GoldenTyre Announced as Sponsor & Spec Tire for 2013 Steve Nace Racing AMA All-Star National Flat Track Series

Indianapolis' Mid-America Speedway hosted their 'Night Before the Indy Mile' event on August 17, 2012 and one of the racers that took advantage of Mid-America's great short track venue was 7-Time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr.  The Prince of Peoria and the #2 man on the winningest-rider list in AMA Grand National Championship racing history was on-hand to further develop the GoldenTyre flat track rubber that he had been tasked with testing in the States for the European entity.

Carr made the rounds this last season while testing for the Italian company, hitting up several racing venues across the map in order to help test and evaluate what could possibly become at the time a new option for flat track racing rubber. 

Today that option became a reality as Chris and GoldenTyreUSA have announced their partership with Steve Nace Racing, one of the best of the best of the AMA Pro Flat Track Blue Crew folks and who also runs the AMA All-Star National Flat Track Series.  GoldenTyreUSA will now be the official spec tire and added sponsor for what is considered the second-tier series on the U.S. flat track scene behind the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship.

In a move that will see rumoured prices $35-50 less per set for 'DT-II'-equivalent race rubber (Goodyear DT-II rubber currently runs around $190/tire), GoldenTyreUSA and Carr will collaborate to supply tires to the Steve Nace Racing series and also help to establish continency funds for amateur racers, while helping to increase the points fund for the pros in the process.

Carr is shown in the above shot tightening things up after mounting up a new 'DT-II'-spec flat track rear tire at the Mid-America event on his #4 DFW Honda/GoldenTyre-sponsored Honda CRF450R.

You can read the full press release below and we'll be looking forward to seeing GoldenTyre at the All-Star races next season.  Once the schedule is released for the 2013 Steve Nace Racing AMA All-Star National Flat Track Series by GoldenTyre you can find that at Steve's official site as listed below.


Press release courtesy of Chris Carr Racing/CC4, LLC & GoldenTyre USA

AMA All-Star National Flat Track Series by GoldenTyre

November 29, 2012 

The 2013 AMA All Star National Flat Track Series gains support from European tire manufacturer GoldenTyre through US importer, CC4 LLC.  This agreement will insure competitors with great tires at more reasonable prices, with contingency money opportunities for amateur competitors, and an increase in the points fund for professional racers at all 2013 AMA All Star National Flat Track Series rounds.  GoldenTyre will also assist the Series with unique and engaging marketing strategies while introducing their brand to the American market.

GoldenTyre is officially the Spec Tire for the 2013 AMA All Star National Flat Track Series in the amateur and professional classes utilizing 19" wheels.  The new CC5 and CC4 tires were inspired through rigorous testing by Chris Carr, 7-Time AMA Grand National Champion.  Competitors wishing to pre-order their tires can contact Chris Carr, owner of CC4,LLC, at (610) 888-3518 or via e-mail at:  ccarr41197@aol.com.

Chris Carr, CC4 LLC:  "I can think of no better place than the AMA All Star National Flat Track Series to introduce the GoldenTyre Brand of flat track tires to the amateur and pro flat track market.  Steve Nace and his crew have done more to promote amateur flat track racing than any single organization in recent memory.  I look forward to providing additions to the pro points fund as well as contingency programs for the amateurs in what has become a great series of races".

Marco Cavallini, Goldentyre President:  " We are extremely excited to start this collaboration with Steve Nace and Chris Carr.  We believe that Flat Track is the root of American Motorcycle Racing and we are happy to be able to work with the All Star Flat Track Series and Chris Carr to bring innovation and a fresh push to this discipline."

Steve Nace, All Star Series President:  "We believe this collaboration will be positive for the sport of flat track.   We are excited to bring a new, affordable product to the racers.  GoldenTyre & CC4 LLC have put forth great effort in the design & development of their competition tires.   We are thankful for the opportunity to introduce both the professional and amateur competitors of American flat track racing to this new competitive tire through the AMA All Star National Flat Track Series by GoldenTyre.   Not only will this initially double the professional points fund, it will also give the amateur racers a chance to earn tires through a contingency program."

 

For more info on GoldenTyre and the All-Star Flat Track Series check out www.goldentyreusa.com and www.stevenaceracing.com

GoldenTyre USA Office

 

toll free: 855.USA.TYRE (855.872.8973)

info@goldentyreusa.com
www.goldentyreusa.com

7-Time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr Talks to Dean Adams at SuperbikePlanet.com

Chris Carr gets ready to roll out for the first 450cc Pro practice session of the day at Mid-America Speedway in Indianapolis on August 17, 2012 during the track's hosting of their 'Night Before the Indy Mile' short track spectacular.  With the first flat track session of the day taking place in the background, Carr takes a last look at his #4 DFW Honda/GoldenTyre-sponsored CRF450R before heading out to test some of the new flat track tires he has been working on for the European-based company.

The just-retired former 7-Time AMA Grand National Champion 'officially' hung up his steel shoe at the end of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season, but was seen at several venues throughout the 2012 season either testing tires or fulfilling his announcing obligations for the MavTV television crew that was tasked with filming the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track season's events.

In his quest to help bring another tire provider to the ranks of flat track, Carr worked with the GoldenTyre folks during the 2012 year to help further develop their line of 'DT-II'-style flat track tires to possibly be made available to the masses in the States and make another, or even less expensive option available to the racers.  The week before appearing at the Mid-America event in Indy, the Pennsylvania resident was on-hand at the Kansas fair race circuit not only testing tires but racing in one of the vintage classes.

Carr got a chance to sit down and talk with long-time journalist and SuperbikePlanet.com website operator Dean Adams in the last few weeks, and among the many conversational pieces that were brought out in the 40 minute interview were his testing duties for GoldenTyre, hanging with 9-Time World Champion Valentino Rossi at the 2012 Lucas Oil Indy Mile (held the night after the above shot was taken), and what it was like to set the land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2009.

Round 16 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season saw the last time that Chris Carr would compete at the Springfield Mile.  Carr would go on to finish in the 2nd-place spot on his #4 American Motorcyclist Assoc/Classic H-D/DFW Honda/Arai-backed XR750, just .012 seconds behind winner Willie McCoy.  Not bad for a soon-to-be retiree.

