Supermoto - How it all began

[Raptor]

Just where did this Supermoto thing come from? The most popular theory dates the concept of supermoto back to the original ABC Superbikers that aired from '79-'85.

 

This was made-for-TV event dreamed up by a motorcycle racing visionary by the name of Gavin Trippe. It was a once a year match race between the best road racers, motocrossers, dirt trackers and speedway specialists. Most competitors raced specially prepped motocross bikes with 18" wheels, lowered suspension, specially fabricated brakes and dirt track tyres front and rear. The track was 33% pavement (roadracing), 33% motocross style and 33% dirt trackstyle with fast sweeping dirt turns. As spectacular as the event was, it was unfortunately cancelled due to budget constraints and a bunch of ignorant TV executives.

 

Despite the demise of Gavin's concept here in America, the idea didn't go unnoticed. The French adopted and refined the Superbikers concept and created a new form of racing. Back then they called it "Supermotard" which is a translation from Superbikers. "Motard" meaning biker. It wasn't until many years later that the term "supermoto" was adopted as it was easier to understand internationally. But before we go there, we have to realise that racers have actually been enjoying pavement to dirt motorcyle racing for probably 40 years or more. Many of the old scrambles or GP-style races like the famous Lake Elsinore GP (immortalised in the movie "On any Sunday") were races that ran through the streets of the city before heading into the hills. But back then, the pavement to dirt ratio was a lot different - more dirt, less pavement- you get the picture.

 

Now back to the frogs. The French took Superbikers to the next level by developing specific equipment for the sport and ditching the 18" dirt track wheels and tyres for 17" wheels and road racing slicks. It was at this time that supermoto was born and the dirt-to-pavement ratio was forever changed. Tracks concocted of around 70-80% pavement and 20-30% dirt became the norm. Several special National series and one-off races in Europe started to attract racers from all walks of life. The Mettet event in Belgium is probably the most famous supermoto race dating back to 1987. Although the sport was strong, the first FIM World Championship didn't emerge until 2002.

 

In America, where supermoto is only a decade new, the first official supermoto-style race event took place in 1997. It went down in Southern California under the name Super TT. The United States made up for lost ground pretty fast and by 2003 the AMA launched it's official National Championship. Ben Bostrom bested Jeff Ward in a winner-take-all championship race at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas.

 

In the early years of American supermoto, the sport drew mostly from the dirt track and road racing community. However, as time went on, the motocrossers started to realise that supermoto is motocross on pavement more than it is road racing on a motocross bike. For the most part, the majority of the top supermoto racers have a pretty heavy motocross background or if they come from roadracing or dirt track, they rode motocross on the side.

 

Machinery and technology has also come a long way in the last decade. Early racers lowered their suspension 2 or more inches, ran DOT or used road racing slicks from 250 GP and scrounged to find suitable brakes and wheels. Now, building a supermoto bike is only a matter of opening a catalog and pointing. There are even a few manufacturers that offer turnkey race-ready supermoto bikes. KTM, Husqvarna and Husaberg are the big names.

 

The progression from the original Superbikers to today's supermoto has come so far that it is almost too far to compare the two. The concept and the equipment have been perfected while the list of racers, from amateur to Pro, continues to grow. And the fact that supermoto is not just for the Pros is truly one of the best things about it. Most of the racers who participate in the events across the country are amateurs ranging in age from 7 to 70. So what are you waiting for? Get out there!!

 

Extracted from the official series programme, 2007 AMA Supermoto Championship

[EVOIIIGSR]

Do you know the history of Spore Supermoto???

[Raptor]

Do you know the history of Spore Supermoto???

 

Honestly...no. Pray do tell.

[ambasnakeman]

i thought dirt tyres were out of stock, and some genius went on to use sportbike tyres and created a new trend. didnt know the story so complicated

[Raptor]

i thought dirt tyres were out of stock, and some genius went on to use sportbike tyres and created a new trend. didnt know the story so complicated

 

[EVOIIIGSR]

back in 1999 ...

 

i think the first original and street legal SM in S'pore are the Husqvarna 125SM and the KTM Duke ...

 

after that I saw a few KTM LC4s converted their bike to SM ... maybe becos dirt tyres are not economical to be used as transport ...

 

i was attracted to the KTM LC4 converted SM when i first lay eyes on it ... you can call it "love at first sight" ... so i bought a KTM LC4 Supercomp and convert it ...

 

then i surf in SRdirtbike.com aka Slackriders to find myself riders of similar passion of riding SM ... and from there ... more SM riders starts to surface ... we found a FOC place to play ... and the numbers just grew ... mostly are modified / converted SMs ... then DR-Z SM came along and it boosted the Singapore SM community population ...

 

if i can remember correctly ... the first Singapore SM race was held in Kallang in 2004 ...

 

it was a great day for Singapore SM community ...

 

many of the S'pore SM pioneers are still around ... but S'pore hectic life has taken its toll on many of these riders ... some retired, some foreign talents went back overseas, some Singapore SM riders still riding and racing while some others just too busy with work and family commitments ... but the spirit of SM still rides on ... new SM riders rides the street and many street / sportsbikes riders came to try this new sport ...

