NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle State of the Union

[@stuartracing1]

It was nice to see him be so serious and explain all this perfectly...

[@markwatkins5416]

This guy deserves big sponsorship. His dedication to his class and the NHRA have no peer. Thanks for the look inside your shop and your engine.

[@ballpython10]

You say there is no advantage but you are using stuff made bye vh. Trye usen stuff not made by vh. Explain how when vh ran vtwin bike they dominated now they run susuki an no one else is wining again they are dominating. If the monster Tuff is the equivalent. Prove it run there stuff l.1 question for ya have you ran faster an beaten vh sponsored bikes even there rentals are slower. Ok forget it, its not worth it best if luck to ya.

[@keithkardell8285]

Happy 500th SJR. We're cheering for you all the way!

[@keithmacdonald5848]

great job steve, glad to see you are still at it, hope u remember our food fight in topeka kansas back in 94,, all the best for 2024..the crazy canuk,

[@rong4189]

Great job. I’m a car guy but NHRA approved ‘factory replacement’ aluminum cylinder heads years ago for Stock Eliminator because good factory iron castings were getting so scarce. Sounds the same to me.

[@stuartracing1]

He's a Vance&Hines customer 100%....

[@bartpang]

Not the cylinder head!

[@JeffKopis]

Guess what? Vance & Hines makes Pro Stock V-twin stuff too.

[@gregsidel3557]

Steve Johnson, I'm a fan of yours. I've been a fan of yours for many, many years. I've watched you come up in the fiand I am happy to say that when I watched ypull up to the line, I'm wanting you to win. And you are the only one that I want to see win, Thank you so much for the video. Thank you for your input on this particular situation. Because I've heard both sides of the fence. I never see you crying about something and I know you work your a** off to get where you're at and please keep on working.Because I really am rooting for you.Thank you so much for the video STEVE.

[@rodbrezinski8033]

I always root for you Steve when i watch you race your passion for the sport speaks volumes good luck this season

[@michealbarnes1447]

Love the Kool aid reference but grape is the best!😂😂😂 Have been a closet fan of Steve's but now I'm coming out! Great job Steve!🎉👊👍👏🔥🔥

[@TrevorMerkley-r7q]

That was great! I learned a lot about racing! Love ya Steve! Trevor. From the Valley!

[@dmeemd7787]

Congratulations on 500!!!!!!

[@tonyt8805]

Congratulations Steve 500th PSM Start!!! 🎉 🎉 💪🏾 😎 💪🏾 🎉 🎉

[@dougteply8609]

I remember a few years back, when Harley was teamed up with Vance & Hines, they were winning almost every race back then, where was the parity?, now Vance & Hines is running Suzuki's and they are winning almost every thing again, where is the parity?, it just smells a bit fishy when one company has a performance edge on the entire field and there is no parity being deployed, I thought this was a parity class, if one make has an edge on the field, some rule change should be employed to make things more even.

[@garypurnell5948]

Where was the parity when Matt Smith was winning? You can't have it both ways!!

[@dougteply8609]

@@garypurnell5948 I did not like it when HD was winning everything, I did not like it when Suzuki was winning everything several years before that and I don't like when any one Mark has total control over over the class, but it seems that over the last couple decades of pro stock bike, if Vance & Hines has the edge, the NHRA is very hesitant to enforce parity regulations against them.

[@jackstephens2519]

V&H definitely has an advantage. They have the entire class covered by over a tenth! Even the other Suzuki’s. I guess when you have a son working for NHRA and you donate a million dollars to them every year it makes the NHRA hesitant to enforce rules or reign in one team for parity.

[@dannysrigid]

@@jackstephens2519 I'm actually curious how Gaige gets a tenth over the field INCLUDING his team mate "on the same bike". No shade to Gaige, he's an awesome rider, but how does a rider among the best in the business gain a tenth without some sort of mechanical or aerodynamic advantage. Weight limit includes the rider, so the best scenario, he can place weight where it's needed. That leaves shift points, because reaction time does nothing for ET and top speed against the clock.

