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Asphalt & Rubber spent the last week waking up at 2am everyday to muster up to the staging grounds for the 89th annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, and upon arriving at the second oldest running race in the United States (the Indy 500 being the oldest), we were surprised to see our old friend Carlin Dunne, owner of Ducati Santa Barbara, pitting in the motorcycle paddock with a Ducati Multistrada 1200 race bike.
Now, we’ve always known that Carlin was a wicked fast rider, as this humbled author recalls that at his last track day with Dunne just a year ago, the 28-year-old dirt and street racer lapped him about every third lap at Big Willow. Despite this fact, the hard part has always been describing to other people how fast Dunne truly is, that is until now.
Riding Pikes Peak for the very first time, Carline Dunne not only stood at the pole position on Sunday’s race to the clouds, and not only did the Santa Barbara native also win the checkered flag in the 1205cc motorcycle class, but the Desmo Devil himself dropped some two-wheeled knowledge on Pikes Peak when he set the outright fastest time ever for a motorcycle on the fabled mountain road and its 156 turns.
Named the 2011 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Rookie of the Year, Dunne accomplished a rare feat for a PPIHC rookie: winning. Still processing the race, Dunne had nothing but respect for the mountain, the race, and his competitors. ”It definitely hasn’t sunk in yet, but it’s been an amazing experience. The whole week has been a whirlwind, and a rollercoaster — the bike wasn’t running the first day of the week,” explained Dunne.
“Really, no one was expecting us to do anything, and we weren’t expecting anything either, but it slowly started creeping up on everyone, and I couldn’t ask for anything better. Quite litterally, everything just fell right into place, right when it needed to.”
With multiple crashes in other classes requiring the Pikes Peak course to be shutdown, the 1205cc class, the last race of the day, started several hours behind schedule, giving teams and riders plenty of time to prepare and focus for their ride.
“We were probably about four hours behind schedule, and all I could do was run that low section in my head. I knew I had to get out in front, and I knew I had to get out ahead of Greg, or else once we hit the dirt, the visibility was going to make me fallback. So, before the race, I went over to watch the starter, and figured out the little pattern of what he was doing, focused, and didn’t leave an alternative on whether we were going to get that holeshot start.”
Despite his dominant victory, the course still proved to be a challenge for Dunne, who admitted to having more than one close call. ”I’ve got to say, there’s about seven time where I almost crashed — I mean really I thought I was crashing, face of God, going off a cliff type of thing. But that’s how this race is, there’s no way to have it dialed in and know what’s left and what’s right…there were some spectators running out of the way in the dirt section.”
“I tell you, this race probably took a couple years off my life. I need to decompress and think about it, but it’s been an amazing experience all week. There’s nothing like Pikes Peak. Nothing.”
“The best advice I got was from Greg Tracy, being a multi-time Champion, I knew I could trust him. Now keep in mind that he’s giving me this advice before I set pole-position, but he told me just not to race anyone else, don’t try to race it like you would a road race,” recalled Dunne. “Instead, you’ve just got to respect the race, and respect the mountain — do your best to link 156 turns together properly. The moment you try to get in a battle with someone or you try to push it like a normal road race, you’re going to crash. I really took that to heart.”
“Greg also told me that I have to respect the fear. I didn’t really know what he was talking about until I rode it, but it was true. It was great advice from Greg. That guy is a legend, and a hero in my book,” said Dunne with praise. ”The fear is the only thing keeping you from getting killed here. Normally when you stop being scared, you’re done. There’s no room for error. Nothing, nothing.”
“Riding back down, I stopped, and I actually put my bike up against a rock and sat on the cliff edge for a second, and looked at it. I just thanked my lucky stars I kept it together. It’s the fear that pulls you back 10%. This is a serious deal here, it’s a serious race. We gave the mountain respect today, and she gave us a victory....”
Congratulations to Bravo pro rider Carlin Dunne and the hands that made this win possible..
June 23rd, 2011 marked another major milestone for Bravo pro rider Aaron Baker on his long road of recovery from paralysis. Aboard his customized KESTREL trike, Aaron won the Para-cycling, Time Trial National Championships held in Augusta Georgia.
This event was a crucial step towards Aaron's ultimate goal of representing the United States of America in the Paralympics held in London, England 2012.
As as a new business owner of Center of Restorative Exercise (C.O.R.E.) and Paralympic cyclist, Aaron Baker is solidifying himself as a valid role model and spokesperson for the benefits of ongoing restorative exercise.
