Tyler O'Hara – King of the Baggers and Super Hooligans Competitor

Dale Spangler:

Welcome to Pit Pass Moto, a show that brings you deep dive interviews with the motorcycle industry insiders and racers that make the sport move.

I'm host Dale Spangler, and this week my guest is King of the Baggers and Super Hooligans competitor for the Factory Indian Race Team, Tyler O'Hara.

This episode is brought to you by MotoAmerica. See the fastest racing on two wheels, it's MotoAmerica Superbikes at Barber Park, May 19th through the 21st. See six classes of racing featuring 190 mile per hour Superbikes, it's fun for the whole family with available VIP and camping packages.

Treat yourself to the ultimate fan experience with the MotoAmerica VIP experience. It's MotoAmerica Superbikes at Barber Park, May 19th through the 21st. Get your tickets and camping spot today at motoamerica.com.

Let's get started. Tyler O'Hara, welcome back to Pit Pass Moto. It's always a pleasure having you on. I think you've been on like — I think at least this is probably the third time with me. So, you've probably been on quite a few times here on Pit Pass Moto, but how's your season been so far?

Tyler O’Hara:

Yeah, thanks for having me. It's great to be back Pit Pass. It's an honor. I'm doing well. Season has been going well, learning a lot. It's been challenging. We're not exactly where we want to be, but we're still in it and hungry. Looking forward to the next one.

Dale Spangler:

Yeah, so you already got a couple of rounds under your belt, the King of the Baggers event at Daytona experience, again, looks like you had a little trouble there, like 311 scores between the races. But on a positive note, you had the fastest top speed at 182 mile per hour. So, there's that at least, right?

Tyler O’Hara:

I mean, everybody wants to ride the fastest bagger, so I think we'll sell some bikes for that for sure. Obviously, we probably should have won both of those races, Friday. We missed the out lap, so had to start last and got a little lucky with some of my competitors breaking, so ended up on the podium. So, I scored some valuable points there and then Saturday we really had a good pace, and unfortunately, we had some technical issues. Let's just say that.

Dale Spangler:

Did the tire go away or something like that? Your tire kind of just went away, huh?

Tyler O’Hara:

Yeah, it started to come apart. Started to delaminate and actually we had four different tires. I had one in qualifying one and then Jeremy had one go off in race one, and he finished the race and I was like, “Man, you're gnarly, you're crazy.”

And then I had one go off and race two and all I could think about was finish the race. Score a point. Jeremy can do it, I can do it. So, it wasn't the bike or anything, it was just we didn't really have any other tire options and we're going three to four, five seconds faster than we were last year and highest mile per hour we've ever seen out of these things.

And we also learned a lot on our end as far as our tire warmers. We were actually overheating the tires before we got onto the track, so we actually had the tire pressure on the low recommended range, so when they actually get on the track they're cooling and then the tire pressure drops even more.

So, it's just learning, working with the manufacturers, tire manufacturers and trying to develop tires for these baggers. Because we’re right now running Superbike tires on a bagger, it’s 300 pounds heavier and going the same mile per hour, so finished 11th.

So, we scored some points there. Definitely hurt us as far as starting off with a bang on a track that we should have won both races. But we just raced at Atlanta, won that cash and then finished second in both races and felt like we learned a lot and we have the pace to go out and win races.

Dale Spangler:

Seems like there's just so much uncharted territory, like you're talking about this tire where, yeah, how many times has it been that scenario with those high of speeds and then with that heavy of a motorcycle? So yeah, I mean it's probably some serious learning for the tire manufacturers as well.

Tyler O’Hara:

Yeah, I mean never, no one's ever gone this fast on a bagger. I mean, I think the first year we're going 165, 167, maybe 170 and we bumped it up 10 miles per hour. We were about five miles an hour faster than our competitors and I think that's really what did it.

Dale Spangler:

Unreal. Well, you being a Factory Indian racer, you also raced the Super Hooligans class and so far you've dominated that with the opening round win there at Daytona with the perfect one/one. I'm curious to know, which bike do you prefer to ride at Daytona? Is the FTR more fun or the challenger?

