NORRA races are basically an off-road museum as vintage vehicles race alongside modern machinery. While their ratio of old to new is much smaller than that of their four-wheeled counterparts, the bikes have their share of classics too.

Of the 17 that took part in the Mexican 1000, two competed in the Vintage category. While two others bowed out with mechanical failures, both overcame their own struggles to successfully complete the race.

Steve Montana returned to defend his Mexican 1000 class win on his 1984 Honda XR500R. Like in 2025, he was joined by just one other bike from the 1960s, though this was even older than the ’67 Bultaco that Ignacio Chivite raced last year.

Gille Leenknegt, a Belgian vintage flat track rider who lives in Spain, made his NORRA debut on a 1966 Triumph TR6SR, a bike that’s even older than NORRA itself (founded in 1967). The TR6 Trophy is one of the most well-known enduro bikes from the 1950s and ’60s, made famous by Steve McQueen representing the United States on one in the 1964 International Six Days Trial as well as its appearance in the war film The Great Escape.

While new to NORRA, Leenknegt had some rally experience going into the 1000 including on his ’66 Triumph (he also owns several other Triumphs from the era). For NORRA, the compression pistons were lower to ensure the engine stayed cooler and the fuel range was longer while in the desert. A silicone sleeve was added to the carburetor to prevent dust from getting in, an issue that had plagued him in other rallies while racing close with other riders.

“Because we run a modern rally on a vintage bike we have to play by the race rules,” Leenknegt remarked. He released the following specs:

• 13.5-inch rear shock
• 18-inch high shoulder rear wheel with an aluminum Hap Jones hub courtesy of Classic Bike Shop
• 21-inch high shoulder front wheel with a small aluminum drum brake hub
• Aluminum air filter box and strengthened chain adjusters from NG’s Moorcycle Repair. “Stock chain adjusters tend to bend making the chain tension go down with the danger of chain running off and damaging the cases”
• Ceriani 35-millimeter motocross front forks with an ISDT-spec quick remove axle
• ISDT rear light, ’70s-era headlight supported by 35-millimeter aluminum headlight holders from Ceriani
• Original Bates desert seat with a quick-remove spring bracket
• Steel skid plate to protect the engine from rocks
• Strengthened folding foot pegs
• Tommaselli MX-spec handlebars
• Triumph OEM 2.5-gallon slim line fuel tank
• Spares and tools
  • Adjustable spanner
  • Canvas bag
  • Electrical tape
  • Safety wire
  • Spare gear shifter and lever strapped to the bottom of the frame
  • Tow rope
  • Zip ties

True to the vintage image, Leenknegt even showed up with a traditional motorcyclist helmet and goggles rather than the full-face helmet what his modern peers and Montana wore.

Of course, racing bikes that are decades older than the new-millennium tech meant the rally was a tough challenge for both riders. Montana quipped after the third day that it was “long and tiring” after suffering an engine problem 244 kilometers in, which was certainly not ideal after finishing fifth overall in Stage 2.

Leenknegt especially had it rough. The wiring in his roadbook failed on the very first stage and forced him to retire already, and he had to spend the rest of the day at a nearby taco restaurant whose owner was kind enough to let him get it fixed there. The next day, the ignition had to be swapped out. Stage 4 finally yielded promising results as he completed the race in one piece.

Alas, things immediately spiraled for Leenknegt again in Stage 4. The suspension was far too stiff and caused him to crash, throwing him over the bike and landing on his hip; the roadbook system was destroyed in the accident and forced him to scroll by hand. Even with the pain and damage, he still finished sixth overall for the day, three minutes ahead of Montana.

The final two days were smooth sailing for both riders. Montana was tenth for Stage 5 then seventh and sixth across Stage 6’s two specials, while Leenknegt notched a ninth in SS2 on the last day.

Brian Hall’s difficulties relegated him 15th among the finishers, meaning the Vintage bikes weren’t the bottom two. Montana was 13th overall ahead of Leenknegt’s 14th, the two separated by just nine minutes because of Montana accumulating 8:56:27 in penalties.

“It was such a cool race, I don’t know how we managed to do it but we did,” said Leenknegt.

Featured image credit: TracksidePhoto