"I enjoy walking the walk" says Baker. "I promote the power of possibility and reflect the inner strength of my fellow man".
Special thanks to:
C.O.R.E. Center LLC., Kestrel Bicycles, Rock Racing, Fox Racing, Laquita Conway, Dan Baker, Taylor Isaacs, Rick Babingtion, Dave Crooke and Bravo Condoms for helping to support my efforts and dreams.
Contact Arron Baker at: Aaron@CoreCenters.info
--Keep on... keepin' on Baker!! We love ya brother!..
-Bravo boyz....'never say never'.
2007 and 2008 maps of Aaron Bakers rides across the United States !!
As of today 4/12/2011 Trevor Ricioli of South Lake Tahoe, California has become the USASA National Champion for the 4th time in a row!! More info and images will follow shortly once he done shaking hands, waiving flags and kissing the trophy girlz. All in a dayz work....
The following message was written by the man himself for immediate release....
"Yo Bravo fam and friends.... Trevor Ricioli here checking in. I'm currently at Copper Mountain Colorado for the USASA nationals . I'm going for a 4-peat gold win in Mens Pro Skier X. Some good competition has shown up to try and challenge me for my title, but I'm going to defend my title with everything I've got. Just finished up practice, aced all the terrain and felt fast as lightning. This is the last race of a radical season for me, want to thank all my friends, family and sponsors for their support and plan to top it off with a 4x title championship. Let's bring home gold for the Bravo Unit.
Brad Benedict and Bravo Condoms have become SPECIALIZED for the 2011 season...
Specialized Bicycles is proud to announce Specialized Racing USA Gravity—a new mountain bike racing program featuring two of the United States’ fastest pro downhillers: veteran charger Curtis Keene (Santa Cruz, California), plus promising and stylish Brad Benedict (Auburn, California). The North American duo will be attacking the U.S. and Canadian race scene aboard their SRAM, Chromag, and Gamut equipped Specialized Demo 8’s and Butcher & Storm tires, focusing on the Pro GRT Series, North American World Cup races, plus premiere mountain bike festivals. Curtis and Brad will be easily spotted on course in their Specialized/Troy Lee Designs kits and custom-painted Airtrix D3 helmets—SVCS colors for Keene and Bravo Condoms for Benedict. At select events, sharp-eyed race fans might also catch a glimpse of Curtis and Brad aboard prototype frames and equipment. As the duo races across the continent they will act as mentors and provide support for the amateur team GROM Racing, run by former gravity National Champion Chris Herndon.
Brad Benedict burst onto the national race scene in 2008 with a National Championship Series pro downhill victory in Santa Ynez, California and overall Series title. In 2010, he finished fifth in downhill at the US National Championships, along with impressive showings at both World Cup events and the World Championships, and looks to build from those experiences.
“I had big moments last year, like qualifying in first at the Pro GRT in Lake Tahoe, ahead of World Champions Greg Minnaar and Steve Peat, and I also qualified 24th at a World Cup in Italy,” explains Benedict. “I spent a lot of time overseas the past two seasons, so I’m most excited to race in the U.S. I've got the best bikes, sponsors and all the support I could want, and I get to work with great people. This year I don't want to just improve on speed and be on the podium, but also get more people racing, on gravity bikes, and to the events. I'd love to show more people how much fun all these events really are and help the sport grow.”
Benedict on track in Port Angeles, Washington.... and the 2011 Bravo lid.
We are super pumped to be supporting Brad and to be apart of the Specialized team. To follow the Specialized Racing USA Gravity team throughout the 2011 race season, go to www.iamspecialized.com/gravity/riders
We are Bravo Condoms and we support this message...
Over the New Year's vacation, a crew of Bravo Condom officers and pro riders headed to Truckee California for some good times in our backyard winter wonderland. Along with ringing in the New Year with some of the most rad Truckee locals and strongest cocktails this side of the Rock Mountains, we had business with a certain Mr. Trevor Ricioli. Bravo held a meeting with the South Lake Tahoe local about his aspirations for the 2011 season and that of X Games 15- held in Aspen, Colorado. At this point,Trevor had yet to receive the invite to Winter X and was only able to relay his desire to prove his skills against the world's best on the steeps of Buttermilk Mountain.
