Nitro Harley race coverage reportevent: PennGrade1 AMRA Cajun Nitro Nationalswhen: March 20-22, 2025where: No Problem Raceway, Belle Rose, Louisiana, USA For better or for worse, few forms of motorsport deliver as much on-track drama as Nitro Harley-Davidson motorcycle drag racing. While mourning the very fresh loss of one of their own, the tight-knit Nitro Harley community was able to celebrate the remarkable, painful comeback of another. It all happened at the PennGrade1 American Motorcycle Racing Association (AMRA) Cajun Nitro Nationals at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, Louisiana on March 20-22. Attempting to step up in class from her Pro Fuel bike, Hayley Caulk lost her life while testing a Nitro Funnybike the previous Sunday in Texas. She and her husband Craig were greatly missed in Louisiana as her fellow competitors raced in her honor. Johnny Mancuso’s Circle M Ranch Top Fuel One of those racers at this season opener is still very much healing from a thundering, bone-snapping accident at last October’s McClure Nationals season-ender. Finland’s Samu Kemppainen seemed likely to win the 2025 Johnny Mancuso’s Circle M Ranch Top Fuel championship until he went down hard in Rockingham’s downhill shutdown area. Out of view from the starting line, the complete extent of the damage that Samu incurred was still being learned as he showed his raw skin and many places that bones had seen light and felt air on all four corners of his body. On the plus side, his constantly aching left arm (“It wakes me up every hour all night, every night”) is out-of-mind, out-of-pain for those six to seven seconds it takes his bike to run the quarter mile. “It was only five weeks ago that the doctor gave me the OK to start working on my arms at full strength, and two weeks ago I called Chris (Stewart) to say that I might be able to ride if the bike was fixed,” said Samu. If Samu wasn’t completely healed from the crash, neither was his bike. Chassis fabricator Mike Mullaney reworked the frame’s steering neck just in time for the bike to be reassembled at No Problem Raceway, and built new wheelie bars that were delivered to the track. “Luckily Chris, Spence Aguilar, Mike Romine and Mike Mullaney got the bike together in the last week. We still had some finishing touches done on the track and got the Racepak working with the parts Sushi (fellow racer Juha Hintukainen) brought from Florida.  “The first two test rides were spent adjusting the new wheeliebars and getting myself back into the riding feel, but then we started to find the right setup.”  First round of qualifying for this class (and the others) was pretty much like the first round of the first race of the season is every year—a lot of struggles as riders and tuners try to find the track, their motorcycles, and their nerve.  By the time qualifying was over, it was obvious that times and speeds would be below average. Gapping the field by far was 2025 rookie sensation Paul Anderson with a 6.45 at 215 miles per hour.  Samu’s Chris Stewart Racing teammate Jordan Peterson was second with a 6.62 at 199, followed by the Finn himself at 6.63/204. Qualified fourth was the interesting new combination of former 2X NHRA champ Tii Tharpe and Red Rhea’s “Long Train a Runnin’” bike. That Red Rhea power has always been a handful, and since he lengthened the bike 13 inches (to 108) to manage that, results haven’t gotten much better. “I’m gonna be the one that gets this bike down the track!” exclaimed Tharpe. It would be an understatement to say that the seemingly retired rider has returned with renewed vigor and a chip on his shoulder. “Red has the cleanest constructed and well-kept motorcycle. He also has the longest….It’s gratifying to watch skeptics become followers…” 2024 winner Rickey “Sharkey” House struggled to just keep his bike running, but got down the track with a 7.16 in Q3 that placed him sixth. Sandwiching Sharkey were Bad Apple Racing’s Jimmy “Mac” McMillian and Cameron “Flash” Gunter in fifth and seventh, respectively. McMillian was coming back from a comeback. Last season both he and his bike were rebuilt from running off the end of North Florida into the woods the year before. He was faring well, but his bike had developed an appetite for destruction. Would his bike behave in 2026? “Still unsure if we solved all the combustion retention issues we suffered last season, we rolled into NPR with the simple hope of just making an A to B pass, which we made happen right out of the trailer,” said McMillian. It was lazy but it’s a start, and we started the process of adding fuel and clutch, moving timers and ignition, and trying our best to listen to what our engine was asking for.  “We were lean, and even though I was commanding more fuel pressure, we weren’t seeing it consistently. We were destroying spark plugs and needed to get more fuel in it before it let the combustion outside again.  “We clipped an exhaust valve with some broken spark plug porcelain in Q2, so pulled the rear head to replace it. Q3 it felt like it spun the tire at half-track and I lifted. We found a broken front head bolt and that head had to come off to extract the broken half of that head bolt.  “We also have a new clutch flow control and have been struggling to get it to release on time. The clutch pressure curve looked excellent, but it was just happening two seconds too late. Little by little we started backing out the adjustment to allow more fluid to pass, thus allowing a quicker release—a process that needs slow adjustments. This very control valve adjustment is what nuked my engine here last year.” Bringing up the rear of the field in ninth was Hawaiian Spence Aguilar, but in eighth was a most interesting new Top Fuel Harley rider.  Unless it’s a small percentage for kicks and giggles in one of his fleet of LS Chevy powered airboats, Louisiana alligator farmer Jerry Savoie has never ridden a nitro-powered anything until this weekend. The former NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion sold his team a few years ago and has been concentrating on his businesses since, with only occasional dips in the burnout box. Savoie has always cast a side-glance towards Nitro Harleys and was now at his local track to see what the smell and noise was all about. He jumped straight into the deep-end on a Steve Horne-owned, Mike Romine built-and-tuned Top Fuel Harley. Wearing his PSM gear that was not up to the abuse of flaming Nitro Harleys, the always determined Savoie would have to learn to swim quickly. Licensed Saturday night, a humble Savoie sounded a little overwhelmed by the violence of the bikes and size of the riders as he was walking to the staging lanes for E1 on Sunday. But as the lights came down with Samu in the other lane, Savoie’s killer instincts took over. His PSM-style .028 light left the Finn—who had flirted with redlighting in qualifying— firmly planted with a .193. Front wheel high in the air, Savoie was racing past his fears towards the finishline. “I didn’t pass him until 1000 feet,” said Samu, who crossed the line with a 6.53 at 212 mph. Savoie had eased out to a 6.78 at 169.  “It’s a whole different animal compared to a Pro Stock Bike,” Jerry said after the race. “Pro Stock Bike, you know, the hit is the hardest thing, and then second, third gear. But after that, you don’t feel it pulling like just, just—this thing is not an animal, this thing is a beast! Once it just starts going into high gear, it is pulling really hard.  “I think the Pro Stock class has taught me as far as reaction time, trying to be good. I shut it off right after the eighth mile, it started to drift off a little bit. But here’s the deal—it’s not my motorcycle, and I have enough respect for whoever I’m working with that I’m not going to wreck anything or take any chances just to win a race. That’s just me by nature, and I just shut it off, and he came around me. “But this Top Fuel is totally different than Pro Stock. Everybody’s family. I mean, everybody, they all out here, sharing things, cooking, whatnot. Pro Stock is secretive. You know, I’m not knocking any sanctions or whatever, but this is sweet.” And no politics. “No, not at all. You know, when I made the pass, they (Gary and GT Tonglet) got down there (to the top end) and asked ‘Was he smiling?’ And they were like, ‘Man, that boy was smiling and the talking,’ they said, ‘If you got a smile and excitement out of Jerry Savoie, he must have liked it!’ “Anyway, it’s a pleasure to be out here. And who knows where this leads. Every pass you learn a little more, and I’ve always been one wanting to want to learn and not think that I know it all. It was fun.” Anderson’s 6.48 bye run was quickest of the round. Tharpe also had a bye when Gunter no-showed. Peterson beat Aguilar, and McMillan beat Sharkey. “Sunday morning we pulled the BDK—that’s what we call our fuel pressure regulator—and it was not closing all the way, preventing the pressure we needed to hit our target pressure,” reported McMillan. “Replaced the BDK, got our pressure back, but noticed the rear cylinder was not as hot during the warm-up. We leaked it down and it was at 65% leakage. Ten percent is the limit on most engines. Not something we wanted to see and not something we could fix at the moment. So knowing we’d be down on power, we locked and loaded for round one with fingers crossed.  “E1 was against Sharky, who I faced in the finals at NPR a couple years ago, also on a hurt engine and he got the win. This time my .020 light got me out in front and was enough to make it to round two. “E2 we line up against the number one qualifier Paul Anderson, who was on point this weekend. My .025 light wasn’t enough for his .017 light and he got out a couple of bike lengths on me at the hit and stayed there.  “Seems we never got that flow control moving quick enough but we are moving in the right direction. It was a great weekend, we got down the track again, learned more about our new systems, and got to take our bike home in one piece.  “I want to thank my wife Stacey Mac (who made some great passes on her Pro Fuel bike) and my crew—Mike, Jason and Jake. Also my team—Tracy Kile, Bad Apple Mary, Cameron, Jon Wayne, Soup, and the rest of the Bad Apple Nation.  “Shout out to Jordan Peterson for the 25¢ track side welding repair. Special thanks to Chris at Daytona Twin Tec for their support and my team at Universal Technical Institute for helping to make this happen.” Peterson had a round two bye, while Samu raced around Tharpe before getting his own bye in the semis. Anderson raced past Peterson to set-up an epic final with the Finn.  Samu was exceptional at the tree with an .014 to Anderson’s .057. Down track it was very close, with Samu’s 6.56 at 210 edging Paul’s 6.57/216. “What a great weekend and I don’t even know where to start!” said Samu. “Making it to the final and narrowly beating a good friend and always-fast Paul Anderson is much more than I dared to dream of in my wildest dreams! I would have been happy just to know that I can ride again. 