AMA Road Racing: Several Spins on How to Save the U.S. Series

Anthony Gobert wrestles the #95 Vance & Hines/Parts Unlimited/Dunlop/SBS-sponsored Ducati out of turn eight during a qualifying session for the AMA Superbike Championship Series at Road America in June 1998.  One of the best riders to ever throw a leg over a fire breathing AMA Superbike machine in the late '90s and early '00s, Gobert won several races while teaming with the powerhouse V&H team, including this weekend's event at Elkhart Lake, WI. on the four mile course, as part of the Coca-Cola Super Cycle Classic's annual run at the track located some 55 miles north of Milwaukee.

'The Go Show' was an immensely talented rider who under just about any conditions could go out and win a race event, whether it be an AMA Superbike race or a World Superbike (WSBK) event.  Unfortunately, his partying ways got in the way of his talent and he was soon forgotten by the teams that paid the big $$ back in the day, due to his 'unreliability' off the track.  While with the Vance & Hines team, he was teamed with former '91 AMA Superbike Champion Thomas Stevens, and in the '99 season with '98 AMA Superbike Champion, Ben Bostrom.

The days of the fire breathing dragons in AMA Superbike Championship Series racing are long gone, thanks mainly to the falling out of the world economies, which also has seen motorcycle sales drastic fall due to the lack of spending by the general population on recreational items.  Although motorcycle sales in actuality fall more into the mode of 'general and economy transportation,' the sales and numbers in the business are dictated more by the recreational tags due to their 'non-essential' use in terms of their use by the general public.  And just like the RV and boating industries that have also been devastated by the economic fall out, motorcycle sales are dictated strictly by what people can and can't afford in tough economic times.

With the world fallout due to the economic crunch, motorcycle road racing series the world over have reverted back to more 'basic' means in terms of development.  Long gone are the one-offs of titanium parts, ultra high-dollar internal engine modifications, as well as specialty qualifying and racing tires, among other things.  Manufacturers and race teams alike are now reverting to 'Superbike lite' machines, which could be compared to the AMA's old Superstock class-slight internal mods, stock front suspensions with internal additions, and stock swingarms.  The tire manufacturers now only offer three or four choices, as opposed to several years ago when teams and riders had several options in qualifying AND in race trim offerings. 

Even with the loss of the 'mega bucks' machines, racing has never been better, especially in the U.S. based AMA Road Racing Series.  Instead of just one or two riders going at it--and splitting from the main pack--as many as 6-8 riders and machines battle at the front in some of the best racing that the U.S. series has seen in years, and maybe decades. 

But unforunately, getting back to the attendance numbers at races the last few years has been difficult, at best.  With so many people affected by the fall out, one could say many of those same people can't afford to attend the number of events that they used to (myself, being one.)  But the show in itself, has gotten much better, getting the people back to the track again that can now afford to return, could take some time and prodding.
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Here are several different views on what it may take to save AMA Superbike racing, and AMA Road Racing as a whole, as well as each reporter's own perspective on the past, current and future state of the American road racing scene in general.  All have their merits, and all have seen the old days compared to today's times in AMA Road Racing.


Evan William at SpeedTV.com has this take on racing here in the States in AMA Road Racing, and talks about 'getting back to the roots' of AMA Superbike Championship Series racing:

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-sbk-broke-embracing-superbikes-roots/

Paul Carruthers from Cycle News.com's Digital Edition spins the numbers in comparison to the 'noise' (or lack thereof) in AMA Superbike racing, as compared to the outright blasting that the MotoGP bikes are capable of:

http://cyclenews.coverleaf.com/cyclenews/20110809#pg98

And last but definitely not least, my buddy Larry Lawrence has a very good comprehensive plan to 'fix' AMA Road Racing as a whole.  Having been involved as a reporter and an AMA promotional person in the heyday of AMA Superbike Championship Series racing, you HAVE to take a strong look at what LL is saying from his many years of involvement in the sport.  Read what The Man has to say here, over at his great site, The Rider Files.com:

Part one:

http://www.theriderfiles.com/?p=11833

Part two:

http://www.theriderfiles.com/?p=11856
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AMA Superbike Cortech Apparel & Gear Fast Man Standing Award Heads to the Wire at NJMP

Cortech Apparel Fast Man Standing Award Goes Down to the Wire

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (August 9, 2011) – Cortech Apparel & Gear, presenting sponsor of AMA Pro Road Racing’s Live Timing & Scoring webpage and mobile applications, will present the Cortech Fast Man Standing Award at the championship’s September 5 season-ending banquet, bestowing $2,000 on the AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike rider who racks up the most 2011 fast-lap honors. Known for high-performance lines of motorcycle apparel, gear, and accessories, Cortech has recognized four different Fast Man Standing candidates thus far, as Blake Young, Tommy Hayden, Josh Hayes, and Ben Bostrom have each claimed fast laps at AMA Pro events this year.

Jordan Suzuki’s Bostrom drew first blood at Daytona International Speedway, posting a blistering lap around the circuit’s legendary high banks in Race 1 only to see Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Young strike back in the opening round’s second race. Monster Energy Graves Yamaha’s reigning class champion, Josh Hayes, jumped into contention by notching the quickest lap in Race 1 at Infineon Raceway, but was forced to split weekend honors when Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Hayden outdid him in Race 2.

With all four superstars already firmly in the hunt for the Cortech Fast Man Standing Award following the second round, they blazed through the next five AMA Pro Road Racing events, trading race victories while breaking ties and swapping leads in the overall Fast Man Standing chase. As the series heads into the final round of the 2011 AMA Pro Road Racing Championship, the Fast Man Standing competition is closer than ever: Young and Hayden are tied with four fast-laps each, while Hayes lurks just behind with three.
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Tommy Hayden #22 leads Josh Hayes #1, Blake Young #79 and Ben Bostrom #23 during AMA Superbike Championship Series action during the 2011 AMA Pro Road Racing season.  AMA Pro Road Racing photo by Brian J. Nelson.
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The September 2–4 New Jersey Motorsports Park finale will ultimately decide who’s handed the larger-than-life $2,000 Cortech Fast Man Standing check at the AMA Pro Road Racing Awards Banquet, which will be held at The Piers Shop at Caesars in Atlantic City. The round will also establish new class champions in AMA Pro Road Racing’s four exciting divisions, each of whom will be officially crowned the following night.