 

LONG LIVE SINGAPORE SM RIDERS ...

[Raptor]

back in 1999 ...

 

i think the first original and street legal SM in S'pore are the Husqvarna 125SM and the KTM Duke ...

 

after that I saw a few KTM LC4s converted their bike to SM ... maybe becos dirt tyres are not economical to be used as transport ...

 

i was attracted to the KTM LC4 converted SM when i first lay eyes on it ... you can call it "love at first sight" ... so i bought a KTM LC4 Supercomp and convert it ...

 

then i surf in SRdirtbike.com aka Slackriders to find myself riders of similar passion of riding SM ... and from there ... more SM riders starts to surface ... we found a FOC place to play ... and the numbers just grew ... mostly are modified / converted SMs ... then DR-Z SM came along and it boosted the Singapore SM community population ...

 

if i can remember correctly ... the first Singapore SM race was held in Kallang in 2004 ...

 

it was a great day for Singapore SM community ...

 

many of the S'pore SM pioneers are still around ... but S'pore hectic life has taken its toll on many of these riders ... some retired, some foreign talents went back overseas, some Singapore SM riders still riding and racing while some others just too busy with work and family commitments ... but the spirit of SM still rides on ... new SM riders rides the street and many street / sportsbikes riders came to try this new sport ...

 

LONG LIVE SINGAPORE SM RIDERS ...

 

That is interesting. Thanks for the background info.

 

I was talking to Steve Drew (#73 Mach 1 Yamaha) and he was complaining that supermotards are slow to catch on in the USA. He is currently ranked number 10 in the AMA Supermotard series.

 

This year the AMA has included Supermotards in their racing calendar and I think the sport is going to become very big and very soon.

 

And I strongly believe that the supermotard scene in Singapore will soon be following suit.

 

Its just such a fun bike to ride, I never had so much fun on a bike before.

[EVOIIIGSR]

thanks raptor for the info ... with time I am sure the sport will blossom ... try psycho-ing your sportbikes frens to try the sport-lah ... we have FREE trackdays try-out for first time SM riders at NUSAJAYA in a bid to promote the sports ... and i m keeping my fingers crossed for the upcoming Tuas Track ... I hope they can cater to the SM riders too ...

 

also ... we used to play at Jurong Go-kart Track before but the owner of track got worried that our foot pegs and handle bars will damage their track in an event of a fall ... after that the owner of the track refused to let us play there ...

 

we can try to convince the track owner that the riders to put on handle bar guards sliders, foot peg sliders, fork sliders and swing-arm sliders ...

 

but can we convince the SM riders to invest on these things and to put it on ...???

[AspMonK]

this is a very interesting sport indeed. Many young riders are keen to try to explore on the sport.

 

Some riders might say/think .. what this? weird... Dirt bike with road tires.. and try to be difference... or so

 

When I heard of these comments it make me feel that they are slow.. and not updated of extreme sport like SuperMoto.

[NoLogicOne]

we can try to convince the track owner that the riders to put on handle bar guards sliders, foot peg sliders, fork sliders and swing-arm sliders ...

 

but can we convince the SM riders to invest on these things and to put it on ...???

 

 

Get a local company to machine these sliders at a mass quantity and sell it to the community cheap, or sell at race avenue. Make sure it is cheaper than name brands, it could stir interest. Sliders, are meant to bite the dust anyways, as long as they work. I'm suggesting axle sliders. Other sliders seems too complicated to be machined at a cost effective price.

[ambasnakeman]

Ducati Hypermotard - looks like the evolution of supermotard

1100cc

 

http://www.webbikeworld.com/ducati-motorcycles/hypermotard/ducati-hypermotard.jpg

http://www.webbikeworld.com/ducati-motorcycles/hypermotard/hypermotard-final-rear.jpg

http://www.webbikeworld.com/ducati-motorcycles/hypermotard/hypermotard-final-dash.jpg

http://www.webbikeworld.com/ducati-motorcycles/hypermotard/hypermotard-mirror.jpg

http://www.webbikeworld.com/ducati-motorcycles/hypermotard/hypermotard-mirror-folded.jpg

http://www.webbikeworld.com/ducati-motorcycles/hypermotard/ducati-hypermotard-front.jpg

http://www.webbikeworld.com/ducati-motorcycles/hypermotard/ducati-hypermotard-forks.jpg

[EVOIIIGSR]

Get a local company to machine these sliders at a mass quantity and sell it to the community cheap, or sell at race avenue. Make sure it is cheaper than name brands, it could stir interest. Sliders, are meant to bite the dust anyways, as long as they work. I'm suggesting axle sliders. Other sliders seems too complicated to be machined at a cost effective price.

 

2 local companies selling these axle sliders at affordable and reasonable prices ... one is Motovation and the other one is EQ2EX ...

 

personally ... i have tried both ... and both brands product performed as promised ...

 

but then again ... convincing the SM riders to buy and put it on is totally different story ...

