The final round of the inaugural Superhooligan national series takes place at Bolsa Chica state park, near Long Beach, CA this weekend. It's part of the Roland Sands Designs-organised Motobeach Classic - Racing + Music + Surfing (see details from RSD below).
The series is nicely balanced. It looked like Joe Kopp was going to win the £50,000 Indian FTR750 race bike, that is the series prize, so the series organisers (also RSD) made the final round a double points race, to make sure that all the main protagonists had to attend. It would also give someone a chance of beating Kopp.
It's no secret the organisers didn't expect a rider of Kopp's experience and stature (he's a former AMA flat track GNC champion) to take the championship so seriously, but with a prize that like up for grabs, the wolves came out.
The twist in the tale was that Kopp's very standard looking Bonneville suffered a mechanical failure at the penultimate Perris round as he rolled out to the startline - something in the gear shift mechanism came loose.
The hooligans were a support class to the AFT pros, the only support class at Perris, and they really put on a great show. Kopp might yet spoil the narrative of plucky racer wins incredible $50K bike, but he has also given the series a profile and legitimacy that means no one is sneering or looking down at the hooligans any more.
Even with Kopp missing from the race, the Main was a hot affair, hard, fast racing on a 3/8ths mile blue groove. The hooligan scene, especially on the west coast, has developed so quickly that there are divisions within the hooligan class. The Perris main was an intimidating line-up of the cream, with four different manufacturer machines represented. Jordan Baber won on an S&S Sportster, 2nd was Jordan Graham on a Scout, Andy DiBrino was third on the See See H-D XG750 (as featured in Sideburn 24).
From the RSD website
The team at Roland Sands Design has been dreaming about a beachfront moto event for years. We have finally been given the keys to the kingdom at Bolsa Chica State Beach. We are partnering with our friends at Sea Legs Live, a legendary concert venue on the sand, to bring a day of reggae with Black Uhuru and Wargirl and a night of punk rock with Lit and Unwritten Law. If that wasn’t enough, we’re also taking Super Hooligan Flat Track and motorcycle drag racing to the beach. Throw in a West Coast Board Riders Surf Comp, art show, demo rides and unique vendors, and you have an incredibly entertaining day at the beach with something for everyone. The Moto Beach Classic is on Saturday, October 14th at Sea Legs Live. Presale tickets start at $29. Limited VIP tickets are available. Kids under 10 are free. This is a family event, no colors please!