CAN DO IS LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH MY INJURIES IN A WAY THAT STILL LETS ME LIVE MY LIFE RIDING BIKES."
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BR I T TANY NGUYEN SOUL SURVIVOR
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FRICTION ZONE: SOUL SURVIVOR
IN AUGUST OF 2017,
a drunk driver collided with Brittany Nguyen as she was behind the wheel of her car, ramming into her driver’s side door. Brittany’s car rolled three times. The list of injuries sustained include nine broken ribs, a lacerated liver, brain contusion with severe bleeding, a fractured (in two places) pelvis, a broken humerus, a collapsed lung, and a displaced spinal cord. Her universe would be forever changed. It was only in the prior summer of 2016 that Brittany began here life as a motorcyclist. After earning her motorcycle endorsement on her license, Brittany purchased her first bike, a spanking new 2016 Yamaha YZF-R3. “Freedom…” is how she describes the emotion that overtakes her when she is riding. “There’s a certain type of freedom that comes with that, from overthinking problems or stressing about what’s going on in your life. It is the one thing that takes me away from all the chaos and brings me to the place I feel most content and happy.” Brittany's journey into freedom as a motorcyclist came to an abrupt and brutal pause when she fell 96 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
victim to the drunk driver’s careless and reckless behavior. The bleeding on her brain continued for three days. While one lung collapsed, the other was full of blood. Her spinal cord was moved six millimeters, temporarily paralyzing her. She underwent spinal fusion surgery that included a metal plate and eight screws to stabilize her spine just so she could walk. Surviving the wreckage was only the beginning. Her road to recovery would be nothing short of a long, hard road out of the darkness of hell. Brittany defines the role of survivor as, “Someone that perseveres through the toughest of situations where most wouldn’t come back from. It means someone who will always prevail through the most difficult of times, and never give up.” Giving up or giving in clearly not in Brittany’s
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genetic code. After months of intensive physical therapy and even now monthly therapy, that will continue for the foreseeable future, Brittany has defied the odds. Not only has she survived, she is progressing in her physical and mental fortitude. “I didn’t want to let it take away any more of my life and happiness than it already has,” Brittany explained. “The impact my accident had on my riding street or track and especially learning how to stunt has been tremendous. I have a much higher risk than most people because of the bracket holding my spine in place. If the metal bracket is moved at all or injured in a wreck, it could potentially paralyze me for the rest of my life. Even in a small wreck it could damage the bracket. It frightens me at times thinking about that possibility but I decided I didn’t want to let my injuries and what happened to me define me anymore.” That’s correct. Brittany is more of a rider today than she was before the accident. She’s an avid street rider, track rider and an aspiring stunter with a small stable of bikes for her indulgence. She is learning to stunt on her 2018 Honda Grom while her fully kitted out 2004 Kawasaki Ninja 636 is waiting in the wings. Her everyday street and track bike? A 2005 Kawasaki Ninja 636. The stakes are high for Brittany. However her love and passion for all things two wheels are higher. With every twist of the throttle, Brittany risks losing everything… Literally, everything. Is it worth it? "The risks of what could happen if I wrecked, and potentially being paralyzed, is something I think about often. But I’ve came to the conclusion its worth it to me. When I tried to stay away from bikes right after my injuries, I was so depressed and it’s all I could think or dream about day in and day out.” Brittany continues to explain her addiction, “My heart beats RPMs. It is a SEPTEMBER 2019 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 99
FRICTION ZONE: SOUL SURVIVOR fundamental part of me now. It’s my passion. What I live and breathe. All I can do is learn how to deal with my injuries in a way that still lets me live my life riding bikes.” Living her life riding bikes is just what she has done. Brittany has built a foothold of supporters, including almost 85,000 followers on Instagram. She makes no qualms about the benefits of using social media to further one’s brand or broadcast their message. “I think it’s an amazing platform to capitalize on and get yourself out there, especially if you don’t know anyone. I’ve had so many doors open for me and been given countless opportunities I would have never gotten if it wasn’t for social media and trying to get the most out of my following.” Her understanding of the power of social media is broken down as such, “It’s about more than just posting a picture and having people like it. It’s about the influence you give them and the way they see the motorcycle world through your eyes. It’s such a great way to meet the right people and connect with everyone from around the world brought together by the love of bikes.” Influencer, brand ambassador and tastemaker, Brittany is not naive to the shady side of social media and the lack of respect from her male counterparts. “I am constantly shocked at how the majority of men in the motorcycle community still belittle female riders’ knowledge and don’t take us seriously in the bike community. We constantly have to do more track days, do better wheelies, and have better bikes to have an ounce of the respect a male rider would have.” She laments, “In my opinion, it is a major problem that needs to change. It’s like men are threatened by us so they feel the need to constantly say how little we know about bike maintenance, how we only ride for attention or barely ride our bikes at all.” Her suggestion, “While I can’t speak for everyone, I can say, most of the time, that isn’t 100 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
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"IT BLOWS MY MIND THAT PEOPLE EVEN CARE WHAT SOMEONE ELSE DOES WITH THEIR OWN BIKE. LET THEM LIVE THEIR LIFE AND RIDE HOW THEY WANT TO WITHOUT THE CRITICISM OF SOMEONE WHO HAS NOTHING BETTER IN THEIR LIFE THAN TO TRY AND BELITTLE OTHER RIDERS."
