Downtown West Branch will be closing its main street for what organizes are calling “the event you’ll want to attend this summer”. The Taco Bell Ogemaw Hills Supermoto Spectacular will start on the main street of downtown West Branch as part of the annual Ogemaw Hills Bike Week. On Friday evening, spectators will line the sidewalks to watch the riders take off and back-it-in to the first turn, down a short elevation side street and then up into a parking lot where there will be a temporary dirt section. Jumping through the dirt section with various combinations of obstacles and then they’ll jump out onto the street again, up a slight elevation, backing-it-in to the left down the other side of main street and then a 180-degree turn to complete their lap.
“This event has been years in the making,” said MISuperMoto.com’s Dave Duprey. “We’ve learned from other street-based events, our own parking lot race and track-based supermoto events to put on this show. Safety for spectators and racers will be the first priority. We’re excited to give riders from across the country an opportunity to compete on the streets and have a unique racing story to share for years to come. We’re stoked to bring supermoto downtown street race to Michigan motorcycle fans and those from across the Midwest who have likely never seen such a race.”
More than 30 riders have committed to the supermoto race, including Pro Class entrant Brian Swink, a member of the Michigan Mafia and a two-time AMA 125cc Supercross Champion and a multi-time AMA National Motocross winner, as well as every Michigan Supermoto Championship class leader this season. All the committed athletes have a racing background, including the Beginner Class entrants, who have competed in supermoto at least once.
The event is free to the public, practice starts at 5 p.m. with the race beginning at 6 p.m.
