6 - 2020 - Road Dirt

Perfection A Fickle Mistress

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jun 29, 2020 | Industry & Racing |

The phrase, “perfection is a fickle mistress” could be appropriately applied to the MotoAmerica race weekend at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Only one rider remains undeafeated: Richie Escalante in Supersport.

Riding The Upper Left- A Photo Album

Posted by Ted Edwards | Jun 27, 2020 | Rides & Roads |

Recently, Road Dirt’s owner, senior editor, chief cook and bottle washer Rob Brooks flew 3,000 miles from his Georgia home to Wenatchee, Washington to join me and eight others on our annual seven day, 1,500+ mile tour of the upper left. I promised him blue Pacific Northwest skies, great food and a memorable experience. One out of three isn’t bad.

Sedici Marco Mesh Riding Gear Evaluation

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jun 25, 2020 | Bikes & Gear |

European motorcycle apparel company Sedici has long been regarded for high quality riding products, specializing in street and track performance gear. They have partnered with Cycle Gear to carry their brand to American riders for a number of years, and since I’ve consistently had great experiences with the good folks at CG, I naturally sought them out when contemplating a new set of all-purpose, all-weather riding gear.

Tomac Takes Supercross Title

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jun 22, 2020 | Industry & Racing |

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac earned his first Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship Title in the 450SX Class at the season finale, Round 17 Presented by the Utah Sports Commission inside Rice-Eccles Stadium. Tomac won the title by 25 points after a smart ride to finish fifth in the race. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Zach Osborne won the event, taking home his career-first 450SX Class victory. Second went to his teammate Jason Anderson, who led 15 laps of the 25-Lap Main Event. Rounding out an all-Husqvarna and team podium, Dean Wilson turned an early lead into his first podium of 2020, the second of his career.

Biology and Bikes

Posted by Ted Edwards | Jun 19, 2020 | Ride Life |

Disclaimer: I am not my father.
It was inevitable that one day I would end up on a motorcycle like my brother, our father, and his father before him. We’ve always been more comfortable on wheels than in houses. Structures are fixed, and they eliminate the possibility that something exhilarating lies just beyond the next hill crest. Fate works in funny ways; from it you may run, but you can never hide.

The Fast Boys

Posted by Ryan Nolan | Jun 15, 2020 | Industry & Racing |

I had the opportunity, along with our fellow photographer Dean Phelps, to attend, shoot, and interview riders during the first race of the 2020 MotoAmerica season, albeit without fans. We’ve planned on following Superbike racer Max Flinders and Supersport racer Benjamin Smith, from preseason through end-of-season, so we made a point of checking in with them both across the weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (my home track).

Confessions of an Old Hooligan, pt. 2

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jun 12, 2020 | Ride Life |

An Aging Father Shares More Tales From His Early Riding Years *Here’s a few fun tales...

Legendary Bikes: 1968 Egli Vincent Black Shadow Recreation

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jun 10, 2020 | Bikes & Gear |

One look is all it takes to fall in love with the unique architecture of the 1968 Egli Vincent Black Shadow Recreation. This gorgeous piece of machinery is produced by Vincent expert Patrick Godet, a French designer given sole license to produce frames by original designer Fritz Egli himself. The story of this beautiful bike began in 1967, when Swiss engineer and racer Fritz Egli teamed up with Vincent to create an updated bike frame worthy of “the world’s fastest engine”.

Confessions of an Old Hooligan, pt. 1

Posted by Rob Brooks | Jun 8, 2020 | Ride Life |

My brothers and I grew up in the house of a master mechanic. In the garage behind our home, there was always an automobile up on jacks, a motorcycle or two to the side, and enough extra bike parts hanging from pegs on the wall to practically build another. Accompanying all the machinery, there were stories in abundance. One would never know it by observing this stooped, white haired, soft-spoken senior chap, but in his younger years, Dad was a hooligan, a 50s greaser (think “Fonz” from the old “Happy Days” sitcom. I’m not exaggerating), even a bit of a renegade during his overseas stint in the USAF. Even now as he recounts these stories to me, some I’m hearing for the first time, I can see that glint of mischief in his eyes, as memory carries him back to those heady days of his youth and young adulthood. Here’s a few of my favorites, in his own words-