Alaska Motorcycle Ride: Discovering America’s Last Frontier

Alaska Motorcycle Ride Dalton Highway
On the Dalton Highway, Sukakpak Mountain rises 4,390 feet and reflects in the Koyukuk River. Sukakpak is an Iñupiat word meaning “marten deadfall” because, seen from the north, the peak resembles a carefully balanced log used to trap marten. (Photos by the author)

It wasn’t that she was a princess. She had lived and taught on a reservation in northern Ontario where she gutted geese, chopped down trees, and drove on the ice roads. But by her own admission, my partner, Steph, was a sun ‘n’ sand type of vacationer. Riding and wild camping with no electricity was not her idea of a good time. And a hostel? Forget it. So when the opportunity arose for an Alaska motorcycle ride – taking my Suzuki V‑Strom 650 from Niagara Falls to America’s last frontier – my suggestion that she fly to Anchorage and meet me…well, it wasn’t flying. 

Alaska Motorcycle Ride Alaska Highway
Built by the U.S. Army for defense from the Japanese in WWII, the Alaska Highway opened the secluded northwest to travel and trade. In the background, the only wooden grain elevator remaining in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, reopened in 1983 as an art gallery.

But over the weeks – and from over my shoulder – the more she saw of my reading and planning and YouTube videos, the more curious she became.

Related: An Alaskan Motorcycle Adventure How-To

My late June ride across the Canadian prairies and into northern British Columbia had been an adventurous mix of wind and rain and heat so unbearable that I spent a full day in a rundown Saskatchewan hotel to recover in air‑conditioned bliss. But it wasn’t until I reached the Alaska Highway west of Haines Junction, Yukon, that I began to wonder if my riding skills would be up to the task. 

Alaska Motorcycle Ride

Scan QR code above or click here to view the route on REVER

The entire 200 miles to the Alaskan border was a constantly changing mix of gravel, chipseal, and potholes, with just enough pavement to inspire complacency. Most disconcerting were the unannounced depressions caused by permafrost. Without warning, the bike would simply drop away beneath me, only to come pounding back like an unbroken bronco. Twice I was certain I was going over the handlebars. Almost as unnerving were the lengthwise ridges that attempted to grab my tires and toss me off the road. 

Alaska Motorcycle Ride Alaska Highway
The Alaska Highway threads its way between Kluane Lake and the Kluane Mountains near Destruction Bay, Yukon. The entire 200 miles from Haines Junction to the Alaska border was an adventure in itself.

Between the irregular road surface and the wildlife, I was in no danger of nodding off. At one point, I was negotiating a corner on the loose surface when a large moose bolted into my path from the alders on my right. Brakes were almost useless in the gravel. She was so startled that she was still peeing as she charged in front of me, and I admit I checked myself for the same once she had disappeared into the brush. It wasn’t long before I encountered a grizzly and then a caribou on the shoulder, but they at least seemed content to stay put.

Alaska Motorcycle Ride Top of the World Highway
Wild camping on the Top of the World Highway near Poker Creek, Alaska.

The pavement improved measurably near Tok. In Yukon River Camp, where I fueled up for the long ride on the Dalton Highway to Prudhoe Bay – one of the “most dangerous roads in America” – I partnered up with another solo rider for mutual support should the trip go (quite literally) sideways. With no shoulder and with roadsides that often plummet 50 feet to the soggy tundra, one of the greatest dangers of the Dalton is unexpectedly becoming the focus of a search party. But the weather gods smiled on us. A sprinkling of rain the day before had dampened the notoriously blinding dust without creating the slippery, muddy mess I had feared. And I marveled at the midnight sun, which kept temperatures between 35 and 60 degrees. 

Alaska Motorcycle Ride Porcupine caribou
While camping on the Top of the World Highway near Poker Creek, Alaska, the author was awakened by an enormous herd of Porcupine caribou passing by.

After a night of primitive camping – and a surprisingly good meal – in Coldfoot, my riding partner and I spent a full day navigating the dirt and ogling the views: from the omnipresent Trans Alaskan Pipeline to the enormity of the Brooks Mountain Range and Atigun Pass, to the endless sweep of tundra on the North Slope toward the Arctic Ocean. And of course, the muskoxen we encountered as they munched on moss and lichens. Needless to say, high‑fives and a toast were in order two days later when we successfully returned to Fairbanks. This was adventure on a new scale.

Alaska Motorcycle Ride muskoxen
Just east of the Dalton Highway (aka the “Haul Road,” which runs from just north of Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay), muskoxen roamed the windy tundra of the North Slope near the Sagavanirktok River. They live naturally only in the Canadian arctic tundra, Alaska, and Greenland. Members of the goat family, their underwool is eight times warmer than sheep’s wool yet surprisingly light.

Rolling into Anchorage, on the other hand, I was struck by how much the city was like any other. In fact, locals joke that the best part about Anchorage is that in under an hour, you can drive to Alaska. I searched out the House of Harley‑Davidson, which offers riders free camping (including restrooms and showers), and awaited Steph’s arrival.

Alaska Motorcycle Ride Trans Alaska Pipeline
The Trans Alaska Pipeline runs 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, a port near the Gulf of Alaska, and was engineered to shift with the permafrost, withstand forest fires (as it has done here), and adapt to temperature changes of 180 degrees F (the pipeline lengthens by almost 6 feet in summer heat).

It was a little discouraging the next morning when her flight brought with it a cold front full of clouds and rain. But I was grateful she had come and determined to make the most of our 10 days together. On the way to Flat Top Mountain for a panorama of the city, we rolled along Cange Street, which doubled as an airport runway. Each home had its own attached hangar, and prop planes were parked on several front lawns. On another city corner, we encountered a moose that casually browsed a willow before sauntering across a driveway and into a backyard.

Alaska Motorcycle Ride Dalton Highway
Staring down the Dalton: Is that a smile or grimace?

