VOLUME 59 ISSUE 9 MARCH 1, 2022 P103
>ACTION AND
REACTION
Two weeks of data analysis,
deliberation and negotiation
later, the 2022 rules package
was announced. It brought both
race-only and production-based
machines back level in weight
at 320 pounds, while saddling
race-only engines with 32mm
intake restrictors and a 11,500
redline limit.
Additionally, the rules govern-
ing differing real wheel weights
that was introduced midseason
were fine-tuned to allow a slight
increase for the production-
based racers while correcting
an unforeseen issue that had
inadvertently impacted certain
Indian-mounted riders who make
use of the larger rear brakes,
such as Mission Roof Systems'
Brandon Robinson.
At the same time, the future
of the Mission Production Twins
class was announced. While
deserving its own section (if
not entire part), in short, it was
unveiled that the support class
will merge with the premier class
in '23. For '22, the support class
will effectively serve as a test
bed for the future ruleset of the
combined Mission SuperTwins
class, including repeated head-
to-head comparisons with the
premier class via the Mission
Production Challenge, which
grants the top four finishers in
the Production Twins main event
provisional starts in the Mission
SuperTwins main.
Following additional input
and analysis, AMA Pro Racing
made slight adjustments and
firmed up the rules for 2022. As
part of those adjustments, the
restrictors were upped to 34mm,
although continued performance
balancing could result in further
changes as the season unfolds.
Gary Gray, Indian Motorcycle
Vice President of Racing, Tech-
nology and Service, was vexed,
even after the 2mm adjustment
in their favor. "The engine wasn't
designed to run a 34mm throttle
"But as a team owner, and when you put millions
of dollars into something, and you get hit with this
truckload of restrictions—it knocks you back. It's
irritating that you claw your way to the top and you
feel like you're automatically going to go backwards.
That's not in my DNA to go backwards."
-Jerry Stinchfield
body. It was designed around
38s. Your velocity stacks, your
airbox, your throttle body, obvi-
ously, your ports, your valves,
your cam timing, your exhaust,
even combustion chamber
things are shaped around what
your intake is. When you change
that, you change all of that."
Jerry Stinchfield, owner of the
powerful Mission Roof Systems
team that has won multiple
races with customer FTR750s
in recent seasons, said, "I'm
