AMA Pro Racing announced that the premier AMA Pro SuperBike class will return to the DAYTONA 200 in 2015. The 2015 edition of AMA Pro Road Racing’s kickoff event will be a 69-lap race contested on Daytona International Speedway’s 2.91-mile short course.
"Getting the SuperBikes back in the DAYTONA 200 has been a fan request for years and we’re thrilled to be making this announcement," said Michael Gentry, COO of AMA Pro Racing. "The DAYTONA 200 is America’s premier motorcycle race, and our goal is to once again feature the biggest names in motorcycle road racing in the event."
The DAYTONA 200 is America’s longest-running endurance motorcycle race, tracing its history to 1937 when the inaugural race was run on the sands of Daytona Beach. In 1961, the event became synonymous with Daytona International Speedway and has since seen many great names in motorcycling history win the storied event. Run at the culmination of Daytona Bike Week on Saturday afternoon, the 200-mile race is the only endurance race on the AMA Pro Road Racing schedule, and therefore provides a number of technical challenges.
The AMA Pro SuperBike class competed in the DAYTONA 200 from 1985 until 2004. Since 2005, the smaller-displacement motorcycles of Formula Xtreme and GoPro Daytona SportBike have campaigned the prestigious event. With the 2015 return of the AMA Pro SuperBikes for the 74th running of the DAYTONA 200, the top teams and riders will again headline the historic event.
"The DAYTONA 200 boasts a long and prestigious history since it first ran on the sands of Daytona Beach over seven decades ago, crowning some of the true legends of motorcycle racing in that time," said Daytona International Speedway President, Joie Chitwood. "Our fans have been patiently waiting for the premier class to return to the weekend’s headline event. We are thankful to AMA Pro Racing, as well as Dunlop and the OEM’s for working together to help make this move a reality for 2015."
The adjustments to the AMA Pro SuperBike rules package, planned as part of the recently-announced AMA Pro Road Racing class restructuring, are a key component to getting the SuperBikes back in the DAYTONA 200 for the 2015 running. Another important element is the commitment of AMA Pro Road Racing’s spec tire partner Dunlop to the continual development of tires which are specifically suited to the special demands of Daytona International Speedway.
"Dunlop is excited about the prospect of having SuperBikes back in the DAYTONA 200," said Mike Buckley, vice president of Dunlop. "Everyone on the Dunlop design and service team are enthusiasts first and foremost so the entire team is looking forward to supporting this endeavor."
The event is scheduled for March 13 – 15, 2014 and will have the same three-day format featured in recent years, highlighted by the 73rd running of the DAYTONA 200 on Saturday afternoon. For tickets and information, please visit http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.
