Pro racers will once again add to the sights, sounds, and smells of the upcoming Barber Vintage Festival.

The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is hosting the third annual running of the Pro Challenge on October 12, 2024, at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. The 12 lap race will take place during the 19th Annual Barber Vintage Festival as part of the 2024 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA Roadracing Series.

The Pro Challenge will feature an array of today’s most exciting racing motorcycles being ridden by professional racers and qualifying AHRMA racers. There will also be a cash purse that will be announced soon.

To be eligible, a Pro Challenge racer must meet the following criteria:

  1. Be a licensed AHRMA member/competitor.
  2. Be in compliance with the AHRMA Barber Racer Eligibility Requirements (found at ahrma.org/schedules-results).
  3. Take part in the Friday practice (Thursday optional).
  4. Take part in a 20-minute timed qualifying session on Friday afternoon.
  5. Be registered in the “Pro Challenge” race on Saturday.
  6. Be capable of racing at a competitive pace within the Pro Challenge race (based on lap times during the Friday qualifying session).
  7. Compete on a race bike which conforms to the Formula Thunder class machine requirements (refer to org/ahrma-handbook).
  8. Optionally compete on a race bike that meets the 2024 MotoAmerica Supersport requirements, and have actively competed with MotoAmerica or an equivalent international race organization (i.e., MotoGP, World Superbike, British Superbike, etc.)
    • All competitors seeking to race a 2024 MotoAmerica Supersport class machine that does not conform to the AHRMA Formula Thunder class *must* complete the “AHRMA Barber Waiver Request Form” found below.
    • The Machine must meet the 2024 MotoAmerica Supersport requirements and will be permitted to run either of the following:
      • 2024 WSS600_A ECU with any of the following distribution files; MotoAmerica, World Supersport or British Supersport.
      • Additionally, the Solo OPEN7 ECU with open distribution files will be permitted.

Select FIM professional licensed road racers may obtain a special waiver from AHRMA for the competition. Waivers must be submitted through the online AHRMA Barber Waiver Request Form no later than Saturday, September 30th at 12pm CDT).

In addition to FIM professional licensed road racers, any AHRMA member pre-qualified to race at the 2024 Barber event with AHRMA may register for the Pro Challenge but must participate in qualifying and meet the qualifying criteria. To be eligible for the Non-pro Payout to AHRMA qualified racers, you must have qualified to race without requesting a waiver, and have not competed with MotoAmerica at the Supersport, Stock 1000, or Superbike level in 2024. AHRMA officials will have the final decision on determining eligible racers for the Non-pro payout. Non-pro racers will be eligible to participate in the pro-payout, as that will be awarded to the absolute top 5 finishers.

For 2024, the purse has been split among pro and non-pro racers, giving the dedicated AHRMA racers a chance to participate in the cash prizes.

Pro Payout
1st place – $10,000
2nd place – $6,000
3rd place – $4,000
4th place – $3,000
5th place – $2,000

Non-pro Payout to AHRMA qualified racers
1st place – $2,000
2nd place – $1,500
3rd place – $1,000
4th place – $750
5th place – $500
There will be a special $750 award for the top Non-pro AHRMA racer to finish on a Ducati to Honor Fast By Ferracci Ducati’s 1994 AMA Superbike Championship.