BMW to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Historic Superbike Victory at Daytona International Speedway

• Larry Lawrence

Steve McLaughlin, Reg Pridmore and Udo Gietl Highlight the Special Guests of the Event

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (February 2, 2026) – On March 6-7, the high banks of Daytona International Speedway will echo with the history of the “Airhead” as MotoAmerica hosts a massive 50th-anniversary celebration of BMW’s legendary 1-2 finish in the 1976 Daytona Superbike race. This milestone event honors the birth of the AMA Superbike Series (now MotoAmerica Superbike) and the machines that changed the landscape of production-based racing forever.

The Architects of Speed

At the heart of the celebration is Udo Gietl, the German-born mastermind who engineered the BMW R90S superbikes that took the racing world by storm. Gietl, alongside Tom Cutter and the late Todd Schuster, pushed the boundaries of the Boxer engine, transforming the touring-centric BMWs into world-beating racing machines.

Udo Gietl (pictured in 2003) the mastermind behind the Daytona-winning BMW R90S Superbike will be a featured guest at the BMW 50th Anniversary Celebration at Daytona.

The Legends Return

The event will feature a historic reunion of the riders who defined the era. Steve McLaughlin and Reg Pridmore will recount their iconic 1976 photo finish, where McLaughlin secured a historic victory on a back-up bike. A last-minute addition to the team inspired by BMW’s West Coast distributor, McLaughlin’s win helped launch the AMA Superbike series—and he later became the driving force behind the founding of the World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK).

Joining them is Reg Pridmore, the first-ever AMA Superbike Champion, who went on to secure three titles before founding his renowned riding school. Also in attendance will be:

  • John Long: The racer who nearly upset the field in 1978, coming within a single point of the championship against a new wave of Japanese multi-cylinder machines.
  • Heidi Fisher: Representing her late father, Gary Fisher, a developmental pioneer who tested Gietl’s designs in the AMA Formula 750 class.
  • Ron Pierce: Winner of the 1977 Loudon Classic Superbike race aboard a BMW.
  • Harry Klinzmann: A standout competitor who successfully campaigned BMWs in the “Battle of the Twins” series.
Steve McLaughlin (pictured here on the right with Jeremy McGrath in 1999) won the first AMA Superbike Championship race at Daytona on a BMW in 1976. Steve and the winning machine will be on hand at Daytona.

Fan Experience & The Celebrity Dinner

Fans can get up close with history in the MotoAmerica FanZone, which will house a 20×40 structure featuring the original historic R90S race bikes. This hub will serve as a gathering spot for fans to interact with the legends themselves.

The festivities culminate on Saturday night with the BMW Celebrity Dinner at the prestigious Daytona 500 Club. Hosted by Master of Ceremonies Jacqui Van Ham, the evening will feature presentations on BMW’s early AMA Superbike era and guest speakers including Kevin Phillips (BMW), John Ulrich (Roadracing World) and Rob Dingman (AMA). There will also be a historic photo opportunity of the R90S trio on the Daytona banking.

Reg Pridmore (pictured here in 1979) was the first AMA Superbike Champion, winning on a BMW in 1976. Reg will be part of the 50th anniversary celebration on March 6 & 7, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway.

Registration Closing Soon

Time is running out to join this once-in-a-lifetime gathering of racing royalty. Registration for the BMW Celebrity Dinner closes at midnight on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

Don’t miss the chance to celebrate five decades of BMW racing heritage where it all began. For more information and to secure your seat, visit https://bmwmoaf.regfox.com/50th-anniversary-daytona-event today.

If any questions come up, please let us know attriangle.bmwcca.activities@gmail.com

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