Two days following our meeting, Trevor received the email below stating that he had been accepted into Winter X Games 15 as a competitor in Men's - Skier X!! Bravo was notified soon thereafter and a deal was quickly inked between Ricioli & Bravo Condoms to support each others' interests on the best platform the world of winter sports has to offer. Later this month, Bravo will become the first condom company in the world to ever be represented in the Winter X Games to date!.... Seems to fit as most would agree.
--Partial email from the X Games organizers to Trevor in regards to his acceptance--
With the excitement of the news, we had Trevor forward us some of his thoughts about X.... "I'm headed into X-games in a mere 20 days.... Pumped, nervous, excited and antsy. Not really sure how I should feel, maybe all the above. I'm really happy I have a race at Mt. Hood the week before to get my mindset back in race mode. Feels like i have been waiting forever for this season to start. I just want to get back on a Ski Cross course haul ass, hit some huge jumps and beat the other skiers while busting it all. My prep befor X is as simple as: train as much as possible on the hill , staying focused with my gym and dry land training , and most important talking with my mentor Shaun 'the GODFATHER' Palmer to learn his way's of winning and messing with peoples minds. Enough of the chit-chat.... I'll be seeing you KiDS in Aspen!!"
Ricioli bustin' some moves.... Booya
The navigation has been set and the Bravo Unit will be headed to a little place called Asssspen.... Let's do this.
Worlds AIDS Day 2010.... For over 20 years, December 1st has been marked as a day to remember loved ones that have lost their battles to theAIDS pandemic. World AIDS Day is a reminder to educate and raise awareness to tackle HIV prejudice and to help stop the spread of HIV. Bravo Condoms CEO has been invited to share an evening at UCLA for '48 Hours of Action on World AIDS Day'. This special evening will showcase art installations created by UCLA students in the MAKE ART/STOP AIDS class. These projects are keyed to Mexico, Brazil, Malawi, South Africa, Barbados, Ukraine, India, Thailand, and Los Angeles as part of the international ‘Where is the Money for HIV and AIDS campaign’- which is funded by the Ford Foundation. www.artglobalhealth.org
As we all know, prevention starts with education and a healthy dose of self discipline/maturity. With the current sexual facts and figures, researchers strongly suggest we no longer have the luxury of simply choosing when we want to engage in safe sex. The era of ‘careless sex and free love’ is a concept of the past- buried by the scary statistics of today.We cannot act upon our sexual desires with thoughtlessness. We must think and exercise thewonderful gift of 'reason'- a logical process every human is equipped with and relies upon day after day. Think.... Then act.
-Bravo Condoms ....'you must first protect yourself in order to protect others'.
To all of our Firefighter buddies out there being sexy and saving lives....
Setting aside the fun and games, we at Bravo thank you all for the dedication of helping others in need while vowing to keep this crazy world we live in a tad bit safer.... Rock n' roll boyz!!
Ryan Schnitz sets the new nitrous Pro Street Class record at 7.227 @ 198.55mph. BooYa!
October 5th, 2010
Budds Creek, Maryland, USA
Hot outa the HPT stroker camp!!
Schnitz Extremely Happy with Pro Street Return
Piloting one of two identical nitrous Hayabusas, Ryan Schnitz made his return to the Pro Street Class with an impressive 7.227 @ 198.55mph to set a new nitrous MPH record for the class. Teammate Lavar “Lil’ Charlie” Delee ran equally well with a 7.237 @ 196.79mph.
“With all the ups and downs this year trying to get these bikes consistent I’m really looking forward to our next event” says Cecil Towner – HTP Performance owner and builder of the bikes. “Having the control of the nitrous system with the NMS-1000 Nitrous controller really makes it very simple to get these bikes down the track.”
Schnitz was thrilled with how well the chassis worked. “Cecil has the clutch set perfectly for the bike and the Penske shock really seems to be doing it’s job too. Mike and Cole from Penske have been a great asset at the MiRock events and are always eager to give us something new to try. I’ve got the fun part of pointing the bike down the track and going for a ride. It makes it that much more fun when the bike doesn’t fight you the entire time.”
Although both riders lost in the first round of competition, the team is confident they’ll have a better showing at the next event. “This is the first time both bikes have been down the track under full power.” says Cecil. “We’re going to run into little things that need to be changed or adjusted to handle this kind of power. It’s a learning curve and with two bikes we’re getting twice the data and twice the feedback so it should be a quick one.
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