Back to the future

(SCOTLOAND TAKE THE SPOILS)

Renowned for its all-action, fairing-banging style that pitched established professional riders (the ‘Pros’) against rising stars (the ‘Ams’) on identical RD350LCYamahas, with keys drawn out of a hat, the simple yet brilliant concept of the Pro-AmChallenge is still talked about 30-odd years later.

Some of those names back in the early 1980s went on to become global stars, none more so than a certain Damon Hill, who was one of the early protagonists on two wheels and, of course, who replicated his father Graham’s achievement of becoming F1World Champion in 1996.

The idea was reintroduced in 2015 to provide a new, albeit classic angle to the support package at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, whereby the nostalgic element proved hugely successful with fans as machines and original riders from 30 years ago returned to the track.

Chris Herring, long-time enthusiast who, at the time, was working for the Circuit ofWales, the owner of the rights to the British GP (that’s another story…!) fondly remembered the original series and came up with a plan to add something a bit different. DarylYoung, of IDP Moto, was given