A Spec Harley XR1200 Class For AMA Racing?

[Hong3103]

AMA Pro Racing President Roger Edmondson visited with the four
Japanese motorcycle manufacturers last week and a least a portion of the
talks centered around Edmondson's desire to have two spec classes added
to the existing American Superbike, Daytona SportBike, Supersport and
Moto-GT program.

The two classes? At this point, the frontrunners are a Kawasaki Ninja 250
class - aimed at riders aged 12-15 - and a Harley-Davidson XR1200 class
that will be open to everyone.

"I am actively pursuing the Harley XR1200 program," Edmondson said on
Friday. "And I am actively pursuing the Ninja 250 program and we had a
desire to do a 450 conversion program, but in a different way. And that was
looking for one company that wanted to be a single-brand supplier."

Of the four manufacturers that Edmondson and Co. visited, only Yamaha
seemed at least mildly interested in the 450cc class.

"This was our first go around in talking about it with the manufacturers and
nobody jumped on it," Edmondson said of the 450 proposal. "One absolutely
didn't want anything to do with it and I think the three who weren't 100
percent against it were willing to listen, but I certainly couldn't begin to tell
you today that next year or even two years from now that for sure we will
have a Yamaha 450 spec class or anybody else's spec 450."

It's the Harley program that has Edmondson the most excited.

"The Harley category is quite clearly because we think it's ludicrous that
that the largest selling brand in this country and the largest body of
motorcyclists in this country are totally ignored when it comes to road
racing. Those folks need a reason to buy tickets and help support our
events. That's the concept."

Edmondson is hopeful that the Ninja 250 class could be the way to bring
younger riders into road racing. In the past, the AMA has backed away from
allowing road racers under 16 to compete.

"The Ninja program would be aimed at 12-15 or perhaps 13-15," he said.
"I'm not sure yet because it depends on the attitudes of the insurance
companies. It will absolutely be an entry level age group."


http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2009/09/19/a-spec-harley-xr1200-class-for-ama-racing

[Killergixxer]

I'm all for the youngsters racing! The younger they start the better they get! We could have some real awesome racers come out of that, here in the US!

[joesimtre]

That harley series would definitely require some serious ear plugs!

[chvelle38]

i hope they get all of those new classes just to add some diversity, and im thinking the ninja 250 kid races would be pretty interesting. if anyone else watched the jetta tdi races or whatever with 16 year olds, they made some pretty dangerous moves

[Hong3103]

Originally Posted by joesimtre

That harley series would definitely require some serious ear plugs!

It's the XR1200... I don't think it would be any louder than the bikes in the Superbike class.

Originally Posted by chvelle38

i hope they get all of those new classes just to add some diversity, and im thinking the ninja 250 kid races would be pretty interesting. if anyone else watched the jetta tdi races or whatever with 16 year olds, they made some pretty dangerous moves

The WSMC (Willow Springs Motorcycle Club) club racing organization has this in their racing series. There's actually some pretty good racing in that class... until you get to the long straightaways... then it feels like it takes them forever

As for the Harley Spec series.... I've got some mixed feelings about it. On one hand it almost feels like they're going NASCAR on us. HD hasn't produced a road racing bike in years. The VR1000 was the last sportbike they even made and that was back in the late 90s to early 00s. It wasn't even that competitive.

On the other hand there's a lot of HD riders out there and starting this racing class just might bring them to the AMA races, which could mean a lot of money and during this economic hardship that could help get AMA/DMG on the right track. The XR1200 is also HD's closest thing to a performance sportbike. Based off of the XR750 which has a long history of flat track racing.

If enough HD fans come out they may get the company to start making more performance oriented motorcycles as opposed to chromed out tanks.

[Killergixxer]

Originally Posted by Hong3103

It's the XR1200... I don't think it would be any louder than the bikes in the Superbike class.


The WSMC (Willow Springs Motorcycle Club) club racing organization has this in their racing series. There's actually some pretty good racing in that class... until you get to the long straightaways... then it feels like it takes them forever

As for the Harley Spec series.... I've got some mixed feelings about it. On one hand it almost feels like they're going NASCAR on us. HD hasn't produced a road racing bike in years. The VR1000 was the last sportbike they even made and that was back in the late 90s to early 00s. It wasn't even that competitive.

On the other hand there's a lot of HD riders out there and starting this racing class just might bring them to the AMA races, which could mean a lot of money and during this economic hardship that could help get AMA/DMG on the right track. The XR1200 is also HD's closest thing to a performance sportbike. Based off of the XR750 which has a long history of flat track racing.

If enough HD fans come out they may get the company to start making more performance oriented motorcycles as opposed to chromed out tanks.

Yes and also if you get a bunch of Harley guys out to the AMA races maybe after mingling with some sportbikes and watching some races they might start accepting and respecting us alot more!

[chevyguy4321]

Originally Posted by Killergixxer

Yes and also if you get a bunch of Harley guys out to the AMA races maybe after mingling with some sportbikes and watching some races they might start accepting and respecting us alot more!

i think it will add gas to the fire

[chvelle38]

correct me if im wrong cuz im not completly sure but buell is basically the "sportbike" harley aint it?

[Hong3103]

Originally Posted by chvelle38

correct me if im wrong cuz im not completly sure but buell is basically the "sportbike" harley aint it?

Sorta... Buell is a subsidiary of HD. I think they own 49% and Erik Buell owns 51%. Every bike except for the 1125R uses a Harley engine.

[chvelle38]

thats what i was thinkin, and i think its kinda weird how they are lettin the 1125r race with the 600s but i like seein some different body work and the daytona 200 was fun to watch

[Hong3103]

You know... maybe that XR1200 spec class might not be such a bad idea. As long as they're using the same spec as the Europeans.