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Author Topic: Mystery Rider wins on a Zero vs gas bikes  (Read 1152 times)

benswing

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Mystery Rider wins on a Zero vs gas bikes
« on: April 03, 2014, 01:15:34 AM »

Anybody know who this is?

Post from Zero Motorcycles Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/zeromotorcycles:

"A mystery rider on a stealthy Zero showed up at the Supermoto USA event in Atwater, California, last weekend and put on quite a show. Read the first-hand account from a rather surprised spectator...

I just wanted to write and congratulate you on the win this past weekend at the Atwater, CA track in Supermoto USA. Your bike and ride absolutely ASTONISHED EVERYONE!

Having just walked into the gates at the start of the race, I wasn’t sure what to expect that day, and I definitely was not expecting to see (no really hear lol) a Zero dicing it up on the track. When the announcer said over the PA, something about the Zero starting LAST and picking everyone off one by one in a few shorts laps, I ran to the fence to watch. What I (and the everyone at the track) saw put us in a stunned shock and awe sensation.

There was a black Zero, a little rough looking but basically stock and stripped of plastics, silently zipping through the tight corners. When we expected to hear a loud roar, all we heard was barely a buzz, and that was soon drowned out by the thundering of thumpers trying to keep up…but not very successfully. The unknown man in leathers continued to rip away from the field, and out of every corner he left behind a 15+ foot strip of rubber at full lean, tearing out of the corners and pulling into a wheelie halfway down the front straight.

Every. Single. Time.

In that class, he easily gained first place, with second place many corners behind, a KTM 525smc. The stands, the pits, the racers were buzzing with chatter about who this crazy guy on the rough looking unknown black Zero, appropriately numbered “00” (double zero). This was the talk of the event...the whole event. No one was expecting a Zero to show up…and own the track, especially when he was starting last, at the back of the grid.

A short time later, the next event was up, and the announcers mentioned how this was going to be the "big boys, fast guys" race. We were expecting some good racing from the pros and semi pros. When the announcer called the racers to the grid, all the big 450s showed up, and to the surprise of many, that dang crazy 00 Zero showed up again!

Once again, everyone’s eyes were glued on the silent black Zero, who this time…started at the back yet again! The flag goes green and he lets the others rush forward, but before the end of the long sweep, he had once again passed up most of the field. For the next several laps, we saw him sniping off the big guys, one at a time, sometimes more.

Each time, coming out of the last corner before the main straight, he could be seen leaving loooong black strips of rubber across the asphalt track and pulling into a wheelie when he finally regained traction, riding on one wheel a good distance down the front straight. Towards the end, the Zero finally seemed to have found a spot it was stuck in, about 5th where a slower rider just wouldn’t let him get around. Had he been able to make the pass, the Zero could of easily been top 3.

The riding was amazing. The bike’s performance was astonishing. How he made it ride…unbelievable. I think it was an awesome show you guys put on for us with the Zero. I think A LOT of people were talking about getting one by the end of the day. Yeah, we all became believers.

I did manage to spend a second to check out the bike and chat with the rider for a brief second. Really nice guy, seemed to be in his late 40s, early 50s. Didn't get to chat about the team or even get his name or anything, because I was so engrossed in the bike. But, he said it was basic Zero with just brake upgrades. Stock shock, stock forks. Stock wheels. Even stock tires! He even kept the turn signals on and the headlight. Basically completely stock in every way except for brakes. WOW!

Anyhow, just wanted to share the excitement that many of us felt that day getting to see the Zero in that element. (I think we were all expecting to see a big Zero factory support team though, lol!) Instead, an gentlemen in a old VW truck with a battery charger, a few tools, extra battery and a rough and worn looking Zero showed up alone. What a show!

Still amazed! BTW, what model Zero is it?????"
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Richard230

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Re: Mystery Rider wins on a Zero vs gas bikes
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2014, 03:38:04 AM »

Stock tires?  No wonder he left rubber strips out of every turn.   ;)

It might have been one of Harlan's creations.  Or at least an SR and the rider had to be pretty good to pass so many riders.  I'll bet he has raced before.   :)
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firepower

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Re: Mystery Rider wins on a Zero vs gas bikes
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2014, 03:52:43 AM »

I think its STIG's evil twin ;) or Zorro.  ;) Great write up, congrats to zero rider double zero
« Last Edit: April 03, 2014, 04:07:13 AM by firepower »
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protomech

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Re: Mystery Rider wins on a Zero vs gas bikes
« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2014, 04:45:33 AM »

Comments on the Facebook article peg him as "Curtis Shuster" (won the +30 event, came in 6th of 8 riders in the 450 event .. somewhat less impressive than the Facebook post makes it out. Probably multiple classes were racing at the same time, so he was polishing off the slower classes before he was unable to pass the 5th place rider).

It's also not the stock semi-knobby tires that come with the FX, but instead look like more aggressive street tires. (not the IRC RoadWinners either)

Sounds like a pretty fantastic race - seeing is believing, in this case.
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