The 2022 final sees the top two riders from each Series invited to take part as more and more competitions join up. For transparency and fairness, this year’s bike selection once again took place via lottery. With each rider set to arrive at the event with a bike on site to race, as well as a host of other vital technical and rider equipment for their use, randomization ensures a level playing field for all.
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
Behind Marquez was Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who remains a mathematical chance for the title, in fourth on a 1:59.875, from Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Martin, and Quartararo, who was fastest of those not to switch to new Michelin tyres at the end. Rounding out the top 10 were Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). The latter bounced back from an early crash to set a personal-best 2:00.767, while 11th went to Bagnaia on a 2:00.770. Aleix Espargaro crashed at Turn 8 on his second-run out lap and saw very little action once his second RS-GP seemed to display some sort of alarm, while Darryn Binder (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ Team) walked away from a spill with just over 15 minutes to go – the South African would be classified 22nd.
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
Back to the timesheet, Albert Arenas (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) rounded out the top five, from Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team), Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools Speed Up), Canet, and Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), the latter of whom had to contend with an early flat rear tyre. Vietti finished 1.637 seconds off the pace in 10th, while Lopez was classified 15th on the 2:08.695 which he set before his spill.
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) took sixth, from Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI), Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), and local wildcard Syarifuddin Azman (VisionTrack Racing Team). With Guevara having already secured the lightweight class crown, eyes will be on Garcia and Foggia, who are split by just two points in the battle for second in the Championship. A notable outside the provisional Q2 cut-off is Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) in 17th, while Scott Ogden (VisionTrack Racing Team) was declared fit after a crash at Phillip Island last weekend and was classified 19th in FP1 in Sepang.
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
Track walk done! A lot of@love for these guys and girls! Let’s go #team65
Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook
Since Ducati’s debut of the Streetfighter in 2020, the supersport naked segment has exploded – and now, as of today, that genre has just grown to another level.
In line with the Panigale V4’s improvements in Episode Four of Ducati’s World Premiere, the new Streetfighter V4, V4 S, and V4 SP2 show off a series of new and tweaked stuff.
For the Streetfighter V4, the Desmosedici Stradale now sports Full, High, Medium, and Low engine strategies. Low is the newest, with Ducati’s press release stating that this new move cuts the max power of the heart, allowing the rider to feel more secure on low-grip surfaces and “offering a softer and more manageable throttle response.”
The versatility in power is complemented by a “calibration to match the larger diameter of the silencer outlet,” as well as the model’s biplane winglets and a new dash to make everything on the road a tad simpler.
Would a Ducati bike be a Ducati bike without the electronics?
We argue not; as such, Ducatisti has been given a revised Ducati Quick Shift (DQS), which works by reducing the ignition and cutting the injection to make the road’s travel smoother, too.
(Should you go full throttle, that also means better stability on the twisties.)
The rest of the machine sports a higher swingarm pivot, and is dressed in a beautiful set of Öhlins suspension (an NIX30 upside-down 43 mm fork and TTX36 shock absorber, to be precise).
Now let’s look at what makes Ducati’s models more ‘sporty.’
It don’t get much closer to MotoGP than this (unless you have a fuller-fairinged Ducati beauty, of course).
For the 2023 Streetfighter V4 SP2, ‘premium’ is the word of the day, manifested in the shape of a swanky set of aluminum Marchesini rims, a pricey (and lighter) lithium-ion battery, Brembo Stylema R® front brake calipers, 5 split-spoke carbon rims, an adjustable machined aluminum foot-pegs, and carbon everything – clutch cover, block-off covers, and front mudguard.
Team Red has also added in there a STM-EVO SBK dry clutch, a unit in use today by the Ducati Factory WSBK teams as well as other National level moto-athletes around the good globe.
The Wet Riding Mode is nice, too, though it doesn’t add anything in the way of speed; instead, it makes sure you can still perform to a nuanced level of accuracy in slick conditions.
New torque curves for each gear guarantee better smoothness and more manageable throttle response – a welcome addition, since sophistication is complemented best by easy control of your bike (and the city scoots will be that much easier to enjoy).
Expect the new Streetfighter range to land in the Western Hemisphere’s markets by early 2023 with the below pricing:
2023Streetfighter V4
Ducati Red – MSRP of $22,095
2023 Streetfighter V4 S
Ducati Red – MSRP of $27,595
Grey and Nero – MSRP of $27,795
2023 Streetfighter SP2
Winter Test – MSRP of $37,995
Stay tuned for updates; drop a comment below letting us know what you think, and as ever – stay safe on the twisties.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Ups
Downs
Verdict
The ZX-14R was by far Kawasaki’s biggest and baddest sportbike model for many years until the flagship supercharged H2 series came along, and it’s still an excellent choice for someone looking for an extremely powerful, smooth, and comfortable sportbike. It’s not a razor-sharp, racetrack-ready supersport machine; more of a gentlemen’s express that can generate big speed without theatrics, apparent effort, or making physical demands on the rider. In fact, throw some soft luggage onto the big Kawasaki and you’ll have one seriously fast sport-tourer.
