It would celebrate the brand’s success in flat track racing and offer a sporty naked alternative to established European and Japanese rivals.

The FTR1200 concept appeared at EICMA, featuring the 1133cc V-twin from the existing Scout models bolted to a tubular-steel frame similar to that of the race-only FTR750 which dominated the 2017 American Flat Track Series.

Now it seems almost certain that Indian will create a production version of the FTR for the street. As well as showing the FTR1200 concept, the company has just trademarked the name ‘FTR’ for use on ‘motorcycles and structural parts thereof’ in
both America and Europe.

It’s understood that the AMA has approved the current FTR750 for flat track use until 2019. From 2019, Indian is also expected to be racing under the production-based rules.

What’s not clear is whether we can expect the road-going FTR to be based around the existing 1133cc road engine, like the FTR1200 Custom concept, or whether the company is planning to develop a street engine based on the 750cc motor in the FTR750 racer. Watch this space.

Wrecking Crew indeed

Indian Wrecking Crew rider Jared Mees took the 2017 AMA Flat Track title, winning more than half the races, with teammates Bryan Smith and Brad Baker claiming second and third in the championship respectively. Together they accounted for 37 of the 54 podium places during the year to secure Indian’s first Flat Track title since 1953.

The comprehensive trouncing of rival Harley-Davidson in the series was notable because it was Indian’s first attempt in decades and the firm’s purpose-made FTR750 was up against Harley’s new water-cooled XG750R.

By Ben Purvis