South of town, the Seward Highway hugged the narrow shore between the steep Chugach Mountains and the churning waters of Turnagain Arm. At Beluga Point, we paused to watch the tidal bore, a daily surge of seawater that can be over 3 feet high and sounds like a freight train. The tides themselves, rising to 35 feet, rival those of the East Coast’s Bay of Fundy. Naturally, we had to visit the nearby Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center where injured animals are rehabilitated. It was one place where we were guaranteed to see most of Alaska’s wildlife up close.

Alaska Motorcycle Ride Seward Boat Harbor
Seward Boat Harbor, on Resurrection Bay, is merely an introduction to the beauty in store on the Kenai Peninsula.

Believing that my intrepid partner deserved at least one nice hotel, I had booked a “glacier view” suite in the port of Whittier. This came with the bonus of riding through North America’s longest tunnel, a single‑lane route that runs 2.5 miles under an entire mountain. Besides a fish-processing plant, however, Whittier has only two large buildings, both of which are remnants of World War II: an abandoned military supply post and an apartment building that houses nearly the entire town’s population. Without even a pretense of renovations, the top floor now serves as a hotel.

Our apartment, while clean, was clad in 1960s paneling, and the bathroom was adorned floor‑to‑ceiling in pink tile. Most bizarre was the multitude of safety bars (I counted 10) fastened to the wall in the shower. Steph had started calling it the “Bates Motel,” and I suggested the handles were for grabbing when Norman dropped by. On top of that, not only was the rain incessant and obscured the view of the harbor from our window, but when we asked about the glacier, we were told we’d have to sail 6 miles out of port and around a mountain to get a glimpse. Alaskans also joke that “Everything is sh*ttier in Whittier,” and we just had to laugh. 

Alaska Motorcycle Ride Prudhoe Bay
Wading into the icy waters of Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean.

However, if our night had been a low point, the next morning was a decided high. Wearing our raingear and carrying a set of hiking poles, we set out to explore Byron Glacier. Dense forests gave way to alder thickets that soon opened to lichen‑dotted boulders. Under a steady rain, we climbed the rugged upper valley where ice lay covered in black silt. Towering high above, the jagged peaks were trimmed in white fondant while sinuous waterfalls tumbled from the sheer cliffs. Ahead, shining and motionless, the bright blue glacier stood before us, a frozen river imperceptibly carving out the valley floor. Dwarfed in this vast, timeless amphitheater, we seemed no more than fleeting specks, and tears welled up in Steph’s eyes. This was travel on a new scale.

After a cozy night in a warm log cabin, we continued to Seward where we joined a day‑long boat tour of Kenai Fjords National Park and Resurrection Bay, a rich marine ecosystem with craggy coves, deep fjords, and tiny treed islands. Every wildlife sighting brought a new gasp: Sea lions, otters, puffins, murres, and mountain goats were but a prelude to the humpbacks, fin whales, and orcas. Bald eagles watched us from branches along the shore. 

Alaska Motorcycle Ride Atigun Pass
Approaching Atigun Pass from the north on the Dalton Highway, the author pauses beside the Sagavanirktok River.

Most stunning of all was Northwestern Glacier at the head of the fjord. As a million tiny ice chunks bobbed around our boat like warning buoys, we drew ever closer and were overwhelmed by its size and the thunderous calving. The splitting columns sent booming explosions reverberating off the cliffs, followed by great walls of ice crashing into the frigid water. We stood gripped in a hallowed silence.

Arriving in Palmer the following day, we explored the Matanuska Valley, a region with a surprising claim to fame. Particularly fertile soils and summer days with 22 hours of sunlight produce record‑setting vegetables: cabbages bigger than beach balls, carrots the size of small logs, and pumpkins that must be lifted by crane. As one resident told me, “We get just as much sunlight as anywhere else – we just get it all at once.”

Alaska Motorcycle Ride Byron Glacier
The author and his partner, Steph, hiking Byron Glacier.

Along the Knik River, we were introduced to glamping in a huge canvas tent with a queen‑sized bed, an upholstered chair, and more pillows than a palace. It was a far cry from my bivy sack – and just what Steph had wanted.

Morning was a little brighter as we set off for Homer, a small town on the southwest side of the Kenai Peninsula. Twisting through wooded Cooper Landing and Soldotna, the Sterling Highway turned south and followed the coast along Cook Inlet. From Clam Gulch, we skirted the edge of the cliffs all the way to our destination. When keeping my eyes on the road became impossible, we pulled over and tramped through a field to the precipice, where we could see Sadie Peak across sparkling Kachemak Bay standing in snow‑covered glory high in the equally glorious Chugach Mountains.

Alaska Motorcycle Ride Northwestern Glacier
Northwestern Glacier is one of many photo ops at every turn in Kenai Fjords National Park.

The only thing I knew about Homer was that the Salty Dawg Saloon was perched on the end of a spit. As old as the town itself, the diminutive building has served as a school, post office, railway station, and grocery store. In 1957, it became a saloon, and shortly thereafter, as the story goes, a patron who’d grown tired of waiting for his friend stuck a dollar bill to the wall for him to buy a drink if he ever showed up. The ensuing tradition has resulted in every surface being completely papered in dollar bills. Unable to find room for my own bill, I wedged a Loonie (a Canadian dollar coin) into a picture frame and apologized (equally Canadian) to the bartender for my 76‑cent contribution.

Thirty minutes east of Homer, we bounced down a rutted dirt road to our accommodations on the Kilcher Family Homestead. In the early 1940s, professor Yule Kilcher left war‑torn Switzerland to find peace in the wilds of Alaska, where he and his wife built a log cabin and raised eight children. Living a subsistence lifestyle and clearing fields, the family eventually acquired 600 acres, where they continue to live off the land. 

