Membership
Shop by Vehicle
Track Order
Contact Us
So we're going to be racing mostly stock liter-plus adventure motorcycles around a track in downtown Sturgis and racing ADV bikes is not even the controversial part of the ending to the Sturgis Rally.
The Sturgis TT, scheduled to run on August 11 at the end of the annual Sturgis Rally was announced, was canceled by a voter referendum, and then revived under new terms, though there are still plenty of opinions about whether it will be a success. Then there's the novel aspect of the inaugural AdventureTrackers exhibition race. American Flat Track has just released the rules for the class and a list of motorcycles that are eligible.
The final Sunday of the rally this year is going to be quite different from anything seen in many years. People reasonably have questions, such as: What is an AdventureTracker? Why have a race downtown? What caused so much controversy that a voter uprising temporarily scuttled the entire deal? Let's take a quick look, starting with these AdventureTrackers things.
AdventureTrackers rules and eligibility
The AdventureTrackers class is for adventure-touring motorcycles over 1,000 cc and AFT released the following list of eligible models:
- BMW R 1250 GS
- BMW R 1300 GS
- Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally 1158
- Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250
- Honda Africa Twin 1100
- Kawasaki Versys 1000
- KTM 1290 Super Adventure
- KTM 1390 Super Adventure
- Suzuki V-STROM 1050
- Triumph Tiger 1200
- Yamaha Super Ténéré 1200
As AFT describes it, the AdventureTrackers class is designed to keep the bikes "as close to street stock as is feasible... to showcase the inherent capabilities of the bikes when piloted by professional racers, all while minimizing costs." In line with those goals, modifications are limited under the rules. Stock bodywork must be used and no engine modifications are allowed. The stock engine control unit (ECU) must be used but the software can be modified. Frames and swingarms must be stock and limited suspension mods are allowed. Header pipes must be stock but catalytic converters can be removed and slip-on mufflers are allowed, as long as the bike meets sound limit regulations. Spec tires will be required and 19-inch front wheels are mandated, which will mean a change for some models.
The race will consist of two six-lap heats and a main event with 16 riders that runs for eight minutes plus two laps. The track will include a portion of Main Street and will be mostly pavement with a dirt section and a TT-style jump. That course will be used for the Sturgis TT race that's part of the regular AFT series this year, as well as the AdventureTrackers exhibition race.
I have to believe the powers that be at AFT have seen the success of King of the Baggers racing and are testing the waters to see if they can replicate that on dirt with AdventureTrackers. After all, baggers and adventure bikes are both highly popular, and the ADV bikes need less modification to go racing, so they can more closely resemble stock motorcycles in the showroom. Will AdventureTrackers draw new fans to the Progressive American Flat Track series? Actually, that question is related to another one that leads us into some of the controversies surrounding the Sturgis TT.
Why did unhappy voters kill the TT?
The deal to put on a race in downtown Sturgis on the final Sunday of the rally was originally approved by the Sturgis City Council early this year. Then voters who didn't like the deal forced a referendum on the agreement, and shot it down by a margin of more than two to one. The race was revived under new terms more favorable to the city — mainly that the City of Sturgis is not on the hook for more than $650,000 in annual costs to run the race that it would have to try to make up through sponsorships. The course was also changed so the Sunday race would affect local churches less.
Among the goals for the race, as outlined in the original letter of intent between the city and AMA Pro Racing, were to "encourage a broader demographic of motorcycle and racing enthusiasts to attend" the rally, to get more motorcycle brands involved, and to "encourage a new 'wave' of spectators to attend the second weekend" of the rally.
Will it work? It's hard to say whether people who otherwise don't go to Sturgis will show up for a short, one-off race. Some are also skeptical about the success of the entire slate of races — the pro AFT races, as well as the AdventureTrackers — on the final Sunday of the rally. Typically, by that point in the rally, most people have left town for the trip home. And while some Sturgis businesses understandably would like to see people stick around an extra day or two, some residents are happy to see the crowds of hundreds of thousands of riders thin out by then, so they can begin to resume normal life.
AFT race teams reportedly have mixed feelings about the new event, as well. They'll be competing August 6 in their usual Sturgis Rally-related race at the Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City, S.D., but now they'll have to stick around for several days to compete in the Sturgis TT downtown race on August 11 at a time when hundreds of thousands of other people are in the area needing lodging and services.
I would say that the entire event is going to be a big experiment, from the mostly asphalt track to the unknown quantity of nearly stock ADV bikes racing for a purse.
There's one other aspect that may be merely symbolic but I think is worth mentioning. Huge rallies such as Sturgis, Laconia Motorcycle Week, and Daytona Bike Week all originated with races that drew riders to town. All three have long since surpassed those origins and most of the people attending those rallies never see a race bike or care to. One of the reasons for putting on the Sturgis TT in the heart of the city is to recapture a little of the original racing heritage of the event.
Consider that another experiment.
Image Gallery