27 broken bones from the crash left their mark and I felt like I had been run over by a car after the race, but I’m sure I’ll be in better shape for the next race.  “After the race, we spent a couple of days with Mikko (crewman Mikko-Ville Kalevi) in New Orleans, and Tim Hailey stayed to show us his former hometown—you could write a whole story about that. Thanks Tim!  “I also want to thank Greg and Julie Baugh of AMRA for a great race. Thanks to SPTR OY, Chris Stewart Racing, Romine Racing, and Spencer and his family for getting the bike in shape. A thousand thanks to the pit crew—Peterson Racing, CJ Design, Casey Jo, Jordan, Phil Lower, Jennie, Patty Romine and the visiting mechanics from Finland—Make Lantto, Kaapo, Sushi, Ville and Mikko-Ville! I’m already looking forward to the next race in Ohio, see you there.” When asked why he was racing at quarter mile AMRA instead of the eighth mile IHRA race the same weekend in North Carolina, Anderson responded “I like to go FAST! “We had a great start to the season,” Paul continued. “Qualified first in Top Fuel, ran the two best times of the weekend, won every round up to the finals. But, alas, lost by a blink of an eye to my nemesis from Stewart Racing, Samu of Finland—a great competitor and friend.  “A win is tough and has been elusive, but we will work hard and keep grinding away until the day it happens. Special thanks to teammate John Terry for all the hard work and thank you all for your support.” Armon Furr Racing Nitro Funnybike The Armon Furr Racing Nitro Funnybike class boiled down to former champ Jim Doyle and class newcomer Ken “Stubby” Hultman. Doyle had a bye to the final while Stubby raced around Walter Halonski to advance. Phillip Crouch entered the event but didn’t record a time. Stubby put up a strong .066 reaction time against number one qualifier Doyle, who drove around with a 7.24 at 186 to Hultman’s 7.43/168.  “NPR has never been a problem for us,” said Doyle, who might reconsider that comment when he takes the long drive to and from Massachusetts into consideration. “Raced there twice with Doc Flynn helping and won both times. “I see this class expanding this year with some new riders to help keep it interesting and challenging, while putting on a great show. I look forward to the rest of the season and making my bike run better. Just dialing in my clutch. Tried something new which got me going in the right direction. See you in Ohio.” “You never know about running nitro,” said Stubby. “Sometimes it’s good to ya while other times it’s a battle. This race was a team battle keeping two bikes rolling.  “Testing on Friday went well. My new rider Ian Newell on my Pro Fuel bike is working at licensing while I too am becoming acquainted with Funnybike. During qualifying both bikes decided we need more practice working on them—ha!  “I snuck in qualifying, but it cost me. Q1 I found myself running backwards down the track waving my arms so no one came down after me, running over two of my push rods that were destroyed, which were found in my lane. Q2 I did further damage to a lifter and camshaft, which caused me to miss Q3.  “After 3 pushrods, a front head rocker, and a camshaft, I was surprisingly able to meet Jim Doyle in the finals. My first race of the season, first race in the Funnybike class, and the first race on this new bike. I was hot all weekend at the tree, running my best consistent reaction times. I got Jim at the light. As I powered down the track, I recall the bike was holding together and pulling good. At 5.5 seconds in I dropped a hole—no Jim. I kept pushing. Then at the finishline, Jim showed me his front tire and crossed ahead of me. It was tight, with a win margin of .138. “It’s the excitement that fuels the nitro addiction. It sets the hook. Running the numbers below the decimal.” Halonski long ago caught that nitro addiction. “Had a great time at No Problem Raceway for the season opener,” said Walter. “Was running a Pro Fuel bike in Nitro Funnybike. We’re putting the big injected motor in, but haven’t got that far yet. Qualified well, went out in the semifinal. Didn’t tear anything up. Good weekend.” Hawaya Racing Pro Fuel  Hawaya Racing Pro Fuel was short a few racers at NPR as parts shortages kept some bikes unassembled. One racer who tried new, bigger carburetor bowls was champion Bad Apple Mary” Dangrow, who eventually had to ditch them for the old ones in Q3. “We are trying some new things on the bike this year and while doing that is planned, the hope is that things will improve. However, Friday during testing a rod broke and shot up through the piston and ended my testing on the first pass. The team worked hard that evening to fix the bike so we were ready to qualify on Saturday morning.  “After making a few tune up changes between both rounds, Q1 and Q2 both ended with spinning the tire at the hit. We went into Q3 last on the qualifying sheet, so we reversed some of the changes that we had made over the winter and returned to a reliable tune-up to get me from point A to point B hoping for a good ET. We were very happy when we ran a 7.32 (at 168) taking the number one qualifier spot.” Mary was followed by Jim “Bad Influence” Martin with a 7.48 (also at 168), Loren Potter with a 7.50/166, Sam White with a 7.54/171, John Jenkins at 7.78/159, Kaiser Heidt at 8.08/161, and Kyle Rogers at 8.15 at 155. “Leaving everything pretty much the same we came out in E1 having a bye run and ran a 7.29,” continued Mary. Heidt took out Potter, Martin defeated Rogers, and White raced past Jenkins. “As the ladder fell, we had Sam in the semi,” added Mary. “He is always a tough person to race against. We won that round running a 7.34. With the bike slowing down a bit we suspected we had a hurt motor, but went with it as it was.  In the other semi, Martin and Heidt left together, but Martin’s bike was able to leg it out to a 7.46 while Heidt dropped off to a 7.88. That set up an all-Bad final between “Bad Influence” Martin and “Bad Apple Mary.” “In the final against Jim Martin, I knew I needed to hit the tree hard. Our reaction times were very close (.002 between them), and I could see him out of my peripheral. It was a good race until I got out of the groove down track and spun the tire. Watching him pull away at that moment and not wanting to end the race like we started it with a blown-up motor, I closed the throttle and watched Jim fly down the track. I had been undefeated for over a year and that ended at that moment but, if it had to come to an end, I’m glad it was Jim.” “It was a thrill to be able to perform well enough to take the season opener,” said Martin, whose hasn’t won in a few years but did win a Cajun Nationals in 2022.  Most of the races won the last two years have new ECUs like Maxx, but Martin is “Still running the Dynamic S ignition.” When asked if he had anyone to thank, Jim replied “I guess not. I do everything myself! “I will be looking forward to completing with the other talented teams and chasing future successes,” finished Jim. Mary, of course, had the whole Bad Apple team to thank—including Big Bad Apple Tracy Kile. “Thank you to Jon Wayne Stephens, Daryl ‘Supe’ Campbell, and Cameron Gunter for working alongside Tracy to get my bike back together after Friday’s testing catastrophe.  “Thank you Stacey McMillan for keeping us all fed with the absence of our Chef’s Randy and Brenda Jackson, and to Jake Anderson, Jimmy McMillan, Jason Shurtz, and Michael Hopkins for stepping in wherever they were needed.  “Most of all, thank you to Tracy for all the hard work over the winter and at this race to make sure I get down the track and for supporting my racing program at the AMRA races this year. I also want to thank Fairview Tavern, Capone Landscape, Vanson Leathers, American Rebel Lite Beer, CJ Designs, Trick Works LLC, and the Bad Apple Nation for their support in 2026.  “The weekend didn’t end like we had hoped, ending my winning streak, but overall we were happy getting number one qualifier and making the final. We have some ideas we will be testing this year to push this bike to its full potential, so time to start a new streak. Stay tuned! Gas Classes Gas Harley winners were Nick Boey in Zipper’s Performance Pro Bagger and Thundermax Street Bagger, Billy Doherty in Pro Outlaw, Cody Hayworth in Zipper’s Performance Modified and Top Eliminator 9.30, Jimmy Smith in Huffman Performance Super Gas 9.90, Chad Caplinger in BK Electric Super Pro 10.30, John Powers in Thundermax Street Eliminator 11.50 and S&S Cycle Pro Eliminator 10.90, and Bryce Creek in Baker Drivetrain Eliminator. Next race for the AMRA Harley drags is the Ohio Nitro Nationals on May 1-3 at Darana National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Ohio. Brought to you by Bad Apple Racing, Hawaya Racing, Johnny Mancuso’s Circle M Ranch, Armon Furr Racing, and Fairview Tavern This report was prepared by Tim Hailey. Enjoy everything there is to read, see and watch about motorcycle drag racing and more at https://www.eatmyink.com The post Rebound Weekend for Nitro Harleys at No Problem appeared first on Bikernet.com - Online Biker Magazine.

New Harley-Davidson® Double Adjustable and Piggy Back ShocksManufactured to a Standard, Not A Price After a great time at Daytona Bike Week, we’re taking the trailer back out on the road. Suspension Technologies will be at the 29th Annual Leesburg Bike Fest April 24–26, 2026 and we’re bringing our latest RTS Performance shocks and offering Free Installation. Stop by our booth, schedule a drop-off time, and go enjoy everything Leesburg has to offer while we install your new Rear Shocks or Front Fork Cartridges. Come back ready to ride with a completely transformed Harley. SuspensionTechnologies.com 8Fifty Speed Shop (Panama City Beach) HEY PANAMA CITY BEACH!! Jason is headed to Thunder Beach on April 30th – May 2nd and will be at 8Fifty Speed Shop ready to talk all things suspension. Whether you’re dialing in your ride or just have questions, he’s got you covered, and he may even have a few exclusive deals for you. Stop by, hang out, and get your setup right. NEW PRODUCT ALERT!!!! ORDER NOW!!!! Suspension TechnologiesHarley-Davidson® Double Adjustable and Piggy Back Meet the new standard in Harley suspension. The all-new RTS Double Adjustable Canister and Piggy-Back Rear Shocks from Suspension Technologies deliver aerospace-level precision, race-proven performance, and more adjustability than anything in their class. Aircraft-grade billet aluminum 35 rebound & 28 compression adjustments Hand-assembled, dyno-tested, race-proven Hard-anodized, durable, and damn good looking Built to perform. Built to last. Built to dominate. Order Now! The post Manufactured to a Standard appeared first on Bikernet.com - Online Biker Magazine.

