We've been following the Enfield FT Twin project since a reader sent us his own 'spy' shots taken at Leicester speedway track in mid-September 2019 (see the post Royal Enfield Production Twin). Just over a year later, thanks to the guidance of Johnny Lewis, the skill of Harris Performance and the enthusiasm and engineering prowess of Royal Enfield, flat track fans saw the bike win a pro flat track National, just FIVE WEEKS, after making its debut.
The AFT Production Twins race at Daytona Short Track, within Daytona International Speedway, included Yamahas, Kawasaki and the Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson 750 of newly crowned 2020 champ, James Rispoli. Lewis was fastest qualifier and led the main from flag-to-flag despite the pressure of 2019 champ Cory Texter, breathing down his neck for the 21-lap race.
This Royal Enfield project is great for the pro sport. It shows other manufacturers what can be done quickly with an engine that makes less than 50bhp in stock road form. The team still have a long way to go. This was a win on a short track with an unusual surface, where outright power isn't as much of a factor as most tracks on the calendar, but it was an emphatic and hard-fought win and it will lift the team and the huge factory behind them. The video below, from last weekend's races, show some of the little glitches the team is still overcoming.
The MotoAnatomy x Royal Enfield team has one final race of 2020, at Daytona tonight.
Hi Ted, by less expensive, do you mean the Enfield Twin as a street bike is less expensive? If so, I'm not sure how relevant that is. The XG750 was a dirt cheap road bike in some markets, but not it has, if you listen to paddock gossip, a $6000 to $10,000 engine management system. Enfield will change many of the bike's internals to increase the stock power and everything else is AFT industry standard (RSD wheels, custom frame, carbon bodywork, Ohlins suspension). The big question, for me at least, is how long until it's make the power to match the Harley on half-miles and miles. GI
A truly remarkable achievement by everyone involved. Let's hope it encourages other manufacturers into the game. Good luck tonight JL10.
The torque friendly bikes feel good, but it is always longevity we worry about in a less expensive offering right? This has been an all-in effort to develop the bike. Johnny and his crew have put their lives into it for several months but obviously with devoted support from Royal Enfield - in the U.K. and India. The first bit is admirable. The second particularly encouraging. This class is reminiscent of the mid-1930's intro of "Class C" racing... and the resulting loss of interest in and soon followed demise of "Class A." If the Twin FT holds together and Johnny is able to show this was not a fluke, "Production Twins" has taken a major leap to becoming THE multi-…