Airman begins motorcycle race series

  • Published
  • By Samuel King Jr.
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  At speeds up to 180 mph, Staff Sgt. Stephen Incledon will chase down his dream of professional racing as he begins a new season as an amateur in Florida Champion Cup series, Feb. 17.

The avionics specialist with the 96th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron has spent the last five years honing his skills as an amateur motorcycle racer. His off-time, weekends and excess cash are spent working on, practicing and racing 600 (cubic centimeter engine) sports bikes.

"I've been an adrenaline junkie my whole life," said Incledon, a Southern California native. "I tried parachuting, base-jumping and rock climbing. The first time I entered a turn at 130 mph with other racers, I knew this is what I'd been looking for."

It began while he was stationed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Incledon and his friends would ride their dirt bikes every other weekend in the canyons. On the other weekends, Incledon's friends would ride their street bikes. So in august 2007, he purchased his first street bike.

"I got tired of being left out, so I bought a bike," the NCO said smiling. "That's how it began."

During those street bike cruises, Incledon said he noticed he could handle the movement and speed of the motorcycle better than most of his friends. In 2010, during one of those rides, he met Kelly Rees, a motorcycle racing company owner and trainer.

At the request of a friend, Rees let Incledon run a few laps on a race track and immediately told him to pursue his racing license.

"Guys like him who are skilled and aggressive street riders need to take that ability to the track, because the street won't allow them to reach their capabilities without being extremely dangerous," said Rees.

Rees covered part of the cost for Incledon to attend the two-day racing license course. Though the course was difficult, Incledon said it was when he fell in love with the sport.

"They have experts out there testing you in the turns and seeing how you react to split-second changes at high speeds," he said. "Just imagine 20 riders with maxed adrenaline drag racing for a mile then playing chicken into the turn. That's what they were preparing us to handle."

Rees said he knew Incledon had potential right away.

"We see it in one out of every 100 riders who take the course," he said. "We could tell from their first lap, which guys are going to make it. Stephen was one of them."

After earning his license, it was literally off to the races. With help from Rees, Incledon began modifying his bike and entered his first race in 2011. He finished eighth out of 16 riders.

"I just didn't want to finish last," joked the wiry 26-year-old.

The following month, in only his second race weekend, he took third place at a track in Utah.

"That really blew me away," said Incledon, who kept a sticker over his bike's speedometer that read BRHF (breath, relax, have fun.) "There's really something here. I'm racing on older equipment and I'm earning top threes; I must be doing something right."

The following month, he took to a rain-soaked track in Utah with 60 other racers from various skill and bike categories.

With so many riders, the race was recorded by lap times. Incledon had no idea who he was racing against so he said he raced them all. It took a while for the results to come out, but later in the day, his friend came into the pit area showing off his third-place plaque.

"I was so happy for him and went over to congratulate him when he said 'this one's yours' and pulled out a first-place plaque," said Incledon. "It was such a special moment. I get emotional just recalling it."

After the win, sponsors took notice and Incledon got some help competing. To fund his racing, Incledon said he sacrificed wherever he could to have what he needed on race day.

"I lived on Ramen noodles to race," said the seven-year veteran. "At one point, I rode a bike to work to save money to buy racing fuel for the motorcycle."

Preparing and repairing his bike came easy for Incledon due to the mechanical training he received from the Air Force. Incledon described fixing aircraft and bikes like pieces of a puzzle.

"All of those parts and pieces can be overwhelming with the possibilities," he said. "Just like when you're racing, you have to draw your focus down to find that one problematic wire on the aircraft or hit my brake markers on the track. On the aircraft or on a bike, outside variables can be distracting and dangerous."

Incledon was able to avoid those distractions in route to more top three finishes. He was in third in the standings with only five races left when he got orders to Korea. A top-three finish in the final season standings would've earned him an expert license. He did not ride at all during his short tour.

After more than a year off the track, Incledon signed up for a race soon after his return from Korea.

Even after a bike maintenance issue cut his practice time short, he raced to a second-place finish in his first race back. The "podium" finish was motivator for Incledon to keep going, but he had orders to Eglin. To continue meant starting over in another part of the country with no connections, and no help close by.

He did however have a new number one fan, crew chief and wife, in Caitlin, who he'd wed while in Korea. Her enthusiasm and encouragement inspired him to continue.

"I couldn't do it without her," he said, grabbing her hand in his. "She has supported me all the way."

Once in Florida, he sent out race resumes to motorcycle and equipment companies to see if they'd sponsor him to compete in the Southeast amateur circuit in February.

Within two weeks, he had support and began preparing to race. He upgraded to a newer bike and began practicing again. He said his objective during the 10-month, 11-race season will be to achieve what he fell just short of in 2011, a top three finish in the final standings and the expert race license that comes with it.

Although he's had many close-calls and spills on the track, he said he has not been hurt badly while racing. He attributes that to the quality safety gear and procedures in place each time he climbs on the bike.

"My boots, gloves, chest and back protector and one-piece aren't the most comfortable especially when it's hot, but thanks to that gear, I've walked away from every wreck basically unscaved," said Incledon.

At recent crash in Florida, Incledon flew off his bike almost 90 yards, but due to the gear and keeping calm, he got back up and began making the necessary repairs to get back on the track.

"There's no way I could've walked away from that without the gear and training to go with it, he said. " There's a lot of attention placed on rider training and body position, but not as much on what to do when things go wrong. That's what you should learn first."

Incledon cannot explain why racing came so easy for him or why he advanced so quickly. He said somehow he's always been able to control and compartmentalize the chaos around him and remain calm in daunting situations. That natural ability had to be developed, though.

Incledon said he gains knowledge by following faster riders at practice and asking advice from crews in the pits. Before the race, he continuously runs over the course in his mind. Caitlin said she's seen him leaning into an imaginary turn while watching a replay of himself racing.

"Racing will always be a challenge for him," said Caitlin. It's impossible to achieve perfection so he'll always have a goal to reach for and build upon."

Incledon said his dream and ultimate goal is to race with the best in the American Motorcyclist Association with the Air Force as a possible sponsor. When the green flag drops on his first race Feb. 17, he'll speed toward the first turn and reach for that dream once again.