The store will not work correctly when cookies are disabled.
We use cookies to make your experience better.To comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need to ask for your consent to set the cookies. Learn more.
Rider Chaz Davies of the Factory Aprilia Millennium Technologies Team scored his second AMA podium of the year at the New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey.
Aprilia RSV 1000R puts rider Chaz Davies on the podium during the final race of the season in New Jersey
During early qualifying at Daytona SportBike Race Two, Davies finished in the seventh position. Davies and the team continued to make improvements
on their lap times and ended up in the fourth position on the starting grid. Rider Aaron Gobert did well during qualifying until he crashed. Gobert then started in seventeenth place on the grid.
New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey hosted Daytona SportBike Race Two
The Factory Aprilia Millennium Technologies Team finished in the top five in seven races during the 2009 season and also had a pair of podium finishes
The start of the first day of the AMA race went well for both Davies and Gobert. Davies moved quickly into third position and into a four bike battle with his competitors. He left most of the riders behind and moved into second place for the podium.
Gobert struggled with a rear tire that spun on the rim and caused a massive vibration. He still managed to bring his No. 97 Aprilia home in fourteenth position.
“The team worked hard all year to develop the Aprilia RSV-1000R into a competitive bike,” said Chip Spalding, Team Manager. “We knew it was time to put it all on the line since this was the last chance for us to get a win this season.”
In day two of competition, Gobert tried to latch onto the lead group. “Aaron had a great run on the inside and passed several riders going into turn one,” said Spalding. “Unfortunately, Garret Carter lost control of his motorcycle and hit Aaron.”
Gobert saved the crash for a split second, but was hit by another rider. He went down violently and was transported to an area hospital. He was released from the hospital hours later with bruising, said Spalding.
Davies was not affected by the chaos behind him. On lap two he took the lead and never looked back. His top spot vanished on lap 11 after he lost traction on
his front tire going into turn nine. Davies crashed out of the lead. He was not hurt but his Aprilia was not able to continue.
“We started nine months ago with a new team, new rules, new riders and new
bikes that we had never raced at a professional level,” said Kevin Hunt, Team Owner. “We had our work cut out for us, but everybody stepped up
and made it happen.”
Some things remained the same for the team, including the use of K&N products. “We use K&N on the Aprilia RSV-1000Rs and everything we build,” said Spalding. “K&N protects our engines from debris and gives us great filtration. K&N is dependable and performs on the track ever time we race.
The Factory Aprilia Millennium Technologies team finished in the top five in seven races and added a pair of podium finishes to its resume.
“It was a great season,” said Davies. “The only thing I could wish for is more time. I think if we could have started the season with the bike we have now we could have been in contention for a championship.”
K&N sponsored racer David Rampy won Competition Eliminator at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Presented by Lucas Oil in Indianapolis. The event marked Rampy's 4th win at the Big Go. The Piedmont, Alabama resident was on a roll. One week earlier he wheeled his Bantum roadster to the win at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
David Rampy took home another Wally after his Competition Eliminator Victory at the 55th Anniversary of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis
“We’ve been struggling all season,” said Rampy. “But when we start a race I know we have as good a shot to win as anyone. The way it worked out, we’re just tickled to win. We ran really well and my 1932 Bantum Roadster was right on target at both events.”
NHRA Sportsman Class Racer David Rampy's 1932 Bantum Roadster has a 323 cubic inch Chevy motor
Alabama's David Rampy celebrated his 4th win at the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis
Rampy said the Roadster is his favorite race car. “Its 323 cubic inch Chevy motor is a powerhouse,” he said. “I also really enjoy the feel of an open bodied car.”
Rampy has raced since 1973 and said he is fortunate enough to make it his job. “It’s great when you make a living doing something you love,” he said. “I’ve used K&N for so long I can’t even remember the year I first started using K&N. We turn motors over 10,000 rpm and we have to keep the motors breathing. K&N oil filters and the K&N hood scoop give me proper filtration, more air and help me get to the Winner’s Circle.”
Rampy is currently situated at No. 7 in the world in Competition Eliminator. He will next compete at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte, North Carolina.