Well obviously, maybe I know the answer to that after you told me about the tire, but is it kind of fun? Like it's got to be completely different on those two bikes?

Tyler O’Hara:

Yeah. It is a lot different. You definitely get more track time running two classes, which is nice. I just love to race and be on the track and it's an advantage for the King of the Baggers.

But I would say the King of the Baggers, going around the banking 180 miles an hour, spending the tire and I mean, you live more in one lap than some people live in a lifetime, especially at Daytona on these bikes and they're very stable and they're just a lot of fun. So much power. It's nothing quite like it.

Dale Spangler:

So overall, how was your off season though? Did you do anything new this year to prepare for 2023? I think I saw where you did some trials bike riding, which it's funny, you go such high speeds and then to go ride like a trials bike, but you're probably working on completely different skills.

Tyler O’Hara:

Yeah, absolutely. My teammate Jeremy McWilliams, they ride trials bikes over in Ireland and then Europe. I mean, that's what all the top guys are training on and for me it's bike skills, nose wheelies, front brakes, wheelies, circle wheelies and just trying to ride around without the clutch. And you can kind of just work on some stuff around the house without going a hundred miles an hour and it's just another tool.

But yeah, no, a lot of the same stuff that I did last year, still hitting the gym and I got flat track bikes out and some short tracks and TTs and stuff like that and it's just motocross, a lot of motocross at the house, GP tracks just getting in bike shape before Daytona.

And we went to Italy this off season, which is really cool with Indian motorcycle and went to Milan, Italy and that was really, really amazing experience. So, great off season. It was good to kind of unplug a bit and just spend some time with the family and now we're back in it, in the swing of things and I'm a hundred percent focused and confident and feeling good.

Dale Spangler:

I assume you're referring to EICMA in Europe, which for those out there who have never been to that show, I think I've been to it three times, but it's absolutely incredible. When you go there, your mind is just blown with how many motorcycles, you see all these exotic bikes, you meet a lot of amazing people too. Legendary people. I think it was Giacomo Agostini, I think that maybe you got to meet while you were over there as well and just had to be an amazing experience.

Tyler O’Hara:

Yeah, it was really, really cool. It was really amazing experience and like you said, it's just massive and then the city of Milan itself is just like a different world over there. Just really felt like I was in a movie or something. Just the architecture and everything's just, it's so old over there. It's really beautiful.

Dale Spangler:

Don't get me started on the food though. Geez. I mean it's like so good. Yeah, that was the start of my little pot belly I have now.

So, you mentioned like you came back to road Atlanta though for round two King of the Baggers and like you said you rebounded from Daytona with the two/two scores. So, tell us about, “the pass” where you backed that 600-pound challenger in and made the pass for second place.

Just blew my mind when I saw that the other day, just drifting that thing in like it was just a 300-pound bike but double that.

Tyler O’Hara:

Yeah, sheer will, determination basically didn't get the launch I wanted off the start and kind of single file through segment one and Kyle, if he gets a clear track, he is really tough, especially Atlanta, you got to get in front of him and try to control the pace.

But had a good run coming out of turn seven on Bobby and pulled the draft a bit and I've been riding this bike now longer than anybody, so I feel really comfortable on it and we've made a lot of steps with the ergonomics and just overall handling of the motorcycle.

And yeah, I was fully committed on that but honestly, I felt really comfortable at the same time and he kind of gave me some room there and then just I didn't realize how hung out and how backed in it … sure looked awesome and I'm glad it stuck. And I think it's just proof that we've really raised the bar on these baggers. We're really riding the wheels off them at this point.

Dale Spangler:

I mean, you look silky smooth, I assume it's kind of gone viral a little bit for you where people are just watching that over and over again. I mean I must have watched it 15 times, it's just so cool and just unreal.

Tyler O’Hara:

It's breaking the internet again now, it's all good. We're having fun out there and putting on a show for all these fans and it's really cool because we're getting such a new demographic of Indian motorcycle riders that are riding their bikes from the track from Minnesota, from South Carolina all over to come watch us race.