For more information about Cortech and Cortech products, visit www.cortechperformance.com. To experience Live Timing & Scoring presented by Cortech, visit www.amaproracing.com or download apps for iPhones and Androids from iTunes and the Android Market, respectively.

New Jersey Motorsports Park tickets and information are available at www.njmp.com and by calling 856-327-8000. To learn more and be a part of the AMA Pro Road Racing Series, visit www.amaproracing.com and join us on facebook.com/AMAProRoadRacing and twitter.com/AMAProSBK.

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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Jared Mees Checks In After AMA Flat Track Round 13 at the Castle Rock TT

Jared Mees gets ready to roll out for the first practice of the delayed Springfield TT, during round 7 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championhip Series on May 30.  Mees rode his #9 Montgomeryville Cycle Center/Lucas Oil Rogers Lake Racing/Saddlemen-sponsored Honda CRF450R home into 2nd place in the National event at the Springfield Rodeo Arena, behind event winner Jake Johnson, and also followed Dash event winner JR Schnabel home into 2nd place on the day, making for a very good weekend after winning the previous day's Springfield Mile, for his first trip to the  top of the box at the Illinois State Fairgrounds oval.

The '09 AMA Grand National Twins Series Champion had a like-finish over the weekend at the Castle Rock TT in round 13 action from the Washington State event.  Finishing just over 2.5 seconds behind event winner Sammy Halbert in the National main event, and also following him home in the Dash event.  Mees lost a few points to Slammin' Sammy in the overall point standings, but gained 10 points on 3rd place man, Jake Johnson.  Halbert now leads Mees by 10 points (251-241) with 13 of 21-scheduled rounds completed.

In what surely will go down to the final wire, the championship is heating up, and Jammin' Jared is sitting right in the catbird seat right now.  Although he hasn't won a Singles Series event (as of yet) this year, his ability to grab constant podium spots is keeping him right in the hunt for what could be his first overall AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship.  And as we all know, it isn't over until it's over, and The Jammer is making a statement at each and every event he shows up to race at.

With the series headed to Peoria Race Park, in Peoria, IL. on August 21, for the infamous Peoria TT, look for the fight to the end to continue between the top three men in the championship standings as no one is letting up, and each one of these fine young and very experienced racers is putting on one heckuva show in the process

Stay tuned!
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Jared Mees Castle Rock TT Press Release


First of all, I want to offer my condolences to the family of Gary Nixon. He was a great man and he will be sorely missed by all who knew him and by the whole flat track “family”.

After being on and off the schedule for the last three or four years, this time Castle Rock was a go. I was somewhat concerned about how this race would go as the track is really tough to pass on and some of the local riders know it so well. It was hard to know what to expect. The Halbert and Baker brothers would be tough, having ridden it from their 50 cc days to now professionals.

I struggled a little through qualifying, but getting better each time I got on the track. In the 1st Heat I had Henry Wiles, Joe Kopp, Johnny Lewis, Jake Johnson, Jimmy Wood and Scott Baker. I got by Kopp and was working on Wiles, got by him and started to make ground. I won the Heat, placing me on the front row for the Main Event and the Dash for Cash. Watching Sammy Halbert closely in his Heat I could t ell he was the guy to beat today.

In the Dash for Cash Sammy got the hole shot and led it from start to finish as I finished 2nd. Still, I felt I could run his pace.

For the Main Event we lined up from inside to outside. Sammy got the hole shot and I was 3rd off the line but red flags came out right away as there was a big pile up on the jump. After a complete restart I was 2nd off this time, again behind Sammy. I was making time on him through the infield section but he was killing me off turn 4. Then there was another red flag at about the half-way point. This time it was a staggered restart with me in 2nd place. I tried to get around Sammy in turns 3 and 4 but went sideways, losing my drive and he stretched it out, putting a gap between us. I ended up in 2nd place, Sammy winning, and Brad Baker in 3rd.

I am now 10 points off the lead. This was the one race I was worried about and I feel it was a good night for me. There are 8 races left on the schedule
.
We have this next weekend off, then it is Peoria. I can’t wait. Hope to see you all out there. Until then, thanks for your support.


Jammin’ Jared Mees # 9

Singles Series Sponsors 2011:

Lucas Oil, National Cycle, Rogers Lake Racing, Montgomeryville Cycle Center, Twisted Beverage CompanyTM, Saddlemen, Digger 57, M.E.H. Corp, Rod Lake, Goodwin Racing, Rockysonline .com, Arai Helmets, Speed Strength Leathers, KK Motorcycle Supply, A&A Racing, Steve & Cindy Vizzo, Battley Cycles, MRT Racing, Kelly’s, MTA, JE Pistons, Cometic Gaskets, VP Racing Fuels,Tsubaki, Motion Pro, TCX Boots, Troy Lee Designs, K&N Filters, Millennium Technologies, Vortex, Craig Pickett, Goodridge, Works Connection, RekluseClutches, Gene & Gail Cummings, Eddie Mulder, NGK, Z Gallerie, Dick Winters, Oakley, WestCoast Hot Shoes, Jupiter Wheels, Supertrapp, ARC Levers, Moto Tassinari, EBC, Mikuni, Web Cam, Ancra, J&M Racing Frames, Pro Plates, Kold Kutter, Turn 1 Distributing. Crank Works Crank Shafts, Ez-up, Suburban H-D, Twenty Six Suspension, Flash, G2, Penske Racing, Chicken Hawk, Ferrea Valves, J2 Motorsports, Royal Publishing Co., Applied Diamond Coatings, M&Z Anodizing, Brent Armbruster, CV4, Bristol Core, Universal Coatings, Hammer Head, Hot Rods, TSS Graphics, Dyno Jet, DVS Shoes, Xtremely Fit.
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AMA Flat Track: Sammy Halbert Gets Win #4 on the Season at Castle Rock TT

 

Sammy Halbert can be seen talking with his brother (and tuner) Andy, just before the start of heat race #2 at the Springfield TT round of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series in May.  The #7 Woody Kyle Racing/Fredericktown Yamaha/AGV/Kings Kustoms-sponsored and Yamaha YZ450F-mounted rider stormed through the field on the Monday running of the Memorial Day Weekend event to garner a hard-earned 5th place in the final, after having to start at the rear of the field due to a red flag delay.