Carr is shown in the shot above heading out for the first practice session of the day at the Springfield Mile II on September 4, 2011.  He would go on to end the season ranked as the 5th-place rider in the overall standings of the 2011 AMA Grand National Championship.

Part of the conversation that Carr had with SuperbikePlanet.com hinged on his long-time involvement with the Harley-Davidson XR750, and it is very candid.  At one point, the former champ even goes as far to say that they were a 'pain in the a..' and one of the 'most expensive race motors' to campaign in any form of racing, usually lasting only 100 miles before needing to be torn down and rebuilt properly, especially 'if you are contending for a championship.'

He may have been on-hand for Mid-America's 'Night Before the Indy Mile' to do tire testing, but make no mistake about it, Chris Carr is still and always will be a competitor to the end.  Here he leads Henry Wiles on the #17 Don's Kawasaki KX450F and Rob Pearson on the #27 Matt Reecy Racing Yamaha YZ450F after getting the holeshot and heading into turn two on the first lap of the 450cc Pro heat race.  Notice the Golden Tyre decal on Carr's #4 DFW Honda swingarm.


A big thanks to Dean Adams from SuperbikePlanet.com for this great interview with 7-Time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr.

Now sit back for about 40 minutes and enjoy what the The Prince of Peoria has to say about the long-in-the-tooth XR750, GoldenTyre, Valentino Rossi and going (real) fast:

http://superbikeplanet.com/2012/Nov/121125-154.htm

2013 AMA Ice Race Grand Championships Scheduled for February 9-10 in Cadillac, Michigan

AMA Ice Race Grand Championships kick off 2013 national championship racing

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- November 28, 2012 -- The American Motorcyclist Association will crown the first amateur champions of 2013 at the Feb. 9-10 AMA Ice Race Grand Championships. This event, promoted by North American Action Sports LLC, will take place at the Mitchell State Park in Cadillac, Mich.

"The winter season is no reason for racers to shut down," said AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant. "In fact, this is when some of the most hard-core racers on the planet converge on the Ice Race Grand Championships. Once again, we're excited to work with NAAS to provide a top-level program for our competitors."

The AMA Racing Ice Race Grand Championships feature classes for riders from 4 years old to 50-plus competing on bikes ranging from lightly modified off-road machines to full-on, purpose-built ice racers. Riders will battle for AMA national No. 1 plates in a number of classes. The top riders at the event also will compete for the AMA Ice Racer of the Year award, given to the most impressive rider on the ice, while the youth riders will chase the honor of AMA Youth Rider of the Year.

"We are so excited to be hosting the 2013 AMA Ice Race Grand Championships," said Rosanna Grzebinski of NAAS, which is known for mixing family fun with the racing atmosphere. "Awarding the first AMA Grand Championships of each season is always such an honor, and this year will be no exception. Come on out! The ice will be perfect!"

To learn more about the event go to www.bajamx.com or call the NAAS office at (989) 871-3356.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists' interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA honors the heroes and the heritage of motorcycling for future generations.

 

For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

 

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

2013 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Scheduled for July 19-21 at Mid-Ohio

Dates announced for 2013 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days: July 19-21

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- November, 27, 2012 -- The American Motorcyclist Association is pleased to announce the 2013 dates for the country's premier annual celebration of vintage motorcycling. AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will take place on July 19-21 at the world-class Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

"AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is a yearly must-do for motorcyclists from the Midwest and beyond, so we wanted to get the 2013 date out with plenty of time for riders to make plans," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is unique in the world of motorcycling in that all makes and models of vintage bikes -- and all riders -- are celebrated in a three-day event that brings out the best of motorcycling. I hope to see you there."

Added Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course President Craig Rust: "This event has such a rich history, and over the years it has become a fan favorite. No other event on our schedule transforms the facility or uses the grounds like AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. It truly is a unique event!"

A fundraiser for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days features classic motorcycles of all makes and styles, and honors the riders who made them famous. Activities include the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships, which feature roadracing, motocross, hare scrambles, trials and dirt-track; North America's largest motorcycle swap meet; bike shows and awards; stunt shows; demo rides of current production bikes; and seminars on a number of topics by noted motorcycling experts.

Tickets go on sale to the general public Dec. 3, and will be available from www.midohio.com. Advance ticket prices are $45 for a weekend pass, and $25 for a single-day pass. The event is family-friendly, and children 12 and under get in free with paying, supervising adults.

 

AMA members who buy tickets directly from the AMA before May 28 receive an exclusive price discount. AMA members can call (800) AMA-JOIN to purchase a weekend pass for $35, a $10 savings off the regular advance rate, and a one-day pass for $20, a $5 savings off the regular advance rate. Additionally, there is no service charge for AMA members when purchasing through the AMA.

All proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days benefit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. The goal of the Hall of Fame, located on the AMA campus in Pickerington, Ohio, is to tell the stories and preserve the history of motorcycling's legends and heroes. For more information, call (614) 856-2222, or visit the Hall of Fame's website at www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists' interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA honors the heroes and the heritage of motorcycling for future generations.

 

For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

 

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

2010 AMA Pro Flat Track Rookie of the Year PJ Jacobsen Heading to British Superbike Championship Series for 2013

Round 3 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season saw the series return to action after the long Daytona season-opener break at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Multipurpose Arena for the final running of the Springfield TT on May 26.

One of the riders on-hand that evening who would try to race his way into the National main from among the 55 riders entered was 2010 AMA Pro Flat Track Rookie of the Year, PJ Jacobsen.  Contesting his #99 Moroney's 800 FastHog.com/Weiss Racing/Revit/Shoei-sponsored Honda CRF450R, the part time flat tracker managed to qualify in the 2nd-place position behind fast qualifier and 2010 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Champion Jeffrey Carver, Jr., and just in front of 3rd-fastest and eventual event winner, Henry Wiles.  Jacobsen and a few other riders get ready to head out for the final round of qualifying in the shot above. 

Unfortunately for Jacobsen his evening didn't go as planned, as he was involved in a nasty crash during his heat race 2 that saw him knocked out of commission for the rest of the weekend after hitting the ground hard and suffering what was reported as a concussion due to being hit by several other contenders.