It's given a destination and my bike has got the same DNA as their bike off the street, so it's a lot of fun man. We're having a lot of fun out there.

Dale Spangler:

Yeah. I think it's brilliant marketing on Indian's part, just how you guys are racing those two bikes. I just feel like what better marketing example of how the product works than seeing a 600-pound bagger being raced on a road racecourse. And then same thing with the Super Hooligan naked bikes, so-

But it's funny story to back up, like we had one of your S&S team bosses on last week, David Zemla on the show, and I was like, “Man, it's amazing what you do on that thing.” And he's like, yeah, “A lot of times our whole team is kind of collectively holding their breath when you're on that challenger out there.” Because you're just like riding that thing to the limit.

Tyler O’Hara:

Yeah, at this point now when we're riding these bikes from the first session out, the first lap, it's a hundred percent focus and there's no riding around. I mean, you're trying to get that lap and if you just take a minute off, you're back in the grid, your 10th place at this point. There's so much depth now.

And the S&S boys, they work so hard all off season and just, they're a hundred percent committed. So, every time I'm on the bike, every time we win, it's we win.

So, it's a lot of fun and I'm just out there doing my best every session and like I said, I'm enjoying it and they're riding with me, and I found my niche, right?

Dale Spangler:

Yeah. So, how have, you kind of even spoke about it, like just the top speeds alone, how much they're going up each year. I mean, how have you seen these King of the Bagger and Hooligan bikes evolve in the short time that these series have been around?

You guys are running lap times that are not far off of Superbikes and Stock 1000s and all these other classes?

Tyler O’Hara:

Yeah, I mean the evolution from where we started to where we are, it's been nonstop. Especially when you have a rivalry with another manufacturer. Everyone's so motivated to win and we're learning from our competitors at the same time.

And the bikes have come so far, and we've gone through a couple different sets of forks and triple clamps, and I mean, we're going through pipes every weekend because we keep finding the limit as far as leaning, we’re dragging the pipes. So, we need a new pipe.

But just ergonomics and just front rear weight ballast and just nonstop R&D and the S&S team has really made a package where we're a mile per hour in acceleration, putting the power down on the ground. And now, I mean, I would just compare them to a full-on Superbike at this point.

I mean the rules are limited on some things, but we're getting to the sharp end of the stick as far as capabilities. But every time I go to a track, I never really put any limits on what a lap time should be or what I think it could be because every time we're just shattering the lap times from the previous year and new tires.

And I mean it's been really enjoyable to work with Indian Motorcycle, S&S Cycle, just on the development side of it and the engineers and everybody really working together and getting off the bike and have a simulator and telling me, “Hey, you got eight miles an hour up there and turning three and there's quite a bit of time up there.”

So, the next session I'm out there just focusing on that and just utilizing my resources the best I can and just solely focus on riding and the lap times come. And then it just blows people's minds, mine included sometimes on how fast looking back after the weekend, it's kind of just like a riding a controlled explosion. When you get off the bike, they're like, “Hey, where'd you pass Bobby?” I'm like, “I don't even remember, I couldn't tell you.”

Dale Spangler:

Well, I would assume that this development that's going into these bikes is eventually going to kind of trickle down into the production models. I actually just saw, I didn't even know anything about this till I saw it this morning, but Indian is actually going to make 29 Unlimited Edition Challenger RRs, I think they're calling it.

And so, they're going to sell 29 of these models, which I assume they'll probably go pretty quickly after people have watched one race. They're probably like, “I need to get my hands on one of those.”

Tyler O’Hara:

Yeah, that's something that's really, really amazing is that Indian Motorcycle has jumped on board and S&S Cycle is building these bikes at their headquarters in Viola, Wisconsin. It is the same spec as my 2022 King of the Baggers race spike champion.

I mean the mile per hour or the cams, it's legit. And for them to jump on board and to be able to make 29 of them, I only think there's three or four left.

Dale Spangler:

Wow.

