The Other Other Daytona Race

Today, Daytona International Speedway played host to the climax of Daytona bike week with the running of the Daytona 200.  While the rules of the 200 have changed over time, the current 200 mile format saw 45 600cc 4-cylinder (or equivalent) motorcycles from Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Ducati, Buell, and Triumph battle both in the infield and on the high banks.  As the bikes sat pinging themselves cool, four riders knew they had given everything.  One had taken the checkers while the other three had lost out by a mere 0.048 seconds.  Here's how it all went down.

2011-2012 Silly Season Remix

Race season kicks off in just over a week with the Rolex Series 24 Hours at Daytona!!! Ya, we're revved up (every pun intended!)!  Okay okay, so we're not the biggest fans of the Rolex Series or Nascar, which both start the earliest of any series.  Who cares?!?!  Racing's back!  Here's a quick, semi-entertaining yet highly informative rundown of what happened in the off season with the series we do follow:

Why Do I Ride?

Ever since Danny Choy and I started Flappy Paddles Heads, I have wanted to write about why I ride motorcycles.  Since I got my license over five years ago, it seemed that I couldn't go a week without explaining my reasons, especially living in a very congested (read: dangerous for motorcycles) city like Boston.  Every time I sat down in front of the computer, I would start typing about feeling the temperature drop as I passed through the shadows of a tree line, the sweet smell of bread as a baker completed a tray of rolls as another is put in the oven, or the sight of a setting sun through my tinted visor as the sun's last warming rays and I parted ways for the short summer night.  Yet, these descriptions, while true, never felt complete.  Now, just over a month since I woke up to an empty parking space and with a 20/20 hindsight, I can finally convey what riding is to me while thanking my departed Daytona for showing me.

2006 Triumph Daytona 675 - stolen August 23, 2011