Danny Eslick, Buell, and Richie Morris Racing Follow Up

While over the w/e Danny Eslick romped the field in

both of the Fontana AMA Daytona Sportbike races, the

talk around the internet--and I am sure at the races as

well--has been the 'extra displacement' that the Buell

has been allowed compared to the 600cc inline-fours. As

a result of all this consternation, one--or two--things have been

overlooked.

One of those is the talents of Danny Eslick. While all the

nay-sayers seem to focus on the 1125cc +/- that the Buell

is allowed, the fact still remains even a sled has to have a great

rider. Not taking away anything from any of the other great

riders that have been running the class this year.

And the second, for sure, is the motorcycle. And I am here to present you

with some shots of the Bruce Rossmeyer/Richie Morris Racing-Geico sponsored

Buell. Now of course as these shots were taken in September 2008 at the

Indy MotoGP race, the make-up of the bike is most certainly different per the

difference in class rules from last to this year. And the paint job is definitely

a lot brighter and more eye-appealing overall. Just my opinion mind you.

But nonetheless, you get the idea of what the machine is like and looks like

that is setting the world-or at least the AMA Pro Racing Daytona

Sportbike-class world, on fire. And those like myself, and many of you,

who still follow it in spite of the way that the DMG group

has managed to put it on it's head.

There is also a link that I wanted to add to these shots as well, that the good people

over at http://www.roadracerx.com/ ran a story on the team today. And it is a VERY good

article with the outlook of the genius behind the bike on what his and their perceptions

are to all of the bruhaha---did I spell that right??---that has transformed this wonderful

world of U.S. or AMA Road Racing into a very intense discussion no matter the side you

chose to stand on. Mr. Morris also talks about their other rider, Michael Barnes, who has

been racing motorcycles on at least this continent for at least as long as I can remember it.

The guy has an intense enthusiasm about racing and can also ride just about darned anything,

and has, on two wheels. I posted the shot of Mr. Barnes on #34 M4 Suzuki GSXR-600 that

I took of him last year at Road America. This was during the rain practice on Friday that

w/e and back in turn 10. Also the same corner I shot the pic of Danny Eslick from the w/e

post. Here is the link to that story:

http://www.roadracerx.com/features/between-the-races/between-the-races-richie-morris/

....and another.....

http://www.roadracerx.com/features/tuesday-conversation/tuesday-conversation-michael-barnes/

So no matter which side you choose on the size of the displacement versus the amount of

cylinders you are allowed or the make of the motorcycle that you will be allowed to run in

any given class as designed, you at least have to take the time to enjoy and respect those

that can and will find the way to win. Be it the immense talents of Mr.'s Eslick, Barnes, and

Morris at this moment in time, or be it the lines between the rule book, the fact still remains

it all has to fit together perfectly before it becomes a true and complete puzzle.

While we are celebrating Mat's 75th win today..

Just a few more shots of Mat inflicting pain and embarassment to the rest of the field

at Road America in '06, several years before we were forced to put up with a DMG-run

and dumbed-down AMA Superbike Series. These were taken in turn 14 during various

practice, qualifying and race sessions during the course of the w/e.

These shots of 'Mad' Mat are on the old-series speced REAL Superbikes. In other

words BEFORE the DMG people decided to dummy-down the series to little more then

radical Stock bikes. No more trick suspensions and trick factory superbike engines. And

worse yet, losing the identity of having one of the premier racing series in the world.

But that's another rant for another time. Let's all enjoy Mat from Road America and

party away the fact that no matter what they put under him, he is going to win or find

a darn good way to win. You can count on that. And you can count on Mat! Go get 'em man.

Take Number 7 and do it your way regardless of what they force you to do now and force us to watch. You're still the best. And as far as I'm concerned, you could have quit trying to prove it

to me a long time ago. It was pretty obvious you were, are, and probably for a long-darned time

will be 'The Master' in mine and alot of other eyes. I'm not going to enjoy watching dumbed-

downed superbikes any more than you will be enjoying riding them. But I'm darned sure

going to enjoy watching you feed the machine to DMG and their cronies. This is gonna be good.

