NATIONAL ENDURO HISTORY

Although the AMA has recognized national enduro champions since the association’s founding in 1924, the modern era of enduro competition began with a 1961 meeting of the AMA Board of Directors. That’s when the AMA Board created the AMA Grand National Enduro Championship Series, which would crown a single enduro champion based on points earned in all of the country’s top national events.

Prior to the 1962 season, the AMA recognized several champions from individual contests of varying lengths. There was a 125-mile champion, a 200-mile champion, a 250-mile champion, etc.

In 1962, the first AMA Grand National Enduro Champion was crowned. This was the rider who scored the most points in six of the country’s top enduros. AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Bill Baird from Sterling, Ill., won the first AMA Grand National Enduro title and did so for the next six years. Baird’s seven consecutive AMA Grand National Enduro Championships make him one of the sport’s most successful champions. Shortly after Bill Baird won 7 straight AMA National Enduro Championships a guy by the name of Dick Burleson was able to grab 8 consecutive National Enduro Championships from years 1974-1981, making him the new record holder for most National Enduro Championships and still holds the most in a row. More recently, Mike Lafferty has been able to tie Dick at being an 8 time National Enduro Champion in years 97’, 98’, 00’, 01’, 02’, 03’, 05’ and 07’.

Moving through the late 90s and the early 2000s the sport of Enduros, especially National Enduros, was starting to wilt away. Rider attendance dipped lower and lower, and something needed to change to keep Enduro alive in the US. In 2006 Alan and Melissa Randt, along with their crew, formed what is known as the National Enduro Promotions Group (NEPG). They worked tirelessly with the AMA, local clubs in the country, and some of the racers to come up with a much needed rejuvenation plan for the National Enduro Series. From having racing more accessible without needing to be street legal, to electronic scoring, to having a format change from traditional time keepers to the restart format, all were positive changes that have helped propel the AMA National Enduro Series into what it is today.

Now the series averages almost 700 riders per event, stretching over typically 10 states and 10 rounds each season. The oldest form of Motorcycle racing in the world is alive and well in the United States. Thanks to the AMA and recently the NEPG, numbers continue to grow as the popularity of Enduros increases once again. Now the NEPG is working toward introducing youth into the world of Enduro Racing by hosting youth racing at some of the events in 2023. This step is to insure that Enduro Racing remains prevalent for generations to come. 

Now known as the Red Line Oil AMA National Enduro Championship presented by Beta Motorcycles and MSR, the series remains the country’s premier off-road championship. Promoted by the AMA’s promoting partner for the series, the National Enduro Promotions Group, the series continues to attract riders of all skill levels, chasing AMA National No. 1 plates.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 

The AMA National Enduro Series is a first-rate collection of races that are appreciated pro and amateur riders alike, but it is also an excellent venue for sponsorship and vendor opportunities that provide tremendous brand exposure. With an average of 700 riders attending each event along with their friends and family following from home, National Enduro has a lot of potential customers that would love your product. NEPG has a variety of sponsorship options to match many different budgets.

Review the information below, then Contact Us to discuss how we can structure a win-win relationship!