Edge Grip Podcast - Motorcycle Roadracing (Edge Grip Podcast - Motorcycle Roadracing)

Imad Samhat is the owner of Fastrack Riders - The premier SoCal track day organization.

In this episode we catch up with Imad to talk about the KTM RC 8C and the state of motorcycles and track days in general.

If you ever wanted to know how to get to a track day this is the episode for you.

Both Imad and Nabil compare their notes about the KTM exotica.

Visit Fastrack Riders on their website https://www.fastrackriders.com

Jeremy Toye is one bad dude. In addition to winning Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on his first attempt he was also on the podium at the Macau Grand Prix and was the fastest newcomer at a small race called the Isle of Man TT.

If all this doesn't impress you he survived racing with Gal Ratner at WSMC just by hitting the apexes.

As Crew Chief to Sean Dylan Kelly and Ashton Yates he used his extensive racing experience to develop both machines and riders.

Gal Ratner and Nabil Kabbani sit down for a conversation with the legendary motorcycle tuner Carry Andrew. Taking about various subjects like Rossi retiring, Motoamerica and when will Gal's bike be ready!

Hall of Famer Miguel Duhamel just wants to win. Whatever it takes. We set down with Miguel to talk about some of the notable milestones of his career including five wins at the Daytona 200 and his record 86 AMA career wins. Miguel also talks about the AMA rulebook, the development of modern superbikes and shares MotoGP and World Superbike stories.

In this episode we talk to motorcycle roadracing legend Eric Bostrom about his new company Backmate, the connection between gut bacteria and your health and also motorcycles.

Backmate is available on mybackmate.com

Bob Steinbugler is a walking encyclopedia of Motorcycles and the smartest guy in the room. He started his career designing futuristic tech for IBM while racing Italian exoticas on the side before he turned his full attention to becoming the US Bimota importer. His massive collection of over one hundred rare motorcycles is displayed in his NC museum. and his dealership Bimota Spirit is a Meca for Bimota enthusiasts everywhere.

In this episode we talk to Bob about his racing career, his work on some ahead of it's time tech and the future of technology and green energy.

Off course we also talk about Bimota!

You can reach Bob on his website: https://www.bimotaspirit.com/

Legend Chris Ulrich is running a Motoamerica race team, developing race parts and bikes for customers including world supersport, testing and writing for Roadracingworld magazine, raising money for the life saving Roadracingworld action fund and still finds time to chat with us about racing and life.

In this episode we talk to Ben Spies. A very fast Texan. This guy is just a class act. Ben shares some WSBK and MotoGP stories with us as well as some top secret riding techniques.

Show Notes:

• How to go around Willow Springs in the 1:17s
• How to go around Auto Club Speedway in Fontana in the 1:23's
• How to win a WSBK title
• The differences between Superbikes and MotoGP bikes
• Ducati Vs. Yamaha
• Motoamerica analysis
• MotoGP analysis
• Riding techniques

Jake Gagne is a multiple times MotoAmerica champion and he is just getting started. This guy obliterated his competition which include MotoGP and World Superbike riders.

He is also a nice guy and a great representative of the sport.

In this episode he breaks down his career and future plans, talks about what makes his YAMAHA R1 so special and gives out valuable advice.

Key takeaways:

• His early years and how important is the right training with the right machinery and instructors
• The methodology of adapting to new Motorcycles quickly
• Modern electronics and how to use it
• The European circuit compared to American Roadracing
• Wings on Motorcycles

Listen in as the champ prepares for the 2023 Racing Season!

Chuck Graves Builds championship winning motorcycles and his company Graves Motorsports of Van Nuys, California is the go to place to make your bike fast. Chuck competed for many years at the highest national level and ran his race team at the AMA/DMG/MotoAmerica with champion riders such as, Aaron Gobert, Jamie Hacking, Damon Buckmaster, Jason DiSalvo, Josh Herrin, Tommy Aquino, Cameron Beaubier, Garrett Gerloff, JB Beach and Josh Hayes.

In this interview Chuck recalls his WSMC days and explains why his nickname is, The King of Willow. He breaks down what it means to run a race team at the National level and where he thinks the sport is going.

Chuck talks about some of the wild and crazy machinery that came out of his shop, like the GSX-R1100, GSX-R900 and the R1/7 that was banned form AMA competition.

He also breaks down a lap of Willow Springs for us so this is your chance to learn from the king himself!

