Indian Motorcycle Racing Announces Historic Return To Ama Pro Flat Track

[Last Resort]

Indian Motorcycle Racing to utilize proprietary new liquid-cooled 750cc V-Twin competition engine

MINNEAPOLIS (June 14, 2016) — Indian Motorcycle®, America’s first motorcycle company, is proud to announce its re-entry into the AMA Pro Flat Track series with its first full-factory racing effort since the 1950s.

 

AMA Pro Flat Track is highly competitive and has evolved into a demanding, technical and specialized event that typically sees bar-to-bar action and sublime motorcycle control at high speeds on varied dirt surfaces. The Indian Motorcycle Racing Team will contest the series with the all - new and proprietary Scout FTR 750 liquid-cooled 750cc four-valve V-Twin competition engine specifically designed for flat track and engineered into a specially built chassis.

 

Indian Motorcycle has a significant history in flat track, at one time dominating the sport with legendary riders and motorcycles. Perhaps best-known was the Indian Motorcycle Wrecking Crew, consisting of Bill Tuman, Bobby Hill and Ernie Beckman, who won race after race and carried the message of power, balance and quality that lives on in today’s Indian® Scout®.

 

Multi-time AMA Grand National Champion Jared Mees will join the Indian Motorcycle Racing Team as a test rider in 2016. Mees, 30, won the AMA Grand National Twins Championship in 2009, AMA Grand National Singles Championship in 2012, the unified AMA Grand National Championship (GNC1) title in 2012, 2014 and 2015, and is current X Games gold medalist.

 

“We are very excited to return to the AMA Circuit,” says Steve Menneto, President of Motorcycles for Polaris Industries. “We have established the new Indian Chief and Scout series as the cornerstones of our production line-up, and now is the time for us to return to racing in a big way. We know that fans of Indian Motorcycle have been anticipating this announcement and can’t wait to see Indian Racing back in action.”

 

“Indian Motorcycle was born out of competition, and through its history used racing to develop and improve the product as well as expand the appeal of the brand,” says Reid Wilson, Marketing Director for Indian Motorcycle. “As shepherds for the brand, we will continue that push towards excellence on the street and in competition, and our team is beyond excited to bring the brand back to professional racing.”

 

“I can’t express how excited I am to be the guy to bring Indian Motorcycle back into the forefront of AMA Pro competition,” says Mees. “We will have a lot of work to do to develop a 100 percent new race platform, but I’m committed and excited at what I have seen on the drawing boards and what the plans are for Indian Motorcycle Racing. This is history for the brand, and being a part of it is truly exciting for me and this sport.”

 

Indian Motorcycle will race the new motorcycle at a circuit to be determined in 2016 in preparation for a full season of competition in 2017. Stay tuned to IndianMotorcycle.com and Indian Motorcycle’s social media channels for continued updates on our progress and details on the bike’s first race as well as additional information on the new racing-only Scout FTR 750 engine that will power it.

 

 

 

[colo.gw]

pretty great , wish they d get behind the board track an hand shift Indian riders that struggle.

[Thrillseeker]

Should be interesting

[hasbin]

That's great, I am going to start looking up dates, these races are a good thing to plan a little 2-3 day event around....Hint hint

[Bobber]

Will be looking forward to this!!!

[Rain Cloud]

I wonder if there are any Canadian dates??

[Last Resort]

http://www.cycleworld.com/indian-motorcycle-ftr750-dirt-track-race-engine-exclusive-technical-preview

[oldCheif]

This will be a big change and upgrade in popularity of dirt track, this should be great for racing and hopefully Indian.

[Hyper Gerry]

I can't wait to see the FTR race bike & our brand back on the track again!! Big thumbs up!!!

[GordonS]

This is VERY exciting news! I was at The Race Of Gentlemen in Wildwood 2 weekends ago, and got a small taste of the old rivalry between Indian and Harley. Reviving this today should be great for both companies.

[XV62]

That's great, I am going to start looking up dates, these races are a good thing to plan a little 2-3 day event around....Hint hint

Ya gonna call 'em to see if they need any riders?????????????????????

[hasbin]

Ya gonna call 'em to see if they need any riders?????????????????????

