From Twin Sports To Twins Cup, Donahue Returns To Two Cylinders

June 9, 2021 2 min read

Donahue aboard a Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 in the early 1990’s. Photo courtesy of Brett Donahue.

In 1990, the AMA capitalized on the popularity of the Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 when they launched the Harley-Davidson Twin Sports Series. It was a spec racing class made up of equally prepared 883cc air-cooled V-twin Harleys, and while it was initially scoffed at by road racing purists, fans loved the class, and it helped launch the road racing careers of well-known riders like Ben and Eric Bostrom, Aaron Yates, Jake Zemke, Mike Hale, and more.

One of the riders who competed in the early days of the Twin Sports Series is Sauk Rapids, Minnesota’s Brett Donahue. In fact, the northern Midwest-based rider finished on the podium at Brainerd International Raceway and scored a top-five result at Road America.

The Yamaha FZ-07/MT-07 that Donahue will race in Twins Cup this weekend at Road America. Photo courtesy of Brett Donahue.

Donahue has never really gotten twin-cylinder motorcycle road racing out of his blood. These days, he club-races aboard a Yamaha FZ-07/MT-07. Two weekends ago, Zalusky Advanced Riding School and Track Days (ZARS) held its Shootout and Rider Challenge Championship Series at Road America, and Donahue won two races at the event aboard his Yamaha twin.

This weekend, Donahue returns to AMA professional road racing (aka MotoAmerica) at Road America where he will compete in Twins Cup aboard his #10 Ten Racing Yamaha.

“Racing at Brainerd with the Central Roadracing Association (CRA) over the years and winning the ZARS Shootout at Road America earlier this month has given me a great opportunity to push my pace and be prepared for the top-level racing that is MotoAmerica,” Donahue said. “My goal is to be fighting inside the top ten, and trying to match or better my best finish at Road America from back in the day. I am extremely excited to be back at this level again after being away too long. I couldn’t do it without the love and support of my wife Patty, most of all. I’m also grateful for the support from TrailTech, Dunlop, Woodcraft, Motorex, Black Hills Moto, Bell Helmets, Klim, SunStar, AP MotoArts, Team RFC, Spiegler/CL Brakes, Magura, Perf-Form Filters, and Zalusky Advance Riding Schools.”

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