Since that time, Sammy has held a firm lead on the overall point standings in the series, and extended it AND his season win total last weekend by winning his 4th event of the year at the return of the Castle Rock TT to the series's schedule.  Sweeping the entire night, albeit for overall qualifying honors, the Washington State rider again showed that he is more then up for the count in his fight to garner a 'complete' AMA Grand National Championship.  (Fans will remember that Slammin' Sammy was honored with the 'mythical' Grand National Championship for the 2009 season by FlatTrack.com, and even though AMA Flat Track wasn't recognizing the overall at that time, still gifted him with a single-digit championship number for his efforts.)

Make no mistake about it, Sammy Halbert is on a mission in the 2011 season, and with eight rounds to go on the series' calendar, is poised for a run for that big number 1.  The series is off this upcoming weekend, and round 14 will hit the track at the annual visit to the Peoria TT on Sunday, August 21. 

Will Sammy make it 5 for 11?  Stay tuned!
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Halbert Holds Court at Hometown Castle Rock TT

CASTLE ROCK, WA (August 8, 2011) - When the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track Championship returned to Castle Rock for Saturday night's TT, it was Graham, Washington's very own Sammy Halbert (Woody Kyle Racing/Fredericktown Yamaha) who showed the field how it's done, leading every lap of the race on the way to a decisive victory in front of hometown friends and family. Montgomeryville Cycle Center/Lucas Oil's Jared Mees tried valiantly to dislodge Halbert but came up short at the line, while another local favorite, Brad Baker (Major League Moto/R3 Moto), showed his skills on familiar dirt to take third.

"I knew if I kept getting good starts and kept my focus, I could win this tonight," said Halbert, after claiming his trophy. "This is just great -- I won my first national here, and this is my fourth win this year, [which is] more than I had in my whole career starting the year."

Halbert wasn't phased by either of the race's two re-starts, the first coming after the ultra-tight field bunched at the initial jump, the resulting melee collecting Chris Carr, Johnny Lewis, and Bryan Smith. All riders were present for the second go, with Halbert, Mees, and Monster Energy's Henry Wiles repeating their solid starts to take over the top three positions. As the race approached the halfway mark, however, Chad Chose fell on the back section of the track, causing the second red to fly.

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3rd place finisher Brad Baker #12, event winner Sammy Halbert #7, and runner-up finisher Jared Mees #9 celebrate on the podium after the running of round 13 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series at the Castle Rock, WA. TT event on August 6.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.
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After a short delay, Cose was able to rejoin the field for a 13-lap race to the finish. Any advantage gained during the first twelve laps was now lost, but Halbert remained unbreakable, Mees unable to find a way past him. Wiles, however, had his hands full with Baker, who ramped up the pressure on the Kawasaki rider until he was able to take third from Wiles just six laps from the end. The Rookie of the Year candidate was also closing on Mees when the laps ran out, but he was happy to claim his second podium-finish of the year in front of local fans.

Wiles crossed the line well ahead of a great battle for fifth between Joe Kopp (Latus Harley-Davidson), Jake Johnson (Zanotti Racing), and Kenny Coolbeth (Chaplin Kawasaki). The semi-retired Kopp was able to hold off defending Grand National Champion Johnson and Coolbeth to take the fifth-place spot in his first appearance in the series since the championship's opening Daytona round. American Motorcyclist Association/Dallas-Fort Worth Honda's Chris Carr finished just a click back in eighth after working his way past another local rider, Innovative Suspension's Scooter Vernon, who'd run as high as fourth early in the race before slipping to ninth. Matt Reecy Racing's Rob Pearson rounded out the top ten.
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Sammy Halbert on this #7 Fredericktown Yamaha sails home to victory at the Castle Rock TT on August 6.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.
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Halbert's night was near perfect -- he won the national, lead the most laps, and claimed the Dash for Cash -- and the new points tally proves it: Halbert's lead over Mees has extended to ten, with Johnson another ten back in third. While Halbert has led the points race all year, however, the eight races remaining mean the overall championship is still up for grabs.

The Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles main was also dominated by a single rider, in this case Full Throttle/Sioux Falls Truck & Trailer's Gerit Callies. Like Halbert, Callies was forced to be flawless, as he had Rod Lake Racing/Brown's Cycle's Briar Bauman glued to his rear wheel throughout the contest. Bauman, in only his second Pro Singles race, finished just .146 of a second behind Callies, while series points leader Mikey Martin finished more than six seconds back in third.

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Gerit Callies on his #76L Full Throttle-sponsored Honda CRF450R took home the win at the Castle Rock TT in the AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Series event on August 6.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.
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Martin's points lead is down to twelve over Callies, with Mike Avila -- who finished ninth after a heat race fall hurt his chances for the night -- another ten back in third. The Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles points race has become a three-rider battle, the rest of the field forced to watch Martin, Callies, and Avilia duke it out at the top of the standings.

The AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track Championship next heads for Illinois' August 21 Peoria TT. For tickets and information, visit www.peoriatt.net or call (309) 697-4981 or (309) 635-1662. To be a part of the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track Championship, visit www.amaproracing.com and join us on facebook.com/AMAProFlatTrackSeries and twitter.com/AMAProFlatTrack.

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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Thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track for the results from round 13 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series from the Castle Rock TT.