Alaska Motorcycle Ride Stellavera Kilcher
Stellavera’s garden-shed-turned-lodging on the Kilcher Family Homestead.

You have undoubtedly heard the music of Jewel, one of the Kilcher grandchildren, and may even have seen episodes of their Discovery Channel series, Alaska: The Last Frontier. One daughter, Stellavera, lives off‑grid in a yurt near the cliffs and converted a garden shed into a surprisingly enchanting Airbnb. Enclosed in clear corrugated roof panels and furnished with a queen bed, heater, and lots of books, the structure – and the outdoor shower – gave us stellar views of Kachemak Bay and the ice‑glazed mountains beyond. It was spectacular.

Before we knew it, we had to return to Anchorage, where I needed to do some scheduled bike maintenance and Steph caught a flight home. The weather had deteriorated the day she arrived, and although it never kept us from the many activities we had planned, we joked that the sun would return the day she left. That is exactly what happened. Under a clear blue sky, I rolled out my bivy again, anticipating the next leg of the journey and happy to have spent 10 days with Steph in a land unlike anything we had ever known. She still loves the beach, of course, but now all she can talk about is when we can go back to Alaska, where wonder is on a new scale.

Alaska Motorcycle Ride Kachemak Bay
Fireweed adds vibrant color to the cliffs facing Sadie Peak on the far side of Kachemak Bay near Homer.

Alaska Motorcycle Ride Resources

See all of Rider‘s touring stories (organized by region and state) here.

The post Alaska Motorcycle Ride: Discovering America’s Last Frontier appeared first on Rider Magazine.

Source: RiderMagazine.com

2025 Triumph Trident 660 Tribute Special Edition Review | First Look

2025 Triumph Trident 660 Tribute Special Edition

Celebrating Triumph’s rich racing history is the new 2025 Triumph Trident 660 Tribute Special Edition, which features a race-inspired graphic scheme, Triumph Shift Assist, and a flyscreen. 

2025 Triumph Trident 660 Tribute Special Edition

The modern Triumph Trident 660 debuted for model year 2021 with a name brought back to commemorate Triumph’s first triple-cylinder motorcycle launched in 1968. A racing Trident called “Slippery Sam” claimed five consecutive Isle of Mann Production TT wins from 1971-1975, and this Tribute version for 2025 pays special homage to the Trident’s racing history. 

Related: 2021 Triumph Trident 660 Review | First Look 

2025 Triumph Trident 660 Tribute Special Edition

“Since its launch in 2020, this middleweight roadster has reinvigorated this highly competitive category, selling more than 35,600 units worldwide,” said Paul Stroud, chief commercial officer for Triumph Motorcycles. “Its triple engine and premium detailing at a great price has been successful in bringing younger and new riders to Triumph, and just as ‘Slippery Sam’ once inspired a generation, we believe this special edition has the iconic style, extra technology, and dynamic performance to appeal to today’s Triumph fans.” 

2025 Triumph Trident 660 Tribute Special Edition

The Trident 660 is powered by a liquid-cooled 660cc Triple that makes a claimed 80 hp at 10,250 rpm and 47 lb-ft of torque at 6,250 rpm. It has a seat height of 31.7 inches and a weight of 416 lb. Throttle-by-wire allows two ride modes (Road and Rain), and it comes with ABS, switchable traction control, and a combined TFT and LCD display.  

2025 Triumph Trident 660 Tribute Special Edition

Suspension is supplied by Showa, with a 41mm inverted separate-function fork delivering 4.7 inches of travel and a preload-adjustable monoshock with 5.3 inches of travel. Nissin brake calipers grip 310mm discs in the front and a 255mm disc in the rear, and the bike rides on 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels wrapped in Michelin Road 5 tires. 

2025 Triumph Trident 660 Tribute Special Edition

The 2025 Triumph Trident 660 Tribute Special Edition adds a white, blue, and red graphic scheme inspired by “Slippery Sam,” as well as a Number 67 race graphic, a flyscreen, and Triumph Shift Assist, which enables clutchless up and down gear changes with an autoblipper on downshifts for smoother changes. 

2025 Triumph Trident 660 Tribute Special Edition

The 2025 Triumph Trident 660 Tribute Special Edition will be available for one year only with an MSRP of $8,595. It will arrive in dealerships starting April 2024. Visit the Triumph website for more information. 

Check out more new bikes in Rider’s 2024 Motorcycle Buyers Guide  

The post 2025 Triumph Trident 660 Tribute Special Edition Review | First Look appeared first on Rider Magazine.

Source: RiderMagazine.com

DWO achieves ISO 45001 certification, prioritising Occupational Health and Safety in WorldSBK

Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO), rights holder and organiser of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, proudly announces that it has obtained the prestigious ISO 45001 certification by the IMQ (Istituto Italiano del Marchio di Qualità) certification body.

ISO 45001 is an international standard that sets forth requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system, providing organisations with a structured framework to manage risks and enhance OH&S performance.

This achievement emphasises DWO’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the health and safety of its workforce and paddock members during the organisation of its world-class events, which takes place in variable contexts and subject to different local regulations.

“At DWO, the safety and wellbeing of our workforce and paddock members are paramount priorities,” said Stefano Pacchioli, Chief Operating Officer of Dorna WSBK Organization. “Earning the ISO 45001 certification underscores our commitment to fostering a safe and healthy work environment throughout all facets of our event organisation, from planning and implementation to ongoing evaluation and improvement.”

Key elements of the ISO 45001 standard include leadership commitment, worker participation, hazard identification and risk assessment, legal and regulatory compliance, emergency planning, incident investigation, and continual improvement.

“The implementation of ISO 45001 helps to reduce the risks of workplace accidents and demonstrates to all stakeholders that the organisation is implementing internationally recognised best practices for health and safety at work,” commented Fulvio Giorgi, CEO of IMQ. “Dorna, by committing to obtaining a voluntary certification aimed at reducing such risks, has demonstrated an extremely high level of responsibility towards the market and all stakeholders in general”.

