File this under “Duh…”

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Motorcyclists have long championed riding as their main road to stress relief and positive mental health. Today, the results of a neurobiological study conducted by a team of three researchers from UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior yielded pioneering scientific evidence revealing the potential mental and physical benefits of riding. Funded by Harley-Davidson, the study found that motorcycling increased metrics of focus and attention, and decreased relative levels of cortisol, a hormonal marker of stress.

Researchers recorded participants’ brain activity and hormone levels before, during, and after motorcycling, driving a car, and resting. While riding a motorcycle, participants experienced increased sensory focus and resilience to distraction. Riding also produced an increase in adrenaline levels and heart rate, as well as a decrease in cortisol metrics – results often associated with light exercise and stress-reduction.

“Stress levels, especially among young adults, continue to rise, and people are exploring pathways to better their mental and physical health. Until recently, the technology to rigorously measure the impact of activities like motorcycling on the brain didn’t exist,” said Dr. Don Vaughn, the neuroscientist who led the research team. “The brain is an amazingly complex organ and it’s fascinating to rigorously investigate the physical and mental effects riders report.”

Results Highlights:

●Riding a motorcycle decreased hormonal biomarkers of stress by 28%

●On average, riding a motorcycle for 20 minutes increased participants’ heart rates by 11 percent and adrenaline levels by 27 percent—similar to light exercise

●Sensory focus was enhanced while riding a motorcycle versus driving a car, an effect also observed in experienced meditators vs non-meditators    

●Changes in study participants’ brain activity while riding suggested an increase in alertness similar to drinking a cup of coffee

“While scientists have long-studied the relationship of brain and hormone responses to attention and stress, doing so in real-life conditions such as these is rare,” explained UCLA Professor and senior team member, Dr. Mark Cohen. “No lab experiment can duplicate the feelings that a motorcyclist would have on the open road.”

“The differences in participants’ neurological and physiological responses between riding and other measured activities were quite pronounced,” continued Dr. Vaughn. “This could be significant for mitigating everyday stresses.”

Research Overview

The research team monitored participants’ electrical brain activity and heart rate, as well as levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol. To be presented later this year, the Harley-Davidson funded study, entitled “The mental and physical effects of riding a motorcycle” measured the biological and physiological responses of more than 50 experienced motorcyclists, using mobile EEG technology.

“We’re leveraging the latest technologies as we shift our focus from exclusively motorcycles to growing ridership, so it only made sense to tap technology to explore the impact of riding itself,” said Heather Malenshek, Harley-Davidson’s Senior Vice President of Marketing & Brand. “The research findings Dr. Vaughn and his team identified helps explain what our riders have felt for the past 116 years – there’s a vitality and heightened sensory experience that comes from the freedom of riding a motorcycle. We hope their findings inspire the next generation of riders to experience these benefits along with us.”

The Ultimate New Year’s Resolution: Learning to Ride

For those who wish to experience the heightened sensory experience of riding first-hand, H-D Riding Academy will introduce you to motorcycle riding and build your skills in just a few days, regardless of experience level. Offered at select Harley-Davidson dealers, H-D Riding Academy provides expert guidance from Harley-Davidson certified coaches. In the classroom, you get to know basic motorcycle functions and learn the basics of rider safety skills. On the practice range, you build skills and confidence, learning everything from braking, turning and skilled maneuvers. Best of all, you will be connected to a growing community of new riders. To find available courses near you, contact your local dealer or search for classes at www.h-d.com.

¹ Radosevich, P. M. et al. Effects of low- and high-intensity exercise on plasma and cerebrospinal fluid levels of ir-beta-endorphin, ACTH, cortisol, norepinephrine and glucose in the conscious dog. Brain Res. 498, 89–98 (1989).

² Hill, E. E. et al. Exercise and circulating cortisol levels: the intensity threshold effect. J. Endocrinol. Invest. 31, 587–591 (2008).

³ As measured by the concentration ratio of DHEA-S to cortisol

⁴ Hill, E. E. et al. Exercise and circulating cortisol levels: the intensity threshold effect. J. Endocrinol. Invest. 31, 587–591 (2008).