Standard version results:

http://amaproracing.com/ft/events/results.cfm?eid=2011021160

PDF version results (complete event results, entries, etc.):

http://results.amaproracing.com/live/results/pdfresults/ft/2011/F1160/default.aspx
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Here's the story of the race at Castle Rock, thanks to Dave Hoenig and Cycle News.com's Digital Edition:

http://cyclenews.coverleaf.com/cyclenews/20110809#pg33
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Thanks again to AMA Pro Flat Track (and Dave Hoenig, the official photographer for AMA Pro Flat Track) for this gallery of shots from the Castle Rock round:

http://amaproracing.com/ft/multimedia/gallery.cfm?gid=6666

And thanks again goes out to Dave Hoenig, for his photos (to be posted soon!) and results from Castle Rock on his great site, Flat Trak Fotos.com:

http://www.flattrakfotos.com/2011%20Results/RESULTS%2008-06-11.html
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RIP Gary Nixon, Former 2-Time AMA Grand National Champion

There is no way in the world I could ever come up with any more words that haven't already been written to talk about one of the true legends of AMA Grand National Championship Series racing. 

Having found AMA Flat Track racing in the '74 season, former 2-Time AMA Grand National Champion ('67-'68) Gary Nixon was at that time all but retired from full-time flat track racing.  He would contest several AMA Road Racing events in those days, as part of the overall AMA Grand National Championship Series, and would soon after contest the F750 World Championship Series for Kawasaki.

So never having seen The Legend race, nor ever having had the pleasure of meeting him personally, I am in no way qualified to talk about him on this day that we learn of his passing.  And even if I was, there is no way in the world I could ever talk about the man in any better way then what has already been said, or seen about him over the years and decades. 

So, in tribute, I present this simple shot that I took of former National #9 at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile back in August of 2010, where he can be seen talking with Shaun Russell, National #28, in the Indy pit area.  Two things I CAN say about the man based alone on this shot, that most will and/or should agree with.....he's got that great smile on his face, and he's probably not drinking JUST a Coke here. 

A man who lived a life of a legend on the track, and enjoyed life to it's fullest off of it, will be missed by many as he slides off into the sunset and cranks it into his last full throttle lock........

God Bless and RIP Gary Nixon.
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Here's the link to Gary Nixon's AMA Hall of Fame profile.  The motorcycle racing community lost a great one today.  RIP Gary Nixon!

http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=83&lpos=0px&letter=N&txtFname=&rblFname=S&txtLname=&rblLname=S&discipline=0
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AMA Flat Track Heads to Washington State for Round 13 at the Castle Rock TT

Sammy Halbert on his #7 Woody Kyle Racing/Fredericktown Yamaha/AGV/Kings Kustoms-sponsored Yamaha YZ450F leads this five-pack of riders during round 6 action at the Springfield TT in May 2011, during the Dash for Cash event.  Leader, and eventual Dash winner JR Schnabel on his #33 Werner-Springsteen Monster Energy Kawasaki is just ahead of 2nd-6th place as shown.

Following Slammin' Sammy dead center behind him is Jared Mees (you can't get much closer then this!) on the #9 Montgomeryville Cycle Center/Lucas Oil/Rogers Lake Racing/Saddlemen-sponsored Honda CRF450R, with eventual National event winner at Springfield, Jake Johnson on his #1 Zanotti Racing/Schaeffer's H-D/Motion Pro/Arai-backed Honda CRF450R.  Heat 2 winner Chad Cose on his #49 'no sponsor listed' Honda CRF450R takes the high wide line, while Matt Burton on the #39 RJ Performance/Hot Cams/39 Moto/MotionPro-sponsored Yamaha YZ450F brings up the rear.

Johnson and Mees finished 1-2 in the main event at Springfield, which was the last Singles Series event before the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series got into full swing in early June.  And with Sammy having to start on the back row at Springfield, and coming home in the 5th spot, the events of the day, needless to say, were quite exciting.

With the three riders locked in what surely will go down as one of the all-time epic battles in AMA Flat Track Series racing, the upcoming Castle Rock TT this weekend is sure to drum up some more excitement, something the series does at each and every stop on the calendar.  With hometown boys Halbert, Rookie of the Year candidate Brad Baker, and the returning to Castle Rock, Joe Kopp #3 all set to battle the best in the Washington State on Saturday night, there is no reason to believe that anything different will occur at the return of one of the iconic venues on the series calendar.

It's time to strap in and get on, as The Rolling Thunder Show is heading into the great Northwest Country to show-off the talents of the riders in the greatest sport on wheels.  Are you in, or are you out?
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AMA Pro Flat Track Returns to the Rock for Round 13 TT


DAYTONA BEACH, FL (August 4, 2011) - When the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track Championship visits Washington State's Castle Rock Race Park this Saturday, August 6, it'll mark yet another chapter in a history that dates back to 1965, when the facility hosted its first Grand National event. With help from the Mount Saint Helens Motorcycle Club -- which rebuilt the fairgrounds track after the 1980 volcanic eruption and has hosted nationals since -- the Castle Rock TT will also give several local riders a hometown, Pacific Northwest-style welcome.

Current overall series points-leader Sammy Halbert is from nearby Graham, and the Kings Kustoms/Larry Zumbrun Racing rider scored his first Grand National win at the 2007 Castle Rock TT. "I'm looking forward to going home," said Halbert. "I haven't been home since before Salinas. It'll be nice to go there and hang out with family, and get a little work done on the truck. I'll get regrouped and ready for the rest of the season."

Halbert's tenuous points lead stands at just four over defending Grand National Champion Jake Johnson (Zanotti Racing) and the fast-closing Jared Mees (Roger Lake Racing/Blue Springs Harley-Davidson). Both Johnson and Mees have likewise seen success at Castle Rock, Johnson scoring a win on the tight TT track in 2006 and Mees joining him on the dais in third.

