Lets Hear it for Supermoto
For all of you out there who would like to see more about this exciting type of competition, lets let the staff know we are interested.
Our Sean would be much better qualified to comment on this than I am, but for those who are not familiar with the sport.....
Its roots are with the made for TV "Superbikers" competitions held in the late 70s and aired on CBS (if I recall). The idea was patterned on the IROC car races, where the concept was to create a format for racers from different types of racing to compete on a somewhat level (metaphorically speaking) playing field. Unlike IROC, they left the choice of machine open.
A typical course would include a paved roadrace section, at least one sweeping flattrack turn and a motocross-type section with some jumps. Initially, a wide variety of different machines was tried, but what quickly proved best was a TT bike or a motocross bike with slightly cut-down suspension, and more pavement-oriented wheels, tires and brakes.
Clearly, with the differences in racing surface, bike setup was a compromise -- the bike that was best in one section would be slower in other sections. Same is true of rider skills. One result was frequent passing and repassing.
Anyway, the Superbikers events died out fairly quickly, but not before catching the attention of the Europeans, particularly the French. For the past 20 years, the new sport, renamed "Supermotard" (French couldn't use an English name, of course), grew steadily, and now is a huge sport in most of Western Europe. Several manufacturers now make specific bikes just for Supermotard -- eg KTM, Husky, Husaberg, VOR etc. Whether factory built, or home-grown, the typical bike is now a 4-stroke (although there are also a number of 2-strokes) dirt bike with lowered suspension, huge front brake, 17" wheels and hand-cut roadrace slicks or rain tires.
An outgrowth of this is the popularity of street moto bikes in Europe. This included bikes such as the KTM Duke and MZ Baghira, which are available here, as well as many smaller versions, from 125cc up.
In recent years, the sport has returned to the US, although it remains largely a local, club racing competition, and has remained "below the radar" of the mainstream media.
I personally think it is one of the most exciting spectator sports around.
For all of you out there who would like to see more about this exciting type of competition, lets let the staff know we are interested.
Our Sean would be much better qualified to comment on this than I am, but for those who are not familiar with the sport.....
Its roots are with the made for TV "Superbikers" competitions held in the late 70s and aired on CBS (if I recall). The idea was patterned on the IROC car races, where the concept was to create a format for racers from different types of racing to compete on a somewhat level (metaphorically speaking) playing field. Unlike IROC, they left the choice of machine open.
A typical course would include a paved roadrace section, at least one sweeping flattrack turn and a motocross-type section with some jumps. Initially, a wide variety of different machines was tried, but what quickly proved best was a TT bike or a motocross bike with slightly cut-down suspension, and more pavement-oriented wheels, tires and brakes.
Clearly, with the differences in racing surface, bike setup was a compromise -- the bike that was best in one section would be slower in other sections. Same is true of rider skills. One result was frequent passing and repassing.
Anyway, the Superbikers events died out fairly quickly, but not before catching the attention of the Europeans, particularly the French. For the past 20 years, the new sport, renamed "Supermotard" (French couldn't use an English name, of course), grew steadily, and now is a huge sport in most of Western Europe. Several manufacturers now make specific bikes just for Supermotard -- eg KTM, Husky, Husaberg, VOR etc. Whether factory built, or home-grown, the typical bike is now a 4-stroke (although there are also a number of 2-strokes) dirt bike with lowered suspension, huge front brake, 17" wheels and hand-cut roadrace slicks or rain tires.
An outgrowth of this is the popularity of street moto bikes in Europe. This included bikes such as the KTM Duke and MZ Baghira, which are available here, as well as many smaller versions, from 125cc up.
In recent years, the sport has returned to the US, although it remains largely a local, club racing competition, and has remained "below the radar" of the mainstream media.
I personally think it is one of the most exciting spectator sports around.
