Friday, October 12, 2012

AMA Flat Track: Tucson Half-Mile 2012 Penultimate Round 15 Review as Stevie Bonsey & Shayna Texter Take the Wins















Stevie Bonsey on the #80 Dodge Bros/Alpinestars/Saddlemen/A&A Racing-sponsored XR750 leads Dan Ingram on the #31J TCR/Indy Southside H-D/Zanna Racing/Tucker Rocky-backed XR and Jeffrey Carver, Jr. (beside and partially hidden by Ingram) on the #23 Kiesow Racing/Hall's Cycles/Eddie Adkins/Sponseller-backed XR during round 4 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Springfield Mile I on May 27.

Bonsey scored the second win of his career last Saturday night in Tucson by taking the win on the Goodwin Racing XR (and the first win in the series for Goodwin Racing) over a stacked field fighting it out for all the gold in the penultimate round of the season with the series heading into tomorrow's season-finale at Pomona.

 Racing for the fourth team this season, the Salinas, California resident showed those on-hand that when he's coupled with the right equipment and conditions that he can duke it out with the best of the best in The Rolling Thunder Show by leading Bryan Smith and championship contender Sammy Halbert home in the 25-lap National main.  Bonsey has prepared and run his own equipment this season with the help of Mack Daddy Racing in the Singles Series, while riding the Dodge Brothers XR, Werner-Springsteen Kawasaki and now the Goodwin XR in the Twins Series events he has campaigned this year.

Stevie's run to the top of the podium at Tucson must surely have started at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile back in August, where in his first ride for the Werner-Springsteen team he was able to take the semi win to make the main event at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.  Several weeks later in the rain-delayed Springfield Mile II event, he was right back on the podium again after winning yet another semi in order to make the National main.  Although those results didn't end with him taking the top step on the box, they surely set the scene for his great win last weekend which doubled his win total in the series after winning the Calistoga Half-Mile round back in July '10.






















Shayna Texter is shown getting ready for the final round of qualifying at round 10 of the 2012 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship Series season at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile on August 18.  The rider of the #25A DFW Honda/RLT Racing/McElroy Packaging/Herr's-sponsored Honda CRF450R added to her win total last weekend in taking the third win of her Pro Singles career and second of the season at the Tucson Half-Mile.  One of the most competitive and popular riders on the circuit, the Pennsylvania resident pulled off the big win in front of a packed house at the Tucson International Raceway by just .132 seconds over runner-up Rodney Spencer, Jr.

Texter is locked into a tight fight for the 4th-place position heading into the final round of the season tomorrow in Pomona with Weirbach Racing's Dominic Collindres, with Collindres holding the nod, 144-140 points, making tomorrow's season-finale a sure bet to be one to watch as the season closes on the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship Series for the 2012 year.

A big congrats go out to Stevie and Shayna for their great wins and performances last weekend in Tucson.  Great job to the both of you!

While you're getting ready for tomorrow's action at Pomona, you can check out the press release below on the Tucson round thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track.








AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com and Lucas Oil Race Recap: Tucson Half-Mile

Bonsey Roars to Top of Podium in AMA Pro Flat Track's Return to Tucson International Raceway

AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com and Lucas Oil

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 10, 2012) - The AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com and Lucas Oil ventured to Arizona for the first time since 2010.  The high banked, clay 3/8 mile oval of the Tucson International Raceway, the penultimate round of the 2012 season. The quick little track had last hosted a Grand National race in 2007 and proved to be quite a challenge for the AMA Pro stars.
 
Even with all the hype over a very tight, three rider, points battle going on it was Stevie Bonsey who stole the show with a near perfect night. Goodwin Racing backed, Bonsey posted the fastest heat race time, edged Sammy Halbert in the Dash and led all 25-laps of the Grand National Main.  "It is weekends like this that I come out and have fun and relax and it falls together for me," said Bonsey. "I think it is good for me to win one late in the season. That gives me something to look forward to next year knowing that I still have it. I just need a good program and some wheels under me to make it happen for next year."
 
The 25-lap National saw Defending Grand National Champion Jake Johnson (Zanotti Racing / Schaeffer's Harley-Davidson) lead the field into turn one, but it was short lived. "I got the hole shot and got out front," said Johnson. "I led about a half a lap and hit a hole and about came off the side of it. That was about it."  Bonsey was right there to take advantage as he, Bryan Smith (Moroney's Harley-Davidson /Fasthog.com) and Sammy Halbert (South East Harley-Davidson) all blasted by.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stevie Bonsey #80, Brad Baker #12, Sammy Halbert #7 and the rest of the field roar off the line at the start of the 25-lap National main event at the Tucson International Raceway on October 6.  Bonsey took the second win of his career at round 15 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the penultimate round of the year with the series heading to Pomona for the season-finale on Saturday, October 13.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.
 