Thankfully, his year went much better after the Memorial Day running of the TT, as PJ headed across the pond to contest the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship Series, run in conjunction with the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, for the Tyco Suzuki squad.  He finished the season ranked 11th in the series and also pulled off a win at the Donington Park round towards the end of the season.  Also keep in mind, Jacobsen didn't start running the series until July and only contested five total rounds on the year, while also pulling off two more podiums in those events that he did compete in.  Not bad numbers by anyone's calculator!

Tyco was so happy with his results that they have since signed the former flat track rookie of the year to their superbike squad for the 2013 season, which you can read more about below. 

Congrats to PJ and we'll be watching him from afar as he competes in the BSB Championshio next year, and don't be suprised to see this fine young man duking it out for wins and the title in his first full year in the series!


Thanks to Roadracing World.com for this link to the official press release about PJ Jacobsen signing to ride for the Tyco Suzuki squad in the 2013 British Superbike Championship Series, which also includes a couple of great photos of PJ competing in the British Superstock Championship during the 2012 season:

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=50358

AMA Flat Track: Brandon Robinson #44 to Ride for USC Racing Kawasaki Team in 2013

Brandon Robinson relaxes in the pit area at round 10 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile on August 18.  Riding for the Werner-Springsteen Monster Energy Kawasaki team for the 2012 Twins Series events, BRob44 had the best finish of his young career in his fourth season as an Expert-ranked rider by finishing 11th in the overall standings at the end of the season.

Robinson took the #44 Werner-Springsteen Racing/Sponseller/Penske/Motion Pro-sponsored Kawasaki 650R-based parallel twin to a superior finish of 2nd-place later in the evening at Indy for what was his best-ever finish in the Grand National Championship.  Leading laps and almost pulling off the upset win over veteran Sammy Halbert, Robinson backed up his 4th-place finish earlier in the season at the Sacramento Mile with another top-5 performance for the season in his first year with the team.

As was announced a few days ago thanks to the always entertaining, energetic and informative Tyler Porter from Fight For Dirt Track.com, Robinson will be taking his skills in the saddle to the USC Racing Kawasaki team for the upcoming 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track season. 

Brandon will join part-time team mate JD Beach (who will be returning to the Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Daytona SportBike Championship for his full-time job in the '13 season) on the 650R-based team.  Rob Pearson, 2012 Rookie of the Year Briar Bauman and Jethro Halbert are among a few other riders who have ridden for the team in the last two seasons.

Also seen in the shot above are two of the other machines in the Werner-Springsteen stable.  In the middle sits Stevie Bonsey's #80 Werner-Springsteen/Alpinestars/Wossner Pistons/Cometic Gasket-sponsored mount, with Robinson's back-up machine sitting in the background. 

The back-up mount is the same bike taken to the Indy and Springfield Mile wins during the 2010 season under the tutelage of team owners 13-Time AMA Grand National Championship-winning master wrench Bill Werner and 3-Time AMA Grand National Champion Jay Springsteen, with Bryan Smith at the controls.  Sammy Halbert ended up practicing the bike in the first session at Indy under an agreement he had worked out with team captain Werner, but according to the multi-time championship-winning tuner there wasn't enough time to get it dialed in to Sammy's liking in order for him to try to run the National on, and obviously that worked out to Halbert's advantage with him ultimately winning his first-ever mile event later that evening.

The podium celebrations get under way at round 10 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile on August 18.  Jared Mees #9 and Brandon Robinson #44 flank first-time mile event winner Sammy Halbert after he had beaten Robinson to the line in the National main by just .027 seconds on his #7 South East Harley/The South Ass/Mo Vaughn Transport/LZ Racing-sponsored XR750.

Robinson was celebrating his best-ever finish of his four year career as an Expert-ranked rider after taking the Werner-Springsteen Kawasaki to a 2nd-place finish, and how ironic that must have been for the Pennsylvana resident after being hurled out of the park during the Lucas Oil Indy Mile in 2009 and fighting back from injuries and surgeries to ulitmately have the best finish of his Grand National career at Indy and at the end of the season overall.

With BRob44's experience on the Kawi twin gaining ground as the year went on, his move to the USC Racing Kawasaki team for the 2013 season should bring in some added knowledge and set-up experience to one of the other great teams now campaigning the parallel twin on the AMA Pro Flat Track circuit.

We wish both USC and Brandon the best of luck for the 2013 season and are looking forward to seeing some strong results out of them in the coming year!


You can follow BRob44 here via his Twitter account:

http://twitter.com/BRob44

...and here via his official website:

http://brandonrobinson44.com/

And again a thanks goes out to Tyler Porter at Fight For Dirt Track.com for making the announcement in his Inslide Line column from late Thanksgiving Thursday.  You can check out TP's most recent columns on FFDT.com here to keep up on the 'inslide line' from one of AMA Pro Flat Track's more amusing and most informative sources:

http://www.fightfordt.com/new_site/inslide_line.php

AMA Flat Track: Jon Goodwin & Kevin Anderson Announce New National Numbers for 2013 Season

Jon Goodwin on the #26P JH2 Performance/Hart Racing/Goodwin Racing/Shoei-sponsored Honda CRF450R takes the high line around Luke Gough on the #62 Nicely Motorsport/Skip Eaken Racing/Johnson Cams/G2-backed Yamaha YZ450F during one of the qualifying rounds at the Peoria TT on August 12, 2012.

Round 9 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season saw Goodwin qualify for his first-ever National main at the Peoria Motorcycle Club-hosted event after finishing 3rd in his semi behind riders Justin Hittle and Dustin Crow.  The Illinois resident went on to finish 17th in the 25-lap final out of the 18 riders who made the main at Peoria and as a result earned his first two points in the combined standings in the 2012 AMA Grand National Championship.

As a result, Goodwin will be wearing National #38 for the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track season, a number probably made most famous by former AMA Grand National Championship competitor Chuck Palmgren in the early-mid '70s when he was riding for Dan Gurney's All American Racers.

Congrats to Jon Goodwin for this big move up for next season in earning your National number.  Bravo!

