AMCN looks back at four events that occurred during 2015 that will be spoken about for years to come.
Toby Price’s Dakar Podium
Toby Price, a 27-year-old from Singleton in New South Wales made his Dakar debut in January this year. “The goal is to finish,” he said. “If it’s in the top 20 or 15, I’ll be pretty happy.”
Price finished third overall in his first ever Dakar. The only other Australian to ever stand on the gruelling event’s podium was Andy Haydon. It was back in 1998 and he did it in the same fashion as Price, on his debut.
Aussie-built PGM V8
Ex-WSBK and MotoGP engineer Paul Maloney unveiled a production motorcycle to the world which he’d been meticulously building in his back shed for seven years. Created by bolting two Yamaha YZF-R1 cylinder blocks onto a shared crank, the unassuming Aussie created a diminutive 2000cc nakedbike capable of 334hp and 214Nm. The quality of the finish needs to be seen to be believed and it can be yours for $228k.
Harley Beat Honda
For the first time in as long as anyone can remember Harley-Davidson sold more roadbikes in Australia than any other brand. Half way through the calendar year, the American brand had sold 4566 brand-spanking new bikes compared to its nearest rival and once-dominant Honda, which sold 3980 new bikes in the same period.
Maddo’s Pipe Dream
Stunt rider Robbie Maddison had a dream: to ride on water. After many months of development and “30 or 40” sunk motorcycles, the 34-year-old Australian rider pulled off his most spectacular stunt to date. He rode a motorcycle towards and down the face of a 14-foot wave, the same way any board-mounted surfer would and succeeded… we think. The four-minute video Pipe Dream went viral with almost 21 million views and it’s not hard to see why.