It took a few years, but I finally realized i'm too old to play that game... I can hardly get out of the rack after a 250 mile day, I can't imagine what it would feel like after a "get-off" Wait I can imagine, that's why I won't make that call

[kemosavy]

Im glad ta see some racing other than Sportsters on the track. This will be good for Motorcycling ingeneral! Kemosavy

[REDEAGLE]

Thats good news that Indian is getting back into the racing,its been a long time coming, I raced motorcycles back in the late fortys, I raced Harleys thats when there were only three Harley Davidsons, however my street bike was a Indian Scout, in short I have been riding Indian Motorcycles for over sixty years, right now I ride a 2016 Indian Chieftain( Indian Red/Ivory Cream) I am not a long distance rider any longer because of war wounds, I hope that there will be a race with Indian bikes involved some where in the Colorado area or ajacing states. All ride safe, Cheers, Luke Redeagle

[Harleynot]

at 33 seconds.....



Edited May 12, 2017 by Harleynot

[CHIEF DOC 99]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsSyGfPk4M8

[BLUCHIEF]

That was a fun day

[Micmac]

It was good to finally meet you in person my friend. I saw you, Louie, Scottdawg, insane indian, Glace, and I'm sure I'm missing someone else there.

[Harleynot]

Edited May 12, 2017 by Harleynot

[It is Baloon]

 

Me Ride Um Centennial [MRUC]

 

 

 

 

[BLUCHIEF]

 

It was great meeting you Pete. So Ms. February and Squaww was there as well

 

[BLUCHIEF]

I was kinda bummed I didn't see more Iron Indians there

 

[oldCheif]

It was good to finally meet you in person my friend. I saw you, Louie, Scottdawg, insane indian, Glace, and I'm sure I'm missing someone else there.

Theresa and i were there, but we were down in the infield stood around the start finish line, wearing the bright orange vests!

Going to the Springfield mile race in 2 wks, lets the Indians can run the mile tracks as good as the short tracks.

[Harleynot]

Theresa and i were there, but we were down in the infield stood around the start finish line, wearing the bright orange vests!

Going to the Springfield mile race in 2 wks, lets the Indians can run the mile tracks as good as the short tracks.

 

 

 

2017 American Flat Track Arizona Mile Results

 

PHOENIX, Ariz. (May 13, 2017) – The Indian Wrecking Crew once again lived up to its moniker in the fourth round of the 2017 American Flat Track championship. The trio of factory riders secured a dominant sweep of the AFT Twins presented by Vance & Hines podium at the Law Tigers Arizona Mile presented by Indian Motorcycle.

Leading the charge around Turf Paradise was reigning Grand National Champion Bryan Smith. Smith drew upon every last ounce of his trademark Mile magic to position his No. 1 Indian Motorcycle Racing backed by Allstate Scout FTR750 ahead of the identical No. 6 Indian Scout FTR750 of Brad Baker at the checkered flag by a scant 0.057 seconds.

Following two red flags and with the sun quickly headed to the horizon, the AFT Twins presented by Vance & Hines Main Event was reconfigured into a dramatic five-lap shootout. At the second and final restart, Baker again resumed his place at the front of the field and appeared well on his way to grabbing his first victory of 2017. However, Smith had other ideas, ducking down the inside at the opening of the penultimate lap and held strong from there.

“It was a little bit of strategy,” Smith said. “I just sat on Brad’s rear tire, and luckily it worked out where I got by him with two to go. I went on by him and had just enough where I was a little bit better, mostly off of (Turn) 2.”

The cagey performance was the 20th Mile victory of Smith’s career, good enough to rank fifth most in American Flat Track history. It was also his 28th overall AFT Twins win, which ties him with fellow Michigan natives Bart Markel and Henry Wiles for tenth on the all-time order.

“It’s pretty cool at 28 wins that I tied Bark Markel, the original godfather of the Michigan Mafia,” Smith said. “And it’s pretty special for me to be, I believe, the only rider to win a Mile on three different brands and tie his record. Hopefully next weekend I can break it.”

Runner-up Baker said, “I wanted that win so dang bad. I don’t think I’ve wanted a win more in my life. This type of track is one I typically struggle at – one that’s dry, slick, one-lined – where you kind of have to go slow to go fast and ride with a lot of discipline.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed and angry. But they call Bryan the “Master of the Miles,” and he’s great at this. This is definitely a heartbreaker because I was the guy to beat all day… We’re on identical equipment so it’s not like I had any more horsepower than him or he had any more horsepower than me. It was all about who was the best rider, and today, Bryan proved his experience and craft on the Miles.”

Smith now sits perfectly even on top of the AFT Twins title fight with Jared Mees (No. 9 Indian Motorcycle Rogers Racing Scout FTR750) at 87 apiece. Mees retained a share of the points lead by furthering his season-long string of podium results with a close third.

[Harleynot]