Riders and team members gather in the pit area along with their machines for the start of the National main event at round 16 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com Series at the Springfield Mile II on September 4. With three heat races and two semi races in the books, 18 riders have qualified for what is considered the biggest race on the calendar in the AMA Grand National Championship at the Illinois State Fairgrounds mile oval.
With just minutes to go before the stars of The Rolling Thunder Show line them up to do battle at over 130 mph, Kenny Coolbeth, Jr.'s #2 Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Screamin' Eagle/Spectro Oils/Fox-sponsored factory H-D XR750 sits at the ready with one of the team members, along with Jared Mees' #9 Rogers Lake Racing/Blue Springs/Screamin' Eagle/Lucas Oil-backed XR. Sammy Halbert's #7 Kings Kustoms/White's H-D/LZ Racing/KK Supply-sponsored XR sits as his team adds the finishing touches, while Slammin' Sammy talks with one of Johnny Lewis' #10 Scott Powersports/Dubach Racing Developments/Saddlemen/Triple J Racing-sponsored Kawasaki team members.
Also seen in this shot are eventual event winner Willie McCoy's #59 H-D of Wausau XR (left rear of shot) and Matt Weidman #20 who can be seen between Halbert and Lewis' machine in the background.
While the first Twins Series event is still almost four months away (May 27 at the Springfield Mile I), the announcement today that Harley-Davidson Insurance will be returning to the 2012 AMA Grand National Championship Series as the title sponsor for the 19 race season is great news for the sport. And as they did last year, the H-D Insurance group will also be kicking in $100K for the year-end championship payout.
But you don't have to wait until May to see the great racing in The Rolling Thunder Show, as the season kicks off in Daytona Beach on March 15-16 with rounds 1 & 2 in the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com Series. The official kick off to the season is a double header round of some great Singles Series action at the new Daytona Short Track.
A big thank you to the Harley-Davidson Insurance folks for returning to the greatest racing series on wheels in the world!
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Harley-Davidson Insurance Returns as Title Sponsor of AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship in Renewal with AMA Pro Racing
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 30, 2012) - Officials from AMA Pro Racing and Harley-Davidson Insurance announced today an extension of their existing partnership, which names Harley-Davidson Insurance as the Official Insurance of AMA Pro Flat Track and title sponsor of the AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com and the premier AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Expert division. As part of the sponsorship agreement and in support of the star athletes of the Grand National Championship, Harley-Davidson Insurance will once again offer up $100,000 in rider bonus awards.
"Harley-Davidson Insurance has been an exceptional partner and we are proud to have such a strong association with one of the most admired names in motorcycling," said David Atlas, Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing. "The long history that the Harley-Davidson Motor Company has with AMA Pro Flat Track is recognized and respected by all of our fans and riders. The generous Harley-Davidson Insurance Bonus Awards ensure that the AMA Pro Flat Track grids will continue to be filled with some of the finest motorcycle-racing talent on the planet."
The partnership between the two companies allows each brand to capitalize on the long and storied history between the Harley-Davidson Motor Company and the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship. When the series debuted in 1954, Harley-Davidson riders set the bar by winning 13 out of the year's 18 races, and since then the highly-respected brand has gone on to claim countless wins and manufacturer championships. The charismatic athletes and high-intensity action of AMA Pro Flat Track has long attracted a dedicated and brand-loyal fan base, which provides a perfect platform for at-track and in-market activation opportunities.
As part of the new agreement, the Harley-Davidson Insurance brand will be prominently displayed at each AMA Pro Flat Track round, and the company will have access to display space in the paddock and special incentives for H.O.G.® members and authorized Harley® dealers. The agreement also allows for the use of series marks for Harley-Davidson Insurance products, promotional and advertising materials including items such as brochures, print advertising, direct mail, press releases and online marketing initiatives.
"The AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship has been a staple in the motorcycle community for more than 50 years, so this partnership is a great fit for us," said Eduardo Bravo, Vice President of Marketing at Harley-Davidson Financial Services. "We're looking forward to another great year of racing with the fantastic fans and riders who represent the sport so well."
To be eligible for the Harley-Davidson Insurance Bonus Awards, each Expert-level rider must display a Harley-Davidson Insurance patch on his or her riding gear and the official AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance series sponsorship logo on their front number plate during all Expert Singles and Twins events.
On behalf of AMA Pro and Harley-Davidson Insurance, any of the unused Harley-Davidson Insurance Bonus Award money will be donated to the flat track portion of the Roadracing World Action Fund, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization with a mission of reducing racetrack injuries by advocating and promoting the use of soft barriers, like Air Fence. Additional information about the $100,000 Harley-Davidson Insurance Bonus Awards will be released in the coming months.
About Harley-Davidson Insurance Services
Harley-Davidson Insurance Services, Inc. offers Harley-Davidson® motorcycle riders best-in-class coverage and protection designed specifically for them. H-D® Insurance Services also offers insurance coverage for personal and commercial automobiles and trucks, recreational vehicles, boats, and homes. Harley-Davidson Insurance products are underwritten by The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies. For more information, visit www.h-dinsurance.com or call (866) 753-2975.
| AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com. For additional information contact: AMA Pro Racing Communications, (386) 492-1014, communications@amaproracing.com |
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