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Sammy Halbert #7 leads Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. #2 during a heated battle at the Springfield TT round in May 2011.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.
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Washington native Joe Kopp will be returning to the Grand National wars for the first time since Daytona, and he brings a significant amount of experience with him. Kopp began his career by honing his skills on western Washington dirt, but with his best finish at Castle Rock thus far a second -- earned in 1994 -- he'll be looking for more on Saturday.

The rider who beat Kopp in 1994 was none other than American Motorcyclist Association/Classic Harley-Davidson's Chris Carr, currently just over halfway through his "Farewell Tour." Carr, also the winner of the 1993 edition, said, "The TT coming up is technical. It should be different, and it'll be fun. I'm looking forward to going to Castle Rock. I raced there in the '80s as well, and I heard [this year's track is] just like the old configuration and that they've added a jump between the right-hander and the sweeper, [so it's] kind of like it used to be."

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Joe Kopp #3 is shown at the Springfield TT round in May of 2010.  Smokin Joe will return to the AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series at the Castle Rock TT round this weekend, after not having competed in the series since the season-opening rounds at Daytona in March.  Kopp's hometown hero status should help him in getting used to being back in the saddle again.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.
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Coming off his first victory of the year, Sacramento Mile-winner Bryan Smith (Fasthog.com/American Harley-Davidson) is looking for a repeat result at this weekend's TT. "I won Castle Rock Short Track [in 2007] and I have a really good Honda to ride at the TT this year from Boughner Racing," said Smith. "All I'm lacking is a TT win, and it would be awesome to get the Grand Slam [wins at a Half Mile, Short Track, Mile, and TT venue]. It would be a good two weeks if that happens."

This weekend will mark the Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles class' first trip to "The Rock," with Mikey Martin (Weirbach Racing/General Engineering) leading the championship points-race over Weirbach Racing'sGerit Callies and SDI Insulation/M.E.H. Corp's Mikey Avila.Another rider returning home, however, is the leading candidate for the Saddlemen Rookie of the Year Award, Brad Baker.

Baker (Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/TeamHurtByAccident.com) has proved to be a force on all kinds of tracks this year, posting fast-qualifying times on both Half Mile and Mile tracks. A last-lap tip over at the Salinas TT robbed Baker of his first Grand National win, so expect the hometown hero to put his skills to the ultimate test at Castle Rock.

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Chad Cose #49 and Shaun Russell #28 do battle at the Springfield TT round in May 2011.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.
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With all of the championship battles so close, the ultra-tight racing of Castle Rock's TT has even more potential than usual to change the fates and fortunes of its riders, as even a small mistake can have big repercussions. The 2011 version of the Castle Rock TT will no doubt produce more of the surprises it's long been famous for.

For Castle Rock TT tickets and information, visit www.mshmc.org or call (888) 71-TICKETS. To be a part of the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track Championship, visit amaproracing.com and join us on facebook.com/AMAProFlatTrackSeries and twitter.com/AMAProFlatTrack.

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: Still 9 Events Left to Get in on the Lloyd Brothers Buell/Air Fence Fund Raffle

While team rider and AMA Flat Track Rookie of the Year candidate, Brad Baker talks with his Dad in the pit area, the rest of the #12 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/TeamHurtbyAccident.com/Foremost Insurance/ENI USA-sponsored Ducati team members go about getting one of the team's potent HyperMotard-based mounts ready for Brad to take his first event laps of the day at the Springfield Mile I, on May 29.  Baker, in his first full year as an Expert-ranked rider (having won the '09 AMA Flat Track Pro Singles Championship), is more than proving the team's decision to sign him to ride their machine over the off-season was not a mistake...at all!

Brad 'The Bullet' had spent very little time on the machine before the first Twins Series event of the year at round 6 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series, but it sure didn't show when he set fast qualifying time right out of the box at the legendary and furiously fast Illinois State Fairgrounds mile oval.  Not long after, he backed that up in winning his heat-the fastest of the day-to garner the pole (and a spot in the points/cash bonus Dash event round) for the main event.  The Bullet would go on to finish 5th on the day in the National, in spite of fighting handling problems that plagued the team throughout the afternoon, and then came home 3rd in the Dash.

Since that great break-out weekend, five more Twins Series events have come and gone in The Rolling Thunder Show, and Brad and the team are holding strong in 5th place in the overall point standings.  Unfortunately, a faulty throttle positon sensor caused them to miss the main event at the Hagerstown Half-Mile last month, something team co-owner Dave Lloyd told me was the first time that had ever happened to them with the machine. 

Besides Brad and his Dad, Kip (from left above), the other members of the LBM team hard at work include Kevin Atherton, former National #23, who is fueling the bright red Duc up.  Atherton has been acting as a rider/coach for the team's fine young rider, and has also been traveling with Brad to the Singles Series events to act as his pit crew.  And no matter what anyone says, if 'Cupcake' is in the house, it's gonna be a good, hard-racing time!  And everyone is going to be smiling along with him.

Dave Gamble (tan hat/partially hidden between bikes) is the team's head mechanic and parts fabricator.  After working for Rahal Racing in open wheel competition, team co-owner Dave Lloyd tells me he comes up with some really sweet pieces for the beautifully-prepared machines.

Lyle Pizzino (sunglasses overlooking prep) comes from VMC Racing Frames/Pizzino Fabrication and was responsible for fabricating the extensively gusseted frames.  Works of art, and precision!

And last, but surely not least, is team co-owner Mike Lloyd, who is overseeing the work being put in on their LBM machines.


You owe it to yourself to take the time to check out one of the most impressive teams and layouts in the AMA Pro Flat Track Series the next time you are at an AMA Grand National Twins Series event.  Getting a chance to take a look at one of the teams that has been involved in AMA Flat Track racing for over 20 years, and see the ultra-sano equipment that they bring to the sport and to the track, will make you giddy (especially if you are a hard-core fan like I am, that appreciates the quality AND commaraderie shown by these guys!)  And the enthusiasm, professionalism, and all-around good vibe in their operation is evident every time the LBM hauler shows up and unloads.

