PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is pleased to announce a new class for V-twin racing motorcycles at this summer's AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships, taking place this July 22-24 during AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Vintage SuperTwins will feature four-stroke, air-cooled, 1,000cc motorcycles.

"These classic bikes have a style, sound and attraction all their own, and these unique qualities make them a natural addition to the grid at the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships," said AMA Director of Racing Joe Bromley. "They will provide a nice supplement to the entire class structure at the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships, which will provide period-correct classes for bikes of all makes and styles, from sidecars to classic singles to two-stroke screamers."

Bromley added that, like all the classes at the AMA Vintage Grand Championships, the rules package for the new Vintage SuperTwins class is designed to be period correct and fair. He encouraged participants to contact AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant at (614) 856-1900, ext. 1260, or ksaillant@ama-cycle.org for details.

"The rules are designed to appeal to the most riders while advancing the spirit of fair competition," Bromley said. "Not only are these bikes crowd-pleasers on the track, but fans love to admire them in the paddock, as well. We're looking forward to a number of enthusiastic teams coming out and participating in this new class."

In addition to others, one team that is expected to line up in the Vintage SuperTwins class is Team Obsolete. The team, led by owner Rob Iannucci and featuring rider David Roper, will field a factory-backed Harley-Davidson XR909 from the 1980s.

Iannucci said that he was attracted to the Vintage SuperTwins class because he considers the vintage twins era one of the coolest in the history of motorcycle roadracing.

"There was a lot of camaraderie, and there was a lot of experimentation in the design of the bikes," he said. "The competition was very friendly, and the bikes were simple by today's standards. With our participation, we hope to recapture that sentiment and sustain that ideal, and we're looking forward to great vintage twins riders such as Malcolm Tunstall, John Long, John Minono, Harry Klinsman, and many others joining us on the grid."

Online registration for roadracing, as well as vintage and post-vintage motocross, hare scrambles, trials and dirt track at the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships, is available at AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com > Race Your Vintage Bike!

Staged at the world-class Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days features vintage and post-vintage competition in motocross, trials, hare scrambles, roadracing and dirt track. In addition to demo rides of current production bikes, the event includes North America's largest motorcycle swap meet, educational seminars, bike shows, motorcycling seminars, the new product Manufacturers' Midway, and club corrals featuring marque and regional clubs.

Kawasaki is the honored Marque of the Year at 2011 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. The Grand Marshal, a major figure from Kawasaki's storied history on two wheels, will be announced shortly.

Proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days benefit the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. The mission of the Hall of Fame is to celebrate, elucidate and preserve the rich tradition of motorcycling in America. Its exhibits honor the distinguished men and women whose competitive spirit, passion, vision and entrepreneurship have played a vital role in shaping the sport, lifestyle and business of motorcycling. For more information, call (614) 856-2222, or visit the Hall of Fame's website at MotorcycleMuseum.org.

For tickets to AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, see MidOhio.com.