[@mostlycrue]

Steve, Thank you for standing up for Pro Stock Motorcycle. Great HONEST information. I wish you all the best this season. Congratulations on 5oo. Jeff

[@CruzanRastamon]

I think what he’s saying is when a company that donates a ton of money to the NHRA the perception is that they get favoritism where other companies use that can’t donate a million every year. I think the problem is that the “anybody” doesn’t have the budget to make similar parts, hence why the only major o e is V&H. It’s easy to say anyone can make it when you’re getting parts straight from the source. This is all is mute when the time difference should require a change. He said when he ran faster he got a penalty and it’s not being done with the Suzuki’s. Where’s the weight penalty? It’s a bit disingenuous to say if you wanna compete get your own parts made knowing no one else is currently making them and no team has a budget to make their own. I have no dog in the fight, I’ve heard both sides and I would agree with the v twin guys. Even if what said in this video is true it’s the perception when a team sponsor is giving the organization donations and there’s no rule changes when the team they’re sport spring is winning. Pouring money in parts might be good for V&H where it might not be for others.

[@gteefxr3094]

Stringing a coherent thought together is not your "strong suit", is it?

[@wrstew1272]

Great job on informing the public. The cost, and dangers of running a top notch motorcycle is definitely not for the faint of heart 😂

[@TenDegrees]

LOVE that TL1000R bodywork you touched on in this video! My favorite bike EVER! Would love to see a video on how you guys ran the ‘tiller’ drag racing back in the day!! I own an old, former AMA TLR race bike back from the ‘01 timeframe. It sat for approx 15 years so it’s been a project for sure m. I’ve spent the last year or so showing it some love so I can (one day) get her back onto the track.

[@larrylux]

Have always enjoyed your point of view Steve. 👍

[@MattYoung-s8i]

Glad you went through that. Sounds like Matt is following in his dad's footsteps

[@JeffKopis]

Exactly!

[@thastinger345]

I remember back when Harley basically owned the PSM series, they got special consideration and used parts no other racer could buy, which is why those bikes dominated for years.

[@Nike2141]

That was Vance and Hines cheating back then as usual.

[@evilsimeon]

@@Nike2141 It isn’t cheating if you are allowed.

[@TheImtoomuch]

I appreciate the technical information!

[@markmasser6404]

At last we finally see another side of the story! You cannot blame someone for following the rules. If you don’t like the rules, then go through the process to change them!👍🏻😎

[@MRR-qv3bw]

@7:30 SR18 isn't equivalent to that special red stuff made specifically for this motor but I'm sure you'll show us the data🤗

[@deelowe3]

Sounds like a pretty huge advantage to me. Let me summarize: - they get a new, better block - they get better aero - they get a custom crank - they get a better manifold - new fuel is being used before performance advantages are understood Maybe none of this the teams fault, but it sure sounds like nhra isnt maintaining a fair playing field.

[@NBSV1]

It’s been so heavily favored towards the V-twins for so long they’re trying to make things more even. In the past the twins had nearly double the displacement and a lower bike weight. Along with the I4 bikes needing to run an old engine with stock parts while the twins were basically all aftermarket stuff.

[@BradBailey-q7l]

Not one part of the Harley's are stock.

[@deelowe3]

@@BradBailey-q7l I didn't say they were.

[@DCzookster]

Thank you Steve, stand up guy and a great video

[@superdutyf450]

There's Steve good to see you on here. Good explanation of all of this madness. You know what it kind of reminds me of the Ford Dodge and Chevrolet issues in NASCAR, doesn't it?

[@boogiegmotorsports]

Thank you Steve but how close are you running to V&H?

[@ayev8tor]

Thank you. RESPECT from PHX

[@siriustraining1774]

Luv u Steve! Have a great race year!

[@bill-jl8od]

How come you have not won lately ?

[@anthonycope8637]

Lmao if the supplier has their own vehicle in the race you bet your ass they have the most hp on tap....I try to explain this theory to my wife with the NPK guys telling her that kye Kelly might get a good discount on his engines for being with the old man's daughter but all those engines are tested without the NOS in his shop and he may build 20 of them and the variance from 1 to 20 might only be 10 HP but he is putting that extra 10hp in his daughters car...

[@jackstephens2519]

@@anthonycope8637 that is a cold hard fact. It happens any time a builder or supplier has a dog in the hunt

[@kustomking101]

All talk aside, if something is not figured out soon this class is going to be history very very soon. All these parts need to be readily available now, right now! Let’s get it done.