⁵ Zouhal, H., Jacob, C., Delamarche, P. & Gratas-Delamarche, A. Catecholamines and the effects of exercise, training and gender. Sports Med. 38, 401–423 (2008).

⁶ Boutcher, S. H. & Landers, D. M. The effects of vigorous exercise on anxiety, heart rate, and alpha activity of runners and nonrunners. Psychophysiology 25, 696–702 (1988).

⁷ As measured by the mismatch negativity (MMN) – the change in the amplitude of evoked auditory responses, to standard versus deviant tones

⁸ Biedermann, B. et al. Meditation and auditory attention: An ERP study of meditators and non-meditators. Int. J. Psychophysiol. 109, 63–70 (2016).

⁹ Srinivasan, N. & Baijal, S. Concentrative meditation enhances preattentive processing: a mismatch negativity study.Neuroreport 18, 1709–1712 (2007).

10 Luo, Y., Wei, J. & Weekes, B. Effects of musical meditation training on auditory mismatch negativity and P300 in normal children. Chin. Med. Sci. J. 14, 75–79 (1999).

11 As measured by the commensurate reduction in alpha frequency band power between baseline and riding to caffeine vs placebo

12 Barry, R. J. et al. Caffeine effects on resting-state arousal. Clin. Neurophysiol. 116, 2693–2700 (2005).

13 Dimpfel, W., Schober, F. & Spüler, M. The influence of caffeine on human EEG under resting condition and during mental loads. Clin. Investig. 71, 197–207 (1993).

14 Angelakis, E., Lubar, J. F., Stathopoulou, S. & Kounios, J. Peak alpha frequency: an electroencephalographic measure of cognitive preparedness. Clin. Neurophysiol. 115, 887–897 (2004).

15 Reeves, R. R., Struve, F. A., Patrick, G. & Bullen, J. A. Topographic quantitative EEG measures of alpha and theta power changes during caffeine withdrawal: preliminary findings from normal subjects. Clin. Electroencephalogr. 26, 154–162 (1995).

16 Kaplan, G. B. et al. Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics and psychomotor effects of caffeine in humans. J. Clin. Pharmacol.37, 693–703 (1997).

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Ducati is embarking on a 17-city tour across the U.S., bringing the Panigale V4 R and other select 2019 models, from coast to coast.

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Beginning this Friday, January 18, Ducati North America will be hitting the road with a distinctive selection of their 2019 models, including the world’s most powerful production motorcycle, the Panigale V4 R. The “Ready For Red” tour will share the Italian brand’s technological and performance innovation with audiences across the United States with 17 stops in major metropolitan areas throughout the nation.

The events will be open to the public with pre-registration for attendance. For more information and to register, visit: ducatireadyforred.com

Guests will have the chance to mingle with Ducatisti in a fun atmosphere while experiencing a diverse product lineup representing the expansive Ducati Worlds that range from Racetrack, Travel, Lifestyle and Sport with the Scrambler Ducati brand rounding out the experience.

In addition to the incomparable Panigale V4 R, other models scheduled to be on-site at the events will include the brand new Hypermotard 950 and 950 SP, Multistrada 1260 Enduro and Multistrada 950 S, Diavel 1260 S, and the Scrambler Café Racer, Scrambler Desert Sled, as well as the Scrambler Full Throttle.

2019 “Ready For Red” Tour

• January 18, 2019 – MotoCorsa – Portland
• January 19, 2019 – Block41 – Seattle
• January 23, 2019 – Harrison Eurosports – Salt Lake City
• January 25, 2019 – Skylight– Denver
• January 26, 2019 – Ducati Omaha – Omaha
• January 29, 2019 – Motor Cycle Center – Chicago
• January 30, 2019 – Ducati Detroit – Detroit
• February 1, 2019 – Lars Anderson Auto Museum – Boston
• February 13, 2019 – Ducati Sanford – Orlando
• February 15, 2019 – Ducati Miami – Miami
• February 19, 2019 – Ducati Austin – Austin
• February 21, 2019 – Bayou & Bottle – Houston
• February 23, 2019 – AMS Ducati Dallas – Dallas
• February 26, 2019 – OTTO Car Club – Phoenix
• February 27, 2019 – Ducati Las Vegas – Las Vegas
• February 28, 2019 – Location TBA– San Diego
• March 2, 2019 – Location TBA – San Francisco

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Not only are recreational areas great fun for riding, they also play a part in the economic infrastructure of rural America.

