According to Scott Hollingsworth, chief executive of American Motorcyclist Association Pro Racing, in Columbus, Ohio, there are four major types of AMA-sanctioned motorcycle racing:
– Supercross: This features a technical, man-made unpaved track in a large stadium. (Average attendance is just less than 50,000.) There are 16 races in the U.S. in a season. The current champion is Ricky Carmichael; he rides a Kawasaki KX-250.
– Motocross: This is run on a 1.5-mile, natural-terrain course. Twelve races are run coast-to-coast in a season. (Average attendance is 25,000.) The 2000 champion was Carmichael on his Kawasaki.
– Superbikes: This is a road-racing series on paved surfaces using production bikes. Speed is important. The AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Champion series is for bikes with engines up to 1,000-cc. The AMA Pro Honda Oils is for bikes with engines up to 600-cc. Winners the last several years are Honda in 2000, 1999, 1997 and 1996 and Suzuki in 1998. He drives a Suzuki GSXR 750, according to Hollingsworth.
– Flat track: This includes the AMA-Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championships on dirt ovals of one-quarter to 1 mile in length for purpose-built equipment (non-production bikes). Harley-Davidson, with its 750-cc V-twin 2-cylinder engines, dominates.
Hollingsworth said there’s an international television audience for North American motorcycle racing, with Motocross and Supercross racing in North America televised in more than 70 countries worldwide. Road racing is beamed to more than 30 countries.
“It’s the best riders on the best equipment,” he said.
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