VOL. 54 ISSUE 49 DECEMBER 12, 2017 P63
from Charlotte, so they broadcast
it. So we leveraged our existing
infrastructure plus our parent's
expertise, and NBC said, "We've
got nothing to lose, we'll run it for
a year." And we've just concluded
that, so all 18 rounds.
Are they on again for next
year?
I'm working with NBC's
headquarters in Connecticut to
finalize next year's deal that will
be spectacular, much improved
over this year's in every way—
production values, you name it.
Did Harley-Davidson under-
estimate the potential that
Indian had to be competi-
tive with a brand-new bike?
Let's face it, they and every-
one else got blitzed by the
FTR750.
I would prefer to say that
Indian over-performed. I mean,
in your considerable experience
in motorcycle racing, Alan, who
ever designed and built a brand
new race bike, then went and
dominated the sport with it in
its debut season? That never
happens, I didn't think it would
happen, and having looked at
some of the contracts that the
Indian riders had, clearly Indian
didn't think so, either! Jared
Mees and Bryan Smith and Brad
Baker are quite a bit better off
financially at the end of this year
than they thought they would be!
So I don't think Harley was any
more guilty than any of us in not
seeing this coming.
Will Harley make an effort to
come back at them in 2018?
Oh, I'm pretty sure. I know the
people at Harley—they're proud,
determined people, and they
don't like coming second at any-
thing. Which is exactly why it's so
great to have them in the sport.
It's good to have two to
tango, but you need to have a
supporting cast. Are any other
manufacturers coming in next
year, or in 2019? You already
have Kawasaki, which finally
won an AMA Flat Track title in
2016. Are they in again of-
ficially? Is Yamaha coming in
with the MT-07? Or KTM with
their new 790 Duke?
There is a lot going on in the
space you've just described.
There is one Japanese factory
who I've been speaking with for
about nine months, who I fully ex-
pect to be on the grid at the first
race next season in Bike Week
2018—it's not Kawasaki, but it's
another company with very proud
racing heritage who has been
developing a bike in house, in
California. I expect to see them
on the grid. Kawasaki is not
directly involved as a company,
Filled grandstands
were a common
sight this year.
(Above) AFT
fans love the
miles, right?
Then give
them more
miles, says
Lock.