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the case. But even if it was, it blows my mind that people even care what someone else does with their own bike. Let them live their life and ride how they want to without the criticism of someone who has nothing better in their life than to try and belittle other riders.” Brittany Nguyen has been through the ups and downs of life. The depths of despair that she has experienced, may have been overwhelming for many and past the point of return for most. However, Brittany is more than a survivor. She’s a rider that puts it on the line every time that she throws a leg over her bike. Unwilling to take the loss, she’s fought her way back through recovery and is focused on the ride that matters most… Her ride. “If you want something bad enough you’ll always find a way to make it work. And that’s exactly what I’m doing.” SEPTEMBER 2019 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 105
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FRICTION ZONE
YOU LEAD A CLUB OF GUYS ON MOTORCYCLES? 108 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
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FRICTION ZONE: A CLUB OF GUYS
I'm at a dinner party... During the conversation, we were discussing our hobbies, and I said that I ride motorcycles and run the local Ducati club. After a look of surprise, they say, "You lead a club of guys on motorcycles? Impressive." On my way home, I thought about their response. In my mind, I'm just a passionate rider that loves to organize rides and events for a group of other passionate riders. I never put too much thought into that because I'm a female, that it's impressive. Riding a sportbike was something I always wanted to do since I was a young teenager, but the stars didn't align until 2004. At that time, I was already a wife and mother, but that was not going to keep me from pursuing my passion for riding. I believe about only 10% of women were riding in the 2000s, so it was not a popular hobby for us. Right after I completed the motorcycle course, I bought a used Honda CBR 600. I remember the gentleman selling me the bike was hesitant and suggested I start on a smaller bike. In my mind, he was squashing my dream that I have been waiting for so long. His suggestion was probably 110 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
practical, but I was determined to ride a sportbike, and that's what I did. Six months later, I got my dream bike, a Ducati 749 Dark, and I have been riding Ducati superbikes ever since. In 2014, I had the honor of becoming the President of the Houston Desmo Owners Club. Some may think that being a female President, I would have to deal with a lot of egos, but it has been the complete opposite. The guys in our club have been nothing but super supportive of me. Respect, in my opinion, is something that you earn. And I feel that respect was earned from the members once they saw I was genuinely passionate about riding and the success of the club. We have all grown to be very close friends over the years, and the club has become my second family. One of the most significant benefits of being a female in a male-dominated club is that I feel I have over four hundred brothers that are protective and have my back. I'm not sure because I'm a woman, that I necessarily have a different way of leading. Like
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FRICTION ZONE: A CLUB OF GUYS MY MAMA BEAR MODE MAY COME OUT AT TIMES BECAUSE I LOOK AT EVERYONE AS FAMILY, AND I CARE DEEPLY FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY AND WELL BEING. I WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL WELCOME NO MATTER WHAT SKILL LEVEL YOU ARE AS A RIDER.
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any successful club or organization, it would not be possible without the support of a team, which I'm lucky to be able to lean on. My mama bear mode may come out at times because I look at everyone as family, and I care deeply for everyone's safety and well being. I want everyone to feel welcome no matter what skill level you are as a rider. During rides, you will most likely find me riding towards the front of the pack getting my adrenaline rush. But if I see we have a new member who is also a noob, I will slow down with them and make sure they don't feel pressured to keep up with the group.
the utmost respect. We all see each other just as Ducatisti. I am proud to ride a motorcycle where the manufacturer is continually working on ways to reach out to more female riders. I recently read an article that said that women are now almost 20% of the motorcycle market! That makes me very happy to hear that women are discovering this exhilarating hobby and how exciting and liberating riding a motorcycle can be.
