K&N Continues Their Sponsorship of the Premier Stunt Riding XDL Championship Series for 2012
- Jun 20, 2012
The XDL is the longest running, and hands down the most popular stunt riding championship, drawing the most talented competitors from around the globe. India, Indonesia, Thailand, France, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and many other countries are helping to make the XDL one of the most powerful emerging international action sports. In Asia where 85% of all motorcycles in the world are sold the rumblings have already started and it's only a matter of time before China is added to the XDL schedule. To that end K&N announced earlier this month that they are enthusiastically continuing their multi-year partnership with the XDL Championship Series through the 2012 season. Once again they return as the title sponsor of the fan mesmerizing, whirling dervish called the K&N Circle Challenge.
"Circle wheelies require a high skill level to perform because they are so technical," explained Randy Grube, founder of XDL. "Imagine having to do 10 rotations as quickly as possible against a fellow competitor in front of thousands of fans. That is the essence of the K&N Circle Challenge." Riders line up side-by-side and enter the competition area for a one-on-one face off. When the starter gives the signal the riders clutch up into a circle wheelie and start spinning. The first rider to 10 wins. If a rider falls, or their foot touches the pavement, that's considered a DNF, and the remaining rider wins. One judge is assigned to each rider to ensure an accurate count. "Our director of competition watches over the whole thing to determine the winners. After each face-off the winner goes to one side of the competition area, the loser to the other," adds Grube. "The winners then go up against each other until there are only two left for the finals. In some cases there are an odd number of participants, which means we end up with three riders instead of two."
Fan support worldwide has been remarkable and it continues to grow exponentially, with at present over 60% of XDL fans coming from countries outside the United States. "I expect attendance to go up significantly this year due to how we are improving the overall event concept, which we now call Motorcycle Madness. We are putting XDL, trials riding, static displays, motorcycle art, a kid's zone, vendors, a beer garden, food and music all into one space," said Grube. "Under ideal conditions I see XDL becoming a major action sport globally."
Outside of the United States and Western Europe motorcycles are the go-to commuter vehicle. Stunt riding is therefore a clear path into the action sports market. Kids that don't have skateboards, snowboards, BMX, or Arena Cross available can now look to stunt riding as an outlet for personal expression. The K&N Circle Challenge for example is a truly "open" format where the displacement of a motorcycle can be any type without putting a rider at a disadvantage. As XDL expands into markets where displacements are in the 150cc to 250cc range, this format could turn out to be a core competition element, because it allows for top riders from XDL to go up against top international riders without the need to standardize motorcycle categories. "We are working on putting on an event in India this year and one in Indonesia in 2013," said Grube. "This will allow us to start XDL India and XDL Indonesia. With stunt riding becoming so tremendously popular overseas, I've already written a number of letters to U.S. embassies around the world to help kids get visas so they can come here and ride. In the U.S. we are working on a reality TV show so stayed tuned for that." "K&N has been an XDL partner for two seasons now and we are excited to continue the relationship in 2012," declared Grube. "K&N is one of those rare companies that puts their money where their mouth is, which is such a great help when you are building a new sport from scratch. In my position as the guy that started XDL, it's all about the long term. Nick and Johnny at K&N decided from the beginning that XDL was a long-term play and that the biggest benefits would be a few years down the road. It is this type of support that has allowed XDL to grow, and we're glad to have it for another year." Johnny Jump, Powersports Brand Manager at K&N Engineering adds, "We are very excited to support the riding at this level that will drive fans to these events and hopefully continue to grow this sport into the future of motorcycling. The street freestyle events cater to a younger generation and it exceeds the limitations set by the manufacturers for how these motorcycles were designed to be ridden. It becomes an art form like no other form of motorsports." XDL Championship Series gets underway at Maryland International Raceway July 21 and 22, in Budds Creek, Maryland. Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world. |
