Daily Slideshow: First Time Harley Racer Puts the Win On Ice
23 year old motorcycle racer Corey Alexander knows a thing or two about riding motocross and MotoGP, so when he was given a chance to ride an ice race for Cycle World Magazine he jumped at the chance to go to the Italian Alps and test his racing skills against the Europeans.
Snowquake
Corey Alexander is still a young man. Being in his 20's, he often pushes the limits of good sense and does things he probably shouldn't. Like racing motorcycles, for example. I doubt that any mother ever looked deep into her baby's eyes and said, "one day, I hope you ride motorcycles." But, riding motorcycles is fun and racing them, well...that's even more fun!
So, when Corey was given the opportunity to race a Harley-Davidson StreetRod 750 on an ice track in the Italian Alps at an event known as Snowquake, of course, he jumped at the chance...in spite of the fact that he was still recovering from back surgery.
Holy hell...it's not a Harley!
I know, I know...what sacrilege has been transacted here on the Harley-Davidson Forums that a *gasp* FOREIGN motorcycle should be displayed upon these hallowed H-D pages? Relax, everybody...stay with me.
Most of us not born with a silver spoon in our pie-holes started out on a foreign bike...it's just the way things are. But, at some point, it's safe to say that we all started drinking from the Harley-Davidson fountain and found that they really aren't the overpriced and unattainable, oil leaking boat anchors that everyone not riding one, claims them to be.
Young Corey was called by the editor-in-chief of Cycle World magazine and asked to leave his Husky's and his Duke's at home in his garage in Carmel, New York, and take one of the Motor Company's factory racing Street Rod 750's for a few laps, instead.
The boy can race
Corey Alexander can race...he knows how and where to lay the bike over in the curves, when to rip the throttle, when to drag his knee, and, he knows how to win. But, he had never raced or even ridden, a Harley and he had never raced on ice.
To top it off, after having back surgery just a few months earlier to repair herniated discs, he had to call his doctor first to see if he was even safe enough to even do it. After he got the reluctant blessing from his doc, Corey packed his stuff and headed to the airport.
Italian ice
No, not the snooty, overpriced version of the machine-churned ice drinks that we'd get at the convenience stores as kids, but actual ice in Italy. For the last three years, the Italians have hosted the event, aptly dubbed "Snowquake." It is an all-out, no holds barred, full snow and ice racing event that is supposed to be fun, competitive and, in my opinion, a true test of strength and endurance. I hate riding in cold weather and I live in the south, so cold to me is in the low 40's... introduce ice and snow and I don't get unhappy, I get downright angry. But, after Corey arrived and settled in a bit, he went up the mountain to see what he had gotten himself into.
Race day
With only a few hours exploring the area and checking out the racing events the day before, followed by a restless night of sleep, Corey woke up on race day, packed his gear and headed to the track. Pre-race jitters be damned, he was going to ride a Harley-Davidson for the first time in his life...and he was going to do it on an ice track in the Alps. That sure beats the story of my first ride on a Harley.
Once settled in and set up at the track, Corey and the other racers mounted their respective machines and, with the sound of the iron horses screaming, the thundering herd was unleashed!
Checkered flag
During the main event, Corey was lined up on the second row behind the number one qualifier, World Superbike and MotoGP rider Ruben Xaus. Xaus was handpicked by Harley-Davidson to set up the bikes for the race, test ride them and basically be the special guest of the whole event.
Xaus raced hard but found himself having some trouble on the track as the bikes' studded knobby tires shredded the ice into a powdery snow that changed the lines on every passing lap. By the last lap, Corey had managed to best Xaus and pulled in front to take the win, much to his own surprise.
And with that, another foreign bike rider had seen the light
of the Bar and Shield. During the race, Corey realized that the rumble of the modified Milwaukee Revolution motor, the smooth power delivery and the styling of the Harley-Davidson made him feel like a rock star. He came to realize why so many people have fallen in love with the infamous machines since they first fired to life 115 years ago.
So, to answer the question first asked in this article of, just what the hell was Corey Alexander doing in the Alps on a Harley-Davidson?
The answer- WINNING.
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