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Jan 24
Love0

Boss of Cycle Source Empire Steps Up

By General Posts

by Chris Callen

There is true Motorcycle Passion behind each Issue, fueled by Motorcycle Nuts

Click Here to read this Feature Article on Bikernet.com

Bandit, after reading your article, I realize two things: I have been fortunate to take part in this ride with you. Two, more specifically towards the content of the state of the magazine article, we are in a great place…. Kinda!

You see, in the hay days of the motorcycle culture, when things got crazy big and popular culture fell in love with us, there was money for the corporations to come in and dominate our culture, especially the space in print. But the problem for them was the very thing that fuels this lifestyle, and that is passion.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Click here to get your Kickstart today

May 25
Love0

XDA Racers Beat the Heat at the MTC Summer Nationals

By General Posts

The XDA’s 36th Annual MTC Engineering Summer Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park was hot on and off the track this past weekend, with temperatures in the high 90s.

XDA racers got the Trifecta in track prep at VMP’s world-renowned facility, with Tyler Crossnoe, Jimmy Bradshaw, and Jason Miller all on hand for this event. The track prep was on point and done right to keep the surface in optimal shape as the warm temperatures wreaked havoc on the racing surface.

Orient Express Racing Pro Street
Orient Express Racing Pro Street was incredible as the performance numbers were shocking for this unseasonably warm event where tack temperatures exceeded 140 degrees. Rodney Williford and Justin Shakir lead qualifying with big numbers. Williford ran a 6.415 at 232.03 mph to qualify number one, followed by Shakir with a 6.484 at 230.57 mph.

In qualifying Gaige Herrera on the only nitrous motorcycle reset his record to 6.588, and then went on to lower that ET to a 6.535 in eliminations. Herrera holds the title as the quickest Nitrous Hayabusa in the World.

Rudy Sanzoterra also lowered his personal best in qualifying to a 6.653 to move himself up the GOAT List.

Greg Wallace ran a 6.486 and 6.468 in eliminations, but surprisingly the 6.468 did not turn on a win light as Rodney Williford ran a 6.420 in the semi-final round to end his weekend.

Jason Dunigan and Gaige Herrera both ran a 6.56 and 6.55 in round two of eliminations and looked to put on a good show in the semi-final. However, Dunigan turned on a -.002 light to send Herrera to the final against Williford.

Herrera and Williford faced off last season and Herrera was looking for redemption as he took the starting line advantage with a .036 reaction to Williford’s .057. However, Herrera wasn’t out in front for long as Williford barreled around him and stayed out in front of him to put an astonishing 6.396 at 232.03 on the board that Herrera’s 6.572 could not compete with.

The Pro Street action continues in just one month at the 5th annual FuelTech Superbike Showdown on June 17-19, 2022 at Maryland International Raceway.

DME Racing Real Street
The DME Racing Real Street class was again led by champion David Stewart in qualifying with a 7.615, followed by Rickey Gadson with a 7.625.

David Stewart made it to the semi-final, where fellow class champion Mark Hylton took him out on a holeshot win with a .004 reaction time, running a 7.618 to Stewarts’ quicker 7.564.

Ben Knight, who won the season opener, made it to another final round after taking wins against Caleb Holt and David Fondon.

Hylton and Knight on their all motor Hayabusa’s, seemed unaffected by the heat of the weekend as they kept their performance numbers up round after round. Knight cut an uncharacteristic .108 light in the final, giving Hylton’s .059 light the starting line advantage. With Hylton getting off the starting line first, Knight struggled to catch him, and Hylton took the win with a 7.15 to Knight’s 7.667.

MaxxECU Pro Xtreme
Ronnie Procopio entered his first MaxxECU Pro Xtreme race this past weekend and dominated like a veteran. Procopio qualified #1 with a 3.970, putting the only three-second pass on the boards during qualifying.

Procopio had an earned bye in round one. In round two, he won over Chris Cutsinger to place himself in the final to John Collins, who qualified number two with a 4.032. Collins took wins against Travis Davis and Chris Theodoridis before the final.

Despite the heat, these two machines had the potential to put three-second passes on the boards in the final round. It was looking to be a good round of competition, but Collins turned on the dreaded red light with a -.004. The red light did not slow either competitor down as Procopio, with the secured win, ran a 3.961, and Collins came close with a 4.002 pass.

MaxxECU Pro Xtreme is presented by Billy Vose Racing, Fast by Gast, Dunigan Racing, DME Racing, Grothus Dragbikes, Harley Haul, Rob Bush Motorsports, Robinson Industries, Schnitz Racing, Timblin Chassis, and Worldwide Bearings.

HTP Performance Super Stock
For the second straight event, HTP Performance Super Stock had us feeling like it was Déjà vu. Again, Curtis McDougald took the #1 qualifying spot with an 8.867 to lead the eighteen-bike field of clutch hand racers.

Mike Davis and Darion Payne fought their way back to another final round appearance. Payne took the win at the first event, and Davis was eager for his turn in the winner’s circle, a little too eager as he left before the bulbs dropped to hand Darion Payne his second straight win of the season.

Vance & Hines 4.60
The Vance & Hines 4.60 class didn’t disappoint at the MTC Summer Nationals with five rounds of tough competition. Six racers ran a 4.60 in qualifying, but Jeff Jones got the #1 qualifying spot with his high mph of 150mph as the tie breaker.

Mac McAdams won against Troy Hausmann, Spencer Allen, Michael Stewart, and Jimmy Shifflett to make it to the final round. On the other side of the ladder Joe Rodney took wins over Durwood Rawlings, Brayden Davis, Wes Hawkins, and Kenny Cornell.

With two big names in the final round, it all came down to who was hungrier. McAdams cut a .004 to Rodney’s .022, but Rodney caught McAdams quick, and they were side-by-side approaching the eight-mile finish line. Rodney may have been too hungry as he broke out, crossing the finish line first with a 4.592 to McAdams’s 4.615. The margin of victory on this run was .005 seconds.