 
Smith and Bonsey battled over the lead with Bonsey glued to the bottom and Smith rolling the top. Smith hooked a hole entering turn one and his focus quickly changed. "I decided I better back her down a notch," said Smith. "I caught my foot and I ran wide. I just about went down and decided I better back it down. It is hard when you are that close to a lead to just back it down."  Halbert lost contact with the leaders and slipped into the clutches of Jared Mees (Rogers Racing / Blue Springs Harley-Davidson). "I was giving it my all. Earlier in the race when I was really trying I spun my tire up a bit and hooked a bump," said Halbert. "It about knocked me off my seat. I almost crashed about three times, I had to just do what I could to try to keep it on two wheels. I don't think, that maybe, I quite nailed the setup or whatever. It was just a tough track to ride."
 
Bonsey cruised as the laps wore on, riding a near flawless race, stretching his lead to 1.172 seconds over Smith.  The win was the second of Bonsey's short career. "It wasn't a fluke. From practice on, I was running on the bottom," said Bonsey. "In the heat race I went really low and found something down there to win my heat race. I stuck down there for the Dash for Cash and won that too. I watched the semis and I was watching Henry (Wiles) and a couple guys run up higher. It was working pretty well and it was making me nervous. I was hoping that my line was not going away down there. I had been gearing up for that all day. In the main event I just got the hole shot and stayed down there. It worked. I put every lap together and hit my markers and stayed smooth."
 
In the final laps, Smith's second place finish was put into jeopardy by another late race charge by Halbert, much like he had done for the win last week. "It was almost like déjà vu reeling in Bryan," said Halbert. "I was pretty confident that I was going to get him because I caught him from a good ways back. I was passing there going into the final turn and should have held a tighter line. He just got me at the line. I thought I had second and he just got me at the line."  Jared Mees was content to keep his title rival (Halbert) in sight, finishing a lonely fourth two seconds back. With all the Championship contenders clamoring for the all important points, Johnson's slip was the most painful. Johnson slipped to sixth, just a thousandth of a second behind Brad Baker (Dodge Brothers Racing).  Fast qualifier, Rob Pearson (Memphis Shades / Bumpus Harley-Davidson) topped a great race for seventh over Henry Wiles (Foremost Insurance / ENI / Lloyd Brothers Motorsports), Doug Lawrence (R&J Racing / CVC Communications), Matt Weidman (Scott Powersports), Kenny Coolbeth (Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson Motor Company), Brandon Robinson (Werner-Springsteen Racing / Kawasaki), Mikey Martin (Bonneville Powersports) and Jethro Halbert (USC Racing / Hart Racing) as all finish within a two second window.
 
Bryan Smith earned the night's MotoBatt "Hard Charger Award" by improving his position the most throughout the main event.
 
Tucson Half-Mile Race Results
 
1 Steven Bonsey Goodwin Racing, Alpinestars 25 Laps
2 Bryan Smith Moroney's FastHog.com H-D 1.172
3 Sammy Halbert South East Harley 1.203
4 Jared Mees Rogers Racing ·Blue Springs H-D 3.482
5 Brad Baker Dodge Bros Racing, Perry's H-D 9.544
6 Jake Johnson Zanotti Racing, Schaeffer's H-D 9.545
7 Robert Pearson Memphis Shades, Bumpus H-D 11.718
8 Henry Wiles Foremost Insurance, ENI 12.212
9 Doug Lawrence R&J Racing, CVC Communications Agency 12.633
10 Matt Weidman Scotts Powersports, Saddlemen 13.191
11 Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. Screaming Eagle Harley Davidson Motor Company 13.299
12 Brandon Robinson Werner, Springsteen 13.421
13 Michael Martin Bonneville Performance, Triumph 13.818
14 Jethro Halbert USC Racing, Hart Racing 13.998
15 Kayl Kolkman Wieblers H-D, Roy's Taco House 15.795
16 Kevin Anderson Goodwin Racing, Anderson Bros. Motorsports 24 Laps
17 Chad Cose C.R.C. Racing, Bell, Arlenness 0.424
18 Duke Erickson Prairie Technology, CustomDaycab.com 17 Laps

AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance GNC Points Standings
 
1 Jared Mees 280
2 Sammy Halbert 268
3 Jake Johnson 260
4 Bryan Smith 212
5 Brad Baker 172
6 Henry Wiles 167
7 Jeffrey Carver Jr. 136
8 Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. 132
9 Matt Weidman 124
10 Robert Pearson 115
 
