Thundersport GB

APRILIA 125 SUPERTEENS

This is the number one platform for young riders to develop their skills. This is where future Grand Prix racers learn their trade and hone their skills in a closely controlled format for the best small capacity production 2-strokes in the world. The guidance of IN Competition also teaches these young pilots about the importance of individual and team sponsorship. If you’re wondering where the next Barry Sheene is going to come from, take a good look at this class.

THUNDERSPORT 600

Supersport rules were originally designed to "restrict costs, yet allow freedom to tuners to obtain high performance from production based machines". To build a truly competitive Supersport machine producing around 132bhp at current prices, now costs in the region of £25,000 and would therefore seem to negate the original principals of the class. By freeing up the rules and simultaneously placing a maximum power limit on machines, it should now be possible to use more readily available technology to obtain the same result at a fraction of the cost, bringing the class back within the budget of many more racers.

Up to 600cc 4 cylinder (over 158kg half wet), up to 675cc 3 cylinder (over 160kg half wet) and up to 750cc 2 cylinder (over 162kg half wet) machines. Wheels, front fork, engine cases (including gearbox and cylinder head) and main chassis & swingarm must be from the same model. No other engine or chassis tuning restrictions apply. Maximum power at post race control shall not exceed 132bhp on the nominated control dyno. Only road legal tyres may be used unless a "wet race" has been declared (when FullWet tyres will be permitted).

STREET FIGHTER

Too many race meetings have numerous classes that all look the same, sometimes unkindly referred to as "Jelly-mould" racing. This class not only looks different, but demands a different riding style to compensate for the lack of aerodynamics of the machines. A class that highlights the skills of the rider for all to see and relates directly to the huge "Streetfighter" market in the UK.

Unfaired machines in two classes.
CLASS A: Up to 4 cylinder machines with a maximum capacity of 1200cc. Maximum horsepower of 130bhp (at post race control).
CLASS B: Up to 600cc 4 cylinder, up to 675cc 3 cylinder, up to 750cc 2 cylinder and unlimited capacity single cylinder machines all with a maximum horsepower limit of 95 bhp (at post race control).
Only road legal tyres may be used unless a "wet race" has been declared (when Full Wet tyres will be permitted). Series decals to be carried in mandatory positions.

Air-cooled 2 valve engines are eligible for class B provided they fall within the specified power limit for the class

THUNDERSPORT GP 1 (POWERBIKE)

As sports-production motorcycles have become ever more performance focused, extra controls have been put in place to restrict the power of large capacity machines. Instead of limiting power outputs, this has just made it more expensive to get the maximum useable performance out of the machine. It is a fact that there is only a certain amount of power that can realistically be utilised on the race circuits in Great Britain. So it would seem sensible to free up the rules to make it as cheap as possible to obtain that power. We have placed very few restrictions on this class to enable performance to be obtained without having to resort to prohibitively priced electronics.

THUNDERSPORT GP 2 (GP250 – 600-4T)

Predominantly a class for 250cc Grand Prix machines, this class also has scope for engineers who favour real racing machines to retro-fit 4-stroke technology into a Grand Prix chassis to create a prototype racer in the true spirit of GP racing. As the 4-stroke machines develop, it should press the 2-strokes into new development and thus create even greater competition and variety.

THUNDERSPORT GP 3 (GP125 – GPMono)

Predominantly a class for 125cc Grand Prix machines, this class also has scope for engineers who favour real racing machines to retro-fit 4-stroke technology into a Grand Prix chassis to create a prototype racer in the true spirit of GP racing. With most major manufacturers building 250cc 4-strokes for off road competition, the class should create a new diversity not currently present in this smallest of the genuine racing classes. For an idea of the popularity of this class look at Japan and Australia, where it has reinvigorated the interest in small capacity pure racing machines.

MOTO 450

A brand new class for converted Supermoto or Moto Cross machines.
Machines of 450cc single cylinder design with Road Race bodywork, suspension and wheels. All machines in the colours relating to the specific manufacturer. This class could enable a competitor to have a machine with up to 4 applications. Just by changing the bodywork and suspension it is possible to use the same machine for Road Race, Supermoto, Moto Cross and even Road Riding.

JUNIOR POWERBIKE

Remember the days of Foggy on the 916 Duke against Scott Russell on the 750 Kwacka? Junior Powerbike is a scaled down version of that old Superbike format that should produce close racing with the different types of machine closely matched on performance at a variety of venues. The Kawasaki and Yamaha 4 cylinder machines are still a force to be reckoned with and should give a good account of themselves against the Suzuki, Cagiva and Kawasaki 2 cylinder 650s, even though there is at least a generation of development between them.

Sound of Thunder

It's always good to hear a race start and know without looking what's going to be coming round the corner next. With the Sound of Thunder class open to such a diverse range of machinery, no other bikes have that rumble we associate with a grid full of big monos, twins and triples. If it's got one, two or three cylinders and a four stroke motor, this is where it lives.