The Song Remains the Same 2009 Version:

'Mad' Mat Mladin 'The Master' just wrapped up win's

Number 74 and 75 at the Fontana round of the new AMA

Superbike Series. The man is undeterred in showing us

all that no matter the formula of motorcycles he is forced

to ride due to the radical change of rules in the Superbike

class, he IS the man! And no matter what the DMG-run

series throws at him, he is going to dig deeper and deeper

and show them, as well, that he is the man and regardless

of the dribble running from the mouths of babes of turning

the series around to gain more parity they forgot one thing.

Mat Mladin wasn't going anywhere this year and he was even

more focused on showing the DMG people that they made a big

mistake in thinking otherwise.

Go Mat. Long time fan here who has always been treated

very well when going after autographs of shots taken of him.

And the dude always says what's on his mind. You don't have

to agree with the man. But you better respect what he has to say.

He didn't win 6 Championships and NOW 75 races just hangin'

around being a wallflower. Kick their a..es Mat!

The above shots are of various states of battle-readiness at Road

America in June of '06, as well as 'Mad Mat' using turn 7 during race

one of the weekend as a berm-buster. Check out the body english

as he wrestles the-then SUPER Superbikes. The man is a master.

But don't make him Mad.

Bombshell: Danny Eslick Wins Race 2 at Fontana

Just in moments ago Danny Eslick, who I posted about winning yesterday,
won race two at Fontana on the Buell 1125R in the new AMA Pro Racing
Daytona Sportbike Series. He bested Jamie Hacking, on the Attack
Kawasaki ZXR6 by .099 seconds. This was the second 1-2 of the
weekend for both Mr's. Eslick and Hacking. Great job guys.
It's going to be a different, but at least exciting year in this class!
Stay tuned!!

Danny Eslick Wins Fontana Race 1 AMA Sportbike

For those of you still following the DMG-operated AMA
Superbike....errrr........Pro Racing Series this year will be
hearing a lot of this name this year. Danny Eslick, aboard
the Richie Morris Racing Harley-based Buell 1125 just
minutes ago won race one at Fontana, CA., in the Daytona
Sportbike class. This is called such since the NasCrash heads
of the DMG-Daytona Motorsports Group-took over running
of our beloved AMA Superbike Series. But that is another story
for another time.

Danny Eslick is the reason for this little post. The above shot of him
was taken at Road America in June '08. He was aboard a Matsushima
Suzuki GSXR-600 at the time, and this was the old existing FX-formula
extreme-class under the old AMA-operated Superbike Series. The class was
for the most part mini-supersports-almost mini-superbikes on steroids.
But Mr. Eslick, who comes from a dirt track background, managed to win
the first Fontana round by over 2.5 seconds. On a Buell no less. Heck, he was
running right up at the front if not leading for the better part of the Daytona 200
until the insides of the Buell trying to run at 160+ on the banks at Daytona rattled
the radiator and fairing brackets loose. But that's another story altogether now as well....

Congrats to Danny Eslick, and to Buell, for being able to put together an impressive run
against some formidable talent. With the shorter races now for the remainder of
the schedule, we probably won't be seeing any other mechanicals because of vibration.
Which is good. This kid has talent and I think with this class structure being what it is
(please see AMA rules at http://www.amaproracing.com/ ) for that list to be better to understand it.
But that being said, keep an eye and ear out for more Danny Eslick sightings.
I'm sure they will be there!

Ben Spies Doubles in Losail WSBK

For those of you that follow the WSBK circus, Ben Spies
put it to them again this w/e at the Losail, Qatar circuit
and doubled the World Superbike rounds. Having just seen
the track for the first time this w/e, he started off out of the
gate by leading most or all of the practice sessions, winning
Superpole, and then won both races...by an average of over 1.5
seconds each. Not bad for a 'rookie.'
Here are some shots of Mat Mladin, his former U.S. Suzuki team
mate, keeping him honest in last year's race 1 at Road America,
in Elkhart Lake, WI., in June. Spies won both events this w/e as well.
It should be a very interesting year in World Superbike this year with
seven manufacturers and 28 full time riders/teams. And with the Pirelli spec
tires this series is getting ready to blow wide open as far as one of the most
competitive of motorcycle racing series in the world. Keep an eye out, and you
can follow it on the feeds on the left side column. Or go to: http://www.worldsbk.com/
Enjoy and thanks for coming by.

