Harley-Davidson has announced the largest prize fund in the 65-year history of American Flat Track racing with some $562,500 available in 2018 for privateer riders on XG750R and XR750 platforms. A total of $31,250 will be offered by Harley-Davidson at each of the 18 American Flat Track rounds in 2018. The contingency fund is structured to incentivize podiums with $10,000 for a race win, $8,000 for a second and $6,000 for a third, then pays out for each place down to $250 for finishing placed 10.
To be eligible to collect the contingency pay-outs while competing on the XG750R, riders are required to run the official Harley-Davidson factory bodywork.
The 2018 American Flat Track season will kick off with the Daytona TT on Thursday, March 15.
AFT 'Superprestigio' hits short track at Barcelona
Superprestigio racing hit the short track at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona on December 16 with American J.D. Beach (No. 95 Ausio/Grau Racing Yamaha YZ450F) taking the win from fellow American Flat Track racer Briar Bauman, second (No. 14 Zanotti Kawasaki KX450F), with Spanish American Flat Track Series Champion Ferran Cardus (No. 77 Team Grau Suzuki RM-Z450) third.
On the outside looking in was former Moto 2 World Champion/reigning MotoAmerica Superbike Toni Elias. The No. 24 Yoshimura Suzuki rider took top honors in the Superprestigio Class and got off to a great start, but fell victim to some good ol’ fashioned American-style short track racing, ultimately getting shuffled back to fourth. Completing the top five was Italian Fabio Di Giannantonio, a solid effort for the Moto3 rider on the No. 21 Zaeta.
Next up for the stars of American Flat Track is the Bigger, Faster and Better DAYTONA TT on March 15, 2018, at Daytona International Speedway.
Vance & Hines renews AFT Twins sponsorship for 2018/19
Longtime AFT partner Vance & Hines has agreed to a sizable and significant two-year sponsorship renewal with American Flat Track for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
The deal makes Vance & Hines once again the Presenting Sponsor of the AFT Twins class for 2018 and 2019. It also names Vance & Hines the Official Exhaust Partner and Official Performance Partner of American Flat Track for those two years.
“There’s never been a better time to be involved in Flat Track racing,” said Terry Vance, Chairman of Vance & Hines. "The sport continues to grow, and the youth today are buying 750cc twin cylinder motorcycles ... and that's right where Vance & Hines wants to be. This is the best two-wheel racing in the country, and we're proud to return as the Presenting Sponsor of the AFT Twins class for two more years.”
Commenting on the deal, the AMA said that “Vance & Hines has certainly been around the block when it comes to motorcycle racing. While amassing numerous drag racing championships together, Vance and long time partner Byron Hines - both AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers - built V&H into a leading aftermarket company, and then immersed themselves successfully in other forms of motorcycle racing, including AMA Superbike, modern-day drag racing and, more recently, professional flat track.
“Vance & Hines are a strong supporter of the AFT series,” said American Flat Track CEO Michael Lock. “We are delighted to partner with them for the next two years, on a number of fronts.”
First up for the 2018 AFT Twins presented by Vance Hines season will be the “Bigger, Faster and Better” DAYTONA TT on March 15 2018, at Daytona International Speedway.