General NewsConnect with Us...
R&G Racing UK has bucked the trend during these hard financial times with a move to larger premises for 2010. The crash protection specialists have spent the last seven years in their 3500 sq-ft premises at the Blacknest Industrial Park near Alton, in Hampshire and have recently made the move to a much larger 10,000 sq-ft complex not too far away in Shelleys Lane, East Worldham. The switch has occurred thanks to a huge 500% increase in business since the move to the previous unit in August 2003 and it puts the company in pole-position to increase its business still further with big plans for this year and beyond. Reasons behind this growth include R&G Racing's unquestioned position as the world's number one manufacturer of crash protection parts for the motorcycle industry and the move into other areas, with goods such as motorcycle covers, heated bar grips, knee-sliders, tail tidies, exhaust hangers and the latest addition to the family: Engine Case Covers. Simon Hughes, R&G Racing's Sales Director also attributes the success to attending trade events on both sides of the Atlantic and the company's push into the lucrative US market. He said: "During the hard times there are always opportunities for confident, forward-thinking companies to move forward and we are embracing this by moving to new, spacious premises, opening our US distribution operation and continuing to bring out new products such as our recent Engine Case Cover range." Added to this is the fact that every year the company invests in the UK industry in some way. In 2009 they were headline sponsors of the R&G Racing Suzuki GSX-R Trophy and in 2010 R&G Racing will be supporting the Ducati 848 Challenge, as well as sponsoring many individual riders and teams, including the Worx Crescent Suzuki team in this year's MCE British Superbike Championship. R&G Racing are the world's number one manufacturer of crash protection and 2009 marked their 10th anniversary of producing high-quality crash protection and other after-market accessories for motorcycles.
XDL SPORTBIKE FREESTYLE REPORT
Luke “Duke” Emmons gives you the inside scoop from Round 1 of the XDL Sportbike Freestyle Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida.
It was Déjà vu all over again is I left cold and nasty New England weather to rip it up in sunny Florida. I had been building a new bike to ride at Daytona XDL 2010. However, due to time constraints I was advised to take my stuntwars bike. Thanks again to Dave Bolognese, after two days of prep my F4i was tight and ready to get the ever living Shift beat out of it.
Tuesday was the beginning of my first 6 hour practice session with Andrew Griffy. Thanks to him I was able to really push due to the natural competitor that lies within. I spent the week working on style. I want to be able to do my tricks better than anyone else 11 out of Ten times.
Friday morning I woke up ready to ride. I was the first one at the track that morning aside from the handful of riders who stayed at the track the night before. I remember walking around feeling proud to ride at the same place that so many great riders had graced.
XDL has stepped up for the riders tremendously. There is a reality TV show to be aired on the Versus network October 12th. I wasn’t sure if the added pressure would affect my riding so I did my best to put it out of my mind. The day started out with the usual riders meeting and Thomas Evans sternly laying down ground rules for the event. Practice has changed since last year. Instead of four top riders in a confined area at once, which is a recipe for tumbleweed stew, each person gets a 90-second window to practice by themselves. It is highly organized and a lot safer.
Immediately following practice, qualifying began. I put in a solid qualifying run but held back just enough to guarantee me a spot to ride Sunday. With so many good riders it is important to you and all your sponsors that you ride that second day. I qualified in the ninth spot out of almost fifty riders. The competition is so tight at XDL that any top ten rider can win.
Saturday brought rain and cold. I was used to this but 40s and raining is never fun. I competed in the circle competition but was defeated in the first round by a half a circle and Lin Savage. Sickest trick crossed my mind but the wet ground was slippery and the trick that I have planned for the next round requires a lot of traction.
Sunday began the first round of competition. Aaron from racing 905 has turned into an excellent riding coach. He gives advice on how I should ride and what runs to use. I am privileged to have this type of support. Now at XDL there are three two minute runs and your lowest is dropped. This takes off so much pressure and allows you to rip the top off of a run. I rode hard and fast during my first run and finished fourth. I liked to be in this position so early in the day. I was at the front of the pack but still had room to improve.
My second run was a good follow up from the morning I rode aggressive and threw caution to the wind. The average of my two runs moved me into third place right behind Shift rider Rick Hart. My third run was faster and cleaner than the prior two and shifted me into second. Bill D ended up with a win that day but I am working hard to take the XDL National Championship title and the number one plate. I was a point and a half (out of 100) per run behind him. I may have took second but I took first in appearance because I looked so damn good in my Shift gear. Victory is within reach and I hope to be writing about just that after the next round from Lake Havasu, Arizona.