K&N sponsored lawn mower racer Katie Jones, 14, said she likes the speed and the noise on the track
Dawn and Lauren Filos of Bel Air, Maryland are too young to drive cars, so their dad takes them to compete in the lawn mower races
Kevin Penne and Mike Miller have each been around lawn mower racing since 1993 and are both Triple Crown Champions
K&N sponsored lawn mower racer Ken Jones competes in the AP portion of the IMOW class at the STA-BIL National Lawn Mower Racing Series in Delaware, Ohio
Father and daughter Ken and Katie Jones competed at the 17th Annual STA-BIL Challenge of Champions Labor Day weekend
Lawn mower racer Allen Minaker is known as LawnMonkey on the lawn mower circuit and said lawn mower racing is his redemption
The mantra was the same at the Lawn Mower Races in Delaware, Ohio. Most of the riders said they saw lawn mower racing on television for the first time, and had to try it. If the mantra was saw it and tried it, the product was K&N. Lawn mowers were everywhere, all shapes and sizes, some more powerful than others,but almost every lawn mower used a K&N air filter at the 17th Annual STA-BIL
Challenge of Champions.
“It’s an American cultural phenomena,” said Bruce Kaufman, President of the United States Lawn Mower Racing Association. “No one races for money, but our riders go for the glory, a trophy and bragging rights.”
Mike Miller and Kevin Penne can brag, they’ve been around the sport since 1993 and are each Triple Crown Lawn Mower racers. Triple Crown champions have the most cumulative points, win the Challenge of Champions and the Nationals all in one season.
After 17 years of growth, lawn mower racers now have the option of selecting one of 43 local chapters along with participating in an 18 race series. “When I saw my first lawn mower race the machines were going about 26 mph at their fastest,” said Miller. “I knew I could more than double it and I did. K&N air filters give me excellent filtration and additional horsepower.”
Penne’s current $15,000 ride started off as stock and only had 13 horsepower. “I’ve modified every single piece of my lawn mower,” he said. “I have billet connecting rods which are akin to having an insurance policy inside the engine. I have also used K&N my entire career and now I get 37 horsepower. I've won seven national championships with K&N.”
Even though Miller and Penne are at the top of their game, there are a lot of classes in lawn more racing. Some people can get in the sport with as little as $50 for a used mower. The bottom line is you will run as fast as you are willing to spend. Riders reach speeds of 60 mph depending on track conditions, some have been clocked at 80 mph.
There is a regulation book and blades must be removed before any competition. Drivers have to wear a helmet and neck support and every mower
must have a kill switch. “It’s kind of like kart Racing, kind of like snow mobile racing or quads,” said Miller. “But really
lawn mower racing is its own little sport and there is nothing else that drives like it.”
Lauren Filos of Bel Air, Maryland has been racing lawn mowers since she was 8-years-old along with her sister Dawn Filos. The girls are 11 and 14 and their father takes them to as many races as he can. The family also travels with K&N products on their lawn mowers.
K&N sponsored Ken and Katie Jones, a father and daughter race team set up a K&N table at
every lawn mower race with K&N filters and information. Katie is 14 years old and in the Junior Prepared Class. Ken races in the AP portion of the IMOW class. “Nothing else protects our engines like K&N,” he said. “K&N gives us more air and more horsepower.”
Allen Minaker of Turtle Lake, Wisconsin is known as LawnMonkey on the Lawn Mower circuit. “This is so much fun,” he said. “We are all close friends
and are like a family out here, but we are deadly competitive on the track. Everyone helps each other because we want the challenge at race time.” Minaker said he has to get air in and out of his motors and K&N helps him with additional horsepower on the dirty and dusty track.
Minaker has raced lawn mowers for seven years. “At one time or another most of us have raced something else,” said Minaker. “I’m a drag racing fan and if someone approached me with a big drag racing deal tomorrow I would say no. That is how much I love this sport. It is my redemption.”
Twelve year old Bradley Morris always wanted to race motocross but his parents thought it was too dangerous. His father heard about trophy karts and bought Bradley a used one to try out. "I loved it so much that they have only bought new ones since then. Even though they are pretty fast, they are safer than racing motocross," says Bradley. His trophy kart is a smaller sized trophy truck with a 450cc engine, 18 inches of travel, a chromoly frame and a fiberglass truck body. It is chain driven with Walker Evans race shocks, quad tires, window nets and a 5 point harness for safety. Trophy kart racing is done on a short course in a dirt stadium setting and the karts can jump twenty feet into the air while traveling at speeds of eighty to ninety miles per hour.
