Carl Fogarty coming to Dirt Quake

This absolute legend is coming to Dirt Quake as a guest of main sponsor, Bikesure.

I remember watching this race live. He was highsided to the moon and still won the day's second race.

It's going to be the best ever Dirt Quake and it's on 15-16 July at the Adrian Flux Arena.
Advance tickets, with the chance to win a Mutt Motorcycles custom 125 street tracker, are still available from http://adrianfluxarena.co.uk/dirtquake-5-ticket-sales/

BOTT XR1R

We have been big fans of Spanish company Bottpower since we first saw their computer modelled concept in 2011 and we were the first magazine in the world to featured their first production bike, back in Sideburn 13, 2013. Now they've developed their niche furhter with this titanium framed, XR1R. Bottpower are MotoGP level engineers, working in Moto2, World Endurance and top Superbike series'. This Found David Sanchez says about their new flagship.

The BOTT XR1R is a special version of our BOTT XR1. The XR1 is a street bike, while the XR1R is a bike that we are developing to use only on the track.

We see it as a big supermoto bike, which feels at home on twisty tracks. This XR1R unit is a Bottpower laboratory bike, that we are using to test and develop new solutions for our bikes and customers.

We have a very good customer who ordered us a BOTT XC1 cafe racer with titanium frame and racing electronics and one of the targets of the XR1R is to develop those components, so the BOTT XR1R has a titanium frame and also an EFI Euro4 ECU which allows to use adjustable traction control, launch control and 3 different engine maps.

I have been working for 10 years as data engineer in different championships and categories, so for us to add a data acquisition system was a mandatory step to make a good development work. With this bike we will measure things that we do not measure normally, like the stress in different points of the frame using extensometry gauges.

We have a testing program for this year with several tests on different tracks. We will also organize a test in which some journalists and some of our best customers will test the bike.

And as culmination of this project, we are working to race with the BOTT XR1R in next year Pikes Peak race. In principle we won’t be able to use the titanium frame because it is not allowed by the technical rules, so we will need to look for another solution (probably an evolution of our XR1 steel frame). Our target with this bike in race configuration is to achieve a power to weight ratio better than 1:1. This is, more than 150 HP and less than 150 kgs.

Bottpower is a very small company with very limited resources, so in this case the first challenge for Pikes Peak will be to find the necessary sponsors and supporters to complete the budget. We plan to explain the whole process in a very detailed way on our blog, so we invite everybody to follow us in this great adventure!

BOTT XR1R Technical specifications

Engine
Air/oil cooled 1203cc Buell Thunderstorm V-Twin, 1203 cm3.
Fuel system: 49 mm downdraft DDFI II fuel injection
Gearbox: 5-speed
Clutch: Wet, multi-plate, compensated
Final Drive: Belt
Electronics: EFI Euro4
ECU

Chassis
Titanium central Spine Bottpower frame, with vibration isolation system
Front Suspension: Showa inverted fork from a Buell 1125
Rear Suspension: Öhlins shock absorber
Front Brake: 8 pistons ZTL2 type brake, 375 mm stainless steel floating rotor
Rear Brake: 240 mm stainless steel rotor, single piston floating caliper
Tyres: Slicks, Front 120/70xZR17 and Rear 190/55xZR17
The bike has a top fuel tank and 2 secondary fuel tanks.
Original Buell fuel pump located in the left secondary fuel tank.

Dimensions 
Wheelbase: 52in / 1321 mm
Seat Height: 30.1 in / 765 mm
Ground Clearance: 4.3 in / 109 mm
Weight: Not declared yet.
Fuel Capacity: 13 liters.

www.bottpower.com
http://twitter.com/bottpower
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bottpower-Project/117279678290426

Dirt Quake V: Schedule

We've had word from the Adrian Flux Arena, King's Lynn that Dirt Quake V has pre-sold more tickets than any event in the stadium's history. It's hardly surprising when you see the line up and realise there's a chance to win a custom Mutt Motorcycle!