Tyler O’Hara:

They've got orders, they're shipping them all over the world and it's really amazing and I think the goal is to bring that into more of a production street legal version at some point. But yeah, the wave of this King of the Baggers is just getting so big worldwide and they're such a following, and everyone wants the fastest bagger. So, it's a lot of fun.

Dale Spangler:

I would even go so far to say that the possibilities can probably go even further than say the Hooligans even with the bagger class. Because it seems like people can't get enough of it right now.

Tyler O’Hara:

Yeah, I mean I would just say the sky's the limit. I know there's been lots of talks with — and trying to do some stuff on the world championship level, whatever that comes to or exhibition.

But the European market, we're heading to Czech Republic right after Road America for the Indian rally over there. It's the world's biggest Indian motorcycle rally and it's in Czech Republic, so the reach is just getting bigger.

The fans are really authentic. I would compare it to soccer fans, really enthusiastic and just excited about it. It's something new. And then just watching the racing too, it's just so animated, let's just say.

So, it's awesome. I would say that Super Hooligans is definitely taking off as well. I would say probably more so in America, it gives the manufacturers another class to showcase their kind of upright motorcycles. And then also gives the riders another opportunity to race another class.

Dale Spangler:

We'll get back to the conversation in one moment, but first here's a word from our sponsor.

Indian does a lot of really neat I guess sort of one-off marketing things, like I saw where you did this single lap dual on FTRs around with Jeremy McWilliams. I mean, do you get to do a lot of fun stuff like that, being a Factory Indian racer?

Tyler O’Hara:

Yeah, it's really a dream come true man. I'm living the dream, I'd say. Just last weekend I was in Atlanta racing, flew home Monday, was home Monday, Tuesday, and then flew back up Thursday to Portland to go ride the Stock and then Challenger.

We're doing a Challenger to champion four-part series right now as far as the Stock bike to where we are at now on the racetrack. So, I got a full canyon road closed off to the public and got to go ride, rip up and down the canyon on a stock bike and just have fun and do burnouts and get videoed and just enjoy it.

And so, yeah, really enjoyed it and got to go to the one show, motorcycle show. We had the Indian Challenger RR, the actual number one, first one built on display there, so was able to go see the show and see the Indian demo team there as well and jumped on the plane, came back home and tomorrow morning we're heading back up to Wisconsin to visit S&S and La Crosse and then to Viola to visit the headquarters. And then we're testing on Friday at Road America.

So, it's a lot of sacrifices full of commitment, but this is what you live for. It's what you dream for as a motorcycle racer to really be the guy and to answer when they call on you.

Dale Spangler:

Beats that normal eight to five and I mean you almost have to probably pinch yourself like, wait, I'm getting paid to do this, I mean it's so cool.

But to back up a little bit again, like we mentioned Jeremy McWilliams, I mean what a legend. When I had David on last week, I was like, I remember seeing him race, I spent a couple years in Italy ‘98 and ‘99 working for Alpine Stars, and I saw Jeremy race back then in MotoGP and the guy's still going strong. I mean what a legend. It's got to be amazing to have a guy like that in your corner.

Tyler O’Hara:

I mean, you said he's a legend and he's still hungry as ever and for him to really kind of take me under his wing, it means the world to me. He's made me a better rider on the track but also off the track.

His knowledge is priceless. He makes everybody on the team better. He's very persistent as far as getting the best out of everybody on the team and the development of this motorcycle, I mean there's no one better that's rode so many different motorcycles to help the team and I'm old enough to where I know that I can learn from him and we're both alphas, but we can work together and support each other and we're like brothers for sure. It's really amazing.

Dale Spangler:

Now I think you kind of alluded to it, but his primary focus is really developing the bike, right?

Tyler O’Hara:

Yeah, so I mean launch control and just chassis and links and he's got so much experience testing and developing motorcycles. So yeah, I would say, he definitely helps, and we work together as far as developing the motorcycle and we both have the same feedback a lot of the times and he's just a little bit more articulate, which I've really picked up on and how to describe things to the team.