I couldn’t have come close to being XDL Daytona runner up without the help from SHIFT http://www.shiftstreet.com/us/, Racing 905, Dave Bolognese, Hindle Exhaust, Sparx Helmets, HEL brake lines, GPR Dampers, Enso Guitars, Amsoil, Shinko Tires, ASV levers, Thrust Co, Bike Styles, Stuntride.com, and Hohey Designs. Thank you all.
Luke “Duke” Emmons finished 2nd in the Individual Freestyle Competition.
Brian Bubash won the Freestyle Burnout competition.
Dena Sodano won the Women’s competition.
Danny “Magoo” Chandler was at the top of his game in the 1980’s. He won countless racing events, and became the first person to sweep both the Trophies des Nations and the Motocross des Nations in the same year. But in 1985, his illustrious career was cut short when he was paralyzed after an accident at the Paris Supercross.
Since his premature departure from racing, Chandler has stayed active in the community. He promotes mountain bike racing, is a spokesperson for the D.A.R.E program, and organizes visits by top motorcycle racers to children hospitals. Chandler has been helping the global community for over twenty years, and now the motorcycle community is giving back.
The Danny “Magoo” Chandler foundation has just surpassed its goal of $100,000 to buy Chandler a new special needs fan. The fund was started in 2009 by Bob “Hurricane” Hannah, a 7-time Motocross and Supercross champion, and has gained support by many people in the industry.
Geoff Fox, an AMA Hall of Famer, and his brother Bob Fox, gave a $15,000 dollar donation to put the fund at the $100,000 mark. David Bailey and Russ Koza of RIDERS F1RST gave an additional $10,000 to put the fund above its goal.
"It's awesome that so many fine folks and companies found a way to help make this happen for our friend Magoo," said Hannah. "I look forward to seeing Danny at the races in his new rig. Maybe he'll take me for a hot lap."
List of Contributors
Terri & Bob "Hurricane" Hannah
Terry Knott
Robin & Bob Fox
Bruce Lockwood
Glen Helen Raceway Park
Cheryl & Mark "The Bomber" Barnett
Linda & "Jammin' Jimmy" Weinert
Todd Huffman & Don Hoffman, PDM TV
Jason Lawrence
Tom Reese/Springfield Armory
Hi-Torque Publications
Travis Pastrana
Ace Burt/Professional Contract Services
Ken Boyko/Cobra Engineering
Geoff & Josie Fox
Alpinestars/Gabriele Mazzarolo
RIDERS F1RST/ONE Industries/David Bailey
Electric motorcycle racing is a new sport, and since it is a new sport, the rules, the regulations, and the technology are not set in stone. So who’s going to govern this new form of motorsport? Well, the people that race that’s who.
The TTXGP is setting up a cooperative that will be run by the racers and teams that participate. This has a lot of benefits, especially to a blossoming sport. The technology is still evolving, and therefore, so are the rules.
The Trust.Egrandprix.org (TEO) will allow for teams to own up to 70% of the eGrandprix. Teams gain shares based on the number of races that they complete, and the number of points that they earn throughout the season. The better a team does, the bigger slice of the profits they will receive when the season is over.
“This is a big Control-Alt-Delete for motorsports. It’s a reboot. We’re giving teams control. This binds everyone together on a common trajectory and it gives everyone a piece of the action they’re generating,” said Azhar Hussain, the mastermind behind the TTXGP. http://www.allaboutbikes.com/sport-mainmenu-34/general-sport/1646-fim-offers-incentive-to-join-e-power-racing
After being ousted by the FIM from the Isle of Man TT, the TTXGP has struggled to find its financial backing. With this cooperative set up, the TTXGP is given new life and room to grow.
“This year we will beat the FIM,” Hussain says. “But the FIM is an incredibly powerful empire.”
It seems Green Bay Packer's Tight End #41 Spencer Havner got to experience some pavement first hand over the weekend. It seems around 2:45 in the A.M., Havner while riding his motorcycle lost control and wrecked. The accident occurred at the end of a cul-de-sac near his home.
The NFL player wasn't wearing a helmet and suffered lacerations to his head and arm. Havner also suffered injuries to his Scapula which he fractured.
The California Highway Patrol determined the player was intoxicated and since the accident have filed charges against him. His blood alcohol was above .08 which is California's state limit. It appears his injuries will cause the #41 player to miss pre-training camp practices and conditioning. I hope all heals well for the # 41 Spencer Havner.
