I went to work for America Honda in January of 1980 in the Motorcycle Service Division. One of the guys I worked with road raced his 750 Honda street bike on weekends. He would ride it to the track, tape up the turn signals and lights, race it then ride it home. He said to me one day “ why don't you start road racing?”
My 1979 Honda CBX was so fast in the twisties that no one could keep up with me. I thought I was a real stud and very good at riding. So I talked to my friend more and learned how to start the process of becoming an actual road racer. I thought I was going to be a natural!
My boss told me I could use a press bike for my first race, so prepping it for the racetrack was not only a learning process but such fun! I learned how to drill the bolts and safety wire all of the components that held fluid, duct taped all of the lights and safety checked the entire bike. And of course I tuned the engine and adjusted everything on the 1980 450 Honda twin street bike I was to use.
I trucked the bike to Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, California. To acquire a road racing license you need to go through a racing training class before you can even get onto the track. The course was given by the famous instructor to the stars, Keith Code, who later became my good friend. One of the exercises we had to perform was to take the bike to 40 mph and pull the front brake lever hard and lock the front wheel! You had to let off the brake lever fast as the front tire started to slide or you would lay it down. I learned so much that day!
The next day was my first race, and I was nervous but really more cocky than smart. I was, as I thought, so fast in the twisties that, who knows, I may podium my first race. I had a lot of experience drag racing motorcycles, so my start was really good. As the race progressed, I started getting passed by riders so fast I felt I was stopped! They out rode me so much that I was lapped by the almost the entire field in a 10 lap race.
I also fell from time to time!
This didn’t just bruise my ego I was absolutely decimated! What an education I just received, and that hard lesson stayed with me. I began to study everything about road racing. I researched every component the “fast guys” were using and watched them ride to understand their braking points, cornering and passing techniques and overall riding abilities.
As the years went on, I became an experienced road racer and started winning trophies. My career culminated with me setting five world FIM motorcycle road racing endurance records. I guess the moral to this story is don’t let your alligator mouth overload your jay bird butt. Keep your expectations in check and study your ass off regardless of whatever it is you want to succeed at.
MOTORCYCLE NEWS
2025 Triumph TF 450-RC Edition First Look
Triumph’s first 450cc motocross bike is a Ricky Carmichael replica.
Triumph’s entry into the dirt bike market was a highly touted one with the rollout of its first motocross bike, the TF 250-X. Now, the British manufacturer has unveiled its second called the TF 450-RC Edition. As the name suggests, Triumph’s first 450cc motocross bike was developed in collaboration with Ricky Carmichael—the winningest motocross racer of all time.
“At the end of 2023, Triumph revealed the long-awaited TF 250-X—the first in an all-new range of off-road motorcycles,” Triumph chief product officer Steve Sargent said. “We now have a brand-new 450cc competition motocross powertrain, which Ricky Carmichael, who is without doubt the very best in the business, has worked with us to develop. The TF 450-RC Edition offers a balance of power, precision, and durability that sets a new standard in the 450cc motocross class. It seems only right that the first edition should have Ricky’s name on it.”
Watch Ducati’s DesertX Rally Battle for a Rally Win
Alexander Smith’s second-place overall finish at the Mexican 1000 Rally.
Alexander Smith is off-road royalty—not just because his father, Malcolm Smith, is the most famous desert racer of all time. He’s raced professionally in multiple disciplines: off-road, rally, and Pikes Peak, just to name a few. But his philanthropy in Baja, Mexico, is what makes him one of the kings of the peninsula to those who live there.
Now he’s added another peg to hang his hero hat on: nearly winning the 2024 NORRA Mexican 1000 on a Ducati DesertX Rally. To put that in perspective, winner Matt Sutherland was on a KTM 450 RR rally racebike. In fact, only two ADVs crossed the finish line in San José del Cabo: Smith’s DesertX Rally and our Suzuki V-Strom 800 Project (15th overall).
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*PLEASE NOTE - THE 20% OFF SERVICE VOUCHER IS GOOD FOR ONE USE ONLY AND IS PER CUSTOMER, NOT PER BIKE.
*PLEASE NOTE - THE 20% OFF SERVICE VOUCHER IS GOOD FOR ONE USE ONLY AND IS PER CUSTOMER, NOT PER BIKE.