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/128331
--.wJIk--;-;----ningS~--;-;----Happe -;in M o t o r cy c li n g BUTT Il F STEEL Four days and five hours may not seem like a long time . However, if you 're planted on a Ducati Multistrada motorcycle, intent on breaking the Iron Butt Association's record for a north-to-sout h traverse of North America, it may be the longest 101 hours of your life. Gary Eagan of Salt Lake City, Utah , started his record run of nearly 7Soo miles in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, on Thursday, June 17. He left two days ahead of schedule because an approaching storm threatened to turn the first 500 miles of the trip south along the stretch of gravel and clay known as the Haul Road - into an impassable bog. But it wasn't the weather that nearly ended his run . Just hours into the trip on the lonely, deep graveled road owned by the A1yeska Pipeline Company, Eagan was run off the road by a truck 150 miles south of his starting po int. His Ducati Multistrada lost its fuel tank , custom windsh ield, one mirror and one saddlebag. Eagan broke his thumb and sprained his elbow In the encounter, but de termined to finish, he pressed on into Fairbanks, Alaska. From there he headed east toward British Colum bia, Canada, and then so uth to Kansas City, arriving early Sunday morning, June 20. There, Jim Koenig and his sta ff from Letko Competition Cycles helped repai r the damage to the Multistrada while Eagan slept for three hours. His bike repaired, Eagan then headed southeast, straight for Key West, Florida, arriving Monday evening , June 21 - four days and five hours later, breaking the existing record by an amazing 13 hours. "Without the help I received on Sunday, I just wouldn't have had a chance at the record," said Eagan. "l owe those two guys from Letko - Jim and Mario - a great big thank-you. As for the ride , I can say w ithout a doubt it was the hardest th ing I've ever done. Would I do it again? No , not ever. I just hope I can ho ld onto the record for a bit," Ridinga mechanically stock Ducati Multistrada with 20,000 trouble-free miles on its odometer, Eagan broke the year-old record held by Christopher Sakala, set riding a BMW R 1150 GS. The only alterations to Eagan's Ducati included the addit ion of a six-gallon auxiliary fuel cell, Ught Force driving lamps, a one-off windscreen (which was lost in the accident), and a custom seat crafted by Rich's Custom Saddles in Seattle. "Gary's record-setting ru n is a great testament to the hardiness, durability and re liability of the Multistrada ," said Michael Lock, CEO of Ducati North Ame rica. "Considering the damage done to the bike in the encounter with the truck, Gary 's achievement in just completing the course thoroughly demonstrated the Multistrada's quality construction and adaptabil ity. Setting the record under such circumstances was simple brilliant." A full report on Gary Eagan's exp loits, complete with photos, is available on the Ducati North America website at www.ducatiusa.com PHOTOS COURTESY OF DUCAT! 120 JUL 7, 200