Richie Morris racing disqualified from Moto-ST Iowa race

Crash-Damaged Bike was Unable to Complete Post-Race Dyno Inspection

NEWTON, Iowa (July 16, 2007) – Two days after the Richie Morris Racing/Daytona Harley-Davidson/Buell team was declared the winner of the Grand Sport Touring (GST) class in the Iowa Speedway 500K, the team has been disqualified for failing to report to post-race technical inspection. The disqualification elevated the James Gang Racing/Hoban Brothers Buell XB12R ridden by Paul James and Jeff Johnson to first place in the GST class.

Richie Morris Racing rider Shawn Higbee and his teammate, Dan Bilansky, were leading the GST class by three laps at the time of the accident, which was reportedly caused by contact with another rider and resulted in a red flag that brought the scheduled three-hour race to an early end after 163 laps. Their Buell XB12R Firebolt was heavily damaged in a fire after crashing into the track’s outside wall. MOTO-ST rules require the top three finishing motorcycles in each class to pass a post-race chassis dyno certification regardless of crash damage or mechanical malfunction, which the Richie Morris Racing entry was unable to do.

Higbee remains in fair condition at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines with a compound-fractured femur and a broken pelvis and shoulder. SpeedWerks.com Suzuki rider Brian Kcraget of Danville, Va., who was following Higbee and reportedly crashed after striking debris from Higbee’s motorcycle, is in critical condition in a medically induced coma after being transported by helicopter to the same hospital.


Buell Motorcycle Company, a subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, Inc., produces sport motorcycles, motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel.