VOL. 55 ISSUE 21 MAY 30, 2018 P29
RYAN SIPES TALKS FLAT TRACK DEBUT
W
hat started as a conversa-
tion between off road/
motocross racer Ryan Sipes and
fellow Kentucky racer JD Beach
at the MotoAmerica season finale
last year turned into a reality last
Saturday night at the Springfield
TT. The former Supersport Cham-
pion with flat track roots, said,
"Hey, let me know if you ever
want to ride flat track." Sipes,
who's all about two-wheel racing
in the dirt, took his fellow Ken-
tucky racer up on the offer and
did some riding with JD Beach
and the rest of the Owensboro
crew.
"I rode like four times with
him last fall, and then twice this
year. My first time was really bad
and then I got better and better,"
Sipes said. "They were all like,
'you should do a TT. You're doing
okay.' I'm like, 'all right. Why not?
It would be fun.' And it was—it was
a blast."
It was an impressive debut for
a first timer, but then again, to be
expected from a talented off-road
racer of his caliber. Sipes started
the day off as the fastest qualifier,
was fourth in his heat, fifth in his
semi and was looking like a sure
top-five finisher in the main before
going down in turn one. Sipes got
back up and charged through the
pack to finish 11th.
"I didn't even think I pushed too
hard coming in," Sipes recalled.
"All of a sudden it was sliding and
I couldn't recover. I rode better
in the main than I did all day, so I
was happy with that. I had a lot of
help with Rex (Fisher). He helped
me a bunch. JD obviously helped
me a lot, setting the bike up and
making little changes here and
there all day. I'm pumped, man. I
didn't get hurt. I think I rode good
for my first try. I definitely want to
come back and do more. I think I
can do a lot better.
"I'm anxious to come back
again for Sturgis [Buffalo Chip
TT]. Hopefully practice a little
more before that and work on
some stuff. I want to get on the
podium."
Andrea Wilson
Ryan Sipes was
impressive in
his flat track
debut at the
Springfield TT.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
DAVE
HOENIG
