AMA Flat Track Releases Approved Exhausts List for 450 Singles Series Racers

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Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. can be seen working on changing a tire for one of his #2 Honda CRF450s in his pit area at the Gas City Short Track round of the AMA Pro Flat Track K&N Filters presented by Motorcycle Superstore.com Grand National Championship Series in June of 2010. The Bettencourts Honda/Jason Perry/
Arai/Fox-sponsored rider won the '07 AMA Flat Track Singles Series, and his prowess on the Singles is just as good as it is on the Twins Series bikes. He will be rolling out a new machine at Daytona in just over ten days, and will be astride a Chaplin Kawasaki-sponsored KX450 at the '11 Singles Series events, after having been associated with the Bettencourt's Honda for several years. The King of Cool is one of several riders switching from the Honda 450s to the Kawasaki 450 for the upcoming season, along with Joe Kopp and JR Schnabel, among others. They will be joining 2-Time Singles Series Champ Henry Wiles on his Jones Bros. Kawasaki and Werner Springsteen Kawasaki's Bryan Smith, who both campaigned the KXs during the 2010 season.
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AMA Pro Flat Track Competitor Bulletin #2011-04

All AMA Pro Flat Track Competitors

Subject:

Approved Exhaust Systems for 450

The ruling for sound levels for 450 singles in AMA Pro Flat Track has been, and will continue to be, 105dB. This is measured on the "A" scale at a distance of 20 inches at a 45 degree angle to the exhaust tip. All sound testing is done in accordance with SAE J1287. Bikes are tested at ½ the rated maximum rpm. This is typically 4500 to 5500 rpm depending on the model.

Several fairground type venues have expressed concerns over the excessively loud sound levels in the singles class and have received complaints from nearby residents. AMA Pro cannot be put in a position of losing desirable venues due to competitors’ non-compliance with the rule book.

Over the past two years the technical staff at AMA Pro Flat Track has done random sound testing and has suggested and advised non compliant riders to make suitable changes to overly loud exhaust systems. Starting with the AMA Pro Flat Track Series opening round in Daytona, any riders that violate the sound limits in the rule book will be disqualified from competition.

Per the general equipment standards in the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Rule Book: Exhaust pipes and

mufflers must be used and be securely attached together and bolted to the frame.

Mufflers must have sound absorption mechanisms or packed baffling.

Exhaust system with no mufflers and open ends (no end cap) will be refused in tech and not allowed on the race track. Do not attempt to go through tech with an unmuffled motorcycle. It will not pass tech. Do not attempt to go onto the race track with an unmuffled motorcycle; you will be disqualified from the event.

AMA Pro will make sound testing available as time and personnel allow previous to the event, but is under no obligation to pre test motorcycles. It is the responsibility of the competitor to arrive at the event with a motorcycle that is in compliance with the rule book.

Below is a preliminary list of approved exhausts. More will be added as time and research allow. Contact AMA Pro Racing for suggestions on additions to the list. All pipes used in AMA Pro Motocross and AMA Supercross must meet a 96dB rule and as such are eligible for AMA Pro Flat Track.

FMF Pro Circuit Yoshimura Akrapovic Jardine

Leo Vince Two Brothers Vance and Hines D&D Low

Jemco w/ SuperTrapp adapter SuperTrapp

Be advised; just because a pipe is on this list does not mean it will pass sound tech with YOUR particular engine configuration. Once again, it is the responsibility of the competitor to arrive at the event with a class legal motorcycle.

Thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track for this updated technical bulletin!

