AMA Pro Flat Track Reviews 2012 Daytona Short Track Season-Opening Rounds

Six of the top-10 riders in the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season await the start of practice at round 14 of the series at the Springfield Short Track on September 3, with just over six weeks to go until the season's final round at Pomona on October 15.

Springfield Short Track king Henry Wiles on the #17 Monster Energy Kawasaki/Jones Bros-sponsored KX450F, Jared Mees on the #9 Montgomeryville Cycle Center/Rogers Lake Racing-backed Honda CRF450R, Matt Weidman on his #20 SNIP/Fiorio Investments-backed Honda, Jake Johnson on the #1 Zanotti Racing/Schaeffer's H-D-sponsored Honda, Johnny Lewis on the #10 Scott Powersports/Dubach Racing Developments-backed Honda and Sammy Halbert on his #7 Woody Kyle Racing/Fredericktown Yamaha-sponsored YZ450F battled strong throughout the day's activities at the last Singles Series event of the 2011 season.

Fast forward to March 15-16, and these same men would line it up again at the season-opening rounds of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Daytona Short Track to kick off a new year in The Rolling Thunder Show, the best show in racing on wheels in the world.

When all was said and done, it wasn't a case of the 'usual suspects' as two new winners emerged in the new year to lead the rest into the long two-month break until rounds 3 & 4 of the championship reconvenes at the Illinois State Fairgrounds over Memorial Day weekend.

Pennsylvania resident Johnny Lewis and New York State's Matt Weidman would leave Daytona with their first series wins and Weidman would find himself atop the series points standings for the first-ever time in his 5-year Expert Pro career.

2-Time Singles Series Champ Wiles would have what could at best be termed a slow start to the season, especially for the man who owns the TT at Peoria and the short track at Springfield.

Halbert, the '11 Singles Series Champ and the winner of three of the previous four rounds at Daytona, would back those wins up with two top-5s, Johnson would leave Daytona with perhaps his worst-ever outing in the Sunshine State, and Mees would leave with a solid 2nd-place in the championship after almost winning round 2 and being forced to give up his prize money or his points.

But Daytona is, like they say, Daytona.  Once the series gets into full-swing at the end of May at the Illinois State capital facility, the numbers, riders and equipment will sort themselves out, just as what seems to happen every season.  And with two new winners in the series' long history, it leaves many to ponder the fact that the two men who came out on top at Daytona have also both been knocking steadily at the door for the last few years, ready to take a share of the pie along with the rest to mix it up with the best there is in motorcycle flat track racing.

With eight weeks until the series touches down in Springfield, there is plenty of time to do the numbers.  But as we all know, in reality, all the b.s. stops when the green flag drops and we line 'em up to do it again in late May. 

While you are pondering your numbers, check out one of the latest from AMA Pro Flat Track as they review their numbers from the Daytona season-opening rounds below, and we are left to count the days until we are ready to do it again.
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AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport - DAYTONA Flat Track Recap

