Rider Magazine Insider

Ep. 17: Valerie Thompson, World’s Fastest Female Motorcycle Racer

Our guest is Valerie Thompson, a professional motorcycle drag racer and land-speed racer who holds the title of “World’s Fastest Female Motorcycle Racer.” She holds eight land-speed records and is a member of the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame, seven 200 MPH clubs and one 300 MPH club. In 2018, she piloted the BUB 7 Streamliner to a record speed of 328.467 mph and is the only female rider featured on the “World’s Top 10 Fastest Motorcycle Riders” list. At the 2021 Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials in August she will attempt to break the motorcycle land speed record of 376.363 mph. Valerie’s quest to become the world’s fastest motorcycle racer is the subject of the upcoming film documentary, “Rockets and Titans.”

Ep. 16: Wayne Rainey, president of MotoAmerica and motorcycle racing legend

Our guest is Wayne Rainey, president of MotoAmerica and a motorcycle racing legend. Rainey is a 2-time AMA Superbike champion (1983, 1987) and 3-time Grand Prix World Champion (1990-1992) in the premier 500cc class. In 1999 he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, and in 2000 FIM named Rainey a Grand Prix Legend. Rainey is the president of MotoAmerica, which has managed and promoted the AMA Superbike series since 2015. We discuss Rainey’s racing career, MotoAmerica’s efforts to grow U.S. motorcycle racing, and MotoAmerica’s different classes, including Honos Superbike and Mission King of the Baggers. The GEICO MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest will be July 9-11 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. Tickets are available online, and racing coverage can be streamed on MotoAmerica Live+ or watched on Fox Sports FS2 and MAVTV. Check out the MotoAmerica website for details.

Ep. 15: Longhaulpaul, Chasing the Cure: a million-mile motorcycle journey for MS

Our guest is Longhaulpaul (Paul Pelland), a long-distance motorcyclist who is Chasing the Cure: riding one million miles to raise money and awareness for multiple sclerosis (MS). Paul is a two-time Iron Butt Rally finisher (2001 and 2003). In 2005 he was diagnosed with MS, and in 2012 he began his mission to document riding one million miles. In the past eight years he has ridden 450,000 miles, raised $200,000 for charity, set three world records, and shared his story at over 250 events across the U.S. In July he will embark on his Nut on a Bolt ride: riding coast to coast in 50 hours on a custom Yamaha Star Bolt chopper. You can meet Longhaulpaul at all nine Progressive IMS Outdoors events in 2021. You can follow, donate, or support him via his website.

Ep. 14: Andy Goldfine, Aerostich founder and Ride to Work Day advocate

Our guest is Andy Goldfine, founder of Aerostich and inventor of the iconic Roadcrafter textile motorcycle suit. Andy is also event organizer for the International Motorcycle and Scooter Ride to Work Day, which takes place each year on the third Monday in June. The 30th annual event is scheduled for June 21, 2021. We talk about how Andy became a motorcyclist, what motivated him to invent the Roadcrafter, how products are selected for the Aerostich catalog, why motorcycling is a social good, the advantages of lane splitting/sharing, and other topics.

Ep. 13: Dr. Gregory W. Frazier, America’s #1 extreme motorcycle adventurer

Our guest is Dr. Gregory W. Frazier, who has traveled around the world six times on a motorcycle, including once with a passenger. He has ridden motorcycles on every continent, with well over 1,000,000 miles on his personal odometer. Dr. Frazier is a prolific author, photographer, and filmmaker, with 16 books, hundreds of articles, and 10 films to his credit. We talk about his new book, “Adventure Motorcyclist: Frazier Shrugged” (available through Sound Rider!), his circumnavigations of the globe, his pick for adventure motorcycle of the year, and other topics.