By adhering to these criteria, DWO aims to systematically manage health and safety risks, reduce workplace incidents, and enhance overall OH&S performance at each WorldSBK round but also at each stage of the Championship planning.

ISO 45001 certification is a significant milestone for Dorna, but it is only a starting point in its ongoing journey towards excellence in occupational safety.

Source: WorldSBK.com

“A great fight, really fun” – Iannone on Superpole Race battle, “didn’t expect to be at this level” so soon

Andrea Iannone’s (Team GoEleven) strong start to his rookie season continued at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya despite a crash in Race 2 which dropped him from podium contention, with ‘The Maniac’ claiming fourth in Race 1 and second in the stunning Tissot Superpole Race fight. Speaking after his second MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship round, Iannone discussed his weekend and being competitive so quickly which he admitted he wasn’t expecting just two rounds into his debut campaign.

Iannone was one of ten riders who went under the pole lap record in Saturday’s Tissot Superpole session to line up from second and fought at the front in the early stages in what turned into a strategic race. Eventually dropping into P4 behind Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati duo of Nicolo Bulega and Alvaro Bautista who completed the podium, it was a race where the #29 had to learn as he went given his lack of experience on Pirelli tyres at a track where managing them is crucial.

In the Superpole Race, the #29 took advantage of Razgatlioglu passing Bautista at the final corner to overtake the #1 on the run to the line as he moved into second, with Bautista finding himself demoted from first to third in a matter of seconds. P2 continued Iannone’s run of podium finishes, now counting one in Australia and one in Barcelona. In Race 2, he was running in third before a Turn 10 tumble took him out of the race but showing strong pace left him happy overall.

Reviewing his weekend, Iannone said: “I’m really happy about the weekend. We tried to find something more compared to Race 1 in the long race. We found something in the rear. We were in front, and I struggled a little bit more with the front tyres in Race 2. In any case, it’s always like this. This is the game. We take risks to improve. We didn’t improve like we wanted but we gained experience and information, and this race was difficult because I don’t have a lot of experience with these tyres. At the end of the weekend, I’ve learnt.”

The Superpole Race went down to the wire between Razgatlioglu, Iannone and Bautista, with the GoEleven Ducati rider finding a gap between the #54 and #1 to claim second place after running in third on the run into the right-hand corner of Turn 14. When asked about this fight, Iannone spoke about how fighting in the short race is different and how he’s ahead of his expectations in terms of where he thought he’d be fighting.

Iannone added: “The Superpole Race is like a boxing match. Every corner, everybody overtakes me. I overtook one more time… the short race is always like this. It’s a great fight, it’s really fun. I’m happy about the result. In the end, I’ve come back now, and I didn’t expect, in the second round, to be at this level. We need to continue to improve and work but when you are close, the last details are always difficult to achieve.”

Watch every moment LIVE and UNINTERRUPTED throughout 2024 using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Marron on Razgatlioglu’s victories: “The racing instinct was incredible… Toprak’s matured a lot”

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya hosted Round 2 in the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship and it was sensational. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed his first two BMW victories with two different types of battles and, speaking after Sunday’s action, the #54’s Crew Chief, Phil Marron, gave his thoughts on the success during the Pirelli Catalunya Round.

THE FIRST VICTORY: “a little bit emotional, but it was fantastic…”

Race 1 was a strategic battle, with the 2021 Champion closing a four-second gap to Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) to claim victory on the last lap. On Race 1, Marron said: “I was a little bit emotional, but it was fantastic. Pole position and then he followed it up with a masterclass in the race. He didn’t react when he saw the other guys riding away, he stuck to his plan, managed his tyres and he brought it home. When he was hunting down Nico in the last laps, we were on the edge of our seats. Two laps to go, he lost the front at Turn 10, and I nearly had a heart attack! After that, he brought it home and did the business. Really special.

“We work together as a team. It was clear from all the information gathered that we couldn’t go into the 1’41s, had to try and stay in the 1’42s and, in the early laps, manage the tyres. Don’t be greedy, don’t try to get off the turns too much. We all play an important role but also Toprak’s matured a lot as well, and he understood how important it was around here. I didn’t think he believed the win was on the cards in Race 1 but now the belief is strong.”

FINAL CORNER MOVE: “Toprak didn’t have a chance at Turn 10, we didn’t have the tools there…”

While Race 1 was about strategy, the Tissot Superpole Race was a fantastic final-corner fight between Razgatlioglu, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven), with the #54 making an ambitious move on Bautista for P1. On the overtake, Marron said: “He never got a chance to see Alvaro, so he didn’t know where he was strong. On all upright braking, Alvaro was really strong. He didn’t have a chance at Turn 10, we didn’t have the tools there. We knew the last corner was the only chance, but it was still a long shot. I’m sure he’s told you already, he held it, went back to second gear, parked it on the corner and got an awesome exit. The racing instinct was incredible.”

A TITLE CHARGE IN 2024? “still got a lot of mileage to get before we understand how to react to every situation… never say never”

Two rounds in and with two wins secured on the M 1000 RR, Marron discussed the ceiling of the project. He said: “Toprak’s still improving. Every time he gets on the bike, he wants to extract the maximum of the package. We all know his talents, he’s incredible. BMW are pushing a lot with the project so the potential of the project with Toprak involved is extremely high. I honestly believe we’re still scratching the surface with the package. We’re into the races so we can’t do as much testing as we’d like. To do the development during a race weekend isn’t easy. I think we’ve still got a lot of mileage to get under our belts before we fully understand how to react to every situation we encounter. Never say never.”

TEAMWORK IMPORTANT AS EVER: “Great to see Mickey in P4… as happy for him as we were for Toprak!”

