SOURCE Harley-Davidson Motor Company

ESPN Adds Adrenaline-Fueled Racing Discipline to 2015 lineup

It’s official. A new motorcycle racing competition will throw dirt June 4 during the inaugural Harley-Davidson® Flat-Track Racing at ESPN’s X Games Austin. Harley-Davidson sponsored two flat-track exhibitions last year, and thousands of fans took to social media to express their excitement for the sport.

“This June, fans in Austin will experience a new kind of action sport as they watch top athletes in flat- track race for gold,” said Dino Bernacchi, Director U.S. Marketing, Harley-Davidson Motor Company. “Words can’t explain the rush of watching these athletes riding within inches of each other, kicking up dirt and carving through corners. It’s pure adrenaline-charge action.”

The inaugural race is an invitational format, with athletes from around the world receiving the opportunity to be part of the action. The Harley-Davidson XR 750 also joins the field of motorcycles battling for the top podium position at Circuit of The Americas. The gold medalist will be awarded a brand-new Harley-Davidson Street™ 750 motorcycle.

“This is great for our sport,” said Brad Baker, Harley-Davidson Factory Flat-Track team rider, “X Games is about performance, and flat-track racing is the perfect addition to this competition, allowing athletes from around the world to showcase just how they push the boundaries in their sport.”

The Harley-Davidson Flat-Track Racing competition is scheduled to air on ESPN at 9 p.m. (EST), June 4. For details on the race and a list of invited flat-track athletes, visit xgames.com. PLEASE NOTE: This information is subject to change. Tickets for Harley-Davidson Flat-Track Racing are available for purchase starting April 15 at www.ticketmaster.com/xgames.

Invited X Games Athletes take to Twitter

On April 16, from 1 to 2 p.m., fans are invited to join two of the sport’s undisputed experts, 2013 and 2014 Pro Flat-Track Grand National champions, Brad Baker and Jared Mees who are taking to Twitter to talk about the X Games Austin flat-track announcement. Questions can be submitted starting today and throughout the live Q&A session by using #XGamesFlatTrack on Twitter.

About Harley-Davidson Motor Company

Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces custom, cruiser and touring motorcycles and offers a complete line of Harley-Davidson® motorcycle parts, accessories, riding gear and apparel, and general merchandise. For more information, visit Harley-Davidson’s website at www.h-d.com.