Overview
This big bruiser originally debuted in 2006 as the ZX-14 after Kawasaki became mired in controversy with the ZX-12R, reluctantly limiting that bike’s top speed to “only” 186 mph as part of a gentleman’s agreement with other manufacturers. That first R-less ZX-14 was actually softened up around the edges as Kawasaki played nice for a while; the bodywork was much more aerodynamic, the ergonomics were relaxed a bit, and the engine lagged behind the Suzuki Hayabusa somewhat, despite the ZX-14′s slight displacement advantage.
In 2012 Kawasaki decided that enough was enough, making extensive upgrades to the engine and chassis to establish the ZX-14R as the undisputed power and acceleration king. Increasing engine displacement by 89cc to 1,441cc via a 4mm-longer stroke was just the start; other changes included an all-new cylinder head with hotter cams, new forged pistons that force a higher 12.3:1 compression ratio, higher-flowing air filter and exhaust, plus beefier engine internals to keep that power flowing. The Kawasaki’s unique aluminum monocoque chassis also underwent strengthening and tweaking to handle the additional power, with improved suspension and wheels topping off the package.
Updates for 2023
There are no updates to the ZX-14R for 2023, and only a slight update to the colorway, which is now called Metallic Matte Graphenesteel Gray/Flat Ebony.
Pricing And Variants
Despite the lack of any changes whatsoever, the 2023 Kawasaki ZX-14R has an MSRP of $16,599, a considerable $1,000 increase over the previous year’s MSRP.
Competition
The only real direct competitor to the ZX-14R is the Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa, which comes in at a higher MSRP of $18,799 and makes the Kawasaki’s price increase a little easier to process.
Interestingly, both bikes are now sold only in the USA, as neither is clean enough to pass Euro 5 emissions regs.
Those cross-shopping the hypersport category might be interested in Kawasaki’s own Ninja H2 SX and H2, which retail for $27,500 and $31,500, respectively.
Powertrain: Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Everything about the ZX-14R’s DOHC inline four-cylinder powerplant is big and beefy. There’s its 1,441cc displacement; there’s a cylinder head with CNC-milled combustion chambers, 12.3:1-compression forged pistons, alloy connecting rods with stout small ends, and a crankshaft with meaty main journals. The transmission is heat-treated for durability and slick action, and a slipper clutch keeps downshifts from upsetting the chassis.
“Even with its hefty 584-pound wet weight and 58-inch wheelbase, the ZX-14R will easily go vertical with the front tire in the first two gears with just the throttle, and third gear wheelies require little effort,” Cycle World noted in the 2012 ZX-14R First Ride Review. But the Kawasaki isn’t just all brute power. Dual gear-driven counterbalancers smooth out the engine vibes and keep the mirror images crystal clear.
Handling
Despite its considerable heft at 593 pounds fully fueled and its rangy 58.3-inch wheelbase, the big Kawasaki comports itself well on twisty roads, displaying surprising agility even though the chassis is rock-solid in the turns. The fully adjustable suspension does an excellent job of absorbing pavement irregularities, although spring rates are a bit on the soft side.
Brakes
While the Nissin radial-mount four-piston calipers from the 2012 model worked fine, in 2018 the ZX-14R received the Brembo M50 four-piston Monoblock calipers that formerly debuted on the 2016 “Special Edition” model ZX-14R.
Together with the 310mm twin discs, the Brembos provide excellent braking power with good progressiveness and feel; a good thing, considering the Kawasaki’s acceleration capabilities.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The ZX-14R’s big engine is pretty thirsty, with our last test averaging 36 mpg; to be fair, that number included a lot of throttle twisting. Careful throttle use could probably stretch that to the high 40s.
Ergonomics: Comfort and Utility
Despite its penchant for high speed and sudden acceleration, the ergonomics on the ZX-14R are actually fairly comfortable and roomy. The reach to the bars is short so riders sit more upright than usual on a sportbike, and there’s plenty of legroom even though the Kawasaki has decent ground clearance. Even the passenger accommodations are decent, as the one-piece seat has plenty of room for a second occupant. This is a bike that could easily be mounted with soft luggage and ridden for long distances.
Electronics
The ZX-14R is equipped with three-mode Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC). There is also a two-level power mode selector, and ABS is standard equipment. The Kawasaki hasn’t changed much since its 2012 debut, so the dash uses an analog tachometer and speedometer, augmented by an LCD info panel displaying pertinent info.