We have a lot of engineers that don't have much racing experience, so having him be able to draw a graph out of what the actual engine mapping looks like and having the engineers really learning from him as well and bouncing back off each other.

And so, yeah, developing the motorcycle, but the guy wants to win just as bad too. He's hungry. I mean last year we ran into each other racing for the lead at Laguna Seca, he's relentless and I've never met anybody like him. He still wants to win.

I mean last year he won Daytona and ran up front and podium. I mean he's still badass and he still wants to win and he's still hungry and we keep it 100 with each other on and off the track. But when we're on the track we race hard and he wants to keep his seat just like I want to keep my seat, so he's out there with something to prove.

Dale Spangler:

This is kind of funny, this is going to definitely date me a little bit, but like I said, I was back there in ‘98, ‘99 and that was the Mick Doohan era when they were riding the two-stroke 500s and wow, you want to talk about some scary machines. I mean those things, everything I heard about them was just like taming a 500 two-stroke on a road racecourse was just a whole different animal.

Tyler O’Hara:

Yeah. I'll say I don't know what that's like.

Dale Spangler:

Yes, you probably never got to experience those, which maybe is a good thing, probably.

I have to say though, the entire setup, this year for 2023, the Indian Factory setup, whether it's your race kit, your leathers, the pit setup, the bike setups, I mean it's a lit kit this year. I think it's probably one of the best looking setups I've seen in a while.

Tyler O’Hara:

Yeah, a hundred percent. I mean, Indian motorcycle really stepped up our program the first year we did this, we were in a sprinter box van, S&s van. And then, last year we were in an RV and this year we got a full-on hauler, and we got engineers coming from Indian motorcycle every weekend and our sponsors Progressive, Mission, Medallia, Parts Unlimited, Drag Specialties. Everybody's stepped up this year to help us try to win the championship again.

So, it's a lot of fun. I'm enjoying it. I'm super grateful. I'm blessed for the opportunity and going to make the most of it, so-

Dale Spangler:

I would assume though that's got to be put a little extra swagger in your step, like having that backing and knowing that you have that team that's just a hundred percent behind you. I mean it's just got to pump you up a little bit when you throw your leg over it each time.

Tyler O’Hara:

Oh yeah, man. I mean, like I said earlier, when I'm out there I'm riding with everybody. And obviously, there's pressure from the top down. My job is to win races and I understand that and pressure's a privilege.

So, for me to represent Indian Motorcycle and all my great sponsors, I want to win just as bad. But yeah, coming out the hauler, got the lit kit, Alpine Stars looking good, feeling good. Yeah, it's a little surreal sometimes, but at the same time I'm really enjoying it. I'm embracing it and I feel like I belong here as well.

Dale Spangler:

Awesome. So, what's next? I mean what is the kind of agenda for this summer for Indian and both classes. I think I read something about Indian’s going for the Triple Crown, so adding in the flat track element, Super Hooligan and King of the Baggers. I would imagine you just want to dominate. That's probably the end goal.

Tyler O’Hara:

Obviously the goal is to win. I would say for me personally, it's continuing to learn, always doing my best every time out on the track, letting the results take care of themselves.

It's a longer championship this year. We got 14 races, we have 10 races left. I've kind of already seen it, it's going to be all about consistency and finishing races, points make prizes. My motorcycle is very reliable, very confident in my team and S&S boys and giving me the best package every weekend.

So yeah, my goal right now is to go win some races and get back up and start leading this championship, controlling the championship and just take it one race at a time, one lap at a time, one event at a time and just keep the pressure on and enjoy it at the same time. Have the most fun out of anybody, having Jeremy as my teammate and just continue to learn and grow.

And at this point where we're at with the baggers, it's all about learning and developing and just getting the best out of everybody around us and pushing my team at some point and just enjoying it for sure.

Dale Spangler:

Well, I think the word that stuck out to me is enjoy. Because I feel like that sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. You get so focused and next thing you know, a couple years has gone by and you're like, “Whoa, wow, where did that time go?”

