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Showing posts from June, 2007

Hardware: Supermoto Catch Cans

These days, just about every supermoto track whether amateur or pro requires some kind of supermoto catch can to be mounted to the bike when out on the track. If your track doesn't, it really should. Your off-road bike has fluid run-off and overflow tubes that run out and drip from the bike. In the dirt, there's not much of a hazard concern. On supermoto pavement that fluid can cause a crash and/or a fire and we've seen more than one crash and fireball caused by no or improper installation of a fluid catch device on the track. Little can ruin your race day more than having your bike or you catch on fire. A suitable catch can system is among the top 10 things on your supermoto parts list. There are 3 readily available commercial catch cans on the market today for supermoto bikes. I should say that there are 4, but we're excluding the home-made Redbull or Rockstar can. The first catch system that hit the market that we know of is the Supermoto Engineering Catch C

AMA: Behind the Scenes Photos Team Rockstar

Recent photos from Miller Motorsports Park in the paddock with Team Rockstar Supermoto.

AMA: Miller Motorsports Wes Rowe Photos

It was hot as hell out in Salt Lake for Team Ball of Fire this past weekend. So hot that even Ward's weekend was dampened by the heat. In spite of our rig going up in a ball of flames on the way to the race, Team Rockstar Motostrano still managed to put on a great Supermoto show this weekend. Our boy Micky Dymond kicked a$% too. Here's some fresh prints from the Wes Rowe Nikon artillery: www.motostrano.com

Illegal UK Track Can Stay

A racetrack at the centre of a long-running planning dispute has won a reprieve. Planners wanted the track, at WildTracks off-road activity park near Newmarket, to be ripped up because they had not given permission for it. People living near the track, which lies between Chippenham and Kennett, complained about noise levels. But Ruth Kelly, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has ruled that the track can stay. She has imposed noise limits and other conditions intended to cut disturbance to villagers. Her ruling follows a public inquiry held earlier in the year. As well as being allowed to keep the track, used mainly for kart racing, WildTracks can keep earth banks round part of the track. In her findings, Ms Kelly said: "A balance can be struck in all the circumstances between the enjoyment of participants in the outdoor events and minimising nuisance to others." Conditions include a ban on Supermoto motorcycle racing and car "drifting" - wh

AMA: Team Ball of Fire

Motostrano has been sponsoring pro Supermoto riders since the re-birth of Supermoto in the USA 5 years ago. Back in 2003, I can distinctly recall what a boot strap effort it was, working with Vertemati and our star rider Leo "Pucho" Bagnis who was always in the top five and got on the podium in Columbus. No sponsors, no high end trailer, we paid our way to the podium with dollars and lots of hard work. It got just a little easier as the years accrued. We've had the opportunity to work with some great names, including World Champion Gerald Delepine (on Pole at Irwindale and damn fast in Vegas), Johnny Murphree, Travis Marks (always in the top ten) and now the crew of Cary Hart. In those times, Motostrano camped under its own tent, worked out of a pick-up and trailer (a luxury item), brought in all the gear, the bikes and the riders. One of our motto's has always been that we race what we sell. We've always kind of been one of the underdog teams in AMA Supermoto too

More Bikinis at the Track Supermoto

Hardware: Akrapovic Releases Aprilia SXV Exhaust

Akrapovic has released a new Full Race and Street exhaust system for the Akrapovic SXV 450 and 550 motorcycle s. The exhaust will retail $1028.00 and will be available for shipping in the fall at www.motostrano.com According to the company, "The Akrapovic Racing and hexagonal muffler Evolution are their top systems for this model, and are designed for riders who know how to get the most out of them. Their advantages can be clearly seen from the dyno measurements and clearly felt on the racetrack." The muffler comes equipped with an approved spark arrester. Power & Torque: "These systems allow the motor to breathe fully throughout the rpm range. The most noticeable improvements are the bike’s stronger and quicker response from low revs right up to the top end and the overrev range, where the power increase is extreme. The already powerful motorcycle gains in power, but the power application is smoother, making the bike’s brute force easier to control ‡ just what you n