Josh Hayes, Multiple AMA Road Racing Champion

These are some shots I took of former AMA FX Champ

Josh Hayes at Road America in June 2008. Riding the

Erion Racing Honda 600, he captured two championships

in a row in '06 and '07.

Lima Half Mile Practice June 2006

These are just a few shots I clicked off in practice at the

AMA Flat Track Grand National at Lima, OH., in June of

'06. Various riders in the shots are:

#1 Chris Carr, 7-time AMA Grand National Champion

#9 Jay 'Springer' Springsteen, 3-time AMA Grand National Champion

#21 Jared Mees

#11 Brian Bigelow

#20 Johnny Murphree

All of these guys have won and contended for race wins and

championships over the course of the last 6-7 to 30-plus years

on the AMA circuit. This particular track is a dirt/pea gravel

track that will get you hurt standing along the fence and getting

pelted by the pea gravel.

Great track, always a great race, and one of the best managed/promoted/attended

of all races other then what are hosted by IMDA in the state of Illinois.

If you get a chance to check it out, they always run the last Saturday of June,

it is a great event and a super eye-opener for the sport of flat track. Dig it!

Oh, and remember, go fast, and turn left......

Super Sano Duck Indy MotoGP 2008

Everyone appreciates

In the end, it's just you and a couple of the late hangers on...

At the end of 25 miles it came down to Rich King #80, Kenny
Coolbeth #31 and Bryan Smith #42. And the flagman.....

Mile Racing at It's Finest--Springfield!

Labor Day Weekend 2006--AMA Grand National Flat Track Mile Finale. 140 on the straights
and pretty close to 95 in the corners. And you can throw a blanket over them--all 17 of your
closet friends banging handlebars and tossing it into the turns.
There is NO better show in racing. Take it from a pro.

Brothers in Arms

http://www.sideburnmagazine.com/ENTER.html

Click the link above to follow the love of flat track and other
different forms of motorcycling from across the pond.
The guys at SideBurn Magazine put out a great website and from what
I hear a super print mag as well. I haven't had the pleasure of viewing a
print copy yet, but their website rocks! Great stuff guys---keep the great
work up!!

The King Suits Up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEQAnCL3e5Q&NR=1

The above shot I took of The King at Syracuse in 1975. The link is another borrowed clip from
YouTube of The King suiting up at Del Mar several years ago when he got on a replica of the
infamous TZ Miler. Listen carefully to the wonderful wail of chainsaws on acid......
Look for Gary Nixon to walk up and shake his hand before slinging a leg over the TZ.

Indy Mile 1975 Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj97mObeEyw


The above link is to a video of the infamous Indy Mile in 1975.
It is a direct link to YouTube.com and is only a borrowed link.
I was there but I am not the owner of the video. My thanks to
the person(s) that put it together and made it possible for us to be
able to watch and share it. Good times!


Note 9/7/09---for some reason, YouTube has removed the above link of the
original clip of the Indy Mile from 1975. However, here is a link to several more
recent videos, including The King and The TZ's return to Indy from 8/29/09:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kenny+roberts+indy&search_type=&aq=f

Flat Track Dot Com

http://www.flattrack.com/

This is a great website with your standard message and forum boards that is a good link with news and info for keeping up on the world of flat track motorcycle racing.
There are a lot of posters on this site, from your everyday run of the mill fan to guys like Mike
Kidd, '81 AMA Grand National Champion and now the man in charge of righting the ship with
AMA Flat Track with the new owners of the series, DMG.
Check it out! And remember, go fast, turn left, and do it again...

Chris Carr's XR-750

This was one of Chris Carr's display bikes at the Ford Quality display tent
at the Springfield Mile during Labor Day Weekend in 2006.
Super sano equipment at it's finest.

Wes Cooley, 2-Time AMA Superbike Champion

The special time of year that all WERA racers look forward to, is
the WERA GNF at Road Atlanta. I had the pleasure of going there
in October of 1990 with my good friend Jim Knipp. It was my first
ever trip to the 2.5 mile red clay course, but I loved it at once when I
saw Wes Cooley pulling monster wheelies out of then turn 5 during the
endurance race. And I swear he knew I was there after a few laps because
they started getting higher and wilder! It was simply friggin awesome, seeing
that wonderful rider-control and that monster power. Bruce Hammer and
John Uhlrich put together an awesome team and super equipment over the years
and adding Cooley, the former 2-time AMA Superbike Champ to the fray was
icing on the cake that year. A true champ, a wonderful person, and a guy with
really big nads that could always crank it to the max in the seat.