Round 12 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season saw the series roll back into the Illinois State Fairgrounds after a two-week delay due to being washed out over the traditional Labor Day Weekend event due to the remnants of Hurricane Isaac.

One of the riders on-hand after the series resumed it's assault on the Multipurpose Arena at the Springfield Short Track was Minnesota resident Kevin Anderson, shown during one of the practice sessions of the afternoon on his #11K Anderson Brothers Motorsports/Diesel MN/Goodwin Racing/Moose Racing-sponsored Honda CRF450R.  Anderson missed the cut at Springfield after qualifying a very respectable 21st out of the 48 riders on-hand who took a qualifying lap on the day, going on to post finishes of 12th in each of his heat and semi races. 

Anderson did, however make the cut in the season's penultimate round at the Tucson International Raceway event after finishing 16th in the 18-rider National main, which wass good enought for him to also earn his National number for the 2013 season.  Anderson will wear National #25 proudly in the upcoming season, a number also worn in the past by former 3-Time AMA Grand National Champion Jay Springsteen in his sophomore season in the series.  Springsteen only carried the #25 for that single year as he went on to win the championship during the '76-'78 seasons.

Another congrats goes out to Kevin Anderson, 2013's National #25.  Great job man! 


Kevin Anderson announced over Twitter last week that he would be carrying National #25 during the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season.  Check out this pic he posted of his new National #:

http://instagram.com/p/SNr-f8vvjj/

And also a big thanks goes out to Tyler Porter and his bitchin' Fight For Dirt Track.com for mentioning the aforementioned new signees to the National number department in his Inslide Line column this week.  You can catch up with some of the other goings-on about the sport by following TP and his weekly reports here:

http://www.fightfordt.com/new_site/index.php

Chet Burks Productions Working on TV Package for AMA Pro Road Racing for 2013 Season-See What Roadracing World Has to Say

Two of the most-heralded riders in the history of the AMA Superbike Championship Series go at it again during race two of the Wiseco Superbike 100 Doubleheader at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in July '04.  Miguel Duhamel can be seen looking over his shoulder as he rolls into the last right-hander before the quick left onto the front straight on the #17 American Honda/Shoei/Joe Rocket/Dunlop-sponsored CBR1000RR while leading Mat Mladin on the #1 Yoshimura American Suzuki/Motorex/Dunlop/VP Fuel-backed GSX-R1000.  Mladin would go on to pass his French Canadian rival to win the race and would clinch his fifth of seven AMA Superbike Championships at the end of the season.

According to John Ulrich and his people at Roadracing World.com, the man behind the majority of motorcycle road racing television coverage in the United States in the last 15+ years and his company are working on putting together another television package to showcase the great racing in the Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Series for the 2013 season.  With the recent news that SpeedTV as we know it may be going away, Chet Burks Productions appears to be working with some of the other sports networks on your favorite satellite or cable provider.  It has been speculated that Speed will most likely get swallowed up by it's Fox flagship and rolled over into another version of Fox Sports for several months now, something along the lines of what has happened with NBC Sports Network, formerly Versus.

Burks talked with Roadracing World founder and Team Hammer/M4 Suzuki team owner John Ulrich about how things are going in putting things together for next season.  Read more below and a big thanks to John Ulrich and Roadracing World.com on this update about a TV package for the 2013 Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing season:

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=50351

AMA Road Racing: Cycle News.com's Larry Lawrence Catches Up with Former Yoshimura Suzuki Racer Tommy Lynch

Tommy Lynch's #30 Yoshimura Suzuki/Motul/AGV/Michelin-sponsored GSX-R750 sits in the team's paddock area at Road America during the Coca-Cola Super Cycle Classic Weekend in June 1991.  Lynch was an up-and-coming rider in the AMA Pro Road Racing ranks having been with the Yoshimura squad since the '89 AMA 750 Supersport season, and was ultimately offered a position on their AMA Superbike team for the '91 season.

In his first season in the premier road racing class in the United States, the California resident and the soon-to-be powerhouse factory Suzuki squad struggled, as the Vance & Hines Yamaha two-up of Jamie James and eventual '91 AMA Superbike Champion Thomas Stevens all but ruled the class during the '91 season.  In the final at Elkhart Lake from which the above shot was taken, Lynch struggled to an 8th-place finish behind race winner James and runner-up Stevens, with a stacked field close behind with riders including Rich Arnaiz, Rueben McMurter and Tom Kipp finishing ahead of the #30 machine that weekend.

It's hard to even imagine using the term 'struggled' along with the name Yoshimura Suzuki in the same sentence, but it would be some seven seasons later when the team would start to become the powerhouse that they are now known for.  With the hiring of eventual 7-Time AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin in '97 and eventual 3-Time Champ Ben Spies in the early '00s, the team quickly transformed into the ultimate fighting machine they were from the '98 season until Mladin's last championship winning season in '09. 

And Lynch was no slouch, going on to win the '92 and '93 AMA Endurance Championship.  See more on that achievement below.

The Holland Oil Camel Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in August '93 hosted the AMA Pro Road Racing series again for another fine weekend just outside the small town of Lexington, Ohio.  Long before the days of running only four classes in the series, the typical enthusiast would show up at the track with a full slate of racing in not only the premier Superbike class, but also the 600 & 750 Supersport classes, the 250GP class, the H-D Twin Sports class, and the AMA EBC Endurance Championship Series class.

Two Brothers Racing was one of the big teams in the endurance series in those days, fielding an almost superbike-spec Honda CBR900RR in the class.  With riders Tommy Lynch (above rolling out for the show on the #21 Two Brothers Racing/American Honda Motor Co/Bridgestone/AGV-sponsored mount), team co-owner Kevin Erion (soon to be of TBR and Erion Racing fame) and noted motojournalist and go-fast guy Nick Ienatsch, the Two Brothers Honda team won the '93 AMA EBC Endurance Championship, the year after Lynch had captured his first crown while riding for the Fastline Racing team.

You can catch up with what Tommy Lynch is doing now below, thanks to Cycle News.com's Larry Lawrence, and hear what he has to say about the '93 Championship-winning Two Brothers Racing Honda CBR900RR as shown above.