Not even street gangs have this many rules when it comes to motorcycle clubs! In this straight-talking biker discussion, we break down how MC Protocol has exploded over the last 10 years into hundreds of made-up rules that real club members often laugh at. Back in the day, motorcycle club life was simple: common sense, being a man, and just three core rules that could get you kicked out — don’t sleep with a brother’s old lady, don’t do needles, and don’t steal. Everything else? Just live the life with respect and loyalty. No rocket science, no internet “experts” telling you how to act in every situation. Today, social media and faceless AI biker channels are flooding the scene with endless motorcycle club protocol advice, turning simple brotherhood into a laundry list of nonsense. Many of these self-proclaimed experts have barely finished prospecting, yet they’re preaching rules that have zero bearing on actual club life. Worse, outsiders and new prospects are buying into it, and some of that fake protocol is even creeping into real bylaws. We talk the real truth here — no subliminal shots, no hustle disguised as support. Real biker news calls it like it is, whether clubs do something right or stupid. If you’re thinking about joining an MC, skip the YouTube protocol lectures. Go meet brothers in person the old-school way: show up, introduce yourself, ride, party, and let things happen naturally. Don’t ask how to join on day one — earn trust the right way. Once you’re in, you’ll see most of that online stuff is just noise. Bikers Channels Lying {MC Protocol Is About Making Cash} PAGANS MC BEAT 70YR OLD MAN Devils Dirt Road By Outlaw Paul Freedom Or Commitment RC VS MC From The Club To Skid Row

Hey, I went to dinner with some excited folks. I now own a Captain America and Billy bike built by Mil Blair and refurbished in 2019. We decided to go get ’em and film the ride back to Sturgis. This group included our new girl in Sturgis, her husband and son. They were very excited and fulla ideas, but when I said, “Who’s going to organize this production?” They’re response was, “We thought you would handle it.” Holy shit, I started to make notes. The Redhead immediately researched Go-pro cameras and drones. We will jump in our Nissan hightop van, hook up the trailer and drive, maybe in May. We will load up tools, points, fresh batteries and go find our bikes. And we need to have them titled in South Dakota. We finished dinner in the Knuckle Saloon, then stepped into the next massive room where we watched the indoor bull-riding action. We’ve been twice and it was packed, even if it was snowing outside. Here’s my Lithium story. Lithium batteries scare me. I’ve read a lot of stories of fires. When Randy tuned the King bike he recommended a Lithium battery. I pulled it as we made modifications and I rewired the King Chopper built by the ten greats for the Biker Build-Offs in the ’90s. Last weekend I stuck it back in and attempted to fire the beast. It wasn’t happy and I may have smoked that battery. I dug around and discovered a ground wire that slipped off the bolt before it fully attached. That ground wire made all the difference. Then I researched charging Lithium batteries and Grok vs. standard batteries. Seems there is a difference and it’s good to have a Lithium charger. Also Groked charging from your alternator vs. cell batteries. You need to read this. So, I pulled one battery, but recently someone gave me this 400 amp Lithium. I finally unwrapped it and was blown away by the quality. Maybe tonight I’ll install it and give it a go. Something else came up recently. Two brothers, industry leaders have come down with Parkinsons disease. It’s nasty, and I happen to know another brother who recently had an implant operation. It relieved all his Parkinsons symptoms. I hooked everyone up. It’s amazing what happens, when you find the correct resources. Let’s hit the news: EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY COMING–The Motorcycle Industry Needs to Prepare. Battery and packaging laws being enacted state by state could require manufacturers, distributors, and/or dealers to fund and manage recycling programs for products they sell. The policy model behind these laws is known as Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR. It shifts some end-of-life management costs from governments to producers, and in practice can mean mandatory participation in stewardship organizations, reporting requirements, registration with state agencies, and financial contributions tied to covered products. “Companies selling in multiple states should assume this warrants review,” said Scott Schloegel, MIC Senior Vice President of Government Relations. “The right time to understand exposure and ways to address new EPR laws is before implementation deadlines arrive.” MIC will examine battery stewardship and the broader expansion of EPR policy during an upcoming symposium on Extended Producer Responsibility, featuring MIC’s Government Relations team and experts from Redwood Materials. The session will take place on April 9 at 10 a.m. PDT (1 p.m. EDT) and is free for MIC members ($50 for non-members). Learn more and register here. –MIC DIRECT FROM COMPETITION DISTRIBUTING–Kickstarts & Chronicles: The Forgotten Racer Who Won 7 International Motorcycle Titles, Ray Tauscher Article From ADV Rider If you’ve never heard of Ray Tauscher, you are not alone.  