Bikinis at the Track

Recent shot from a Bikini Contest at Infineon Raceway. Photo by Wes Rowe

Hardware: Supermoto Brakes Explained

In the dirt, off-road bikes generally don't need much in the way of brake upgrades. Or if you're like me, where braking in the dirt means just falling off the bike, who needs brakes? The fastest MX bikes in the business will rarely have any real upgrade parts beyond something like a wave rotor, sticky pads and a brake line. But take that same bike and give it seventeens and road-rubber and the rules start to change real fast. First, a bike that was built by the OEM to have more use out of the rear brake system is reversed, with greater braking power needed right up front for precise steering and maximum stopping power. Now, that little single or dual piston caliper and 220mm vented brake rotor up front just won't cut it. A look at a complete supermoto brakes system can be broken down into the various parts of the brake system and in order of importance: Supermoto Brake Rotor Brake Pads Supermoto Brake Caliper Brake Line Master Cylinder Brake Fluid Supermoto Brake Rotors . T

AMA: Miller Motorsports Preview

HONDA SUMMIT OF SPEED HOLDS SUPERMOTO CHALLENGE Local Rider Cassidy Anderson Looks to Continue His Hometown Success PICKERINGTON, Ohio (June 19, 2007) – AMA Supermoto slides into Miller Motorsports Park, a state-of-the-art, multi-configurational road racing circuit located in Tooele, Utah this weekend, June 23, for The Plaza Cycle AMA Supermoto Challenge, round three of the 10-round AMA Supermoto Championship. The event is part of the Honda Summit of Speed weekend and joins the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited for three days of non-stop motorcycle racing action. Supermoto is one of the fastest growing forms of professional motorcycle racing. Supermoto racers combine skills from a variety of racing styles. Track layouts are unique, as they feature both right and left hand turns on paved and dirt surfaces. Track designs include the Parts Unlimited Urbancross which requires broad racing skills. Combined, these elements make this sport one of the most thrilling disci

AMA: Hart will race in Utah, Despite I-15 Fire

Hart will race in Utah, despite I-15 fire By Lya Wodraska The Salt Lake Tribune Article Last Updated: 06/20/2007 04:03:36 PM MDT Posted: 3:56 PM- Motocross star Carey Hart plans to race in Utah this weekend, even after nine of his bikes were destroyed in a fire on Interstate 15. Hart has acquired back-up motorcycles and his team is working to get them shipped to Utah in time for Friday's practice at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele. "He's still gonna go," Hart's agent, Steve Astethen, said Wednesday. "His sponsors are going to have to work hard. We've got everybody working full time to get everything together." The fire broke out Tuesday evening in a 35-foot semi-trailer belonging to Hart & Huntington Tattoo Co., a Las Vegas tattoo shop co-owned by Hart. Losses on the bikes and equipment - which belonged to Hart, team manager Doni Wanat and racers Tyler Evans and Travis Marks - is estimated at $300,000. The fire was ruled an accident. Salt Lake

AMA: Fire Destroys Rockstar H&H Motostrano Race Rig

Source: KSL.COM There was a big fire Tuesday night on I-15. The fire could be seen for miles, and it destroyed some very expensive toys that belong to the husband of a famous woman. You've probably heard of Pink, and if you haven't, your kids have. She's a rock star who is married to Carey Hart, a freestyle motocross legend in town this weekend for a big race. Tuesday evening he lost hundreds of thousands of dollars of equipment in a fire on I-15. The semi truck was headed to the Larry H. Miller raceway. Inside the semi were eight bikes, several gallons of gas, gear parts, accessories, and a four-wheeler worth $300,000. Dennis McKone, with Salt Lake City Fire, said, "It's totally destroyed, all the motorcycles and everything inside." Hart is also the star of the reality show 'Inked', filmed on location at the tattoo parlor he owns in Las Vegas, Hart and Huntington Tattoo Company. But Carey Hart may be most known for who his married to, Pink. She's