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 27, 2012) - The first two rounds of the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com are in the books. After two days of heated short track action, here is a look at a few of the extra awards available in 2012. Again in 2012 the Harley-Davidson Insurance Year End Points Fund for the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Experts is the biggest award with a total of $100,000 to be split between the top 12 in the final GNC Combined point standings. Coming off the best performances of his young career, Matt Weidman (SNIP / Fiorio Investments / Greg Crow Racing) leads the chase for the $20,000 overall winner's share of the Harley-Davidson Insurance pot-o-gold. Just seven and eight points back respectively are Jared Mees (Rogers Lake Racing) and Johnny Lewis (Scott Powersports). Another doubleheader weekend, the Springfield, Ill., TT and mile races are up next on the 19 race schedule. On paper starting the 2012 season the Saddlemen "Rookie of the Year" award looks to hold another competitive class of youngsters. 16 year old Briar Bauman (USC Kawasaki / Ronnie Brown) leads a couple of 18 year old riders, Mikey Avila (SDI Insulation / Joe Bisha) and Mikey Martin (Bonneville Performance Triumph / Acerbis), after a great debut, posting eighth and sixth place finishes. Avila also qualified both nights and finished 17th and 19th. Martin missed both nights with his best finish just one out in his semi on Friday. Bauman is tied for seventh in the point standings 22 ahead of Avila. Saddlemen has once again posted a $5,000 year end award to the eligible rider who scores the most points in the Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship. A new and unique award for 2012 is from the series' new fuel supplier. The Sunoco "Go the Distance Award" will be presented to the rider who covers the most distance during the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track season. The top four mileage earners will get $4,000, $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. After the first two rounds Don Mullen (Shenandoah Honda) and Mikey Avila are tied with 28.5 miles each. Brad Baker (Werner and Springsteen Racing) and Brandon Robinson (Action Motorsports) are just behind with 27 & 26 miles. The Cortech "Performance Edge Award" will go to the AMA Pro Expert rider who posts the highest number of "fastest lap of the Expert National" for the entire 2012 season. Johnny Lewis (race #1) and Sammy Halbert (Fredericktown Yamaha) (race #2) are leading the chase for that $1,000. The Motobatt "Hard Charger Award" will award $250 to the rider who improves the most positions during each AMA Pro Grand National Expert main event. Brad Baker topped night one as he moved up nine positions and Mikey Rush (A&J Racing) improved seven spots on night two. In the Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles class, the title sponsor has posted a $25,000 points fund for the top six riders in the class. With two of the 19 races in the book, USC Kawasaki's Hayden Gillim leads the chase for the $10,000 winners share of the pie. Gillim has Road Race obligations that will limit his ability to hold his points lead so the three riders tied for second, Ryan Wells (Weirbach Racing), Gerit Callies (Fun Mart / Power Brokers) and Hunter Taylor (Kirkland Racing), are in the drivers seat despite being 11 points down to Gillim. In the Pro Singles Class, the Sunoco "Go the Distance Award" is being led by Andrew Smith (TNT Action Sports) with 22 miles. Rob McClendon (D&D Cycles / Sammy Halbert Racing), Shayna Texter (RLT Racing / Herrs) and Wyatt Maguire (Pro 1 Racing Heads / Shortblock Charlies) are all tied in second with 20 miles. With the 2012 season of the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com in it's infancy, the excitement has just begun. Both the Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Expert class and the Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles class are full of contenders for all of these awards and the competition will no doubt be fierce until the series ends October in Pomona, Calif.

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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AMA Flat Track: IMDA Announces New & Returning Sponsors for 2012 Springfield Events

After a near-48 hour delay, round 7 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season was in the books as Jake Johnson, Jared Mees and JR Schnabel, Jr. celebrate on the victory podium at the Springfield TT on May 30.  Johnson had just taken his 2nd victory in the last three races on his #1 Zanotti Racing/Schaeffer's H-D/Motion Pro/Arai-sponsored Honda CRF450R, with Mees following him home in 2nd place just 1.330 seconds back on his #9 Montgomeryville Cycle Center/Rogers Lake Racing Honda, and Schnabel another 3.281 seconds back on the #33 Monster Energy Werner-Springsteen Kawasaki KX450F.

While two of the three 'Js' on the podium discuss their race, Mees gets interviewed for the MavTV camera crew along with AMA Pro Flat Track announcer Barry Boone (partially hidden), after rains on Saturday two days before had washed out the event.  Riders, fans and everyone on-hand were greeted with hot and windy conditions on Memorial Day, but with some extra hard work by everyone involved the event came off without any major problems.

AMA Pro Flat Track and the IMDA announced today that three of last year's event sponsors would be joined by a new sponsor for the upcoming Springfield events.  K&N Filters will join returning event sponsors Green Toyota, Memphis Shades and Miller Lite Beer in helping to highlight some of the premier events on The Rolling Thunder Show at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.  All three of the returning sponsors can be seen at the top of the banner and backdrop for the podium ceremonies from last May's event.

Thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track and the IMDA for this great news, and you can read the full press release below.  Make sure you get your tickets for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend event, with the Springfield TT being held on Saturday, May 26 and the Springfield Mile I on Sunday, May 27.
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Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association Announces Sponsors of Springfield Race Events

Press Release Sent on Behalf of IMDA: (Springfield, IL., March 30, 2012) - The Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association (IMDA) is proud to announce Green Toyota, K&N, Memphis Shades, and Miller Lite Beer as official sponsors of the Springfield Mile, TT, and Short Track. Green Toyota is the local Toyota dealer in Springfield, IL. They will have a display of great new vehicles as well as some other exciting plans. The dealership is well known in the Springfield area and the general manager, Mylas Copeland actively participates in the community. He hosts a special hospitality area at the mile for their customers. As a special treat at the Memorial Day Weekend races, Mylas will be announcing the races. He has past experience as a race announcer and has a clear voice that is enjoyed by all that hear him. That is a sponsor that really gets involved. K&N is a world-wide company that produces the world's best air filter. They are based in Riverside, California and have been in business for over 40 years. No matter what vehicle you need a filter for, K & N will have the best one. As a company they have supported flattrack racing for many years through rider support, event support, or series support. Memphis Shades brings a whole new level of style when it comes to custom motorcycle windshields. No matter if you ride a big-inch cruiser or a stylish street custom, Memphis Shades has the perfect windshield for your bike. Miller Lite was the first national low calorie beer back in 1975. Today Miller Lite continues its commitment to great taste and innovation. When you enjoy the races enjoy a Miller Lite too. The Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, has hosted more Grand National Championship races than any other venue in the history of the sport. 112 Nationals have been held at the prestigious Fairgrounds. Not only does it offer a rich tradition in dirt track racing but Springfield has also hosted a variety of racing disciplines. With 88 mile races, 13 short tracks and 11 TT races, it's no wonder Springfield is known as the flat track fraternities racing capitol. The IMDA is proud to bring these events to everyone and extremely proud to have these prestigious companies helping to make it all possible.   For tickets or information: 217-753-8866 or 888-468-1622

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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AMA Pro Flat Track Announces Saddlemen Rookie of the Year Candidates

Round 14 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Peoria TT saw first-year Pro Singles rider Briar Bauman take the checkered flag and the podium ceremonies after appearing to win the 12-lap main on his #10Z Rod Lake Racing/Brown's Cycles/Lazer Racing/Gene & Gail Cummings-sponsored Honda CRF450R.  In only his third race in the series, the Salinas, CA. resident had won his first-ever Pro main event at an AMA Pro Flat Track race.

Unfortunately, due to what was termed a 'fuel' violation after race-ending testing, he was disqualified for his win and Mikey Avila on his #33E SDI Insulation/MEH Corp/Boughner Racing/Arai-backed Honda was awarded the win.  At the end of the season, Avila had finished 2nd in the overall point standings in the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship behind series champ Mikey Martin, but Bauman would finish 6th after only campaigning eight of the series' 20 races for the season.

It should be noted that Bauman's DSQ was in no way ever termed a situation where he was trying to get an advantage on the rest of the field, it was simply a case of the fuel not testing to 'spec' for the after-race testing, and in all probability it was most likely a case of some leftover fuel having gotten mixed in with the Sunoco spec fuel for the event.

For the 2012 season Bauman, Martin and Avila are now campaigning the Expert division in the series, and are now in the running for the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Saddlemen Rookie of the Year Award, each hoping to join former ROY winners Brad Baker, PJ Jacobsen, Matt Weidman, Jake Johnson and Jared Mees, just to name a few, as the season-ending top finisher in the freshman class of Expert GNC racing.

In the shot above, Bauman hands his #10Z Honda off to one of his crewmen just after the Pro Singles final, with Avila's #33E Honda setting against the fence in the background.  Also on-hand to take in the Pro Singles ceremonies is Tyler Porter from Fight For Dirt Track.com, who was doing some shooting and videotaping of his own at the August 21 event.

