AMA Pro Flat Track Partners with Dunlop & Mr. Sign to Sponsor Fastest Rider Award in Expert & Pro Series Grand National Mile Events for 2014

AMA Pro Flat Track along with Dunlop & Mr. Sign upped the ante for the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season late yesterday with the announcement that a new fastest rider award will be presented in the Expert and Pro Series events at each of the six mile races this season.

Beginning with tomorrow's first Twins Series event of the year at the Springfield Mile I, the rider with the fastest lap at each of the Grand National mile races this season will be gifted with a new set of Dunlop CD-series tires for their efforts. With current tire prices what they are for the teams and riders, that amounts to the equivalent of roughly $410/set, which may not seem like a lot of extra dough, but in terms of extra costs incurred during a normal season of racing, every little bit helps and this is a great step in helping out the teams and riders with event costs to participate.

In the shot above, the talented Shayna Texter gives the fans her million dollar smile after taking the first of her two wins in the Basic Twins Series race at the Springfield Mile I on August 31 in round 10 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season.

Aboard the #25A Racing Unlimited/Crosley Radio Kawasaki, the little gal from Pennsylvania with a boat load of talent ran away with the first win in the newly-created series in front of a packed house at the Illinois State Fairgrounds over the Labor Day weekend last season. Shayna will be making her Expert Twins Series debut tomorrow aboard the factory-backed Latus Motorsports Triumph Bonneville, and will be looking to put it on the boys in what will be a great day of racing at the iconic church of speed at the Illinois State capital track.

Check out the full press release below from AMA Pro Flat Track as we get ready to watch the action tomorrow as the teams, sponsors, riders and fans flock to Springfield for the big season opener for The Rolling Thunder Show's big bikes.

The Dunlop "Accelerate Your Soul Award" Presented by Mr. Sign to be Awarded to Select AMA Pro Flat Track Riders Throughout 2014 Season

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 23, 2014) - AMA Pro Racing is proud to announce its agreement to partner with Dunlop and Mr. Sign as the co-sponsors of AMA Pro Flat Track's "Accelerate Your Soul Award" for the 2014 season. The award, a free set of Dunlop tires, will go to the Expert or Pro rider with the fastest lap of the day at each AMA Pro Flat Track mile race.       Jake Johnson #5, Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. #2 and Stevie Bonsey #80 celebrate on the podium after their 2-1-3 finishes at the Daytona Short Track II event on March 14. AMA Pro Flat Track announced late yesterday that they will be partnering with Dunlop and Mr. Sign to sponsor a new award for the 2014 season that will honor the fastest rider of the event in both the Expert and Pro ranks and reward them with a new set of tires at each of the six mile events. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.         "We're very grateful that Dunlop and Mr. Sign teamed up to develop this award for our AMA Pro Flat Track riders," said Michael Gentry, Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing. "Dunlop is a well-known brand that makes an exceptional tire and I'm sure our winning riders will be very thankful for their generosity."   "Accelerate your soul" has been Dunlop's tagline for a few years now because it really captures so well why we ride," said Les Washbon, Motorsports Technician of Dunlop Tires. "Dunlop is glad to extend our involvement with AMA Pro Flat Track with this extra award at the miles to recognize a rider who has worked hard enough to have the fastest lap that day."   There are six scheduled mile-long races on the 2014 calendar. A list that includes the upcoming legendary Springfield Mile on May 25, the newly reinstated Sacramento Mile scheduled to be held on July 26, the Indy Mile on August 8, the Virginia Mega Mile on Aug. 23, the second running of the Springfield Mile on Aug. 31, and the Santa Rosa Mile on Sept. 28.   As part of the agreement, Mr. Sign produced and donated air fence signage for display on track at AMA Pro Flat Track events. A lifetime AMA member, David Lenkowsky, Owner of Mr. Sign, is a long-time supporter of the sport of motorcycle racing and is happy to have this opportunity to once again give back to the Flat Track community. Through the years, Mr. Sign has helped many Flat Track riders both financially and with product support.    How to Watch  FansChoice.tv will be the official home for live streaming coverage of AMA Pro Flat Track and AMA Pro Road Racing events in 2014. The site will also provide coverage of IMSA's development and single-make series, and NASCAR's touring and weekly series. Produced coverage of every session from this weekend's Springfield Mile will be live streamed on FansChoice.tv. Practice and qualifying will begin Sunday morning at 11:15 a.m. EST (8:15 a.m. PST) with opening ceremonies scheduled for 2:00 p.m. EST (11:00 a.m. PST). Tune in for the 12-lap Pro Twins main event at 4:30 p.m. EST (1:30 p.m. PST) and stick around for the grand finale, the 25-lap GNC Twins main event at 5:00 p.m. EST (2:00 p.m. PST). Visit http://www.fanschoice.tv to catch all the action. About AMA Pro Flat Track AMA Pro Flat Track is a national motorcycle racing series in North America and is considered one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the Series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track racing in the world. The 2014 schedule consists of 16 rounds on the country's finest flat track courses. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft.   About Dunlop   Dunlop is the largest supplier of original equipment and replacement motorcycle tires in the U.S. and the only manufacturer of motorcycle tires in North America. With North American operations located in Buffalo, NY, Dunlop has been making and selling high-quality tires in the U.S. since 1923. For more information, visit www.dunlopmotorcycle.com.

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