VMA - French Classic & Vintage Championships

We race various of the bikes in the French VMA Championships. VMA is a championship for classic production-based bikes, including a Vintage class, a post-classic (late 70s/ early 80s) class, and a Superbike class.

Our 1987 Genesis has made just one outing in the Superbike category, we rarely use it for competition. These days it’s mainly used for shakedowns at new circuits, as the bike is so easy to use and requires minimal set-up.

On the Yamaha 5 valve front, we’ve also got a slightly later version, a 1990 FZR1000 Exup. It’s one of the beautiful early models (‘89 + ‘90 only) with 43mm forks. We’re planning to enter one or two classic endurance races with the Exup in the future, time permitting with an ever-busier work schedule.

The Suzuki T250 and GT250 both compete in the Vintage category, in the 350cc class. Jack’s T250 is the same machine we’ve had in the family since 1983, with a bit of evolution over the last 40+ years! The GT250 isn’t far behind, but both machines are hopelessly outclassed by the ridiculous situation of allowing the Spanish AJR TSS350 into vintage motorcycle racing. It’s supposed to be a replica of a Bultaco GP bike from the late ‘60s, but in reality is a brand new racing motorcycle. It’s made using modern materials, modern manufacturing techniques, with a specification probably closer to our V-twin TZ than a Bultaco from the period. Eligibility? It’s got a drum front brake. Yep, that’s sufficient to class it as “vintage” apparently.

However…we have another machine to wheel out into the vintage category at some point when time permits some finishing jobs to be completed (exhausts, bodywork). It’s a highly modified T350 motor in a Seeley chassis. The T350 never made much of an impression in racing, being only 315cc and with a less than ideal gearbox. For us, compared with the 250, the extra 65cc and the better chassis might be what we need…watch this space!

Here’s some pictures of us from VMA events -