Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128167
Superbikers2 President Glenn Curtiss Then I got a bike, and got a few friends together, and we just started riding. Where did you ride? Parking lots, mostly, until we got in trouble. Then we figured, "Well, let's look for a track where we can ride." So we started riding on a gokart track up in Oshkosh. That was pretty tight, so we started looking for bigger stuff. How did you wind up at the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex at Road America? I knew that it was being built, so I made a phone call. I wouldn't say that the door got slammed, but... But then my wife does pet-sitting for the president of Road America, so we got in there that way. I showed him a couple of video clips that I had from Italy, and he was like, 'Wow!' He got pretty excited about it. He kept asking me, "How many people come to this?" Next thing you know, Jed's not a millionaire yet, but he's working on it (laughs). That's why you decided to get more organized and form Superbikers2? Well, yeah. Superbikers2 was put together because I needed a name to cover the LLC and keep Glenn Curtiss out of the package. If something were to go down that was bad, then they could take the money out of the Superbikers2 checkbook, but that was about it. How has it been going? At first it was like, "What did I get myself into?" But it has started to gradually pick up. People are talking more and more about it. Now I've got a few salesmen out there, walking and talking and going to local motocross events with the banner. I've also got to say that, if it were not for Gordy Lunde [from the Wegman Benefit], I probably would not know a lot of the people that are involved with me now. Gordy kept teasing me into thinking that he was going to have this type of racing going six years ago. Then he kept telling me that it was going to be the following year. After four years of his teasing, I decided I had to do something about it. Joey Jancoski is one of the people Gordy introduced to me early last year. He has played a really major part in the growth of this group. Joey has helped on the creating and maintaining of the Superbikers2 By AMA Superbike weekend this past June. It was there that the series entertained its largest crowds, as pop- SCOTT ROUSSEAU PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUPERBIKERS2 lenn Curtiss might not be the type of guy that you would expect to run an organization dedicated to the development of one of the hottest, fastest-paced forms of motorcycle racing in America. He's mild-mannered, honest and direct. Actually, take away the mild-mannered part, and Curtiss is right on course. As the head of Superbikers2, the 31-year-old Curtiss of Plymouth, Wisconsin, is one of the handful of promoters attempting to fan the flames of the American Supermotard movement by hosting his Supermotard Challenge Series in the Midwest. A former road racer from 1990-97, who "got sick of the tire bill," Curtiss is a self-proclaimed longtime Supermotard fan, who simply wants to do his part to help it grow in the States. The 2002 Superbikers2 season provided a nice boost in the form of a series of open exhibition dates on the beautifully laid-out Briggs & Stratton Motorplex kart track at Road America during the 26 AUGUST 14. 2002' 0: U 0: • e n e _ ular stars such as Kevin Schwantz, Doug Chandler. Mike Smith and Mike Hale made appearances on the hilly, twisty circuit located just inside The Carousel on the main road course. By Curtiss' account, it was a successful weekend, and one that he hopes will elevate the sport of Supermotard - and the Superbikers name - into the conscience of the motorcycle industry and motorcycle fans everywhere. What brought about the interest in Supermotard? I just kind of watched it. KTM came out with the Duke in '95 or '96, and I thought it was cooler than hell. I've been into it ever since. Also, I do remember the original Superbikers races on ABC back in the '80s. Kent Howerton was the man back then. Fonner 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz gave Roger Lee Hayden a ride during the victory lap after Schwantz won one of the exhibition main events. s