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The ZX-14R comes with Kawasaki’s 12-month limited warranty. Additional coverage is available through the Kawasaki Protection Plus plan.
Quality
The ZX-14R displays very high-quality construction, and fit and finish is excellent. However, the technology is a bit dated, as there have been no updates since the 2012 second-generation upgrade.
2023 Kawasaki ZX-14R Claimed Specs
| MSRP: | $16,599 |
|---|---|
| Engine: | 1,441cc, DOHC, liquid-cooled parallel twin; 16 valves |
| Bore x Stroke: | 84.0 x 65.0mm |
| Transmission/Final Drive: | 6-speed/chain |
| Fuel Delivery: | DFI w/ 44mm throttle bodies |
| Clutch: | Wet, slipper type; hydraulic operation |
| Engine Management/Ignition: | Ride-by-wire/TCI |
| Frame: | Aluminum monocoque chassis |
| Front Suspension: | 43mm Kayaba inverted cartridge fork, fully adjustable; 4.6 in. travel |
| Rear Suspension: | Kayaba shock, fully adjustable including ride height; 4.9 in. travel |
| Front Brake: | 4-piston Brembo M50 Monoblock radial-mount calipers, dual 310mm discs w/ ABS |
| Rear Brake: | 2-piston caliper, 250mm disc w/ ABS |
| Wheels, Front/Rear: | Cast aluminum; 17 x 3.50 in. / 17 x 6.00 in. |
| Tires, Front/Rear: | 120/70ZR-17 / 190/50ZR-17 |
| Rake/Trail: | 23.0°/3.7 in. |
| Wheelbase: | 58.3 in. |
| Ground Clearance: | 4.9 in. |
| Seat Height: | 31.5 in. |
| Fuel Capacity: | 5.8 gal. |
| Wet Weight: | 593 lb. |
| Contact: | kawasaki.com |
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com
Backcountry Discovery Routes has partnered up with Zero Motorcycles to raise awareness of their EV charging stations – and now that the country’s scenic landscapes sport more recharge points, EV adventure riders have that much more land they can explore.
Typically an electric motorcycle will have roughly half the range of a fossil fuel motorbike; while an Africa Twin might sport more than 300 miles in range, something like the 180-mile range of Zero’s DSR/X is considered good for the genre.
Take a 10-hour picnic while she recharges, and hey – that range is bumped up to around 350 miles!
(All jokes aside and on a more realistic note, we have electric adventure motorcycles like Energica’s Experia that boasts half the tank charged in three hours. Not bad).
Regardless, EV charging stations encamped along the BDR’s recommended trails are certainly an easier way to get in a quiet, nature-heavy scoot – and Inna Thorn, BDR’s Executive Director, couldn’t agree more.
“We are excited to partner with Zero Motorcycles to help launch this new dimension to the adventure riding experience, and increase awareness of and access to EV charging infrastructure along outdoor recreation routes across the U.S.,” states Thorn.
“The reality, as futuristic as it may seem, of electric-powered adventure motorcycles is now. Being at the forefront of the EV movement along with Zero Motorcycles presents major opportunities for the BDR and our community to help create an eco-system where EV ADV becomes the norm.”
What do you think? Would you use BDR’s charging stations in the name of eco-friendly traveling?
Comment below letting us know what you think, and as ever – stay safe on the twisties.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
In his intro video on the Ride for Light Facebook page, former Army paratrooper Perry Steed says there has been something he has been unable to do for the last 10 years – an obstacle he hasn’t overcome.
“That obstacle has been going to collect one of my very best friend’s ashes,” he says with solemnity in his voice.
On April 24, 2012, Sgt. Kristopher Cool took his own life. Steed says he has known several people who died by suicide both before and since Cool, but his friend’s death has been “the worst one for so many reasons.”
I can relate to Steed’s struggles. I’ve never been any good with death, whether it was from old age, a tragic accident, or suicide. But it’s a little harder in the case of suicide because of the conflicting feelings for those left behind. In 2014, a good friend of mine who was a veteran took his own life, and I still get choked up thinking about the pain he must’ve been feeling and the times we haven’t been able to share since.
According to the website for Steed’s nonprofit, Operation: Purpose, veterans are 50% more likely to die from suicide than those who haven’t served, and what started as a mission to retrieve his friend’s ashes in Minnesota and take them to Fort Bragg to spread on Sicily Drop Zone became a “rally cry for support.” On May 20, Steed departed Wilmington, North Carolina, on a 2013 BMW R 1200 GS for a 48-state trip covering more than 15,000 miles. He returned home August 14.
Related Story: 2014 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure Review
“This ride is meant to provide Kristopher a final resting place,” the Operation: Purpose website states, “while also illuminating the issue of veterans’ mental health.”
