Elbow Class: AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 - Racing

Wyman wins the Harley race at Daytona.

Photography by Tim White

Kyle Wyman took it by .117 of a second over high-miler Michael Barnes

Have a look, and you’ll see what I mean. These bikes have high bars, and to get rider weight forward, you pull on those bars. And your elbows go out to the sides. Look at dirt-trackers leaned over in a turn: The right elbow of every man (and woman!) is jutting up at the sky.

I read through the list of sponsors, and it reminded me of years gone by because so many of them are motorcycle dealers. Remember when racing was dealer-sponsored? No, maybe you aren’t old enough. See, it’s like this: Every now and then, the factory teams go home. Then what? Then, you need the dealers, that’s what. They could be racing’s big insurance policy.

Anyway, Kyle Wyman took it by .117 of a second over high-miler Michael Barnes, David Estok and Tyler O'Hara on the Long Course. The throaty roar. Manly acts of push-and-shove. Fin-encrusted cylinders set at the time-honored 45 degrees.