Medallia Superbike Rider Flinders Gives “Max” Effort To Make It To COTA

April 9, 2022 1 min read

Hey Tex. Thrashed Bike Racing’s Max Flinders on track in Medallia Superbike at COTA. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Max Flinders’ pathway to both the Auto Parts 4 Less MotoAmerica Championship and U.S. citizenship began in his native country of England, continued to Louisiana when his father went to work for Rolls-Royce North America at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, and continued when his Dad took a job with GE Aviation in New Hampshire. Flinders is used to moving around a lot and logging a lot of miles traveling around the country with the MotoAmerica series. But, for round one of the Medallia Superbike Championship this weekend at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA), Flinders took his effort level to the Max.

An electrical problem with Flinders’ truck, the one he uses to haul his Thrashed Bike Racing Yamaha YZF-R1, associated equipment, and gear to all the MotoAmerica rounds, stranded him at Barber Motorsports Park where he had stopped to participate in a track day prior to COTA. With the help of friends in the area, he was able to get the disabled vehicle to a repair shop where he had to wait for the proper alternator to arrive. Luckily, his friend Scott Padgitt, Grid Marshal for MotoAmerica, lives in nearby Birmingham, and he welcomed Flinders into his home and gave him a place to sleep.

Marathon runners Padgitt and Flinders display their awards post-race. Foot race, that is. Photo courtesy of Max Flinders.

Padgitt is an accomplished long-distance runner, and he had a race scheduled. While most house guests would certainly attend their friend’s scheduled event to cheer them on, Max, who had never before run a marathon, decided to join Padgitt. Once again, Flinders gave Max effort in the 15K event, and he ended up eighth in his age group.

Following that impromptu training session and the subsequent celebrations, Flinders still wasn’t able to get his his truck repaired, so, with help from Epic Beard Photographer Jeff Heiser and his vehicle, Flinders successfuly made it to COTA in time to practice and qualify for this weekend’s races.

Now, about that broken-down vehicle up in Birmingham. Well, that’s a subject for Monday because, this weekend is all about racing. And Max is in the show.

The post Medallia Superbike Rider Flinders Gives “Max” Effort To Make It To COTA appeared first on MotoAmerica.