Sunoco "Go the Distance" Award Update
 
1. Jared Mees - 448.8 mi.
2. Jake Johnson - 432.64 mi.
3. Jeffrey Carver Jr. - 430.08 mi.
4. Bryan Smith - 428.89 mi.
 
Saddlemen "Rookie of the Year" Update
 
Briar Bauman - 103
Mikey Martin - 36
Mikey Avila - 21
 
AMAProNew Class Sponsor
Presenting Sponsors
Photos
Photos from Tucson Half-Mile
Next Up
 
 
 
Flat Track Finals
October 13, 2012
AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles

Texter Brings Tucson Half-Mile Crowd to Their Feet With Last Lap Victory

AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles
 
The 16 lap Motorcycle-Superstore.com main roared into turn one with DFW Honda / RLT Racing's Shayna Texter leading the pack with first Dominic Colindres (Weirbach Racing) then Stephen Vanderkuur (Parkinson Brothers Racing) giving chase.
 
While it appeared the Motorcycle-Superstore.com main might be the race that would never end it developed into one of the best races of the night.  Four laps into the race, a red flag came out as Sam Knox (Stockton Moto) bailed. Once again Texter held her position, but fast qualifier Wyatt Maguire (Kirkland Racing) made the most of the restart and was heading a tight pack of riders now in pursuit.  Texter was greeted by the red flag again on lap 10 as Cole Anderson (Diesel Minnesota) had fallen exiting turn two. The restart saw Rodney Spencer Jr. emerge from the pack and close on Texter, who appeared to be struggling off the turns. Lap 12 saw Spencer shoot into the lead, but the red lights were on once again a lap later.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shayna Texter took the #25A DFW Honda CRF450R to the win at the Tucson Half-Mile round of the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship Series on October 6, 2012 for her second win of the season and the third of her career.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.
 
 
Wyatt Anderson (Colbert Power Sports) and Cody Johncox (Weirbach Racing) tangled on the back straight, ending their night. This prompted a five lap dash to the finish.
 
Spencer got a great restart, but Texter was not giving up. On the last lap Texter thrilled the large crowd with an outside pass in turns three and four as she charged to a .132 second win.
 
Pro Singles Race Results 
 
1 Shayna Texter DFW Honda, RLT Racing Honda 17 Laps
2 Rodney Spencer Jr. 831 Pinnit, GP Sports Honda 0.131
3 Wyatt Maguire Kirkland Racing, Pro 1 Racing Heads Yamaha 0.784
4 Stephen Vanderkuur Parkinson Brothers Racing, Performance Cycle Honda 1.204
5 Ryan Kearns SM Racing, Spy Honda 1.473
6 Jake Shoemaker Montgomeryville Cycle Center, Roy Miller Engines Honda 1.608
7 Dominic Colindres Weirbach Racing, KDM Forestry Honda 2.223
8 Jason Isennock Highs Dairy Stores, Foard Racing Honda 2.884
9 Dustin Cassidy Cassidy Racing, WKR Kawasaki 3.684
10 James Monaco Mack Daddy Racing, Rogers Racing Honda 4.403
11 Ryan Foster Baywide Glass, Hacienda Pools Honda 4.538
12 Nick Armstrong Southland Racing, Fontana Radiator Suzuki 4.697
13 Cole Anderson Diesel Minnesota, Anderson Bros Motorsports Honda 6.167
14 Aaron Colton Speed & Strength, Tucker Rockey Honda 9.529
15 Austin Scaggs RGR, DC-10 Honda 13 Laps
16 Wyatt Anderson Colbert Power Sports, Motorcycle-Superstore Suzuki 12 Laps
17 Cody Johncox Weirbach Race Team, Sunnyside Cycle Honda 0.575
18 Sam Knox Stockton Moto, Stockton Honda Yamaha Honda 4 Laps
19 Zachery Lenhof APF Motorcycle Salvage, Cap's Powder Coating Honda DNS

 
AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Points Standings

1
Stephen Vanderkuur 190
2 Jake Shoemaker 177
3 Jason Isennock 162
4 Dominic Colindres 144
5 Shayna Texter 140
6 Ryan Wells 132
7 Wyatt Maguire 127
8 Gerit Callies 107
9 Jake Cunningham 95
10 Zakk Palmer 78

Sunoco "Go the Distance" Award Update
 
1. Jake Shoemaker - 298.47 mi.
2. Wyatt Maguire - 288.56 mi.
3. Jason Isennock - 287.14 mi.

Next Up
 
The stars of AMA Pro Flat Track head to the LA County Fairplex on October 13, 2012. For tickets and information, please visit flattrackfinals.com
AMAProNew Class Sponsor
Photos
Photos from Tucson Half-Mile

Next Up
 
 
Flat Track Finals
October 13, 2012

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,
 


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