Higbee Racing - Shawn Higbee AMA Roadracer #11



Biography Resume Racebikes Sponsors Photo Gallery Video Gallery Race Blog Race Schedule Media Contact

BIOGRAPHY

Motorized two-wheeled vehicles have been part of Shawn Higbee’s life since as early as the age of 7. The freedom and independence that motorcycles offer was everything Shawn’s personality would become. As a youngster, off-road mini bikes grabbed his attention and never left him bored. At the pinnacle teenage years of freedom and independence, Shawn fell in love with fast street bikes. Subconsciously he swayed toward the same model bike Tom Cruise rode in the movie, Top Gun. The next influence came from an uncle with a cool lifestyle and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. This opened Shawn’s mind to working for Harley-Davidson of Jamestown immediately upon high school graduation. Although it was not his initial desire, Shawn’s ability to roll with the flow and accept fate enabled him to begin his road-racing career aboard a Harley-Davidson Sportster.

In just a few years, motorcycle road-racing quickly became Shawn’s professional career. In 1994, Shawn moved to California and shortly thereafter, he won the AMA Harley-Davidson Twinsports Championship for Bartels Harley-Davidson. While in California, Shawn was introduced to the movie industry. Occasionally he had the opportunity to demonstrate his impressive riding abilities during filmmaking that required an experienced motorcycle rider. Upon developing a winning reputation, Shawn began racing for the Fast By Ferracci, Factory Ducati Team in 1996. Unfortunately, the Ducati Superbike Team endured a problematic season that year.

In 1997, Motorcycle Online, a very progressive and cutting edge Internet Company, offered Shawn a ride aboard a Buell. Shawn filled the year by working for Motorcycle Online as a Journalist and Test Rider for various new motorcycle products. It turned out to be a very successful year; the team won the NASB Buell Lightning Championship! At the close of the 1997 race season, Shawn was invited to race internationally at the Macau GP. In what could be described as a trip of a lifetime, Shawn returned from the race with a 3rd place cup. Perhaps more importantly, is the fact that his name was put next to Kevin Schwantz as one of the few Americans to finish on the podium at the Macau GP.

Shawn began working for Buell Motorcycle Company 1998 and raced for Tilley Harley-Davidson/Buell. Strangely, for many years, Erik Buell and Don Tilley had been great figures of inspiration for Shawn. He first noticed Erik through a photo of him aboard a Harley-Davidson RoadRacer. For years, Shawn’s only job was racing. Now Shawn contributes to the Buell design efforts by sharing his knowledge and skills within the R&D department as a Development Rider and Test Technician. Shawn’s 1998 racing year ended on a great note, with victories aboard the Tilley HD, and earning the Harley-Davidson Twinsports World Cup. The Team finished 2nd in the very competitive AMA Pro Thunder series during 1998 and 1999.In addition to racing for Tilley’s during the 2000 season, Shawn also teamed up with KWS Motorsports/Millennium Technologies to compete in the Formula USA Unlimited Superbike Series. This was a successful season, as Shawn finished 2nd in the Formula USA Buell Lightning Series and 6th in the Unlimited Superbike Series.

The 2001 season became the best year for Shawn as he focused solely on the Unlimited Superbike Series with KWS Motorsports/Millennium Technologies and won the Championship! In 2002 Higbee continued to ride for the KWS Motorsports/Millennium Technologies Suzuki team. With consistent podium finishes Shawn finished 3rd overall in the 2002 FUSA Unlimited Superbike Series. The 2003 season was another remarkable season. Shawn was accredited as the top Privateer and finished 6th in the AMA Superbike Series for KWS Motorsports/Millennium Technologies team on a Suzuki supported GSXR 1000. In 2004 season Higbee finished just outside the top ten after an eventful year.

2005 was a fresh start at roadracing for Shawn Higbee as he created his own team. Higbee was set to race the Buell in the AMA Daytona 200 event but the weekend prior had crashed and severely damage his left hand. Part of his pinky finger was amputated and his ring finger was fused solid. He accidentally broke the ring finger a second time while it was still mending. The recovery was very slow, with multiple surgeries, and caused Shawn to sit out the 2006 racing season.

In the subsequent 2 years Higbee teamed up with RMR racing on the Buell in the Moto-ST series. This was a great series for Higbee to regain his winning confidence and hone his skills. Higbee’s riding began improving dramatically and race wins came quickly.
Then in 2007 a huge crash into the concrete wall at Iowa Speedway put Higbee out of commission for 3 months. Amazingly Shawn came back from a broken femur, hip, and clavacle to compete for the final round at Daytona in 2007. Throughout the 2008 season, he trained and honed his skills. By the end of the 2008 season his riding was better than ever, with an improved ability to slide both ends of the bike.

