Motorcyclist

Motorcyclist Highlights from the September/October 2017 Issue

Framed: A Motorcycle Photo Diary

September 24, 2017

The best shots of the issue Framed and highlighted for you. Former trials rider Philipp Scholz fights to remain in the mix at this years Red Bull Hare Scramble, KTM’s Chris Fillmore sets out to break a record, and Pat Smage and Marc Freixa of Spain in a heated battle. Big powerful photos that capture the spirit and inspire you to ride, race or set out on your next motorcycle adventure. Save them for your desktop or mobile phone.

Rock Star

American trials standout Pat Smage was locked in a heated battle with 2016 US National MotoTrials Champion Marc Freixa of Spain, both riders trading wins and grasping for each precious point in the race for this year's title. After eight grueling rounds of competition, Smage clinched his ninth national title at the Exeter, Rhode Island, season finale, but it was at this event a week prior in Garrettsville, Ohio, where the Sherco USA rider threw down the gauntlet and made it all but impossible for the defending champ to repeat. —Brian HatanoShan Moore

Thrill Climb

Forging a seemingly impossible path on his KTM 250 EXC-F, former trials rider Philipp Scholz fights to remain in the mix during the 2017 Red Bull Hare Scramble. Held annually in the Erzberg mine in Austria since the mid-1990s, this brutal race contains 15 different checkpoints over four hours and is littered with beds of sharp rocks, deceptive ravines, and near-unimaginable hill climbs. Of the fastest 500 riders who qualified, only a handful were resilient enough to taunt the "Iron Giant" to the point of momentous defeat, all for a simple trophy—made of rock. —Brody CoxRed Bull

156 Corners, 1 Mistake

KTM's Chris Fillmore set out in his first attempt at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb to break the two-wheel course record established in 2012. That's when the 12.42-mile Colorado road was finally paved in its entirety. "Four corners from the summit," recalled the 1290 Super Duke R rider, "I came into this left kink they call 'Carl's Corner.' I didn't see the entrance and ran wide. I sat up, braked, put my leg out—full panic mode." Luckily, Fillmore found a patch of new pavement with grip and kept his record run—first in class, fifth overall—intact. "That one will haunt me for a while," he said. King of the mountain, indeed.Larry Chen

More Racing Stories

Roads: Ruta Y-150, Torres Del Paine National Park

Kavram via shutterstock.com

Some say Torres Del Paine National Park offers the most visually inspiring motorcycle riding on the planet. "Ruta Y-150" is the main road into the park, which is located in Chilean Patagonia near the southern tip of South America. Stunning vistas are the hallmark of this remote, rugged region. The gigantic granite peaks seen here stretching skyward are known as "Cuernos del Paine," or horns of blue, and—like the "towers" for which the park is named—are visible on a clear day from the road that skirts crystal-clear Lake Pehoe. The park attracts many visitors annually, despite harsh weather that can include extremely high winds. A word of caution: Nearest gas is in Puerto Natales, a couple of hours from the park entrance. —Matthew Miles

Two lightweight mini-adventure bikes on a tour up the coast.

Honda CRF250L Rally vs. Kawasaki Versys-X 300Spenser Robert