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Laurin says the OTSFF (his other company is Ocean Transportation Services Freight Forwarding Inc.) team will have five crew members, plus Hayden. That will include a data acquisition specialist and fabrication and welding expert. Laurin says he learned from his superbike effort that data acquisition is key to making your racer go faster.
He says with a lighter sled, the great hole shot ability of the Yamaha 4-stroke and some front end help from Team Fast's racing Karpik brothers, the Nytro should be in the hunt from season's start. OTSFF also has worked with CA Pro skis regarding weight and pressure up front, trying to help the sled handle better in turns.
In addition, Hayden is healthy this year. Last year he got banged up early and rode with a dislocated shoulder much of the season. "We had him taped up like a hockey stick," Laurin says.
He believes the race courses this season will be good for Yamaha too as he says there is an emphasis on creating more smooth, flowing tracks with less bumps and rhythm sections. That, he says, will be better for the fans and for the sleds' and riders' durability.
"I think this year it will be 60% rider, 40% sled, just the reverse of last year," Laurin says.