Some of the folks who make the racing happen
The paddock at a major motorcycle racing event sprouts up overnight like a traveling circus. Haulers, trucks, and vans with trailers arrive from all over the country, and all day into late evening. It becomes a campground of motor homes big and small, portable tents, toolboxes, camping gear, propane BBQs, motorcycles (of course) and all things necessary to support a rider as they pursue what they love- motorcycle road racing. Whatever track MotoAmerica rolls into, this racing circus appears and is gone as quickly as it went up. The only things missing are the elephants and peanuts.
Thursday is always move-in day. It is a day when Geoff and I tour the pits, visiting riders, teams, race personnel, and friends we’ve made over the years. We catch up on life between races, which is the best part of being race photographers. As teams set up their pit spaces, a lot goes on behind the scenes. Television crews have already set up their scaffolds and run miles of cable to communicate the action across the globe. Bikes go through tech, corner workers are prepped, riders attend meetings, media briefings are held, all to ensure the safety of the participants for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
As new friendships grow with riders and teams, there is a lot to learn about racing development. Every team and their mechanics have secrets and implement the approved technology in different ways to try and give their rider that extra boost to their race craft. One is Team Roberts (as in “King” Kenny Roberts), who has formed a partnership with Fujico to test and implement a new type of “full-floating” brake rotor, the Miracle Fit Disk. Fujico is in collaboration with Brembo to reduce manufacturing carbon footprint. This optimization of thermal expansion uses fastening slides instead of true rivets, which allow for lateral play. This new design is available to all MotoAmerica Talent Cup racers. It is undergoing real on-track testing on Kensei Matsudaira’s machines.
Fujico designer Yuki Tajima with one of their proprietary “full-floating” brake rotors.
In addition to new technology, there is also good old-fashioned hard work being done by Sage Tailoring. Grover Crawford and wife Kim have become beloved at the track for fixing the damage done to a set of leathers when a rider goes down. Grover raced Supersport off and on for 10 years before Sage Tailoring came into being. The Crawfords are two of the kindest people, and use their talents to serve the racing community in all types of weather while at the track. They started their business five years ago when the camping gear manufacturer that Kim was working for shut down their factory. They bought two of the industrial sewing machines and Sage Tailoring went mobile. They formed a partnership with Bison Leathers to repair race suits. As they have honed their skills, other leather manufactures have come onboard. They also repair the Alpinestars Air Bags and source parts directly from the manufacturers.
Grover & Kim of Sage Tailoring, during the MotoAmerica VIR race weekend.
Many people are not aware that MotoAmerica has a charitable arm dedicated to helping privateer racers keep their dreams alive. Ron Heben can easily be identified at the track, sporting his famous red jacket and taking pictures of the various activities “Superfans” participate in on Saturday and Sunday. He coordinates the VIP Superfan Experience along with Kathy Price for MotoAmerica fans. With only two races left in the nine-stop season, Superfans have generously contributed a total of $19,875 to seven different privateers. It’s a remarkable amount of support from folks who are passionate about giving and racing.
Recently, Supersport rider #92 Jason Waters received a check for $2,310 at VIR from the Superfans fund. This season’s other winners so far are: Twins Cup #292 Eli Block at Daytona, Supersport #26 Dominic Doyle at Road Atlanta, Hooligan #44 Ben Gloddy at Barber, Superbike #88 Max Flinders at the Ridge, #60 Carl Soltisz at Laguna, and Twins Cup #116 Kevin Olmedo at Mid-Ohio. Many of these riders have faced health and other personal challenges which have kept them sidelined from racing. The VIP Superfan checks are an unexpected financial boost to riders that we can all feel good about. It keeps the racing dream possible.
#92 Jason Waters, the 2026 MotoAmerica VIR Superfan recipient; Dominic Doyle receiving his gift at Road Atlanta earlier this season.
The last two MotoAmerica race rounds are at COTA in Austin TX, September 11-13, and New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville N.J., September 25-27. If you’re going to one or both of these races, stop by and say hello to Grover and Kim at Sage Tailoring and Ron Heben with the VIP Superfan Experience. Tell them Barb & Geoff with Road Dirt sent you.
Barb Nickless
All photos by Geoff & Barb Nickless
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