You still have chance to buy a £15 advance ticket.

FRIDAY 15 JULY
12:00 Campsite opens
17.00 Turnstiles open
18.00 DTRA racing starts. Classes for the evening are: Pro, Thunderbike, Vintage, Hooligan, Restricted
22.15 DTRA racing ends
22.30 Live band TV CRIME, Wall of Death and DJs
00:00 Bar closes

SATURDAY 16 JULY
10.00-11.45 Dirt Quake riders sign-on (racers will receive final instructions this weekend)
12.45 Rider’s meeting
13.00 Turnstiles open Dirt Quake practice
15.00 Dirt Quake main event opening ceremony
+ Dream Themes
+ Kids bicycle race
+ Wall of Death shows
+ More
18:15 Mutt Motorcycle Winner announced
18.30 Dirt Quake finals
19.15 Awards presentation
20.00 Wall of Death shows, DJ’s
22.00 Live Band The Fuzillis
00.00 Bar closes

SUNDAY 17 JULY
Hang around for stock car racing at the arena.
Tickets available separately
15:00 Campsite closes

Dirt Quake V: The Fuzillis

We have a few great bands lined up for Dirt Quake V. Friday night is TV Crime, punk/ power pop from Nottingham. Saturday, in the middle of the track, are Dirt Quake regulars, Dream Themes, supplying the soundtrack to the race action and for Saturday night we have these instr-o-mentals, The Fuzillis!
Plus The Fuzillis will be joined by a very special TV star live on stage.
AND we have the greatest DJs - Dave Taylor, Katy B and Sir Johnny Alpha - spinning delicious 7in vinyl ONLY on both Friday and Saturday night.

Remember, up there for thinking, down there for dancing.

Book a Dirt Quake ticket in advance and be in with a chance to win the Dirt Quake Mutt brand new Mutt Motorcycles custom 125 street tracker (below) G

Matt Helders and his Mule

Drummer with the Arctic Monkeys, collaborator with Iggy Pop, a man with fine taste in motorcycles, Matt Helders is all these things. We flew to Los Angeles to photograph the Brit's mean Mule-built Bonneville. 

Read about the bike, and the man in Sideburn 25. 

And if you like the Not For Aircraft Use T-shirt Matt is wearing you can get your own at the Sideburn shop for just £15 plus post from sideburn.bigcartel.com

Photo: Ben Part

Boss 1974 Yamaha 250 in UK

Not one single interesting flat trackers being sold on UK eBay gets past Kev H. He combs the online auction site with a fine-toothed comb and clues us up when he finds one.
His latest find is this Boss Yam 250. Non-runner parts missing, but has potential. It certainly looks the part. Bultaco Astro botherer? Could be. G

Buddy Custom Cycle Racing Flathead

When I was looking for photos for the FEVHOTS Post, I found photos of this gorgeous handshift flathead. I don't know if it's an original or new crate motor, but I love the mix of old and new. 1940s tech engine, in a monoshock frame. Handshift, but 2015 Maxxis rubber. Even the rider is mixing it up, white jeans and modern helmet.
It was built by Buddy Custom Cycles and if we can get a feature on it, we will. G

Photos: Jun Saitoh

Taylor Dunfee's Broken Neck Fund

A couple of weeks ago Taylor Dunfee travelled up to Castle Rock for Dirt Quake USA, over 1000 miles from Southern California. It was the second time he'd taken part in DQ USA race with his friend in the Hooligan class on his homebuilt Sportster.

Last year he rode off with the flag girl (see the Preston Burroughs portfolio in Sideburn 25). This year he had a massive crash, clearing the wooden fence and flying head first into one of the metal poles holding up the catch fence.

Being a self-employed artist, and now unable to work, friends have set a fund for people to donate to. This is what they say...

