Matt Wait leads Harley-Davidson SuperTwins action during World Superbike weekend at Laguna Seca in July of 1996. (Henny Ray Abrams photo)

The Harley-Davidson SuperTwins (aka 883 Series) was part of the big World Superbike weekend at Laguna Seca Raceway in July of 1996.

Sportsters didn’t initially seem like great road race bikes, but the series ended up producing many of the top road racers of the 1990s.

This photo shows riders battling late in the race with Matt Wait (No. 95) leading the way with a talented group right on his tail, which included Ben Bostrom (No. 11), his younger brother Eric Bostrom (No. 20), Scott Zampach (No. 1) and Dave Estok (No. 12). Also in the frame trying to hang with the lead group are Mark Black (No. 55), Hikaru Miyagi (No. 16), Jody Hendley (No. 15) and Richie Morris (No. 45).

Wait held off Ben Bostrom and Estok by the narrowest of margins to take the victory. Wait also ultimately won a closely contested championship that season over Ben by three points.