When I first contacted Steed in June, he had made it to my neck of the woods in the southeastern corner of Utah.
“None of us can save the 22 that died yesterday,” he told me, referring to the Veterans Affairs statistic that 22 veterans take their own lives each day. “But if we can save one today, maybe they can help save two tomorrow. And then we can get this thing under control.”
Steed served as a forward observer in the Bravo 1st Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division from 1994 to 1997. He met Cool at the 82nd replacement. Steed was coming from jump school, and Cool was working the change of quarters desk. “We got to chitchatting about music, and we had similar tastes.”
The two men served together in the 82nd Airborne Division. Cool left the service a year before Steed, but the two stayed in contact over the years, including a stint when they lived in the same town.
“For a long time, he and I were pretty much inseparable.” Steed paused, and his next words were heavier. “Those were good times.”
In April 2012, Steed got a call he said he was expecting. “But I couldn’t hear it. My friend had died by suicide.”
The news hit him hard, and he formulated the plan to gather the ashes.
“But every time it came around for me to do it, I just couldn’t seem to make it happen.”
Steed said he struggled with his own instabilities for several years, and when he heard the news about Cool, he was trying to focus on his family.
“In fact, when I got the call, I was waiting for my wife to come home so we could go to childbirth class for our middle child,” he said. “So I focused on trying to be there for them. But I haven’t been there for myself.”
But the tragedies kept “building and building,” he said, including the deaths of more than two dozen family members and friends from various causes.
“They’re not all old people that had lived a full life. A lot of these people were cut down in their prime, and there have been a few suicides.”
He tried to keep motoring on, but everything came crashing down when his father-in-law died of cancer in 2019.
“He was the glue keeping me together,” Steed said, “because I had been focusing on getting him to his treatments, to his doctor’s appointments – just being there and doing things.”
Earlier in our interview, Steed said he had left from Fruita, Colorado, that morning, taking U.S. Route 191 and visiting Arches National Park, one of five national parks in Utah, and was talking to me from one of his father-in-law’s favorite spots in Mexican Hat, Utah, on U.S. Route 163.
“I’m actually sitting in the motel that he talked about for years and years, and wanting to come back,” he said. “I’m here to spread some of his ashes tonight. I carry him with me everywhere. I was raised by a good family, but when I met this man and asked if I could marry his daughter, he turned into my dad.”
Once his father-in-law died, “everything spiraled out of control for my family and me. And then Covid hit.”
He said the pandemic felt like a reset for a lot of people, himself included. He started using VA grief counseling tools and “put in a whole lot of work to get myself to where I could honor the promise I made when Kris passed away to go get his ashes.”
Before Christmas 2021, Steed spoke with his wife, who encouraged him to do it. The idea of the trip got him thinking about a friend in Oklahoma he had served with and who had been difficult to reach for quite a while.
“People don’t pop into my head for no reason,” he said. “So if someone pops into my head, there’s a higher calling for me to reach out to that person. I’m going to find them and I’m going to call them and I’m going to check on them.”
At that point, the purpose of the trip evolved.
“It’s me checking on battle buddies, guys I served with, friends of guys I served with, complete strangers.”
Over the course of reaching out to people, Steed reestablished a connection with a friend he served with who lives in San Luis Obispo, California.
“I told him, ‘Hey man, I’m getting ready to do this crazy thing. Hell, I might even come to California.’”
When Steed explained the impetus for his trip, the friend asked if Steed would also retrieve the ashes of his brother, Specialist David J. Howard.
“I haven’t physically seen this guy in California in over 20 years, and he still thinks enough of me to trust me with some of his brother’s remains knowing that I’m going to do exactly what I told him I would do and spread those ashes on Fort Bragg.”
Steed has been riding motorcycles for about 13 years. While the 1200 GS is his chosen mount for this mission – a bike he said was a holdout for him, even with the rave reviews – it’s not the only bike in his stable. His first motorcycle was an ’84 BMW R 80 RT.
“I spent a ton of money getting that thing right,” he said. “I still have it.”
He also owns an ’81 Yamaha XS 650, an ’84 BMW R 100 RT, a ’74 Moto Guzzi Eldorado, and a 2015 Suzuki V-Strom 650XT. A full stable indeed.
After more than a decade in the saddle, he’s no stranger to helmet time, but the Ride for Light provided more of a challenge. For one, it was longer than any rides he had previously taken.
“I did a mini trip last summer,” he said. “I rode 2,500 miles, just around North Carolina and Virginia and those areas, to see if I could even handle being in my head that long.”
Steed originally planned on doing the trip solo, but he was joined along the way by various friends and family. When he set out from North Carolina, he had a friend who is also a veteran ride along with him for the first five days and then split off in Georgia, at which point Steed was joined by a cousin who rode with him about 1,100 miles to the Oklahoma state line.
