New endurance series launched

From Professional Motorsports Productions

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – With the eyes of the motorcycle racing world affixed on Daytona International Speedway for the famed Daytona 200 Week By Honda, a new professional motorcycle road racing series—sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and organized by Professional Motorsports Productions of Toronto — was announced today at the “World Center of Racing.” The Daytona Beach-based Grand American Road Racing Association will assist the series with administrative and commercial support.

The new series, which specializes in long-distance team racing, will be known as MOTO-ST (Moto Sport Twins). Negotiations are currently underway for the inaugural MOTO-ST race to be held on the traditional road course at Daytona International Speedway this fall. Plans call for an eight-hour event featuring a substantial awards program.

“This is an exciting day for our sport,” said MOTO-ST director of competition Colin Fraser. “While there are several different forms and classes of motorcycle ‘sprint’ racing, long distance team racing and competition for twin-cylinder machines has been under-served. We feel strongly that—through a logical and well-managed rules package—MOTO-ST will establish itself quickly with participants and spectators alike.”

The 2007 National Championship schedule for MOTO-ST will consist of up to six points-paying endurance races. Event purses will be substantial and will feature lap prizes for the class leaders. Pirelli has been named as the sole supplier of MOTO-ST tires for the 2006 inaugural event as well as the first full season of competition in 2007. All competitors will use Sunoco GT unleaded fuel and horsepower limits will be enforced by a Dynojet chassis dynamometer.

MOTO-ST will consist of two classes, Grand Sport Twins (GST) and Sport Twins (ST), and all motorcycles homologated for competition will be powered by twin-cylinder, four-stroke engines. Each machine will have its own list of specifications, including maximum horsepower and minimum weight. The MOTO-ST rules package will be completed and contingency and industry support will be finalized over the next 90 days, as will the full 2007 schedule.

MOTO-ST management will have the benefit of an advisory board with extensive motor sports experience and the board will guide the series rules and policies. The advisory board includes Fraser, AMA Hall of Fame members Steve McLaughlin and Don Emde, Grand American Road Racing Association president Roger Edmondson, Brumos Porsche president and general manager Bob Snodgrass, Grand American Road Racing Association director of competition Mark Raffauf, experienced motorcycle tuner and road racing journalist Kevin Cameron, Roadracing World founder and editor John Ulrich and Grand American Road Racing Association deputy director of competition Scott Spencer.