Since being part of the Houston DOC and getting more into track days, I started sharing my journey on social media. An unexpected thing started happening. I was getting messages from other Even within the Ducati community, I and the other women and men, on how my posts and videos few female Presidents, have been treated with inspire them. That was so humbling because I 114 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
never saw myself as being an inspiration to others. I just wanted to work on improving my riding skills and better myself while sharing my passion and love for the sport. I am now more aware of the type of message and pictures I share online. I try to set a good example and highlight safety in my content. It is important to me to continue to earn the respect of other riders
outside of my local community and to be seen as an equal passionate rider. I hope I can show that no matter what your gender, age, or background, that you can do whatever you set your mind to. Always try new things and keep learning. If you are passionate about something, you will find the determination to succeed at it. Just remember that your bike doesn't know who's riding it, so be ready to hang on and enjoy the ride.
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THE PRESS ROOM: INDUSTRY NEWS
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THE NEW ISH ICON MOTOSPORTS • MERC AZUL JACKET
The Merc Azul waterproof jacket features integrated nylon paneling and a full D3O impact protector suite in the elbows, shoulders and back. The Merc Azul has a storable hood, oversized kangaroo pockets, and pit zips all in a durable textile chassis sized in a woman's relax fit. Size: XS - XXXL Price: $195.00 Contact: www.rideicon.com
BIKEMASTER • REVOLVER BAR END MOTORCYCLE GRIPS Aluminum insert with Revolver CNC design in bar ends for a custom look. High-quality rubber for comfort and grip while riding your motorcycle. Sold as a pair for 7/8" bars. Colors: Black, Red, Blue, Silver Price: $21.95 Contact: www.bikemaster.com REV'IT! • SKY LS LADIES SHIRT The Sky LS Ladies shirt is specifically tailored to the female body. You get a great fit with all the features you expect from a base layer. A simple but highly-effective way, no matter what sports or leisure activity you are undertaking, is to wear a so-called push-pull base layer under your high-performance sports garments. A base layer that quickly transports moisture through the fabric, away from the skin, spreading quickly over the outside of the fabric where it can more easily evaporate and/or be wicked away through the next layer, provided that’s a functional layer, as well. Sizes: XS - XXL Price: $64.99 Contact: www.revitsport.com 118 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
BROCK'S PERFORMANCE • ADJUSTABLE KICKSTAND FOR THE KAWASAKI Z900RS Are you worried about your lowered Z900RS falling over? The adjustable kicktand from Brock's is specifically engineered for the Z900RS. It works with the OEM kill switch, springs anf mounting hardware. It fetaures six points of adjustability from the stock height to a lowered height of minus two and a half inches. With its dual radius foot design, consistent ground contact is ensured at all points of adjustments. CNC machined from aerospace grade billet aluminum and mil-spec black anodized finish with stainless steel hardware. Price: $189.00 Contact: www.brocksperformance.com
ALPINESTARS • STELLA SMX-6 V2 DRYSTAR BOOT A waterproof and breathable performance boot for track and street that is anatomically profiled for an optimized women’s fit, the CE certified Stella SMX -6 V2 Drystar has been carefully designed to give you a crucial performance edge in the form of protection innovations, improved ergonomics and comfort features. Colors: Black/White/Fuschia Sizes: 36 - 43 Price: $299.95 Contact: www.alpinestars.com HOTBODIES RACING • MGP STINGER EXHAUST FOR THE YAMAHA YZF-R3
The MGP Stinger exhaust for the Yamaha YZF-R3 packs a big sound and plenty of benefits into a small package with an affordable price. The Stinger’s small-canister design and matte carbon fiber finish are inspired by the aesthetics of modern MotoGP bikes for a polished, yet minimalist appearance spawned at the racetrack. A special surfacing process gives the stainless-steel end caps a titanium like luster and the small details like black anodized canister rivets complete the stealth appearance. Price: $299.95 Contact: www.hotbodiesracing.com SEPTEMBER 2019 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | 119
THE NEW ISH JOE ROCKET • CLEO 2.2 JACKET Modern styling, feminine tailoring, extreme adjustability, and cool graphic detailing make the Cleo 2.2 a serious, yet feminine piece of riding protection. The Cleo 2.2 is spotlighted by its free air mesh ventilation at the torso, arms, and back as well as a removable waterproof, zipper secured full sleeve liner. You'll find CE approved armor at the elbows and shoulders and a removable high density back protector. To further the functionality of the Cleo 2.2, Joe Rocket has installed a waterproof audio device pocket and integrated cable port, a nine point sure fit adjustment system and an 8 inch zipper at the waist plus 4 belt loops for jacket to pant attachment. Colors: Black/Black, Wine/Black/Black, Silver/Black/ White, Purple/Pink/Black Sizes: XS - 2 Diva Price: $179.99 Contact: www.joerocket.com
SPORTBIKE CHIC • THE CHARLOTTE MOTORCYCLE PURSE The Charlotte a is functional purse with detachable straps that is also able to adhere to the motorcycle tank via magnets. It features a clear, touch-screen compatible pouch that allows map placement while in transit, compartments for organization and powerful magnets that allow for a strong and secure hold to your motorcycle fuel tank. The Charlotte is equipped with water resistant zippers to protect your valuables, interior shielding to protect your belongings from the magnetic effects, and a water resistant shell that protects the bag from the elements.
