2026 AHRMA Vintage Cup Race Recap – Willow Springs Raceway & Inde Motorsports Ranch
The AHRMA Vintage Cup series returned to the historical Willow Springs Raceway April 18-19, continuing with a back-to-back weekend in the Western Region at Inde Motorsports Ranch, April 25-26 as part of the 2026 AHRMA National Roadracing Series presented by VIB-ISO, delivering a double dose of classic motorcycle racing.
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, Brisgestone, Bultaco, Greeves, Montesa, Ducati, NSU, Ossa, Yamaha and more.
In Saturday’s race at Willow, Dustin Johnson took the holeshot on his 1968 Yamaha YCS1/YamaHonda (with a Honda CB160 sloper frame modified to a full cradle frame to hold the Yamaha YCS1 motor, and pipes built by Highwayman Bikes) with Paul Germain hot on his tail riding a 1967 Yamaha DTI RR. Germain overtook Johnson through turn two, developing and keeping the lead to the checkered flag, with Johson taking second. Jason Lindquist, riding his 1968 Yamaha DT-1, rounded out the podium, with Paul Piskor, racing a 1965 Bridgestone SR175, taking fourth.
In Sunday’s race Germain took the lead at the green flag and held it through the checkered flag, with Johnson taking second and Lindquist finishing third.
The following weekend at Inde Motorsports Ranch brought together a strong field, including four returnees from Big Willow — Germain, Johnson, Lindquist, and Piskor — plus Rounds 3 and 4 Carolina Motorsports Park winners: Holly Varey on her 1968 VanTech CS3 and Craig Hirko riding his 1967 Bridgestone TA 1.
On Saturday, Varey got a great start and cleared Turn 1 in the lead with Germain, Hirko, and the rest of the grid in hot pursuit. Germain was forced to retire with a mechanical early in the race. Hirko closed the gap on Varey, catching her through the tighter sections of the track. However, Varey’s superior power allowed her to pull away on the front straight each time. Hirko finally made a decisive pass just before the final lap and held on to take the victory at the checkered flag, with Varey finishing second, Lindquist third, Johnson fourth, Piskor fifth, and Germain sixth.
On Sunday, the race start mirrored Saturday’s, with Varey once again leading through Turn 1, followed by Johnson, Hirko, and the rest of the field. Hirko overtook Johnson after the first lap, during which time Varey had built a solid gap. Hirko eventually closed the distance, passed Varey for the lead, and held it to the checkered flag. Varey finished second, followed by Johnson in third, Germain in fourth, Lindquist in fifth, and Piskor in sixth.
“We raced in sunshine once again for our west coast rounds. Folks traveled from all over the country for all the AHRMA classes of racing during these back to back events. But I was particularly pleased the 250GP Vintage Cup class was truly an international event, having a couple of Canadians come down to show us some style,” said series sponsor Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton.
“Paul Germain got it done both days at the fastest track in the west, and Holly Varey put her head down both days at Inde (although fellow New Yorker Craig Hirko put his head down further getting those wins!). Was great to see west coast brothers Lindquist and Piskor in the mix, and Dustin Johnson is the guy to keep your eye on. Congratulations to all the racers and a shout out to the folks from all over the rest of the country making the trek and keeping our Vintage Racing dreams alive!”
AHRMA first launched the Vintage Cup series during 2019 by spotlighting the 350 GP class. The series resumed in 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.
“As AHRMA shifted to the West Coast series, I knew the 250GP Vintage Cup was going to get exciting,” said Leasha Overturf, AHRMA’s Road Race Director. “The usual front‑runners from the first two rounds weren’t on the grid at Willow Springs, but Canadian racer Paul Germain was—and knowing how fast and consistent he is, I expected a great battle. As predicted, Germain delivered and took both wins for the weekend.