“He’s been riding for a long time,” Steed said of the cousin, “but as far as long stretches in the saddle, that’s the longest he’s ever done.”
In addition to the distance, his cousin had also never ridden with anyone else, which provided Steed some opportunities for coaching and helped break up the monotony. But more than that, Steed was glad for the cousin to come along because he is a veteran as well.
“He downplays his military service, but he still signed a blank check. He’s a good dude.”
And Steed ultimately connected with that friend in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They rode together to Fort Sill, where Steed had completed basic and advanced individual training. The two rode about 700 miles together.
Besides the camaraderie, the other advantage to having someone else along is in case of a mishap. After riding the Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee with the friend who had been with him from the start, Steed separated a rib doing some off-roading on a forestry road. At that point in the trip, he had become used to having someone tag along. He felt like he could push himself, take a few more chances, and do a little more off-roading. When his friend split off, that changed.
“All that stuff was gone,” he said. “I had to come to grips with no guarantees of anybody doing it with me.”
When you get used to someone being around – even if just for a short time – it makes it harder when they’re gone, like when a good friend comes to visit and you feel a little bit lonely when they leave.
Or when a friend you’ve known for many years takes his own life.
In the late 1970s, psychiatrist Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk started working with Vietnam veterans. Interestingly, his first patient would ride his Harley to bring himself down from moments of rage brought on by his trauma.
“The vibrations, speed, and danger of that ride helped him pull himself back together,” Van Der Kolk wrote in his 2014 book The Body Keeps the Score.
Van Der Kolk’s original work took place before post-traumatic stress disorder was an official diagnosis. These days, his contributions are considered pivotal in the field of trauma. He says one area of difficulty shared by those dealing with trauma is the inability to live in the moment. This capacity is the foundation of meditation and the somewhat recently coined term of “mindfulness.”
Personally, I appreciate the fact that when I’m on my bike, I’m only on my bike. Preoccupied with operating the machine, there isn’t much room to think about a troubling situation at work or home. The past and the future don’t matter nearly as much as the present moment.
For Steed, that wasn’t always the case on this trip.
“I’m stuck in my head and in my helmet all day,” he told me in June. “It’s like when you’ve got two kids who don’t get along, you lock them in a room together and say, ‘You guys are going to be getting along before you walk out of this room.’ That’s me, man. Some days my biggest fights are with myself.”
But this was a battle he was determined to win.
“Just today, I got in my head this morning,” he said. “I didn’t want to ride. I didn’t want to go anywhere. I was fumbling around getting ready, and I was awake almost all night for no reason.”
Steed said that as men, we try to find out the rationale, to get to the “why” for everything.
“But it’s just me,” he said. “It’s how I am. It’s how I’m wired. A success for me is going to be if I can get out of this trip being able to live in my head better.”
Steed said he could’ve chosen to fly to all these places to retrieve the ashes, maybe checked in on friends that way, “but I have things I also need to work out.”
“I need to be a better person for myself. I need to be a better husband for my wife, a better father for my children. I need to be a better friend, a better brother, a better son. With all these demons lurking over me, I’m out here trying to just pay all the kindness forward that I can, check on these folks, talk some stuff out with people I haven’t seen in a long time, and try to have some fun of my own.”
And there have been good times.
When you hit 48 states on a bike, you can’t list all the spots, but there are some eye-poppers worthy of mention. Although Utah is definitely beautiful, it was hot when he came through my home state, with temps in the triple digits. People in the Southwest like to say, “but it’s a dry heat,” to which Steed replied, “The only difference between a wet heat and dry heat is that with a dry heat, you don’t know you’re dying. Even though this GS is a waterhead, it was still not liking it.”
I can’t imagine Amarillo, Texas, was much cooler, but he has some great pics and videos of his stop at the Cadillac Ranch on his Facebook page. He rode in some “hellacious storms” along the way, and he stuck his feet in the Gulf of Mexico – “with my riding boots on.” There was a spark in his voice when he spoke of riding the Tail of the Dragon. After a couple days’ rest following his off-road crash and waiting out the rain, he rode it again.
Then there are the people, of course. Beyond visiting friends and family, he’s met a slew of strangers.
After a mishap with his bike in Oklahoma, Steed stayed an extra day and got to meet some friends of his buddy who were also veterans, some of whom had pulled “some pretty serious duty.”
He also mentioned a 20-year military veteran who was particularly inspiring. Steed said the man, who had been hospitalized twice for mental issues, had been rudderless until he started volunteering in a VA nursing home after retiring from the service.
After seeing the lack of attention paid to a couple of soldiers who had died under VA care, the man went to school to become a mortician and a funeral director, Steed said, with the mission of giving veterans the best burial they deserve.