HTP Performance Grudge
The rain came in on Saturday night and put a swift end to Saturday night grudge racing. The Tommie’s Motorsports DMV Bulls class decided to split the purse as some racers couldn’t run on Sunday. The APE Nitrous Bulls class and the 3 Sixty 5 Transport Monster Bulls classes voted to finish their shootouts on Sunday.

Boosted Bulls
Malcom Phillips was the only rider that came to win at Virginia and was uncontested. That didn’t stop ‘Billy Mays’ from laying down some lightning-fast laps that left everyone in disbelief while he gained valuable points towards his championship.

APE Nitrous Bulls
In round one of APE Nitrous Bulls, Busa Benjamin on ‘Mister Jay’ got the jump on Lavar Delee on ‘High Roller’, but by the eighth mile, Delee was hard-charging around him for the win light. Malcolm Phillips on ‘Black Jesus’ got an easy win over DeSean Jones on ‘Jimmy Hendrix’ when he broke on the starting line. And Desmond Spalding on ‘Sho Nuff’ had an earned bye in round one.

Spalding was fighting wheelies in round two from start to finish as Phillips controlled pass turned on the win light to send him to the final to face off with Delee who had a bye this round.

‘Black Jesus’ said a prayer in the final while ‘High Roller’ threw the dice. Phillips got off the line first and stayed in front of Delee until the finish line for the win, proving prayers over gambling is always the way to go.

3 Sixty 5 Monster Bulls
3 Sixty 5 Monster Bulls was a ‘Flawless Victory’ delivered by Antonio Williams. Williams put the voodoo on his opponents who struggled in the rounds they faced him. In round one ‘Tik Tok’ struggled to get off the line; in round two, ‘Pickin Pockets’ suffered the same fate. And then, in the final when Williams faced Jamael Jones on ‘Stimulus Check’, Jones left before the bulbs came down to give Williams his first XDA win with a leisurely cruise down the track.

Tommie’s Motorsports All Motor Shootout
Tommie’s Motorsports put together an All-Motor Shootout on Friday night that Edward Thomas on ‘Da Setup’ won over Henry Wise on ‘Henry’.

1 Stop Speed 5.60
The 1 Stop Speed 5.60 class was on fire at the MTC Engineering Summer Nationals as the lanes were packed for a chance at the eight-mile title. Steve Holden qualified on top with a 5.604, leading the thirty-three bike field.

When Sunday eliminations started, nothing stopped sixteen-year-old racer Brayden Davis from making his mark at his first XDA event. Davis took out big names on his way to the final with wins against Mike Sweeney, Dave Cornell, Stephen Moye, and Jimmie Miller. In the final, he would face class champion, Dustin Lee. Lee put a .006 light on the tree for the starting line advantage to Davis’s .040, but when it came to covering those six hundred and sixty feet, Davis would clear it first, running a 5.606 to Lee’s 5.656. It was an exciting final as Brayden Davis’ margin of victory was a mere twelve inches over Lee.

Mickey Thompson Tires Top Sportsman
Mickey Thompson Tires Top Sportsman features the quickest ET racers on the property. Bill Maturo Jr took the number one qualifying position with a 7.741. Maturo, however, would not survive round one as he broke out against Orlando Johnson with a 7.701 on his 7.73 dial.

George Shriver and Jim Shifflett survived four rounds of competition to face each other in the final. The final was set to be a close race with Shriver dialing an 8.04 and Shifflett an 8.17. However, Shifflett gave the win to Shriver at the starting line when he turned on a -.009 red light to end his chance for a winner circle finish.

MPS Racing Pro ET
In MPS Racing Pro ET, the competition saw red in the Virginia heat. The first round saw a whooping twenty-one red lights as racers pushed the tree for that starting line advantage. James Farmer and Nick Hamlett won their seven rounds from their side of the ladder to meet in the final round of competition for a bar vs. no bar final.

Hamlett dialed an 8.77 and Farmer an 8.16. Farmer got the starting line advantage with a .020 light to Hamlett’s .060. Farmer left second but quickly caught Hamlett for a side-by-side race to the finish. As the two took the stripe, Hamlett broke out, running an 8.757 giving the win to Farmer, who ran an 8.172.

VooDoo Components Bracket Bash
Over a hundred racers braved the heat and entered the Saturday VooDoo Components Bracket Bash class. Four rounds of competition were completed until the rain came in and shut down the race Saturday night. Ten racers split the prize money and started their Saturday night celebrations early.

Brock’s Performance Street ET
In Brock’s Performance Street ET, the competition was at its best despite the high temperatures of the event. Class champion Derrick Milbourne started the weekend off with a win on Friday night and carried that right into Sunday’s competition. After winning six rounds, he faced Shayne Proctor in the finals. Proctor dialed a 9.14 and cut the better light with .033; Milbourne left the tree second with his 8.81 dial and chased Proctor down to get to the stripe first, winning with an 8.834 to Proctor’s 9.178.

Hard Times Parts & Service Gambler’s Race
The Friday night Hard Times Parts and Service Gamblers race kicked off the weekend, putting cash in sportsman’s pockets. Derrick Milbourne and Rico Brown won five rounds to make it to the final to face each other. Both riders were cutting lights and running well on their dials to make this a tremendous final-round matchup. Dialed an 8.86, Milbourne, a veteran racer, cut a.004 light for the starting line advantage. Brown dialed an 8.76, and chased Milbourne to the stipe but broke out running an 8.758 giving the win to Milbourne, who ran an 8.887.

For full qualifying and round-by-round results of the event, visit www.xdaracing.com.

The XDA will head back to Maryland International Raceway for the 5th annual FuelTech Superbike Showdown on June 17-19, 2022.

There will be over 700 Professional, Sportsman, and Grudge motorcycle racers in competition, battling it out for over $80,000 in cash purse. Make plans now to watch the best drag racers in the country put on the quickest and fastest show on two wheels the East Coast has to offer.

