Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R vs Pikes Peak – Jeremy Toye’s POV Run
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Jeremy Toye took outright honours at the 2014 Pikes Peak Hill Climb with a 9:58.687 climb onboard a Kawasaki ZX-10R. Toye’s run came within six-seconds of the current motorcycle record set by Carlin Dunne on a Ducati Multistrada in 2012.
In addition to earning Toye “Rookie of the Year” and “King of the Hill” honors at Pike’s Peak, the Kawasaki pilot’s win also ends Ducati’s dominance on the hill after a four-year streak. The Italian machines were still there in full force however with Ducati taking positions two through five, along with the Middleweight category win, at the prestigious ‘Race To The Clouds’.
Lambert Fabrice brought home the second fastest time of the day on a Ducati 1098R at 10:04.401, while Don Canet and Micky Dymond followed in close succession with lap times of 10:10.101 and 10:11.319 respectively aboard Ducati Multistrada 1200s. Bruno Langlois finished in the fifth slot with a time of 10:14.480 on a Ducati 1199 Panigale.
The newly formed “Motorcycle Middleweight Division,” comprised mostly of fully faired middleweight sport bikes was ultimately won by Frenchman Eric Piscione, who dominated the division aboard a Ducati Streetfighter 848 with a time of 10:46.159.
The fascinating competition that is Pikes Peak takes place annually , on a mountain 4301 metres high and located at the eastern end of the Rocky Mountains. The starting point is situated at an already heady altitude of 2862 metres and the race route is almost 20km long with an altitude difference of 1439 metres, an average gradient of 7% and even up to 10.5% before the finish line which is located at an altitude of 4300 metres. More than 150 turns are negotiated during the ascent.
Until 2012, the route of this race was unique because the road was partly paved and partly gravel but in the last three editions all the nearly 20-kilometre race have been completely paved. But the charm of this unique competition, that takes place on a mountain road with no guardrails or other protection along most of the route, and where the weather and temperatures can change abruptly because of the high altitude difference, remains unchanged. The altitude also affects the efficiency of the engines because the closer you are to the top, oxygen and atmospheric pressure decrease.
Guy Martin won theUTV/Exhibition division onboard a 1991 Suzuki GSX-R 1100 worked out to a capacity of 1380cc with racing suspension and brakes, a Martek chassis and swingarm, electronic fuel injection and a turbocharger that brings the total horsepower up to 550. This special was finally fitted with Metzeler development Racetec RR tyres designed by the German tyre manufacturer for road racing activities and already successful in Isle of Man TT and North West 200 competition. Martin’s time, 11:32.558, a clear winer in this unique class, but much slower than the outright speedsters at the event.
Unfortunately Pikes Peak also claimed a victim this year with Bobby Goodin losing his life, the first rider to do so in more than three decades. The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is preparing to establish a benefit fund for the Goodin family.
- Jeremy Toye 9:58.687 Kawasaki
- Lambert Fabrice 10:04.401 Ducati
- Don Canet 10:10.101 Ducati
- Micky Dymond 10:11.319 Ducati
- Bruno Langlois 10:14.480 Ducati
- Daniel Fernandez 10:37.043 Kawasaki
- Tomasz Gombos 10:37.167 Yamaha
- Olivier Ulmann 10:37.181 DUCATI
- Takahiro Itami 10:58.580 MV AGUSTA
- Carlton Sorensen 11:04.905 Kawasaki