Being the absolute beast that he is, he somehow survived, although not unscathed. He currently has a broken neck and what's known as burning hands syndrome. As an artist, Taylor makes a living by his hands, whether it be photography or illustration. In addition to a pile of medical bills including a life flight from the race track, he'll be out of work for sometime. The $10k goal is hands down less than what he'll need, but that is where we want to start as a goal for him to pay his bills and cut back on out of pocket medical expenses. These funds are needed ASAP, and help is greatly appreciated.

If you would like to help go to www.gofundme.com/taylordunfee.

As an aside, Taylor was wearing a new Icon Airframe Pro, choosing the safety of a modern helmet over the looks of a vintage one. It's likely it saved his life. Vintage helmets might look great, but when you really need a helmet you'll wish you had the very best you could afford. G

Dirt Quake USA - CHOPPERS!

We make no secret that the choppers get top billing at Dirt Quake, whichever side of the Atlantic it's held. The heroes with long forks and fishtail pipes didn't disappoint at Sideburn x See See x Harley-Davidson promoted Castle Rock race.

Riders from the USA and Canada took part on heavily modified Harley, Yamaha, Triumphs and some spindly, automatic deathtrap ridden by Portland legend Kenny Bobcat of Moto Galore.

Check out a full class of TWELVE chops racing at Dirt Quake V, King's Lynn, 16 July. More info at dirtquake.co.uk. G

All photos: Yve Assad

Shortly after this photo was taken Kenny did a celebratory seat bounce that sent his machine into an evil wobble and threw both his feet off the pegs onto the floor. He managed to ride it out.

The only bike the Mt St Helens MC tech inspectors had real doubts about, mainly due to the pipes. They let it through anyway. Viva Dirt Quake.

Eric had great dirt track style, even on a chopper, elbow high, hips twisted, toe out...

Hand-shifting in practice. The guy in the poncho was spotted nine hours later jumping the camp fire.

Ashley from Canada stopped off on his way back to Vancouver after a six -month road trip with his wife and baby daughter is an old van pulling an older Airstream, with an even old K-Model Harley shop on a rack on the back. He won a prize in the chopper show then raced the same bike. Class act.

Most of these photos are from practice. The final was under the floodlights. Dirt Quake USA's Chopper final came after a few very heavy crashes in other races, a couple of which needed medical attention. The Castle Rock track was perfect on Saturday night, very 'racey' and superb to race on, allowing experienced riders to push hard and really slide and spin. However, it would let the inexperienced ride up a point, lulling them into a Mert Lawwill fantasy, before catching them out if they took liberties with too much throttle, and not enough body English (read Chris Carr's  superb guide to flat track body English in Sideburn 25). 

I had a quiet word with all the chopper riders in the staging area before their final, as the paramedics gumball lights strobed the track picking up one hapless hero. I wanted to remind them that no one wanted to see them leave the track in an ambulance. I pointed out that they'd already put on a great show, and that they should enjoy themselves. After my pep talk one of the rider's wive or girlfriends appeared, semi-freaking out, telling the riders how frightened she was and, I'm paraphrasing, telling her fella not to be a dick. I think I put it better, but whatever, it was a good race and no one fell off. Result. G

Dirt Quake USA Style Contest presented by Fox Shocks

So it's just one week since the campers started packing up and rolling out of the third edition of Dirt Quake USA and the Sideburn x See See x Harley-Davidson two-wheeled party was a success. There were a couple heavy crashes on track and a couple of morons ignoring the 5mph campsite limit (one of whom got disciplined), but considering how many races, on how many inappropriate motorcycles, how many people determined to whoop it up, how many camp fires and people haring around, and how much those Pacific North-Westerners drink, well, it was super-cool.

Part of the Dirt Quake USA mix is the style contest. It's kind of a jump contest, but judged on style, not height or distance. That means appropriate bikes, anything with more than 3in of suspension travel, get marked down. Oh, and the crowd judge it by cheering.

The contest is over the Castle Rock TT jump, it's long, few of these amateurs can clear it, anyone ballsy enough can enter and the winner walks away with a $1000 token to spend with Fox Shocks. Any guesses who was the crowd's favourite? G

Photos: Yve Assad