The Rush Job

Where were you a year ago?
It all looks easy now.
James Rispoli is dominating American Flat Track:
7 Victories in Production Twins this season.
James is the fastest Harley Davidson rider on the circuit.
Finally, Willie G. and the boys have something to be proud of.
It’s the synergy of right rider, right team and right bike.
Rispoli is in that magic flow state,
his riding burns with intensity,
his consistency uncanny.
The competition is rightly spooked.

A short while ago, things were different.
James returned to America
after the high of European Superbike racing.
He came home to his roots – flat track.
To prove he’d lost none of his mojo.
Despite the wild contrast between those two worlds.

On our first conversation, the connection was poor.
“Where are you calling from?
Are you still in Europe or something?”
James confessed he was in Mexico
stunt riding for movies NorteAmericanos will never see.
He realized I was shocked into silence by his revelation.
“Hey man, I’m getting paid good money to do what I love.”
I pictured him in some seedy bar checking out the local talent,
a Hemmingway-like existence.
He added that he was getting lots of seat time,
training every day,
but admitted the hours were long on set,
the endless waiting
before pulling off sketchy shit the locals wouldn’t dare.
To James, he was living the dream.
Making bank riding motorcycles.
While working deals for next season’s ride.
Here is a fighter who will not quit,
who knows how it feels to show up to a race with a negative $1000 balance.

James was stoked to land the Latus Harley-Davidson ride for the 2020 season.
There silver lining to the black cloud that is COVID
was the team had plenty of time to train.
They’d turned over 500 laps before the first race.
James spoke of a win-win situation
having the Latus team’s professionalism
plus the savvy of former champ Joe Kopp as team manager.

Motorcycle racing is a team sport:
great riding is not enough,
but a gifted rider like Rispoli puts wind in the team’s sails.
At the Indy Mile, an issue in the Semi meant a 17th spot start for the Main.
James blitzed thru the pack to climb to 4th on the first lap
and brought her home in 2nd place.
The next night, he won the main.
He was 12.32 seconds ahead of the pack when the checkers flew.
Riding like that inspires everyone.
It warms my heart to watch this fighter see such glorious success

[Post-script: James Rispoli won his Championship in the Production Twins category on Oct 16 2020]