2016 PPIHC Motorcycle Results
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is no joke. The race is set on the public Pikes Peak Highway in Colorado, and contains 156 corners – mostly hairpin and blind – in 12.42 miles.
But this is just part of the challenge; the other is elevation changes. PPIHC begins at 9,390 feet above sea level, and finishes at 14,115 feet at the summit of the mountain, where gas engines lose nearly 30 percent of their power due to the higher altitude.
Many motorcycle manufacturers were present across all classes during this year’s 94th annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb: Pikes Peak Heavyweight; PPC-Electric Bike; PPC Exhibition Powersport; Pikes Peak Middleweight; Pikes Peak Lightweight; PPC-Sidecar; Pikes Peak Quad.
Before the results, it’s great to report that there were no Pikes Peak International Hill Climb deaths – though there were a few hard crashes. Last year Carl Sorensen died while practicing for the Middleweight class (Ducati 848EVO); he was the fifth rider to perish since the event began, and the third motorcyclist to die at the race since 1982.
Earning the overall top time of the 2016 PPIHC was Bruno Langlois. The Frenchman claimed King of the Mountain with a 10:13.106 aboard a Kawasaki Z1000. This is the second overall PPIHC win for Kawasaki; in 2014, Jeremy Toye earned the Heavyweight victory with a 9:58.687 (ZX-10R Ninja). Carlin Dunne still holds the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb record time up the Mountain with a 9:52.819 (Ducati Multistrada in the former 1205 Division, 2012).
Joining Langlois on the overall podium were two Victory pilots – both earning wins in their perspective classes – Cycle World’s Don Canet (PPC-Electric Bike) and Toye (PPC-Exhibition Powersport).
Canet raced last season aboard the gas-powered Project 156 Victory, built with input from Roland Sands, but had engine issues just before the summit. This year things were much different for the magazine editor, and his speed time of 10:17.813 shows the far advancements of electric motorcycles at races like Pikes Peak and the Isle of Man TT.
“The hair-raising moment of my run came in a fast 100-mph sweeper approaching Upper Gravel Pit, which is well up the course. I slithered across an oil stain at the apex, then again crossing over the double yellow centerline. In a heart-stopping moment I ran out of road and was off on the dirt shoulder at high speed,” Canet says.
“Luck was on my side as I stood the bike upright and coasted along looking for the best spot to cut back onto the stepped pavement edge. The excursion completely killed my drive through the following flat-out right and straight that follows. My hope for a King of the Mountain top time evaporated, however, as the downtime allowed the road to dry prior to the Heavyweight class contenders making their run, there’s almost no way to fully prepare for the track conditions you’ll see in the early morning runs.”
As for Toye he finished third overall aboard the Victory Project 156 with a 10:19.777.
Cycle News editor Rennie Scaysbrook, finished fourth overall and second in the Heavyweight class (10:28.407) aboard a KTM 1290 Super Duke R – despite a crash in the third of four sections. Fifth overall went to Canadian Shane Scott, who also competed on a KTM Super Duke R (10:35.953).
Following are the top three in each class during the 2016 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
2016 Pikes Peak Heavyweight Results:
1. Bruno Langlois, Kawasaki Z 1000 – 10:13.106
2. Rennie Scaysbrook, KTM 1290 Super Duke R – 10:28,407
3. Shane Scott, KTM 1290 Super Duke R: 10:35.953
2016 PPC-Electric Results
1. Don Canet, Victory, 10:17.813
2. Yoshihiro Kishimoto, KOMMIT EVT ZERO, 11:10.480
3. Robert Barber, Buckeye, no time reported
2016 PPC- Exhibition Powersport
1. Jeremy Toye, Victory, 10:19.777
2016 Pikes Peak Middleweight
1. Kris Lillegard, MV Agusta, 10:46.406
2. Tomasz Comboz, Yamaha, 10:58:630
3. Joseph Toner, Triumph, 11:01.324
2016 Pikes Peak Lightweight
1. Davey Durelle, Aprilia, 10:55.288
2. Greg Chicoine, Kawasaki, 11:13.547
3. Darryl Lujan, Honda, 11:47.978
2016 Pikes Peak Quad
1. Cyril Combes, Suzuki, 11:05.664
2. Chris Wagner, KTM, 11:22, 309
3. Theo Bernard, Yamaha, 11:28.148
2016 Pikes Peak Sidecar
1. John Wood, Shelbourne, 11:26.644
2. Massahito Watanabe, KUMANO Motorsport, 11:38.472
3. Bruno Marlin CHODA-Benelli, 12:45.854
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Canet raced last year on the project 156 bike, not the empulse.
Thanks for the correction, ewelch311 – and I raved over the 156 when it was launched, and covered that heavy! Duh ;)
No problem! Great article by the way, got to get my Victory racing fix. I was surprised Vic hadn’t plastered more over social media about their finishes on Victory racing platforms!
Thank you for the nice write up Ron. Last year my bike quite running 2 miles from the summit while leading my class by a sizable margin. The engine failure had nothing to do with the crash earlier in the run. Darned disappointing it was.
Thanks again.
Yes! Noted – and fixed. And great quote! As for next season, I’m going to pick your brain before my attempt at PPIHC. Looking forward to riding with you soon!
re the R1 comparison
I’m not sure why you expected to be able to find a quantifiable performance-difference between the two bikes while using the same set of electronic rider-aids and largely the same hardware. Especially with stock gearing, pads and DOT tires. They probably don’t even differ much in top speed or 0-60 times.
….re the R1 comparison
I’m not sure why you expected to be able to find a quantifiable performance-difference between the two bikes while using the same set of electronic rider-aids and largely the same hardware. Especially with stock gearing, pads and DOT tires. They probably don’t even differ much in top speed or 0-60 times.