The King in Deep Thought

I took this one of The King at Syracuse in '75. It was either a week or two after
the now infamous '75 Indy Mile. You could tell he was in deep thought as to the
way the season had and was going, and knowing the crown was all but out of reach
to Gary Scott at that point.
It wasn't a good day, either. The TZ wouldn't hook up on the greasy clay-like surface,
and he put the parallel twin into the bales and wall between 3 and 4 in practice and tore
the front end off the bike. It came back on the back of the truck in 3 pieces. Not pretty.

Don Castro, Indy Mile 1975

Here is Mr. Castro trying to qualify for the now infamous August '75 Indy Mile.
Dean Adams also has a copy of this shot on his website @ http://www.superbikeplanet.com/
You'll find the links to it in the earlier posts. Great site and great people.
Not to mention super work! Check them out!

Don Castro Natl #11, Kaw Triple, Terre Haute August 1975

This was the Sunday before the Indy Mile the upcoming, and now infamous, '75 Indy Mile.
Erv Kanemoto showed up at T.H. with this ultra-trick H2 Kaw with ex-Yamaha factory rider
Donnie Castro--he was still wearing his leathers from his factory ride the previous 2 seasons with Yamaha.
It didn't make the final at Terre Haute, nor at Indy the next w/e, but it sure wasn't from lack of talent from either the rider or the 'wrench.' It was some slick looking piece of machinery. With a
2-stroke wail like a thousand chainsaws. It was sheer music to the ears for an old 2-stroke fan!

Erv Kanemoto's Kaw 750 Triple Flat Tracker, Terre Haute 1975

You can just see Gary Nixon on the left side of the shot under the tarp w/ sunglasses on.

Rex Beauchamp Natl #31 H-D Factory XR, Terre Haute 1975

The Late, Great Rex Beauchamp, Terre Haute 1975

3-Time AMA Superbike Champion Ben Spies, Road America AMA SBK Race 1, 2008

Michael Jordan Motorsports' Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSXR-1000, AMA SBK Race 1, Road America 2008

Mat Mladin chases Ben Spies, Road America AMA SBK Race 1 2008

Scott 'Screamin Chief' Russell, Team Muzzy Kaw, Road Atlanta 1994

Yamaha TZ-750 Syracuse Mile 1975

Team Honda Indy Mile 1984: Ricky Graham, Doug Chandler & Bubba Shobert

Bubba Give Stu's Shots the Thumbs Up at Indy Mile

Riding Man Link by Mark Gardiner

http://www.ridingman.com/

Here is the link to Mark Gardiner's site for his book, dvd and other goodies that chronicles his exploits on The Isle of Mann.
Thanks again Mark!

Some Flat Track Shots

Here are a couple of links that Mark Gardiner with Road Racer X posted in the last couple of weeks. Mark is the author of 'Riding Man' which is his story on his going to The Isle of Mann for the TT races. He pens a regular column for RRX (http://www.roadracerx.com/) online and also has done some work in their print edition. He also used my shot of The King at the infamous Indy Mile of 1975 on the TZ flat tracker in a story he did in the May '08 print edition.
Please enjoy and relish in the memories.

http://www.roadracerx.com/features/backmarker/backmarker-still-more-from-honda%e2%80%99s-flat-track-heyday/

http://www.roadracerx.com/features/backmarker/backmarker-honda-flat-trackers-part-2/

Welcome to Stu's Shots R Us

I'm just getting going on this thing here so I should be able to get some pics and stories up sometime here in the near future. This is more of a showcase of all of my shots and pictures over the years--I started in 35mm back in late '73 early '74. The main focus of my work and studies over the years has been the AMA Flat Track series, as well as the AMA Road Racing series.
Thanks for coming by...in the meantime you can catch up on some of my stuff via the links below.

God Bless and thanks for coming by!

Stu

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/archive/robertsindy/

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/dontpaymeenuff.htm

http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/classics/bike.asp?id=42