[@Gorealaracer38]

Great explanation for it all neighbor! No crying when the vtwin rabbit had the gun though...WOW.😂

[@steveyork8069]

If Matt’s not winning he’s crying always been that way.When the Arana’s were dominating they were doing it on v-twins just like Matt but still crying and protesting.I remember the controversy over the dimpled belly pan he protested.Matt’s a many time champion can’t take that away but I think he’s just spoiled and his ego can’t take getting beat every week.Thanks Steve for doing this video.❤️👍

[@dannysrigid]

Matt Smith's complaint was that when his crank broke, they couldn't/wouldn't supply him with a new one. NOT that they make shit cranks. But then Steve was claiming Matt was comparing the V twins to the I4s. The most recent "complaint" from Matt was about them putting a tenth on even the rest of the Suzuki teams including the #2 V&H rider.

[@BradBailey-q7l]

Rider.

[@JeffKopis]

Who makes the blocks, heads, cranks, etc for Top Fuel Harleys?

[@1959nickd]

great video Steve

[@davidallison976]

Steve, it’s not you, it’s Vance & Hines don’t even give you exactly what they run!

[@peteloomis8456]

1/4 mile i thought all NHRA sanctioned drag strips were now 1,000 ft that was changed to slow down the guys running in the top fuel clases ?

[@JeffKopis]

The class would be so much more interesting and competitive if more bike companies were involved. How wild would it be to see Honda vs. Ducati vs Triumph vs INDIAN??

[@richardlong6097]

So Herrera was clearly head and shoulders above last year, and by Herrera I mean Andy Hines. However hearing Matt complain is laughable. Dude dominated for years and we didn't hear a peep, but now he sounds like Lewis Hamilton. Just last year in an interview he was complaining that he had to run the Suzuki bc of contract obligations but wanted to run the V-twin. While often over looked the intake runners are simply an extension of the port, so his runners could just be that much better. We'll just have to see but I've not seen Matt Smith talk without complaining in years. Literally every interview he's butt hurt about something.

[@MrSmith-vc8xd]

The Rules always favor the hines boys. Money buts happiness at the race track.

[@tjkim7994]

NO You only give part of the story and truth.

[@401jwalk]

Good job, and good luck.

[@souldoubtcustoms]

PSM is a joke when it comes to bike brands. Suzuki is the only inline 4 cylinder manufacturer allowed. Im sure Honda, Kawasaki, or Yamaha could build a better engine package. Furthermore, the V-twin is loosely based on a Buell engine. Buell has been out of business for years. These teams are using what parts are available and have been approved by the overlords (NHRA). If the goal is growing the class, it should be updated to allow for more manufacturers and different engine combinations. Thank you Steve for offering a different perspective than the one from the Smith camp.

[@ptgigg]

Well think about the nitro car categories where you have a KB or equivalent engine and a roots type supercharger. You cannot use anything else.

[@souldoubtcustoms]

@@ptgigg um....they go 330mph, and put butts in the stands.

[@RichClark-fk6qw]

Steve has always made NHRA racing interesting, Keep up the good job!

[@turbo-bike7999]

Remember Kawasaki wanted a case girdle to increase rigidity, I wonder who lead the lobbyists?🤔🤔🤔🤔 Being able to increase RPM from 11,000 to 14,000 IS an advantage!!!

[@josephdavis3686]

Great job Steve but damit, I wanted to see those head ports 😅😅😅.

[@pdr5926]

You want to even out the field? Pretty simple; just go back to stock cases and cylinder heads, or make available to anyone the aftermarket cases and generic cylinder heads that you could modify at will.

[@kanders1254]

Just another Vance and Hines lap dog.

[@garypurnell5948]

Not that at all. He's not a crybaby!!!

[@BradBailey-q7l]

160 vs 113

[@kev4fun12]

DO YOU Have the Same Head Joey Gladstone has,,,and V&H has....and NOBODY Else.??

[@michaelwynne4346]

He only uses V&H Crank and Case's

[@Spike-sk7ql]

He just got done saying the heads are the same. If you want that head, you can buy it.

