VOL. 54 ISSUE 6 FEBRUARY 14, 2017 P85
velopment community in advancing
performance on the track through
the drag race side of the house,"
Beck said. "We feel really good
about the partnership, the connec-
tion between what they bring opera-
tionally and how we work together.
It's all very natural."
While Harley has stepped in the
direction of a proven partnership,
it is stepping away from its proven
weapon, the old XR750. Yes, it's
long of tooth, but the old air-cooled
icon has 44 years of service, has been
a part of 37 Grand National titles and so
many wins that many have lost count,
including Harley. It's arguably one of the
winningest machines in the history of the
sport, if not the winningest machine.
So they could've gone a safe
route, another year of a mixed
XR750-XG750R effort—another
year to stay in the comfort zone of
a long-of-tooth but still very capable
motorcycle. In racing, playing it
safe usually means you get left
behind. Harley-Davidson is look-
ing forward and confident with its
move.
"We're confident in the product,"
Beck said. "The XR has basically
defined modern dirt track. As we
look for the next generation and as we
look to support an OE production model
street platform, it just makes more sense
to go all in. It made a lot more sense to
go all in on XG's at this point based on
the learning and based on where we are
Harley-Davidson's
Global Director of
Marketing Scott
Beck shares the
passion for flat
track racing and
looks to grow
the sport.
Out with the old, in with the new. The XG750R
(left) replaces the legendary XR750 (right) as
the factory weapon of choice.
