FEATURE
2017 PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB
P122
I'm not a sentimental person.
I'm not religious. I don't believe
fate is a path mapped out by a
higher power. What I believe in
is work, preparation and my own
abilities. And for my second year
at the world's biggest and most
dangerous hill climb event, I knew
I was ready for the job at hand.
As Roland Sands says, "F---
Luck. Be Prepared. Ride Hard."
I know when I'm taking risks.
And make no mistake: racing at
the Pikes Peak International Hill
Climb represents the taking of a
substantial risk. Pikes Peak is an
event totally unique to the world of
motorsports. Its cliffs and boul-
ders and trees and bumps are
totally removed from the sanitized
reality of MotoAmerica or MotoGP.
Perhaps "Wish You Were Here"
was more relevant than I gave it
credit for.
Getting
through tech
inspection is
always a good
feeling, no
matter how
prepared your
bike is.
(Above) Fillmore begins
his ascent through the W's.
His speed through this
midsection was incredibly
impressive.
(Left) This is what Pikes
Peak is really about. Early,
early mornings, cold
weather runs and crappy
7-Eleven coffee.