Check it out, it will be worth your pleasure, and the team's, as well!
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The Buell XB12XP that the team is raffling off at AMA Flat Track events this year sits on display at the Springfield Mile I during round 6 of the 2011 season, on May 29.  The LBM team unloads their race mounts for Brad, and rolls out this 2009 model Buell that was used as the pace bike during the '09 AMA Pro Road Racing season.  During the fan walk and throughout the day, the team will 'hawk' their goods in order to sell fans and friends alike a chance to win the bike, as well as help provide for the AMA Flat Track Airfence Soft Barrier Fund.  And, this IS the actual machine that some lucky winner will get to take (or hopefully, ride) home after the season finale drawing in Pomona on October 15. 

Team members shown talking with the fans and paddock members above are Lyle Pizzino, the team's fabricator, and team co-owners Mike and Dave Lloyd. 

LBM has been a long-time supporter and on-track presence in AMA Pro Flat Track Series racing, and have also been ahead of the curve in terms of safety for the sport.  Having been a supporter of the safety advances in motorcycle racing in general, the team gives back to the sport in many ways.

At the Indy Mile in August 2010, the team had a special Ducati HyperMotard-based #69 machine sitting in their pits for 2006 MotoGP World Champion and 2002 AMA Superbike Champion, Nicky Hayden to ride his 'demo' laps after announcing he would be continuing his contract with the Italian Ducati MotoGP team for another couple of years.  The Kentucky Kid went out and burned off some serious laps for the crowded house, and after taking his helmet off had a smile from Indy to his home in Owensboro, KY. 

After the event, the LBM team took the number plate off the machine, and along with a photo taken of Nicky's Indy ride, had them mounted in a very nice frame-and of course, all signed by Nicky.  The team had it on display in their pit area at the Springfield Mile the next weekend, and then put it up for auction on eBay.com, again to raise more money for the AMA Flat Track Airfence Fund.  Class act, all the way around!

So don't despair, you still have nine more events in the 2011 season to get in on a truly one-of-a-kind raffle, that will not only net you a VERY nice low-mileage Buell machine, but you will also go down in history as being a donor to a VERY worthy cause--purchasing and repair of soft barriers.  Your donation/raffle entry is not only needed, but is appreciated and thought of by every rider and fan who has ever seen the worth of these extremely valuable safety tools.  And you might save a life!


Read on below to see the particulars of the raffle, and next time you are at the races, hit up the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports team for a ticket for this great endeavor, and tell 'em Stu's Shots says 'hi' and sent you!
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Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Press Release, August 3, 2011


Just over ten weeks are left to purchase a chance to win a one-of-a kind Buell Ulysses XB12XP and at the same time help support the flat track portion of the Roadracing World Action Fund.

Lloyd Brothers Motorsports, Inc. with support from Foremost Insurance Company, Arai Helmets, and AMA Pro Racing is running a very exciting fundraiser for the flat track portion of the Roadracing World Action Fund, a 501 (c) non-profit organization with a mission of reducing racetrack injurires by advocating and promoting the use of soft barriers, like Air Fence*.

To get a better understanding of what soft barriers do and why they are so important, go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd6UMGnIktE

The grand prize in the raffle is a 2009 Buell Ulysses XB12XP that was used as the official Pace Motorcycle during the 2009 AMA Pro Road Racing season.  The Buell, which has less than 210 miles on it, was donated by AMA Pro Racing.

"AMA Pro Racing is committed to the growth of flat track and safety is a major component of that process.  We are pleased the Lloyd Brothers team is taking the initiative in organizing this fundraiser to help repair existing air fence and purchase new new airfence," commented Dan Johnsen, Director of Flat Track at AMA Pro Racing.

The second-place prize in the raffle is a new Arai helmet donated by www.AraiAmericas.com.

Lloyd Brothers Motorsports came up with the idea and has been transporting the Buell to AMA Flat Track races across the country this season, promoting the fundraiser and selling raffle tickets.

"We are excited to help raise funds for soft barriers for use at flat track events," stated Lloyd Brothers Motorsports co-owner David Lloyd.  "Soft barriers are invaluable to the safety of racers.  We are really hoping that the flat track community will rally around this cause so that we can expand the amount of air fence availability for the safety of our racers."

Tickets are $20 each, and can be purchased at the following upcoming AMA Flat Track events:

August 6:   Castle Rock TT, Castle Rock, WA.
August 21: Peoria TT, Peoria, IL.
August 27: Indy Mile, Indianapolis, IN.
Sept. 3: Springfield TT, Springfield, IL.
Sept. 4: Springfield Mile, Springfield, IL.
Sept. 10: Knoxville Half-Mile, Knoxville, IS.
Sept. 24: Brainerd Half-Mile, Brainerd, MN.
Oct. 1: Calistoga Half-Mile, Calistoga, CA.
Oct 15: AMA Pro Flat Track Season Finale, Pomona Half-Mile, Pomona, CA.

For more information on any of these events, go to www.amaproracing.com/ft.

A website has also been set up by the LBM team where donations can be made via PayPal and credit cards.  A donation of $20 will receive a free entry in the raffle:

http://www.lloydbrothersmotorsports.net/airfence.htm

The winning tickets will be drawn and announced at the season finale October 15, in Pomona, CA.  Winners do not need to be present to win and will be notified after their ticket is drawn.

*Trademark of Airfence Safety Systems
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AMA Flat Track: Jared Mees & Blue Springs H-D, Along with The Fast and Dirty.com Bring You Up to Date With Video From Lake Odessa Half-Mile

Jared Mees on his #9 Rogers Lake/Blue Springs H-D/Lucas Oil/Saddlemen-backed H-D XR-750 waits for the signal from AMA Pro Flat Track officials to get ready to roll out for practice at the Lake Odessa Half-Mile round at I-96 Speedway on July 23.  Round 11 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series saw The Rolling Thunder Show back for more action in the Twins Series, and the overall championship point standings get even closer for the top 3 candidates in the fight for the 2011 AMA Grand National Championship.

