To start with flat track

Every now and than we got mails and messages about rules and bikes for flat track, Not very seldom the questions are about which class does my bike fit in or why isnt there any class for this ride or this ride? So let us explain.

Pictures by JP Purtilo and Mia Kristoffersson

Flat track is the oldest motorsport in the world. It started out as a race between manufactures of bikes on the other side of the pond back in the very early part of the 20th century. By then they raced with almost anything and everything. But most common engine where twins or singles. Some straight four cylinder engines where produced but for obvious reasons they didn’t last as production bikes for very long. Fast as hell yes, but heavy and more suited for cars.

Therefore the sport of flat track to be where already from the beginning developed from thoose engines, twins and singles.

In the 60’s it kind of escalated and more and more brands built their own perfect flat track bike and most known of them all the Harley Davidson XR750 an aluminum v-twin on yes 750 cc. The bike was fast and purpose built for the track, but it was a thorougbred not suited for TT’s for example. So at the same time lots of other bikes started to pop up. Lighter more easy handled better suited for a varity of tracks. Ron Wood a famous frame maker tried lots of different engines in his frame, but the Rotax, a single cylinder engine, became the one of his choice and now days a Wood Rotax is almost a brand of its own.

So from there to now lots of things happened. Some twenty years ago the converted MX-bikes where introduced and some 15 years ago they where introduced as the step-in class in AMA AFT-series along with the highest level of twin bikes for the more experienced pro riders.

At the same time flat track started to get popular in Europe and the rules and classes we offered where very much based on what they have in the land, USA, where the sport is from.

In Scandinavia and Finland the sport is still young, but the past five years or so it has started to settle and become both known and accepted. The interest is growing and the fact that you can basically take your everydayday ride, strip it a bit and go racing is attractive to many. It doesn’t cost a fortune to start and the level of skills isn’t the main thing depending on what class you choose.

There are open classes, which is suited for different bikes and are totally focused on the riders level, but there are also classes that puts the bike in the spotlight and here is a bit of confusion we belive so let us explain.

Sweden, Norway and Finland have almost the same rulebook, since we came togheter and made it a common task. Our rules are based on what they offer in other European countrys. We wanted to make it easy for anyone who wants to go racing abroad. You Know that your bike is suitable for the same class no matter where you choose to race, sort of.

But since I am Swede i will base this article specifically on the Swedish rule book of flat track.
https://regler.svemo.se/regelbocker/trackracing

The intent of the rules is both to get fair racing but also to have safe bikes as well as for the rider to know what to build if you are aiming to do that. Theese are the classes we offer by october 2025:

In all classes No front break, Kill switch in most classes as well as chain guard in front and shark fen in rear are mandatory.

YOUTH: All motorcycles represented in other classes, but with a maximum of 250 cc, are welcome in this class from the age of 14. Flat Track tires 18” or 19” are preferred but not required. Cross/enduro, studded or spiked not allowed. Emergency stop/killer and shark fin are not mandatory but preferred. Front brake must be disconnected or removed. Rear brake is mandatory. Good to know is that in both Norway and Finland The age limit are much lower if any.

JUNIOR CLASS: From 15 years old any bike maximum 500 cc

NEWBIE: For those of you who have never tried before, this is a class to start in. You can try it with your regular motorcycle but you need to remove rear-view mirrors or other protruding items or bags, top box or similar. Flat track tires or speedway tires are preferred but not required. Cross/enduro, studded or spiked are not allowed. Emergency stop/killer is not mandatory. Front brake must be disconnected or removed. In the Newbie class, you can only do one race. The next step is Rookie.

ROOKIE CLASS: Where you can learn and improve your moves on your flat track bike, cut of and a shark fen installed. Rookie class doesn’t have an imposition on cubic inches. If you ride very well in Rookie you can be asked to join another suitable Class.

AMATEUR CLASS: 450cc MX bikes, Thunderbikes even Hooligans, Real Deal and Modern Classics, True Gold and Supergirls. This class is Open for the riders that know how to handle the bike, with race experince but in between a rookie and a pro rider.