Again a big thanks goes out to my buddy and Cycle News.com's Larry Lawrence as he profiles former AMA Superbike contender and '92-'93 AMA EBC Endurance Champion Tommy Lynch, one of a long line of fine talent that once graced the saddle of a Yoshimura Suzuki AMA Superbike and who also won the '93 AMA Endurance Championship while riding for the Two Brothers Racing Honda team. 

Check out LL's article here in his always bitchin' 'Archives' column in this week's issue of Cycle News:

http://cyclenews.coverleaf.com/cyclenews/20121120#pg104

AMA Flat Track: Stu's Shots & Todays Cycle Coverage.com 2012 Season Wrap-Up

The top-7 men in the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season get ready to roll out for the first practice session of the day at round 13 at the Springfield Mile II on September 16.  With four rounds to go in the season, the battle for the 2012 AMA Grand National Championship was coming to a head with the Pomona season-finale lying just 27 days away.

Finishing what could have been a totally miserable season after breaking his leg at round 5 at Lima just shy of three months earlier, Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. rounded out his season with another win (after having taken the Knoxville Half-Mile win in just his second race back from injury).  Coolbeth took the #2 Screamin' Eagle/Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Fox/Arai Helmets-sponsored factory XR750 to a decisive win at Pomona to end the season ranked in the 7th-place position after missing out on five of the season's 16 rounds due to his recovery.

After having another stellar year in winning three rounds in the Singles Series for the 2012 season (Springfield TT and Short Track and his record-tying 8th win at the Peoria TT), Henry Wiles and the #17 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Foremost Insurance Group/Ramspur Winery/ENI USA-backed Ducati team had what could easily be referenced as an up-and-down season in the series' ten Twins Series events. 

Losing three motors on the year, the team fought hard to still bring home two top-5 results with finishes of 2nd and 4th at Lima and Indy, respectively, and also added three other top-10 finishes to round out the year on a much higher note to rank as the 6th-place rider for the 2012 season.

2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Saddlemen Rookie of the Year Brad 'The Bullet' Baker was probably the most-traveled of riders throughout the 2012 season in terms of how many different motorcycles he threw his leg over in competition.  Starting off the season riding for Kenny Tolbert Racing on a fleet of Kawasaki KX450Fs and 650R-based mounts, it all fell apart for KT and the Washington state resident at the fourth round of the season at the Springfield Mile I round.

Failing to make the main, just days later Tolbert pulled the plug on the team due to lack of funding (other then what was coming out of the Texan's pockets) and mothballed the team, leaving Baker without any current options.  By round 5 at Lima he showed up on a bike that reportedly hadn't been in competition in several years, qualified strong only to end the evening in the 17th-place spot with only two points scored in two events.

See-sawing between some strong rides on a Tony Dodge-prepped XR, putting in two events on the Harley factory mount in place of injured team rider Coolbeth, and then competing on his own Baker Brothers' Honda for the remaining Singles Series events on the calendar,  the sophomore Expert ended the year with a super 2nd-place finish at Pomona and as the 5th-ranked rider in the nation.  I don't believe since Gary Scott's defense of his '75 championship has a rider rode or competed on such a wide breadth of equipment in one season and Baker's ability to jump on different machinery throughout the year more then shows it is just a short matter of time before we see him on top of the box.

Bryan Smith was one of only four men in the 2012 season that made all 16 events on the year (the other three will be mentioned shortly.)  With the advantage of two wins on the year on the #42 Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports powered by Eaken Racing/MPH/Guts Wear-sponsored Kawasaki 650R-based rocket (Sacto Mile and Springfield Mile II) and a big handful of top-3s, Flyin' Bryan not only finished the season as the 4th-ranked rider in the country, but also took home the ceremonial Twins Series Championship for the year. 

All of the talk this last season was focused on and around the new parallel twin mount that first showed it's strength and prowess under the mile specialist's grip at the Springfield Mile I round by winning his heat and the Dash for Cash (and eventually a hard-fought 3rd-place in the first Twins Series event of the season.)  By mid-year the talk had turned to advantages and riding styles and differences between the power output, weight and racing lines used by the new breed of mile machines.

At Pomona last month, it also showed that a Kawi could also end up on the box at a half-mile event in what was a great 3rd-place finish to cap off the season's ramblings.  It was also what I believe to be the second-best finish on a half-mile track since the Kawi's first started hitting the track in the 2010 season (Johnny Lewis took the #10 Scott Powersports Kawi to a 2nd-place finish at Hagerstown in 2011.)

With his string of 10 of 11 podium finishes between the Springfield TT and the Springfield Mile II rounds, 2-Time and defending AMA Grand National Champion Jake Johnson looked more than able to keep in the fight for his third series title in the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season.

But in the end, the champ and the #1 Zanotti Racing/Schaeffer's H-D/Boughner Racing/Arai-backed XR750 team not only had dropped to the 3rd-ranked spot on the year but Johnson failed to win a National main for the first time in his over ten years competing in the series.    Never fret, the quiet man with the championship focus will be back as strong as ever carrying the #5 again, proudly ready to go after it again.  And you can bet he'll be ready to make up for lost time.

Sammy Halbert again led the series in overall wins for the 2012 season (Lima Half-Mile, Castle Rock TT, Indy and Santa Rose Miles) and with his first-ever mile event win at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile on August 18 grabbed the dirt track 'grand slam' along the way.  Looking to steal the championship from Jared Mees by getting a 2nd-place in the Dash at Pomona after both Mees and Johnson missed the extra points-paying event, Slammin' Sammy's #7 South East Harley/The South Ass/Mo Vaughn Transport/LZ Racing-sponsored XR had his clutch go south in the National main and ended up with an unlucky 13th-place finish to end the year ranked as the 2nd-overall rider in the nation. 

Jared Mees had previously wrapped up the ceremonial 2012 Single Series Championship at the Springfield Short Track on September 15, but even then stated he still had 'unfinished business' in terms of clinching the overall championship at Pomona.  After getting banged and moved around at Pomona, Mees settled into an eventual 8th-place finish that would cap his run to the 2012 AMA Grand National Championship on the #9 Rogers Racing/Blue Springs H-D/National Cycle/Lucas Oil-sponsored XR750. 