About XDA Racing: The Xtreme Dragbike Association (XDA) is an east coast motorcycle drag racing series with 700+ motorcycle racers competing at each event. Every XDA event hosts professional classes, sportsman classes, grudge racing and a vendor midway. Lifestyle activities such as bike shows, bikini contests, DJ and live bands are also held at select events. For more information on the XDA, please visit xdaracing.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube @xdaracing

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May 20
Love0

NHDRO’s Three Race “Trilogy” Was Fast Fun in Sun

By General Posts

The Midwest’s largest motorcycle drag racing series—NHDRO—kicked off their 2022 season with the Midwest Race Trilogy—three full races over three days at West Salem, Ohio’s beautiful, sunny Dragway 42.

NHDRO motorcycle drag racing series race coverage report
event: NHDRO’s Midwest Race Trilogy
when: May 13-15, 2022
where: Dragway 42, West Salem, Ohio, USA

Friday Shootouts

“I love the three races in one weekend,” said defending two-class champion Jeremy Teasley. “Because you normally mess up, so you got two more shots. But I ended up winning the first day over my buddy Dave Page. We left together, then his bike had problems.”

Teasley actually had a small .018 advantage over Page at the tree in Friday night’s Schnitz Racing Top Gas 8.20 all-no-bar Shootout final, and was able to cruise across the stripe when Page’s Suzuki Hayabusa went off song at 1000 feet.

“It was a good weekend at the track seeing everyone,” continued Teasley. “The weather was perfect and (NHDRO owners) Brian and Niki Welch did a great job.”

The event also served as a celebration of life for Page’s wife Rhonda, who passed away May 5thafter a courageous battle with cancer. Rhonda, you are missed.

Friday’s Big Show Shootouts were 100% payback races, and in addition to Schnitz Racing Top Gas also included NHDRO Road Course, Delay Box and No-Box Shootouts.

Tom Klemme and Jeremy England ran an awesome wheelie bar (Klemme) vs. no-bar Box Shootout final. In his new root beer and orange leathers, Klemme took the tree by a scant .004 on his matching KZ900 and ran .004 over his 8.84 dial-in for the win.

The No-Box Shootout also came down to a wheelie bar vs. no-bar final, and was also won by a Klemme—Tom’s bother Joe. He faced Teddy Thompson, usually known for riding a slow streetbike to considerable bracket racing success. On this occasion, however, Thompson was riding a piece with a 9.52 second dial-in. He took the tree with an .011 against Klemme’s .058, but broke out while Klemme won dead-on with a .007.

“The win Friday night was great, especially since as a team my brother Tom and I won two of the three shootouts that we entered,” said Joe Klemme.

“The rest of the weekend wasn’t quite as successful (for us). There is some very tough competition out there. That is a good thing and that’s what keeps us coming back.

“As far as the three races in one weekend, I think that is a no-brainer. All the other expenses remain the same. The second and third races are expense free besides entry fees and race vehicle maintenance.

“As always I would like to thank our team KPM: Tom Klemme, John Mealy, and Tim Genung, for everything they do.”

The NHDRO Road Course (instant green, no-time class with road course requirement) final was close for a moment, as a mere .003 separated Carlo Testa and Justin Hodge at the tree. But after that it was all Testa, who took the win by a wide margin.

“It was such a great weekend,” said Testa. “I’ve invested a lot of time and effort, not to mention all the money, into my craft, and the education I’ve received has come by way of all the lumps I’ve taken along the way. I’ve been going to a Dragway 42 since I was in diapers, so it was extra special this past weekend when I got my first win at that race track.

“I knew going in I had as good a chance as anyone of winning the Road Course Shootout. The bike has been so incredibly reliable and consistent for the past four years that I felt I could lean on it a little bit harder and give heads-up racing a shot. It made my job much easier knowing all I have to do is line up straight and cut a light, and the bike will make a clean A to B pass damn near every time.

“I was very lucky to have the help of a great group of teammates: Nino Zana, Joey Brandgard, and Jerome Gordon. Without them I might even forget to put fuel in the bike.

“I want to thank Brian and Niki Welch and family for their hard work and commitment to us racers. Their events are ALWAYS first class. Without folks like the Welch’s, Man Cup’s Jay Regan, and SDBA’s Sonny Vick, motorcycle drag racing wouldn’t be where it is today. Thank you also to Ron and Mary Anne Matcham, and their entire staff for such a great race track. They really make me feel like family every time I’m there. I’m hoping this is the first of many wins to come at my home track, Dragway 42.”

Saturday and Sunday

Testa and his no-bar ‘Busa went on to runner-up in Saturday’s Top Gas final against Bradley Shellhaas and his wheelie bar Kawasaki. Shellhaas took the tree .022 to .047 and went unchallenged from there.

“I was fortunate enough to have several family members travel there to watch this weekend, so those wins always feel more special,” said Bradley. “It also was my son’s ninth birthday, so he provided me with the luck when I needed it. No winlight was possible without my dad (Brad) building the most reliable and consistent antique that a rider could ever ask for. That bike makes my job easier and myself more confident than I ever should be on the track.”

No-Bar Shootout runner-up England nailed a .007 Bond Bulb on O’Dell Williams in Sunday’s Top Gas final, offsetting Williams’ 8.209 ET for the win.

“This weekend was a great start to the season for me,” said England. “I showed up Friday with my new bike and I hadn’t had a chance to use the nitrous much this season. So Friday morning, me and David Ligouri worked diligently to make the bike happy using nitrous, and within a couple runs it was working great. So I took a swing at 8.20 and went 8.177 at 179 mph.

“I left that tune alone and used it all weekend. It ran 8.16-8.18 all weekend long. This is my first no-bar Top Gas bike and I couldn’t be happier with it, showing up and winning the first weekend out. With a runner-up Friday in the Box shootout, 9.30 semifinal on Saturday, Pro ET semi and the Top Gas win on Sunday, I feel pretty good about my performance.

“I have the FuelTech plug ‘n play harness from David Ligouri and Ryan Schnitz, and man has that turned out to be a phenomenal system them guys created. I owe a huge thanks to David for his efforts with my motorcycle, Dave Page for building me a top flight engine every time, Marcus McBain for a killer shock combo, Dustin Lee for unbelievable clutch support, and Tim Hailey for being here with excellent coverage of the event.

“The next NHDRO is in my backyard at Edgewater Motorsports Park and I cannot wait to be there.”

