STURGIS, S.D.(KBHB) – Limited time and continued differences between the two parties led the Sturgis City Council last night to officially cancel this year’s Sturgis TT Race.

Sturgis Mayor Kevin Forrester says the likelihood of this year’s race again losing money as well as limited time for the city to consider any new proposal from American Flat Trackers, or AFT, factored in to the decision.

Last year’s inaugural race lost money and earlier this year, Forrester says AFT sent the city an invoice demanding payment in the amount of $501,694 even though it was the city’s understanding the 2024 event did not involve any financial risk.

Sturgis City Attorney Eric Davis says he supports the recommendation to cancel.

AFT has indicated it is interested in moving the Sturgis TT Race to the old fairgrounds track, which will need to be renovated in order to accomplish that goal.

Davis says AFT has offered at least a framework to that proposal, but he says the fairgrounds property right now is a hot button political issue among residents in Sturgis.

He believes more time and input from the public is needed on that front.

The vote to cancel this year’s race was 7-0, with councilor Ruth Kopp abstaining due to a potential conflict of interest.