Posted February 8, 2008

The Growth Continues

By ATVA Director Doug Morris

Every year at this time I like to look back over the previous year, review what has been happening and bring everyone up to date on new rules and classes approved at the AMA Congress.

There are several new classes that were approved by AMA Congress that look to be very promising for 2008.

What most people know as 90 Modified 90cc two-stroke and 125cc four-stroke had one change—the age has been changed to 8 to 12. It was 8-15.

Meanwhile, a modified youth class was created called Super Mini, for riders 13 to 15, with an engine size from 105cc two-stroke to 150cc four-stroke. This allows racers to take advantage of the new high-performance four-stroke engines. This will help our 90 Modified riders who want to move up but aren’t ready for the larger ATVs.

Another new youth class, Senior Youth Production, was created. The idea is for it to be a transitional class between youth and amateur classes. Senior Youth Production allows riders 15 to 17 years old to compete on four-stroke ATVs with a maximum of 400cc on production ATVs, no hybrids.

These classes may not be offered just yet at your home tracks because new classes take time to attract riders.

But the ATVA Grand National Motocross Championships and the Extreme Dirt Track ATVA Nationals plan to offer all three of these classes. Full 2008 supplemental rules will be available soon.

In other News…
ATV motocross racing in Minnesota District 23 has been growing each year and for 2008 they offer an ATV-only motocross series.

And promoters in southern Missouri have formed Ozarks Cross Country Racing (OXC Racing), which will offer an ATV-only hare scrambles series.

At the AMA National Hare Scrambles series some of the events had classes for ATVs but ATV riders didn't get National Hare Scramble end-of-the-year points. For 2008 selected events will now award ATV riders points

The AMA has a National Hare Scrambles series for motorcycles and has offered classes for ATVs at some of the events. The AMA and ATVA are working to designate four or five of the AMA National Hare Scrambles as ATV National point events for selected classes. Details will be announced soon.

Good News for Recreational Riders
The AMA Congress also made some rule changes that should encourage more promoters and ATV clubs to sanction non-road poker runs and trail rides. ATVA and AMA organizers can now sanction non-competitive trail rides and poker runs, with no membership requirement. (There will be more info in the next issue of ATVA News).

Last year at this time I made a comment that AMA Pro racing recognizing an AMA Pro ATV class at our motocross series was good news for everyone. Add to that the fact that more and more ATV manufacturers were looking into forming new Pro ATV race teams.

Look where we are now! There are at least eight different OEMs with teams. Some are racing more than type of racing, from motocross and cross country to dirt track. Many of these OEMs also have amateur support teams as well.

These teams aren't restricted to the new sport/competition ATVs, but extend into utility ATVs as well.

It would be fun to talk to all the teams and add up all the racers that are now getting paid to race ATVs. Just a few years ago, everyone was basically paying to race out of their own pocket. These are exciting times for ATVing.