“The following weekend at Inde Motorsports Ranch in Willcox, Arizona, some of the familiar contenders were back. My first thought was how the showdown between Holly Varey and Craig Hirko would unfold with Germain also in the mix. The opening laps were pure excitement as the three of them charged around the circuit. Then, suddenly, Germain was out with a mechanical issue. Varey kept her head down and pushed hard, holding the lead while Hirko steadily closed the gap. I found myself holding my breath as they swapped positions again and again, until Hirko finally managed to secure the win. This year’s Vintage Cup is shaping up to keep us on the edge of our seats all season long.”
“Rounds at Willow Springs and INDE felt like asking the same orchestra to play two completely different symphonies back-to-back. At Willow, it’s all about bravery and revs—nine corners, wide open, where the 250 Grand Prix machines are pushed to their absolute edge. Then you arrive at INDE, and suddenly it’s a chess match—20-plus turns, precision over power, where corner speed writes the story. That contrast is exactly why our Vintage Cup, featuring the 250 GP class, stands as the centerpiece of AHRMA’s 2026 season. It rewards not just speed, but adaptability, preparation, and a rider’s feel for the machine beneath them.
“Congratulations to the entire 250 GP field for putting on a spectacular show, and especially to Paul Germain and Craig Hirko on their impressive wins. If these rounds proved anything, it’s that the plot is only getting richer as we head to Nebraska”, said Greg “GT” Tomlinson, AHRMA Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Rounds nine and 10 of the AHRMA National Road Race Series Presented by VIB-ISO will be held May 15-17 at Motorsport Park Hastings, Hastings, Nebraska.
From Bob Robbins, co-Chairman of the AHRMA Safety Committee “AHRMA’s RWAF (Roadracing World Action Fund) fundraising continues to improve our racers’ safety with the use of Airfence soft barrier at both Willow Springs and Inde Motorsports Ranch. The Roadracing World Action Fund is a 501(c)3 non-profit was founded in 2000 by John Ulrich and continues to protect racers & track day riders when things go wrong. To donate go to roadracingworld.com/actionfund.”
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 are reported on RoadracingWorld.com and in the print version of Roadracing World magazine. At the conclusion of each season, the perpetual Vintage Cup trophy is engraved with the national championship 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
Big Willow/Willow Springs Raceway – Saturday, April 17, 2026
1. 61 Paul Germain, 1967 Yamaha DTIRR, Winnipeg, MB
2. 760 Dustin Johnson, 1968 Yamaha YCS1, San Francisco, CA
3. 13 Jason Lindquist, 1968 Yamaha DT-1, Chula Vista, CA
4. 58 Paul Piskor, 1965 Bridgestone SR175, San Diego, CA
Big Willow/Willow Springs Raceway – Sunday, April 18, 2026
1. 61 Paul Germain, 1967 Yamaha DTIRR, Winnipeg, MB
2. 760 Dustin Johnson, 1968 Yamaha YCS1, San Francisco, CA
3. 13 Jason Lindquist, 1968 Yamaha DT-1, Chula Vista, CA
Inde Motorsports Ranch – Saturday, April 25, 2026
1. 641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY
2. 50H Holly Varey, 1968 VanTech CS3, Brantford, ON
3. 760 Dustin Johnson, 1968 Yamaha YCS1, San Francisco, CA
4. 61 Paul Germain, 1967 Yamaha DTIRR, Winnipeg, MB
5. 13 Jason Lindquist, 1968 Yamaha DT-1, Chula Vista, CA
6. 58 Paul Piskor, 1965 Bridgestone SR175, San Diego, CA
Inde Motorsports Ranch – Sunday, April 26, 2026
1. 641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY
2. 50H Holly Varey, 1968 VanTech CS3, Brantford, ON
3. 13 Jason Lindquist, 1968 Yamaha DT-1, Chula Vista, CA
4. 760 Dustin Johnson, 1968 Yamaha YCS1, San Francisco, CA
5. 58 Paul Piskor, 1965 Bridgestone SR175, San Diego, CA
6. 61 Paul Germain, 1967 Yamaha DTIRR, Winnipeg, MB
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.
Craig Hirko (641) and Holly Varey (50H) in action at Inde Motorsports Ranch. Photo by Skywest Media.