ELECTRIC: A completely new class that, for now, will be run class by class with equivalent machines and equivalent performance. See each class for other specifications and rules. This class will most likely change until next year so keep your eyes open if you are buying a Stark Varg or something electric.

PRO DTX: 450cc four stroke or 250 two stroke MX bikes is the most specific class except for Hooligan. Many organizers instead offer a Pro Open class which is not within the rulebook. As the class is called it’s ment for flat track customized 450 MX-bikes and the class rules is equal to the only class in the FIM rules of Flat track. 19″ flat track tires are mandatory as well as kill switch, no front brake and no launch or traction control allowed

PRO OPEN CLASS: 450cc MX bikes, Thunderbikes even Hooligans, Real Deal and Modern Classics. This class is open for the riders who know how to handle the bike, with lots of experince and fast as hell.

VINTAGE TRUE GOLD: Old Triumph’s, BSA’s, WR, WLA’s etc. If your engine is OHC, which means overhead camshaft type, that is a no go in Vintage Old Gold class. You don’t need the proper flat track tyres or 19″ wheels. This class might be divided in more age-specific groups. -1959. Emergency stop / kill switches are recommended but not mandatory in this class.

VINTAGE REAL DEAL: Old purpose built flat track rides 1960 – mid 70’s. Astro Bultaco’s, Harley XR’s, Triumhps, Champions etc. Emergency stop / kill switches are mandatory in this class. No Front brake allowed. This is like the vintage version of Thunderbike. In Scandinavia and Finland there are less than a handfull of theese, therefore the race organizers often allow bikes from this era to attend, even if they’re not really are real deal-bikes by the meaning of intent of the class. In the rest of Europe there are lots of real deal bikes, the rules in other countrys might therefor be less including than ours.

VINTAGE MODERN CLASSICS: Year of manufacture up to 1985. Ideally flat track tires (18 “or 19” allowed, not mandatory, no knobblies allowed). Emergency stop / kill switches are mandatory in this class. No Front brake allowed. In this class you find a lot of different bikes, but most popular is the singles and twins from this era like Yamaha XS, TT and XT or Honda XR and such. No modificataion of the frame is allowed.

THUNDERBIKE OPEN: A pure framer class, with pupose built lightweight flat track chassie 500cc and above. Flat Track tire 18 ” or 19” preferable but not a rule, mx/enduro, knobblies or spikes are not allowed. No front brake are allowed, rear brake are mandatory. Emergency stop / kill switches are mandatory in this class. In this class you will find Rotax framers, Yamaha Champion framers and so on. A typically framer is a single cylinder rotax or mx single engines, but even twins occurs. The chassis are built with the perfect angles to get a easy handled and easy turning bike.

HOOLIGAN CLASS: The intent of this class is a stock twin bike (from the very start it was a pure Sportster-class), it’s not a framer class. All age factory built twins originally above 750cc with stock main frame (sub-frame may be modified) and little mods as a cut of, unplugged front brake, ideally on flat track tyres (but not essential) no knobblies or spikes. Emergency stop / kill switches are mandatory in this class. No Front brake allowed. In this class you will find Harley Sportsters, Triumph Twins, Ducati Twins etc.

SUPERGIRL: Over 250 cc Ladies only all specs on bikes above except ROOKIE, Newbie specs, Emergency stop / kill switches are mandatory in this class. No Front brake allowed.

This is it ladies and gents. The rulebook is a great thing to have a peek in if you wanna enter the sport. A piece of advice if you dont have a bike already and are going to buy one. Have a look in the rulebook and buy the bike thats suited for the class you like to ride. Dont try to invent a new classs because your bike of choice doesn’t fit in any of thoose. Than you will most likely be alone in your class. The rules are made up for you and the rest to get good races with as many riders as possible in each class and to make it’s fair we need the specs to limit what can make a huge difference of performance of the bikes. If you go by the rulebook, your bike is often suitable in more than one class so there is lots pf possibilitys

Questions, get in touch, we help out as much as we possibly can.