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Victory "Project 156" Race To The Clouds by Roland Sands

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Project 156 has been built in conjunction with custom bike builder and former racer Roland Sands and will be ridden by American motorcycle journalist Don Canet who works for Cycle World magazine.

The Pikes Peak event signals a new beginning for Victory motorcycles which, along with America’s oldest motorcycle brand Indian, is part of the huge Polaris Industries company. Indian are taking the heritage fight to Harley-Davidson while Victory is now attempting to take the more ‘sporty’ end of the market.

   

The Victory Project 156 has been pulled together in just four months ahead of the race and is using help from Sands along with the resources of the massive Polaris company too. 

The prototype racing motorcycle, named Project 156 for the 156 turns in the Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb, also known as the Race to the Clouds, will feature a prototype V-twin liquid-cooled engine.

“We have an intense focus at Victory Motorcycles to prove the performance of our vehicles,” said Rod Krois, Victory General Manager. “Competing as an American OEM at America’s race is an exciting opportunity. The grueling conditions at Pike’s Peak provide the perfect proving ground for our new Project 156 race engine.”

   

Hand built prototype

“The Project 156 motorcycle is a hand-built road-racing bike with a prototype Victory motor developed at Victory’s Minnesota research and development facility. This liquid-cooled engine represents the future performance of the Victory brand. It features twin intake 67mm throttles with downdraft runners for maximum power and torque as well as a performance valvetrain including intake and exhaust valves made of titanium to allow for maximum engine speed.

The Roland Sands Design team developed and built the chassis to cradle the Project 156 motor. “This truly has been an all-American effort,” said Sands. “The Race to the Clouds is a legendary event and we couldn’t be more proud to partner with Victory on the endeavour. We’ve built lots of custom motorcycles, but building a purpose-built race bike for this project has been a unique experience that we’ll remember for a long time.”

What is Pikes Peak all about then?

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, an annual automobile and motorcycle hill climb to the summit of Pikes Peak, Colorado, will take place on June 28, 2015. Having started in 1916, it is the second-oldest motorsport event in America after the Indianapolis 500. The track measures 12.42 miles (19.99 km) over 156 turns, climbing 4,720 feet (1,440 m) from the start at Mile seven on Pike’s Peak Highway, to the finish at 14,110 feet (4,300 m), on grades averaging 7%.

“Ever since Victory and Roland Sands introduced me to this project I’ve been counting down the days to the event,” said Don Canet. “This will be my second time racing the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Now that I’ve had a taste of what it’s like I’m ready to get back and finish stronger in 2015.”

Source VictoryMotorcycles.com  & Roland Sands