The Vintage Cup series reached its 2026 race season conclusion at the Barber Vintage Festival, Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL, October 10-11 as part of the 2026 AHRMA National Roadracing Series presented by VIB-ISO.

Sponsored by RoadracingWorld.com and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), AHRMA’s 2026 Vintage Cup features the 250 Grand Prix class: 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 is a showdown of classic small-displacement racing that lives on corner speed, momentum, and precise engineering—and it rarely fails to keep fans on the edge of their seats. Typical 250GP grids mix machines such as Aermacchi, Bultaco, Greeves, Montesa, Ducati, NSU, Ossa, and more.

Hurricane Isaiah bore down on Birmingham and Barber Motorsports Park early Saturday morning and continued throughout the race day, drowning a lot of the potential fast laps in our 250GP., and all the day’s racing. But long before the afternoon’s featured Vintage Cup race, the drama had begun early in the day. The morning’s Formula 125 race, in which several 250 GP riders campaigned, had many riders come back with issues. Craig Hirko (1967 Bridgestone TA1) chased F125 class leader Holly Varey (1968 VanTech CS3) as he still had a chance to win the F125 championship. On the last lap, Hirko made a big effort to pass Varey, but crashed. Seconds later, Varey crashed. Neither was hurt, but Hirko’s bike suffered considerable damage. Once back in the pits a mad scramble ensued to get Hirko’s bike ready for the afternoon’s 250GP big show. Meanwhile, Dustin Johnson (1968 Yamaha YCS1) had a motor failure in this early race, and he too went to work to make the afternoon show, installing a spare motor. Sadly, Johnson ran out of time and didn’t make the start of the 250GP. Hirko’s team managed to get his bike back together and through tech in the nick of time, albeit with the clutch dragging.

As the green flag dropped for our afternoon’s 250GP Vintage Cup race, Hirko’s dragging clutch caused him to stall on the grid and forced him to pull off. Erik Green crashed on the first lap bringing out the red flag, which gave Hirko another chance for a clean start. On the restart Rob Hall (1965 Honda CB160) jumped into the lead followed by Jonas Stein (1972 Honda CB175), Trevor Scales (1969 Honda CB160) and Tim Terrell (1966 Honda CB160), all on Honda twins. Hirko was fifth on his Bridgestone. Having already secured the championship, he was cautious to nurse his bike around and gather a few points to add to his total. Of the impressive 25 entries for the season-ending Barber Vintage Cup 250GP race, only 9 started on Saturday in the pouring rain.

Sunday was a totally different situation. With the su250 n out and the track now dry, there were 18 starters. Hall again jumped into the lead, but on the second lap, his bike broke. Johnson inherited the lead on his Yamaha and held it to the end. Jack Kainz (1972 Yamaha CS3) ran third also on a Yamaha twin until Paul Germain (1967 Yamaha DTIRR) charged past on his Yamaha single. The two of them exchanged second place several times, with Kainz ultimately prevailing over Germain after Stein dropped out. Varey was fourth, Hirko fifth, and Scales sixth.

So, the four-strokes prevailed in the wet on Saturday, and the two-strokes dominated in the dry on Sunday.

2026 was a hugely successful Vintage Cup with 7 different winners in the 22 races, on 6 different brands of bikes, 15 of them two-strokes, 5 four-strokes, 14 of them twins, and 6 of them singles, despite the weather.

“As a sponsor and fan, I am so pleased to close out the 2026 Vintage Cup at the Barber Vintage Festival the way we did. Saturday’s rain from Hurricane Isaiah thinned the grid, but the riders who went out still put on a proper show of small-displacement racing—corner speed, momentum, and pure determination. Watching four-strokes take it in the wet and then the two-strokes answer in the dry on Sunday was exactly the kind of variety this class delivers.

We’ve had so many different riders on the podium this year, so many different bikes up front, with a great mix of twins and singles, two-strokes and four-strokes. I can honestly say this has been the most dynamic Vintage Cup we’ve ever had. A special thanks to everyone who helped keep machines running through the weather, and to the racers who turned up for the finale. A big shout out to all the year’s riders, owners and mechanics.  And much appreciation to the AHRMA staff that offer up the latitude to put on this special race class and make sure we nurture these special classics each year. And also big ups to the supporters who chipped in for the Top 5 Purse payout this weekend – this goes a long way for a team’s morale; getting a little back for the thousands they put in each year.  When I sat in the announcer’s booth on Sunday and that Alabama sun started shining I knew we would go out with style…. And we did!  We’re pushing hard to get the healthy grids in place for next year’s Formula 750 class. Tune em up, folks. As a wise racer once said, “It’s gonna be Hot and Hazy… Fast and Crazy!”” said series sponsor Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton.

