The sport of supermoto began in 1979 when race promoter, Gavin Trippe, took aspects from road racing, dirt track and motorcross, and put them all together on one racetrack.
Originally courses consisted of roughly 50% asphalt and 50% dirt. Today, most supermoto courses consist of 70% asphalt and 30% dirt.
For five years supermoto races, then called Superbikers, took place yearly and were aired on ABC's Wide World of Sports.
1985 seen the sport of supermoto die out in North America. Although the sport was dead in North America, the idea behind it was not lost on the French riders.
The French took the sport with them back to Europe and renamed it Supermotard. It has continued to grow in Europe where it is now one of the most popular motorsports going.
It wasn't until 2003, 18 years after its departure from North America, that supermoto made a comeback as both the AMA and Supermoto Canada began holding races on North American soil.
Recently, with the departure of Supermoto Canada's promoter in 2006, Buddy Ford, Steve Beattie, and 408 Racing have stepped forward to ensure that supermoto still has a home in Canada.
2007 marked the fifth year for supermoto in Canada. For 2009 Shannonville Motorsport Park and R.A.C.E. will be hosting a new Ontario supermoto series.
The sport of supermoto is still relativly new and continues to grow.
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