Jeremy’s brother, Andrew “The Big Island” England, gave up .028 at the tree but still pulled out Saturday’s MPS Pro ET win against Perry Sowers in the final.

“Was a blast like always,” Andrew said about his weekend. “My first big win in the NHDRO and I was super pumped about it. Could not have done it with out the help of my dad Butch, my mom Anita, and my bother Jeremy. Had a hard road to get there, a lot of .00 stripes. Just lucky it fell my way.”

Not that he needs much luck, but Greg Mallett received heaps of it on Sunday. Kyle “Dolemite” Dolamore redlit by -.003 in the MPS Pro ET final, and David Beshara made it even easier for Mallett in the MTC Super Comp final when his bike pulled through the beams on the 2-step. That made for two wins for former Top Gas champ Mallett.

“Being the first race of the year for me, I really struggled Friday and Saturday,” said Mallett. “My lights weren’t consistent and I wasn’t riding well. I knew I needed to improve on Sunday or I’d be going home early. I worked a little harder, had a few lucky rounds, and things fell into place.

“It’s always helpful to have Dustin Lee, David Liguori, and Dan Rudd help me with my program. Those guys are the best at what they do!

“Dragway 42 is a great facility. I always enjoy racing there. Brian, Niki, and their crew do a top notch job at every event!”

Defending two-class champion Marty White also scored two wins at Dragway 42, both of them in M2.Shocks 8.70 Quick Street

Saturday’s Quick Street final was a true battle of titans—White vs. veteran rider Big Joe Holt. The champ’s .015 advantage at the tree was pretty much all he needed, as both bikes ran 8.73s to give White the win.

Sunday’s QST final was like a replay for White, but with a different bike and rider in the other lane. Eric Yost gave up .024 at the tree, ensuring another White win when both bikes ran 8.77s.

Young Chanston Moll was able to take the tree and the stripe against Sunday’s Super Comp runner-up Beshera in Saturday’s MTC Super Comp final.

“It was awesome to just get out there and have fun with family and friends!” said 20 year-old Moll. “The bike was super consistent every pass. I knew as long as I kept cutting a good light then I would be able to make it rounds. I also couldn’t have done it without all the help from Crow and Jeremy Teasley. They’re awesome, always there to help out when I need it!”

Jim Swanger grabbed an .044 advantage at the tree against Justin Blackford to give himself some easing room at the stripe for Saturday’s Advanced Sleeve Dirty 30 win.

Sunday’s Dirty 30 race was closer, with Jeff Hall taking the tree by .016 against Drew Nearhoof, who ran a click closer to the number with a 9.35. Still, Hall’s 9.36 took the stripe in the 9.30 index class.

“I’ve been following NHDRO since 2010, have been in many finals and semifinals, and have been number one qualifiers in several events, and this is my first win,” said Hall. “Been a long time coming. My goal was to win one of these races with a THC (True Hand Clutch) bike, and I finally did it.

“I would like to that Dave Page for building my motors throughout the years. If it wasn’t for him this wouldn’t be possible. He takes care of us at all costs. Would like to thank my son Jaden Hall for all the hard work and countless hours helping me work on these machines. And would like to thank Brian and Niki Welch for providing us with the series and continuing to put on the events for us to race in the Midwest. And of course, would like to thank the man Tim Hailey for the amazing photos and awesome coverage!”

Kevin Adams didn’t find the Friday success he was looking for but came through on Saturday for the Kevin Dennis Insurance Street ET win. Kevin’s 9.32 dial-in had to wait over three seconds on Jim Messing’s 12.55, but Adams did his job well with a .126 advantage at the tree that virtually secured the win.

Cincinnati’s Jay Hunter had an easy Street ET final round on Sunday when opponent Josh Costa redlit by -.012. “The track was great, the crew was real good, can’t wait till the next one,” said Hunter, a man of few words.

Riding his dad Ryan’s turbo ‘Busa, Trevor Schnitz was able to win Pro Street on what is essentially a well-tuned Top Gas bike. Schnitz took the tree with a sharp .013 and breezed to a 7.74 at 183 mph win while final round opponent Rob Aston spun in the other lane on his proper PST turbo ‘Busa.

“It was surreal,” said Trevor. “It was not only great to race in the class, but to win the class felt like a dream. I had a lot of help from many amazing people, the most important being my dad and grandfather (Dave). They have helped me grow and become a great racer. Trust me, this is just the beginning.”

VooDoo Grudge was seriously curtailed when heavy showers shut the track down for the night just before dark on Saturday night.

Pro Ultra 4.60 fell short of the number needed to run the class, but champion Dan McCarten won a run-off against Heath McQuinn.

Niki and Brian Welch are excited about the #NHDROohiosummer and are looking forward to seeing every member of the NHDRO family at the APE Raceparts Summer Reunion at Edgewater Sports Park just outside of Cincinnati on July 15-17.

NHDRO thanks M2.Shocks , Kevin Dennis Insurance , MPS Racing , Liguori Drag Racing , Schnitz Racing , Voodoo Custom Motorcycle Components , Vanson Leathers , BB Racing , Hard Times Parts and Service , MTC Engineering , Grothus Dragbikes , Klemme Performance Motorcycles , Green Bay Anodizing , Advanced Sleeve , Rock Auto and APE .

This report was prepared by Tim Hailey. Enjoy everything there is to read, see and watch about motorcycle drag racing and more at https://www.eatmyink.com

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May 12
Love0

XDA Rolls Into Virginia to Heat Things Up

By General Posts

Maegan Bowers

On May 20-22, XDA takes Motorcycle Drag Racing back to Virginia Motorsports Park for the 36th annual MTC Engineering Summer Nationals.

XDA offers a quality show with over 700 professional, sportsman, and grudge motorcycle drag racers in competition. This season XDA will payout over $500,000 in purse money and a $130,000 contingency fund that spans all classes. This event alone will pay out over $80,000 in cash purse to the best showcase of racers the country has to offer.

With the combined efforts of Jason Miller’s and Tyler Crossnoe’s track prep on VMP’s billiard table smooth racing surface, racers will continue to reap the benefits of the best-prepped racing surface with the XDA series.