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Motorcycle industry representatives and outdoor recreation leaders met with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment Jim Hubbard and other officials to emphasize the need for better recreation permitting processes and expanded partnerships to improve access to lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

“National forests are at the heart of recreation for Americans, and we made clear to Secretary Perdue that access to trails for motorized vehicles, addressing the maintenance backlog and investing in ways to expand and enhance recreation infrastructure are key to helping rural economies and the recreation economy thrive,” said Paul Vitrano, Motorcycle Industry Council Board chairman and senior assistant general counsel at Polaris Industries.

“We also discussed how the government shutdown has negatively affected safety and access to parks and how it has hurt gateway communities that rely on park users,” said MIC President and CEO Tim Buche. “We must change the way shutdowns are handled in the future so public lands can remain open and safe for all.”

Vitrano and Buche were among other Outdoor Recreation Roundtable leaders and recreation company CEOs who met with government officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Jan. 8. The outdoor group noted the importance of national forests to many recreational activities and highlighted the many world-class experiences provided to motorized trail enthusiasts, anglers, skiers, hikers, climbers, campers, paddlers and boaters. The recreation leaders underscored the key role national forests play in rural economies across the country and the importance of key provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill that will allow rural economic development grants for recreation infrastructure in rural America.

Perdue said wildfire costs had impacted the department’s recreation efforts and thanked the recreation industry for its role in recent legislation that should control future fire costs at the USDA, and allow the Forest Service and the recreation industry to accomplish more with improved partnerships.

ORR participants also referred to positive actions already underway at the USDA, which are helpful to growing an industry that accounts for 2.2 percent of the nation’s economy and supports 4.6 million jobs. Recreation leaders also highlighted opportunities for immediate progress, including:

• Secretarial visits to sites demonstrating USDA partnerships supporting rural communities and the importance of broadband access in these gateway areas
• Secretarial support for innovative USFS recreation efforts that capitalize on private investments to expand and enhance recreation infrastructure, including campgrounds
• Making the revamped recreation.gov website – and its potential for providing information on recreation opportunities – more visible
• Addressing recreation permitting problems with electronic and simplified applications and timely processing
• Eliminating the maintenance backlog on USFS lands, especially where it threatens recreational activity
• Outreach to young Americans and expanded use of conservation corps

“We are committed to helping Americans enjoy recreational opportunities in our national forests,” Perdue said. “I invite you to help by recommending specific priority steps. Let’s capitalize on the fact that recreation is agnostic relative to politics, and let’s help more Americans enjoy the great outdoors.”

Additional information on topics discussed and the participants can be found here.

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In a sign of how quickly the Mama Tried show is growing, for the 2019 edition, Metzeler is serving as the official tire sponsor!

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METZELER is happy to announce that it will serve as the Official Tire Sponsor of the 2019 Mama Tried Motorcycle Show in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The growing event will host its sixth annual invitational February 15 – 17 at the Eagles Ballroom and was a premier choice for METZELER to showcase its brand new CRUISETEC tire to the public for the first time in North America.

Mama Tried Motorcycle Show was created by two friends trying to make the most of the cold midwest winter, creating an ice race and motorcycle show. Six years later, it has expanded to receive record crowds that witness over 100 different builders during its event. The best in the industry come to showcase their work and the level of custom bikes has elevated the Mama Tried Motorcycle Show to must-attend status in its short lifetime.

In November, METZELER announced the CRUISETEC tire, its all-new custom touring tire that optimizes v-twin performance. With its continued growth as a staple event, METZELER found the Mama Tried Motorcycle Show to be the perfect location to feature the CRUISETEC and other well-known tires that are favorites amongst custom bike builders across the country.

