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There are major changes on the horizon con- cerning the 2018 MotoAmerica season and be- yond. The series is gaining trac-
tion and its beginning to regain the reputation that the AMA Su- perbike Championship once had as a legitimate domestic series that could stack up against the world’s best. In an effort to facili- tate the growth of MotoAmerica and ensure that it continues
“Our focus has always been to build the Superbike class,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “The Super- stock 1000 bikes have proven to be competitive in the Superbike class and the teams and riders who run those bikes are now racing near the front at every round. We also found that having the Superstock 1000 class inside the Superbike class was confusing for our fans and we feel the class will gain strength by being Superbike-only going forward. We look forward to having a Superbike class with top-notch motor- cycles, riders, and teams from the top of the field to the bottom—just as the premier class should be.”
gain seat time on a 1000cc motorcycle before sharing the track with riders such as Cameron Beaubier and Toni Elias. It’s more likened to the struc- ture of domestic championships with proven success, such as the British Superbike Championship. One of the most important things to note about
the licensing restrictions of the class is that it will ensure that the contestants have little to no national level experi- ence on a 1000cc machine. A lot of changes have been made not only with the racers in mind, but the fans as well. Stock classes always seem to provide exciting races that come down to the wire, and it’s safe to say that the newly formed Superstock 1000 class is going
to move in the right direction, alterations have been announced to the class structure starting in 2018. Three new classes are being added to the series and two existing classes are being adjusted. The new divisions are Stock 1000, Twins, and the Junior Cup class, which will replace the previously established KTM RC390 Cup. The new season will also mark the dissipation of the Superstock 1000 and the Superstock 600 classes, allow- ing the Motul Superbike class and the Supersport class to act as a standalone championship. In addition to the new class structure, there is more than one million dollars in prize money up for grabs for the 2018 season, ($775,000 in the Motul Superbike Class.)
The same ideology has been applied to the dissolvement of the Superstock 600 class, eliminating the confusion of hav- ing two separate classes racing on the track at the same time. The technical rules have been slightly merged be- tween the Supersport and Superstock 600 classes, although they still seem to favor the regulations that were present in the Supersport class during the 2017 season.
The Superstock 1000 class will serve as a feeder class for the Motul Super- bike class, acting as somewhat of a stepping stone between the Super- sport class and the Superbike class. It allows the riders an opportunity to
to provide some close finishes through- out the 2018 season.
The Twins class is a brand new addi- tion that is geared towards the dealers and the manufacturers of the sport, addressing one of the most popular categories of motorcycle sales in the country. It also gives those who love
to fiddle with suspension and engine components an opportunity to test their handiwork, providing an avenue that closely connects MotoAmerica to the club racing scene.
The Junior Cup class will serve the same purpose as the previous KTM RC390 Cup class, but with a few obvious changes. It will be open to
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