About VIPER

VIPER is dedicated to developing and promoting a formula for EVOLUTION & Pre’85 racing. This involves setting guidelines for bike eligibility, class structures, managing points tallies, coordinating promotions for the series, etc. These tasks are undertaken to support host clubs who hold VIPER’S events.

Evolution and Pre’85 racing has a growing following in Australia. There are many facets to the formula that appeals to motocross racers.

Recognise that not all Pre’85 bikes were intended as providing a cheap form of racing. Some racers take pride in riding bikes of the era, and enjoy the many long hours in the workshop to create that special bike.

They enjoy the legacy of people like Roger DeCoster, Eric Geboers, Steve Gall, and Anthony Gunther. These and other legends of the past times commanded public support for motocross in the seventies, and cemented a future for motocross in the process.

That’s why the late seventies and early eighties are so important to the state of modern motocross. It was when real gains were made in technology and public acceptance of the sport.

The machinery of this era formed the basis for the technical revolution of motocross bikes. Single shock suspension, water cooling, disc brakes, and power valves were just some of the major developments that occurred within a few years of factories producing late seventies machines. Motocross hardware of the time was a key hingepoint in the gradual development to the high tech bikes that modern riders use today.

Pre’85 and Evolution racing captures that period. There’s a certain appeal in rebuilding, maintaining, and race preparing a Pre’85 racebike. The designs are simple, easy to work on, and often have historical significance.

Pre’85 bikes promote aggressive racing, as they are the first non modern form of racing to have significant suspension systems capable of surviving a moderately rough track. Before 1975, engineers hadn’t even recognised that suspension travel mattered.

The result is an all out attack on jumps, bumps, and berms - with aggression in bucketloads. The only way to ride a Pre’85 fast.

Apart from the competition, Pre’85 motocross appeals to many due to the memories. Let’s face it, motocross is a young man’s sport. A thirty year old in contemporary motocross is an old man. This is why many of the Pre’80 riders are not elite athletes, but ex-motocrossers returning to the sport after years away. These riders have an affinity with Pre’85 bikes, as many competed on these machines during their modern motocross careers. It’s like turning the clock back 18 years.

Of the Pre’85 category, events are categorised into Expert & Intermediate. Riders generally find that there are ample rides on racedays, and races are kept short, mainly to three laps.

Events are held on tamed versions of modern motocross tracks. Selection of venues is strictly controlled by VIPER, under the guidance and mandatory compliance to Motorcycling Australia regulations.