A 450cc single cylinder class proposed by ex-pat and old friend of bikesportnews.com Gavin Trippe looks set to be adopted by AMA Pro-Racing as early as next year.
Trippe, who was a reporter for MCN before moving to California in about 1781, has been championing 450Moto for a couple of years and has finally got the ear of AMA boss Roger Edmonson.
Over the coming months, AMA Pro Racing officials will begin the process of testing the concept for performance, competition and safety characteristics as well as viability and interest in the marketplace.
Preliminary plans call for the entry-level professional class to feature an arrive-and-ride format utilizing a single, yet-to-be-determined manufacturer and 450cc single-cylinder motorcycles prepared by a single tuner. Entries in the class would be restricted to riders between the ages of 16 and 21, supplanting the requirements for AMA Pro SuperSport.
"Combining close competition with affordable equipment provides a win-win situation for fans and riders alike," said Edmondson. "The parity in performance brought with a single manufacturer and tuner puts America's young talent at center stage and helps them to refine their riding skills for advancement through the ranks."
