FTWCO Race Team: Oleg Pianykh

Showing posts with label Oleg Pianykh. Show all posts

Oleg Pianykh

I had a couple of races in August. As always ups and downs. Had good pace at both tracks, and actually set a new superstock lap record at Pueblo Motorsports Park.

The downs... at Pueblo, during Friday practice I went out and on my 4th lap I was going down the back straightaway as I saw a slow rider up ahead, it looked like something was wrong with his bike. He was on the raceline instead of on the right like he should of been. I went to the right side of the track to avoid him, and as I was nearing him he turned around and swerved right into my path. I had no time to react fully, all I did was my best to avoid hitting him head by turning right as hard as possible. I still ended up rear ending him. Data shows I hit him at 119 mph, I was still full throttle and didnt even get off the gas. He was going about 15-20mph. I flew over him, my bike was about 50 yards ahead of me. Luckily we are both still alive. That was the gnarliest thing that has ever happened to me on a bike. I attached a pic of my front wheel which hit his bike, take a look at the brake rotor :). I went to the hospital, but was able to race the next day, and won my race.

Now I am getting ready to head down south and do some races in Chuckwalla Raceway in California, and some commercial work for Yamaha.

Hope you guys had a great labor day!

Cheers!

Oleg Pianykh

Hey Jeff and Brad (FTWCO),

Hope all is well with you guys. I see you are working on a new shop, I am excited to see it finished.

Sorry for the lack of pictures recently, here is a quick update. Right now I am just getting ready for the season. Its been a couple of months since I have been on a racebike and I am really missing it. I will be back on the R1 this year, racing the full MRA (Colorado) season, CVMA (Chuckwalla California) season, and some select MotoAmerica rounds. Will be a busy schedule but I am looking forward to it.

Next weekend I am going to Moab, UT to ride some dirtbikes for the weekend, and after that I hope to be on a bike of some sort every weekend for the rest of the year.

Currently getting the engine refreshed on the racebike, I got your email about getting up from the computer while I was at the shop and I turned around and took some pictures. My racebike (engineless) and some other bikes I am getting ready for a few people for the season.

This weekend I also had the awards banquet for the 2015 USBA season, I received my #1 plate. It is the 4th year in a row for me getting the number one plate with the USBA but next year I wont be racing that series so it is time for someone else to earn it.

Let me know if you guys are ever out this way, would love to buy you guys a beer and show you the race shop.

Thank you for all the love and support, let me know how I can help FTWCo!

Cheers,

Oleg Pianykh

Hey guys,

Sorry it's been so long since I have checked in. Been busy, but blah blah that is just stupid excuses, I should of emailed more often.

The race season has been busy but overall good so far. This year I got some support from factory Yamaha, and got on the new 2015 R1. I have been racing Suzukis for years so its a big change for me but I am excited. I have relationship with the Yamaha guys since I do all the riding for their commercial shoots for several years now.

Anyways the 2015 R1 is a pretty cool bike. Completely different than their previous generations. Lots of trick parts on it, which is a blessing and curse, since the bike has just been barely released all the teams, including us, are still learning about the bike and trying to figure it out (like the tank isnt large enough to finish MotoAmerica races at some tracks). Also getting parts for the thing is very hard, our engine is completely stock still. The stock bike comes with all sorts of trick electronics like Traction Control, Slide Control, Wheelie Control, and ABS. We spent the first couple of days at the track just working on turning that shit off or getting rid of those systems, because they work well for the street or trackdays, but are too intrusive for racing. There is some cool technology out there now that lets you unlock ECUs, and now we have some race versions of wheelie control and TC which we use and they work well.

Well enough about the bike. How has my season been. I started off late, we didnt get the bike till end of March so we didnt have much time to set it up. To stay fresh, I went and raced the teams old Suzuki in a MWGP race in Pahrump in March. Ended up setting the overall track record there. Then switched to the new bike. Was able to win my first two races in Utah on it. The next round I had some issues, and ended up finishing second. Then went and raced in Colorado and was able to walk away with all wins there too. Hung out with Carl Sorensen there for a bit, I beleive he sent you a pic of us. Last weekend went really good, got a good set up on the bike and was able to win races in Utah againsts some tough competition. Up next we are getting ready for some MotoAmerica races.

Hope all is well with you guys. Like always, love your instagram feed, the bike you guys are working on is bad ass!

I attached a few pics, feel free to do whatever you want with them.

Thank you again for the awesome moto jerseys and reprinting them to get my name right.

Oleg Pianykh

Its the off season, shitiest time of year. Just trying finalize sponsorship deals for next year and get the season going. A lot of preseason testing and work to do still. But we are trying to finalize deals with manufacturers, to determine if we gonna go with Yamaha or BMW.

Most of the superbike pictures below are from last season or earlier, and some from the Yamaha R1 commercial I rode for. Its been warm, so I have been riding a lot of MX bikes. I broke my collarbone 5 weeks ago, have matching plates now. But the plates are are awesome, i was back on the bike in less than two weeks.

My girlfriend just got me your guys' van shirt, its fucking awesome!

Hope spring comes soon!