Ray was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1905.  He grew up on Portland’s local streets.  In high school, he was a multi-sport athlete.  Ray competed in weightlifting, wrestling, and golf, ultimately becoming a weightlifting champion. As an early 20th-century “thrill seeker,” Ray and his brother Jack enjoyed attention from the media for stunts like skydiving and motorcycle polo.  But in 1920, Ray began riding motorcycles in earnest.  Inspired by the racing at a local 1/2-mile dirt track called the Gresham Speed Bowl, by 1923, Ray was entering local speedway races.  That year, he went on to win the regional championship. With that title under his belt, Ray was recruited in 1929 by the London Star newspaper to travel and race motorcycles in England.  Once there, Ray set a new one-lap speed record at Wembley stadium of 36.81 mph. In December of 1930, Ray won the World Dirt Track Derby in Brisbane, Australia, at the Davies Park Speedway.  Then, in 1931, Ray went on a winning tear. On February 14, 1931, he entered and won the Australian Solo Championship at the Wayville Showground in Adelaide, Australia.  Returning to England, he stunned the speedway racing world by winning the Star Speedway Rider’s Cup at Wembley stadium in front of 80,000 cheering fans. Not to be stopped, Ray continued racing against Europe’s best riders.  That year he won the German, French, Danish, and Italian championships.  By this time, Ray’s accomplishments become well known.  His skills are noted throughout the European press, which credits him with four international championship titles in a 12-month period. Eric Granado TWO WINNERS, INTENSE BATTLES AND HISTORY MADE AT BAGGER WORLD CUP OPENER IN AUSTIN– The opening round of the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup delivered intense on-track battles and dramatic moments at the Circuit of the Americas, as the new global championship in partnership with MotoGP officially came to life alongside the MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas. Both the races of the weekend were fought until the final laps, producing the first two winners in the history of the category. Archie McDonald (Joe Rascal Racing) claimed victory in Race 1 on Saturday, while Oscar Gutiérrez (Niti Racing) secured the win in Race 2 on Sunday. Travis Wyman Race 1 At the start of the first race in championship history, young Australian Archie McDonald launched perfectly from the grid, getting the better of teammate Eric Granado, who had secured pole position in qualifying with a lap time of 2:12.387. The battle between the two intensified at mid-race, with Granado taking the lead after a mistake from McDonald. However, the Australian responded shortly after, reclaiming the position when Granado lost the front under braking and dropped back through the field. Jake Lewis (Saddlemen Race Development) delivered a strong and consistent ride to take second place, showcasing experience and control across the race distance, while Filippo Rovelli (ParkinGO Team) secured third with a composed and disciplined performance to round out the podium. Cory West Race 2 McDonald and Granado were once again protagonists at the start of Race 2, with the Australian repeating his strong launch off the line. The two Joe Rascal Racing riders immediately set a fast pace, but were unable to break away from Oscar Gutiérrez (Niti Racing), who steadily increased his rhythm lap after lap. The Spanish rider closed the gap and executed two clean overtakes to take the lead, going on to secure victory at the checkered flag. On lap five, Gutiérrez also set a new benchmark for the category at the Austin circuit with a time of 2:12.348, establishing both the race lap record and the all-time lap record for the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup at Circuit of the Americas. Second at the finish line was Archie McDonald, but a three-second penalty for failing to complete the prescribed Long Lap after twice exceeding track limits dropped the Australian to third in the final classification, promoting Eric Granadoto second. Dimas Ekky Jeffrey Schuessler – Director of Global Racing Programs, Harley-Davidson “This weekend delivered exactly what we set out to build. Close racing, battles decided in the final laps, and riders pushing these machines to the limit from the very start. The level of competition showed up immediately, and that’s a strong indication of where this championship is headed. We also saw different riding styles coming together on track, with riders finding their own way to be fast on these bikes. That created some really interesting race dynamics and showed how competitive and adaptable this grid already is from the first round. What’s been especially powerful is the global nature of the championship, with riders and teams from different parts of the world coming together to be part of something new. That’s a significant step forward for the series. And then there’s the emotion. You feel it in the sound, the torque, and the presence of these bikes on track. It’s raw, it’s different, and it’s real. This is not just racing. We’re building something new here, a global platform that brings a different kind of energy to the MotoGP stage and connects with fans in a way that