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/786372
FEATURE HARLEY-DAVIDSON AFT TEAM P86 with development and where we think we're going to be competition-wise." While Harley's moving for- ward with the XG and making the engines available at the dealer level for privateers to purchase, it doesn't mean that the old XR's will be absent on the American Flat Track circuit. There will be plenty privateers that break the old XR out. Still, the decision was made that the factory squad would go all-in on the future. "Harley-Davidson continues to support the [XR] 750 as far as parts and pieces that we can provide to the guys that are riding XR750's, so the XR750s not going away," Vance said. "There are a number of them out there and they'll probably continue to win races and be competitive for a long time to come. But the XG, long range it was the right move for us to make. So we had to either decide, like Scott said, either going a foot in both camps or giving 100% development to one platform. The XG was really the platform of choice for everybody that got to make a decision." It's a platform that follows that whole "race on Sunday (in this case, mostly Saturday) and sell on Monday" adage. "The program that we're doing is not just about flat track racing for Vance & Hines with Harley- Davidson at the flat track events," Vance said. "It's about supporting the dealers and other national riders that want to use the platform. So we have a much bigger goal than just showing up at Daytona and winning races. We really and truly want to energize the dealers that are involved with Harley- Davidson to be involved with flat track racing, and also do what we've done in kind during Harley- Davidson's heyday where a number of the Harley- Davidson dealers had teams that are out there racing against everybody trying to win, just like the factory is." For Harley-Davidson its passion is racing. Its passion is motorcycling in general and the widely recognized brand wants to grow that enthusiasm. "This is about the culture of the sport," Beck said. "We need to inspire and motivate and gener- ate the next generation of riders, racers, dealers that get passionate about the sport." CN These three have 13 Grand National Championships between them. (Left to right) Scott Parker has nine, Jay Springsteen three and Randy Goss two. "Racing is a lot better off for everybody—fans, dealers, racers, the sport—the more competitors you have out on the track." – Scott Beck