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Ricky Orlando seeks win at Daytona 200 by Honda
Maverick - Mar 2, 2009
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With his pending departure for Daytona looming, Ricky Orlando stopped long enough to discuss motorcycle racing: his successes and challenges. Five minutes into the conversation, Ricky received a phone call. Clearly, there was a sense of urgency about the call. When he hung up the phone, Ricky said; “my trailer lights don’t work.”
Such is the life of a privateer. Privateers (anyone not factory sponsored) accumulate sponsors sufficient to support their passion for racing, most of them have full time jobs to support their sport and their families, they build competitive bikes, they generate enough revenue to purchase and maintain a truck and trailer or other type of hauler, they transport their bikes to races covering thousands of miles over the course of a racing season, they do the vast majority of their mechanic work before, during, and after races, they pay all of their expenses including entry fees, lodging, and food, and they keep themselves in racing condition.
On this day, Ricky thought he had all bases covered with his bike and trailer in the hands of a trusted colleague. All seemed ready to travel the 1900 miles to Daytona Beach, Florida, only to learn that he had to fix the electrical system on his trailer or his bike, tires, supplies, and tools would not be there in time to practice, qualify, and race in the Daytona 200 by Honda on March 6th.
He took it in stride which said to me: “been there, done that!”
Ricky eats, sleeps, and breaths motorcycling. He works for and is sponsored by Rocky Mountain Kawasaki. He is a member of the Motorcycle Roadracing Association and supports the Association’s efforts to bring competitive racing to the Rocky Mountain region. He has raced in regional, national, and international events.
In his spare time, Orlando is the owner and Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified trainer for the Ricky Orlando Motorcycle School specializing in safety and skill development for road riding, racing, and off road riding.
Orlando brings 33+ years of motorcycle competition with him to the 2009 racing season. The enormity of his championships, top 10 finishes, and year after year of competitive racing is mind boggling; especially when considering that he has never been a factory supported motorcycle racer. In 1998, Ricky was the only racer in the United States to finish the season with championship points in 4 different series: MRA, Formula USA, AMA Superbike, and World Superbike.
Click here for details of Orlando’s racing successes up to and including 2008.
Orlando’s goal when entering a race is to finish in the top 10.
Seven days before the Daytona 200 by Honda, he is very focused on and ready for the race billed as America’s most prestigious and historic motorcycle event which, for the first time, goes under the lights for the first time in 2009!
Orlando believes his new Kawasaki ZX6R gives him the best chance to win the race this year. He has made allowable modifications to the pipes, added steering stabilizers, and changed some of the body work. But the 2009 ZX6R remains a stock bike with OEM changes that substantially reduce weight while increasing handling and performance; according to company sources.
Learn more about features and specification of the Kawasaki ZX6R at http://www.kawasaki.com.
Beginning Wednesday, March 3rd, Orlando will practice for the first time this year at Daytona International Raceway. Thursday is qualifying for one of the 80 spaces on the race grid. Friday is more practice and final tuning and he will be ready to race when the green flag drops at 8:00 p.m.
The following sponsors and along with his fans applaud Orlando’s preparation and wish him the best throughout the 2009 racing season: Rocky Mountain Kawasaki, Bel-Ray Company, Inc., Hindle Products, Ltd, Dunlop, Arai, Woodcraft Technologies Inc., EBC Brakes, Fitz Graphics, The Walnut Room, and Kawasaki Team Green.
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