Burn out, don't fade away

Sideburn reader Adam Woods sent a link to this gif. I didn't recognise the rider, but, using my Columbo-like detective skills, worked out who was the last Pro singles rider to ride the class running the champion's number 1 plate. I knew it was Pro singles, because it's a red number on a white background. It was Stephen Vanderkuur in 2013. He was the last to run a red number 1 because most champions move up a class to Expert/GNC2 as soon as they can.
A quick google of those two clues threw up the video below, clearly the source of the gif. The engine's gone, locking the back wheel. Scary.
You're welcome. G

Cracking stuff

I remember when I first shook hands with the great Phil Read I was surprised at how it felt like clutching a fistful of jumbled chicken bones. One of the few other sports that can compare to motorcycle racing for knackering your fingers is cricket. Full story on David Morrison's messy digits is in the archives of Metro. MP

Guy Martin Ulster Crash

Dirt Quake hero, long time ally of Sideburn and total one-off, Guy Martin had an horrendous crash at the Dundrod 150 last week. This race is part of the Ulster GP race festival and held on the fastest racetrack in the world (with a faster average speed than even the Isle of Man TT, with a lap record speed of 133.997mph). Guy was leading the race, ahead of outright lap record holder Bruce Anstey, when he was viciously highsided.

He suffered multiple broken bones: five vertebrae; hand; sternum and is very badly beaten up. He's had his spine pinned. It means his Triumph-supported attempt at the land speed record is now postponed until further notice.

It seems a little bit mercenary, but I'll say it anyway... Guy fans might like the Sideburn x Guy Martin T-shirt we have a few of. Every order gets a Chris Watson-designed Guy sticker too (while stocks last). G

Guy in happier times, 2014. 

Garrett Replies!

In response to the post below...

Aw man! I love that! Thank you! 

Honestly, Sideburn gets a huge amount of credit for getting my lazy old butt back into racing after a 25-year break from MX! Thanks so much for the inspiration and motivation. 

BTW, the ol' Aermacchi is coming out of retirement this summer... 

I'm digging getting my copies of Sideburn from Travis these days. Great excuse to get up to his shop. 

Heading to Waco, TX for a 1/2 mile this weekend. My first race back since a broken leg/torn ACL last spring


Always strap up your helmet, kids! G

Pikes Peak Sh*t Luck

I arrived at Pikes Peak on Thursday morning and this video was the talk of the bike paddock.
To explain: On practice days, the sessions run from 5.30am to 9am. The track is split in three sections. One for cars, one for trucks, one for bikes. Each racer rides up the section of track, waits until the whole group has ridden, then marshals bring them back, at a much slower pace, to the temporary pit for another run, till time is up. This video was caught on one of the runs back to the section start. A very experienced rider, further back in the snake of racers, lost the front and skidded off the side of the mountain.
That's when the film starts...
The rider at the top separated his shoulder. Miraculous considering.
If you're thinking, why didn't the camera bike just brake? The unblinking eye of the GoPro sees the bike, but the rider was looking up the road, not up the mountainside, so didn't see the bike till it was too late. G

Dirt Quake USA Chopper Race

A well sedated low-side crash shot by Scotts Garage on Instagram.
That bike was fugging heavy but I guess the adrenalin was at maximum boost enabling the rider (Corey from Canada) to flip it straight back up on its feet. He'd have continued if the forks weren't so bent.
(Thats me pootling along in last on a Honda CL350. Sideburn's poet, Travis Newbold, is leading this race, coming an eventual second, to SB17 contributor, Kris Regentin). BP

Unfortunate DRZ/ Tarmac Interface

From Harley in the Isle of Man...

After an unfortunate DRZ/ tarmac interface scenario this morning, I can report that, while Sideburn stickers look cool, crash bungs work better at keeping the bike intact. 
Harley

The darkness and light of Peter Guld's TT Photos

Our friend Peter Guld from Hungary has travelled over to the TT for the last few years. A gallery of his photos are up on the Hungarian site TotalBike, they're very good.
The wreckage is from John Howarth's Bray Hill crash. The rider survived with a minor fracture, but spectators were badly hurt when the bike cartwheeled into the crowd. One of the lucky ones, who escaped with a broken leg, was Belgian custom bike building star, Fred Krugger. the crash resulted in the Senior being red-flagged for the second time in four years (and second time in its 100-plus year history). G

Over Cooked

Thanks to Jeremy for this photo (of unknown origin) of someone toasting their Norton Commando.
- Would you sacrifice grazing the jeans off your arse; possibly down to the bone, or launch yourself over the highside and pray against all odds that your ailerons can guide you to the soft grass field the other side of a 3-bar wooden fence? BP

Ass Backwards

Thanks to Roger for sending us this.
It's all captured on one road, Mulholland Drive, above LA. Californians call sportsbikers 'Squids'. I heard it's because of the noise they make when they hit a canyon wall, but I don't know if that's true.
Anyway, this is hypnotic. G

Distinguished Gentleman

Photos from the advrider forum. Love them all.

