What a whirlwind. This season is already half-over for the bagger championship and we only have three rounds remaining. I have been in such a transition this year, after shutting down my superbike team, that the adjustment period is seemingly only half-over as well.
Daytona didn't go to plan, we showed up with an inferior motorcycle to our competitors and got our butts kicked. With 3rd place in race one and a DNF in race two, we found ourselves in a hole in the points championship with only seven points scoring opportunities on offer for the season.
Harley engineers flexed their muscle and redesigned the gearbox and the engine for the bagger in about 5 weeks, and we came back around to win in Atlanta, our first step in a championship comeback that is still in progress.
What's more? I filled in on the Tytlers Cycle BMW Superbike team during that Atlanta event, and I was able to notch their first ever podium finish in Superbike, coming from 14th on the grid. That Sunday in Atlanta was probably the best in my racing career, with a redeeming win for Harley-Davidson and a history-making first podium for the new BMW M1000RR. It took awhile for that one to sink in.
Admittedly, it was scary for me to take a step back from Superbike. I had raced that class for 6 seasons under my own team, KWR, and have been chasing success in that class really since the day I began road racing. I knew there was a good chance my time could be over in the class, but like so many things in my life, a twist of fate gave me almost an immediate opportunity to get back in the class, and I was prepared enough for the opportunity to make the most of it. That podium on the BMW makes it the third manufacturer's motorcycle I've stood on the podium in the MotoAmerica Superbike with, after Yamaha and Ducati. My hunger to compete in Superbike rumbles on.
But back to my day job, riding for Harley-Davidson Motor Company. The boys were still hard at work after Road Atlanta. We did win the race, but our trap speeds compared to the Indian were horrifying. We were 12mph slower than them on the straightaway. So with the next round at Road America, with three long straights, we had a lot to make up to ensure our success at the next event. We went to the wind tunnel in Wichita, Kansas, and again went back to the drawing board with the engineering of the 131R motor. The team found another step that I could immediately feel in the first session at Road America.
On Saturday morning I set a new bagger lap record at a 2:22.7, which is ridiculously fast around Road America. Only a couple seconds off the pole position time for Supersport! Unreal. Pole position for the bagger challenge and the points paying race on Sunday would be a welcome boost for the weekend.
On Sunday, the race was looking to be on a wet track. We got our race pushed to the end of the day, and watched every other class compete in full wet conditions. The weather looked like the rain would stop, but the only question remained - would it be dry enough for us to run slick tires for our race? The Superbike race that ran immediately before us showed a dry line around the track, as the riders burned up their rain tires in a shortened race.
In the minutes before our race start, we put on the slick tires for a track largely covered in damp patches. It's probably the most nerve-racking part of my job - trying to dodge slick spots on a patchy track. If you touch one, you're on the ground. It's that sketchy.
I got a bad start and was shuffled back. I watched my brother, Travis, carve up the Indians ahead of me. We both made some ballsy moves in some unsuspecting passing areas to push around our competitors. By the mid-point of the race Travis had worked his way to the lead as I made the last couple passes to work my way to 2nd. In the end, he was able to escape early and earn his first ever King of the Baggers victory, with myself in 2nd place.
A 1-2 finish in Wisconsin for Harley-Davidson - a dream that came true last year with my first victory, came true again but this time for my brother and his first bagger win. It was an amazing day and we both made huge headway in the points chase to give ourselves a chance at the end of the season. At the moment, I sit 4th in the points chase only 13 points out of the leader, Tyler O'Hara. Travis is 3rd, 8 points out of the lead. It's gonna be a good one!
As I write this, I'm in my RV out in the mountains of Montana, spending some time on a lake with Hannah before the next round at The Ridge in Washington. I won't be racing there, because there's no Baggers at the Ridge, but I'll be there to support my brothers who will be racing in SBK and STK1000 (Travis) and for Cody who will be racing in Twins Cup and Junior Cup. Cody currently leads the points in Junior Cup.
The next race for baggers will be at Laguna Seca, where we clinched our championship last year. I know our bike will be strong at that track and I'm feeling confident we can put on another good performance like we did last season.
Thanks to all my sponsors and supporters who have been watching and rooting for me over the last decade. I will try to write more of these updates as I go, to keep everyone in the loop!
For those interested - we also came out with some signature eyewear with Harley-Davidson branding, in collaboration with Electric Visual - check them out! Your purchase will help keep me rolling around the country. Love the shades myself - CLICK HERE TO SHOP