“That is a fantastic thing to do for someone,” he said. “That really touched me. Because it’s not just Iraq and Afghanistan veterans I’m trying to help. A huge segment of our population that never received any kind of help were Vietnam vets.”
He said that, 50 years later, Vietnam veterans are still trying to figure out their place in this world.
“They were spit on or ridiculed when they got home. A lot of the veterans that end up committing suicide are from that theater of conflict and age demographic. Veterans often feel like they can’t help anybody and all they’re doing is hurting other people, so that’s why they do it.”
Steed said the people he’s met kept him going.
“Every positive reaction I get from telling people about what I’m doing makes me want to talk to somebody else,” he said. “This has been an exercise in me stretching my capabilities as far as reaching out to folks.”
Then there were the people waiting back home, namely his wife and three kids.
“If it wasn’t for my wife and children, there’s no way I could do this,” he said. “My wife has been the biggest cheerleader I’ve had.”
He said when he was having a difficult day, one that started with depression or anxiety, his wife was his support.
“It puts a lot of pressure on her, and I feel terrible about it sometimes, but if I’m having a rough day, I have to call her. She’s the one who has kept my head right for so long.”
Finally, he said he believes he’s getting help from those he’s lost over the last 10 years.
“Somebody’s watching out for me,” he said. “Of all the people I’ve buried that meant so much to me, I think they’re all having a huddle upstairs and saying, ‘Dude, we gotta get this guy straight.’”
In the 1994 movie Shawshank Redemption, two of the main characters reference a choice: Get busy living or get busy dying.
Steed’s mission will be over at some point. As of this writing, he has ridden 48 states and rolled back home to his family, and plans are in the works to spread the ashes of Cool and Howard at the Sicily Drop Point. But he’s determined not to make that the end of the road. This wasn’t just a trip about death; it’s about life.
Steed said that while he has been helped by the VA in many ways, he also recognizes its deficits. He has been researching various organizations that help veterans and is working on his 501(c)(3) status for Operation: Purpose, as well as accepting donations on his website.
“The real disconnect is placement for veterans in crisis and their families,” he said. “Who do you call? What do you do? Everyone knows the suicide hotline, but what happens after that? The goal is to create an education program for families and veterans.”
Steed knows some therapists willing to donate their time, and he is working with someone to apply for grants for Mental Health First Aid training, which helps someone who encounters another in a mental health crisis.
“You have skills available to talk them down, calm them down, and get them somewhere where they can think more rationally, or you can get them help without them harming themselves.”
Steed wants veterans to feel like they have another option besides ending their lives.
His long-term goal is to ultimately create a multiuse space similar to those seen on military installations, but in the immediate future, his first step is to create a database of key people in his area. He compared it to the military term “interlocking fields of fire.”
“I’ve got guys who are spread out in the greater Wilmington area, and it’s a network of people who know the veterans,” he said, adding that there are a lot of retired or ex-military in Wilmington, as well as several military bases in North Carolina in general. “We know a lot of people. We can be there for each other. We can be the ear and the shoulder and can offer redirection if that’s feasible.”
This support is what Operation: Purpose is all about.
“We may wake up tomorrow morning and the VA won’t be there anymore, but we still need to help each other. We didn’t have the VA when we were in [the service], but we had each other, and I need to reestablish that line of thinking, to bring the camaraderie and the unity and help each other get our dignity back and a hope for a better day.”
For more information, to make a donation, or to buy Operation: Purpose merchandise that supports veterans in crisis, visit OperationPurpose.net.
This article first appeared in the October issue of Rider. All photos courtesy of Perry Steed. Paul Dail joined the Rider staff as Associate Editor in June. This is his first story for the magazine. He also wrote the Exhaust Note for the October issue.
The post Veteran Takes a 15,000-mile ‘Ride for Light’ first appeared on Rider Magazine.
Source: RiderMagazine.com
Enjoy coverage from the 2022 Sonora Rally from our friends at WestX1000.
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Day One of the Sonora Rally Doesn’t Disappoint
SS1 was many things, but above all else, it was hot. Grueling in fact. The sort of heat that engulfs everything and holds it in place. A momentary breeze offered temporary reprieve for bystanders waiting, relatively motionless, under an overbearing sun. Teasing the skin as it brushed past. In much of the stage, vistas were wide, the light was bright, and the shade was nowhere to be found. Birds called to each other from distant branches in short, staccato bursts proving that life is possible in this desert. But only for some. Most of which lay dormant during the daylight hours in sand lairs and stone dens encircled by ancient saguaro, wiry bushes and brambles. A natural security gate keeping out unwanted guests. Visitors not so unlike these unwary rally racers. Pilots with eyes set on only two places: the roadbook and the route. Minor details going unnoticed if not explicitly marked in their notes. A product of necessity, which occasionally sends a rider (more) off-road to tackle a similarly unsuspecting cacti.
