Industry & Racing

Rising AFT Star: Kage “The Rage” Tadman

Posted by Geoff & Barb Nickless | May 13, 2025 | Industry & Racing | 0 |

What Is It With King Of The Baggers?

Posted by Rob Brooks | May 6, 2025 | Industry & Racing | 1 |

AFT Singles Stunner at Ventura

Posted by Geoff & Barb Nickless | Apr 29, 2025 | Industry & Racing | 3 |

Zeitz Leaves Harley-Davidson

Posted by Rob Brooks | Apr 9, 2025 | Industry & Racing | 3 |

Rob’s Monthly Musings: Goodbye, FTR

Posted by Rob Brooks | Apr 4, 2025 | Industry & Racing | 4 |

Rising AFT Star: Kage “The Rage” Tadman

by Geoff & Barb Nickless | May 13, 2025 | Industry & Racing | 0 |

On Saturday, May 3rd, Kage “The Rage” Tadman blew away the AFT Singles class at the Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico over the race weekend. After a restart, Tadman led the pack and didn’t look back, taking his 2nd win as a new American Flat Track professional rider. This young man has everyone’s attention and yet is humble and friendly as always.

What Is It With King Of The Baggers?

by Rob Brooks | May 6, 2025 | Industry & Racing | 1 |

A guy standing next to me on the bridge, wearing a black patch-filled biker vest and a Harley-Davidson cap, commented, “The best race is about to begin! I came here specifically for this race today. Why would anyone want to leave now?!” Clearly most folks in attendance agreed with him. Everywhere around the track, for both the Saturday and Sunday races of this class, fans were pressed against the fences, to both see and feel this most remarkable category of motorcycle racing. And they were not disappointed.

AFT Singles Stunner at Ventura

by Geoff & Barb Nickless | Apr 29, 2025 | Industry & Racing | 3 |

You know that you’re a die-hard race fan when the first thing you do, upon waking up, is check the race results! This was the case this past Saturday for us with American Flat Track racing in Ventura, California. The southern part of the West Coast swing for flat track fans is done and dusted with some shocking results in the Singles class.

Zeitz Leaves Harley-Davidson

by Rob Brooks | Apr 9, 2025 | Industry & Racing | 3 |

News came today that Harley-Davidson’s CEO, Jochen Zeitz, is stepping down from his position. The company is now beginning the search for a new leader.

Rob’s Monthly Musings: Goodbye, FTR

by Rob Brooks | Apr 4, 2025 | Industry & Racing | 4 |

Over the winter between the 2024 AFT racing season and the start of this one in March, American Flat Track dramatically changed the rules and specifications for motorcycles used in their AFT SuperTwins class. For nearly a decade, Indian Motorcycle dominated the premier class with their incredible FTR750. The revived “Indian Wrecking Crew” tore up the class for years, with Jared Mees and teammates breaking records, winning races and clinching championships year after year since 2017. Early on, many thought the renewed legendary rivalry between Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle would make for incredible competition in the class. Turns out, Harley’s 750 machines couldn’t hold a candle to the FTR750 bikes, much less ever beat them on the track. By the 2024 season, the Harleys had all but disappeared from the class, with most teams utilizing the FTR750, Ysmaha’s MT-07, KTM 790 Duke, even a couple running the Royal Enfield 650, to name a few.
Now all that has changed. If you can’t beat them, eliminate them from the competition.

Daytona 200 2025: Herrin Makes History

by Road Dirt Crew | Mar 8, 2025 | Industry & Racing | 0 |

Josh Herrin made history on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway when he became the first rider in Daytona 200 history to win “The Great American Motorcycle Race” three times in a row. It was also Herrin’s fourth Daytona 200 victory, putting him one win away from tying the all-time win leaders, Scott Russell and Miguel Duhamel.

5th Annual Hot Shoe Hall of Fame

by Geoff & Barb Nickless | Feb 20, 2025 | Industry & Racing | 0 |

2025 saw an additional 50 inductees into The Hot Shoe Hall of Fame. A Lifetime Achievement Award honoring the great Malcom Smith was received on his behalf by Ed Burke of Yamaha. Malcom, although no longer with us, was one of those people who truly loved everything about motorcycles.

Spotlight: 100 Years of the AMA

by Rob Brooks | Dec 20, 2024 | Industry & Racing, Ride Life | 0 |

The AMA is the largest motorcycle rights organization in the world, and has inspired the founding and growth of similar organizations for motorcycle riders in other countries across the globe.

Harley-Davidson Dealerships Closing at Alarming Rate

by Rob Brooks | Oct 31, 2024 | Industry & Racing | 51 |

I read a notice today concerning the closure of a significant Harley-Davidson dealership in Southern California, the Los Angeles Harley-Davidson in Fullerton. As of October 31, 2024, this legendary motorcycle dealership is closing its doors. The news came after several other industry posts I recently read, confirming the closure of multiple large and noteworthy H-D dealerships across the country. Taboo Harley-Davidson in Alexandria, Louisiana shut down on October 16, New York City Harley-Davidson back in September, as well as about five to six others over the past couple of months.
What is happening at the Motor Company?