Mees and his Rogers Lake/Blue Springs H-D crew showed up with a transporter-load of pristine XR-750s, any which of the three would look to be ready for battle in the greatest show in racing in the world.  Moving back and forth between two of the machines, Mees ran solid all night starting with his 3rd qualifying spot, a 2nd place in his heat (behind winner and championship contender, Jake Johnson), and another 2nd in the Dash event (again, behind Dash winner Johnson.)  But come race time, Jared went to the front and in the end held off Bryan Smith #42 and Johnson for his third win of the season, and third in the last six races on the schedule.

And with the series headed to Castle Rock for this weekend's TT-event in the Washington State, there is no reason to think that The Jammer will do any worse on his Singles Series mounts, either.  At the last Singles event at the Springfield TT, he came home 2nd to winner Johnson.  And with Sammy Halbert #7 still just out front in the points battle, the run for the roses is starting to heat up.  And Jared Mees and his team are right in the thick of it.
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Here's the link to Jared Mees, Blue Springs H-D and The Fast and Dirty.com's video from round 11 at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, MI.  Also I included their intro to the video from the link at You Tube.com, as you might miss the write-up to the great footage!  Thanks to Will and Yve at The Fast and Dirty.com for putting together another great round of action and updates from the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series. 


From The Fast and Dirty.com:

"Watch to find out how Jared, team members Brent Armbruster and Steve Beattie, and their Blue Springs Harley-Davidson's handle the high banking of the I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Michigan. Jared Mees rides his Blue Springs Harley-Davidson XR750 to the limit, battling National Championship rivals wheel to wheel in his quest to earn his second #1 plate. Subscribe to BlueSpringsHD1's YouTube channel and follow all the action from every twins race for the entire 2011 Season.

Blue Springs Harley-Davidson, located in the greater Kansas City, Missouri area, has a long-time association with professional motorcycle racing, both in the AHDRA Drag Racing Series with Danny Worth and the AMA Pro Flat Track Series.

Jared Mees and Blue Springs Harley-Davidson won their first Grand National Championship in 2009, and they are fighting every round to earn the #1 plate again in 2011. BlueSpringsHarleyDavidson.com

Flat Track is America's original motorcycle sport, and a fledgling Harley-Davidson established itself by winning races on board track ovals in the 1920's. As speeds topped 100mph, the races were moved to dirt or flat ovals, marking the birth of Flat Track as we see it today. The AMA Grand National Championship series was established in 1954, and Harley-Davidson has been the dominant manufacturer for nearly half a century, winning 45 of 57 GNC Titles. To find more information go to AMAProRacing.com/​FT/​Events and find a race near you where you can meet Jared Mees and watch the Blue Springs Harley-Davidson XR750 in action."

Video Produced by TheFastandDirty.com


Thanks again guys for this great re-cap of action from Lake Odessa!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YmhyaP8tGA
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AMA Flat Track: Flyin' Bryan Smith Takes His Moroney's Fasthog.com XR-750 to the Win at Sacramento Mile

Bryan Smith talks with his Dad, Barry Smith, after coming home in 2nd place on his #42 Moroney's Fasthog.com/American H-D/Rockyonline.com/Boughner Racing-sponsored H-D XR-750, at round 11 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series in Lake Odessa, MI. at the I-96 Speedway Half-Mile event on July 23.  Smith, who has been knocking on the door of taking that top spot on the podium in all of the Twins Series events this year, finally got his breakout win for the 2011 season by leading 9-Time Sacramento Mile winner Chris Carr on his #4 American Motorcyclist Assoc. XR-750, across the stripe by the slimmest of margins, .042 seconds. 

Jake Johnson on his #1 Zanotti Racing XR came home in 3rd, .223 seconds behind winner Smith, with last week's Lake Odessa round winner, Jared Mees #9 in 4th, and current overall point leader Sammy Halbert #7 in the 5th spot.  Rookie of the Year contender, Brad Baker on the #12 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Ducati, finished 6th on the night.  

The overall point standings still has Slammin' Sammy leading the charge (222 points), with Mees in 2nd just four points back (218 points), Johnson in 3rd (218 points, but with only 2 wins on the year to Mees' three), Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. in 4th (188 points), Baker in 5th (144 points), and Chris Carr in 6th (141 points).  Johnny Lewis #10 Scott Powersports Kawasaki failed to make the main at Sacramento, and fell to 7th in the standings (122 points), with Bryan Smith jumping into the 8th spot (121 points), Matt Weidman #20 falling back to 9th after his 12th place finish at Sacto (111 points), and Jimmy Wood rounding out the top 10 (88 points.)

The series heads to round 13 at the Castle Rock Race Park TT event set to run on Saturday, August 6 in Washington.  Former '00 AMA Grand National Champion Joe Kopp is entered to run his first event in the series since competing in the Daytona season-opening rounds, and will help to make a full house of Washington State residents to enter the event along with Sammy and Jethro Halbert and Brad Baker.
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Sold-Out Crowd Witnesses Dramatic Smith Victory at Sacramento Mile


SACRAMENTO, CA (July 31, 2011) - An estimated 9,000 people cheered on a star-studded AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track field when the championship returned to the Cal-Expo Fairground's Sacramento Mile, and the sold-out, standing-room-only crowd was treated to one of the most dramatic wins in recent history. After twenty-five furious laps, Fasthog.com/American Harley-Davidson's Bryan Smith claimed victory over local hero Chris Carr (American Motorcyclist Association/Classic Harley-Davidson) by a margin of just .042 seconds.

"Nobody is more surprised than me," said a joyful Smith after running down early leaders Carr and Jake Johnson (Zanotti Racing). "I thought Chris was just playing with me -- it seemed like he could pass me any time he wanted to. He has that 'Tolbert Horsepower,' you know."

