The AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series – featuring the distinctive thunder of Harley-Davidson motorcycles – will return to the Red Bull Indianapolis GP schedule Aug. 17-19 after a successful, popular Indianapolis Motor Speedway debut in 2011.

AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 adds a fourth class of racing to the Red Bull Indianapolis GP weekend. It joins the three World Championship classes – MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 – competing on the 16-turn, 2.621-mile circuit that combines part of the famed IMS oval with an infield section. Two XR1200 races are scheduled Aug. 18-19 at IMS.

XR1200 competition in 2011 marked the racing return of Harley-Davidson to the Speedway for the first time since 1909, when the world-famous facility opened with a motorcycle event.

Tyler O’Hara edged Steve Rapp by just .048 of a second to win the first XR1200 race last August at IMS, with 2011 series champion Chris Fillmore capturing the second race. Tight, handlebar-to-handlebar competition among more than 30 riders thrilled fans. Also popular was the debut of Shelina Moreda, the first female motorcycle rider to race at IMS in the 102-year history of the facility.

The AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series is a spec-bike series featuring specially modified Harley-Davidson XR1200 motorcycles.

The modification kits consist of a Vance & Hines XR1200 exhaust system, a Fuelpak fuel management system, race bodywork including number plate, single-seat tail section and belly pan, 17- inch front wheel with matching front fender, steering damper, oil cooler relocator and race decal package.

Additional modifications are limited to racing suspension, hand and foot controls, brake components and instrumentation. Like all other AMA Pro Road Racing classes, the Vance & Hines XR1200 class uses Dunlop spec tires and Sunoco spec fuel.

The Indianapolis double-header will be the eighth and ninth of 12 races on the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 schedule this season.