MINNEAPOLIS (February 21, 2018) – Robbie “Bugs” Pearson has joined forces with former GNC Crew Chief and Tuner Rick Canode of RJ Performance – making the privateer the latest to turn to Indian Motorcycle Racing’s Championship-winning Scout FTR750. The FTR750 captured the attention of privateers last season, as Indian Motorcycle Racing won the 2017 American Flat Track Manufacturer’s Championship and saw its factory Wrecking Crew sweep the 2017 standings.
Pearson will pilot the RJ Performance Indian Scout FTR750 at most rounds this season, beginning with the season opener, the Daytona TT on March 15. Pearson has been a professional flat track racer for more than 10 years. In 2017, he suffered an injury at the opener that kept him sidelined for most of the season.
“Everyone in the sport got a chance to see what the Indian Scout FTR750 can do, and I can truly say I’ve never been this excited to start a season,” said Pearson. “In all my years racing professionally, never have I seen bike that’s as race-ready as the Scout FTR750. I’m excited to start the season and hoping to go out and compete with the best of them.”
A powersports dealership in Ottumwa, IA, RJ Performance was established in 1982 by Canode. Since then, Canode has tuned for a number of professional racers, including his son, former National #39 Matt Burton.
“The whole team at RJ Performance is very excited that we can actually race a product that we sell,” said Canode, RJ Performance President. “We’re fortunate to get a rider with Robbie’s experience and speed on the track. We relish the underdog role and the task before us.”
Indian Motorcycle Racing has committed more than $350,000 in contingency incentives, including $25,000 for a Championship, $5,000 for first-place wins, $4,000 for second-place, $3,000 for third-place finishes, and payouts for up to 10th-place finishers.
“It’s great to see Indian Motorcycle’s engineering and technical strength in the hands of privateers,” said Gary Gray, Vice President – Racing, Service & Technology for Indian Motorcycle. “It’s pretty amazing that you can go out to an Indian Motorcycle dealer, buy an FTR750, and put it on the podium as Johnny Lewis did last season.”