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Round 12 winner Flyin' Bryan Smith hoists the checkers from his #42 Moroney's Fasthog.com winning XR-750, after winning his first event of the year on his newly formed team, at the Sacramento Mile on July 30.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.
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Carr led the eighteen-rider field into Turn 1, but had fallen back to third by the end of the lap, trailing defending Grand National Champion Johnson and reigning points leader Sammy Halbert (Kings Kustoms/Larry Zumbrun Racing). By Lap 2, Carr was back at the front -- looking to repeat the '99 Sacramento victory he'd earned when the series last visited the venue -- and had Johnson in his hip pocket. Harley-Davidson Motor Company's Kenny Coolbeth slipped into a short-lived third place, but with the two leaders pulling away, Smith took over third and set out after them.

Carr and Johnson continued to swap the lead all around the track, but by Lap 16, Smith had caught the leaders and split them. From there it was a battle to the finish, all while Carr craftily managed to rack up laps-led honors by frequently leading the trio across the line. It didn't look like Carr would be satisfied with the point for most laps led, however -- it looked like he had a plan.

"I thought I could draft him at the line," said Carr, "but I spun up off [Turn] 4 and that was the end. Throughout my career," Carr added, "I've said second sucks -- and I haven't changed my mind."

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Jake Johnson #1 takes the early lead, and went on to win the Dash for Cash event at the Sacramento Mile, to collect another valuable five points in his quest to repeat as the 2011 AMA Grand National Champion.  Sammy Halbert #7, Luke Gough #62, Bryan Smith #42, Chris Carr #4 and Brad Baker #12 follow him into turn one. 

Gough, making the main for the first time this year on the new-for 2011 Skip Eaken/Ricky Howerton Kawasaki, also made his first Dash event appearance for the year.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.
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Johnson filled out the podium, just .139 of a second behind runner-up Carr, while last round's winner, Roger Lake Racing/Blue Springs Harley-Davidson's Jared Mees, recovered from a second-row start to finish fourth over Halbert. Lloyd Brothers Motorsports' Brad Baker came out on top of a very tight race for sixth, bringing his Ducati in ahead of Coolbeth and Jeff Carver (Eddie Adkins Racing/Van's Yamaha), while Luke Gough (Digger 57/Dick Ford) and Willie McCoy (Harley-Davidson of Wausau) rounded out the top ten.

The results added a single point to Halbert's overall lead, but both Mees and Johnson now trail by only four points as the series looks toward Halbert's "hometown" track in Castle Rock, Washington.

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Chris Carr #4 leads a talent-stacked heat 3 at the Sacramento Mile on July 30.  Following closely are Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. #2, Jared Mees #9, Willie McCoy #59, Jake Johnson #1 and Matt Weidman #20.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.
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In the Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles contest that preceded the Expert main, California's Mikey Avila (SDI Insulation/M.E.H. Corp) and Mike Martin (Weirbach Racing/General Engineering) waged war over the Pro Singles spoils, taking turns at the front. While the two leaders were fighting it out, RLT Racing/Lancaster Harley-Davidson's Shayna Texter stalked them from third.

By the halfway point, Briar Bauman (Rod Lake Racing/Brown's Cycle) had put himself in the middle of the action, the former AMA Horizon Award winner making the most of his first Pro race-start to rise as high as second on the white-flag lap, but was shuffled back by Texter and Martin, the latter drafting from fourth to first on the last lap to secure his third consecutive Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles main even win.

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Mikey Avila #33E, Mikey Martin #91Y and Shayna Texter #25A celebrate on the podium after the Sacramento Mile AMA Pro Singles Series event on July 30.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.
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For Texter, who routinely got huge cheers from the crowd, it marked her first podium finish of 2011. Martin's win boosted his points lead over Avila to 16 with Weirbach Racing's Gerit Callies just another four back.

The series next heads to Washington's Castle Rock Race Park August 6 for the Castle Rock TT. For tickets and information, visit www.mshmc.org or call 1-888-71-TICKETS.

To learn more and be a part of the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track Championship, visit www.amaproracing.com and join us on facebook.com/AMAProFlatTrackSeries and twitter.com/AMAProFlatTrack.

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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Thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track for this link to the results from round 12 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series, from the Sacramento Mile (standard version results with drop-down arrow):

http://amaproracing.com/ft/events/results.cfm?eid=2011021155

Complete event results, including entry lists and points, thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track (PDF versions):

http://results.amaproracing.com/live/results/pdfresults/ft/2011/F1155/default.aspx


Poppa Wheelie was in the house at the Sacramento Mile, and he filed this report on the race along with some great shots from the Cal Expo event:

http://pwheelie.blogspot.com/2011_08_01_archive.html#3785165143271325396


Here's a link to the AMA Pro Flat Track photo gallery from the Sacramento Mile, all taken by AMA Pro Flat Track official photographer, Dave Hoenig:

http://www.amaproracing.com/ft/multimedia/gallery.cfm?gid=6639

And here is the link to Dave's official site, Flat Trak Fotos.com, which as of this writing has all of the results up.  Generally speaking, he'll have his full catalog of photos posted within a few days after each event, but with the west coast swing now heading to Castle Rock, it may take him a little longer.  Keep checking back to see some of the best, by the best:

http://www.flattrakfotos.com/2011%20Results/RESULTS%2007-30-11.html


Bryan Harley, with Motorcycle-USA.com, filed this report on the race at the Cal Expo Fairgrounds in Sacramento:

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/504/10700/Motorcycle-Article/Sacramento-Mile-Flat-Track-Results-2011.aspx

Here's Cycle News.com's digital edition story of the race at the Cal Expo Fairgrounds:

http://cyclenews.coverleaf.com/cyclenews/20110802#pg35

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AMA Pro Flat Track announced last week that they would be 'Tweeting' the race to all Twitter fans (I've added the link on the left-side column) at the Sacramento Mile.  Well, they not only did that, but they added in a short video of some practice from the Cal Expo Fairgrounds.  It's a real short clip, but worth the look if for nothing else to hear the sounds of the bikes roaring by:

http://www.twitvid.com/6RDIB
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