Get to Know a Chap Moto Employee: Blair Floyd Working as a parts associate for the past four years at Chaparral, Blair Floyd has established a firm understanding of what components can help a motorcycle perform better. Aside from using that wisdom to consult customers on parts selection for their motorcycles, ATVs and UTVs, Blair continues to expand his knowledge with firsthand experience by splitting time on either his 2008 Yamaha R6 or YZ125. As a kid, Blair had a strong desire to ride motorcycles, but it wasn’t until he took the Motorcycle Safety Foundation BasicRider Course when he was about 19 that he finally threw a leg over a motorcycle. And while the 250cc Honda Rebel provided during the training was a great bike to learn on, it wasn’t long after obtaining his M1 endorsement that Blair wanted to ride something with more power. He immediately resolved his need for speed by picking up his first street bike, a 2006 50th Anniversary YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION U.S.A. R6. The R6 opened up a whole new world for Blair—one fixated with lean angles and track times—as he began focusing the majority of his riding time road racing at facilities such as Chuckwalla Valley Raceway and the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. Blair says he prefers riding on closed course tracks rather than the street because it provides a safe environment for him to pursue personal challenges and push his riding abilities. Plus, it allows him to test the limits of his bike and get a better understanding of what it’s capable of doing. As he became more serious about racing, Blair replaced the 2006 R6 for a 2008 R6, which he has dedicated to track use only. He’s added performance upgrades such as an M4 exhaust, Vortex sprockets, Dunlop Motorcycle Tires Sportmax D211 GP-A tires, Galfer brake pads and brake lines, and a D.I.D. 520 chain. Not one to just take leisure laps on the track, Blair is serious about his riding and last year he started competing in the WERA Motorcycle Roadracing program. While he’s currently racing as a novice, Blair hopes to continue chipping away at his lap times so he can be more in line with AMA level racing. Currently, he’s looking forward to his upcoming race this weekend at Auto Club Speedway. One way Blair works to improve his riding skills is by sprinkling in a little dirt time riding his #YZ125 at Milestone MX Park. He says training in the dirt helps him learn to maintain bike control and stability when in a slide—plus he likes the fact that dirt can be a bit more forgiving on his bike and body.
Posted on: Wed, 23 Apr 2014 22:30:00 +0000
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