Flat track BMW F800
American Beemer When you’re good, you’re good. And Ron Wood is good. He’s been building winning flat-trackers for 30-plus years, so it should come as no surprise that his latest creation, powered by the inclined-Twin from BMW’s new F800, was right in the ballpark handling-wise, right off the workbench. A shakedown run by a national-number rider at the Willow Springs dirt-track went like this. Wood (to rider after 10 laps): “What’s she need?” Rider: “Nothing.” Wood: “Well, go out and burn off another 20 laps, ride it hard.” Twenty laps later. Wood: “So?” Rider: “We’re done. It’s good.” A regional race in Tucson with a no-name rider in the saddle led to a DNQ, but last month against a field of mostly national riders on Harleys and Suzukis, the Wood-BMW finished fifth with up-and-comer Brandon Bergen doing the honors. Next up was a bigger test at the Pomona “Pacific Coast Nationals” on November 10, Bergen again at the controls. First practice was promising, but one d...