Page 64 - PULSE-4

RedSpade Racing offers professional photography and digital marketing services supporting the growth and awareness of the sport, it’s riders and their sponsors. With professional backgrounds in graphic and multi- media design, we can create creative promotional content such as self-promotion posters, magazine
ads, custom websites and e-commerce solutions. Outside of promoting, our goal is to help restore motorcycle racing in North America to its former
glory, and encourage motorcycle riders to support
their local racers and race tracks. I believe by being honest to ourselves and others, while being genuinely passionate for our sport has helped create our success. As riders and influencers we do not want to put our credibility in question, and have only supported anything we ourselves believe in 100%. From the work we provide, to the riders we support, and the gear
we choose to wear, at no point did we or will we ever recommend or provide something we ourselves don’t believe in — it’s just not who we are.
As your popularity began to rise, you all must have realized the impact and influence you had on the riding community. It was here that you really began to broadcast the importance of safety on the motorcycle; are you all advocates on both proper riding technique or certain schools of training?
Yes, absolutely we are advocates of proper riding technique and proper gear. Our motto has been “Ride smart. Ride for a lifetime.” From day one we’ve both been members of the ATGATT movement. Sure on rare occasions I may cut back and wear jeans with my jacket, back protector, gloves, helmet and full race boots. But I am willing to take a risk — and the consequences that may come with it. However, the times I’ve done this are extremely rare. As for technique, I’ve always believed good rider technique can help save your life and over the years I’ve taken a few race schools and picked up a variety of skills that have proven to help me become a safer and better rider. I would highly encourage every rider to take a race or rider school, even if you do not plan
to race. These schools are often taught by world- class professionals who often have had more miles on a motorcycle than you may ever have in your life. These schools teach you important things about using a motorcycle to it’s fullest and offer a safe place to experience things you can’t really experience on the street unless you find yourself in a troubling situation.
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I will not say any one school is better than another, rather each school has something unique to offer you, which once added to your skill list, not only make you a safer rider, but often a faster one too.
Your technique meanwhile must’ve been something you honed in on for years, as your results steadily improved with time. However, accidents do happen, and you were the unfortunate recipient of one last year. Detail the scene for us, and walk us through how you were feeling both before and after the crash.
Yes, accidents are definitely an unfortunate part of our sport, so you must be prepared for them at anytime. Over the years, I’ve had a handful of crashes, both on street and track. None were very serious, and all I got up and walked away from thanks to amazing protection in gear. But the last crash at Roebling Road Raceway in 2017 put a quick end to my race season. The weekend started out just like any other, an otherwise sunny weekend meant decent weather for racing. I
had already completed one race and took home my first podium for the weekend. My second race was scheduled as the last race of the day, and it started out fine, however was ended by a red flag on lap two due to a fellow rider riding off track and required medical attention. Normally this would constitute a full restart, but due to lack of daylight remaining we were asked to push the race till Sunday just before noon.
Sunday I didn’t sleep much and was a bit tired, but that’s hardly anything new for me during a race weekend. We setup on the grid and I got a decent start, which kept me in the front group as we entered turn one. A friend managed to carry a better line through the turn and I ended up getting a little boxed in, which opened a gap that I knew I would have to close down quickly if I wanted to keep within fighting distance of a podium, so I started to push early on the opening lap. As we swung around turn two and into three, I planned a move on the exit of the turn to carry more speed into the entry of turn four and late brake
to make it past my friend. However, as I stayed on the gas, my friend closed the line on me and went to the brakes earlier than I planned. I sat up and broke as hard as I could to try and avoid hitting my friend on his then, brand new bike. My rear tire lifted off the ground as I rode up onto the rear wheel of the rider in front, but the gap was still closing. Just as my front wheel got right on the back of his rear, I grabbed a touch more front brake and it sent the rear of my bike up in the
air and tossed me over the bars. I rolled just over the tail of my friend, and he didn’t even know I was there.
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