MUC-OFF • MOTORCYCLE CARE DUO KIT
The Muc-Off Motorcycle Care Duo Kit covers Stage 1 and 2 in the Muc-Off cleaning system. Our award winning Nano Tech Motorcycle Cleaner cuts through dirt, mud and grime quickly and safely without the need for acids or dangerous chemicals. Our unique formula is also 100% biodegradable so it's safe for your bike and the planet. Price: $26.99 Contact: www.muc-off.com 120 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
Price: $99.00 Contact: www.sportbikechic.com
SCORPION EXO • WOMEN'S KLAW II GLOVE The Klaw II is a comfortable goatskin leather glove armed with TPU molded knuckle protection, pre-curved palm and fingers for grip comfort. The leather provides abrasion protection as well as good grip, while the hard knuckles and padded areas protect against impacts. Sizes: XS - XL Colors: Black, White Price: $54.95 Contact: www.scorpionusa.com
AGVSPORT • IMOLA DONA SUIT Like the famous Italian race track it is named for, the AGVSPORT Imola Dona suit, racing heritage makes it an overachiever. For 35 years AGVSPORT has been competing on two wheels and we have put that lineage into the Imola Dona suit with all modern features. Mil-spec stitching, CE approved EN 1621-Level 1 protection on the shoulders, elbows, shins/knees, exterior metal armor, pre-curved arms and aero hump. Colors: Black, Black/White, Black/White/Blue, Black/White/Fuchsia, Black/White/Neon Red Sizes: 38 - 48 Price: $749.99 Contact: www.monkeymoto.com
PUIG RACING • Z RACING SCREEN FOR THE 2020 BMW S1000RR
Manufactured in 3mm high impact acrylic, resistant and long lasting material. Thanks to its double height, 40mm higher than the OEM screen, the effect of air hitting on the helmet will be greatly reduced. Colors: Blue, Carbon Look, Dark Smoke, Smoke, Black, Red, Clear Prices: $95.95 - $112.39 Contact: www.puigusa.com
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THE NEW ISH: FEATURED ITEM ARAI HELMETS • REGENT-X SENSATION BLUE FROST HELMET
The all-new Arai Regent-X is designed to isolate you from distractions with the kind of comfort only Arai can deliver. Built with the same protection as their flagship Corsair-X model, the Regent-X features a new interior for both comfort and ease of taking it on and off. The Regent-X features ther latest Facial Contour System (FCS) cheek pad design – articulating pads that move up and down when you put on and take off the helmet, then wrap around your face to provide a comfortable and snug fit that also reduces noise. These pads also feature recessed pockets for easy speaker installation, and provide the room needed to prevent the speakers from putting pressure on your ears for maximum comfort. The Regent-X uses Arai’s newly developed Peripherally 122 | SPORTBIKESINCMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019
Belted Complex Laminate Construction shell. For the Regent-X, a new resin was developed that’s more cost effective, but does not add weight or compromise protection. A one-piece multi-density liner, tuned with varying densities according to the position and volume of each given area within each shell size, provides protection where it’s needed most, and allows Arai to make a compact helmet that puts protection first, and is as aerodynamic and light as possible. Sizes: XS - XXL Price: $689.95 Contact: www.araiamericas.com
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D3O - THE MOST ADVANCED, BREATHABLE PROTECTION FOR RIDING
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