Royal Enfield's commitment to all levels of dirt track has been strengthened with the announcement they are the title sponsor of the 2023 Dirt Track Riders Association Flat Track Nationals.
Royal Enfield have also said they are expanding their Slide School programme across the UK and Europe, and have a three-round mini-series at selected DTRA dates, using the Dirt Craft School's Scram 411-based FT411. Which immediately makes wonder, when is the special edition road bike coming? But for now, the announcement.
Gary Birtwistle on the Royal Enfield Twin FT. Read our test of it in Sideburn 47
Royal Enfield's press release, says...
'The 2023 partnership announcement follows two years of successful championship winning campaigns for Royal Enfield in the DTRA’s Twins Class, with Pro rider Gary Birtwistle and factory development rider Paul Young piloting the Royal Enfield ‘Twins FT’ race machines to victory in 2021 and ’22 consecutively. Hopes are high for Birtwistle to retain the DTRA Twins title in ’23, having finished the ’22 season with an astonishing clean sweep of seven consecutive wins.'
Students and instructors at the recently launched' Italian Slide School
Royal Enfield continues, 'Alongside his racing achievements, Gary Birtwistle is committed to developing the next generation of DTRA competitors through the Royal Enfield Slide School programme. Utilising modified versions of the highly acclaimed Scram 411, Gary coaches riders and develops their Flat Track skills at Slide School training sessions across the UK. With more Slide Schools operating in the Netherlands, Italy and the USA.'
Royal Enfield team rider, and 2021 DTRA Twins Champ, Paul Young
The press release also hinted at a three-race series using the Slide School bikes, at Peterborough Arena, Mallory Park and Greenfield Dirt Track, with more details to follow. The competitors will be a mix of new riders and industry faces (I don't want to say influencers) to show the low-entry bar to getting involved with the sport.
Commenting on the DTRA partnership Adrian Sellers, head of Royal Enfield’s Custom & Motorsport program says, 'Royal Enfield’s investment in grassroots racing has been developing rapidly over the past few years, especially in the world of Flat Track racing. Fielding teams in the premier Twins class with the UK DTRA and USA AFT series, alongside the establishment of Flat Track 'Slide Schools' is making the growing sport accessible to more newcomers. We hope that our support of the DTRA series will help develop the local flat track community and grow the sport in Europe - Lets go racing!'