With the team announcing several weeks ago that tuner Brent Armbruster would be leaving the team (and moving to the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports corral for the 2013 season), Mees' and Rogers' new tuner, Kenny Tolbert, will be back in action spinning the wrenches for the new AMA Grand National Championship-winning effort.

Could KT also be bringing along his fleet of Mean Green Kawi 650Rs that have been in the closet since mid-June?  Mees had talked of having to put a Kawi together in order to keep with the Kawi rockets in mid-September.  Or will KT's signing make the difference for them to be able to stay with their tried and true XR fleet?  Don't forget, the chances are still pretty good that the rules will get some tweaking in terms of restrictor sizes mandated and in weight minimums being set for all of the competitors for the 2013 season.  But will that be enough to keep the pundits quiet? 

Only time will tell, and it's going to be a long off-season...............

Stephen Vanderkuur hops off of his #10J Parkinson Brothers Racing/Performance Cycle & Dyno/MDR/SSR-sponsored Honda CRF450R after winning his heat race at round 5 of the 2012 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles season at the Lima Half-Mile on June 30.  AMA Pro Flat Track announcer Barry Boone talks to the crowd while Vanderkuur gets some help with his mount and gear prior to the podium celebrations.

Vanderkuur ended the season with three wins on the year and capped off his 2012 Pro Singles Championship in style by winning the season-finale round at Pomona to go with his previous wins at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile and Santa Rosa Mile events.  The young rider, another of a long line of superior flat track talent to come out of the state of Michigan, didn't even qualify for the first two rounds at Daytona, yet still finished the season on top over two riders who qualified for all 16 rounds on the season (runner-up in the 2012 championship Jake Shoemaker and 3rd-place man Jason Isennock) and completed his great run for the championship with seven top-3 performances, ending the year with a tally of 214 points to Shoemaker's 192 and Isennock's 175 points.

A big congrats to our new 2012 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Champion, Stephen Vanderkuur, who had a strong season to capture the fourth Pro Singles Championship since the series' inception in 2009.  Vanderkuur joins former series champions Brad Baker, Jeffrey Carver, Jr. and Mikey Martin in a very unique group of young men who have since moved up to the AMA Grand National Expert class to compete against the best racers in the world in The Rolling Thunder Show.  A job well done, and I'm sure we'll see our new champion competing against the big boys before too long!


Dan Jacobson, Sr. is one of the many fans, photographers and journalists that follow the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship to every event possible each season.  Based out of the Great White North in Fargo, North Dakota, 'Dakota Dan' as he is known, probably puts on thousands of miles each year traveling to the events he covers from his remote location, and chronicles those events at Todays Cycle Coverage.com.  Check out Dan's latest from the season-finale at Pomona below, along with some super photography from Tom Hnitaw.

A big thanks to Dan Jacobson, Sr. & Todays Cycle Coverage.com for this great write-up on the season-finale at round 16 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Pomona Half-Mile:

http://www.todayscyclecoverage.com/wordpress/2012/11/09/the-king-of-cool-and-fast/

Presenting the 2012 AMA Hall of Fame Induction Class Honored Last Night at Las Vegas Ceremony

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by KTM, inducts seven motorcycling greats
 
LAS VEGAS, Nev. --  November 16, 2012 --  Seven historic figures took their places among motorcycling's greatest legends Friday, Nov. 16, at the 2012 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by KTM. The ceremony is part of the American Motorcyclist Association Legends Weekend, powered by Paul Thede's Race Tech, held at the Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa.

Hosted by actor motorcyclist Perry King, the event honored the Hall of Fame Class of 2012: the late Rod Bush, KTM North America president and industry visionary; world championship roadracing tuner Nobby Clark; off-road racing champion Ty Davis; 1975 AMA Supercross Champion Jimmy Ellis; pioneering female motocrosser Sue Fish; world-class bike restorer Brian Slark; and the late iconic race starter Al Wilcox.

In addition to the class of 2012, the induction ceremony recognized the outstanding careers of two existing Hall of Famers as Hall of Fame Legends: 1998 inductees Mert Lawwill and Malcolm Smith. Harley-Davidson Motor Co., honored Lawwill's recognition, while Tucker Rocky/Riders' Choice sponsored Smith. Troy Lee Designs honored filmmaker and Hall of Fame member Bruce Brown, the director of the 1970 film "On Any Sunday," which featured Lawwill and Smith.

Kawasaki Motors Corporation, U.S.A. was the sponsor for the dinner that preceded the gala ceremony. Jeffrey V. Heininger, chairman of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, which oversees the Hall of Fame, welcomed a sold-out crowd to the dinner and ceremony, voicing appreciation for their support.  "Tonight, we induct some of motorcycling's best and brightest into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame," Heininger said. "Those of us gathered here tonight strive to make the Hall of Fame the best it can be: An institution of excellence that mirrors the remarkable accomplishments of our inductees."

The 2012 inductees were honored with videos chronicling their careers, induction speeches and the presentation of their official Hall of Fame rings, sponsored by Zero Motorcycles. In addition to the honorees, several luminaries from the world of motorcycling participated in the ceremony.  "We're a community that embraces the past, honors the men and women who have brought us to the present, and races ahead to an exciting future -- largely unknown to us now -- and we do it all with a zest for life that is second to none," said King. "Tonight we recognize a group of men and women who have been an important part of that evolution, the Hall of Fame Class of 2012."
 

The 2012 AMA Hall of Fame Induction class is shown during ceremonies held last night in Las Vegas at the Red Rock Casino.  Photo courtesy of the AMA Hall of Fame.


The AMA Legends Weekend, powered by Paul Thede's Race Tech, continues on Saturday, Nov. 17, with the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Dave Mungenast Memorial Concours d'Elegance bike show, featuring some of the country's most amazing restored and original motorcycles.  Also at the event, the boards of directors of the AMHF and the AMA held a joint meeting to discuss the Hall of Fame balloting process.  The boards heard a report from a task force made up of Motorcycle Industry Council Chairman Larry Little, Ray Mungenast of the Dave Mungenast Classic Motorcycle Museum and Mungenast Automotive Group in St. Louis, and Ken Ford, a member of both the AMA and AMHF boards. The task force evaluated the current balloting process, and submitted a report with recommendations for the boards to consider going forward.