With a great track surface, the east coast’s grudge drag racers will be able to put down the fastest passes you will see in the grudge scene. XDA’s elite Running of the Bulls Saturday night grudge event features Boosted Bulls (Turbo Bikes), APE Nitrous Bulls (Nitrous Bikes), 3 Sixty 5 Transport Monster Bulls (Heavyweights), and Tommie’s Motorsports DMV Bulls. And at XDA these racers need to be on point because the schedule is set and the track is on point, NO EXCUSES. Along with the Running of the Bulls, Saturday night action also includes the HTP Performance Afterdark Underground Grudge Racing class and Pro Qualifiers!

And when we say Pros, that includes the Orient Express Pro Street motorcycles. These are the baddest street tire motorcycles in the world that can only be seen at XDA events. The 650+ horsepower motorcycles feature turbocharged, supercharged, and nitrous injected motorcycles running at speeds over 230mph in the 1/4 mile in just 6-seconds!

Champion Rodney Williford grabbed the reigns at the season opener and looks to be comfortably in control of the top spot. But the MTC Summer Nationals already has an additional eighteen riders on the roll call ready to knock him off his thoroughbred. With a great weather forecast for the event, make your plans to be in the stands to watch these guys do the unthinkable on street tires.

DME Racing Real Steet has a new sheriff at the top of the leaderboard, with Ben Knight making a domination appearance on the Ralphie Navarro all-motor Hayabusa. Class champions David Stewart and Mark Hylton had a few bumps in the first race, but they are ready for a shootout on the quarter-mile next weekend.

Mid-west racer Chris Cutsinger is leading the MaxxECU Pro Xtreme class championship chase after an opening-round win and blazing 3.99 pass in the finals. After finishing a race on top he will be eager to throw some more three-second passes on the scoreboards next weekend at VMP.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, the HTP Performance Super Stock class is wide open for a new champion this season. Darion Payne is leading this class of stock wheelbase, clutch hand racers by twenty points. This class features strict modification rules, stock wheelbase, stock motor, MR12 spec fuel, no air shifters, no dataloggers, etc. So if you enjoy a riders class, these guys and gals will give you a show.

The 1/8th-mile killers of the Vance & Hines 4.60 continue to show out as these remarkable machines can put down consistent numbers while their pilots are cutting the best lights over all the classes at every event. With full 32-bike fields at every event, the riders of our quickest index category must make a calculated play for the win light with only 660 feet of asphalt to work with. Veteran Michael Ostrowski comes into the MTC Engineering Summer Nationals as the points leader, but will he remain there after all is said and done Sunday night with a hungry contingent of riders nipping at his heels?

The XDA will also hold competition in the 1 Stop Speed 5.60 Index, Mickey Thompson Tires Top Sportsman, VooDoo Bracket Bash, MPS Racing Pro ET, Brock’s Performance Street ET, and the Friday night Hard Times Parts & Service Gambler’s race. XDA offers up to $28,000 in guaranteed payouts for sportsman racers at each event, all while giving them a safe and professional environment to compete in.

With over 700 of the best motorcycle drag racers from across the world, a massive vendor midway, thousands of enthusiastic fans, legendary track prep, top-notch media coverage, a dedicated team of XDA officials and excellent track partners; the XDA continues to raise the bar as the measuring stick of motorcycle drag racing. You don’t want to miss any of the exciting action this season.

Visit www.xdaracing.com/summernationals for event information, class rules, payouts, entry fees, schedule, and more.

About XDA Racing: The Xtreme Dragbike Association (XDA) is an east coast motorcycle drag racing series with 700+ motorcycle racers competing at each event. Every XDA event hosts professional classes, sportsman classes, grudge racing and a vendor midway. Lifestyle activities such as bike shows, bikini contests, DJ and live bands are also held at select events. For more information on the XDA, please visit xdaracing.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube @xdaracing

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Mar 01
Love0

New FIM Supercross World Championship planned

By General Posts

MUBADALA CAPITAL BACKS SX GLOBAL
TO LAUNCH NEW FIM SUPERCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Queensland, Australia (March 1st, 2022) — Mubadala Capital, the asset management subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company, one of the world’s leading sovereign investors with US$243 billion of assets under management, today announced its investment in SX Global, an Australian company established to develop, promote, and commercialize the FIM Supercross World Championship.

Mubadala Capital has established a track record of successfully investing in category leaders across sports, media, and entertainment—including EMI Music Publishing, Endeavor Group Holdings, Reigning Champs, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network (YES Network), among others—and this investment continues its history of backing world-class management teams in building differentiated global sports, media and entertainment businesses.

Mubadala Capital’s investment will support SX Global’s expansion plans for supercross and its efforts to capitalize on the exclusive rights it has secured from the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) to manage and promote the new FIM Supercross World Championship, bringing the exciting sport of off-road motorbike racing to fans across the globe in a new competitive format.

“Our commitment to SX Global and the FIM Supercross World Championship builds on our strategy and track record of selectively investing in premier content properties with strong global appeal,” said Adib Martin Mattar, Head of Private Equity at Mubadala Capital. “We expect that our investment in SX Global will introduce the exciting sport of professional supercross to a global audience and build lasting value by delivering an authentic, exciting and fan-centric experience.”

SX Global’s President, Tony Cochrane, added, “We’re proud to partner with Mubadala Capital, a company that shares our vision and global aspirations for the FIM Supercross World Championship. With the international reach, resources, and business building experience of Mubadala Capital alongside us, we’re looking forward to establishing FIM Supercross World Championship as a leading global motorsport and entertainment property.”

Representing Mubadala Capital on the SX Global Board of Directors will be Matt Kim and Russ Pillar, who collectively bring decades of experience backing and leading global sports, media, and entertainment companies. They will be joining Tony Cochrane, SX Global’s President; Adam Bailey, SX Global’s Managing Director (Motorsport); Ryan Sanderson, SX Global’s Managing Director (Commercial); Tom Potter, Rush Sport & Entertainment; and Tavo Hellmund, Founder, Event Partners Marketing, on SX Global’s Board of Directors.