AMA Pro Flat Track and AMA Pro Racing's Director of Sales, Mike Kidd (former '81 AMA Grand National Champion) issued a new-style press release concerning the new class in the Expert division, and you can check it out below.  Be sure to check out all of the sponsors of the series and get signed up for updates, and while you are there get your ticket order in early for rounds 3 & 4 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Springfield TT (May 26) and Springfield Mile I (May 27).
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Saddlemen Flat Track Rookie of the Year     DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY Daytona Beach, FL March 17 DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 27, 2012) - The first two rounds of the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com are in the books. Both nights had standing room only, over 120 entires with two first time winners standing on top of the podium; Round #1 Johnny Lewis Round #2 Matt Weidman Again in 2012 the Harley-Davidson Insurance Year End Points Fund for the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Experts is the biggest award with a total of $100,000 to be split between the top 12 in the final GNC Combined point standings. On paper starting the 2012 season the Saddlemen "Rookie of the Year" award looks to hold another competitive class of youngsters. 16 year old Briar Bauman (USC Kawasaki / Ronnie Brown) leads a couple of 18 year old riders, Mikey Avila (SDI Insulation / Joe Bisha) and Mikey Martin (Bonneville Performance Triumph / Acerbis), after a great debut, posting eighth and sixth place finishes. Avila also qualified both nights and finished 17th and 19th. Martin missed both nights with his best finish just one out in his semi on Friday. Bauman is tied for seventh in the point standings 22 ahead of Avila. Saddlemen has once again posted a $5,000 year end award to the eligible rider who scores the most points in the Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship. Bauman finished the 2011 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship in 6th place. Bauman won three of the eight races he competed in and finished within the top-five positions seven of the eight races. Bauman added, "I ask a lot of myself, but I really want a top-ten overall finish in the class and the Saddlemen Rookie of the Year Award. I can't tell what's going to happen on the twins, but top-ten overall and Rookie of the Year." USC Racing, Saddlemen Seats, WKR - Kawasaki #10Z Briar Bauman   click here -- AMA PRO INTERVIEW - BRIAR BAUMAN Next AMA Pro Grand National Flat Track For Tickets Call 217-753-8866 or 888-468-1622   CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS DOUBLE HEADER MAY 26 TT MAY 27 MILE AMA PRO RACING WEBSITE Mike Kidd Director of Sales AMA Pro Racing 817-825-7081 mkidd@amaproracing.com 2012 AMA Pro Series Sponsors Join Our Mailing List

Graves Motorsports Yamaha's Chuck Graves Talks to Soup

Up until the early-mid '90s, Indianapolis Raceway Park (now known as Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis) in Clermont, IN. hosted a couple of WERA rounds throughout the season.  Usually scheduled in early spring and late fall, the races forever seemed to fall on rainy, cold days that would either linger in spring or hit early fall in the central Indiana area.  It didn't matter in those days as I'd be out checking out the action, starting in the mid '70s.  Before I'd found my love and adrenaline fix in motorcycle racing (and before I had moved to Indy in '72) the AMA even visited IRP when Dick Mann, Bart Markel and Cal Rayborn, among others, were still racing in the late '60s and early '70s.

But nonetheless, we would be out there either competing (or in my case TRYING to compete and having a helluva lot of fun doing so) or hanging on the fence checking out the action.  In the fall event of '87 I was lucky (?) enough to scam a gig of announcing one of the WERA regional events going on at the track.  It seemed as if the regular announcer couldn't make it, so Nan Cheney (now Algie) who had worked for WERA for years (and still does) called me up to ask if I was willing to take on the task.  I had a blast, but at the end of the weekend I was so hoarse I could barely talk and all but lost my voice for the next few days after the races were over (which might not have been a bad thing for the people that know/knew me!)

By the early '90s, WERA had taken over the Formula USA Series from Willow Springs Raceway's Bill Huth, who had started the 'run what ya brung' series in California that was quite successful.  Campaigning 8-10 tracks a year, the WERA Pro Series/Formula USA Series saw a wide variety of talent and machinery compete together on what was considered an even playing field.

Yamaha two-strokes (250/500cc) campaigned by Kenny Roberts for Rich Oliver and Robbie Peterson, big YamaMonster inline four-strokes campaigned by Gold Hill Racing for the late Fritz Kling and others, and the big-over bored Suzuki menthanol-burning inline fours as campaigned by Team Hammer/Valvoline Suzuki for many a rider including Kurt Hall, Michael Martin, Donald Jacks, Wes Cooley and Chuck Graves, to name just a very few.

For what was a varied platform, seeing 2-stroke 250s against 1100cc fire breathing 4-strokes brought out the best in racing and the best in the fans attention, and the racing was some of the best I've seen in my many years being a big-time fan.