Is that some kind of GSX? G 

Thanks to Dan W for the tip-off.

UPDATE:
this is Paul of Catamount Cycles. The bike is a redux of this $400 1983 Suzuki GR650 Tempter - only to the seriously perverted/ dedicated.

What a great job!

Jamie Self-Harm

My attempt at a Steve McQueen fence jump.
I was racing mr XR600 in the British Dirt Track Championship at Swindon and had to avoid a rider throttling off for a yellow flag incident ahead and ended up laying it down into the fence! Thought I'd got away with it but after pushing the bike off my foot it was kinda flopping about in the wrong direction so I just layed back down and waited for the medic! The paramedics and promoters were awesome and looked after me really well, got a titanium alloy nail in my right shin now and getting about ok. The bike was fine.
If I had decent boots instead of cheap speedway boots with no armour I reckon I'd have walked away.. Live and learn.
Anyway, thought you'd enjoy the animation my brother made of the crash pics!
Jamie #29


UPDATE: Jamie needs to buy himself a Broke Bone Patch. Good well soon Jamie. Chicks dig scars. G

Airfences are good news

We mentioned a crash in the earlier Springfield Mile post. Dave found this video of it. Ouch. Get well soon everyone. I think that's Sammy Halbert flying through the air like a leather throwing star. G

Sammy Halbert Get Off

Love the rewind selecta edit on this. BP

Thanks Davida, Knox, Dainese...

I'm currently on an amazing Moto Aventures 5000km riding trip being led by Charley Boorman from Cape Town, through Namibia and into Zambia. On day two of a 16-day trip, 2km from the hotel for the night, I crashed. This is pretty unusual for me. I slide out of dirt track races all the time, but I haven't crashed on the road for a decade or more.
30 seconds before impact I was having the time of my life, riding in incredible scenery, high on life, then I made a wrong decision. The result was one less BMW 1200 GS on the planet. But, thanks to the fine riding products of a few companies, there are just as many Sideburn editors left as there were before.
So, I would like to thank the fine helmets of Davida (check out the damage); the superb Cross Shirt and Cross shorts from Knox and the lovely Dainese leather jacket and gloves. They did their jobs better than they could be expected and I'm still wearing them now, eight days later (I should really try avoid crashing in that lid again, though).
They saved my skin in impressive style.
Remember kids, motorsickles is dangerous. It only takes a second to eat shit. G.

DB On the Road

Nice French moto-photo blog I stubble across every now and then. I think these images are all taken by Denis Boussard, the blog's creator - db-ontheroad blog.

That Audi is one of two that crashed heavily at Le Mans. Here is the other. Take a minute to watch it. GI

Gladiators - Amman Valley report 1)

Or was it more 'It's a Knockout'? either way the new Novice Class on only it's second outing was no country amble, especially as all racing on Saturday was rained off, come sunny Sunday we were chomping at the bit. I'd made a point of gentlemanly shaking Jamie's hand at riders briefing in case he didn't realize my dashboard mounted 9 Iron golf club was only a childs plastic toy. But from the off, sparks were flying. Even with only eight riders instead of the big boy's grids of 12, the corners were a ruck. Places were shuffled from start to finish.That's Jason Ramsden out front, who borrowed Skooter Farm Dave's #31 bike, racing for the first time. Cool to the end and effortlessly stole the 3rd place trophy from me. That's not inflatable leathers I'm wearing, I just took a deep breath at the start and held it until the finish. Photo courtesy Team Full Lock or Death.At one point I made a heroic round-the-outside move from 4th to 1st, made some space, only to lose it all to a pathetic low-side crash on the next lap. Jamie on full gas kamikaze mission had also nose dived into the dirt and as he hadn't done his morning yoga as recommended, his foot was unable to sustain a 180˚ back twist and broke. BP

1st Stuart Lovell.........Suzuki CCM
2nd Steve Lane..........Suzuki CCM
3rd Jason Ramsden...Rotax
4th Ben Part.............Rotax CCM
5th Drogo Michie.....Vertimatti
6th Jamie Croyden...XR600 Honda
7th Billy Bull............?
8th Adam Waller......?

Hooked Up

This is Henry Tyrell-Smith in the 1929 Senior, at the Isle of Man TT. By the fourth lap his Rudge was three minutes ahead when he crashed at Glen Helen. He re-mounted and still managed to finish 3rd despite leg injuries and three cracked ribs; just 50 seconds behind a Sunbeam in 2nd. The place seems to propagate madmen. Gary is there now. BP

Mike, what are you doing?

This is Greaser Mike practising an unusual starting technique at a race in New York State. Find out what's going on at the Greaser Mike blog. G

Crash!

Blogger had a massive highside yesterday wiping out some posts along the way. Seems to be back on-track now. BP