Catalunya was a strong weekend for BMW, with Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) taking a fourth place in the Superpole Race. Expanding on the atmosphere in the box, Marron said: “The group’s fantastic. Both sides of the garage are working together, Toprak and Mickey working together, and it was great to see Mickey in P4. We were as happy for him as we were for Toprak. He’s on the upward trend again. They’re both pushing the bike in the same direction, the atmosphere’s good and really nice.”

Can Razgatlioglu and BMW fight for victory next time out at Assen? Find out using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

TWO NEW 2024 WINNERS: Huertas, Manzi share the spoils in Barcelona after WorldSSP thrillers

The 2024 FIM Supersport World Championship had more twists and turns at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as two riders claimed their first victory of the season in style. In Race 1, the glory belonged to Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) after he went from pole to victory, while Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) made it three winners from four races this season to really kickstart his title challenge.

After taking pole in Australia, Huertas did so again on home soil as he posted a 1’44.197s and he was able to convert this into Race 1 victory on Saturday. He finished 1.2 seconds clear of Manzi in second after leading all 18 laps across the line, although he did face stiff competition from Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in the first few laps. He was unable to repeat it in Sunday’s Race 2 though, a crash at Turn 1 in the closing stages dropping him down to last and leaving the #99 unable to score points.

Discussing his first win on Saturday, Huertas said: “I’m really happy about this victory because Australia was quite difficult, and we saw in Barcelona that we’re one of the strongest and that we can fight for the Championship. I think we managed everything really well all race and it paid off. Now I know I can lead a race; this is useful for me because I hadn’t led a WorldSSP race. Now, I know what the feeling is. It’s important not just for this victory but the whole season.”

For Manzi, Barcelona was redemption after a difficult weekend in Australia where he crashed twice in Race 2 – at Turn 4 and then Turn 10. Second in Race 1 in Spain was followed by a hard-fought victory in a shortened Race 2. A six-lap dash to victory featured an incredible fight with four riders going for the win, until Huertas dropped out of contention. Manzi was able to overcome Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) by just 0.086s to claim his first win of 2024.

On returning to the top step, Manzi said: “I feel super, finally! After we worked all winter to go as fast as possible on track and then you come to a weekend like this and be on the podium in both races, the feeling is super. It was a strange Sunday because we didn’t do the Warm Up. We were waiting because I woke up at 6:30am and we raced at 3pm; it was a long wait! The race was super. In the first part, I was managing a bit because we saw a big drop in Race 1. When I saw the red flag, I thought we’d have a very short race and it’ll be a hard fight. Luckily, I had a new tyre for the second part, and we were able to win the race.”

Watch more stunning WorldSSP action throughout 2024 using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

HOT HEADLINES FROM BARCELONA: “I knew Toprak was going to try, which ever line I took!”

Four winners from six races, three manufacturers winning and a Championship top five covered by just 36 points, the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship was already in sixth gear but it went up a notch at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Two last lap showdowns, emotional first wins with a new team and more – this week’s hot headlines are ‘molt picant’ from Catalunya.

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “It’s incredible to attack at the last corner like Valentino Rossi!”

In just his fourth race with BMW, Toprak Razgatlioglu spoke of his strategy to win in Race 1: “My plan was to ride calmer and after Bulega passed me, I was just going to follow him for some laps and check the tyre grip. I saw Nicolo pushing and then I pushed the limit more but I said ‘OK, I need to close the gas as the podium is good’ because I know Ducati are strong here and their tyres in the last five laps are always good. I’d never won here before, neither with BMW, so this is just a dream for me. Andrea Iannone passed me but after two laps, he dropped and I immediately got ahead of him. I was just riding to my pace, doing 1’42s and in the last five or six laps, Bulega started to drop and I pushed more because I needed to win! With two laps to go, I lost the front at Turn 10! I got ahead on the last lap at Turn 5 and I was just smiling! I got the chequered flag and I’ve always said we’re not far away and still, we’re not 100% but now everyone sees how good the BMW is. Everyone before was saying some bad words but now, everyone sees we’ve won in our second weekend.”

Talking about his Superpole Race final corner pass on Bautista, he was proud to emulate Valentino Rossi from MotoGP™ in 2009: “At Turn 13, I saw that I’m very close to him. I said, ‘now, it’s time to attack’ and at the last corner, I attacked. I used second gear for stopping and I stopped his good line. I had good acceleration in second gear. For me, it’s incredible to attack at the last corner like Valentino Rossi. I remember many years ago he fought with Jorge Lorenzo. It’s not similar, but the same attack.”

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “If I go on the inside kerb, he’ll go over the kerb!”

Starting with the Superpole Race battle before moving onto his Race 2 return to winning ways, reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista said: “I enjoyed that battle with all the guys a lot. I just missed the win in the last corner. I knew Toprak was going to try, which ever line I took! I tried to close it a little bit but not too much because I thought, ‘if I go on the inside kerb, he’ll go over the kerb’. In the end, I tried to manage but he entered to pass me rather than taking the corner. In any case, I was happy with the performance. When everyone is pushing, starting from further back was hard. I could take the lead on the last lap at Turn 1. In Race 2, I changed tyre choice on the grid. I did the sighting lap with the X tyre and the feeling was much better. It worked. In the first laps, I was very slow, but no one passed me! When I saw Nico pass me, I thought it was normal. I kept calm. When I caught him again, I thought it was possible to keep that pace until the end, so I took the lead. I could be very precise with my riding, concentrated all race, so I’m happy with the win and the way we won. Step by step, my confidence and feeling with the bike is coming.”

Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “This is Toprak! He’ll try things where you think it’s not possible and makes it possible!”

