From March 7-16, AMA riding, racing converges on Daytona Beach Bike Week

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — One of the biggest bashes in motorcycling kicks off this weekend as Daytona Beach Bike Week revs into high gear, and the American Motorcyclist Association will be front and center at a number of events, from the woods to beachside.

The annual migration of hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists to Daytona Beach, Fla., began with the Daytona 200, a race that got its start in 1937 when AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Ed Kretz Sr. won the inaugural event. Today, Bike Week features nearly all forms of national-caliber motorcycle competition as well as a long list of off-track fun for all types of riders.

Highlighting AMA activity during Bike Week is the annual AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Breakfast at Daytona, presented by Yamaha. The event is a fundraiser for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. This year, the Breakfast at Daytona features AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Craig Vetter at 7 a.m. on Friday, March 14, at the Daytona 500 Club on the infield at Daytona International Speedway. Vetter is legendary as a motorcycle inventor, designer and racer. Tickets are available at www.motorcyclemuseum.org, and all proceeds benefit the Hall of Fame.

On March 13, the evening before the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Breakfast at Daytona, the AMA is sponsoring the Bike Week premiere of the acclaimed motorcycling documentary film “Why We Ride.” The movie, free for AMA members, will be shown at 7 p.m. at the Paragon Ocean Walk theater (250 N Atlantic Ave). Tickets can be reserved in advance at the following link:http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=vw9ldxbab&oeidk=a07e8zzbsky17598cf2

Much of the motorcycling history of Daytona Beach has been written by dirt-track competition, so it’s only fitting that the excitement kicks off with the AMA-sanctioned All-Star National Flat Track Series on Friday, March 7. The Steve Nace Promotions series includes two events scheduled around Bike Week, the March 7 half-mile at Oglethorpe Speedway Park in Pooler, Ga., and the March 9 half-mile at Volusia Speedway Park in De Leon Springs, Fla. For more information, seewww.stevenaceracing.com.

This coming weekend will also feature one of motorcycle racing’s most thrilling events, the Daytona Supercross by Honda. The 10th race of the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, will take place Saturday, March 8, on the infield of Daytona International Speedway. Known for often shaking up the series with its challenging track and unpredictable outdoor conditions, the Daytona Supercross by Honda is always a highlight of the AMA Supercross schedule. Tickets are available at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

Following the AMA Supercross, amateur racers will get their turn on the track at the 5th Annual Monster Energy Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross Championship on Sunday, March 9, and Monday, March 10. The AMA-sanctioned amateur event offers amateur racers a rare opportunity to compete on one of the most unique AMA Supercross tracks in the country. For more information on the event, please visit www.racedaytona.com.

Amateur dirt-track competition will take center stage at Oglethorpe Speedway Park on March 9 with a dual round of the AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series and the AMA Daytona Bike Week Hole Shot Series, which earns amateur racer’s bonus points for the AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships. The vintage and amateur competition continues at Volusia Speedway Park on March 10-11 with half-mile and short-track competition. Information on these events can also be found at www.stevenaceracing.com.

Amateur dirt-trackers will get their opportunity to compete at the Daytona Flat Track, just outside Daytona International Speedway, on March 8. The short-track event is being promoted by Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway. Information is available by calling (530) 906-2104.

The opening round of one of the country’s most thrilling off-road racing series, the 2014 AMSOIL AMA Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Maxxis, will be March 8-9. The Moose Racing Mud Mucker GNCC will take place at Mud Muckers Off-Road Riding Park in the town of Bunnell and feature AMA national championship racing in both motorcycle and ATV divisions. Learn more at www.gnccracing.com.

From Brunnell, off-road motorcyclists will head out to the Strickland Ranch on US 1, just north of I-95 where the 64th Alligator Enduro will get rolling on Monday, March 10. The Daytona Dirt Riders’ event is one of the country’s oldest enduros and will feature a long list of pro, semi-pro, sportsmen and amateur competition classes. More information is available at www.daytonadirtriders.com.

The masters of the oval will take center stage on March 13-14 when the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship launches the 2014 season at the Daytona Flat Track. The short-track event always features some of the most intense, bar-to-bar action on two wheels. Tickets and more information are available at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

On March 14-15, the week’s competition will culminate in AMA Pro Road Racing events at Daytona International Speedway, featuring action in the AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series, AMA Pro SuperSport, AMA Pro Superbike and, of course, the 74th running of the Daytona 200, featuring the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike class, on March 15. For tickets and more information, see www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

On March 15-16, the AMA-sanctioned Cross-Florida Adventure Ride by Dixie Dual Sport will navigate dual-sport and adventure riders across the state. The dual round of the Husqvarna AMA National Dual Sport Series and the Yamaha Super Ténéré National Adventure Ride Series will take riders through small towns, orange groves, cattle ranches and more, for a memorable two-wheeled experience. More info is at www.dixiedualsport.com.

The activities at Daytona Beach Bike Week feature a fraction of the competition and recreational events sanctioned and promoted by the AMA in 2014, the country’s leading advocate for those who ride and race motorcycles. The AMA’s mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. To join the largest motorcycling organization in the world and protect your freedom to ride and race, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.