QUESTION:
“Last year, at the San Francisco SX, it rained and rained and rained. Some say, it was worst than Anaheim 1 in 2005. This week, when I was watching the weather channel it was calling for rain again and it made me think of something. I wonder if teams prepare differently for a mud race than they do for a normal weekend? Let’s see what some of these industry insiders had to say."
|
|
|
COMMENTARY:
|
|
|
|
| Corey Shea - Yamaha of Troy |
Shawn Ulikowski - Factory Connection |
| “You always check the weather before a weekends race so you know what to expect. This week, we added some foam to different places around the engine and the skid plate because of the mud. You also brace the radiators a little more so they don’t get knocked around a lot and we also use solid rotors for the brakes. These are just some of the precautions we take going into a race where it could rain a lot or just a little.” |
“You have to make sure you have a lot of foam on the truck. We have hand guards and an extra sub-frame just in case you tweak one in a crash. The Dunlop guys take care of tires so that’s an important issue. Those are the basic and important things to do going into a race where it’s calling for rain.” |
|
|
Glen Hopson - Lucas Oil/Star Racing Team |
Jesse Black - Team Solitaire
|
| “We always bring extra things on the truck if it’s calling for rain. Like extra levers, foam, and we’re bringing extra bikes just in case we need spare parts. We might even run a different frame this weekend.” |
“Basically, for a mud race, we just do a lot of praying so it doesn’t rain (laughs). We take a few measures like stuff foam in places where the mud can collect on. We put foam around the engine cases, shifter levers, and skid plates. We spray “Top Secret” under the fenders and on the number plates so the mud doesn’t stick to them.” |
|
|
|
| |
Matt Ellis - Richardson ’s Racing Team |
“We will spray some “PAM” non-stick under the fenders so the mud doesn’t stick. That makes a big difference in the weight of the bike. We will also put some foam under the skid plate and motor mounts. We also have a spare motor just in case the other one takes in some water.” |
“We bring a lot of foam and our practice bikes. Being on a privateer team we don’t have a big budget so we might race our practice bikes and save our race bikes for the next weekend.” |
|
|
|
|
Billy Whitley - Cernic’s Kawasaki |
Adam Walters - Motosport Outlet |
| “Fortunately, these mechanics have done a lot of mud racing themselves so they know the normal mud preparations. We’re fortunate to have backing from Kawasaki so we have extra parts to service whatever situation comes up.” |
“Like everyone else we put foam around the motors and use solid rotors. You also have to make sure you have plenty of hand guards because after a big crash, you will probably have to replace one. We also have different grips. If it gets really bad, we use a “Full Waffle” grip because it helps you hold on better.” |
|
|
| Read more questions from Farber |
|
