Solo Class Eligibility for 2019

• Share on Facebook
• Tweet it
• Pin it
• Share it
• Email

Introduction

Based on feedback from riders and also as a result of the AMCA Classic AGM on the 17th November 2019, there will be a greater effort to ensure correct class eligibility for the Welsh Championship in 2019.  Given the championship covers any bike (from any country) built before 1989, there’s going to be place for all riders to participate. 

Getting riders and bikes in the right class isn’t about stopping people riding it’s ensuring that everyone is competing (or in my case going round the track) fairly.  New and existing riders both benefit from a clear understanding on the rules about bikes and the classes they should ride in. 

Malcolm Herbert, Welsh Classic Championship Coordinator

This is a formal document and it’s wording is intended to ensure that this is no ambiguity and the class definitions and eligibility is clear for all riders. 

• For all Classic (Pre74) classes, class eligibility will be determined by the AMCA Classic Rule Book.  [1]
• For Pre78, Twinshock, Twinshock 125cc and Evo classes these will be determined by the general Twinshock and Evo rules, along with specific addendum for some classes specific to the Welsh Championship. 
• For classes with capacity limits, there are now also specific guidelines. 

Classic Classes 

The Welsh Championship has the following solo, classic classes

1. Pre60
2. Pre65
3. Pre68 up to 350cc
4. Pre68 over 350cc
5. Pre74 up to 250cc
6. Pre74 over 250cc

The eligibility of these classes are covered in the AMCA Classic Rule Book. A new version is about to be released by the AMCA (December 2019) following work of the Machine Eligibility Panel (MEP), with particular reference to the definition of the Pre68 class.  This provides specific information on allowed suspension travel and also a guide to the eligibility of specific bike makes. 

The Welsh Championship will use the AMCA Classic Rule book as the point of reference, as should the AMCA clubs offering rounds as part of the Welsh Championship.  If a club has different wording or seemingly different eligibility criteria (say pre75 instead of pre74) then the Welsh Championship definition takes priority in terms of the Championship eligibility. 

A note about BSA Victors : the AMCA AGM in November discussed eligibility for BSA Victors, both square and round barrel. After lengthy discussion it was decided that all 441 Victors are pre68 rather than pre65. This will be reflected in the updated AMCA Classic Rule Book.  One of the aims for the Welsh Championship this year is to ensure that BSA Victors and represented in the pre68 class and we will be proactively seeking entries for those machines. BSA B50’s we be classed as Pre74 as before. 

Post Classic Classes

Introduction

Post classic classes for the Welsh Championship are:

1. Pre78
2. Twinshock 
3. Twinshock 125cc
4. Evo

Twinshock Definition

The key definition for Pre78, Twinshock and Twinshock 125cc classes  is the bikes must meet ALL of the following 5 criteria :

1. aircooled ; an engine must be solely aircooled and cannot use liquid cooling or be capable of liquid cooling. 
2. twinshock ; have twin rear shock absorbers or a single cantilever (non-linkage) suspension. 
3. drum brakes : disc brakes are not permitted 
4. as originally supplied : bikes should be as supplied by the manufacturers of the period
5.  not a classic bike; it should not be a bike that’s eligible for any classic class

Specific Pre78 Class regulations are provided here: Pre78 Class, but essentially Twinshock bikes manufactured before 31/ Dec/1977 

Twinshock 125cc rules and list of eligible bikes are provided here. Twinshock 125cc rules.   All Twinshock’s of 125cc capacity should run in this class rather than the main Twinshock class or pre78. 

Twinshock class is as per the Twinshock Definition above. 

Evo bikes are those manufactured before 1989 and can have disk brake, be monoshock and be liquid cooled. 

Engine Capacity

For classes with engine capacity limits (pre68 up to 350cc, pre74 up to 250cc and Twinshock up to 125cc), capacities up to the 2mm oversize will be allowed, based on OEM or pistons available at the time. This may mean that actual engine capacity will be above original specification and class limits, but will be allowed based on cost and availability of pistons and liners.   This is only permissable if no other modifications have been made (such as lengthening stroke).   

Clarification and Disputes

The process for classic machine eligibility clarification and disputes is again covered in the AMCA Classic Rule book. This is the process that should be followed and one that the Welsh Championship will use. 

For post-Classic classes, there is no formal process provided by the AMCA, so hence the need for more specific information for these classes which is provided here.  As such, the Welsh Championship coordinator will be decide based on best evidence on the suitability for a bike in a specific post-classic class, based on the definitions for each class that it’s provided. 

Which Class Should I Ride In ?

Bike eligibility has been relatively loose in the Welsh Championship over the last few years, but with the steady increase in numbers and new classes being introduced, it does need some clarification and enforcement.

Somethings to consider if you are not certain which class your bike should be in:

• That there will be a class for you to ride in and it’s the riders responsibility to ensure that it’s the right one, as laid out by the AMCA and / or the Welsh Championship.
• Any bike is only eligible to score Welsh Championship points in a single class
• Classic bikes are not eligible to score pojnts in Post Classic classes, ie a Pre74 bike cannot be classes as a Twinshock. Having ridden in a class previously in the Welsh Championship or at another non-Welsh meetings doesn’t mean that it is now eligible. For example, all BSA Victors are now classed as pre68 rather than pre65 based on the decision of the AMCA 2018 Classic AGM. 
• That a bike should race in its earliest eligible class (by year); exceptions are possible but need to be discussed with the Welsh Championship coordinator. 
• That being permitted to race in a certain class at a meeting doesn’t mean that Welsh Championship points will be score if the bike isn’t in the correct AMCA or Welsh Championship defined class. The Welsh Championship coordinator will be providing guidance on classes at the beginning of the season. 

To ensure that errors or inadvertent entry into the wrong class is made, the Welsh Championship will be looking to provide an inspection of bikes before or early on in the 2019 season.

If you have a query, please send bike details, ideally with a photo to :

malcolm.hungerstone@gmail.com  or call Malcolm on 07720 079845

[1] The Classic Rule book covers Pre65, Pre68 and Pre74 classes, with an update around Pre68 being included shortly based on the work of the Machine Eligibility Panel (MEP)