Eslick, the reigning AMA Daytona Sportbike champion and current points leader, dominated the time sheets all weekend, but had his hands full during the back-and-forth 10-lap race, nipping Holden at the line to take a narrow 0.055-second margin of victory with a last lap drafting pass at the finish line.

“It’s a super fun bike to ride, and I had a really fun race with Jake,” Eslick said. “He was struggling in a few spots to get it turned and on the last lap he missed a shift and hit the limiter. That killed his drive and kinda handed me the win. But I’d been practicing drafting him to the line on a few laps so I think I had it figured out anyway.”

The battle for the third step on the podium was equally thrilling, with brothers Kyle (Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Racing /RMR) and Travis Wyman (Harv’s Harley-Davidson Racing) battling with Jones Brothers Racing’s Eric Stump. The trio put on an impressive battle, with Stump eventually prevailing over Kyle Wyman by a mere 0.025-second gap. Travis Wyman finished fifth, followed by Shawn Conrad (WFOracingonline.com/Spyke’s Harley-Davidson), Joseph Rozynski (Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Racing/RMR), Aaron Frank (HOG Magazine/Vance & Hines), and John Ashmead (Brady-Schwemmer Racing).

Sunday’s race finished late in the afternoon after a four-hour delay caused by two separate red flag incidents, the first of which was caused by a loose oil filter on Kyle Wyman’s bike that resulted in he and another rider crashing in Turn five on the third lap of the race. During the restart, James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing rider Paul James got tangled with another bike just past the start/finish line, causing a second red flag. James returned to the track after a medical check, but was unable to join the final restart.

The Harley-Davidson Ride to Sturgis starts in Milwaukee with Bike Night at the Harley-Davidson Museum on Thursday, August 5 then journeys through the heart of the Midwest and Black Hills stopping at eight Harley-Davidson dealerships and landing in Sturgis on Tuesday, August 10.

Harley-Davidson executives scheduled to ride from Milwaukee to Sturgis include CEO Keith Wandell, President and COO Matt Levatich, SVP and Chief Styling Officer Willie G. Davidson, Vice President of the Harley-Davidson Museum Bill Davidson and SVP and Chief Marketing Officer Mark-Hans Richer. Harley-Davidson riders and customers are welcome to join the ride and relax with the groups at various stops and dealer events.

“We’ve enjoyed riding many miles with our customers over the years,” said Bill Davidson. “Riding from the Harley-Davidson Museum in our hometown of Milwaukee to Sturgis in the heart of the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota continues a tremendous tradition while giving us the chance to meet new friends along the way.”

The schedule (subject to change) of events for the Harley-Davidson Ride to Sturgis is as follows:

•Thursday, August 5: 5:45 p.m. – Bike Night at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee
•Friday, August 6: 7:30 a.m. – Riders pancake breakfast and depart from Harley-Davidson Museum
10 a.m. – Capital City Harley-Davidson, Madison, Wis.
2 p.m. – Bala’s Harley-Davidson, Mauston, Wis.
5:45 p.m. – La Crosse Area Harley-Davidson, La Crosse, Wis.
•Saturday, August 7: 8:30 a.m. – Rochester Harley-Davidson, Rochester, Minn.
◦11:15 a.m. – Mankato, Harley-Davidson, Mankato, Minn.
◦5:30 p.m. – J&L Harley-Davidson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
•Sunday, August 8: 3:30 p.m. – Peterson Harley-Davidson, Pierre, S.D.
•Monday, August 9: 2:30 p.m. – Black Hills Harley-Davidson, Rapid City, S.D.
•Tuesday, August 10: 2 p.m. – Harley-Davidson Motor Company riders arrive in Sturgis with the 10th Annual Dakota Thunder Motorcycle Run followed by a moving veteran’s tribute and B-1 fly-by over Main Street.
In addition to the Ride to Sturgis, Harley-Davidson will be hosting free events at two all-new locations in the heart of Sturgis this year. Visit 3rd and Lazelle streets from Friday, Aug. 6 through Saturday, Aug. 14 for the Harley-Davidson Road Tour featuring the newly released 2011 Harley-Davidson motorcycles, other Harley-Davidson products and H.O.G. members-only pin stop. Demo rides for the 2011 Harley-Davidson motorcycles will be available in Sturgis near Interstate 90 at Exit 30 beginning Saturday, Aug. 7 through Friday, Aug. 13.

So don’t miss the biggest party of the year for women riders, no matter what type of motorcycle you ride!

Come out and mingle with fellow riders and non-riders, including Karen Davidson, great-granddaughter of one of the co-founders of Harley-Davidson.

The Milwaukee event is highlighted by a Group Ride on Saturday that ends at the Downtown Street Party, featuring live music, great food, a beer garden and more.

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During May, H-D® dealers from across the globe are hosting rides and parties that celebrate women riders.

Check the Women’s Event Calendar or contact your local H-D® Dealership for details. And if you can get to Milwaukee, catch the big event May 22 – 23.

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