Press Release | June 19, 2019
Deus Ex Machina’s U.S. Motorcycle Design Director Michael “Woolie” Woolaway Returns to Pikes Peak International Hill Climb With Brand-New Build
This is a press release from Deus Press…
New 200-hp 1098 R Street Fighter Named “Beastie” to Make Race Debut
Venice, CA (June 18, 2019) – Michael “Woolie” Woolaway took everything he learned from his Pikes Peak experience last year and has set his sights on returning to the mountain with an even better build for the 97th annual running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), set to take place on June 30.
Woolie made his Pikes Peak debut last year turning a lot of heads with a second-place finish in the exhibition class with a fast time of 11:40.742.
This year he returns to the mountain with an even better build and an eye on the top step of the podium.
“After making it through the Pikes Peak race week last year and struggling with the bike we built, I asked Deus if they would be okay with me cranking out a new bike,” said Woolaway. As soon as they agreed, I jumped on the job, as it was all fresh in my head.”
Last year’s bike started as a Ducati Hyper SP. The only parts from that bike that made it to the new build are the front number plate and the seat section, front wheel and electronics. The internals from last year’s motor were put into a set of sand-cast cases from a 1098R used for the homologation of the World Superbike-spec 1098s in 2007. A Nova gear box was added. First gear is as tall as last year’s second gear and the gears are a closer ratio making for way better acceleration. The Hyper SP frame was swapped out for a Ducati Street Fighter with a welded-on head tube from a 999. The biggest change and what Woolie feels will give him a bigger advantage over last year’s bike is the longer magnesium swing arm and the World Super Bike pivot link with a shorter shock and adjuster.
“I got it wrong last year as I did not realize how tight the Pikes Peak course was, so I had to muscle the bike around a lot,” added Woolway. “The goal this year was to build a light, fast bike that was comfortable to ride and turned well and, more importantly, finished turns with ease.”
The new bike looks nothing like last year’s build and sits some 4 inches lower and sports a custom c.30 chrome-moly subframe. The gas tank, modeled after Mark Marquez’s Honda GP tank, holds just over three gallons and is made of 1100-O Aluminum.
“I wanted the gas tank to be skinny and feel like it wasn’t there, this bike is all about minimalism,” said Woolway. “If I don’t need it, it isn’t there!”
The motor was tuned by Mark Sutton, as he is known to be one of the best in the U.S. with the 1098 motors and is making over 180 hp at the wheel at 340-pounds wet. The bike also has no rider-aided electronics, so it’s all up to Woolie.
“Last year I learned so much, and it would be like writing a book to explain it all,” Woolway said. “It’s like no other in the world, and if I was to make a comparison to it, I would say it’s more like mountaineering in the sense that it is just brutal, but, after, you are left with so much sense of accomplishment even if you got it all wrong.”
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb takes place on Sunday, June 30. Over the span of 12.42 miles, racers partake in 156 turns to reach the 14,115-foot summit. The first PPIHC was held in 1916 and continues to be one of the world’s most challenging road races.
The debut of the Woolies’ new Deus Ex Machina build “Beastie” will showcase the race-proven craftsmanship Woolie puts into all of his builds.
| Motor: |
Ducati 1198R |
| Gear Box: |
Nova Racing close-ratio |
| Swingarm: |
Ram magnesium unit from Italy |
| Wheels: |
BST Carbon Fiber |
| Fork: |
Öhlins with an international kit |
| Shock: |
Öhlins TTX sorter then stock unit with different valving for the longer swingarm and different link. All WorldSBK spec. |
| Breaks: |
Brembo with full footing rotors from Braketech |
| Rotors: |
Braketech |
| ECU: |
Microtec |
| Exhaust: |
Ceramic-coated headers with twin carbon SC cans |
