MotoAmerica CCS MotoGP ASRA Road Racing Photos NJMP
Michael ONeill Photographer Writer Motorcyclist Adventurer
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MotoAmerica CCS MotoGP ASRA Road Racing Photos NJMP

Even in the competitive, exciting and dangerous world of motorsports sometimes humor can come center stage. Such was the case at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) during the recent Championship Cup Series (CCS) race weekend. Apparently in the Moto prior to this one a small turtle had been struck by one of the motorcycles on the back stretch of the track during that contest. When the track was "cold" between motos the local population of seagulls swarmed in to take advantage of the fresh delicacy left on the asphalt. I guess I don’t have to tell you what happened next. The next moto began and these were the two lead motorcycles that crested the hill on the back stretch of the legendary Thunderbolt Course…probably in excess of 100 MPH. The seagulls scattered as the machines approached creating this humorous image of the riders surrounded by the surprised birds. Sometimes capturing great moments in motorsports can be serendipitous in nature…being in just the right place at just the right time. Such was the case here. Before the moto began I had taken up position just beyond the crest of the hill. I find this a good place to capture some exciting pictures at NJMP for the simple reason that many bikes, especially those not equipped with wheelie control, send their front wheels skyward as they crest the hill. I waited for these two bikes to approach and when I heard their engines at the right time I released the shutter of my camera. I had no idea, from my low angle camera position, that the birds were present. So, as planned, I got the shot of the two hard charging racing machines as they crested the hill. The birds were a serendipitous bonus. To give this story an even happier ending the editor of the motorcycle magazine I was shooting for that day is considering using this image as a two page panoramic spread in their publication with some catchy headline referencing "Flying". The Thunderbolt course at New Jersey Motorsports Park is one of my favorite venues for photographing road racing motorcycles. Next month I will be returning to NJMP on two occasions…once again for a Championship Cup Series event and then for the MotoAmerica Championship of New Jersey presented by K & N Filters. If you see me at the track stop over and say "Hello". Always love visiting with other motorcycle fanatics.