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Joe Kopp Talks AMA Flat Track Opener at Daytona & Riding the Latus XR1200 in the AMA Road Racing XR1200 Series

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2000 AMA Flat Track Grand National Champion Joe Kopp sits in the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports pit area and talks with the fans at the Springfield Mile in September of 2010. The #3 Latus H-D/Lloyd Bros/Motion Pro/American Agip-sponsored rider, who spent the '10 season jumping back and forth from his LBM Ducati to his Latus XR in the Twins Series portion of the AMA Pro Flat Track K&N Filters presented by Motorcycle Superstore.com Grand National Championship Series, has logged countless hours and miles on dirt tracks around the country in his nearly two decades of racing professionally. But what he is getting ready to take on for the 2011 season is something completely different for him.
After coming up just short in his bid to attain his second AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship in the 2010 season, Smokin Joe announced his retirement from 'full-time' competition in the AMA Flat Track Series. It was something that he had decided to do even BEFORE he fired the loudest shot in some time in the series to win at Arizona on the mile on the LBM Ducati. It was the shot that wrestled the almost-13 season long stranglehold that the Harley-Davidson XR750 had held in winning in the Twins Series portion of the schedule since August of '98. It was time to get away from the dirt tracks on a regular basis and 'dab his toe' (so to speak) in other forms of motorcycle racing. Besides running local events around the Northwest part of the country in the off season, Kopp has also been known to run the AMA EnduroCross series at times, and not surprisingly, with some good results.
So when it was announced that Joe would be a full-time participant in the new class for the full time schedule of AMA Pro Road Racing, riding a Latus-prepared H-D XR1200 in the Vance & Hines/XR1200 Series, it also opened up a new door for him in terms of racing professionally. Having only admitted to trying road racing some in the past, this would be a full-time gig in a pretty new series that has shown some promise in terms of close racing. And as much as I don't care much for a road racing series that doesn't also highlight some of the technological aspects of the sport, it does harken back to the days of the 883/Twins Series classes in road racing some years ago, that ALSO provided some seriously close racing action at less-then-breakneck speeds, but with plenty of elbow-rubbing happening regularly throughout any given event. And admittedly, the class is drawing 'name' riders in what looks to be a very competitive year, in print, as well as from test times that were put in at Daytona in what was a very short session for the XR1200 riders.
Joe's start to his first year in 'non-full time' racing mode is already looking like a pretty crowded schedule. Not only will he be running the Daytona Short Track season openers on March 10 and 11, but he will be putting in his time in the XR1200 class on the big tri-oval on those dates as well. So yes, he WILL be doing some track hopping throughout the two days of flat track and road racing events. But if I was a betting man, I'd lay money he'll still have that million dollar grin going all the while. Go get 'em Joe and good luck!
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Former AMA Flat Track Grand National Champion Joe Kopp will be kicking off the new racing season in a little over a week-and-a-half when he will be taking to the high banks at Daytona in the AMA Pro Road Racing/Vance & Hines XR1200 Series, as well as spending time racing on the Daytona Short Track during the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season opener at the World Center of Speed. Kopp, who announced his 'full-time' retirement in the AMA Flat Track Series after the end of the 2010 season, will be expanding his resume during the '11 season while dragging a knee in the XR1200 series, and will be running 'select' events throughout the year in the series that he earned the 2000 #1 plate in.

For a guy who wanted to cut back on his 'frequent flyer/driver' miles in the new year, the upcoming year still looks like a pretty full schedule for the veteran rider. Calling Washington State his home, Smokin Joe is probably one of a handful of riders that travel the furthest distance throughout the year to get to races, logging countless hours and miles on the road trying to get to that next event. With a currently 10 race schedule in the works in AMA Pro Road Racing, starting in Daytona and ending in New Jersey, with stops along the way in California, Wisconsin and Alabama, don't look for him to be kicking his feet up and relaxing too much this year. Unless it's in a plane, train or automobile in route to the next race.

