BMRC to test riders' stamina with new endurance series

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9: Motorcycle racing is returning next month with a three-race endurance series.

It is the first time the bikes will compete in races that will require pit stops for fuel.

Bermuda Motorcycle Racing Club president Cyril Whitter said the idea of a winter series would give motorcycle riders and fans a chance to extend the season.

“The committee was looking at alternative ways to draw interest into the sport. We found out we lacked a couple of things. We only ran six months of the year. The fans wanted us to ride more often.”

He said instead of extending the regular season, they went with a series of endurance races, the first of which will be February 23.

“We want to get more people involved with motorcycles. We came up with a couple of new ideas. One was drag racing and the other was endurance racing.”

He said that has not been done before in Bermuda but endurance racing is popular in Europe and the US. “We figured the winter is a perfect time to do this because it won’t be too strenuous with the heat here. It also gives us a chance to run racing outside of our season.”

He said the three-race series would see the second event take place on March 23 and the finale in April.

Whitter said the first and second races would last two hours with the finale being a four-hour event.

“There can be any where from one individual racing for two hours in an Ironman category or there can be up to four people competing as a team.”

He said the entry fee is $100 per bike, so if four people are competing together on the same bike, it averages out to $25 per person.

Whitter said there will be a cash purse for competitors, the official amount has yet to be confirmed but it will be a minimum of $250.

“We’re looking at having one or two classes but at the moment we’re set on two, which means each class will have a purse of at least $250 for first place.”

He said the classes would consist of 125cc and below and above 125cc to the superbike.

Whitter said six people have already expressed they would take part in the endurance series and he’s hoping that there will be at least 10 entries.

“Trust me, there is going to be a lot of pit-stop action. The rider is going to come in, take a break, sit in their chair, hydrate and fill up on fuel. We don’t expect there will be any tyre changes in the two-hour race.

“Our goal is to work up to a four hour race – it may not happen until the next season but our last race could be a four hour one.

“The four-hour race we will require each team to have at least two people.”

He said the winners will be determined by who does the most laps during the race. He added if someone crashes, they will not be eliminated but it would difficult for them to win if the bike requires any sort of repairs to get it back operating on the track.

Whitter said there would be “hot pit lane” which will always be active with bikes coming in and getting fuel and or changing riders.

“This is going to test the riders’ mechanical skills as well as their fitness.”

The BMRC said drag racing will take part during the regular season.