One of the very few dates I can remember that happened during good weather was when WERA scheduled the Indy Nationals round in July '92, and for a change rainy and cold was put away for hot and humid, and as always the action was hot and heavy on the track.

Two of the regulars in the series at the time, as shown above, were dicing it up in the pack as eventual double-round winner Fritz Kling stole the show on his big Gold Hill Racing YamaMonster.  Chuck Graves on the #24 Team Hammer/Valvoline Suzuki and former WERA Formula II and AMA 250cc Grand Prix Champion Chris D'Alusio on the #2 Southwest Motorsports/Red Line Oil-backed Yamaha TZ250 go at it coming out of what was turn 15 at IRP just before hitting the front drag strip at the 2.5 mile track.  Big four-stroke against 'little' two-stroke, and neither giving an edge.

Graves, who cut his teeth in racing at Willow Springs Raceway, has since gone on to head up Graves Motorsports Yamaha, which has been the Yamaha representative and lead team in AMA Pro Road Racing since the early '00s, campaigning and winning several championships with riders Aaron Gobert, Jason DiSalvo, Jamie Hacking, Eric Bostrom, Josh Herrin, Ben Bostrom and Josh Hayes, just to name a few.

Dean Adams at SuperBikePlanet.com got a chance to catch up with Graves recently and you can check out below what he's had to say about his long career in motorcycle road racing.
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Dean Adams has this interview with Chuck Graves, the owner of Graves Motorsports out of California, who is best known to current fans as the owner of the 2-Time AMA Superbike Championship-winning Monster Energy Yamaha R1 team with rider Josh Hayes. 

Graves was quite the accomplished racer himself in his day, competing in many an event at his 'home' track at Willow Springs, and constesting the WERA Pro Series/Formula USA Series in the early '90s, including the Team Hammer/Valvoline Suzuki/RoadRacing World-backed team.

Read on to see what Graves had to say with The King of Soup, Dean Adams at SuperBikePlanet.com:

http://superbikeplanet.com/2012/Mar/120327chuckgraves.htm
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AMA Pro Road Racing Announces Saddlemen Rookie of the Year Candidates

Mike Kidd, former '81 AMA Grand National Champion and now in charge of sales for AMA Pro Racing, sent this new-style press release out today with the interactive graphics and seperate links to each sponsor on it.

Take the time to view it over and check out each of the sponsors involved with AMA Pro Racing, and get yourself added to their mailing list as well.  And you can get advance tickets for the upcoming Big Kahuna rounds at Road Atlanta on April 20-22.

Thanks Mike, you da man!

Saddlemen Road Race Rookie of the Year     DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY   Daytona Beach, FL   March 17 DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 22, 2012) - In only his third career AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike start,Joey Pascarellaof Vacaville, California and the Project 1 Atlanta/March of Dimes team won the 71st DAYTONA® 200 in a classic race that saw the drama build until the very end of the 57 laps. Pascarella was able to do something that was rather rare on that last lap around Daytona International Speedway's 3.51-mile traditional motorcycle course - he was able to hold the lead despite having three riders on the tail of his No. 52 Yamaha YZF-R6, each of them ready and willing to draft past the 19-year-old rider. The three-rider pack that finished just 0.048 seconds behind Pascarella was full of stout competition, led by eventual second-place finisherJason DiSalvo(No. 9 Latus Motors Racing Triumph Daytona 675).Cameron Beaubier(No. 6 Y.E.S. Graves Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R6) narrowly edged out this year's pole position winner,Martin Cardenas(No. 36 GEICO Suzuki GSX-R600), at the line to take the final podium spot. Jake Gagne (No. 132 RoadRace Factory/Red Bull Yamaha YZF-R6) had never raced the DAYTONA® 200 before but fought with experienced veterans Zemke and Hayden throughout the race. Gagne and his new team finished eighth, and the rising star has grabbed an early lead in the Saddlemen Rookie of the Year award program. The $5,000 year-end award will go to the eligible rookie rider who earns the most points in the GoPro Daytona SportBike rider championship. RoadRace Factory/Red Bull Yamaha YZF-R6 #132 JAKE GAGNE   CLICK HERE FOR A GO PRO LAP WITH JAKE AT DAYTONA Next AMA Pro Road Race AMA Pro Racing is returning to Road Atlanta in 2012 and it's bringing a rich history with it. The Big Kahuna event, which ran at Road Atlanta from 1998-2002, returns to thrill racing fans April 20-22, 2012.   For Tickets Call 303-377-3278 or visit m1powersports.com   Fans can expect to see a two-wheel frenzy with their favorite AMA riders and bikes attacking Road Atlanta's 2.5 miles of swooping hills and thrilling turns at speeds up to 190 mph. AMA Pro racing last raced at the facility in 2010, where fans witnessed Blake Young sweep the National Guard SuperBike doubleheader weekend in dramatic fashion AMA PRO RACING Mike Kidd Director of Sales AMA Pro Racing 817-825-7081 mkidd@amaproracing.com 2012 AMA Pro Series Sponsors Join Our Mailing List

