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This one's a hoot. At least that's how it struck me.
So one disclosure before I comment. I don't follow flat track racing that closely. So maybe I'm ill informed on some the nuances and details of the sport. Still, I found this article to be a bit humorous. Perhaps you all can correct me where my chuckles are misplaced.
But despite some promising moments in 2017, Harley finished outside the top three in the American Flat Track Grand National Championship rankings by season’s end. And as you might imagine, they aren’t going to take that lying down.
Oh my... I bet all those IS FTR750 riders are quaking in their boots.
Harley-Davidson recently announced their plans for flat track dominance in 2018. And those plans begin with an almost entirely new team.
Perhaps a "get real" translation: "HD has been able to cobble together a couple of replacement riders after two of last years team members quit in disgust."
Part speculation here, but it sounds like Coolbeth left so he could get his hand on a competitive bike - a privateer IS FTR750.
In the racing world, racers gravitate toward machinery that proves itself in the crucible of competition. So it’s no surprise to hear that as many as six American Flat Track privateer competitors in 2018 are planning to ride Indian’s dominant Scout FTR750.
Three-time Grand National Champion Kenny Coolbeth is one of those privateers. “After seeing the Scout FTR750’s capabilities last year,” he says, “I couldn’t be more excited to be riding one this season. I’ve been training hard this offseason, and I’m looking forward to giving the Indian factory team some competition now that we’re all on the same bike.”
Translation: "I'm so grateful to be out from underneath that piece of junk and can now get on a bike that can race."
Coolbeth’s 2017 season in AFT Twins wasn’t what he – or Harley-Davidson – envisioned.
Coolbeth admits to second-guessing himself a lot during 2017. “I thought maybe I’d lost it,” he says of his efforts last year. “But over the off-season I rode a lot, and sort of proved to myself that I was still plenty fast, and that it wasn’t me in 2017. I’m feeling rejuvenated so far this year, and after riding this bike, I’m more excited than ever.
Repeat previous translation here. It sounds pretty sad that things were so bad that it did a psychological hit job on the riders.
So... Back to the front page article...
Brandon Robinson returns for his second season with Harley. But this time he’s joined by seasoned pro Sammy Halbert and rising star Jared Vanderkooi on the factory squad. The new trio aims to “combine veteran savvy with youthful potential,” according to H-D.
"Combine veteran savvy with youthful potential"... sounds like hard spinning there... Trying to put a positive face on it.
The new team will also be competing on freshly revised Harley-Davidson XG750Rs.
Revised? What's new? If there's something new, it would be news to me.
This past offseason, Harley teamed up with Vance & Hines Motorsports to extract more performance from their racers.
Pssst... Don't looked now, but isn't that the same outfit that HD teamed up with last year? How did that work out for them?
As before, the race-modified, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 750cc Revolution X V-Twin engine can be purchased through H-D dealers and modified for racing use by aspiring privateers.
Doesn't sound like HD will be selling too many of them. Sounds like all the privateers are jumping on IS FTR750s.
So rest easy race fans. You can rest assured that HD will be pulling out all the stops this year.
If I were a HD flat track fan, I don't think I'd be filled with a lot of new found optimism after giving this a read.
Nevertheless... Still a HD fan here. Still don't see any Indians that I'd own.
I agree with your spin on MOCO's spin. IMO, Harley's flat track problem is the same as their sales problem; poor quality. I was told by a current racer that the Harley team ran out of parts at a race. For top pros, accepting a factory ride has always been about getting on a bike that has a good chance of winning.
50 new models, bringing women and new riders into the sport...blah, blah, blah. Building a motor that doesn't sump, building cranks that stay in true, wheel bearings that last over 10K, standing behind warrantys, etc... Quality is what is needed, not 50 new models.
