Nobody said riding up the Pikes Peak course was going to be easy. Victory Motorcycles->ke1801 found that out the hard way when its much ballyhooed Project 156 suffered a crash during one of the practice sessions in preparation for the 2015 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb->ke1001 on June 28, 2015.

Part 4 of Victory’s ongoing web series documenting the story of Project 156 revolved entirely on the crash, which occurred when rider Don Canet lost control of the bike at the 12.42-mile course. Canet walked away from the crash unhurt, but unfortunately, the bike wasn’t as lucky.

As soon as it was sent back to the garage, the bike’s designer, Roland Sands Design, discovered a significant amount of damage on its prized creation. According to RSD’s Aaron Boss, the guardrail the bike crashed into hit the shocks at the exact spot where it would’ve dealt significant damages. The team eventually determined that the bike’s frame needed major straightening, which would require a complete rebuild of the entire design.

It’s not the kind of news you would expect to hear this close to the Race to the Clouds, especially with a bike that’s been as hyped as Project 156. But if there’s a silver lining to this, it’s that it happened early enough for Roland Sands Design to regroup and piece everything back together in time for the the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

Hopefully, there’s still enough time to do it because the event is less than a week away.

Continue reading to read more about Project 156’s unfortunate crash while practicing in Pikes Peak.

Why it matters

Victory Motorcycles and Roland Sands Design are saying all the right things now, but you have to wonder if the damages incurred by Project 156 is more serious than they’re letting on.

I’m having those thoughts right now and I can’t say with all certainty that I’m buying what the Victory and RSD are saying that rebuilding the bike is going to finish in time for the 2015 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 28, 2015.

In case you’re not in close proximity to a calendar, that’s less than a week from today. If the damages to the bike are as bad as I think they are, RSD’s going to have to burn the midnight oil for the next five days just to get Project 156 up and running again.

Watching that video was depressing, but the only thing worse that I can think of is the bike not being able to compete at the event because of the damages it suffered during a practice run. Really?! Practice?!

I’m hoping that RSD pulls through and finishes repairs on the bike in time for it to race this weekend. At this point, that’s my best case scenario. Forget about what it can accomplish in the race. The most important thing right now is that it can actually compete in the race.

Fair or not, the ball’s in your court, Roland Sands Design. Time to step up to the plate again.