Few locations in motorcycle racing are more historic than Daytona International Speedway, and the new AMA-sanctioned Daytona Vintage Supercross gives many riders a chance to compete on the same infield where greats like Roger Decoster, Jimmy Weinert and Bob Hannah have triumphed.

The new-for-2019 vintage racing event takes place March 12, in conjunction with the Ricky Carmichael Daytona Supercross, and is open to a wide range of vintage and post-vintage motocross bikes.

The Daytona Vintage Supercross’ 28 classes allow AMA members to race machines from the earliest days of motocross racing in the United States up to non-current two-stroke motocross bikes from the mid-2000s. This allows the ardent vintage racing enthusiast and everyday amateur racer an opportunity to compete on hallowed ground. For those new to vintage racing, Evolution classes offer a good mix of history, modernization and parts availability.

“For about $1,000, you can locate and prep a vintage or post-vintage model,” said AMA Motocross Manager Alex Hunter. “If you have experience working on off-road motorcycles yourself, a few hundred bucks will get you the new brake pads, tires, drivetrain, clutch and odds and ends you’ll need to get on the track. After a couple years, if you’re ready for something different, you can probably sell it for most of what you have in it. There’s no better deal in motor sports.”

For a full list, see the AMA Amateur Competition Rulebook at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Racing. To learn more about Daytona Vintage Supercross event at www.racedaytona.com.

 

 

Here are four examples of motorcycles that are affordable and eligible for vintage supercross competition at Daytona:

Bike: 1976-77 Yamaha YZ400

Class: Evolution 1 – Open

Comments: Yamaha produced a lot of similar two-strokes across the YZ, MX, DT and IT lines, making parts easy to get. The ’77 YZ400 had a plastic tank and, with roots dating to the MX400, it was fairly refined. The ’78, which was upgraded with an aluminum swingarm, is also a great bike for Evolution 2.

Bike: 1980-81 YZ465

Class: Evolution 2 – Open

Comments: The 1980-81 YZ465s were a big step up in performance, and many argue these models were the high-water mark in Yamaha two-stroke open class technology before the much-maligned YZ490 made its debut.

Bike: 1996 Suzuki RM125

Class: Revolution 1 – 125

Comments: There are lots of these mid-1990s two-stroke Suzuki machines in garages around the nation. They’re easy to find and these low-maintenance two-stroke machines are eligible to compete in the smallest-displacement Revolution 1 class.

Bike: 2000 Kawasaki KX250

Class: Revolution 2 – Open

Comments: Since it was first introduced in 1974—and continuing until the end of the two-stroke era in the late 1990s—the KX250 model was Kawasaki’s motocross racing workhorse. While it was supplanted by the four-stroke KX250F, the KX is a great example of a late-model, lower maintenance two-stroke machine that is eligible for Daytona Vintage Supercross competition.