Lloyd Brothers Originality Positions Aprilia Near the Summit of Flat-Track Racing
- Jan 13, 2010
David and Michael Lloyd, based in central Ohio, have amassed over 22 years of indispensable motorcycle racing experience. Together they own and operate Lloyd Brothers Motorsports, Inc. In 2005 the brothers successfully developed and raced the only Aprilia-based motorcycles in AMA professional competition. Using Aprilia engines as the core, they developed their own chassis around that, and then employing part-time riders, working within a barebones budget, along with their own brand of innovative engineering and design, they managed to evolve the Aprilia into extremely competitive flat-track racers.
That particular effort didn't go unnoticed by Aprilia USA, as they took LBM on as a support sponsor, combining to make 2006 a highly successful year by all measures. That year LBM ran in all 11 AMA Grand National Twins events, qualifying for the main event seven times. To put this in perspective, only nine established teams made more main events and only three additional teams made as many main events as Aprilia and LBM.
The following year, Aprilia and LBM, along with associate sponsor American Agip, combined their efforts to include The Grand AM Moto-St Endurance Road Race Series and their results again were nothing less than spectacular.
"On paper '09 was not as glorious as '08 and '07, however, going into the season we knew that it was going to be a building year," says David.
"In addition to almost winning a Grand National Twins Dirt Track race in '08, we were successful in winning the Moto-ST Road Race Championship in '07 and '08 with Ty Howard and Mike Himmelsbock riding. Budget cuts for '09 dictated that the team would focus solely on dirt track and not defend the Moto-ST Championship."
"Thanks to our product sponsors and continued financial support from American Agip, we entered '09 with the intention of improving the Aprilia flat-tracker (which lost the '08 Lima, Ohio National Half Mile by .017 seconds) and looking forward to the first win. Harley and Honda factory race engines have won every Twins National in the last 26 years so we were close but still needed a little luck. Unfortunately our rider, Kevin Atherton, was hurt during testing and would only race one race before we enlisted rookie Aaron King to finish the season on the Aprilia. Aaron did well and qualified for his first twins national," adds David.
In addition to developing the Aprilia, Lloyd Brothers Motorsports teamed up with Larry Pegram and built a couple of Ducati dirt-trackers. One was with a modified stock frame and the second bike had a custom dirt-track chassis. Larry made the main event first try at the famed Springfield Mile on the stock framed bike. No one can remember the last time that a stock framed bike made a Twins National. It has been at least 40 years. This Ducati is only the seond Ducati ever to make a dirt track national main event and the bike shows incredible promise.
"For 2010, American Agip has committed to be title sponsor of the team. We will be racing the Aprilia dirt trackers with Aaron King (son of former Harley Factory racer Rich King). Aaron is a great kid and has a lot of talent. He is young but has showed maturity beyond his years. 2010 will be his first full season on the AMA Pro Grand National Twins Series. Aaron is consistently getting better every time he rides the bike and we all believe that he will follow in his father's foot steps and have a solid season which will build a foundation for a great career."
The team also plans on racing the Ducati flat track bike in 2010. AMA Superbike winner, Larry Pegram, will again ride at selected events that do not conflict with his road-racing schedule. LBM is currently in the process of recruiting a top dirt-track rider to also ride the entire series aboard the Ducati.
"We use K&N Filter products exclusively on our race bikes," says David. "The high quality of K&N Filters makes it the only viable choice - especially on a dirt-track environment. 140 MPH in the deep cushion can really tear equipment up. Using K&N Filters and filter oil keeps our engines spotless inside."
"Product sponsors, like K&N Filters, make it possible for teams like ours to not only continue racing, but also to keep things clean so that we can win. And we clearly look forward to winning in 2010."
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.
That particular effort didn't go unnoticed by Aprilia USA, as they took LBM on as a support sponsor, combining to make 2006 a highly successful year by all measures. That year LBM ran in all 11 AMA Grand National Twins events, qualifying for the main event seven times. To put this in perspective, only nine established teams made more main events and only three additional teams made as many main events as Aprilia and LBM.
The following year, Aprilia and LBM, along with associate sponsor American Agip, combined their efforts to include The Grand AM Moto-St Endurance Road Race Series and their results again were nothing less than spectacular.
"On paper '09 was not as glorious as '08 and '07, however, going into the season we knew that it was going to be a building year," says David.
"In addition to almost winning a Grand National Twins Dirt Track race in '08, we were successful in winning the Moto-ST Road Race Championship in '07 and '08 with Ty Howard and Mike Himmelsbock riding. Budget cuts for '09 dictated that the team would focus solely on dirt track and not defend the Moto-ST Championship."
"Thanks to our product sponsors and continued financial support from American Agip, we entered '09 with the intention of improving the Aprilia flat-tracker (which lost the '08 Lima, Ohio National Half Mile by .017 seconds) and looking forward to the first win. Harley and Honda factory race engines have won every Twins National in the last 26 years so we were close but still needed a little luck. Unfortunately our rider, Kevin Atherton, was hurt during testing and would only race one race before we enlisted rookie Aaron King to finish the season on the Aprilia. Aaron did well and qualified for his first twins national," adds David.
In addition to developing the Aprilia, Lloyd Brothers Motorsports teamed up with Larry Pegram and built a couple of Ducati dirt-trackers. One was with a modified stock frame and the second bike had a custom dirt-track chassis. Larry made the main event first try at the famed Springfield Mile on the stock framed bike. No one can remember the last time that a stock framed bike made a Twins National. It has been at least 40 years. This Ducati is only the seond Ducati ever to make a dirt track national main event and the bike shows incredible promise.
"For 2010, American Agip has committed to be title sponsor of the team. We will be racing the Aprilia dirt trackers with Aaron King (son of former Harley Factory racer Rich King). Aaron is a great kid and has a lot of talent. He is young but has showed maturity beyond his years. 2010 will be his first full season on the AMA Pro Grand National Twins Series. Aaron is consistently getting better every time he rides the bike and we all believe that he will follow in his father's foot steps and have a solid season which will build a foundation for a great career."
The team also plans on racing the Ducati flat track bike in 2010. AMA Superbike winner, Larry Pegram, will again ride at selected events that do not conflict with his road-racing schedule. LBM is currently in the process of recruiting a top dirt-track rider to also ride the entire series aboard the Ducati.
"We use K&N Filter products exclusively on our race bikes," says David. "The high quality of K&N Filters makes it the only viable choice - especially on a dirt-track environment. 140 MPH in the deep cushion can really tear equipment up. Using K&N Filters and filter oil keeps our engines spotless inside."
"Product sponsors, like K&N Filters, make it possible for teams like ours to not only continue racing, but also to keep things clean so that we can win. And we clearly look forward to winning in 2010."
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.