NASMOTO History
Who is “The Best” Motorcycle racer?
It all began in the Summer of 1979 When Gavin Trippe started asking the question: Who is the best two wheel motorcycle racer around? He found out everyone had an opinion and figured there was really only one way to find out for sure. Trippe a UK Journalist turned race promoter decides to pitch the idea of a made for TV Championship motorcycle race to then ABC executive Bob Iger . The concept is to build a racetrack combining sections of Road Racing, Dirt Track and Motocross together equally in an effort to find out who is the best all around motorcycle racer -period. He aptly names his creation Superbikers .
Iger, who today is the current CEO/President of Disney , gives the project a green light based largely on the tremendous success of Gavins’ U.S. Grand Prix of Motocross races which were also funded and broadcast by ABC. Iger agrees to feature the race on Wide World of Sports but also becomes the primary sponsor by writing Trippe a cheque for $150,000.00.
Dec. 1st, 1979 - The Birth of Cool
Trippe stares in awe as his vision comes to life at the legendary Carlsbad Raceway in Southern California. Unexpected industry support from the Japanese Bike Manufacturers combined with months of planning and hard work pay off as he watches motocrosser Kent Howerton takes the first ever Superbikers win. Kent leads an all motocros podium sweep. Dirt Tracker Steve Ecklund finished fourth. Road racers were further back in the pack.
1980 to 1985 - The HeyDays Short and Sweet.
Followers of Road Racing looked to then 500 cc World Road Race Champion Eddie Lawson for redemption and he did not disappoint. He won two times, first in 1983 and again at what was destined to become the last ever Superbikers event ever held which took place on October 27,1985.
1985 to 1998 - 13 years of silence
The Superbikers concept, although dead in North America, was not lost on the Europeans.This was especially true of the French who really embraced the concept. It became branded as Super Motard and has grown in stature overseas ever since.
The Japanese factories under pressure from impending U.S. emissions laws began fast tracking development of lightweight yet powerful Four Stroke motors for competition dirt bikes.
Yamaha was the first to enter the market with this freshly developed and largely untested technology. It releases what would prove to be a revolutionary and landmark motorcycle the YZ 400F . Brilliant results on the race track and customer satisfaction solidify the position of high performance Four Stroke technology in the off-road marketplace.
Even today the “Big Four” Japanese manufacturers are still working feverishly to develop models to compete in this rapidly developing market. Interestingly these bikes shine in SuperMoto as they offer a smooth- linear power delivery which seems tailor-made for the slippery hardpacked dirt and asphalt sections common in this type of racing.
Unknowingly they were setting the stage for the biggest comeback in motorsports history.
1999 - 2000 If you stand long enough, grass will grow around you.
With the emergence of lightweight Four Stroke technology ideal for SuperMoto interest quickly begins to spread as these Motocross machines were modified for both racing and casual street use. Enthusiasts who had watched for years with envy as Europeans enjoyed racing and riding converted dirt bikes now had the opportunity to do so right in front of them.
The ratio is generally set anywhere from 50-50 to 80-20 in favor of asphalt. The buzz about this “new” form of racing begins to circulate rapidly around the industry as after market companies scramble to meet sudden demand for unique parts to convert machines.
Summer 2003 - Great Successes both North and South
Both the AMA and SuperMoto Canada staged successful events in major centers bringing this highly portable race format right to the people. Keeping travel distances to remote facilities in check is proving to be a key factor in the popularity of the races. The Canadians fans enjoyed bar to bar action on the grounds of their local Horse race / Slots facilities while the Americans battled downtown on the streets of Columbus, Ohio and Dallas Texas.
2006 and beyond - Predictions for the future…
Twenty five years after it’s initial inception the Superbikers concept is reborn on a much larger scale to a ready made audience of action sport enthusiasts who this time around can not only watch their Heroes of two wheel racing do battle they can also engage in it themselves at the local level.
At the launch of the AMA’s Series Pro Racing Representative Andy Leisner said “This is the first new series the AMA has launched since we launched Supercross more than twenty-five years ago, and that’s turned out pretty well.” (NOTE: Over 650,000 people pay to attend AMA Supercross annually.)
National brand sponsors have been attracted to this exciting new sport and continue to showcase their products and services to a target demographic audience.