What the earth here lacked over the 227 kilometers of Mexican racecourse was complexity. While yes, there are nuances to all landscapes, even the most featureless. But for an event like the 2022 Sonora Rally, presented by Method Race Wheels, this type of void meant exactly that statement. Race Director Darren Skilton wanted to rip the Band-Aid off at the premiere of the race. With his leadership, the ORGA made navigation the key feature of the special and let participants dive head into what is often quite intimidating. Even all-stars like Skyler Howes, Husqvarna Factory Rally #1, can be apprehensive about starting a stage without a single set of tracks to guide him. But he’s a Pro, and despite a few minor mistakes, he made quick of an otherwise demanding special. Nothing technical. But fast. Real fast. Completing the course a touch under three hours, an hour earlier than predicted, Howes surprisingly wasn’t the most impressive competitor on the course in Stage One.
Despite the higher temps, there was no shortage of gumption on the course, especially by the lone competitor close enough to Skyler’s tail to give up any speed. Australian Matt Sutherland #2 was on-point at the very end, finding a spot behind the day’s stage winner, but an 11-minute penalty and a further outstanding show by his rivals didn’t leave him enough of a time to put the factory pro behind him… Today. A prominent figure in the Baja desert scene, Kevin DeJongh wowed the proverbial crowd as he, almost seamlessly, conquered almost half the competitor lineup starting in 17th and finishing at 2nd for stage and the Overall. Howes jokes that he was the reason DeJongh entered this rally. He recalls, proudly, telling his Baja 1000 comrade to leave the confines of a closed course – “to cut the tape” – and join a rally raid already. According to the Sonora 2019 Champion, Kevin is a natural talent: a sleeper rally racer. If his presentation on-course gives us any evidence of his chance at victory, then the quickest of the bunch are in for a five-day brawl.
“The day was good. We started in the back at 17th, possibly, and was Fourth, physically, at the finish. No major mistakes. The speed zones definitely came up fast. There were only two minutes of penalty, so that was good. Had some tracks to follow in the tricky parts towards the end and made it in one piece ready for Day Two.” – Kevin De Jongh, #21 Privateer
Side-by-sides made their own memorable entrance, merely an hour after the first bike. Daniel Gonzalez and co-pilot Jorge Hernandez #55 gave chase to their factory pro counterpart, but Sara Price and navigator Sean Berriman #51 had managed to put a big gap between them early on. It’s likely the only thing that saved their spot at the top when they ultimately suffered a wiring issue, setting them back some minutes before Berriman whipped up a solution. Sara’s win today doesn’t feel like a surprise. But with three UTVs on the board, four more days ahead and a capricious countryside to contend with, the caged class is far from decided. It was, nonetheless, a tricky roadbook, uncomplicated terrain and long stretches of off-piste badlands. The final kilometers were some of the more competitive between the racers, but that’s not to say the rest of the pack didn’t share their own combat stories. Between a couple of the ARO boys, Freedom Rally Racing’s toughest and a couple strong privateers, little air was left to breath when riding through some obstacles, they were so tightly packed. Others followed suit, albeit several minutes behind the first batch of riders and even more after the leaders.
A few took every opportunity to send it, while the rest chose a steadier approach, unwilling to lose precious time making navigation mistakes over a few moments of pure unadulterated bliss. But well into the course, the fight was still raging between the top four with the Pro podium eventually filled by Howes on First, DeJongh taking the next step and privateer Brendan Crow #35 just below. In the Enduro category, rookie and dreamer, Patrick De Chastoney #27 was paid back for all his hard work with a triumph. Rounding out the race was Jordan Huibregtse #18 sitting pretty in the Malle Moto category. It should be mentioned that whatever they all endured, now the Malle Moto hopefuls must assess, maintain, and possibly repair anything the bike requires. All before that cold, sweet first cerveza from Aventura in the Polaris bivouac at beautiful Bahia Kino. Slumber will be inevitable for some and a luxury for others. But the next day is due to skim the coastline of Cortez.
“Special Stage One was a fun day filled with a lot of adventure! We were running a great pace, until we had some wiring issues turning off our rally equipment. Sean was quick to require on the go to get us back up and going, and we still ended up being the first car to finish! It was a good day.” – Sara Price, Polaris Factory RZR
The sun set on a perfect mini-celebration after a tough day of nav. Winding up to wind down, drinks were imbibed to warm up the stomach for a fulfilling meal of ceviche tostadas, fillet of fish, paella, carne and frijoles. Polaris provided attendees an epic bivouac with beautiful views of the sea and surrounding islands as team, staff, volunteers and media mingled, ate and were merry before the next collection of challenges would come their way. Race Day One is never so resolute that we know the outcome before it arrives. And with fresh tracks tomorrow, the vibe is sure to set a new pace.
