AHRMA Vintage Cup Roars Back: Iconic 250 Grand Prix to blaze the 2026 season
Get ready for a high-octane blast from the past! The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is thrilled to introduce 250GP as the featured class for the 2026 Vintage Cup.
Sponsored by Roadracingworld.com, and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), AHRMA’s 2026 Vintage Cup will feature 250GP which includes any fully GP-kitted 250cc OHV/OHC four-stroke; 250cc air-cooled single-cylinder two stroke; 175cc liquid-cooled single cylinder two-stroke; or 175cc air-cooled twin-cylinder two-stroke built before December 31, 1968. It’s a showdown of classic speed and engineering that’ll leave fans on the edge of their seats.
“I’ve talked a lot lately about getting bikes of the golden era of grand prix racing out of people’s living rooms and onto the racetrack,” says Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton, 2026 Vintage Cup sponsor. “The 250 class opens doors to increase the grids by promoting a more economical yet genuine GP level Vintage Cup class. In the past the 250GP class has brought an international flair to our club with Juan Bulto from Spain, competing on his Bultaco Single, and we’d like to nurture the international aspect again. So, whether you’ve got a Honda 6 or a CB160 and everything in between, let’s get them out onto the track in 2026.”
Typical AHRMA 250GP grids include a wide variety of motorcycles such as Aermacchi, Bultaco, Greeves, Montesa, Ducati, NSU, Ossa, and more.
“As we look ahead to the 2026 AHRMA Vintage Cup, we’re thrilled to feature the 250GP class, a class that represents one of the most competitive and technically refined eras in motorcycle racing history. These machines were the proving ground for some of the greatest riders and teams, pushing the limits of performance and innovation. Showcasing them in the Vintage Cup honors their legacy while giving today’s racers and fans the chance to experience the excitement of true Grand Prix competition,” said Greg “GT” Tomlinson, Chairman of the AHRMA Board of Trustees
“AHRMA continues to do the sport a great service by running a series for people to ride historic race bikes on the track, where they can be seen and heard in action. Roadracing World is happy to be involved with the Vintage Cup program again in 2026. Now go out and have fun on old bikes!” said John Ulrich, Founder & Editor of Roadracing World.”
The Vintage Cup will be highlighted during and after each of the 2026 AHRMA National road races. Added enhancements for the 2026 season include:
*Enhanced trophies throughout the season.
*Special awards for series champion.
*Articles and photos on Roadracingworld.com to spotlight the class.
*Roadracing World print magazine enhanced exposure for AHRMA and 250GP.
*Discounted race entry fees.
*Racer spotlight features in AHRMA MAG.
*Class champion on cover of the AHRMA MAG.
Motorcycles eligible for AHRMA’s 250GP class include any of the following types of fully GP-kitted motorcycles built before December 31, 1968, and like design: 250cc OHV/OHC four-stroke; 250cc air-cooled single-cylinder two-stroke; 175cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder two-stroke; 175cc air-cooled twin-cylinder two-stroke. A list of eligible machines can be found in the AHRMA Handbook in Section 10.2.4 (www.ahrma.org/ahrma-handbook).
The first American to win an Isle of Man TT, Dave Roper, who is also a multi-time AHRMA champion and frequent 250GP competitor shared the following:
“The 250 Grand Prix class has been one of the mainstays of motorcycle road racing since near the beginning. The Isle of Man adopted the 250 Lightweight class in 1922. Ironically, the race was won this first year by a two-stroke Levis. For the next 15 years, the Lightweight 250 TT was won by a four-stroke.
“The World Championship started in 1949, and the 250 class was one of the four initial classes along with 500, 350, and sidecar. The 250 World Championship has been won by two-strokes and four-strokes, singles, twins, fours and sixes. This has been mirrored in the AHRMA 250GP class. 2008-2015, either Paul Germain (6X) or Jack Parker (2X) won the Championship on a Yamaha two-stroke single, then Jeff Henise won on a Kawasaki two-stroke single, then Juan Bulto on a Bultaco single. In 2018, Kevin Burns won the Championship on a Honda four-stroke twin, in 2019 Germain won again on his Yamaha two-stroke single, 2020 saw John Scales win on a Honda four stroke twin, 2021 it was me on a Aermacchi four-stroke single, 2022 John Scales again on his Honda four-stroke twin, 2023 Paul Germain again on his Yamaha two-stroke single, and last year Craig Light on his Bultaco two-stroke single.
“Whether you have a single or twin, two stroke or four stroke, Japanese or European, bring it out for next year’s Vintage Cup.”
About AHRMA:
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage machines along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