is authentic to Harley-Davidson.” Archie McDonald – Joe Rascal Racing Filipo Rovelli Race 1 Winner “History. That’s the first word that comes to my mind. It was the first race in the history of the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup, and I took the first win, hopefully the first of many. I’m really happy. There has been a lot of preparation behind this project, from myself, the team and Harley-Davidson, so this result feels amazing. I had a strong start, even if leading early wasn’t ideal. Granado passed me after a mistake, I stayed with him, and then he made a mistake and I took the lead again. My plan was to wait until the final laps to make a move, but in the end I didn’t need to. I’m sorry about Eric’s crash, as it’s not the way I wanted to win, but I’m still enjoying the moment. I’m really proud of my team and Harley-Davidson for making history with me, and I thank them all.” Oscar Gutiérrez – Niti Racing Race 2 Winner “I’m very happy with this win. We did a great job regaining our focus after Race 1, and this was the best way to finish the Austin weekend. Already this morning I felt we had the potential to do it. I had a great feeling with the bike from the sighting lap and told my team that today was the right day. During the race I took my time to study Archie and Eric in front of me and understand where I could attack them. Then there was a moment when I clearly felt stronger, so I decided to increase the pace and make my moves. It’s a great victory, but we need to keep working well because the championship may look short, but it is still long with many races to go. We are already looking ahead to Mugello and continuing on this path. One area where I still need to improve is the start. At the beginning of the race I had to push to recover because McDonald and Granado started very strong. But I knew that if I stayed calm I could come back, and that’s what I did. I stayed patient for a couple of laps, then when I felt I had more pace I made the overtakes and in the end took a win that makes me very happy.” Following the opening round, Archie McDonald leads the championship standings with 41 points, ahead of Oscar Gutiérrez and Jake Lewis, both on 33 points. Cody Wyman Championship Standings: Archie McDonald (AUS) – 41 (25 / 16) Oscar Gutiérrez (SPA) – 33 (8 / 25) Jake Lewis (USA) – 33 (20 / 13) Eric Granado (BRA) – 30 (10 / 20) Filippo Rovelli (ITA) – 27 (16 / 11) Cory West (USA) – 23 (13 / 10) Travis Wyman (USA) – 11 (11 / -) Cody Wyman (USA) – 9 (9 / -) Dimas Ekky Pratama (INA) – 9 (- / 9) The next round of the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup will take place at the Mugello International Circuitduring the MotoGP Grand Prix of Italy, from May 29–31. LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK–2022 Harley-Davidson Nightster for Sale Newer and better than before the Revolution motor makes this Nightster one to be unforgotten! Stock# 14322A 2022 Harley Davidson Nightster RH975 with 7,715 miles! There’s no room for error on this 2022 Nightster and Lifestyle Cycles is just waiting for the right person to come through our doors and ride off with one badass bike! * 19-Inch Front and 16-Inch Rear Satin Black Wheels * 975 CC Revolution Max Motor * Liquid Cooled * Mid Controls * Wrinkle Black 2 into 1 Exhaust * Low Profile 27-Inch Seat * Brembo Front and Rear Brakes * Stock Rear Adjustable Suspension * Showa 41 Millimeter Dual Bending Forks * 4-Inch TFT Display with added features such as Bluetooth, USB port, and Safety Display Settings This bike is only $7,495.00 Plus license, $85.00 documentation fee, and local sales tax. NO HIDDEN FEES like some dealers. And we have no reconditioning or prep fees. This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 92-point safety/mechanical/structural inspection.This motorcycle has not been refurbished and does not come with any warranty expressed or implied! EXTENDED WARRANTIES are available! Fill out an online application today. We have EZ FINANCING Lifestyle Cycles is located at 1510 State College Blvd,Anaheim,CA,92806. Open 7 days a week. NOT LOCAL? WE HAVE SHIPPING AVAILABLE! Call today (714) 490-0155. Huge selection of Street Glides, Road Glides, Road Kings, Ultras, Sportsters, Softails, Dynas, and much more! We are California’s pre-owned Harley Mega-Store with over 200 Pre-Owned Harley-Davidsons in stock! To view our current inventory, Please visit www.LifestyleCycles.com or www.facebook.com/LifestyleCyclesUsedHarleys/ PAUL SMITH HEADING INTO THE HALL OF FAME– Paul Smith is the graphic designer whose visionary work permanently shaped the visual identity of Harley-Davidson and defined the imagery of American motorcycling. In 1974, while working as a freelance artist commissioned by AMF/Harley-Davidson, he created the Eagle on the Bar-and-Shield, a bold fusion of Americana and Harley heritage that has become one of the most recognizable motorcycle graphics in the world. Originally designed for the 1976 Bicentennial Liberty Edition motorcycles, Smith’s creation transcended its initial purpose, coming to symbolize the company’s brand throughout the critical “buy-back” years and continuing to influence its image today. Smith operated his own art studio beginning in 1964 and maintained an independent freelance career through 2014, contributing numerous graphics and illustrations to Harley-Davidson over three decades. His freelance status reflects