A fine P4 from Michael van der Mark was his best finish in two and a half years but he praised teammate Toprak’s final lap corner Rossi-style pass in the Superpole Race: “I could see it, which is positive because it means I wasn’t that far away! I saw something happening and I was like, ‘nah nah nah’ and then he went and I thought he IS going to try it! Honestly, I almost missed the corner because I was enjoying it! Especially when I came out of the last corner, I saw what happened and it’s Toprak, you can never relax. He’s always trying, it’s the strongest point of his riding. He’ll try things where you think it’s not possible and makes it possible!”

Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven): “I saw nothing dirty”

Picking up the pieces from Turn 14’s last lap Superpole Race shuffle, Andrea Iannone spoke from his perspective: “The race is the race. Everyone wants to win and it’s normal when you have a chance, you try. In any case, I’m happy about today’s races. We fought and this is important. I know everything’s good but it’s not easy. We try to improve every race. I expected that Toprak would try, he was in the position to try, and he did. I saw nothing dirty; it was clean. On the TV, it’s like I’m closer to Toprak but I’m not close, I’m a bit far away. I tried to also overtake Toprak. When you are there at that point, you try to win but we need a little bit more in some areas.”

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “Until the last lap, I was doing an incredible job!”

So close, yet so far for Nicolo Bulega, who nearly bagged a second win of his rookie season in Race 1: “In the straight, I was like a chopper because the rear tyre was finished! I’m happy but not happy; first until the last lap… I didn’t have a lot of experience because this was my first long race, where I had to manage tyres. Until the last lap, I was doing an incredible job. I chose the new 900 rear tyre; the track temperature was high so maybe the SCX was a better choice but if the race finished one lap less, my choice would be the best. I didn’t know it was Toprak, I just knew someone was coming. With two laps to go, I knew I had to do something because I was in a bad situation and was struggling a lot. Then, on the last lap, I heard Toprak from behind and when he overtook me, it was like me but seven or eight laps before. I have to be happy for second in my first full race… I learnt something.”

Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha): “We have to trust the process”

After five races in Yamaha without points, a P8 was Jonathan Rea’s first points haul of 2024. He outlined his struggles so far: “I really love the bike and the character and the engine is amazing but to be really fast on the bike is hard. The rate of progression and development has been very slow, much slower than expected and than necessary to make progress. We have to trust the process and trust that we can make it better. It’d be much worse if I came here and said that I’m doing everything, the bike is perfect etc, no; we have a lot of margin to improve, both my understanding of the bike but also the crew’s help and support of making it my bike. That’s why I’m not super disappointed about where we are; I have to be patient. We’ve had a lot of strange things happen this year; maybe the first test was the smoothest!”

EVERY SECOND LIVE: watch all the action from 2024’s new era with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
John Alger rides the historic U.S. Route 66 from Chicago, Illinois, to Amarillo, Texas, on his kickstart-only 1978 Yamaha SR500.

Dubbed the “Mother Road” by John Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath and known as “Main Street USA,” U.S. Route 66 will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026. No other road in America had such an impact on growth, migration, transportation, and popular culture. During the Great Depression and the horrific Dust Bowl of the 1930s, Route 66 was a paved pathway to a better life, transporting tens of thousands of people from the heartland to the West.

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
Map of Route 66 courtesy of Encyclopedia Brytannica

Right after WWII, my Uncle Don traveled from California to his hometown of Springfield, Illinois, using much of Route 66 and riding a kickstart, air-cooled, single-cylinder AJS. As I pondered my own journey on the Mother Road, it seemed fitting to attempt it on my 1978 Yamaha SR500, which is also an air-cooled, kickstart Single. Over the years, I have owned several Yamahas, but the SR500 has been my preferred ride for its light weight, effortless cornering ability, competent disc brakes, and simple but elegant design. I like it so much, I own two.

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
The author’s 1978 Yamaha SR500 on Route 66 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

For my trip, I chose the one with 30,000 miles on the odometer. Except for upgraded brake hoses, it was bone stock. To get it ready for my Route 66 adventure, I gave it a complete engine and chassis overhaul, as well as a 535cc big bore kit, an oil cooler, and a SuperTrapp exhaust. I retained the stock air box and K&N air filter but re-jetted it as required. The new chain and sprockets were one tooth larger on the countershaft, which lowered cruising rpms and resulted in a mostly vibration-free ride.

Related: 2015 Yamaha SR400 Review | First Ride

The SR500 also has a no-frills CDI ignition system with a strong charging system, allowing me to keep my cellphone and Bluetooth full of juice, and a centerstand, a must-have for daily chain lubrication and fixing flat tires (I had one).

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
U.S. Route 66 begins in Chicago, Illinois, within sight of the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower).

Find out more about the First 100 Miles of Route 66

Since Route 66 starts in Chicago, I transported my bike from my hometown of Merritt Island, Florida, in my Chevy van. The first day of riding started in Chicago rush-hour traffic on the Kennedy Expressway, which was undergoing road construction, but after stop-and-go for two hours in record heat, I was rewarded with the U.S. 66 “Begin” sign at the corner of Adams Street and Michigan Avenue across from The Art Institute of Chicago. Just a few blocks away is the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), and a few blocks farther is the famous Lou Mitchell’s restaurant, which is over 100 years old and served a great breakfast to start my trip.

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
Lou Mitchell’s is a legendary eatery in downtown Chicago.

Aside from the sweltering temperatures and humidity of August, Chicago’s beautiful residential areas and parks made the short trip to the suburbs quite pleasant. The first 100 miles of Route 66 is known as the Heritage Corridor, which also includes towns along the Illinois & Michigan Canal, which connected Lake Michigan to the Illinois River, and Starved Rock State Park. In Cicero, I stopped to see one of Al Capone’s houses. In Berwyn, I checked out the world’s largest laundromat, which is over 13,000 square feet and even has a bird aviary, and I also passed by one of the oldest-operating White Castle restaurants.

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
Dick’s on 66 is located in Joliet, Illinois.