Check out Graves Motorsports for their huge catalog of aftermarket parts: https://www.gravesport.com 

Rennie Scaysbrook is a motorcycle journalist, racer, and author.

- He is the Road Test Editor at Cycle News, a weekly online magazine that covers motorcycle racing, news, and reviews

- He is the current record holder for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. He set the record in 2019 with a time of 9 minutes and 44 seconds on an Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory.

- He is a regular competitor in the Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association series, the Super Hooligan National Championship series, and the Isle of Man TT Races.

- He wrote and published a children's book called "The Big Book of Motorbikes", which introduces young readers to the world of motorcycles.

In this episode Rennie breaks down the 2024 bike lineup so if you are in the market for a new motorcycle you do not want to miss this.

Nick Ienatsch teaches us how not to embarrass ourselves on track days as well as staying alive on the street. This guy is as knowledgeable as he is handsome. Seriously he is our new man crush! This is information every rider should have.

Show notes:

• How to correctly enter a corner
• How to correctly exit a corner
• How to survive on the track
• How to survive on the street
• Why just talking about it just wont do. You need to practice in at the Yamaha School of Champions
• His new online coaching program

Visit The Yamaha Champions School at: ridelikeachampion.com

Ken Hill Is a riding coach with a client list that will make your head spin. A racer and instructor at the highest level, Ken spent the batter part of the last twenty years perfecting his craft of making you faster.

In this episode Nabil and Gal talk to Ken about his vast experience and get some important riding tips.

They discuss Chuckwalla Raceway as well as Willow Springs and answer some questions from the listeners.

Ken's website is: https://khcoaching.com/

Fastest American rider ever on the Isle of Man TT, Mark Miller recalls moments of his career as a professional Motorcycle Racer including riding for team such as TAS Suzuki, Speedfreak Ice Valley Racing, Jackson Racing, Penz 13.com BMW, TC Racing, Splitlath Motorsports Attack Performance, Corona Honda, Celtic Suzuki, MotoCzysz, EBR (Erik Buell Racing), Erion Honda, Graves Motorsports and Hypercycle.

Mark talks about legendary races he competed in such as the Northwest 200, Macau GP, Pikes Peak Hill Climb and more.

He also sures a few stories about his friend Michael Czysz and gives us some in depth analysis about the MotoGP season and Marc Marquez.

The winniset privateer, Dale spent 13 years racing in the AMA obtaining four championships. In 1988 winning the AMA Battle of the Twins Title and two AMA Endurance Championships. 

He Was part of two championship-winning AMA Endurance racing teams (Lockhart Racing in 1987 and Dutchman Racing in 1989 and 1990).

In 1993,  Dale placed 2nd in the AMA Superbike National Championship with team Mirage; including a historic AMA Superbike National win at Mid-Ohio (August 8th 1993) earning him the title of most successful privateer in the history of AMA road racing.

Dale is one of the few non-factory riders in series history to win an AMA Superbike race.

In this episode, Dale shares some unforgettable career moments with us as well as some important riding tips.

Motorcycle racing legend Josh Hayes takes some time off his busy schedule to talk to us about his career as a racer, a mentor and a dad. Listen as we cover some important topics such as the role of work ethics and leadership in his success, how is it to be married to another racer and is he really retired?

In this episode we talk to the Texas Tornado Colin Edwards about his time as a WSBK Champion and Valentino Rossi's teammate and partner in crime.

This brutally honest guy never holds back and shares some great behind the scenes stories

Show notes:

• A champion mindset
• Mountain climbing and arm pumping with Ben Bostrom
• Honda vs. Yamaha
• MotoGP Glory

Check out the Texas Tornado's Bootcamp here

Andy Leisner has been in the powersport industry for over 20 years.

Some of his accomplishments are:

• He Began riding motorcycles at the age of six
• Served as CEO of two electric vehicle companies: Rawrr and Volcon
• Senior VP, Managing Director–Bonnier Motorcycle Group
• Vice President–Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
• Managing partner at Hardcard Holdings -motorsports management and consulting firm specializing in motorsports and motorcycle related marketing.
• Board Member–Motorcycle Industry Council
• 1989 Motogp rider with Racing Team Katayama Honda RS250R

Andy led divisions and companies small to large with full P&L responsibility through mergers, acquisitions and IPOs.

You can reach Andy at: https://www.andyleisner.com/