The racing action off the starting gate is tight as this photo from the 125 National at Binghamton (N.Y.) in August of 2004 shows. Boost Mobile Yamaha teammates Danny Smith (No. 59) and Mike Brown (No. 3) lead Kawasaki’s James Stewart (No. 259). Stewart went on to win the race, but check out how close he is to being pushed over into a trackside haybale. They say football is a game of inches, the same can be said for motorcycle racing.

Boost Mobile Yamaha teammates Danny Smith (No. 59) and Mike Brown (No. 3) lead Kawasaki’s James Stewart (No. 259) at the start of a moto at the Binghamton 125cc National in 2004. (Larry Lawrence photo)