Buell: A Ray of Hope for America
AllAboutBikes Staff-Writer
In an economic era that questions the future of American companies, Buell provides a glimmer of hope, that American companies aren’t ready to be put out to pasture just yet. Claiming victories in the 2009 AMA Daytona Sportbike season, it is the first time that an American manufacturer has won in a premier AMA road racing class since 1972 when Cal Rayborn, riding a Harley-Davidson XR750, won an AMA Grand National race at Laguna Seca. Danny Eslick took the points lead after his third win of the season Sunday in the Suzuki Superbike Showdown at Road Atlanta.
In the final race at Road Atlanta, Eslick faced fierce competition from Josh Herrin, riding a Yamaha YZF-R6. The two riders were so close in the last lap that their bikes met on more than one instance. The win for Buell not only signifies that American bikes can compete with the imports, but it showed that a street bike with minor modifications can compete with full-on race bikes. The innovations made by Buell, including fuel in the frame, ZTL front brakes, and the underslung exhaust, have been tested on the track, and they passed with flying colors.
The win for Buell is a victory for America - American companies, whose future is so unclear, with a government hovering over them like vultures, waiting for them to die so they can pick at their rotten flesh. With the 2009 season Buell brings hope to the weary, hope that is much needed in an economy that has lost faith in their existence. The sun is starting to shine on America once again, let’s hope we don’t get sun burnt.
