AMA

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines.

About the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA)

From the street to the track to the trail, millions of Americans enjoy motorcycling. Some ride to work every day. Others ride for pleasure on weekends. Many ride off-road, or journey to places near and far. Still more seek the thrill of competition.

Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycling organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion.

Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. Through its Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. AMA members receive money saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. The AMA is everything motorcycle. Please visit http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/ for information on how to join.

About AMA Pro Racing

In 2008, the American Motorcycle Association announced the sale of certain of its professional racing properties to AMA Pro Racing, based in Daytona Beach, Florida. The move was brought about by the need for the association to place the management of pro racing in the hands of a well resourced motorsports entertainment company.

The rules packages introduced in 2009 have been subtly refined to provide technical stability and rules consistency, which has shifted the focus of the sport to the compelling battles on the track between a magnificent group of athletes.

The History of AMA Pro Road Racing

When it was founded in 1924, the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) had an instant commitment to motorcycle competition, hosting two competition events that year in advance of the first full year of competition in 1925.

In the early years, the premier style of racing in the U.S. was designated Class A, a formula that allowed manufacturers to build exotic one-off racing machines. Under this formula, factory teams spent large sums on racebike development and hired top riders like Jim Davis and Joe Petrali to claim championships. In the early 1930s, though, these expensive factory teams were scaled back as a result of the Depression. To combat this trend, in late 1933 the AMA Competition Committee created Class C, which called for the use of 45 c.i. (750cc) side-valve and 500cc overhead-valve machines based on stock production components. Only minor modifications were allowed, and fuel was limited to pump gas only.

In the late 1970s, road racing was given separate championship status by the AMA, and production-based Superbike racing evolved into the premier class. AMA Pro SuperBike was created in 1976 to provide a level playing field for professional racing teams and a means for motorcycle manufacturers to showcase their sport-performance, production-based models. From 1978 to 1994, U.S. riders conquered the world of grand-prix road racing, winning 13 500cc titles in 16 years from 1978 to 1993. Now called AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike, the class remains the proving ground for both machines and riders, and the recent success that multi-time AMA Pro SuperBike Champion Ben Spies has had on the world stage is proof that America’s talent pool still runs deep.

The History of AMA Pro Flat Track

AMA Pro Racing sanctions many racing series, but the oldest and most traditional is flat track - sometimes referred to as “dirt track” racing. While the roots of flat track racing dates back to early 1900’s, it wasn’t until post-World War II that the sport revolved to its current modern structure, flat track is the uniquely American type of motorcycle racing. Riders finesse their machines sideways through the turns, just inches apart from each other, at speeds over 130 mph. In short, motorcycle flat track racing provides one of the most thrilling spectacles in motorsports.

Today, AMA Pro Racing flat track racing is divided into two distinct classes: the AMA Pro Grand National Twins and the AMA Pro Grand National Singles. These classes travel under the banner of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship.

Prior to 1954, the fast and smooth Springfield Mile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds was the nation’s focal point for flat track racing. Although riders competed at various tracks around the country, the Springfield Mile remained as the most prestigious event - a 25-mile race that determined the winner of the coveted AMA National Dirt Track Championship. In 1954, the AMA announced the establishment of a Grand National Championship series consisting of 18 points-paying races. While the AMA Grand National Championship format was predominantly made up of flat track events, a number of road race nationals were included to show the versatility of machines and riders. As the sport grew and machinery became more specialized, the AMA recognized the need to separate these two disciplines in 1986, flat track and road racing became two distinct AMA Championship series.

In 2006, the AMA Pro Flat Track Championship was restructured to consist of two series: AMA Pro Grand National Twins Championship events are held on mile and half-mile courses best suited for the power output of twin-cylinder motors; AMA Pro Grand National Singles Championship races are held on TT and short track courses where the power range of single-cylinder motors is preferable. AMA Pro Racing also offered the Grand National Pro Expert Twins class, which ran as a support class at select events to provide aspiring racers with experience on twin cylinder equipment.

In 2009, the AMA Pro Grand National Championship restructured its classes to offer a support class for young competitors coming up through the ranks, the “Pro Class” competes on 450cc single-cylinder production frame machines at all meets, Short Track, Tourist Trophy, Half-Mile and Mile. The “Expert Class” consists of AMA Pro Grand National Twins events held on mile and half-mile courses; AMA Pro Grand National Singles races are held on TT and short track courses on 450cc single-cylinder production frame machines.