Traveling south, I found a neat roadside display in the town of Joliet called Dick’s on 66, an old towing shop decorated with several vintage vehicles and a patch of bricks purportedly from the original Route 66. Across the street is a restored gas pump and ice-cream shop. Joliet is also the home of the state prison and was featured in the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers.

In Wilmington, Illinois, I cooled down with a sundae at the Route 66 Creamery and spotted the first of five “giants” I would see on my trip: a Sinclair dinosaur on the roof of G&D Tire Company.

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
Route 66 Creamery is in Wilmington, Illinois.

For this trip, I tried to take the oldest sections possible of Route 66, and Illinois had them clearly marked. Some sections of road looked more like abandoned driveways, with weeds growing through cracks in the concrete. My little SR500 was perfect for this kind of duty.

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
One of the few remaining Muffler Men is located in Wilmington, Illinois. The bright green Gemini Giant holds a silver rocket and was named in honor of the Gemini space program of the 1960s.

In Towanda is Dead Man’s Curve, a sharp curve that caught many drivers unaware and was the site of numerous accidents from the 1920s to the 1950s. There’s even a preserved series of Burma Shave signs that say: Around the curve / lickety-split / beautiful car / wasn’t it? I had a 25-plus mph headwind for most of that first day, and it felt as if I was riding into a blow drier. My first night was spent at the Ghost Hollow Lodge in Chandlerville, Illinois, where I fortified myself with a dinner of venison and fresh veggies.

On the second day, I stopped in Springfield to cool down with an iced tea at Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill, which also has a museum and gaming room. Just south of Springfield in Carlinville, my fun was interrupted by a flat tire. I had packed tools, tire irons, a portable compressor, and a tube patch kit, but my tube was too badly mangled by the nail. Scott McDaniels of S&S ATV came to the rescue by delivering a new tube (at no charge), a local resident across the street brought me ice water, and the local city hall allowed me to do the work on the north side of their office in the shade on the concrete. It just goes to show how kind strangers can be when you are in a bind.

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is located in Granite City, Illinois.

The repair set me back almost four hours, and I had to bypass many of the Route 66 sights from Carlinville to St. Charles, Missouri, where I stayed with friends. The following day, I unloaded my luggage and backtracked to Granite City, Illinois, to see the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. The mile-long bridge was part of the original Route 66 from 1936 to 1965 and allowed motor vehicles to cross the Mississippi River from Illinois to Missouri. It features a 30-degree turn partway through. I had gone over this bridge in a car as a kid before it was decommissioned in 1968. It is now only open to foot traffic and bicycles.

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
The 630-foot Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, was completed in 1965.

While in St. Louis, I also went up into the 630-foot Gateway Arch, which was completed in 1965. It is now part of the National Park Service, and with recent remodeling and upgrades, it’s a not-to-miss experience. I also visited the National Museum of Transportation on the west side of St. Louis. This may be one of the best transportation museums in the country and has the only remaining GM Aerotrains. It also has a running Chrysler Turbine Car like the one at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan.

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
A Chrysler Turbine Car at the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis.

After getting my luggage loaded back on the SR500, my next stop was Times Beach, Missouri. Route 66 used to cross the Meramec River there, and the remnants of the bridge are still there, along with a Route 66 State Park. I met some folks from Europe riding Route 66 on rented Harleys, and they were aghast that I was attempting to make the same trip on my antique bike with no GPS navigation and only an EZ66 guide in my tankbag.

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
Remnants of the Route 66 bridge in Times Beach, Missouri.

Times Beach was the site of the second largest EPA Superfund site due to a local contractor spraying dioxin on the dirt roads for dust control. All the buildings were bought by the EPA and leveled, and it’s currently considered a ghost town. West of Times Beach is the Meramec Caverns, where I ran into my new European friends again. My bike would do roughly 100 miles per tank of fuel, which coincided with my body’s need to stand up and stretch out a bit and suck down a cold beverage.

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
A group of Europeans riding Route 66 on rented Harleys stopped at the Route Route 66 State Park in Missouri.

I stayed at the KOA in Springfield, Missouri, that night and rented a cabin. I had planned on renting a primitive campsite, but for only about $40 more, I got an air-conditioned cabin, lights, electricity, a mattress, a table, and a TV. It was a bargain!

Along the way in Missouri are a few museums and stops such as a replica 1930s Sinclair station called Gary’s Gay Parita in Ash Grove, Missouri, where the sign reads “Gas Wars” and advertises fuel at 15 cents per gallon. Another sign reads “Kendal, your 2,000 mile oil!” We have certainly come a long way!

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
A replica 1930s Sinclair gas station called Gary’s Gay Parita in Ash Grove, Missouri.

Shortly after the Sinclair station on the Old Route 66 trail, I crossed an old truss bridge that crossed over Johnson Creek in Spencer, Missouri. Like the old sections of Route 66 in Illinois, this section looked like an abandoned road going into the backwoods. It was beautiful.

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
Only 13 miles of Route 66 pass through Kansas.

Kansas only has a very short 13-mile section of the Old Route 66 path, and if you take that, you are blessed with crossing one of the few remaining Marsh Arch bridges left in the country – and the only remaining one on Route 66, this one having been built in the early 1900s.

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
The Rainbow Curve Bridge was built in 1923. It’s the only remaining Marsh Arch bridge on Route 66.

Oklahoma likely has the most Route 66 sites of any state. After the road was decommissioned by the federal government for use as a federal highway, Oklahoma named it State Road 66. It’s easy to follow, although I did manage to miss a sign and ride maybe 50 miles off course. The best Route 66 Museum is in Clinton, Oklahoma. It covers the initial planning and construction of the route, along with different scenes of Americana, a video of the Dust Bowl, and more.

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
Buck Atom, a 21-foot-tall space cowboy in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is one of the iconic Muffler Men of Route 66.