In December 2021, the FIM awarded SX Global the exclusive organisational and commercial rights to stage, manage and promote the FIM Supercross World Championship. Under the leadership of the SX Global Team, and with the financial backing and support of Mubadala Capital, Supercross will become a true global sports property, competing on a legitimate international platform for the first time in history. The FIM Supercross World Championship will commence in late 2022.

For more information on the FIM Supercross World Championship visit https://fimworldsx.com/
For more information on SX Global visit https://sxglobal.com/
[ For Mubadala Capital interview requests, please contact Salam Kitmitto (sakitmitto@mubadala.ae) ] [ For SX Global interview requests, please contact Gus Burrows (gus@amemanagement.com.au) ]

Mubadala Capital

Mubadala Capital is a wholly owned asset management subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company, a leading global sovereign investor headquartered in Abu Dhabi. In addition to managing its own balance sheet investments, Mubadala Capital manages over $10 billion of third-party capital on behalf of institutional investors in all its businesses, including three private equity funds, two early-stage venture funds, a public fund, and two funds in Brazil focused on special situations.

Mubadala Capital and its affiliated entities have a long track record of owning and/or operating globally recognized sports, media, entertainment and premium content and services properties including EMI Music Publishing, Endeavor Group Holdings, Reigning Champs, Ultimate Fighting Championship, and the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network.

SX GLOBAL – BOARD

Matt Kim – Non-Executive Board Member
• Matt Kim is a Senior Principal at Mubadala Capital and leads the team’s sports, media and entertainment investment activities. He possesses over a decade of investment experience, and prior to joining Mubadala Capital, Mr. Kim was an investment professional at Bank of America Capital Advisors, where he focused on evaluating private equity investment opportunities globally.
Mr. Kim graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Entrepreneurship and is a CFA charter holder.

Russ Pillar – Chairperson
• Russ Pillar is a Senior Advisor and Operating Partner of Mubadala Capital where he initiates, evaluates, and manages investment opportunities globally. He is a tenured sports/media/consumer CEO, with executive roles across the Virgin Entertainment Group, Prodigy Internet, the CBS Internet Group, the Viacom Media Group, the Los Angeles Marathon, and Reigning Champs, among others.
Mr. Pillar previously held directorship roles for more than three dozen private and publicly traded sports, media, retail, entertainment, and technology/tech services companies. A Phi Beta Kappa cum laude graduate of Brown University with an A.B. in East Asian Studies, he also is a Henry Crown Fellow at The Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

Tony Cochrane AM – President
• Tony Cochrane’s passion and experience forge a formidable combination and have ultimately resulted in some unforgettable milestones in entertainment and sport generally over the past 45 years both in Australia and on the global stage.

Over the past 45 years with partners and solo, Tony has produced and promoted over 400 sporting and entertainment events throughout the world, sold in excess of 25,000,000 tickets with gross sales exceeding two billion dollars, and written nearly $250,000,000 in sponsorship sales.

In his time as Executive Chairman of V8 Supercars, Tony Cochrane was considered the founding father of the ‘modern’ era of motor racing in Australia, the touring car category that was arguably amongst the world’s best. During this period, V8 Supercars had an extraordinary rise to the top of sport within Australia and on the world motorsport scene. It became a multi-million dollar industry under his strong leadership. His credits and performance in world motorsport are uniquely recognised both in Australia and overseas. He holds an FIA acknowledgement and an Order of Australia for his contributions.

Adam Bailey – Managing Director – Motorsport
• Adam’s experience in Supercross began as a competitor in the early 90s. He established an athlete and event management agency in 2005 that represented some of the most respected athletes and brands in this space. These networks led to valuable and unique international industry relationships.

Launching AME Management with Ryan Sanderson in 2012, the duo combined their experience to establish a boutique sports marketing agency in Australia and launched AUS SX Holdings and the AUS-X Open event in 2015. The events went on to achieve sell-out crowds annually for five years including the successful creation and expansion of the FIM Oceania Supercross Championship into New Zealand in 2018 and 2019. Adam leads key aspects of brand creative strategy, content, industry partnerships, international talent and operations.

A creative marketer, many of Adam’s unique PR, marketing and content strategies have helped see the events become recognised and respected, globally.

Ryan Sanderson – Managing Director – Commercial
• Ryan spent five years at V8 Supercars Australia under Tony Cochrane’s reign. In Ryan’s tenure as Sponsorship Manager, he serviced some of Australia’s largest sponsorship properties, managing over 20 V8 Supercars Championship partners, with over $22M in annual spend.
Ryan and Adam launched AME, a sports marketing agency together in 2012 and then sold-out Supercross events in Australia & New Zealand from 2015 – 2019.

Ryan secured major commercial partnerships for both AUS-X Open & S-X Open Auckland Supercross events including Monster Energy, Australian Tourism & State Government funding, Boost Mobile, Michelin, Komatsu, Castrol & Repco/NAPA. Ryan developed leading entertainment, fan engagement and innovative commercial experiences, as well as international TV broadcast distribution including IMG, Seven Network, Fox Sports Australia, CBS, Eurosport & Fox Asia to over 382 million homes.

Ryan brings a unique skillset to SX Global and has extensive international broadcast, promoter and commercial partnership networks globally.

Tom Potter – Non-executive Director | Europe
• Tom is a former racing driver, and a commercial veteran of the McLaren and Williams F1 Teams. Tom founded Rush Sport & Entertainment in 2010 which has grown internationally to become one of the most successful businesses in motorsport sponsorship and marketing services whilst also delivering record-breaking deals for other major entertainment properties such as The Rolling Stones. Rush is responsible for placing over $700million sponsorship of F1, Formula E and IndyCar properties since 2016 alone. Rush has helped identify, structure, negotiate, activate and measure sponsorship investments for brands including Petrobras, Mercedes-Benz, Prudential, IHG, Marriott, Avis, Renesas, Adecco (Modis), Progressive and Saudi Aramco.

Few can boast the level of energy, insight and understanding of global motorsports’ commercial landscape and entertainment value. Tom is an expert at leveraging sports marketing and the sports business environment to create value and accelerate growth.

