FORT WAYNE DAILY NEWS – June 4, 2009

FW Daily News/KPC Media covering freestyle riding and the Mayor’s ride sponsored by ABATE of Indiana and Woodson Motorsports: Decatur, IN; featuring Josh Borne

FORT WAYNE — Mike Ackels has a specific target Sunday.

He’s the general manager at Woodson Motorsports in downtown Fort Wayne and says motorcycle safety should be a priority for the 18-to-29 year old demographic.

“If there’s anyone we’d want to promote safety to it’d be the younger guys because they’re the ones on the high performance bikes that are 180 horsepower, so it’s more important to take safety classes, to wear the right equipment and to make sure they’re riding the right way,” Ackels said.

Ackels and thousands of bikes will take to Fort Wayne roads Sunday in the annual Mayor’s Ride. The ride begins at 10 a.m. at the Kmart, 7530 S. Anthony Blvd., and concludes in Decatur.

The Indiana chapter of the American Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) sponsors the ride, which cost $10 per rider.

Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry will read a proclamation, but will not participate in the ride because complications from a broken femur.

Ackels said organizers will shut down streets around the Adams County Courthouse and professional stunt rider Josh Borne will perform. Click here for video of Borne.

“The big thing is drag racing, stunting and going fast, but there’s no one going after these kids with safety in their way,” Ackels said. “That’s why I brought the stunt show on. We’re going to teach safety in a way they’re going to want to learn.”

And Borne shouldn’t disappoint. A Decatur native, Borne is a top-ranked competition rider on the XDL National Streetbike Freestyle circuit and a World Championship Finalist in 2007 and ’08.

“I will never ride a motorcycle without having a coat gloves and helmet,” Borne said. “I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t been wearing all my stuff and gear.”

Last year there were 3,500 bikes in the ride and Ackels said he expects 6,000 bikes Sunday.

Borne said he’ll excite the crowd with his extremely technical “stoppie” tricks — where a rider is up on the front wheel of the bike.

“I love being able to teach people the correct way and the proper way to do tricks,” said Borne, who resigned as an engineer with General Motors in 2006 to pursue freestyle riding full time. “I am so excited to finally come back to my home town. Nobody has ever actually seen what I do.”

For more information on the story, please visit FW Daily News.

Article by: FW Daily News; Dominic Adams