“With the launch of the METZELER CRUISETEC, we wanted to find an event that would be perfect to highlight such an exciting new product,” said Emily Grannis, Marketing Director, METZELER. “The Mama Tried Motorcycle Show continues to bring motorcycles and builders to the fans and we felt that was a great fit for METZELER. Even beyond CRUISETEC, builders have come to trust the style and performance found in the full METZELER lineup. We can’t wait to get to Milwaukee.”

METZELER will be on-site at the Eagles Ballroom to showcase CRUISETEC and additional tires from the lineup.

To view METZELER’s complete line of motorcycle tires CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE to view more information regarding the 2019 Mama Tried Motorcycle Show.

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Why not? JD Beach moves up to Superbike, Josh Herrin gets a factory Suzuki, Fridays are free, and there’s carnivals! I’m in.

PRESS RELEASE:

MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey is confident that the 2019 MotoAmerica Series will be the best yet – both on and off the track.

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Stage nine at Dakar 2019 is finished leaving only one stage to go.

Begin Press Release: 

SS9, Pursuing the Penultimate

The Country’s Cocktail Isn’t the Only Thing Sour in Pisco

The second-to-last stage is bittersweet. On one end, it marks the conclusion of a long, grueling endeavor for everyone from the riders, their teams, the media and organizers who, since January 7th this year, have coped with sandstorms, fesh-fesh, overwhelming heat and using a small filthy telephone booth for a toilet. At the other, it also means the end of an adventure, saying goodbye to friends, coming back to reality and, for a very specific group, facing the results.

Special Stage 9 offered racers their second mass start. Broken into groups once again, they set off on a high-speed chase for the horizon, with only dunes and fesh-fesh between them and the finish line. Being their fourth special to zig-zag through the area, the familiar terrain has been churned and scored so much by tire tread, it acted capricious at best for the competitors. Every day, people would say “the dunes were huge” and today was no exception. But the angles would play a bigger part in the pilots’ demise. One such rider, Gabriela Novotna (#57), spent an hour and a half digging her bike out from the (appropriately titled) depression between two very sharp dunes, shaped akin to a pizza slice.

“Today we raced in one big box. We went back-and-forth and back-and-forth to the coast…and kind of raced over itself figure-eight style. The tracks were really tough…there’s a lot of fesh-fesh, and the fesh-fesh was chopped up really bad because we’ve raced across it in multiple directions. So, it just made it…abusive so-to-speak.” – Garrett Poucher #71, Garrett Off-Road Racing Team, USA

Another few suffered a similar fate to Ricky Brabec (#15), when engine failure brought on heartbreak for Adrien Van Beveren (#4) whom has remained in the Top Five for a majority of the race. And big news in cars, 13-time champion Stephane Peterhansel dropped out after just 26 kilometers when his co-driver David Castera had hurt his back. On the other hand, Michael Metge (#16) and Daniel Nosiglia Jager (#28) took full advantage of the mayhem, placing themselves comfortably in the first and second seeds of the stage.

News about Brabec’s withdrawal on Tuesday somewhat overshadowed other big events leaving many of us with questions. Namely, what caused the ASO to give Kevin Benavidas (#47) a three-hour penalty? It was confirmed the Monster Energy Honda Team rider had concealed extra notes taped to his gas tank offering alternative routes, or “short cuts,” through some of the more challenging and slower sections of the route – a common practice, apparently, which the ASO banned in 2018. A statement from the Dakar officials:

“Kevin Benavides was sanctioned yesterday with a 3:00’00 penalty after race authorities deemed that the rider had violated one of the new rules established for the race. The team is currently gathering all the necessary information to present an official claim against the sanction.”

This issue directly relates to a statement published on social media by Toyota Gazoo Team co-pilot Dirk Von Zitzewitz criticizing the organization for taking away what he considers to be an essential part of being a navigator: doing their homework. Nonetheless, what Benavidas was caught with is currently against regulations so it’s an opportunity for organizers to set an example, which in this case was an additional three hours for essentially cheating. Kevin is nonetheless sitting at 13th in the General Classification.

Despite losing a few key figures – Brabec, Skyler Howes (#73), Cole Potts and Max Eddy Jr (#346) – to DNFs, the Americans aren’t out of the running for some worthy finishes. Andrew Short (#29) and Casey Currie (#343) both sit in 4th place, eyeing the podium for their respective classes. Robby Gordon with co-pilot Kellon Walch (#316) and Blade Hildebrand with co-pilot Bill Conger (#367), both cars representing Team Speed, have clawed through restrictions and multiple mechanical issues to find themselves in respectable positions, considering the circumstances. And of course, the underdogs: Garrett Poucher (#71), a businessman from Santa Clarita, California, who’s finding himself at the heels of factory riders even after enduring some cringe-worthy crashes, gone viral thanks to the likes of Dakar Heroes and Red Bull. And Nathan Rafferty (#104), whom considers himself a ski bum, has found a comfortable spot in the low 50’s. Nonetheless, the race isn’t over yet. And with even a short 111k special ahead of them, challengers can’t expect to take it easy until the podium in Lima.

KEY POINTS:

Ø An injured Toby Price (#3) leads the Dakar Rally in Bikes by one minute going into the final stage. “I’d like to finish on top,” said Price, who is still battling the pain of a recently broken wrist. “We’re so close; it’s so tight! I know it’s going to be very hard tomorrow and I’ll give it my best. I know I’m likely to be on the podium tomorrow, and it’s amazing. But I obviously want to win.”

Ø Honda’s Kevin Benavides Hit with three-hour Penalty, knocked completely out of contention. Sanctioned for concealing extra navigation notes in an unsportsmanlike manner.

Ø KTM’s Sam Sunderland (#14) suffered his own penalty during SS8 knocking the podium out of sight by an extra hour. The rule cited has to do with the competitor’s tracking device, stating, “any competitor that intentionally damages the security devices (GPS, Iritrack, Smalltrack, ICO) in order to get the devices repaired and obtain a new starting time will receive a penalty of 1 hour.”

Ø Americans Casey Currie and Andrew Short each in 4th going into Final; Either can still get on the podium.

Ø Laia Sanz (#17) poised for her best finish yet in 2019. We’ll see if tomorrow’s special sees her breaking into the top ten.

Ø Nasser Al-Attiyah (#301) is set for his third Dakar title with nearly an hour advantage over second seed in cars.

à Please note: numbers are subject to change.

Ø Rankings of Americans after SS9

MOTO

7th Andrew Short #29 – 03h 50’ 41”; 4th in the General Classification

27th Garrett Poucher #71 – 04h 40’ 39”; 33rd in the General Classification

61st Nathan Rafferty #104 – 06h 52’ 05”; 52nd in the General Classification

DNF Skyler Howes #73

DNF Ricky Brabec #15

CAR

28th Robby Gordon, Kellon Walch #316 – 05h 59’ 28”; 46th in the General Classification

29th Blade Hildebrand, Bill Conger #367 – 06h 00’ 07”; 43rd in the General Classification

DNF Cole Potts, Max Eddy Jr. #346

SIDE-BY-SIDE

4th Casey Currie #343 – 04h 53’ 09”; 4th in the General Classification

Ø Top Ten Stage Finishers in Motorcycles

1st Michael Metge #16 – 03h 46’ 38”; 22nd in the General Classification

2nd Daniel Nosiglia Jager #28 – 03h 48’ 38”; 10th in the General Classification

3rd Pablo Quintanilla #6 – 03h 50’ 06”; 2nd in the General Classification

4th Matthias Walkner #1 – 03h 50’ 07”; 3rd in the General Classification

5th Toby Price #3 – 03h 50’ 07”; 1st in the General Classification

6th Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo #10 – 03h 50’ 08”; 6th in the General Classification

7th Andrew Short #29 – 03h 50’ 41”; 4th in the General Classification

8th Luciano Benavides #77 – 03 51’ 33”; 7th in the General Classification

9th Xavier de Soultrait #18 – 03h 51’ 34”; 5th in the General Classification

10th Oriol Mena #18 – 03h 52’ 36”; *9th in the General Classification

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