Daytona International Speedway is touted as the “World Center of Racing” and plays host to some of the fastest and most prestigious forms of world class racing including NASCAR, IMSA, Supercross and Superbike. As Daytona Bike Week descended upon the southern peninsula in Florida, Super Hooligan racers bully footed their way into the first round of the American Flat Track (AFT) championship and the second round of the Super Hooligan National Championship series powered by Indian Motorcycles and presented by Progressive MC Insurance treating fans to its unique style of bar banging, sideways, all out heavy bike racing.
Daytona International Speedway hosted its first motorcycle race in 1961 with the inaugural running of the Daytona 200. Super Hooligan racing got its first crack in Daytona 55 years later in conjunction with AFT at the Daytona short track and gave Indian their first podium sweep since the 50's with the ring leader of the Super Hooligan National Championship Mr. Roland Sands himself taking the top spot. Since then Super Hooligan racing has gained International notoriety, been recognized and sanctioned by the AMA and is quickly becoming a must-see event nationally.
Since its inception, Super Hooligan racing has sparked interest from some of motorsports most accomplished professionals, from Indy car drivers to former Flat Track Grand National champions and Freestyle Motocrossers all itching to throw a leg over a hooligan bike and prove they can ride around in circles with the best of them. Daytona got an extra special guest with Motorsports' most recognizable face (and thumb), Travis Pastrana. Travis recently worked with Roland and the team during Travis’ record-breaking attempt to replicate the greatest dare devil in history, Evel Knievel’s three most notorious jumps aboard the Roland Sands prepped Indian FTR 750 this past summer in Las Vegas. Travis casually mentioned he’d be interested in giving Hooligan racing a shot as long as the following stipulations were met; he had to ride a Suzuki and it had to be a Two Stroke. Not an easy ask to find a bike that fit Travis’ criteria and also adheres to Super Hooligan racings rules of a stock frame, and a multi cylinder engine above 750cc’s. Luckily for everyone, the team was able to source a 70’s Suzuki GT 750, nicknamed during it's era in the 1970's as the “Water Buffalo” due to it being liquid cooled. We started this as a side project, just for fun about 6 months ago. We sourced parts in Europe because they were popular there for roadracing. Same platform used for Suzuki TR750 race-only model. Once we finished the bike, we sent it on tour with RSD tire partner Dunlop for them to display it at their event rig. That's just about when Travis confirmed he was in for Daytona. We hadn't tuned or ridden it so it had to come back so we could make it run as best as it could in under 2 weeks. RSD Super Hooligan team manager Cameron Brewer and Ron Meredith was literally making last minute fabrications to the bike moments before the first race to facilitate Travis’ unorthodox riding style. Hubert Roland came in for an extra roadside fabrication to gusset the lowered brake pedal we jimmy-rigged earlier in the day. Travis's right ankle is completely fused and doesn't bend much at all. He literally couldn't reach the brake pedal by about 2 and a half inches. We chopped up a spare Indian FTR1200 rear brake pedal, drilled and tapped a hole and bolted it to the Suzuki brake pedal with a spacer so it would clear the expansion chamber. Phil Smage was there too with good vibes and keeping us all laughing.
As all the riders staged for the first qualifying session, all the heavy hitters were there; the RSD Indian team of Jordan Graham, AJ Kirkpatrick, Jimmy Hill, and fill in for the injured Randy Bereman the legendary Johnny Murphree an Ex-professional AMA Pro Grand National Championship racer. Defending Super Hooligan Champion Andy Dibrino (Washington), the “Cornstar” Jordan Baber (Iowa), former Grand National champ Joe Kopp (Washington) and international playboy Frankie Garcia (California) were also ready to prove they had what it took to earn a spot in the main event.
After the first timed qualifying session surprise break-out Ben Ludlow topped the field followed by Andy Dibrino and, wheelie master, Brenden Foley. The last few adjustments to Travis Pastrana’s bike helped him to qualify 6th in his first Super Hooligan outing besting former Grand National champ Joe Kopp.
The Semis would guarantee the top six riders transfer spots to the main event and had every rider on alert. Semi 1 saw Joe Kopp lead from flag to flag followed by Ben Ludlow and Johnny Murphree, Salinas, California native Chis McDougal made the long drive to Florida and snagged the final transfer spot. Semi 2 was stacked with Dibrino, Baber, Hill, Kirkpatrick, Graham, Garcia and Pastrana all looking for a way into the main event. Veteran Terry Vestal had an epic start and battled with Dibrino and Tony Alves all race eventually finishing in that order, but the real race was from 4th through 8th with Baber, Garcia, Pastrana, Graham, Kirkpatrick and Jimmy Hill all mixing it up and swapping positions. On the final lap Jordan Graham got underneath Pastrana forcing the plaid patron of two-wheel partying into an epic high side save but an unfortunate spot at the back of that pack and finishing his night.
As the lights illuminated “The House That Dale Built”, 9,500 fans looked on as the fastest Hooligans on the day lined up for their chance to claim victory on the hallowed grounds of the Daytona International Speedway. Joe Kopp had the starts down all night as he put his Triumph to the front in the first turn and collected $250 for the K&N Holeshot Award and never looked back running a clean race and putting down the “Dunlop Fastest Lap” for an extra $500. Andy Dibrino gave chase keeping Kopp honest showing wheels here and there but wasn’t able to get close enough to make a pass stick. Season newcomer and fast qualifier Ben Ludlow had what it took to secure the final spot on the box and his first Super Hooligan podium finish.
Super Hooligans will have the next few weeks off before they prepare to take on a unique asphalt TT course in conjunction with The Handbulit Show in Austin TX, April 13th
Kicking off round 2 of the 2019 Super Hooligan National Championship in Daytona and the first ever AMA sanctioned Super Hooligan National Championship race, Super Hooligan series creator, Mr. Roland Sands has been chosen as the official Grand Marshal for the American Flat Track 2019 Daytona TT. Opening ceremonies begin at 7:00 pm with bar-banging hooligan racing taking to the dirt shortly thereafter. We don't know of a better way to open for the pros than an all-out brawl in the dirt on heavy street bikes battling for the coveted AMA National No. 1 plate. This race is poised to be one for the books and an opening act you won’t want to miss.
When:
Thursday March 14, 2019
Where:
Daytona International Speedway
1801 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL
For those heading to the races the RSD crew will be set up and slinging the all-new SHNC official merchandise, the first event where the new Posters, t-shirts, hoodies, hats, and jackets will be available to the public, so grab what you can while you can!
Outside the Daytona International Speedway our partner Mustang will be selling RSD seats and, for those venturing down to Bruce Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona, make sure to stop by the Performance Machine truck to get the all the RSD hard part goods, because everyone knows Daytona is the best excuse of the year to deck out your ride.