There are more giant statues to be seen as you pass through Oklahoma, including Buck Atom, the 21-foot-tall space cowboy in Tulsa holding a rocket. Tulsa also has a cool park downtown called the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza that has three tall old neon motel signs relocated there from the early days of Route 66. Further south is a Route 66 village with an old train, a gas station, and an oil derrick.

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
Route 66 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The last section of Route 66 I rode in Oklahoma was a mostly abandoned concrete road that paralleled Interstate 40, but you could tell it was part of the original route. How many mostly abandoned four-lane concrete highways going into nowhere with no traffic do you see? At one point, I thought I was off-track, but then I saw the Texas state sign and the familiar white outlined Route 66 logo painted on the road.

In Texas, much of Route 66 is access highways on either side of the interstate, which worked just fine for my trusty mule since I could travel at more relaxed speeds in the intense heat. Along the way, you pass by the Leaning (water) Tower of Britten in Groom, Texas, and Amarillo gives you the Cadillac Ranch.

Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
Cadillac Ranch is located in Amarillo, Texas.

After visiting the Cadillac Ranch, I stopped at a KOA, and when I tried to start my bike again, it didn’t fire up. It turned out to be an issue with the ignition system, and despite having the parts from my other SR500 shipped to me to attempt a repair, it didn’t take. I cut my trip short and loaded the bike in the back of a Penske truck and headed back east.

In spite of a flat tire, intense heat and humidity, and an ignition failure, this was the most fun I can recall in most of my life. In retrospect, I should have tried making this trip on a newer bike, but part of the fun was riding a kickstart antique.

If you are considering riding this road, I would suggest waiting until 2026 for the 100-year anniversary since I heard plans in various towns along the way for some centennial events, so it should be even better.

ROUTE 66 RESOURCES:

The post Get Your Kickstart on Route 66 appeared first on Rider Magazine.

Source: RiderMagazine.com

10 reasons to get tickets for WorldSBK’s UNMISSABLE visit to Assen!

‘The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is going to be off the scale’ – that was the prediction and it’s what is happening. Racing harder than ever with more names and more bikes at the front, the next round at the TT Circuit Assen is an absolute MUST-VISIT. Below are 10 reasons why you have to be there, from stories, to atmosphere, activities and more. If the below reasons aren’t enough, enjoy the last lap of Barcelona’s Superpole Race and we’re sure to see you at the track!

FOUR WINNERS IN SIX RACES: WorldSBK’s new era is well-and-truly upon us

In a phenomenal start to 2024, we’ve had four winners in six races for three different manufacturers. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) won on his debut, then Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) made it a double in Australia. Toprak Razgatlioglu’s (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) sensational Barcelona double preluded Alvaro Bautista’s (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) Race 2 win – could it be Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven), Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) or Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) – or all three – at Assen?

A NEW MANUFACTURER IN CONTENTION: BMW’s rise to challenging

“We’re only just scratching the surface with this package” – ominous words from Phil Marron on Sunday after Barcelona. Toprak Razgatlioglu’s crew chief plays a pivotal part in the rider’s success and with two wins at what looked like their worst track, BMW are in the battle and there to stay.

LAST LAP BATTLES: WorldSBK’s theme continues

6 of the last 11 races in WorldSBK have been decided in final lap battles, an insane statistic as once again Toprak Razgatlioglu and Alvaro Bautista continue to knock spots off each other. With Alex Lowes, Andrea Iannone and more in the mix, Assen will be explosive at the final chicane, like many years before.

BACK IN THE GAME: “Alvaro Bautista is back”

A huge self-declaration on Sunday in Barcelona, Bautista is back in contention and looks here to stay after a shaky start to 2024. However, the reigning double Champion now heads to a track where he’s won the last four races, although as Barcelona and Phillip Island proved, this year could be different.

REA’S PREVIOUS FORM: the most successful we’ve ever seen

The most successful rider with 17 wins and a place where the Yamaha should be in form, Jonathan Rea will want to really get his season going on Dutch soil. First points of the year in Barcelona with P8, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Rea back towards the front at Assen and how welcome it’d be.

VAN DER MARK ON FORM HEADING HOME: can he sprinkle some more magic?

Michael van der Mark’s form coming into his home round is, for the first time since 2021, mega. 2023, he rode well but then got injured in a huge Race 2 crash whilst in 2022, he was injured with a broken leg but finished in P8. Is a podium possible like many times before with Honda and Yamaha?

UNPREDICTABILITY: WorldSBK is in good health

Pooling all those aspects together, we have one thing in WorldSBK: unpredictability. However, it’s the right kind; the narratives are strong and whilst it’s unpredictable, we have a large list of names that can throw the cat amongst the pigeons. At least Assen is used to having such big battles and drama!

CLASSICS BEFORE: will history repeat itself?

There have been countless final chicane thrillers in WorldSBK; whether it’s 1996 with Carl Fogarty vs Troy Corser and John Kocinski, two years later with ‘Foggy’ vs Frankie Chili, 2007’s Troy Bayliss vs James Toseland dash for the line of home-hero van der Mark beating Jonathan Rea to P2 in 2019. 2024, with the form the Championship is in, could well bring the biggest clash of titans yet.

ASSEN’S HISTORY: steeped in history, the ‘Cathedral of Speed’

It’s a classic venue that always brings a surprise. Whether it’s final showdowns at the chicane – who’d be against that this year? – a shock result or just hard, good racing with bold passes and big celebrations, Assen has it all. Never discount anyone in one of WorldSBK’s bucket-list venues.

PADDOCK SHOW: be immersed with access like no other

You can’t get closer access in any other World Championship with just a general admission ticket; the podium takes place at the Paddock Show, and you can get up close to the stars at Parc Ferme too. With activities everyday, commentary and plenty of prizes, the Paddock Show is exactly what the WorldSBK experience is all about.

EVERY SECOND LIVE: watch all the action from 2024 and beyond with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

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