Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1454376
FEATURE I STATE OF AMERICAN FLAT TRACK PART 2 P98 >ESTENSON RACING, LATUS MOTORS AND VANCE & HINES CONCUR While Progressive AFT hopes to attract new players into the fold, the immediate task before it is securing the retention of—and expanded commitment from—the non-Indian teams it already has in the paddock. Fortunately for the series, Estenson Racing, Latus Motors and Vance & Hines all see the situation in a gener- ally similar light. Estenson Racing Team Manager Tommy Hayden said, "I truly want to see the sport grow. Yes, I have my own goals, but I know a one-brand series does not work in any form of racing. I think the key to it growing is multiple brands competing. I saw it firsthand in road racing—the dif- ference between the 'glory days of AMA Superbike' and the low- est point for the series was how that. I agree with them. But the fact is, if you look at the bigger picture, you say, 'What's better for me and my program and my team?' Latus Motors owner George Latus kept the XG750R present on the Mission SuperTwins grid last season after Harley pulled the plug on its factory effort, but his team struggled to make much of an impression. He said, "Obviously they needed to make some changes. The SuperTwins class has be- come essentially a spec class for riders who wanted to have a chance to earn a championship or some serious prize money. [The FTR is] the platform you've got to have. When Indian em- barked upon that project with much manufacturer support there was and that was it. That was the only different ingredient." Vance & Hines co-founder Terry Vance, who oversaw Harley-Davidson's now defunct factory XG750R Mission Super- Twins program, said, "I think AFT should have done something more drastic sooner, but unfor- tunately they didn't. And now Harley is out of the game, and we're trying to figure out where we're headed. Everyone is trying to sort it all out. "I just want to have great racing at every race from today forward. How do we get there? Let's figure it out and get it done. And if some of the Indian teams and riders feel that's kind of crappy... I don't argue with "I saw it firsthand in road racing—the difference between the 'glory days of AMA Superbike' and the lowest point for the series was how much manufacturer support there was and that was it. That was the only different ingredient." – Tommy Hayden