Good luck to Joe this year running the AMA Road Racing XR1200 Series. With another name like that on the track, the competition just took another step up on the ladder and got a little stiffer. And the paddock just got a lot friendlier, as well!
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You can read Joe's spin on the XR1200 tests at Daytona from last month and what he is expecting out of the new series for this year, as well as his plans to roll out a new Kawasaki KX450 at the Daytona Short Track, after having run Hondas in the Singles Series portion of the AMA Pro Flat Track Series for some time. Today's Cycle Coverage.com has Joe's column here:

http://www.todayscyclecoverage.com/wordpress/2011/02/21/kopps-korner-4/
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You can also follow Joe Kopp Racing here at Joe's official site on the World Wide Web:

http://www.joekoppracing.com/default.aspx
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AMA Road Racing: Larry Pegram Stars in Discovery HD Theater's 'Superbike Family'

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Steve Rapp on the #82 Vance & Hines Ducati 996 leads a group of riders during race two action at Mid Ohio during the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire running of the AMA Superbike Championship in July of 2000. Following are #69 Nicky Hayden on the American Honda RC51, Larry Pegram on the #72 Competition Accessories Ducati 996, #43 Jason Pridmore on the Yoshimura American Suzuki GSX-R750 and eventual 7-Time AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin on the #1 Yoshimura American Suzuki GSX-R750. 2000 was the first year that both Mid Ohio and Road America debuted the double round weekends that were initially made part of the schedule with the Big Kahuna Nationals at Road Atlanta in the '98 season.
Pegram, who after campaigning Foremost Insurance-sponsored Ducati 1098/1198-based machines the last couple of years in the AMA Superbike Championship, made the switch to the new for AMA Road Racing BMW S1000RR during the off season, and will be keeping Foremost as his premier sponsor in the series for the 2011 season. His off season testing at track such as Jennings GP and at the official Daytona tire test have shown great promise, and as always 'The Worm' should prove to be a threat for the top podium spots during the upcoming season that kicks off at Daytona on March 10. He finished the '09-'10 seasons both years fourth in the championship standings winning several races along the way, after going winless since his initial AMA Superbike win at Willow Springs in 1999 while riding for Eraldo Ferracci's Ducati team.
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Larry Pegram and his Pegram Racing/Foremost Insurance Group-sponsored racing family and team debuted today on a new program on Discovery HD TV's channel called 'Superbike Family.' The docu-reality series follows Pegram, his family and his race team from just before the start of the '10 AMA Superbike Championship Series season kick off at Daytona as they prepare for the 2010 AMA Superbike season.

Not being a fan of reality tv, when I first read the news of this new show I was just a little hesitant to get on board with it, even if it DID involve the high speed ballet of superbike racing in the United States. But after watching the first two half-hour eps (of six total to be shown) I can say I was very impressed with not only the presentation of the show itself, but of the background and race film used in the show to highlight the season's goings on. It did a very nice job of presenting the United States' premier road racing series, let alone the hard work, dedication and effort put forth by the entire Pegram Racing family and team. If you are a fan of the AMA Superbike Championship like I am (as well as a big LP fan!) you will want to catch this show.

You can read the press release below thanks to Dean Adams' SuperBikePlanet.com, and you can catch the remaining episodes on the next two Saturdays (March 5 and 12) at 1100 EST on The Discovery Network's HD Theater TV channel. If you aren't familiar with that channel (it's on DirecTV channel 281 in the Eastern United States), you can bring up your own local U.S.-based tv listings by going to Zap2It.com or TitanTV.com to determine via your local television provider if your provider does carry this HD-only channel.

Good luck to Larry Pegram and Pegram Racing in the upcoming 2011 AMA Superbike Championship, and we hope to see ole Lare back on top of the box again at a few rounds this season!
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SuperBikePlanet.com has the press release and times for 'Superbike Family' on Discovery HD TV right here:

http://superbikeplanet.com/2011/Feb/110222wormteevee.htm
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You can follow #72 Larry Pegram and his Foremost Insurance Group-sponsored BMW S1000RR team here via Larry's official website:

http://pegramracing.com/
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AMA Road Racing: Scott Russell Returns to Daytona....But Not on What You Would Expect