Rod Bush

The late Rod Bush helped establish and grow KTM North America and served as company president from 1987 until his death in 2005.   Born July 6, 1955, in Huntington, W.Va., Bush rode his first hare scrambles in 1970 and three years later opened a Penton dealership in Parkersburg, W.Va., with his father. In 1976, Bush started working for Penton Imports as a sales representative. In 1978, Bush left Penton Imports to help form KTM America, later KTM North America, with Jack Lehto.  Bush took the position of KTM North America president in 1987 when the company was selling about 2,500 motorcycles a year. When Bush died in 2005, KTM North America sold approximately 28,000 units annually and had 140 employees.  Bush was represented at the induction ceremony by his wife Cheri Bush and daughter Stacy Bush.  "It is with tremendous pride and joy for our family to see Rod be inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame," said Cheri Bush, after she accepted Rod Bush's Hall of Fame ring on his behalf. "The outpouring of love, support and friendship that is in this room is unbelievable. Rod would have been so honored and humbled to receive such recognition from his peers."

Derek "Nobby" Clark

Derek "Nobby" Clark's was a member of winning race teams that claimed 17 FIM world titles in multiple displacements from the 1960s through 1980.  For 25 years, Clark was one of the world's leading motorcycle race mechanics. In addition to the Grand Prix world titles, earned in classes ranging from 50cc to 500cc, he helped win three Daytona 200s, one Daytona 100, four Imola 200s and eight Italian championships working with some of the greatest motorcycle racers in history.  Clark, born Sept. 29, 1936, in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia). not only excelled at the highest level, tuning for some of history's greatest racers, but also worked with racing's most memorable personalities, including Hall of Famers Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini and Roberts.  "I would like to thank everybody who supported me for the Hall of Fame," Clark said. "It's a pleasure to be honored in this way. I've very humbled to be here tonight. I've been privileged to have motorcycles in my life."

Ty Davis

Ty Davis, born April 5, 1969, in Hesperia, Calif., is one of the most-versatile off-road motorcycle racers in the history of American competition. He has won amateur and professional titles in motocross, hare scrambles, AMA Supercross, AMA National Hare & Hound and AMA National Enduro. He has won the Baja 1000 four times and has been the top American rider at the International Six Days Enduro six times.  Davis, the AMA Athlete of the Year in 1995, won the AMA National Enduro Championship in 1995 and 1999 and the AMA Hare & Hound National Hare & Hound Championship in 1997, 1998 and 2002.  Although Davis, who currently runs Zip-Ty Racing Products, is mostly remembered as an off-road racer, one of his most high-profile titles was in 1990, when he won the AMA 125cc West Regional Supercross Championship over future Hall of Famer Jeremy McGrath.  "I feel that I am a pretty lucky guy," Davis said. "I have experienced a lot and seen a lot and have been with, and met, some of the biggest names in our industry. I would like to thank the AMA and the voting staff for honoring me as a Hall of Famer, and I want to thank my friends and family for being here tonight. "

Jimmy Ellis

The heyday of Can-Am's factory motocross campaign is forever connected to the outstanding career of Jimmy Ellis. Born Oct. 19, 1955, in Middletown, Conn., Ellis started racing in New England in the 1960s, and by the time he joined the Can-Am factory team, he had won seven New England championships.  In 1974, riding the works 250 Can-Am, he finished third for the 250cc national title, collecting two overall wins. In 1975, Ellis won the AMA Supercross 250cc championship by sweeping the four-round series, punctuated by a dominant victory in the high-profile finale at the L.A. Coliseum.  Ellis continued to give Can-Am top finishes through the 1977 season, after which Honda snapped him up for its U.S. factory team. Ellis was a contender on the national circuit for a few more years-finishing second to future Hall of Famer Bob Hannah for the 250cc national championship in 1978. He transitioned into retirement during the 1981-82 seasons.  "I want to thank the AMA and the Hall of Fame, Jeff Smith, Tom White, Mom and Dad, my family, my partner Vicky," Ellis said. "Being on this podium is like winning the Los Angeles Coliseum Supercross in 1975! Thank you!"

Sue Fish

Sue Fish was born Nov. 9, 1958. Her father, who competed in dirt track and hare scrambles, taught her how to ride when she was 11. By 14, she started racing, winning her first race that year.  At age 19, Fish advanced to the AMA Pro Racing national circuit. In addition to dominating the female ranks, having won the 1976 and 1977 Women's National Motocross Championships, Fish, who currently lives in Santa Barbara, Calif., was one of the first women motocross racers to hold a professional racing license from the AMA and compete regularly against men.  Known by the nickname, "The Flying Fish," she raced in the AMA 125cc National Motocross Championship. Fish put her talents to work on the big screen as well, working as a Hollywood stuntwoman. Her credits include "Terminator" and "Footloose." She also traveled as part of Evel Knievel's stunt show in Australia.  "It is a surreal experience to be recognized for simply doing what I love," Fish said. "And to this day, feel most passionate about riding and racing motorcycles. I would like to thank my family and friends for giving me support I needed to able to have pursued my dreams. I am humbled to be among my heroes and the legends of our industry."

Brian Slark

Brian Slark, who was born in London, England, on Feb. 2, 1938, was a moving force in the creation of a vibrant motocross-racing community in the United States in the 1960s.  Slark helped organize motocross tracks, promoting the sport by teaching famous people-including then-teen heartthrob Bobby Darin-to ride motorcycles and importing and building Rickman Metisse and Cheney motocrossers.  Slark later helped the late-Dave Mungenast, who is a member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, create a motorcycle museum in St. Louis. Slark also helped create the world-class Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Leeds, Ala.  "First and foremost, I would like to thank my wife, Dian, who is always supportive and buys me motorcycles, how cool is that!" said Slark, as he accepted his honor. "I'd also like to thank Bud Ekins, for giving me the opportunity to come to this wonderful country; Nick Nicholson, who gave me motorbikes to ride and inspired me to ride the ISDT; Dave Mungenast Sr., a mentor and a friend; and last but not least, George Barber, who gave me the opportunity to be part of creating a world-class museum."

