SONOMA, Calif. (Oct. 6, 2016) — Professional two-wheel racing returns to the Sonoma Raceway road course in 2017, as the wine country motorsports facility will host the seventh round of the MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Race Championship, Aug. 11-13, officials announced.
The event in Sonoma will mark the first time the MotoAmerica Series has visited the racetrack, but Sonoma has a long history of AMA Superbike racing dating back to 1977. The facility hosted annual AMA events from 1993-2012.
"Professional motorcycle road racing is part of Sonoma Raceway's DNA," said Steve Page, Sonoma Raceway president and general manager. "We have hosted epic events over the years featuring some of the greatest American riders ever to climb on a bike. We're delighted to have MotoAmerica on our 2017 calendar, and I'm sure Northern California's motorcycle community will be here to enjoy the event."
"We're thrilled to announce that our 2017 MotoAmerica schedule will feature 10 rounds, including two new stops," said MotoAmerica President and three-time 500cc World Champion Wayne Rainey. "It's always been our goal to expand the series and we've been able to do that entering our third season. We're excited to be going back to Sonoma Raceway because it's a great racetrack with a long history of Superbike racing."
The AMA-sanctioned event will take over the 12-turn course for a weekend of high-speed motorcycle racing featuring riders including Josh Hayes, Roseville's Cameron Beaubier, Steve Rapp, Chris Ulrich and Roger Hayden as they return to the serpentine circuit.
Sonoma Raceway will serve as Northern California's premier motorsports destination in 2017, with a major-event schedule once again highlighted by the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and Verizon IndyCar® Series.
For the third consecutive year, the Verizon IndyCar Series championship will be decided on the challenging road course, with the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma slated as the series season finale, Sept. 15-17.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series makes its only stop in Northern California for the Toyota/Save Mart 350, June 23-25. The first road-course event of the series' 36-race schedule has become one of the most exciting and unpredictable each year, with 11 different winners over the past 12 years. NASCAR's popular elimination-style qualifying format will return on Saturday, June 24, along with the 64-lap main event for the NASCAR Pro Series West. The 110-lap Toyota/Save Mart 350 will be the feature on Sunday.
Race fans should expect another record-breaking weekend as the fastest sport on earth returns for back-to-back weekends of the world's best drag racing, highlighted by the 30th annual Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 28-30. The NHRA Division 7 Drag Races, presented by Korbel, kicks-off the drag racing weekends, July 21-23.
Fans of vintage racing will have multiple opportunities to see historic machines take to the road course, highlighted by the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival (June 2-4) and the Classic Sports Racing Group Charity Challenge (Sept. 29-Oct. 1).
Ticket deposits and renewals for all 2017 major events at Sonoma Raceway are now being accepted. For tickets or more information, call 800-870-RACE (7223) or visit www.SonomaRaceway.com.
The complete Sonoma Raceway major event schedule for 2017:
- Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival - June 2-4
- Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - June 23-25
- NHRA Division 7 Drag Races, presented by Korbel - July 21-23
- Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals - July 28-30
- MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Race Championship - Aug. 11-13
- GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma Verizon IndyCar Series- Sept. 15-17
- Classic Sports Racing Group Charity Challenge - Sept. 29-Oct. 1
* Schedule subject to change without notice.
