Sturgis TT, August 11, 2024
Steve Piehl
Sturgis TT: A Historic First for Downtown Sturgis
Sturgis, South Dakota, that small town of 8,000 residents, a town synonymous with the roar of motorcycles for decades, resonated with the sound of racing motorcycles on Sunday, August 11, as the inaugural Sturgis TT took place in the heart of the 84th Sturgis Rally. This American Flat Track (AFT) event (Round 13 for the 2024 Championship series) marked a significant milestone, not just for Sturgis, but for the world of flat track racing as a whole.
The Sturgis TT track was unlike anything seen before on the AFT circuit. As Cycle News described it, the course was "unique on the AFT circuit." It was a mix of dirt and pavement, challenging riders with both left and right turns, snaking through the heart of the city, with the finish line adjacent to the Harley-Davidson Rally Point.
The Sturgis TT featured three classes of racing: the 450 Singles, the SuperTwins and the debut of the Adventure Tracker Class.
Cameron Gray, AFT's Director of Sales and Partnerships, couldn't be more excited about the new class. "Sixteen OEM's currently have adventure bikes. Whether it's the Harley Pan America, the Triumph Tiger, Africa Twin or KTM, you put on a slip-on pipe, you adjust the suspension, get your handlebars where they need to be, take off the headlights and taillights, and you go racing. Very simple, very clean."
Triumph Tigers and a Saddlemen Team of two Pan Americas made up most of the grid for the Adventure Trackers.
In the SuperTwins class, JD Beach took home the victory, while Kody Kopp nabbed the top spot in 450s. Flat track veteran Sammy Halbert won the inaugural Adventure Tracker race on a Triumph Tiger.
The Sturgis TT was the result of a partnership between the City of Sturgis and American Flat Track, a collaboration that had been in the works for 22 months. Reflecting on the journey, Gray said: "At first it was like putting little pieces together like a puzzle. It's been 22 months since this started."
Gray and Gene Crouch, AFT's CEO, loved the idea of transforming the streets of Sturgis into a racetrack during one of the world's largest motorcycle rallies. It took the support of civic leaders and rally sponsors to make it happen. "We've been through, I think, three mayors since we started this, and a number of different council members," Gray noted, emphasizing the broad support the race received, and the complexity of aligning so many 'moving parts'.
Despite the excitement surrounding the race, the day was not without its challenges. Midday rain delayed the schedule and threatened the race, but the clear skies that followed allowed final track prep and, with an adjustment to the schedule, allowed the race to run, with the final event completed just after sunset. While the rain drove away many who came downtown for the race, hundreds of fans stayed to see history made.
Several local businesses adjacent to the track took full advantage of the event by offering VIP packages, including balcony viewing, food and drinks.
The impact of the Sturgis TT extended beyond the track. Insiders from Rapid City revealed that hotel bookings on the nights of Saturday and Sunday were higher than during a typical rally weekend. This uptick in bookings is a strong indicator that the race could have a significant and expanding impact on local businesses in the future.
Perhaps most significantly for AFT, and the rally, is the TV coverage on Fox and Fox Sports. "We're going to be broadcast on Saturday August 17... four hours of coverage for AFT, which will be the biggest we've ever had," said Gray, highlighting the event's significance.
The success of the inaugural Sturgis TT has set the stage for future races and possibly a series of rally-related races.