Tavo Hellmund – Non-executive Director | North America
• Tavo Hellmund was the founder of the FIA Formula-1 United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, the co-founder of the FIA Formula-1 Mexican Grand Prix and a co- founder of the Circuit of the Americas race track in Austin, Texas. Tavo Hellmund has been the founder and President/Managing Partner of Full Throttle Productions, LP, Event Partners Marketing, LLC, Grand Prix Partners, LLC and Tavo Hellmund Inc. since 1994.

These companies manage and provide event project management, day of event oversight, staffing/volunteer services, venue planning, consulting and logistics support, marketing, sales, sponsorship, public relations and consultation services for sporting and special events around the world. Tavo Hellmund’s global event production experience includes brokering, sanctioning, producing or promoting over 150 sporting and entertainment events, which have generated more than 1.5 billion dollars in sales.

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Dec 07
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Triumph Collector Stumbles Across Ultimate Collectible, the 1901 Prototype

By General Posts

from https://www.autoevolution.com/ by Daniel Patrascu

At the turn of the last century, a time when horse-drawn carriages turned into automobiles and bicycles into motorcycles, most of the companies active back then wanted a piece of the new action, and turned their businesses around to include the production of the new mechanical wonders.

So did a British enterprise that went by the name Triumph Engineering, which used to make bicycles. Which, if you come to think of it, are just like motorcycles, only without engines, hence easy to re-make.

And that’s exactly what Triumph did with one of its bikes, fitting it with a Minerva engine and opening the doors to a history that has spanned so far for 120 years. That production motorized two-wheeler came to be in 1902, but as you can imagine, a prototype had to be made before that. A prototype that, like many others of its kind, was considered lost for a long time, despite rumors surrounding its existence floating around.

Extremely conveniently-timed, the first 1901 Triumph motorcycle prototype just resurfaced, having been uncovered by a collector named Dick Shepherd, and put back into the spotlight by the company itself.

According to the available details, attesting to the motorcycle’s authenticity are the engine number, “consistent with references in Minerva’s engine records of a 1901 first Triumph engagement,” and a “letter from Triumph, dated in 1937, that outlined the bike’s unique origins and provided key details.”

As far as we understand, the bike was uncovered some time ago, as the collector had time to restore it.

“As a lifelong passionate fan of the history and achievements of this incredible British brand, to have discovered this amazing survivor and restored it to the glorious condition it would have been in when it first went on display in 1901, has given me an immense amount of satisfaction,” Shepherd said in a statement.

The prototype will be, of course, included in the celebration events the British company has planned for next year, and it will be shown, together with the millionth Triumph manufactured in Hinckley, in a special display being set up at the factory.

PRESS RELEASE

4 DECEMBER 2021 – An amazing historic find, discovered and restored by leading vintage Triumph collector Dick Shepherd, the 1901 Prototype rewrites the history books, adding a whole new chapter prior to Triumph’s official sales starting in 1902.

Long rumoured to exist and referenced within advertising and reviews that appeared in 1901, this first Triumph prototype was developed from a standard Triumph bicycle, with an engine provided by Belgian manufacturer Minerva, in order to generate interest and gauge the public’s demand for a Triumph motorcycle.

Dick Shepherd said “Having been approached by a friend of a collector, who had sadly recently passed away, to evaluate an old Triumph I was incredibly excited to discover that the bike they had featured unique details that were not present on the first production Triumphs. Along with the bike, the collector had also received a letter from Triumph, dated in 1937, that outlined the bike’s unique origins and provided key details.”

“With an engine number that is consistent with references in Minerva’s engine records of a 1901 first Triumph engagement the historic significance of this motorcycle became incredibly clear.”

“As a lifelong passionate fan of the history and achievements of this incredible British brand, to have discovered this amazing survivor and restored it to the glorious condition it would have been in when it first went on display in 1901, has given me an immense amount of satisfaction.”

First unveiled at the UK’s Motorcycle Live show the 1901 prototype will feature in dedicated event at Triumph’s Factory Visitor Experience on the 14th December, where the machine will be ridden in public for the very first time in over 100 years.

This incredible, historic motorcycle will then be on display, alongside the millionth Hinckley Triumph, in a new, specially created 120-year anniversary display, hosted within Triumph’s Factory Visitor Experience.

The Triumph Factory Visitor Experience is free to visit and is located at Triumph’s HQ in Hinckley, England and is open daily Wednesday through Sunday, from 10am – 4.30pm.

Dec 06
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Norton Motorcycles unveils new Café Racer bike

By General Posts

from https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/ by Enda Mullen

The V4CR, a derivative of the company’s V4SV superbike, will go on show at Motorcycle Live

Legendary manufacturer Norton Motorcycles has revealed a prototype of a new motorcycle. The V4CR, is a Café Racer derivative of the company’s V4SV superbike.

It is the first prototype to be designed, engineered and built at the company’s recently opened global headquarters in Solihull.

It shares the same engineering DNA as the superbike, including its 185bhp 1200cc V4 engine as well as some engineering advancements.

Norton said the new V4CR’s stripped-back appearance showcases the craftsmanship and quality behind one of the most powerful British café racers out there.

Fitted with a carbon fibre fuel tank and body panels, polished billet aluminium swingarm and frame, the V4CR also features compact framework and a shorter rear frame for an aggressive and commanding stance.

Norton Motorcycles’ CEO Dr Robert Hentschel said: “The prototype VC4R is the next step in Norton’s strategic growth plan on its journey to becoming the world-leader in luxury hand-crafted motorcycles.”

The V4CR prototype is Norton’s latest project to use the marque’s refined V4 platform, revised over the last 16 months by a team of 30 engineers and subject to tens of thousands of road and track miles, as part of Norton’s development process.

The V4CR reintroduces fans to Norton’s iconic café racer heritage.

Norton’s V4CR prototype will make its public debut at Motorcycle Live, taking place at the NEC in Solihull from December 4-12.

Norton formally opened its Solihull headquarters in November this year.

The motorcycle maker has a long and illustrious history, though fell on hard times before being revived.

It became one of the most iconic British motorcycle brands, manufacturing famous models such as the 650SS, Atlas, Commando, Dominator, Manx, Navigator and many more.