AMA Road Racing: Harley-Davidson and Vance & Hines Putting Up $60K for AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series Showdown

The #34 Drag Specialties/Vance & Hines/RS Taichi/Sidi-sponsored H-D XR1200 of Michael Barnes sits on the stands inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway garages during the AMA Pro Road Racing XR1200 Series test at IMS on August 19, 2011 the week before the machines of iron were set to make their debut at the 4th Annual Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP round as part of the racing undercard.  Team mate and 2011 AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series runner-up Steve Rapp's #5 Parts Unlimited/Vance & Hines-backed XR1200 gets the tire warmer treatment just prior to the fourth and final practice session at the century old facility.

In the second (and first full) season schedule of the XR1200 class, both Barnes and Rapp had great seasons in the growing series, with Barnes 6th in the series after the season-ending ninth race of the year at New Jersey.  Rapp, along with his runner-up in the championship to winner Chris Fillmore, also carded two 2nd-place finishes over the course of the Indy weekend, the series' penultimate rounds, while Barnes carded two 4th-places at the Brickyard.

At the 2012 season kick-off in Daytona, 20 riders qualified for the opening round, with 18 finishing the 7-lap race.  Kyle Wyman took the win, with 2011 Indy winner Tyler O'Hara in second, Barnes 3rd, with David Estok and Darren James rounding out the top-5.  2011 XR1200 Champ Chris Fillmore is now riding the HMC/KTM full-time in the AMA Superbike Championship and Rapp rode an Attack Performance-backed Kawasaki ZX-10R in the season-opener as well, and is hoping for more sponsorship to be able to stay in the premier class throughout the '12 season.

Barnes is now riding for the Bartels H-D team with a very sweet-looking orange-and-white paint scheme, and was in the running for the win right down to the checkered flag at Daytona, finishing just .412 seconds behind winner Wyman. 

It was just announced that H-D and V&H are ponying up another $60K in year-end monies (on top of the already-announced $60K point fund for the 2012 AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series Championship) that will be divided up amongst the top-10 in the finishing order, based on a 5-race shoot-out format, ala NASCAR and NHRA's 'chase for the championship,' which could make for some even-more exciting racing out of the 500 lb.+ spec class.

You can read the full press release below thanks to AMA Pro Road Racing.
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XR Showdown Raises the Stakes for the 2012 AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series Championship

