Falkner Livingston Racing Competes as Spider Grips Ducati for Third Time in 2011

7 Feb 2011

Rider/owner Paul Livingston at Bonneville on a team Hayabusa - top speed currently is 206.958 mph.

In racing there's no greater foe than the clock - it's relentless, impervious to pressure, and unerring. To beat it, you gotta bring it, you're not going to cheat it. Case-in-point, Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, breaking the 10-minute barrier for the run up the 14,110-foot mountain, has long been the Holy Grail for speed junkies the world over.

Spider Grips Ducati Team at Ducati Newport Beach for Team Introduction - riders Greg Tracy and Alexander Smith are sandwiched between owners Becca and Paul Livingston.

Train loads of money have been tossed at the mountain in the form of exotic, steroid-jacked, muscle vehicles, yet the clock has still never been bested. But with a new year comes new promise, and just maybe, in 2011 rubber crosses the finish line before the last tic goes tock. And just maybe, Falkner Livingston Racing, aka, Spider Grips Ducati, will be the one.

"2010 Was a really terrific year for us - most notably we raced as Spider Grips Ducati at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in June and came home with a first and third place in the Pro 1200 class," said team co-owner Becca Livingston. Team manager, and the other owner, Paul Livingston, completes the dynamic speed duo. Piloting two brand new Ducati Multistrada 1200's, it was Greg Tracy that took first place, with teammate Alexander Smith taking third.

Greg Tracy's start off the line at Pikes Peak in 2010.

Greg Tracy and teammate Alexander Smith share a moment together on the line at Pikes Peak 2010.

"We really enjoyed partnering with Ducati - 2010 was our second time as team Spider Grips Ducati, and we're very happy to say that we're putting together the same program now for a third year in 2011."

The official Land Speed Season for FL Racing gets underway this year with the Mojave Mile in early April, it continues through Speed Week in August, and culminates with the World Finals in October. "The Pikes Peak Race takes place over the third week of June, and of course there is the Baja 1000 in November. Then we take a deep breath and relax a bit," adds Livingston.

Along with FL's successful Pikes Peak efforts, their twin Honda CBR600's - one turbo and one nitrous -

The Pikes Peak pit area - fondly nicknamed the "Taj Mahal."

made an admirable showing last season as well, reaching and exceeding speeds of over 200 miles per hour. According to Livingston, "The K&N air and oil filters on the bikes were a key part of finding that power."

"But, we were very focused on Pikes Peak, so our land speed efforts were directed more towards testing," stated Livingston. "This year we have some new things in the works for top speed, but like last year the Pikes Peak event in June will be our primary focus for this spring. The 10-minute mark at Pikes Peak is still a monumental goal - I'm not sure we'll have the course for it yet this year, but with the continued paving, it is a milestone that is on all of our minds."

The season opening Mojave Mile is a new event for the K&N sponsored team, "We only had one motorcycle there last year, because we just wanted to get a feel for the event," remarked Livingston. "The first one this year will be April 10th, and we're planning to bring a bigger arsenal, and to get some high speed testing in before Speed Week."

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