Imagine riding a 414-pound motorcycle on a racetrack, speeding into a turn with your body hovering just inches off the ground. One small mistake could be disastrous. Sound like fun? For former North student Dominic Doyle, it’s all in a day’s work and his primary source for fun! Plus, for Dom, it’s a career.
Doyle, who was born in South Africa, came to Columbus three years after his mother and brother relocated here. He initially remained in South Africa with his father for racing purposes. He eventually joined his mom in Columbus, where she was an employee of Faurecia. She enrolled Dominic at Columbus North where he continued his academic career (graduated in 2020) while keeping his bike close by.
A motorcycle road racer, Dominic competes in the MotoAmerica Twins Cup Class and is hoping to move up this season to the SuperSport Class, the “granddaddy” of motorcycle racing. He’s won dozens of races and championships in his young career and is known as one of the best racers in the world on the MotoAmerica circuit.
MotoAmerica is officially sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association, and it features seven classes of motorcycle road racing: Steel Commander Superbike, SuperSport, Junior Cup, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Mission King of the Baggers, and Mini Cup by Motul. It embraces the history of motorcycle racing, particularly Superbike Racing. It got its start in the United States, has become extremely popular and is the guiding force for the future of the sport.
Dominic rides a Yamaha R7 and has enjoyed great success with it. The most important aspect of being a motorcycle road racer, however, isn’t equipment. It’s physical fitness and mental preparedness. Minus these attributes, a racer is just a Sunday joy rider.
“Off season conditioning is the most important aspect to the success of any racer,” explained Dominic.” He continued by saying that being in shape is critical in handling the bike.
A recent study found that during a motocross race, the rider’s heart rate is quickly raised, and their average heart rate is between 92-96% of their maximum. Motorcycle riding is an active process, unlike driving a car, and it requires the use of the whole body. A rider is maintaining the bike’s balance using their arms, legs, hips, and back muscles. Riders can expect to burn between 100-300 calories per hour during competition.
“Talent will take you to the front, but long hours of training will carry riders to the podium,” says Dominic.
With his success has come the ability to help others. Dominic and his sponsors have become involved with Wounded Warriors and Toys for Tots and the 911 Foundation, all charitable organizations dear to him. He tries to help increase awareness of their issues by placing advertising for the groups on his bike.
When he’s not racing, Dominic works a retail job at the mall. The financial constraints and unpredictability of being a racer can be concerning, so he has an income through a regular job. He also makes a lot of race-related deliveries. In one trip, he drove from Indianapolis to Pennsylvania, then to North Carolina, slid down to South Carolina, then west to Oklahoma before coming back home. He likes the travel.
Dominic enjoys all aspects of motorcycle racing, but his primary focus is on one thing: winning championships. In 2023 he finished fourth in Twins Cup Championship points out of seventy eligible riders – with one win and five podium finishes in fourteen events. He is already a proven winner, and we look forward to watching him as he pushes for continued success on the fast track.