Flat track motorcycle demo at Granite State Fair tentatively set for Sunday

Although Sunday's event won't be an actual race given the time they have to set up, it will be an exhibition where riders can show off their prowess on the track. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - The Zoning Board of Adjustment on Wednesday granted Rochester Agricultural and Mechanical Association a variance to allow flat track motorcycle racing to return to the Rochester Fairgrounds twice a year. One event will be during New Hampshire's Motorcycle Week in June. A second event will be part of the Granite State fair in September.
Because the variance was approved only last night, there won't be time to schedule a race during this year's Granite State Fair, but fair organizers are going to try to have a flat track motorcycle demonstration at the fair on Sunday.
Flat track motorcycle racing ran at the fairgrounds from 1993 to 2008, but stalled after that due to the declining health of the then promoter.
Now a team with memories of those prior years has stepped up to run the event. Megan O'Connell, owner of SOS Racing Promotions said that the Rochester Fair location is known internationally.
O'Connell said that there is a video clip of the Rochester event at the Harley Davidson Museum in Wisconsin.
"We are proud and excited to bring the racing back to the fairgrounds," said O'Connell. "Now that the variance was granted, we can tell our riders and put together an exhibition event. This means a lot to the racing community."
O'Connell said that although Sunday's event won't be an actual race given the time they have to set up, it will be an exhibition. Riders can show off before the crowd and explain the features of their motorcycles.
"The exhibition event will show the crowd what we are all about and hopefully get people interested in coming back," O'Connell said.
Details and times for Sunday's exhibition event will be posted at the Fair's website: https://www.granitestatefair.com/schedule-of-events/ and on the Fair's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GraniteStateFair/.