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P104 FEATURE I TURNER RACING HONDA TRANSALP FLAT TRACKER gram mirrored that of the team. He was given a race bike to ride at home over the off-season, with which he could better famil - iarize himself with a twin, while recommending and implement- ing changes through active and ongoing communication with the squad. "I learned a lot," Lowe said. "I found all the weak points that we would have throughout the season. I rode it at local races while trying to develop the thing. I pretty much got beaten by a lot of amateur kids and was barely even making main events. I have to admit, it was mentally really tough for me because even though we were developing the bike, I have a racer's mindset." The bulk of Lowe's remote work was done in conjunction with engine maestro Lozano and multi-time Grand National Champion Kenny Coolbeth, who joined the effort as team man - ager fresh from a stint working with Briar Bauman at Rick Ware Racing. both sides. The bike still needed a lot of development, and I had to learn how to ride in that class. "But even as early as Lake Ozark, everyone kind of seemed like we were leaning toward working together. 'Let's build this team up to become some- thing really special over the next couple years.'" Lowe's initial foray on the bike was anything but special. He finished one lap down and in 16th position. But it was not a wasted opportunity. "Basically, we figured out that our chassis did not work," Lamb said. "Trent said the whole time on it, it felt like it was trying to throw him off." Fortunately, Lowe's desire for an extensive off-season pro - consisting of a single Mission Production Twins race on a Ka- wasaki Ninja 650 back in 2021, along with a few local races completed on his dad's twin when he was a young racer. But he also came stocked with talent and a desire to step up to the premier class. That, along with experience racing for both Turner and Lamb, and the strong endorsement of Lozano, who wanted to put Lowe on the bike from the start. Lowe was hesitant about making the jump up the ranks with the crew at the start of the '24 season, fearing what would later prove to be a real - ity. But by the end of the year, he reassessed the situation and decided to make the leap, allow- ing both sides to feel things out before committing to a full-scale effort together in 2025. "I wanted them to take a year and try to develop it," Lowe said. "And I knew even if I made the deal with them for 2025, it was going to be a learning year on (Left) Ricky Graham's 1993 championship-winning Honda RS750. It was Honda's last flat track title in the premier class. (Right) The RS750's engine was based on a V-twin from the 1983-spec Euro-only XLV750R dual sport. Honda pulled the plug on flat track racing in 1996.