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Scott 'The Screamin' Chief' Russell rolls the throttle on the #4 Harley-Davidson Factory VR1000 during qualifying for the Coca-Cola Super Cycle Classic round of the AMA Superbike Championship Series at Road America in June of 2000. The '92 AMA Superbike Champion, '93 World Superbike Champion and 5-Time Daytona 200 winner spent two years riding on the Milwaukee-based superbike team trying to help up the ante for the team in what was then it's seventh season in the premier road racing series in the United States. However, even with The Chief's immense talent in the seat and on the track, the Wisconsin-born machines were never able to stand atop an AMA Superbike Championship Series podium. The factory quietly closed the doors on it's efforts after the end of the '01 season, ending it's long saga to savor victory and leaving behind a list of whose who riders that tried in vain to make their mark on the orange and black machines.
Russell, who was the first 5-time winner of the Daytona 200 (and ONLY in terms of having done so exclusively in the real days of superbikes being the weapon of choice for the over 56 lap endurance race) will be returning to the home of one of his best and most-memorable conquests in his over 20 year motorcycle road racing career. The man who also won the '93 Suzuka 8-Hours is entering the AMA Pro Road Racing/Vance & Hines XR1200 Series, a 'new' class of 'racing' that was brought into the fold last year at select AMA Road Racing rounds. Expanded to a full season schedule for the 2011 season, the 'iron-clad' class will feature some VERY popular names and sponsors for the upcoming season. Joining Russell in the class will be Steve Rapp, Michael Barnes and 2000 AMA Flat Track Grand National Champion Joe Kopp. Some of the series sponsors and team backers (besides V&H) include Anamosa, Iowa's J&P Cycles, Latus Racing (Kopp's long-time sponsor in AMA Flat Track racing) and Parts Unlimited.
Mr. Daytona will be on a HOG-sponsored XR1200 for the one-off deal, in what could bring tears to eyes of his many fans. Having suffered the nuances and 'lack' of technological forward-movement by the H-D factory some 11-12 seasons ago, it is somewhat ironic that after all these years he will be straddling another version of it's infamous V-twin designs.
But, no matter what Scott Russell races (whether it has been his time behind the wheel in the four-wheeled Grand-Am Series, or his attempts to rekindle glory on the failed Jamie James Yamaha SuperStock-based machine at Daytona from several years ago) THIS fan will be paying attention and shouting at the TV (or live timing and scoring on AMA Pro Racing.com) while he is on the track. And wishing him the best of luck, praying and hoping for another Chief victory (and safe voyage) on a two-wheeled platform for which we all know him best.
Go get 'em Chief!
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In what may have been met with a loud groan from his legions of fans throughout the world, Scott 'The Screamin Chief' Russell will be returning to what many consider his greatest triumphs when he will jump on a Harley Owners Group-sponsored H-D XR1200 for the season opening round of the AMA Pro Road Racing Vance & Hines/XR1200 Series at Daytona next month. When last seen on the grid in an AMA Pro Road Racing event, Russell had teamed up with '89 AMA Superbike Champion Jamie James to campaign a SuperStock-spec Yamaha R1 in the AMA Superbike Championship round at Daytona several years ago. The last couple of seasons have seen The Chief competing in the U.S.-based Grand-Am Rolex Road Racing Series while also getting to compete at Daytona, albeit in a four-wheel based machine. He has also helped with color commentary for the SpeedTV team's coverage of the AMA Road Racing Series the last couple of seasons.

Scott Russell is the only man to win the Daytona 200 five times on an AMA Superbike Championship-based machine, having done so in '92, '94-'95, '97-'98 while riding for Muzzy Kawasaki and the Yamaha Factory team. In '95, Russell crashed on the first lap and went on a furious rampage to regain the lead and eventually win the race after coming back from a 62nd place spot after low siding his Muzzy ZX-based machine. Probably one of his greatest non-wins at Daytona came in the '93 classic when Vance & Hines Yamaha-mounted (and fill in for injured at the time Jamie James) 4-time 500CC World Champion Eddie Lawson came out of the last turn onto the banking at the World Center of Speed to pin it and catch Russell at the line for what was one of the all-time great races in the history of the Daytona 200.

