Photo: Indian
A little over a month separates us from the moment when the eyes of all motorcycle fans will turn to the Daytona International Speedway. It is there where on the weekend of March 7 everyone who's anyone in motorcycling will be going for the start of several of the most challenging competitions for two-wheelers.
The three major series that will kick off their 2024 season in Daytona in March are the King of the Baggers (KOTB), Super Hooligan (SHNC), and American Flat Track (AFT). As usual, the field for each of them will be crowded with privateer teams, but the two major American bike makers have already confirmed their presence with their own factory teams.
Harley-Davidson did that even from the end of last year when it said it would be entering each of the three series with its own people and hardware. On top of that, it also disclosed the details of a backing plan for privateers worth $570,000.
Indian just spilled the beans on its involvement in these series this week, and it too promises a lot of money, about $450,000, for the private teams that run its bikes.
We'll start with what Indian plans to do for itself this year. With S&S as title sponsor, the motorcycle maker will field a two-man factory race team in the King of the Baggers and Super Hooligan, and a one-man team in the American Flat Track SuperTwins.
The King of the Bagger efforts will be led by Tyler O'Hara. The racer is in its fifth year running on the back of an S&S Indian Challenger in this series, hoping for a repeat of the performance achieved in the very first season, when he won the title.
The man will be accompanied by Troy Herfoss, three-time Australian Superbike champion, who is fresh on the payroll of the American bike maker.
The same duo will also compete in the Super Hooligan, where they will be racing on the backs of S&S-tweaked Indian FTRs.
For the Flat Track series Indian relies on the skill of Jared Mees, the reigning champion. He too will be using the same bike he's been using for eight years now, an Indian FTR750.
As far as privateers go, the ones racing in the KOTB series on Indian bikes can count, depending on their standings, on a total of $131,999, while SHNC racers are at the receiving end of $67,249.
The third series that kicks off in March, the Flat Track, is at the center of a lot of attention for Indian. No less than $252,600 is reserved for the best private performers.
So there you have it, we've just got the complete picture of what the two major American bike makers are up to this year in racing. All that's left to see is who wins what.
Harley-Davidson did that even from the end of last year when it said it would be entering each of the three series with its own people and hardware. On top of that, it also disclosed the details of a backing plan for privateers worth $570,000.
Indian just spilled the beans on its involvement in these series this week, and it too promises a lot of money, about $450,000, for the private teams that run its bikes.
We'll start with what Indian plans to do for itself this year. With S&S as title sponsor, the motorcycle maker will field a two-man factory race team in the King of the Baggers and Super Hooligan, and a one-man team in the American Flat Track SuperTwins.
The King of the Bagger efforts will be led by Tyler O'Hara. The racer is in its fifth year running on the back of an S&S Indian Challenger in this series, hoping for a repeat of the performance achieved in the very first season, when he won the title.
The man will be accompanied by Troy Herfoss, three-time Australian Superbike champion, who is fresh on the payroll of the American bike maker.
The same duo will also compete in the Super Hooligan, where they will be racing on the backs of S&S-tweaked Indian FTRs.
For the Flat Track series Indian relies on the skill of Jared Mees, the reigning champion. He too will be using the same bike he's been using for eight years now, an Indian FTR750.
As far as privateers go, the ones racing in the KOTB series on Indian bikes can count, depending on their standings, on a total of $131,999, while SHNC racers are at the receiving end of $67,249.
The third series that kicks off in March, the Flat Track, is at the center of a lot of attention for Indian. No less than $252,600 is reserved for the best private performers.
So there you have it, we've just got the complete picture of what the two major American bike makers are up to this year in racing. All that's left to see is who wins what.
Google News