Headed into MotoGP weekend in Austin, Texas, I actually didn’t know what to anticipate. Regardless of getting my first motorbike at 19, it was nonetheless my first time attending a race. It was sizzling and really loud, which wasn’t a lot of a shock. Because it seems, MotoGP nonetheless has grid ladies, which was extra of a shock since I’d assumed that was over again when System 1 principally did away with them. The most important shock, although, was simply how rapidly I grew to become obsessed with King of the Baggers. I don’t care whether or not you want bikes or racing — when you’re not watching, you’re lacking out.
Full Disclosure: Brembo wished to get me hooked on motorbike racing so badly that it paid for me to remain in a flowery lodge that provides you a beer if you test in. Final time I stayed there, I bought a Shiner Bock, however this time round, all they’d was some native craft brew. It was effective. Additionally, nobody knew who Townes Van Zandt was. That was disappointing however not Brembo’s fault. Additionally, Brembo bought me tickets and VIP passes, so I used to be capable of watch most issues from an air-conditioned field whereas a pleasant younger woman named Caroline stored making an attempt to provide me free Prosecco. It labored. Additionally, Brembo paid for my flight residence.
Even the folks on Harley-Davidson’s racing crew appeared to grasp that racing bikes that had been undoubtedly not constructed for racing is inherently ridiculous. And to be clear, whereas they aren’t inventory bikes, they’re much more inventory than you may suppose. The chassis and the engine are basically left alone, though you’re allowed to do extra to the engine than the chassis, so even with light-weight modified bodywork, completely different handlebars, a fancier suspension, upgraded brakes (hey, do you know that Brembo makes high-performance brakes?) and all the opposite adjustments that go into turning a street bike into one thing track-capable, they’re nonetheless heavy bikes. The truth is, 620 kilos is the minimal that they’re allowed to weigh.
In the long run, the result’s a complete paddock of bikes that roughly appear to be the large cruisers you see on street journeys, solely they’re about to race flat-out at Circuit of the Americas. It seems improper. It feels improper. Arguably, it possibly even is improper. And but, they do it anyway. As a result of it’s completely wonderful.
When you suppose larger, heavier race bikes means larger, stronger riders, you couldn’t be extra improper. We bought an opportunity to briefly chat with Harley’s race crew, and whereas its riders may be a bit stockier than a number of the race automobile drivers you’ve met prior to now, they’re nonetheless fairly small. One have a look at their arms is sufficient to understand they’re clearly in unbelievable form, however when you had visions of massive bearded males rocking beer bellies tossing these bikes round on the monitor, I’m sorry to burst your bubble. As foolish because the idea is, they take King of the Baggers significantly.
Significantly sufficient that, a lot to my disappointment, nobody would give me a trip across the monitor on the again. On the one hand, I understood, however then again, I actually wished the prospect to expertise only a style of the madness myself. Oh properly, I additionally couldn’t get a trip within the Storage 56 Camaro, partially as a result of it apparently, “doesn’t have a passenger seat.” As if that’s a professional cause. Simply put me within the driver’s seat, dude. You may belief a Jalopnik author to not crash a Camaro.
As you possibly can think about, all that further weight on a race bike is dangerous information for tires and brakes. I received’t go as far as to say King of the Baggers racers want extra talent than their MotoGP counterparts, however when your sport defies each the legal guidelines of each God and nature, let’s simply say you want a particular set of abilities to maintain the rubber aspect down and the shiny aspect up. They talked about varied methods for retaining all that weight beneath management, similar to utilizing the thumb brake the stabilize the rear earlier than you actually hammer the entrance brakes.
And whereas it’s very a lot not NASCAR, listening to them speak about how a lot the bikes transfer undoubtedly made it onerous not to think about a NASCAR comparability. They’re taking bikes that shouldn’t be raced, racing them anyway and studying to work with the bike’s “flaws” as a substitute of fully engineering them out. I completely adore it.
As extremely awesomely horrible as the concept of racing baggers is, the precise racing is even higher than you possibly can even think about. All of the stuff I discovered about nook technique and brakes and tires went out the window the second the bikes took off on Saturday, and I instantly changed into slightly child once more, having a blast watching loud, heavy issues go quick. Very quick. And after they lean into the turns, belief me, they actually lean into the turns.
The quantity I heard tossed round was about 60 levels of lean, which is already quite a bit for a race bike. Once we’re speaking Indians and Harley-Davidsons, although, even if you watch it with your individual two eyes, it’s onerous to essentially consider what you’re seeing. It was chaos. It was magnificence. It was improper. It was proper. Most significantly, although, I used to be there, watching it occur stay. You may’t inform me that I imagined one thing that 1000’s of different folks can confirm occurred despite the fact that it felt extra like one thing I noticed within the type of dream the place I by no means removed my Budweiser tank high. If it had been a dream, they might have let me trip one of many bikes.
I do know the actual race was speculated to be MotoGP. That’s the rationale Brembo spent a lot cash to carry me Austin. And I did benefit from the closing race on Sunday, particularly since I bumped into an previous good friend I hadn’t seen years and bought to catch up whereas we watched a number of the most insane racers on the planet lap COTA. At the same time as somebody who doesn’t have a lot of a way of self-preservation (I’ve been driving for greater than 15 years, in any case), I can acknowledge they’re doing one thing I do know for a truth I’m too terrified to even dip my toe into making an attempt.
And but, after watching King of the Baggers, it nearly felt too severe. A bit too buttoned down. After experiencing the unhinged ridiculousness of a Baggers race, it felt like one thing was lacking. That’s not a swipe at anybody concerned with MotoGP, both. My coronary heart’s simply been captured by King of the Baggers, and I don’t know if there’s a manner for MotoGP to ever win it again. Watching Harleys race Indians in a manner they undoubtedly, completely shouldn’t actually simply is that a lot enjoyable.