[@donchomon]

Matt sitting in the back🤣

[@stevemoore1148]

Second time this week that I have ran across a video explaining from the inside perspective why NHRA sucks! Grassroots racing is where it is at although it has its own hurdles to overcome

[@joeyb6378]

running 1980s castings are there any other castings that are doing this I think not

[@Carl-y5q8t]

Steve Johnson is on the end with Vance & Hines everybody knows drag racing's dying because of Vance & Hines pro stock anyways okay so he's gone here to lie through his teeth but guess what go to the see the fields get smaller and smaller and and Steve Johnson can lie to his own a****** in the mirror

[@palugi03tt]

All do respect but 14k rpm can be made into an advantage over 11k rpm.

[@djdavis1869]

Sounds to me that v twin needs to step their game up and give us someone to watch. They won championships for years in a row, then gaige comes in the picture and puts the smack down lmao. If the rules were so off, how come a v twin has been in the finals almost every race this year? Gaige is just a bad man!!!!!

[@bigDadlovesliz]

Keep fighting and winning

[@danielgallegos8869]

Ive always like Steve Johnson... More so now

[@jefffellenbaum6450]

At the end of the day what sounds like a pro stock motorcycle engine on the track? An inline 4 at 14000 rpm or a v twin at 8000 rpm? Right? Argument over….

[@theamateurbackyardgardener543]

Why isn’t everyone using the same fuel at the track?

[@chriseastburn3551]

That was great!

[@danielgallegos8869]

So Vance and Hines has the market covered

[@JeffKopis]

Without Vance & Hines, NHRA PSM doesn't exist. Hell, all the OTHER bike brands, whether from Europe, Japan, or the US, don't even see any marketing value in participating in the class. They're not gonna make parts for it. If V&H doesn't, who will?

[@billgardiner9305]

Why not split the class ?? Pro Stock Vtwin and Pro Stock Inline 4 ?? Wouldn't that be better ? Im not sure you can ever achieve parity and if you do it wont be for very long. Just a suggestion.

[@butch9044]

IMO when a team find's something in performance there hot look how many championships have been won bob glidden john force rehr morrison you could see it remember when glidden would cover his intake so no one could see it and john force would cover the box that's the name of the game look now erica is dominating the pro stock class eventually some body get's a little edge

[@jackmaddock3568]

Harley Davidson gave NHRA money so they penciled in a weight break that gave Vance and Hines such an advantage they could have dominated PSM running a moped.

[@67stingray1]

Preach Steve Preach 👍👌👍

[@MichaelGuziak]

(( Hi Steve,,, You Are Correct SIR... *THANK YOU STEVE. ))

[@tomp538]

Seems to me that the word "stock" is what's at issue. Might be time to change the class name to maybe Pro Moto...

[@RK-de5wg]

The only problem here that you left out is about the availability of these parts needed for other racers from Vance and Hines! You never talked about that!

[@alvintarrer6914]

Rock on brother 👍☕️☕️✌️

[@evilsimeon]

Time for the twins to step up and innovate. Same for the other Suzukis. Just because you hear hooves doesn’t mean there are unicorns outside. Prove something or shut up.

[@charliehupp5385]

Steve , what the hell are you doing with carbs??? EFI was V/Twin's savior when they could not get carbs to work. I was there!!! OMG, how much more air could you get?? NOT FAIR!!!!!

[@BradBailey-q7l]

Matt Smith said his Harley makes 70 more pounds feet of torque.

[@Yarddog464]

Yes great job Steve. I heard this same stuff 30 yrs ago in Pro Stock someone was using additives in their fuel or tire softeners or the sun was on their side of the track all the time. It all comes down to play by the rules and do the best you can with what you have. Outthink them or out spend them. If you don't have the money they do, then you're in trouble. Same problem in Funny car or Top fuel bigger teams have more money more people, smaller teams were at a disadvantage.

[@ClintFisher-ui8fh]

Good job.

[@GeorgeHale-c3f]

I WAS a fan of Steve Johnson. You just made an absolute FOOL of yourself.