It gained a reputation as an innovator in motorcycle technology, with features combining lightness and strength in motorcycle racing.

Norton Motorcycles has a rich history in motorsport and the brand name is synonymous with the famous Isle of Man TT.

The new headquarters in Solar Park, Shirley, is home to design, engineering, purchasing, sales, marketing, and support teams – as well as the skilled production team that is resuming the manufacture of motorcycles.

Norton Motorcycles’ revival and relocation from Castle Donington comes after it was acquired by TVS Motor Company, India’s third-largest motorcycle manufacturer in April 2020.

Dec 05
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BSA Motorcycles Unveils Their First New Motorcycle

By General Posts

from https://www.rushlane.com/ by Pearl Daniels

BSA Motorcycles has showcased their new motorcycle under the leadership of Mahindra owned Classic Legends

A few days ago, BSA Motorcycles had officially announced their return via social media. The same was also retweeted by Anand Mahindra, helping stir up enthusiasm among BSA fans across the world. Now, their first motorcycle has been officially unveiled.

Birmingham Small Arms or BSA has officially mark its revival, with the unveiling of their first new gen motorcycle under the ownership of Classic Legends.

The new BSA motorcycle was showcased at an exclusive event in Birmingham UK.

Images are credit to BSA Motorcycles Facebook page.

BSA Goldstar 650
This new BSA motorcycle is likely to be called as Goldstar 650. It will be on public display at the upcoming Motorcycle Live show in Birmingham, UK being held from 4th-12th December 2021. BSA Goldstar 650 is likely to be powered by a single cylinder 650cc engine and will rival the likes of Royal Enfield 650 Twins in the UK and other markets hopefully.

It may be recalled that BSA Motorcycles became defunct in 1970s but with Classic Legends, a Mahindra subsidiary, in-charge of the BSA project since 2016, the brand gets revived with more focus on international markets. Classic Legends acquired BSA for approximately Rs. 28 crores.

With this announcement made, Classic Legends has lost no time in readying their new motorcycle. Test bikes have been spied on test in Pune, India. These bikes could also be produced in India at the company’s plant in Pithampur with exports to commence from early next year.

BSA Goldstar 650 – More details
Classic Legends has set up a technical and design center in Banbury, Oxfordshire followed by assembly of new motorcycles at the BSA facility in Midlands. This new BSA motorcycle will be positioned in the premium bike segment. It will boast of a classic design with the character of old BSA bikes but with modern underpinnings. It is set to go on sale in the UK first, but could also make its way to India.

The new 650cc will continue to exude a retro theme. It receives a rounded headlamp with integrated DRLs, LED tail lamp, tear drop shaped fuel tank and wide set handlebars. It will also get broad fenders at the front and rear. It will sport spoked wheels wrapped with Pirelli tyres. Extensive use of chrome is seen across its body, from headlamp to fuel tank extending to its exhaust pipe and engine casing. An elongated seat and an upright riding position will show off its retro theme.

Engine specs on the new BSA Goldstar are likely to include a 650cc motor making 47 hp power and 40 Nm torque. The engine will be liquid cooled to comply with future emission standards. It will receive disc brakes at the front and rear along with dual channel ABS as standard.

In other news, BSA Motorcycle Company has received a grant of 4.6 million GBP (Rs 45.20 crore) from the UK Government to develop zero emission motorcycles. These are being developed at the company’s R&D center in the Midlands, UK with production set to commence soon.

Nov 28
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BSA Motorcycles Global Debut Date Announced

By General Posts

from https://www.rushlane.com by Satya Singh

BSA motorcycles will first be launched in the UK for a reason – as the brand has sizeable fan following in the country

Looking to replicate the level of success achieved with Jawa motorcycles in India, Mahindra-owned Classic Legends will soon introduce BSA brand in UK. The formal unveil event is scheduled to take place at the Motorcycle Live Show in Birmingham, UK.

Classic Legends will be revisiting BSA’s origins to establish a better connect with the brand’s glorious past and its ambitious resurrection in 21st century. It will be interesting to see how enthusiasts in UK, Europe and other global markets respond to the return of the legendary motorcycle brand.

BSA motorcycle details
BSA has plans to manufacture both petrol-powered and electric motorcycles. The first BSA motorcycle could be petrol-powered, equipped with a 650cc motor. Among the rivals will be Royal Enfield 650 twins that have emerged as popular options in several global markets.

BSA motorcycles will be manufactured at the company’s facility in Midlands. The company will also setup a technical and design centre in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

BSA electric range could be introduced next year. Classic Legends has received a grant of £4.6 million (~ INR 46 crore) from UK government for setting up an R&D centre. This facility will focus exclusively on developing electric motorcycles. It’s imperative for BSA to focus on electric segment, as many European countries are aggressively targeting a complete shift to electric ecosystem.

Speculations
To ensure it retains its old-world charm, BSA motorcycle will focus on retro styling. It is expected to have features like round headlamp, tear-drop shaped fuel tank, flat and wide handlebar and broad front and rear fenders. Some variants could be equipped with spoke wheels for enhanced retro experience. L

Liberal use of chrome can be expected on parts like headlamp, fuel tank, exhaust pipe and engine casing. To target enthusiasts with contemporary tastes, specific variants could be introduced in blacked-out theme.

Neo-retro styling used in combination with blacked-out theme almost always results in a gorgeous looking bike. Jawa Perak is a good example, which fascinates a broad spectrum of motorcycle enthusiasts with varying tastes and preferences.

It is unlikely that BSA motorcycles will be introduced in India soon. A key reason is that the brand has better chance of success in UK, where the motorcycles were produced and gained popularity. Second reason pertains to legal aspects, wherein BSA Cycles is already functional in Indian market. This may present trademark issues if Classic Legends decides to launch BSA motorcycles in India.

For Indian market, Classic Legends will continue to focus on Jawa and Yezdi motorcycles. The range will be expanded to enable improved competencies against primary rival Royal Enfield. Upcoming bikes include a new Jawa cruiser, Yezdi Roadking scrambler and Yezdi Roadking ADV.