£50k up for grabs in Harley Series
Added on Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Competition organisers are reporting strong interest in the series.
A share of £50,000 is on the table for competitors in the inaugural Harley-Davidson XR1200 Trophy in 2009 along with a host of other incentives.
The new one-make series, launched at the recent Carole Nash International Motorcycle and Scooter Show back in November, will offer up to £2,000 and a full set of Dunlop race tyres for every winner in the opening season, with a road-going version of the Harley XR1200 set to be handed to the series winner.
Organisers hope that the prize fund package will stimulate an increase in what has been described as an “already high level of interest” in the series.
A prize of £250 will be awarded for clinching pole position in qualifying while a full set of Dunlop tyres for the following round will be awarded to the ‘Man of the Meeting’ at each event on the calendar.
The prize fund looks set to make the cost of entry to the series an even more appealing for individual riders and Harley-Davidson UK and Ireland dealers who are planning to support a team in the series, with the spread prize fund also likely to ensure a full grid throughout the season which will run alongside the British Superbike Championship from the opening round at Brands Hatch on 11-13 April until the penultimate round of the British Superbike Championship at Silverstone on 25-27 September.
The series will now run at eight events across the calendar with double-headers taking place at Donington Park and Cadwell Park.
Entrants will be expected to come up with funds for a £12,999 race bike, BKS leathers, exhaust and Harris Performance race kit as well as a season entry fee of £1,800. A partnership with Dunlop will restrict season tyre costs to £2,397 - with a free set of tyres given to every entrant at the opening and final rounds of the championship.
Harley-Davidson UK & Ireland Marketing Manager Greg Willis said: “We’re really pleased with the package that we have pulled together for the series in a relatively short space of time.
“One issue that we were conscious of was ensuring that we did not focus all of the prizes on first place. Some entrants may never win a race, but that is not to say that they will not improve throughout the season or reach other achievements and we have measures in place to ensure that the rewards are distributed fairly. This should help to keep motivation high and provide an exciting and competitive race series on a realistic budget.”
Calendar:
11-13 April: Brands Hatch Indy
2-4 May: Oulton Park
23-25 May: Donington Park (two races)
19-21 June: Snetterton
7-9 August: Brands Hatch GP
29- 31 August: Cadwell Park (two races)
12-14 Sept: Croft
25-27 Sept: Silverstone
Prize fund:
1st: £2,000 plus one set of tyres (1 front, 2 rears)}
2nd: £1,000 plus one front and one rear tyre
3rd: £750 plus one rear
4th: £500 plus one front
5th: £250
Pole: £250
Fastest lap: £250
Man of Meeting: One set of tyres (1 front, 2 rears)
Champion: Harley-Davidson XR1200