Al Wilcox

Born in Trenton, N.J., in 1919, the late Al Wilcox began riding motorcycles in 1936 and began racing in 1947, but he is known to most of the racing community as the iconic race starter "Airborne Al."  Wilcox's race career spanned 19 years-from 1947 to 1966. Not only did he do well as a speedway racer for four years, but Wilcox also finished well in TT, dirt-track and even hare scrambles races over the course of his long career.  Wilcox, who passed away in 2011, began flagging races in 1959 and increased his flagging duties after ending his racing career. He flagged the famed Daytona 200 motorcycle race for many years with AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame flagger Duke Pennell. He became known as "Airborne Al" because of his unique flagging style that involved jumping up in the air at the end of a race.  Wilcox was represented at the induction ceremony by friend Roger Lyle.  "During his racing career, Al went to the starting line over 3,000 times," Lyle said, as he accepted the honor on Wilcox's behalf. "He was the 'starter to the stars' for 52 years. Al Wilcox touched the lives of everyone who had the pleasure to meet and speak with him about his passion for motorcycles and the racers who put it on the line. "

Hall of Fame Legend Mert Lawwill

This year, the induction ceremony honored famed national dirt-tracker Mert Lawwill as an AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend.  Lawwill, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998, was one of the top professionals on the AMA national circuit during the 1960s and 1970s. He was the 1969 AMA Grand National champion and "On Any Sunday" chronicled his bid to defend his title during the 1970 racing season. By the time Lawwill hung up his racing leathers in 1977, he had amassed an incredible 161 career AMA Grand National finishes during his 15-year racing career.  Lawwill went on to become one of the top motorcycle racing frame designers and builders. He then used his expertise to create custom racing mountain bikes that won numerous national and world titles, as well as prosthetic devices to enable amputees to ride motorcycles and bicycles.  Lawwill thanked a number of people who contributed to his career, particularly Malcolm Smith, Bruce Brown and Steve McQueen, telling a story about a time he crushed his hand seemingly beyond repair and McQueen helped him find a doctor and paid his medical bills to have it fixed.  "I also want to thank everyone who came out tonight," Lawwill said. "I really appreciate being recognized as a Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend."

Hall of Fame Legend Malcolm Smith

Off-road racing icon Malcolm Smith was also honored as an AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend this year.   Smith, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998, was a pioneer in off-road motorcycling. He earned early fame for his accomplishments in the Baja 1000 and for his gold-medal winning rides in International Six Day Enduro competitions.  His reputation extended beyond the motorcycling community when he appeared in "On Any Sunday." The scenes of Smith and Lawwill play riding with popular actor Steve McQueen showed non-motorcyclists across the country just how fun motorcycling could be. The movie helped launch an explosion in the popularity of off-road motorcycling in America.  Smith went on to become a successful businessman with his Malcolm Smith Motorsports motorcycle dealership in Riverside, Calif. Today, Smith is also revered as one of the leading charitable supporters in the motorcyclist industry.  In accepting his honor, Smith thanked a number of people who had an impact on his career, including Bruce Brown, who produced "On Any Sunday."  "I had no idea that Bruce was making the most timeless motorcycle movie ever and I would have such a big role in it," Smith said. "Thank you again, Bruce!  Many, many more people have helped me in my life. I can't thank them all or we would be here all night," Smith said. "I'll leave you with one thought. What would your life had been like if you hadn't discovered motorcycles."
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 www.motorcyclemuseum.org. 

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

Race Tech to Sponsor 2012 AMA Hall of Fame Legends Weekend

Paul Thede's Race Tech powers AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legends Weekend

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- November 15, 2012 -- Paul Thede's Race Tech, innovative leaders in motorcycle suspension since 1984, will be the weekend sponsor for the 2012 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legends Weekend, Powered by Paul Thede's Race Tech. The two-day event takes place Friday and Saturday, Nov. 16-17, at the Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa in Las Vegas, Nev.

"The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is very pleased to have Paul Thede and Race Tech come aboard to power the best weekend in motorcycling," said Jeffrey V. Heininger, chairman of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation. "Paul and his company have long been focused on making motorcycles better for everyday street riders as well as off-road and road racers. Their vision also honors the sport's history through their sponsorship of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legends Weekend."

The weekend is made up of two premier events honoring the fast and the famous of motorcycling on Friday night, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by KTM, will officially welcome the class of 2012: the late Rod Bush, KTM North America president and industry visionary; world championship roadracing tuner Nobby Clark; off-road racing champion Ty Davis; 1975 AMA Supercross Champion Jimmy Ellis; pioneering female motocrosser Sue Fish; world-class bike restorer Brian Slark; and the late iconic race starter Al Wilcox. Two Hall of Fame Legends will also be honored: 1998 inductees Malcolm Smith and Mert Lawwill.

The 2012 AMA Legends Weekend, Powered by Paul Thede's Race Tech, also includes one of the country's leading motorcycle shows. On Saturday, Nov. 17, the Red Rock will host the 2012 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Dave Mungenast Memorial Concours d'Elegance, featuring many of the country's most impressive original and restored classic motorcycles.

Topping off the weekend at the nearby Orleans Arena is the finale of one of the most thrilling AMA-sanctioned national racing series, the 2012 GEICO AMA EnduroCross National Championship Series.

"Over the years I've watched the evolution of motorcycles and the motorcycle community," Thede said. "Through all the changes, one thing has remained the same. There isn't a group of more passionate and talented individuals on the planet. The community we all love today would not be possible without the amazing accomplishments of those who have built our sport. We at Race Tech are proud to honor these heroes in the AMA Hall of Fame and to power this special weekend that shines the light on motorcycling's wonderful heritage."

Tickets for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by KTM, and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Dave Mungenast Memorial Concours d'Elegance are available by calling (800) 342-5464.

The induction ceremony and bike show will be held at the Las Vegas Red Rock Resort, a world-class spa, hotel and casino, featuring a range of entertainment, dining and family-friendly attractions. Room reservations can be made by calling (866) 767-7773. Online room reservations are available at www.redrocklasvegas.com.

For tickets to the final round of the GEICO AMA EnduroCross Series at the Orleans Arena, see www.endurocross.com.

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 www.motorcyclemuseum.org. 

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