both his independence as an artist and the breadth of his professional career. The Eagle graphic became far more than decoration; it evolved into an international symbol of freedom, appearing across Harley-Davidson products, corporate branding, advertising, and enthusiast culture and even permanently inked on riders worldwide. Through a single, iconic design, Paul Smith embedded Harley-Davidson into the global visual landscape and helped cement its legacy as “The Great American Freedom Machine.” His work not only defined an era of corporate resurgence but also created one of the most enduring and recognizable trademarks in motorcycling history. A long-time member of the Uglys Motorcycle Club, Smith’s connection to motorcycle culture extends far beyond the studio and into the riding community itself. “We must have ideals and try to live up to them, even if we never quite succeed. Life would be a sorry business without them.”—Lucy Maud Montgomery THE LATEST FROM BAKER DRIVETRAIN– The BAKER Comptimizer Heavy-Duty Compensator Spring Your drivetrain is only as strong as its weakest link. Introducing the BAKER Comptimizer Heavy-Duty Compensator Spring—an American-made upgrade designed to optimize power delivery for 2007-later Softail and Touring models, as well as 2006-2017 Dynas*. For just $69.95, this heavy-duty outer spring provides the increased torsional absorption capacity needed to handle real-world torque and horsepower, resulting in a quieter, more refined ride for both stock and performance-built machines. To get the most out of this upgrade, we recommend installing the Comptimizer before excessive wear develops on your OEM sprocket or outer ramp. While it’s the perfect way to enhance performance and increase longevity on your Big Twin, it’s designed to support and protect healthy components rather than revive failed assemblies. The BAKER Advantage: Smoother Ouieter Operation: Precision-engineered to control excess compensator free play and resulting shudder during take-off Confident Starts: Controls initial “wind up” for cleaner, more reliable starting performance with less kickback Maximum Durability: Minimizes wear on sprocket and ramp when combined with serviceable components Direct Upgrade: A simple, cost-effective replacement for the OEM outer spring (83936-09A). Easy to install: Simply replaces the outer spring. Made in the USA: Quality American-made part. PROGRESSIVE AMERICAN FLAT TRACK NEWS– sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, today announced Memphis Shades as the entitlement sponsor of the Ventura Short Track on April 25 and the presenting sponsor of Nashville Short Track on June 6. The Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track brings flat track to Ventura Raceway on April 25, delivering the world’s best motorcycle riders to the ocean front property. The Nashville Short Track presented by Memphis Shades will take the series to Sons of Speed Nashville Short Track on June 6, bringing bar-to-bar racing to one of the series’ most vibrant markets. “Memphis Shades is excited to be part of American Flat Track. From supporting riders to being trackside, we believe in the impact racing has on the motorcycle community,” said Hillary Combest, Director of Sales and Marketing. “We’re proud to return as a sponsor of the Ventura Short Track and to be part of the Nashville Short Track in our home state of Tennessee this summer. We’re looking forward to both events and continuing to support the sport and its riders.” Memphis Shades is known for its American-made motorcycle windshields and fairings, with a reputation built on quality craftsmanship and rider-focused design. Its continued investment in Progressive American Flat Track reflects a shared commitment to performance and the motorcycling community. For more information about Memphis Shades, visit https://memphisshades.com/aft. Next Up The 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season continues with the Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track at Ventura Raceway on April 25. For tickets to Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track, visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-ventura-short-track-168769. THERE’S NEVER A DULL MOMENT– I have a mantra when it comes to Easyriders. It could be foolish, but it’s my mantra just the same. It’s basically the first cover we did, Forged in Freedom. We just received another shipment of these Easyriders key chains. They’ll be handed out at events all over the country. The most important element in life is to be able to create something bigger than ourselves. Like I explained to Paul James; Harley is way more than a manufacturing company making motorcycles. I believe Easyriders is way more than a magazine publishing company. It’s about a culture, the Code of the West, Freedom and romance. It’s not about just jobs, titles and money. It’s about a lifestyle that represents the open road, creativity and adventure. That’s why I’m here. I don’t give a shit if I make a dime, Easyriders needs to keep going and on the right path… We may have discovered John’s issue with shifting, the linkage. He replaced his goofy linkage he had with a re-pop replica. We’re getting close. In the meantime, ride free forever. –Bandit The post THE LITHIUM BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS–for April 2nd, 2026 appeared first on Bikernet.com - Online Biker Magazine.