 

some reasons are in no particular order ...

 

1. so expensive!!!???!!!

2. for what???

3. why-leh???

4. so???

5. not nice leh!!!

6. no other colour ah???

7. got metal one or not???

8. got increase performance or not???

9. makes the bike a few grams heavier leh!!!

10. cannot try for FREE first ah???

 

the investment for individual SM rider is about SGD100 - 200 for these sliders but they are not so willing to ... so I fully understand the Go-kart Track owner woes as his investment on the track maintenance can go up by a few thousand dollars ... thats why he did not dare to take the risk ...

[Raptor]

2 local companies selling these axle sliders at affordable and reasonable prices ... one is Motovation and the other one is EQ2EX ...

 

personally ... i have tried both ... and both brands product performed as promised ...

 

but then again ... convincing the SM riders to buy and put it on is totally different story ...

 

some reasons are in no particular order ...

 

1. so expensive!!!???!!!

2. for what???

3. why-leh???

4. so???

5. not nice leh!!!

6. no other colour ah???

7. got metal one or not???

8. got increase performance or not???

9. makes the bike a few grams heavier leh!!!

10. cannot try for FREE first ah???

 

the investment for individual SM rider is about SGD100 - 200 for these sliders but they are not so willing to ... so I fully understand the Go-kart Track owner woes as his investment on the track maintenance can go up by a few thousand dollars ... thats why he did not dare to take the risk ...

 

All it takes is for these people to low side one time on their bike and end up having to change out a swing arm then they will know the value of an axle slider or for that matter the handguards.

 

And the chance of lowsiding on the streets is much higher than on the tracks. Tracks are normally devoid of sand, stones and oil.

 

I have personally lowsided while exiting BMW at PG before. The cost of my repairs.... one $6 signal light from Lim Ah Boy.

[NoLogicOne]

the investment for individual SM rider is about SGD100 - 200 for these sliders but they are not so willing to ... so I fully understand the Go-kart Track owner woes as his investment on the track maintenance can go up by a few thousand dollars ... thats why he did not dare to take the risk ...

 

Used to have contacts and machined a pair of bar end sliders for my fren at $50 san Lockhart Philip design. That's what I meant by affordable. Anyways, nuff said....I'm not around SG anymore so I'm just all talk, and not that helpful.

[AspMonK]

Raptor: so are u in US or SG? Yur DRZ still in US?

[Raptor]

Raptor: so are u in US or SG? Yur DRZ still in US?

 

Make a guess.

[AspMonK]

Definitely not in town..

 

becuase you work in US

[EVOIIIGSR]

ok back to topic ... currently for 2007 Singapore SM riders are having a series at Bandar Nusajaya Go-Kart Track, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. 2 of 3 rounds of the series is completed and the GRAND FINALE is scheduled on 28th October 2007.

 

Click here for some pictures for Round 2 ---> MOTO1 SM Series Round 2

 

More riders and spectators are welcomed. Entrance to location is FREE!

 

 

PS: Pictures are courtesy of "marzocchi"

[Hartholomew]

Raptor has a DRZ in SG and one in the US too!

 

I am using his DRZ for work currently and practicing wheelies, stoppies and crashing for fun.

 

Lucky me! I can keep my own bikes spick & span thanks to Raptor!

[myxilplix]

I'm really feeling the itch to get myself a DRZ, like RIGHT NOW. Hand shaking already.

 

It all started that one fateful day when i saw Raptor being a hooligan at PG on his DRZ...

[Raptor]

Raptor has a DRZ in SG and one in the US too!

 

I am using his DRZ for work currently and practicing wheelies, stoppies and crashing for fun.

 

Lucky me! I can keep my own bikes spick & span thanks to Raptor!

 

Ya right... only in the soggiest of your wettest dream my darling. Only in the soggiest.

[EVOIIIGSR]

I'm really feeling the itch to get myself a DRZ, like RIGHT NOW. Hand shaking already.

 

It all started that one fateful day when i saw Raptor being a hooligan at PG on his DRZ...

 

hey ralph ... u can borrow mine if you want ... there is a FREE track day for first timers at Nusajaya ... join me at the next SM track day and scratch yourself silly ...

[myxilplix]

hey ralph ... u can borrow mine if you want ... there is a FREE track day for first timers at Nusajaya ... join me at the next SM track day and scratch yourself silly ...

 

Thanks for the offer man, i'm scared once i test ride a motard i'll HAVE TO go buy one, that very same day. I need to be a little more patient.

[Raptor]

Thanks for the offer man, i'm scared once i test ride a motard i'll HAVE TO go buy one, that very same day. I need to be a little more patient.

 

I should let you try mine on PG.

 

You will be going round with a silly grin on the face... just like me the first time I took the DRZ to the track. On the second lap... I was dragging the knees on the ground.

 

Just ride it like a sportsbike... handles beautifully.

 

And you can never overshoot PG Turn One and still not come back....

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o104/angelo_neo/PG_Turn_1.jpg

[AspMonK]

Nice photos and thanxs for contributing and sharing your precious experienced on track... Cool!