Twelve year old Bradley Morris from Perris, California raced for the first time at ten years old.
The Perris, California native raced for the first time at ten years old and finished in second place. He also finished fifth in points overall that year. "I got first place at the Championship Off-Road Racing series at Pomona, California. I won the Championship at Monster Jam's 4 race series. I got to speak in front of 30,000 people three times. It was so awesome," says Bradley. He is currently in the top three in the SXS nationals and top four in the Lucas Oil Off-Road racing series.
With such an impressive resume so early in his racing career, Bradley Morris will definitely be the trophy kart racer to watch. He is working hard to improve his racing skills with the goal of racing in the short pro classes in the future. "We are working on a new kart from Newline Products with a Kawasaki 450cc engine and of course, K&N filters. I run K&N products in my motorcycles and ATV's because they are the best choice! They have provided me with an awesome racing suit, a really cool helmet and other great products too. I really appreciate all they have done for me and my racing career," says Bradley.
Find K&N products for your vehicle using the application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.
One of the top street bike stunt riders in the XDL series is 25-year-old, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania resident Brian Bubash. XDL is the premier competition series for sportbike freestyle athletes with events that stretch across the U.S. Bubash began competing in sportbike freestyle competition in 2005 and has not stopped progressing since.
Brian Bubash performs a stoppie during XDL qualifying for round 4 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Brian Bubash said "Stoppies are my favorite stunt because they're the most exhilarating."
When asked what his thoughts were about XDL round 4 in Indianapolis, Indiana, Brian said, “If I were to sum it up in one word, that word would be AWESOME!” Bubash certainly did have an awesome event taking home wins in both the Individual Freestyle and Team Battle competitions as well as a third place finish in the K&N Circle Challenge.
Bubash rides a 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R with a nostalgic Yamaha paint job to support the Pittsburgh Steelers.
K&N air filters offer Bubash increased power and protection for his Kawasaki stunt bikes.
XDL round 4 was held on a public street, which was closed to traffic for the event, in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Indianapolis has a strong racing tradition, and the XDL finals were held the Friday before the Indy MotoGP race. Friday saw a torrential downpour of rain during Individual Freestyle qualifying. Even despite the unfavorable weather, crowds packed the bleachers to watch the XDL competition.
“The rain didn’t affect my qualifying run, I felt more confident than usual,” said Bubash. Being from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bubash is not a stranger to riding in wet weather, which gave him an edge over his competitors. Brian had an excellent qualifying run with good execution. His qualifying performance landed him second place during qualifying in Individual Freestyle. Brian said, “I hate qualifying in the top three because it puts a lot of pressure on you for the finals.”
The finals were later that same night, and luckily Mother Nature chose to cooperate. The rain eventually stopped and the pavement dried out. The dry pavement allowed competitors to ride harder which began to heat up the competition for the finals. Finals are run in reverse order of qualifying, which meant Bubash was second to last to compete in the finals.
When Brian finished his run his friends told him he did well. “My friends won’t lie. If I didn’t have a good run, my friends will tell me I sucked,” said Bubash. Brian also felt like he had a very solid run, and felt confident in his performance. XDL differs from most judged competitions. In XDL, competitors do not know their score until officials present the awards. “It’s an agonizing wait,” said Bubash. However, when all was said and done, Brian Bubash stood atop the podium going home with the first place trophy and prize money.
Bubash has been using K&N products since he was a kid. “I’ve always run K&N,” said Brian, “I always look for that red and black box when I need a filter.” Bubash protects his valuable engines with K&N air filter part number
KA-6003 and wrench-off oil filter part number
KN-204 for his twin 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R stunt bikes. “My stunt bikes run way more crisp with a K&N air filter,” said Brian. He also runs a K&N wrench-off oil filter, which simplifies oil changes. Bubash prefers to service his own bikes because he has more confidence in their reliability and performance when he does. “Some people will take any sponsor, I only look for sponsors that I believe in,” said Bubash.
Even though the XDL round 4 event in Indianapolis, Indiana concludes the XDL Sportbike Freestyle Championship season, Brian Bubash won’t be taking any time off. There is not an actual off-season for Bubash. Having made stunting his official job, Brian will continue to travel across the country for other events. Follow Brian Bubash throughout the year at the
K&N news site.
