Road Dirt Crew

Chasing History

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Sep 8, 2023 | Industry & Racing |

Before the 2023 Progressive American Flat Track season began, the prospect of tying Scottie Parker’s all-time career championship record loomed large. Despite fierce competition against the ultra-consistent, young talent of Dallas Daniels, Mees reminded everyone that he’s still at the top of his game. With each checkered flag, Mees and his Indian FTR750 inched closer and closer to his career goal of tying Parker’s historic all-time championship record. At Springfield, Jared grabbed that goal.

FIRST LOOK: Triumph Motocross Motorcycle

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Sep 5, 2023 | Bikes & Gear |

Triumph Motorcycles has been teasing their work on a motocross motorcycle for a few years now, and we even published a piece on the R&D of it. Triumph is taking the plunge into the dedicated off-road space, not just with a dual sport or another ADV, but a competition-ready race machine. As the R&D has progressed, Triumph has shared videos of the chassis and the motor, which can be viewed on their YouTube channel. They shared a few photos with us of Ricky Carmichael and Even Ferry ripping around a dirt track astride a pair of the motocross motorbikes.

The Thrice Crowned King

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Aug 30, 2023 | Industry & Racing |

Recently at Pittsburgh International Raceway, Yamaha Racing rider Jake Gagne claimed his third consecutive MotoAmerica title in spectacular fashion, the champ winning all three Superbike races across the weekend, a “threepeat to solidify his threepeat.” This, with two more race rounds and four Superbike races left on the schedule. Gagne left no doubt about his dominance and dynasty in the MotoAmerica Superbike class, writing a new page in the AMA Road Racing history books.

J.D. Beach: Determination Defined

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Aug 25, 2023 | Industry & Racing, Ride Life |

J.D. Beach may very well be one of American motorcycle racing’s most versatile riders. He’s also one of its friendliest. We met JD during the AFT race weekend held at Senoia Raceway back in May, and chatted briefly with the affable racer between late afternoon race heats. Commenting about his love of motorcycle racing, JD quipped, “Dirt, track, motocross, you name it, I love riding and racing it all! I’m getting a little older, but as long as I’m still enjoy myself, I guess I’ll keep doing it.” And he does it well.

A Superbike Slugfest At Laguna Seca

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Jul 10, 2023 | Industry & Racing |

On a completely resurfaced track at the legendary Laguna Seca Raceway, on which riders in every class struggled to find and hold grip as well as the race lines all weekend, Gagne and Beaubier battled for points and position across an unusual three-race weekend, with Gagne taking race 1 on Saturday, but Beaubier doing the double on Sunday. Six race rounds into the season, the “MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest At Monterey” was a thriller in every way. Crashes, lead swaps, photo finishes, and a former champ tightening the screws on a current champ came to define the weekend in coastal central Cali.

First Look: Triumph’s Speed 400 and Scrambler 400x

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Jun 28, 2023 | Bikes & Gear |

With nearly every other motorcycle brand in the world producing small displacement motorcycles and selling them by the millions, Triumph’s decision to finally enter the fray is long overdue. The two highest-selling categories in U.S. motorcycle sales, according to several brand reps we have contact with, are off-road/dual-sport/adventure, and small displacement street. For our purposes, we’ll define small displacement street as road motorcycles 500cc and smaller. And Triumph just announced a pair of entrants for the 2024 model year- The Speed 400, and Scrambler 400x.
It’s about time.

A Visit To Throttlestop

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Jun 19, 2023 | Legendary Bikes |

Our first contact with the Throttlestop Museum in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin came several years ago while Dean Phelps was shooting the MotoAmerica races at nearby Road America. Someone had mentioned the in-town establishment, and Dean took a break from the track action to go check it out. What he discovered was far more than some old rich guy’s dusty motorcycle collection. Dean found Throttlestop to be a full-blown museum, restoration center, and auction house for exotic motorcycles, automobiles, and high-performance engines.

MotoAmerica at Road America in Pictures

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | Jun 7, 2023 | Industry & Racing |

Steve and Karen Groth, Road Dirt contributing photographers, made the trek to “America’s National Park of Speed” for the weekend of motorcycle racing, and captured some outstanding shots across a thrilling two days. Superbike and King of the Baggers saw some outstanding on-track battles and long-overdue podium finishers, so we thought we’d share a few of their favorite shots from Saturday and Sunday.

Chase Sexton and the Brothers Lawrence

Posted by Road Dirt Crew | May 15, 2023 | Industry & Racing |

Team Honda HRC swept the titles in this year’s Monster Energy AMA Supercross indoor season, with Chase Sexton wrapping up the 450SX title and Aussie brothers Jett and Hunter Lawrence claiming the Western Regional and Eastern Regional titles respectively, before a sold out crowd of nearly 50,000 at Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium. Jett also snagged the coveted East/West Showdown race, making it a perfect weekend for Honda HRC. Chase’s championship gave Honda its first Supercross title since 2003, and with the Lawrence brothers’ wins, the weekend was truly historic, marking only the 3rd time ever, and only the 2nd for Honda, that a single manufacturer has captured all three Supercross titles in the same season. And appropriately, they come in the 50th anniversary year of Supercross racing in America.