2016 HONDA CRF1000L AFRICA TWIN
RACER TEST
P108
ing and finding ways to pass the
time as we drove from pit stop
to pit stop.
A small crash for Mikami-san
resulted in a couple of little
tank dents but aside from that,
the Africa Twin was near brand
new when Campbell rode over
the finishing line in Reno. We'd
finished 73rd out of 111 bike and
quad competitors and seventh
in the Open Expert class, and
taken immense satisfaction from
the fact we'd just created a small
part of American history for the
Africa Twin.
STRENGTH OF SPIRIT
Most of the bike competitors had
gone home by the time Johnny
crossed the line, but we didn't
care. We'd taken an adventure
bike, but some numbers on it
and raced it in the longest, most
grueling off-road event in the
United States. And made it to the
finish, which is more than what
a lot of people thought would
happen.
The race was topped by Joan
Barreda, only the second man in
the race's 20-year history to win
it solo. The flying Spaniard and
his glorious factory HRC racer
completed the 600 miles in nine
hours and 59 seconds, eight
minutes clear of David Pearson's
KTM who in turn was the same
time clear of the Husqvarna of
Jacob Argubright.
Barreda's HRC teammate
Michael Metge didn't have the
best of runs after being handed
a half-hour penalty for working
on his bike after his wheel col-
lapsed on the first stage of day
one. Starting 26th, the French-
man hunted down 20 riders
in the choking dust to eventu-
ally finish the race in sixth. His
speed was such that if he didn't
suffer such bad luck on day one
he would have given Barreda a
real run for his money.
For us, the result didn't matter.
We made it to the end of the
Africa Twin's first race, and got
the finisher pin to prove it. That
alone made all the effort worth-
while. CN
No broken
bikes or busted
bodies, the
Africa Twin
Vegas To Reno
program was
a complete
success.