Stay tuned to the 2022 Sonora Rally presented by Method Race Wheels all week long, from October 17th – 22nd, to watch all the excitement south of the border. To learn more, visit: https://sonorarally.com/ Or, follow the fun on Instagram @sonorarally & @aventura.eventos.
Ø Hermosillo to Bahia Kino; Liaison > 43 km & Special > 224 km
Ø Wednesday’s Special Stage Two (SS2) will be sand, sand and more sand, buzzing up the coast of the Sea of Cortez. From beautiful Bahia Kino to Caborca in northern Sonora, the rally will move another 277 kilometers – L1 38 – SS 235 – L2 4 – in a completely different environment. This bivouac will be a two-night stay as it hosts a loop for SS3.
Ø Bahia Kino is an unassuming seaside town considered to have one of the most beautiful coastlines in Mexico. Upon approach, the scene appears sleepy. Quiet, simple and uncluttered. A wall of homes and small dunes block the renowned view of the Sea of Cortez, which perhaps adds to the allure when it finally reveals itself to the unsuspecting visitor. Some of the first historic residents of the region were possibly documented by Padre Eusebio Kino in 1685. By the early 1920s, a small fishing village established what is popularly considered an early part of the present city, if you could call it that with only 6,000 – 8,000 permanent residents.
Ø With the first heat behind us, it’s our first glimpse of how each class may shape up by the finale in San Luis Rio Colorado. It’s not a surprise that desert racing queen, Sara Price, and her go-to navigator, Sean Berriman #51, are on the top step today. They were cool and collected through the route, passing several motos to reach the winner’s circle, even after a mystery wiring issue held them up. The Moto Pro class offered a hell of a battle, led at the front by Skyler Howes #1. The real surprise performance was by Kevin DeJongh #21 who moved up the ranks from 17th position to 4th, landing him Second Place. Our friend, Patrick De Chastoney #27, is apparently living up to his dream to race rallies, nabbing the first position in Enduros, while SR alum, Jordan Huibregtse #18, took the Malle Moto victory.
Ø Special Stage One offered fairly subdued physical challenges, with vast, featureless landscapes – albeit still picturesque in many areas. Instead, the roadbook gave navigators plenty to think about on-course. The only other serious challenge to face was the peak temperature of 95-degrees Fahrenheit at the height of the sun. Yet each racer survived everything thrown at them resulting in a 100% participant conclusion.
Ø The Adventure Class is back once again, if not a bit more modest in size, to feature two four-wheel-drive vehicles. One determined entry, piloted by Larry Trim and John Koeth #54, made good time, falling behind Polaris star Sara Price in the #51 RZR. Not bad for a Jeep Speed Grand Cherokee. Luis Perocarpi and Clayton Williams #53 too were testing the limits of man and machine in the desert today, however it seemed from the course perspective, they had some trouble with their Isuzu VX. But that didn’t stop them from crossing the line in a respectable time. While this category isn’t calculated into the standings, their presence at the race is still just as impactful, showing fans and hopefuls what sort of vessels are eligible, if not capable, of taking on a competition such as the Sonora Rally.
Skyler Howes, #1 Husqvarna Factory Racing: “Stage One of the Sonora Rally went really well for me. I opened the special and led out from start to finish. A couple of the areas towards the end became a bit tricky with no tracks to follow, and only compass headings, really. We were supposed to be on some tracks, but they were really not visible. A bit tricky there, but at the end of the day, we had a clean run – no speeding penalties… I know a lot of people were plagued by that today. But no penalties for me, and a clean day, no get-offs or anything like that. Pretty happy with how today’s stage went. We’ll take the momentum into tomorrow, having to open the stage again.”
Brett Fox #34, Privateer in Motos: “It was a great day. I managed to finish with only one flat tire. The stage went through a lot of villages and farmland, which brought in several speed zones which could have added penalties. The off-road navigation was small today but tricky still. Overall, I cleared the stage without any time penalties. It’s always fun finishing as the only adventure bike. Most people are pretty surprised to know that I went through the same stuff as the smaller bikes. The ADV bikes are capable, it just takes a bit more finesse.”
David Pearson #3, American Rally Original in Motos: “It was an excellent first day at the Sonora rally. Darren does an amazing job on roadbooks, and we had challenges and speed limits that made it very interesting. My training time at the COTAH rally and Baja has played off and I managed to maintain a fourth position. It is a long race, and we have four more days left and I’m looking forward to the adventure. Go ARO.”
MOTO PRO
MALLE MOTO
MOTO ENDURO
UTV MODIFIED
MOTORCYCLE
UTV
ROAD TO DAKAR
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