Suzuki Motor of America sponsors history of AMA Superbike display at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days
Three-day celebration includes vintage racing, custom bikes, seminars, swap meet and more
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Suzuki motorcycles have a long and rich history in AMA Superbike competition. This summer at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, July 8-10 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, that history will be on full display as part of Celebrating 40 Years of AMA Superbikes, presented by Suzuki Motor of America Inc.
Suzuki’s support is even more fitting because Wes Cooley, 2016 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Grand Marshal, rode a Suzuki GS1000 to his first AMA Superbike Championship in 1979. In 1980, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer successfully defended that title for Suzuki in one of the most thrilling AMA Superbike seasons ever.
“Not only did Wes Cooley win in exciting fashion, but he was a pioneer in a racing style that captivated fans and, at the same time time, helped AMA Superbike become the premier discipline in motorcycle road racing,” said AMA Chief Operations Officer Jeff Massey. “And you can’t discuss Wes Cooley and his contributions without bringing up the role of Suzuki and the GS1000. It’s only fitting that Suzuki Motor of America Inc. is supporting the Celebrating 40 Years of AMA Superbikes display at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.”
In addition to Cooley’s 1980 championship bike, the Yoshimura Suzuki GS1000 owned by collector Brian O’Shea, and the bike he rode in the 1982 campaign, the Yoshimura Suzuki Katana owned by collector Ken Edgar, the display will include signage honoring Cooley’s career as well as other key moments in AMA Superbike history.
“We are glad to support AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days and have the chance to continue telling great stories like that of Wes Cooley and the Suzuki GS1000,” said Kerry Graeber, Vice President, Motorcycle/ATV Sales and Marketing for Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. “Many fans think sportbike history began with the GSX-R750 in 1985. There’s no doubt that ground-breaking model forever changed the landscape of motorcycle performance, but the GS inline fours raced by Wes in the late ’70s and early ’80s were the catalyst for the sportbike revolution that followed.”
The display will be paired with additional information about modern Suzuki sportbikes, including the GSX-R1000, GSX-R750 and GSX-R600.
For more details on AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, including other historic, pedigreed championship-winning AMA Superbikes on display, see www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com and www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com
AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, a fundraiser for the nonprofit AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, includes vintage and post-vintage motocross, trials, hare scrambles and vintage road racing. A half-mile dirt track event will be held at the nearby Ashland County Fairgrounds.
Additional activities at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days include North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Bike Show, the American Motor Drome Wall of Death, mini road racing in the upper paddock, a classic motorcycle field meet, demo rides of current production bikes, seminars, live music, Builder’s Row featuring some of the country’s best custom bike builders, two premier raffle bikes on display, a beer garden with the region’s best craft beers, the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Adventure Bike Challenge, the AMA Pit Bike TT and displays by some of the AMA’s most active classic clubs.
AMA members who buy event tickets directly from the AMA before June 6 receive an exclusive price discount. AMA members can call (800) 262-5646 to purchase a weekend pass for $45, a one-day pass for $25 for Friday or Saturday, or a $20 pass for Sunday, a $5 savings off the regular advance rate. There is no service charge for AMA members when purchasing through the AMA.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.
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