The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association’s (AHRMA) 2026 Vintage Cup kicked off with ideal racing conditions.
The first race of the AHRMA season took place Feb 14th and 15th at Roebling Road Raceway in Bloomingdale, GA, as the kick-off to the 2026 AHRMA National Roadracing Series, presented by VIB-ISO.
Sponsored by Roadracingworld.com, and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), this year AHRMA’s 2026 Vintage Cup features the 250 Grand Prix class, which includes any fully GP-kitted 250cc OHV/OHC four-stroke; 250cc air-cooled single cylinder two stroke; 175cc liquid cooled single cylinder two-stroke; or 175cc air-cooled twin-cylinder two-stroke built before December 31, 1968. It’s a showdown of classic small displacement racing that relies heavily on corner-speed, momentum, and precise engineering, and certain to leave fans on the edge of their seats.
Typical AHRMA 250GP grids include a wide variety of motorcycles such as Aermacchi, Bultaco, Greeves, Montesa, Ducati, NSU, Ossa, and more.
The start of Saturday’s race saw Craig Light riding his 1973 Bultaco get the hole shot with Rob Hall aboard 1967 BSA C17 hot on his heels. Light held the lead through the first lap with Hall overtaking him at the beginning of lap 2, where he then created a good gap and held a comfortable lead to the checkered flag. Also putting in fast laps and good passes was Craig Hirko on his 1967 Bridgestone 175, who crossed the finish in 2nd, with Jonas Stein on his 1972 Honda CB175 half a second behind and coming in 3rd. The battle for 4th place was the race to watch, with several riders changing places throughout the race. The race ended with Tim Terrell riding his 1966 Honda CB160, Holly Varey on David Rhodes’ 1976 Honda MT125, Eric Watts on his 1966 Ducati 250, Jim Jowers riding a 1965 Ducati 250, and Light all swapping places.
Sunday’s race first looked to be a replay of Saturday’s race, although Rob Hall had switched to his (very fast) CB 160. Varey pulled a textbook hole shot, leading the pack through turn one. Hall pulled out in front but had a mechanical on lap 4. Hirko took full advantage and was able to secure the lead riding his Bridgestone to the checkered flag, with Colton Roberts putting in some good laps to come around in 2nd, and Stein rounding out the podium in 3rd. Again, the 4-8th place racing was some of the best on track, with Varey, Jowers, Watts, Terrell, and Light all coming in within a second and a half of each other as they crossed the line.
“I was so happy to see so many entries for the 250GP class going into this weekend for the 2026 Vintage Cup season opener at our old favorite Roebling Road Raceway. These bikes and riders did not disappoint! Wow, what an amazing couple of races to watch. As an added bonus we had AHRMA stalwart Eric Watts’ onboard camera catching all the intense 4th to 8th place race action and seeing it from this perspective gave great insight into how much the draft, corner entry speed, and the proper race line is imperative to stay up front. What these bikes may lack in displacement is made up by rider talent and judicious use of the throttle hand. What a successful launch to the 2026 Vintage Cup! It’s our first time featuring the 250GP class, and I’m a proud papa!”, said series sponsor Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton.
AHRMA first launched the Vintage Cup series during 2019 by spotlighting the 350 GP class. The series resumed during 2021 and highlighted the 500 Premier class. It was followed by Vintage Superbike Heavyweight in 2022, and Formula 750 in 2023. In 2024, the second rotation of featured classes was initiated with 350GP, followed by 500 Premier in 2025. 250GP was added to the series in 2026 – the first year it has been featured.
“On behalf of all of us at American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association, I couldn’t be more thrilled with how the opening round of our 2026 Road Race season unfolded—especially the electrifying 250GP class competing for the 2026 Vintage Cup,” said Greg “GT” Tomlinson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The level of competitiveness across the entire field was nothing short of phenomenal. Every rider brought intensity, precision, and heart to the grid, and it showed in every lap. I found myself shoulder to shoulder with fans at the track wall, sharing in their excitement as we watched those incredible cornering speeds. We were cheering at the top of our lungs, but our voices were happily drowned out by the lovely, unmistakable sound of those 250GP bikes trumpeting down the straight. If this first round is any indication of what the rest of the 2026 Vintage Cup season has in store, then we are in for one hell of a year!”
Rounds three and four of the AHRMA National Road Race Series Presented by VIB-ISO will be March 14-15 at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, SC.
The annual Vintage Cup spotlights one of AHRMA’s road racing classes with extra attention on competitors in the selected class during each race event. Enhanced awards for the Vintage Cup competitors are presented separately from other class trophies during the Saturday awards ceremony at each AHRMA National Road Race event. Highlights from each Vintage Cup race will be reported in RoadRacingWorld.com’s online edition. At the conclusion of each season, the perpetual Vintage Cup trophy will be engraved with the national champion winner’s name and presented to the winner at the National Awards Banquet to keep for one year.
2026 AHRMA Roadracing Series Presented by VIB-ISO, 250GP – Vintage Cup Results
- Saturday, February 14, 2026
1 – 270 Rob Hall, 1967 BSA C15, Charlotte, NC
2 – 641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY
3 – 123 Jonas Stein, 1972 Honda CB175, Nashville, TN
4 – 220 Tim Terrell, 1966 Honda CB160, Burlington, NC
5 – 50H Holly Varey, 1976 Honda MT125, Bradford, ON
6 – 87 Eric Watts, 1966 Ducati 250, Blacklick, OH
7 – 37 Jim Jowers, 1965 Ducati 250, East Hampton, NY
8 – 79A Craig Light, 1973 Bultaco, Peachtree City, GA
9 – 805 Greyson Rogers, 1972 Yamaha CT1, Claremont, NC
10 – 9 Colton Roberts, 1968 Harley-Davidson Aermacchi, Pawnee, IL
11 – 350 Doug Bowie, 1968 Ducati Mach 1, Lilburn, GA
12 – 500 Stuart Wray, 1965 Ducati 250, St. Petersburg, FL
13 – 903 Robert Brangaccio, 1971 Ducati 250, Basking Ridge, NJ
14 – 521 Kevin Nixon, 1965 Honda CB160, Naugatuck, CT
15 – 842 Tom Sanders, 1973 Honda CB175, Winter Springs, FL
16 – 455 Thomas Pillsbury, 1970 Yamaha DT1, Westminster, SC
- Sunday, February 15, 2026
1 – 641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY
2 – 9 Colton Roberts, 1968 Harley-Davidson Aermacchi, Pawnee, IL
3 – 123 Jonas Stein, 1972 Honda CB175, Nashville, TN
4 – 50H Holly Varey, 1976 Honda MT125, Bradford, ON
5 – 37 Jim Jowers, 1965 Ducati 250, East Hampton, NY
6 – 87 Eric Watts, 1966 Ducati 250, Blacklick, OH
7 – 220 Tim Terrell, 1966 Honda CB160, Burlington, NC
8 – 79A Craig Light, 1973 Bultaco, Peachtree City, GA
9 – 903 Robert Brangaccio, 1971 Ducati 250, Basking Ridge, NJ
10 – 521 Kevin Nixon, 1965 Honda CB160, Naugatuck, CT
11 – 270 Rob Hall, 1965 Honda CB160, Charlotte, NC
About AHRMA:
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
