Stage 6 of the Motorcycle TransAm took us 278 miles from Cape Girardeau, MO to Branson, MO. Sean called today’s route the rolly pollies, meaning big sweeping hills and turns that seemed to go on forever. From everything we’ve been hearing, the riders really enjoyed it.
Of course, a day like this does not come without challenges. A few bikes had technical issues, ranging from no spark at all to just not wanting to run correctly. Add in the Ozark elevation and it kept both riders and crews on their toes.
The biggest story of the day, though, belongs to Kat Kiyonaga. Kat is riding a 1910 Thor and until today had not made all of the miles in a single day, though she never stopped trying. On Stage 6 she did it. Kat completed all 278 miles on her Thor. She came in with a huge smile, a few tears, and all the pride in the world, and she earned every bit of it. What an incredible accomplishment on a machine that old and challenging to ride.
The grit and determination it takes to spend so many hours on the road, pushing yourself and your motorcycle to the limit, is something special. Kat showed that in full force today, and so did every rider out there. This group has no quit in them, and it is inspiring to watch.
The riders ended the day with tired bodies but full hearts. Stage 6 is in the books, and the TransAm rolls on.
Photos by: Kazuo Matsumoto, Ed Harriger
