Spain launches Flat Track Championship

The growing popularity of dirt track racing in Spain has taken a significant step with the launch of a National Flat Track Championship.

The new seven-round series will be televised on Teledeporte, with commentary by renowned moto-journalist Dennis Noyes.

Noyes had planned to step away from motorsport this year, but is returning to contribute to a project long-dreamed about by his son Kenny, who continues to recover from serious head injuries at Aragon in 2015.

Kenny won the Formula USA National Dirt Track Pro Singles Champion in 2000 before switching to road racing, where he won the Spanish Supertstock 1000cc Bancaja Championship in 2004 and FIM CEV European SBK title in 2014.

The Spanish-based American also claimed pole position at the 2010 French Moto2 Grand Prix and set-up the successful 'Noyes Camp' dirt track school.

Kenny underlined his dirt track skills by claiming back-to-back podiums in the opening Superprestigio races organised by MotoGP champion and fellow dirt track enthusiast Marc Marquez (pictured).

The new Spanish Flat Track Championship will be promoted by On Track Motorsport whose CEO, Iana Petrova-Noyes, is Kenny's wife.

Iana has played a pivotal role in the creation of the series following Kenny's accident, signing an agreement with Spanish Federation President ?ngel Viladoms on March 2. The series aims to popularise American-style flat track in Spain, while developing riders and encouraging sponsors.

The new series will closely follow the regulations and format of authentic American flat track racing, including the use of 19-inch wheels as in the AMA series. The principal category will be for 450cc single cylinder machines. Dunlop will act as exclusive tyre supplier.

Races will be broadcast on one-week delay, but fans who wish to follow the action live can do so via streaming video.

The series will begin in June and consists of seven races held at five Spanish circuits. Two of these events will feature both Short Track and TT events on the same weekend, with the short track races run at night and the TT races during the day.