[@jackwillson8099]

The million air motorcycle racing club lol

[@mdoy5667]

NHRA. NATIONAL .FOREIGN BRANDS ARE NOT AMERICAN RACING IN THE NATION OF AMERICA. YAMAHA MAKES GOOD MOTORCYCLES . FRANKS AND BEANS .GO FAST WITH ELECTRIC BIKES!

[@typical88]

Toe the line 👍

[@shawndeck136]

Hes explaining all this to the normal guy that has no idea what hes talking about? If you think the body. The cases. And everything being extra strong is not an advantage that's bullshit You're not turned in v twin 14000 RPM.

[@Spike-sk7ql]

Ok, give the 4 cylinder guys that extra 50 ci of displacement then, and limit revs.

[@chriszasada9756]

Vance and Hines has screwed the class for many years, why would they stop now ? They constantly get their way with everything they do , started with Harley , no one could have Harley by VH , and now they don't give the other teams the same stuff the factory team has and it's been proven for awhile now .

[@RealDougFields]

Pro Stock Motorcycles do not have any Stock parts in them. This is the problem with attracting fans and even racers. Go back to a stock block/head class and allow displacement/weight changes to even the playing field. If the bikes were closer to what is being sold it would only help the class.

[@TimothyAverill-ly8hc]

Show me a stock/factory part on/in a pro stock car…

[@RealDougFields]

@@TimothyAverill-ly8hc -from what era? Pro Stock started as a stock (based) block/head based class.

[@TimothyAverill-ly8hc]

Current, that’s what you made your reference to about the bikes.

[@RealDougFields]

@@TimothyAverill-ly8hc Current doesnt mean shit. Current is a DEAD class. It would not exist if it started the way it is now.

[@jcballar100]

The problem is you ain’t getting the same case that the Vance and Hines team bike is using your getting a similar one come on dude the bike lost twice last season on a red light one time and a part failed the next no way that is fair

[@jamesmcbride16]

🎉suzuki 🎉

[@RonRussell-sj1zf]

You want to go fast? How Fa$$$$T do you want to go?

[@bartpang]

The V twin rider is a cry baby.

[@parentsbasement7734]

As long as vance and Hines are the puppet masters over the class rulebook people will continue to care less and less about a class where the winner will be one of the vance&Hines riders....shocker

[@jdcustomz]

Don't have a coin in this pond. My decernment is going off with this guy. Obvious he has a coin and bias.

[@JeffKopis]

"decernment"? Do you mean discernment? No matter how you spell it, that's an odd use of that word. But I know what ya mean.

[@JeffKopis]

For context, Steve Johnson and Matt Smith are BITTER rivals, and can't stand each other.

[@jcballar100]

If you really think they are gonna sell competition the EXACT same head you have lost your mind..why the hell would they…come on man how much Vance and Hines paying for this video

[@JeffKopis]

Ive never liked Matt Smith, or his weasely dad, Ricky.

[@pjg9267]

Steve was paid by V&H

[@DavidSmith-eu4lq]

You say the body was designed by computers with advanced technology to be better then turn right around and say it's not an advantage, well we don't know if it's better. Make up your mind!!

[@cnftnf]

Let's just suppose someone who has found an advantage through hard work, experimentation, money, etc. As long as it's "legal". Maybe make it like IROC or F1. Is that what we want? Hell no!!!

[@stephenpage-murray7226]

Silliest video I’ve seen for many years..

[@ThomasSauter-x9i]

If one brand wins continuously in the past there has been penalties why not now?

[@Clyde-2055]

Because it’s not just one brand, it’s one man …

[@MRR-qv3bw]

You shouldn't be running 1985 style cases and should be running 2020+ engine!

[@nicholasstephey8475]

Oh boy

[@perrym6937]

NHRA HAS MADE ME QUIT WATCHING DRAG RACING ON TV,,,,,RULES ARE RETARDED. EVERYTHING SHOULD BE SAME SIZE WIEGHT NO MATTER CONFIG

[@BradBailey-q7l]

Let the Suzuki's have 160 c.i.

[@toddclark332]

❤👍🔥1#

[@jeromevaldez7845]

You are FOS, I used root for you, but not any more! Ironic, I do not like Matt smith but even a blind man can see the corupness of nhra and Vance and Hines.

[@KevinLAmick]

Matt Smith is a DB always crying about something