XR1200 Spec Series

Vance & Hines steps back into the road-racing paddock with their recently launched Harley-Davidson XR1200 Spec Series. This is hopefully a rebirth of the popular H-D 883 Sportster series that gave many successful racers their start and brought crowds of Harley dealers and riders to the races.

The AMA is sanctioning the series with Vance & Hines stepping-in as the presenting sponsor, Dunlop supplying spec tires and Sunoco pumping 260 GTX fuel.

The 5-race 2010 XR1200 Championship will run with the AMA Pro Superbike and Daytona Sportbike road racing series starting in June at Road America, with subsequent races at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Virginia International Raceway (VIR), New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMSP), and then wrapping up at Barber Motorsports Park (Birmingham, Alabama).

The AMA just released a technical bulletin for the series. Naturally, Vance & Hines are supplying the official kit for modifying an XR1200 that complies with the rules. Among the goodies included in the $3500 XR Kit are a racing exhaust, race bodywork, number plate, belly pan, 17" front wheel and steering damper, as well as a sticker kit.

With a couple of dozen raw air-cooled V-twin Harley XR1200s, I can't wait to hear the engines roar-off from the starting line of the first race. Paradoxical to the inline-four cylinder, the 883 sounds have not been around the paddock for quite sometime. More importantly this brings Harley-Davidson back into American road racing, which could be revving for the sport.

Although these are not Vance & Hines Ducati SBKs, the XR1200 spec series is a good platform for some very close racing. As well, the XR1200 Series will feature a $5,000 purse payout at each of the five rounds, $2,500 going to the race winner, $1,000 to the runner-up and $750 for third. Fourth and fifth place finishers will receive $500 and $250 respectively.

Terry Vance Speaks... Champion Rider and team owner

"The XR1200 has proven to be an exciting platform for spec racing in Europe and this class will be a perfect cost-effective platform to showcase new talent on a national stage. Many of the finest motorcycle racers all over the world got their start in the AMA Supertwins class of the 1990s."

David Atlas Speaks... AMA Pro Racing Chief Operating Officer

"Adding another element to our events with a series of this caliber will be a great benefit to our sport. The specification of the XR1200 package will put the premium on the rider's ability and will provide a great new class of racing that has ties to the past."  

XR1200 Race Schedule

Elkhart Lake, WI (Jun 4-6)
Lexington, OH (Jul 16-18)
Alton, VA (Aug 13-15)
Millville, NJ (Sept 3-5)
Birmingham, AL (Sept 24-26) 

Ultimate MotorCycling commends the AMA for this addition and looks forward to covering the series.  

XR1200 AMA Rule Book