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 27, 2012) - With new teams, riders and sponsors participating in the opening round of the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series season opener at the Daytona International Speedway, the XR1200 division, now in its third season, has never looked better. And if the thrilling finish on the high banks that saw podium finishers Kyle Wyman, Tyler O'Hara and Michael Barnes cross the line separated by less than half a second is any indicator of what's in store, it's going to be an exciting season. But there is another twist to the 2012 Vance & Hines XR1200 Series season that is sure to make it like none seen before, and that is the introduction of the XR Showdown, a special $60,000 year-end points fund award to be battled for by the top 10 competitors in the final five races of the season, beginning with the XR1200 doubleheader at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. The key for riders to compete for the XR Showdown will be to secure a place in the top 10 in the point standings by the conclusion of the seventh round at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. After the Mid-Ohio round, each of the top 10 riders in the point standings at that time will have their championship points reset to 1,000 points. This means that the top 10 will be starting from a level playing field to accumulate as many points as possible in the final five races to vie for the overall championship and the additional $60,000 XR Showdown prize fund. In turn, this also means that it is crucial for all competitors to accumulate as many championship points as possible in the first seven races of the season to participate in the XR Showdown. The XR Showdown is a separate and supplemental $60,000 prize money fund in addition to the $10,000 purse awarded at each of the 12 races in the 2012 XR1200 season. All XR1200 competitors are eligible to compete in all 12 races and thereby are also competing for the $10,000 purse awarded for each event. "This is truly going to raise the stakes by motivating all riders to push for the best results from the early rounds of the season," said Terry Vance of the XR Showdown. "With the combined $120,000 race purse and $60,000 Showdown purse funded by Harley-Davidson and Vance & Hines, we are doing more than ever to offset the costs of racing for the XR class competitors." Keep up with all the latest on the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series by going to www.amaproracing.com, www.vanceandhines.com/xr1200 and www.harley-davidson.com.  In a month, AMA Pro Road Racing will return to Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia for Round 2 of the 2012 championship and the first of the season's three Triumph Big Kahuna events, the Big Kahuna Atlanta.   The event, scheduled for April 20-22, 2012, is the first return to Road Atlanta for the Series since the 2010 season and marks the return of M1 PowerSports to full-time event promotion at the site of the original Big Kahuna.   For event information and tickets, please visit http://www.m1powersports.com/big-kahuna-atlanta/.

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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Nominees for 2012 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame to be Announced on April 2

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame to announce 2012 nominees on April 2

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- March 26, 2012 -- On Nov. 16 at the Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa in Las Vegas, Nev., the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation (AMHF) will welcome a new class into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. This year, for the first time ever, the AMHF will announce not just the final class of inductees, but on Monday, April 2, will reveal the men and women who have been nominated for consideration of one of motorcycling's highest honors.

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, located on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), tells the stories of motorcycling heroes and legends and preserves the history of motorcycling. Nominees for annual induction are selected from applications submitted by the public and members of the AMHF Nominating Committee.

"While in previous years only the inductees have been announced, this is the first time that we will announce the names of our nominees, each of whom is a worthy contender," said AMHF Board of Directors Chairman Jeff Heininger. "Supporters and fans of the Hall of Fame have encouraged us to do this, and the enthusiasm generated by these announcements is one more way for us to acknowledge the tremendous contributions each of these individuals has made to the sport, business and lifestyle of motorcycling."

Nominees are selected from a number of specialties within two main categories. The non-competition category includes ambassadors/industry, design/engineering and leadership/motorcyclist rights advocates, and the competition category includes flat track, motocross/Supercross, off-road, roadracing, and specialty competition.

A committee overseeing applicants for each specialty reviews the submissions, and determines which applicants meet the criteria to be considered as candidates to the Hall of Fame. The field of candidates is then narrowed by committee votes to select the nominees for a particular year. The voting group that selects Hall of Fame members is composed of experts in the various fields of motorcycling, living Hall of Fame members, and the board members of the AMHF and the AMA.

In the coming weeks, six new members representing the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2012 will be elected from the nominees announced on April 2 -- three from the non-competition categories and three from the competition categories. The Hall of Fame class of 2012 will be announced this summer, and the new members will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame at a gala ceremony on Nov. 16, at the Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa in Las Vegas, Nev., during the AMA Legends Weekend. Ticket information will be announced soon at MotorcycleMuseum.org.

"One week from today, we'll reveal who is in the running for induction into the Hall of Fame," said Heininger. "It's going to be a who's who of motorcycling's greats, and we can't wait to share the excitement with motorcyclists everywhere."

For more information about the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the induction process, please visit MotorcycleMuseum.org > Induction.

About the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation

Founded in 1990 by the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, the goal of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is to tell the stories and preserve the history of motorcycling. Located on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio, the Museum's three major exhibition halls feature the machines and memorabilia of those who have contributed notably to the sport. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to motorcycling, including those known for their contributions to road riding, off-road riding and all categories of racing, as well as those who have excelled in business, history, design and engineering.

More information can be found at MotorcycleMuseum.org. 

Contact: James Holter
Phone: (614) 856-1900, ext. 1280
E-mail: jholter@ama-cycle.org

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