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/1494803
NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT Not to be overlooked in the wake of the Mission SuperTwins-Pro- duction Twins merger is the fact that Royal Enfield doubled down rather than backed away when facing the prospect of sinking or swimming in a bigger pond. Shepherded by Moto Anat- omy's Johnny Lewis, Royal Enfield's Twins FT program has made some seriously impres- sive developmental gains throughout its existence, despite the inherent weaknesses of a race bike built out from a 650cc air-cooled parallel-twin stocker. More weight and less power is an ideal combination to saddle a race bike with from the start, but the Twins FT still managed to rack up a pair of Mission Production Twins victo- ries along with several podiums since its 2020 introduction. During that span, it has improved its power, agility and durability, while adding Miles to its repertoire after previously steering well clear. For 2023, the team will double its size to meet its premier-class ascension head-on, adding for- mer Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Champion Ryan Wells to the lineup alongside Lewis, while further growing the personnel supporting the expanded effort. Additionally, the bike's air- cooled mill is now better propped up by the rulebook, which allows it to run 40mm throttle bodies up to 900cc (as compared to 38mm for 801-900cc liquid-cooled pro- duction bikes). Johnny Lewis is back in business aboard the air-cooled Royal Enfield in Production Twins. That general trend is furthered in 2024, when only air-cooled en- gines will be allowed to exceed 800cc (again, up to 900cc). While facing stiffer competi- tion than ever, past evidence has demonstrated that Royal Enfield is more than capable of spring- ing a surprise when conditions are ripe. DELAYED GRATIFICATION This time last year, some openly speculated that the driving force behind the rulebook revolution was an attempt to entice Harley- Davidson back into the fold with hopes of both resurrecting its once-dominant factory effort and reinvigorating its expansive dealer network. Whatever the actual motivation, as successful as 2022 was in a multitude of ways, the series is still left waiting for Harley to re-enter the scene in a major way. That said, Harley-Davidson will not be without credible representation. While it has yet to produce as hoped in the premier class, the XG750R ultimately proved itself a genuine weapon in Mission FEATURE I 2023 AMERICAN FLAT TRACK SEASON PREVIEW P130