And like you said, to be able to just enjoy being in the moment and enjoy racing and riding your motorcycle. It's tough to stay in that mindset, but when you do, I would imagine it's just that much more rewarding.

Tyler O’Hara:

That's when you ride fast too. When you're loose, you're enjoying it, you're having fun, you're joking around, having that experience with Jeremy on the team is just, he's always just even keel and it’s always business and we never turn it off, that's for sure. Because we're always trying to get better and yeah, enjoying it, upgrading the rental car, just really enjoying it. Just enjoying this ride while this wave is getting bigger.

Dale Spangler:

I’m just curious though, when you get to that point towards the end of your career, if you weren't a motorcycle racer, is there something else in your life that you're similarly passionate about that would fill that two-wheel void?

Tyler O’Hara:

That's hard to say, man, because I've really just loved motorcycles. It's my first passion. I could see possibly itching in some sort of development rider for the Indian motorcycle down the road. So, continuing that relationship with Indian and continuing to develop these motorcycles for the consumer, I think would be my end job.

But if there was some way to get out on asphalt and race road course in a car, that'd be cool. That'd be really fun.

But right now, main focus is just winning this King of Baggers championship and also the Super Hooligans Championship and just focused on here and now and riding this wave as long as I can.

Dale Spangler:

Well, that sounds like a pretty good plan right there. And like you kind of alluded to, it sounds like down the road you'd probably want to stay involved in the sport, like you say, one way or another. That was kind of my path as well.

This has been my life since I was 12-years-old and instead of finding a normal job, I decided to stay in the industry and keep going with it. I feel like it's been my entire life. And it sounds like you're the same way.

Tyler O’Hara:

Yeah, I mean a hundred percent for all the kids out there, it's been a long road, but it's been the only road that I've ever really loved and there's a lot of people that say, what are you doing and why are you doing it? And you just stick to your gun, stick to your gut and you just never give up.

And three, four years ago I got an` opportunity of a lifetime and it's because I didn't give up. And just every session someone's watching. And you just play every play like it's your last, always just focus on your goals and write them down and create a plan and go after it. And that's what I would say as far as just sticking to it and chasing your dreams, man.

Dale Spangler:

Well, I wish you nothing but the best, Tyler. It's always a pleasure. Like I said, having you on and looking forward to seeing how the rest of the season go.

And for listeners out there, I thought I'd throw this in there, make sure you stay away from the Tyler O’Hara Instagram account. I saw that. I was kind of cracking up. There's so many of those fake accounts out there now. It's like, it's unreal, isn't it?

Tyler O’Hara:

There’s another one? Oh gosh, it's Tyler O'Hara Racing. Check us out, get a little behind the scenes action and yeah, see you in Road America.

Dale Spangler:

Yeah, next is Road America and then is that Hooligan and King of the Baggers for the next round?

Tyler O’Hara:

Just the King of the Baggers. And then we go to the Ridge, which is just going to be Hooligan.

Dale Spangler:

Oh, that's right.

Tyler O’Hara:

And then the next one will be Laguna Seca after that.

Dale Spangler:

The Ridge is the closest one to me here in Boise, so I was hoping to try and make it over there because it just looks like a amazing facility and just the area that it's in, I think it's like kind of in Northwest Washington where it's just a great place to be when the temperatures start to rise.

Tyler O’Hara:

Yeah.

Dale Spangler:

Well again, Tyler, appreciate your time today and all the best on the rest of your season.

Tyler O’Hara:

Thank you guys. Appreciate you having me on. Looking forward to the next time. Take care.

[Music Playing]

Dale Spangler:

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow Pit Pass Moto on your favorite podcast listening app so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, please rate and review our show. We'd appreciate it.

You can also follow us on social media or visit pitpassmoto.com where you can listen to past episodes and purchase your very own pit Pass Moto swag.

This has been a production of Evergreen Podcasts. A special thank you to Tommy Boy Halverson and the production team at Wessler Media.

I'm Dale Spangler. I hope you'll join us next week for another episode of Pit Pass Moto. Thanks for listening.