NASMOTO: Dave Arnold Race Report

NASMOTO OHIO GRAND PRIX SMX 450 1st place SMX 250 2nd place. I made a last minute decision to head to Ohio for some practice at the Nasmoto race in Circleville. In the 250 Paul Allison was smooth and error free winning the 250 final with me on his tail and in the 450 final I holeshot from the second row and led for 4 laps until I left the door open in the dirt section allowing local rider Andrew Hyder to jump into the lead. Hyder led until receiving the 2 laps to go signal which apparently he mistook for the white flag. Believing he was getting the checkers Hyder pulled a victory wheelie while the white flag was waiving and then shut off, I kept it pinned and shot by, led the last lap and took the win. Ah sometimes it's good to be the wily old vet. My hats off to the kid though, he was pretty damn fast on his hometown practice track and he rode a clean race as did Paul Allison in the 250. Burkhart was there to support his friend who was the promoter, rode practice but chose not t

Hardware: New Supermoto Kit From Motostrano.com

Motostrano recently released a new Supermoto Kit to compliment its existing conversion kit options for Supermoto customers. The new kit, Quick Switch Kit Race , provides budding supermoto racers and track day goers a complete Supermoto set-up that allows for easy installing and un-installing of supermoto parts for the rider who wants to easily switch between the two modes with one bike. This kit was developed with riders with one bike in mind, those who frequently ride in the dirt and want to use their same bike on local Supermoto Tracks. The kit includes industry-leading wheels made up of Excel Rims, Buchanan Spokes and Talon hubs and Dunlop race slicks (for closed circuit track use only). The brake set-up includes a Moto-Master racing kit with 320mm rotor, 4 piston caliper, a stainless steel brake lilne and Brembo 13mm radial style master cylinder. This set-up allows the rider to install or remove the brake set-up as a complete system, without requiring brake bleeding during the ins

Flying Lizard unveils custom livery for Le Mans 24

Flying Lizard Motorsports unveiled today a custom livery for the team's No. 80 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. The design, created by Troy Lee Designs, depicts the team's familiar Flying Lizard image brought to life in full color across the Porsche's curves. The livery will be run at only one race: this weekend's 24 Heures du Mans, June 16-17 at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France. Image (c) Flying Lizard Motorsports The team offered the first glimpse of the new No. 80 today at its scrutineering appointment. Scrutineering is the formal technical inspection by the ACO of each car competing at Le Mans. It is held in historic downtown Le Mans. The livery, which had been kept hidden in the team's garage, was displayed before and after technical inspection to the thousands of sports car fans attending the event. Seth Neiman commented on the project, "Racing at Le Mans is one of the best parts of our season and each year we try to bring a little something special to thi

AMA: Supermoto Quotes from Raceway Park

AMA Supermoto Mark Burkhart: “The weekend was great up until an hour before our race, then we had to put the rain tires on. All race I was really just trying not to crash, There was mud on the pavement all over the track. It was a good race though. I have a lot of respect for Ward. We both raced clean out there, and I hope we put on a great show for the fans watching in the rain.” Jeff Ward: "I felt alright at the start, it was really muddy in the dirt. I pushed too hard at the beginning and wore my tire out. The track was really tipsy in the rain, I rode smart thinking of the championship; it was just too easy to make a small mistake an go down." Troy Herfoss: "I want to win so bad. In the qualifiers I was able to follow Jeff around, pick up on his lines, and keep him in check. I did not get a great jump on the start but I was able to move into third. The Dunlop tires worked great in these wet conditions. I want to thank everyone at HMC KTM" Supermoto Unlimited

GEARTALK: Alpinestars Factory Tour

I recently had the amazing opportunity to visit the Alpinestars headquarters in Asolo, Italy, just outside of Venice for an in-depth tour of their facilities. My guide, one of the true power managers of the Motorsports industry, Scott Link, North American Sales Manager and some one I look to as a mentor for Motostrano on many levels. As owner of one of the leading Alpinestars dealers in the USA, I was eager from the onset to see up close the behind the scenes stuff of what goes on at Alpinestars. Along with the tour of HQ Astars, we would take drive down to MOTOP at Mugello to see their operation in action at the top 2-wheel racing event in the world. The combination of up-close discussion of the product and a visit to Moto GP to see how racers interact with the Alpinestars product and how Alpinestars interacts with the racing environment was an amazing experience that I personally won't forget and one that will heavily influence how Motostrano promotes the Alpinestars brand over o