AHRMA first launched the Vintage Cup series in 2019 by spotlighting the 350GP class. The series resumed in 2021 and highlighted the 500 Premier class, followed by Vintage Superbike Heavyweight in 2022 and Formula 750 in 2023. In 2024 the second rotation of featured classes began with 350GP, then 500 Premier in 2025. 250GP was added in 2026—the first year it has been featured.

“The final weekend of the 250GP Vintage Cup at Barber gave us everything. Rain cut the Saturday grid, then a red-flag restart and clutch issues still produced a race, with Rob Hall leading a pack of Honda twins. Sunday’s dry track flipped the script completely—Dustin Johnson took the win on his Yamaha after Hall’s machine failed, and the battles for second and third stayed tight all the way.

What stands out most is the season as a whole: seven different winners, a healthy mix of machines, and racing that never got boring. Featuring the 250GP class for the first time in the Vintage Cup rotation brought some of the most diverse and exciting grids we’ve had. The camaraderie in the pits, the willingness to push through weather, and the way riders supported each other all weekend is what AHRMA is about. Looking ahead to Formula 750 in 2027, I know the excitement will continue,” said Leasha Overturf, AHRMA’s Road Race Director.

Rounds 1 and 2 of the AHRMA National Road Race Series will resume mid-February 2027 at Roebling Road Raceway, in Bloomingdale, GA. The 2027 Vintage Cup featured class is Formula 750.

The annual Vintage Cup spotlights one of AHRMA’s road racing classes with extra attention on competitors in the selected class at each race event. Enhanced awards for 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 are reported in RoadracingWorld.com’s online edition. At the end of the season, the perpetual Vintage Cup trophy is engraved with the national champion’s name and presented at the National Awards Banquet to keep for one year.

2026 AHRMA Roadracing Series Presented by VIB-ISO, 250GP – Vintage Cup Results

Barber Motorsports Park – Saturday, October 10, 2026

1. 270 Rob Hall, 1965 Honda CB160, Charlotte, NC – Vintage Cup Purse Payout $1,125
2. 123 Jonas Stein, 1972 Honda CB175, Nashville, TN – Vintage Cup Purse Payout $750
3. 779 Trever Scales, 1969 Honda CB160, Graham, NC – Vintage Cup Purse Payout $525
4. 220 Tim Terrell, 1966 Honda CB160, Burlington, NC – Vintage Cup Purse Payout $325
5. 641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY – Vintage Cup Purse Payout $275
6. 68 Jake Hall, 1972 Honda CL 175, Ashville, NC
7. 805 Greyson Rogers, 1970 Yamaha DT1, Claremont, NC
8. 50H Holly Varey, 1968 VanTech CS3, Brantford, ON
9. 903 Robert Brangaccio, 1971 Ducati 250, Basking Ridge, NJ

Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, October 11, 2026

1. 760 Dustin Johnson, 1968 Yamaha YCS1, San Francisco, CA
2. 35L Jack Kainz, 1972 Yamaha CS3, Helenville, WI
3. 61 Paul Germain, 1967 Yamaha DTIRR, Winnipeg, MB
4. 50H Holly Varey, 1968 VanTech CS3, Brantford, ON
5. 641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY
6. 779 Trever Scales, 1969 Honda CB160, Graham, NC
7. 42 Colton Roberts, 1968 Harley-Davidson Aermacchi, Pawnee, IL
8. 79 Craig Light, 1973 Bultaco, Peachtree City, GA
9. 37 Jim Jowers, 1965 Ducati 250, East Hampton, NY
10. 87 Eric Watts, 1966 Ducati 250, Johnstown, OH
11. 805 Greyson Rogers, 1970 Yamaha DT1, Claremont, NC
12. 66E Erik Green, 1966 Ducati 250, Brooklyn, NY
13. 888 Ennis King, 1961 Moto Parilla 250cc High Cam MSDS Grand Sport, Rio Rancho, NM
14. 220 Tim Terrell, 1966 Honda CB160, Burlington, NC
15. 903 Robert Brangaccio, 1971 Ducati 250, Basking Ridge, NJ
16. 523 John Kern, 1968 Ducati 250 Desmo, Tryon, NC
17. 123 Jonas Stein, 1972 Honda CB175, Nashville, TN
18. 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.