Rennie Scaysbrook | December 31, 2019
Photography by Karen E Ott
We are huge fans of supermoto here at Cycle News. We’ve done various project builds using the Suzuki RM-Z450 over the years and I even went as far as to buy my own 2019 Husqvarna FS450, which, in my opinion, is the best training tool for road racing you can buy—aside from actual road racing (if you can afford the tire bill).
A few famous names have been to the Live 100 Moto training camps, including Tech3 KTM MotoGP rider, Iker Lecuona.
Alistair Fagan of British video publication 44 Teeth back in 2018 that “supermoto, in the UK, is about as loved as syphilis.” Sadly, that could also be the case for the last 10 years or so of the sport here in America. But the times for supermoto are changing, and the sport is once again on the rise.
The cost of entry is reasonably low for a cheap bike, but then you need all the gear to actually go supermoto racing—wheels, tires, brakes, suspension—it all adds up very quickly.
Now, there’s a different alternative. Albanian-born, SoCal-based Djamil Sakhri has created Live 100 Moto, a company you can rent the same bike like mine in the Husqvarna FS450, do a school day or even go racing as part of Team Live 100 Moto at Adams Kart Track in Riverside or Apex Raceway in Perris.
Djamil Sakhri (center) is hoping to revamp the sport of supermoto across the U.S.
It’s a new take on the rent-a-racer program that’s been used in the motorcycle industry for decades and aims to get the sport of supermoto back on everyone’s radar.
With the AMA Supermoto Championship starting to find its feet again under the guidance of new boss Alex Mock, supermoto is in the best position it’s been for many years and companies like Live 100 Moto may have just hit the ground running at the right time.
CN: What brought on the idea to do this supermoto school?
DS: I used to race supermoto and I’ve been promoting a lot of races back home in Algeria where I came from. That’s my background, along with motocross and enduro. Then when I came to the U.S. in 2010, I was racing a couple of dirt races and I start racing supermoto in again in 2013.
I created a company that was kind of like a services operator. Stuff like a supermoto school, motocross training, racing a Lamborghini, renting exotic cars, and fun stuff to do in Los Angeles. It was a bit like Expedia but more for outdoor activities.
Live 100 Moto runs a fleet of 2019 Husqvarna FS450 race bikes.
I was basically sending clients to Brian at SoCal Supermoto and ended up doing work for other people, so it wasn’t worth it for me.
Then I decided to focus on supermoto, so I created this advanced riding school. I didn’t want to be the competitor for SoCal Supermoto. That was the greatest idea because so many riders, road racers, canyon riders, want to get a better rider, and especially after doing SoCal Supermoto school, they want something better. No one was offering something it, with a better bike and advanced, technical rider training.
MotoAmerica racer Chad Lewin has been helping me a lot, and people are loving what we do. We’re offering the top-notch material. Brand-new bikes, tire warmers, generators—it’s just like a real racing team.
Have you got an affiliation going Husqvarna?
Actually, no. I tried to get something going with them but I had to purchase everything on my own. I have a couple of sponsorships like Dunlop, who cover the cost of the tires, and we also partner with AMA Pro Supermoto, Motion Pro, Toxic Moto Racing, Moto-D, and Cycra. We have Enzo leather suits, who specialize in supermoto leather suits. We also have Three Brothers who provide some mechanical service and parts.
MotoAmerica racer Chad Lewin is a Live 100 Moto regular.
So, you’re basically doing an arrive and race deal as well, aren’t you? People can rent your bikes to go and race?
Exactly. We are having guys coming from the east coast who don’t want to travel with their gear bags. They don’t have a bike to transport or deal with any of that. They just come, get ready, we rent them the bike and provide the mechanic and they go racing.
What’s that cost?
The racing costs $595 for the day. If they decide to do the base package with a used tire. If they want fresh tires, we’re going to sell them the tires at cost. We’re not going to make money on that. We just want them to get fresh tires on the bike. That cost is $950 for the race day with new front and rear tires.
What’s the take-up? Are more people getting fresh tires or just running what they’ve got?
Most of them running how they are. Sometimes people ask for brand new tires. I had guys coming from Switzerland for a supermoto race. They booked their spot a year in advance, and they wanted brand-new fresh tires on their bikes.
Sakhri (5) helps out with the coaching, along with head coach Parker Pitman.
How has the school been going?
The school has been going well, but it goes up and down. The summer was very busy. I was surprised, especially considering the heat. I was expecting it to be really slow, but I was crazy busy. I was booked up almost every weekend.
How often do the courses run?
Two to three times a month. Apex at Perris is my main track. My clientele mainly come from a road racing, so I suggest them to use Apex as a very technical track. It’s dedicated more for a road race style. Of course, some customers prefer Adams Kart Track, so I give them that option as well.
Are you looking at expanding this program outside of California?
Absolutely. That’s the goal. We tried to stay focused only in California for now, but the goal is to travel all over the U.S. providing this service.
Joe Roberts gets down on the Husqvarna FS450.
Who’s been the main guys who have done it? You mentioned Chad Lewin. Who else have you had on the bikes?
For now, I have Chad as a regular, but we have also had (Moto2 rider) Joe Roberts and (MotoGP rider) Iker Lecuona on board. We get lots of different guest instructors coming, who team up with our head coach Parker Pitman. Parker’s raced for many years in AMA Supermoto and is a huge asset for the business.
