AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST FEBRUARY 2019

Race Vintage Motocross At Daytona

New Vintage Classes Open To Wide Range Of Motocross Bikes

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.

Evolution Classes

While the Daytona event will blend these classes into a simplified class structure due to time constraints, the breakdown for Evolution is pretty straightforward.

Evolution 1: Motorcycles originally sold at pre-1978 models. Maximum 9 inches of suspension travel, drum brakes and no water cooling allowed. Includes 125cc and Open (126cc and up) classes.

Evolution 2: Motorcycles with no linkage-type rear suspension, no water cooling and no disc brakes. Includes 125cc, 250cc and Open classes.

Evolution 3: Water cooling and linkage-type rear suspension allowed. No disc brakes or power-valve (exception: 1982-84 Yamaha YZs). Includes 125cc, 250cc and Open classes.

Get A No. 1 Plate!

Racing Daytona is great. What makes it even better? Competing for an AMA National No. 1 plate! So, circle July 5-7 on your calendar and plan to attend AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, which is the national championship meet for vintage motocross, hare scrambles, trails and road racing. Learn more at www.amavintagemotorcycledays.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.