In 2009, on the downswing of the economy, Shawn quit Buell Motorcycle Company to race full time and raced a nearly stock, privateer Buell to 5th place in the Daytona 200. He also continued to run this own personal Buell 1125R in the Daytona Sportbike and Superbike classes throughout the AMA Roadracing year. Additionally, Higbee ran the Bartels' Buell 1125R locally in the Willow Springs events and maintains the Twins track record.

2010 - "The Year of Many Colors"

The 2010 season started off strong with the opportunity to compete on the Wheel's in Motion / Trumph Motors Yamaha R6. After spending a couple of WERA weekends testing and setting up the R6, Shawn set two track records at the WSMC Streets of Willow event in February. Another great opportunity came together just in time for Daytona to race the Moto Forza / Eric Nolan Ducati 1098 in AMA Superbike. With very little setup time on the bike, Shawn finished a very respectable 8th place in Supebike Race #1. Race two ended swiftly as setup issues got the better of Higbee as he crashed out while trying to better his race finish. After such a strong running in 2009 Daytona 200, the same team was put together to go for a podium finish on the Buell 1125 in 2010. Unfortunately a first lap crash ruined those aspirations but still managed to finish in 8th place on the Bartels HD / Antelope Valley HD sponsored Buell. In March Higbee went to the WSMC Willow Spring track and captured the F1 win on the Ducati 1098.

In May, Shawn was invited to ride the Zero/Agni Electric Bike Series in the TTXGP in 2010 and won the inaugural U.S. TTXGP race. The TTXGP is the first all-electric, zero emissions, motorcycle roadracing series. Azhar Hussain created the TTXGP series in 2008 and holds competitions in the Worldwide. In the US, TTXGP has held events at Infineon raceway, Laguna Seca, and Road America.

For 2012 the TTXGP will return to Infineon raceway on May 6th. More information is available at the TTXGP website, www.egrandprix.com.

More success happened while at the WSMC June Streets of Willow Event, with two new class lap time records on the Buell 1125.

The momemtum continued to the AMA Mid-Ohio event where Higbee raced the H.O.G racing XR1200 to finish an ultra competitive 2nd place. With high hopes things turned to be a struggle at the AMA Laguna Seca Event. The team worked hard and it was a great effort and strong presentation with new sponsor, Water Wellness Center. Bartels HD, Antelope Valley HD, MsXXFast.com, and BadWeatherBikers.com also sponsored the effort, for without the effort wouldn't have happened. However the desired top ten finish was elusive with 12th being the highest finish for the weekend.

After a few months to re-energize, the team pulled the trusty Buell 1125 out of storage to sweep the F1 race at the WSMC Streets race in October. Not only did Higbee win on the Buell but set yet another class lap time track record.

2011- "Sponsors On The Fly...."

2011 happened before any formal racing program could be secured. So Shawn had to use what equipment he had to stay in shape and keep his skill honed in hopes of mid-season racing opportunities. In January Higbee went to the WERA Las Vegas event and captured a win in the A Superbike class on the tired Buell 1125. It was a good showing for the weekend sponsors Henderson HD/Buell and U-Drift.

In June, Wes Orloff of WFOracingOnline.com hired Higbee to compete at Road America AMA XR1200 event. Additional sponsors including Millennium Technologies, Crotchrocket.TV, and Hal's HD made for a solid effort and strong 6th place finish. The field was very tight and Higbee was in the lead at one time but got shuffled back on the last lap. The HD XR1200 racing opportunities continued with the chance to race the H.O.G racing bike in the AMA Barber Motorsports event. After an impressive 3rd place qualifying position it was heartbreaking to have a mechanical DNF in the final event. In the late summer yet another new sponsor came on board, Southside Indianapolis HD/Buell in conjunction with Wes Orloff provided the means to compete in the Historic AMA XR1200 event at the famed Indianapolis speedway. In race one, the team was still sorting out the bike and getting up to speed but finished a respectable 6th place. Race two ended shortly after the race started, when the clutch failed on the starting line and forced Higbee to pull off the track. However the highlight of the 2011 season was at the end.

Through an amazing turn of events and bold moves, Rob Weaver of Crotchrocket.TV stepped up to sponsor Higbee with a ride on the new EBR1190RS. This was the bike that Shawn had been dreaming of riding for the past few years. In the matter of a week or so the bike was purchased, track prepped, and brought to the October WSMC Streets of Willow event. After 2 brief days of testing and setup, Higbee won the F1 race and set a new outright track record. With additional sponsorship from Shorai LFX battery, Higbee raced the EBR1190 at WSMC in November and won two out of three races.

2012 is fast approaching but there is much momentum and energy stirring around the idea of racing the Crotchrocket.TV EBR1190 in the AMA Superbike season. Plans are shaping up to compete in the WERA and WSMC events with expectations to secure funding to race the AMA Superbike event in Daytona. Racing is never predictable, so it is difficult to tell what will unfold this season. As with all previous years it will be a mixture of success, failure, fun and lots of hard work.