XDL SPORTBIKE FREESTYLE REPORT
Pictures by David Avila
Luke “Duke” Emmons gives you the inside scoop from Round 3 of the XDL Sportbike Freestyle Championship in Nashville, Tennessee.
 After a disappointing 6th place finish at the last round, I knew I had some work to do. When I got home I went back to the drawing board and rode double sessions almost every day. In this sport, as with any other, you get back what you put in. My last practice session before I left for TN left me working on my f4i after flipping it during a stoppie. After a couple hours of repair work, I gave it a quick test and then hit the open road for Nashville.
I had the feeling that it was going to rain in TN so every time it rained in CT I was on my bike getting comfortable with my tricks on a slick surface. After an uneventful drive to Nashville, I was ready for a busy Friday which included a bit of practice, qualifying, and the burn out competition. Unfortunately, I watched as my Shift teammate Chris “Teach” McNeil rode a little too aggressively and high sided during practice. He was unable to compete due to a wrecked bike and damaged knee. His Shift gear took the brunt of the complete yard sale. After talking to him recently, it sounds like he is on a fine road to recovery. My turn came to qualify and I ran a very well choreographed run which put me in third place for the event. After that, the burn out comp was in full effect. I had been working on leaning my bike harder and revving higher and I ended up finishing second on a saturated surface. The extra cash I earned from my finish made changing the tire worth the hassle. Friday night I thought about what the next day would bring and hoped for the best.
 I felt awesome when I woke up on Saturday. The first run I laid down was very nice which put me in second place. I wanted to come out strong in my first run because I still had one throw away in the bag. Old school factory Aprilia rider, Joe Dryden, baited me in my second run to park a stoppie on the k-rail and burn out without putting a foot down. I did it but probably would have felt the banner wrapping around my tire and rim if I had touched with a foot. Luckily Aaron from racing 905 and Dave Bolognese (my ace mechanic) were able to remove the debris from the rear tire of my F4i.
I had the opportunity for a re-start after it happened but was a little rattled and ran a decent run that knocked me back to fourth place. During my final run I was doing very well until I stalled a no handed circle wheelie and finished fourth on the day. I can’t help but wonder how the day would have turned out if the FMF banner hadn’t put a damper on my second run, but all in all I felt I had a successful showing.
At this point I am ranked third in the XDL Championship and am working hard to move up from there. I am not going to lie but I am not going to tell the truth. I have something up my Shift sleeve for LA and I hope to be the number one Shift rider there so I can give you all the lowdown once again.
I couldn’t have come close to getting fourth place in Nashville XDL without the help from SHIFT, Racing 905, Hindle Exhaust, Sparx Helmets, Warrior International, HEL brake lines, GPR Dampers, Ensoguitar.com, Amsoil, Shinko Tires, ASV levers, Thrust Co, Bike Styles, Stuntride.com, and Hohey Designs.
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