Harley was not only beaten badly by Indian last season, they were embarrassed. Having two former GNC Champions (Coolbeth and Johnson) who could not even make the Main event , or even if they did, had mechanical issues or finished far back in the pack, was shocking. I've heard that "power" was not the problem, getting that power to the ground was difficult. Everyone thinks flat track is a pretty simple form of racing. Not so. Gear choices, frame, shock length and setting, swing arm length, tire pressure, weight distribution, even handlebar angle, and many other things all have to be just right for the bike to work. And that set-up can change from track to track, and even on the same track from lap to lap. Dirt tracks change hour to hour, too much water, too dry, the water comes "up" when the sun goes down, etc. Setup is a tricky business. Harley has been frantically working and testing all off season to get this bike "right". Indian has the top three riders in the sport right now in Baker, Smith, and Jared Mees who is the BEST all around racer on the circuit by far. Harley kept Brandon Robinson, added young gun Jarod Vanderkooi, and signed probably the 4th best rider, behind Mees, Smith, and Baker, in Sammy Halbert. Halbert left a Yamaha team that put very fast and dependable bikes underneath him last year. Halbert does not like losing, so for him to leave that team and sign with Harley tells me that Harley has done something to really "up their game". I hope so, time will tell. Gonna be an interesting season for sure.
Last edited by hd4evr2008; Jan 31, 2018 at 08:21 AM.
This one's a hoot. At least that's how it struck me.
So one disclosure before I comment. I don't follow flat track racing that closely. So maybe I'm ill informed on some the nuances and details of the sport. Still, I found this article to be a bit humorous. Perhaps you all can correct me where my chuckles are misplaced.
Oh my... I bet all those IS FTR750 riders are quaking in their boots.
Perhaps a "get real" translation: "HD has been able to cobble together a couple of replacement riders after two of last years team members quit in disgust."
Part speculation here, but it sounds like Coolbeth left so he could get his hand on a competitive bike - a privateer IS FTR750.
Translation: "I'm so grateful to be out from underneath that piece of junk and can now get on a bike that can race."
Repeat previous translation here. It sounds pretty sad that things were so bad that it did a psychological hit job on the riders.
So... Back to the front page article...
"Combine veteran savvy with youthful potential"... sounds like hard spinning there... Trying to put a positive face on it.
Revised? What's new? If there's something new, it would be news to me.
Pssst... Don't looked now, but isn't that the same outfit that HD teamed up with last year? How did that work out for them?
Doesn't sound like HD will be selling too many of them. Sounds like all the privateers are jumping on IS FTR750s.
So rest easy race fans. You can rest assured that HD will be pulling out all the stops this year.
If I were a HD flat track fan, I don't think I'd be filled with a lot of new found optimism after giving this a read.
Nevertheless... Still a HD fan here. Still don't see any Indians that I'd own.
You, sir, are cruel. Unfortunately it is cruelty richly deserved by the so called H-D racing minions. Anyway ...
You asked if there is anything "new" forthcoming for the H-D race bikes. Someone posted this article about an interview Cycle World's Kevin Cameron did with a H-D "Director of Global Marketing". Whatever the hell that is ...
Bottom line, DOHC heads! Reading between the lines it sounds to me like the stock SOHC valve gear didn't cut the mustard and resulted in reliability issues. What I'd like to know is who did the engineering on the new heads? In house (yeah, right), VHR or an outside shop like Porsche or Ricardo. On thing is for sure, it wouldn't be Swiss Auto.
My primary ride is an Indian (though I have a Dyna as a barhopper, and wife is on a new Deluxe) so last year a flat track season was pretty awesome. I think this year, will be equally interesting, and I don't see a whole lot of orange and black on the podium again this year. But we'll see!
New season starts in about one month. Can't wait! Here's a little video from the Oklahoma City Mile.........turns 3 and 4.........average 110 mph corner speed........sideways............
I remember when Ronnie's brother Davey was killed at the Louisville, Ky. 1/2 mile. Drunk spectator somehow got out on the track during a heat race, and Davey hit him at speed. Killed them both. Only 18 years old, sad day.
74G May 31, 1980.......Rookie Expert David Jones, 18, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, perished after colliding with a spectator who was crossing the track during a heat race of an AMA Grand National Championship event on the half mile oval at Louisville Downs.
Harley-Davidson Ups the Ante for 2018 Flat Track Season... Right...