You can check out the official press release of Scott Russell's return to Daytona here thanks to the great folks at Motorcycle USA.com:

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/790/9287/Motorcycle-Article/Scott-Russell-to-Race-XR1200-Series-in-Daytona.aspx
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Here's a link to some shots of the XR1200 class in action last year, again thanks to Motorcycle USA.com:

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/59416/Motorcycle-Photo-Gallery-Photo/Vance---Hines-XR1200-AMA-Racing.aspx
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Here is the link to the schedule of events at Daytona that kicks off on March 10:

http://amaproracing.com/rr/events/event.cfm?year=2011&eid=2011011105
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One of the greatest motorcycle road racers to ever bless this world, Scott Russell was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2005. Check out his page here and join me in remembering one of the greats of our sport, and one of the all-time iron men of AMA and World Superbike racing:

http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=370&lpos=-1025px&letter=R&txtFname=&rblFname=S&txtLname=&rblLname=S&discipline=0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AMA Flat Track: 2010 AMA Grand National Champion Jake Johnson Ready for 2011 Season to Kick Off in Daytona

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Jake Johnson stands at the ready next to his #5 Zanotti Racing Honda CRF450 just before the main event riders are announced for the Springfield Short Track round of the AMA Pro Flat Track K&N Filters presented by Motorcycle Superstore.com Grand National Championship Series on September 4, 2010. Jersey Jake went on to finish second in the final on his Zanotti Racing/Leo Vince/Tucker Rocky/S Designs-sponsored machine, 5.270 seconds behind event winner Henry Wiles on his #1 Jones Brothers Kawasaki. Wiles had captured his second Singles Series Championship earlier in the evening after winning the Dash, while Johnson went on to capture the big prize just a few weeks later in winning the 2010 AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship, while also winning the season ending round in Prescott Valley, AZ.
Johnson, who had a stellar year in winning one of the season opening rounds in Daytona, as well as the spring event on the Springfield Mile (to go along with his win at the final race of the year at Yavapai Downs) won the title over Joe Kopp, 289-269 points. He scored eight podiums on the year and eleven top five finishes along the way to add to his '06 and '08 Singles Series Championships.
With the 2011 season ready to kick off at Daytona on March 10 and 11, Jake will be one of the riders to keep an eye out for in just over two weeks, let alone for the whole season. He will be returning again to the Zanotti Racing team, and you can expect them to come into the new season with the #1 plate on their bikes ready to back it up. With the determination that Jake has and the great team behind him, don't bet against them for the new season!
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With the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Series ready to launch a new season at Daytona in just over two weeks, 2010 AMA GNC Jake Johnson is geared up and ready to go along with his Zanotti Racing team to back up their super year in winning the #1 plate. With team owner Dave Zanotti joining his late Father, Mario, as the only father-son combination to win the coveted #1 plate in AMA Grand National Championship Series racing, look for this team to come out hard and strong this year when the first green flag of the season waves on Thursday, March 10. The series will also race on Friday, March 11 before heading to DuQuoin, IL. on April 16 for round three.

Johnson, who has proven to be one of the best all-around riders in the series, will be one of the riders this year (as he always is!) to watch throughout the season. His great bike control and ability to bring it home are traits that helped lead him to winning his first overall championship in 2010, and the team prepares some of the best equipment in The Rolling Thunder Show series.
Stu's Shots wishes the very best to the defending champion and team and we'll be watching from the sidelines as they try to make it two in a row in 2011!
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You can read Jake's official press release about gearing up for Daytona here thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track:

http://amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=41312

And here is Jake's new webpage (which at this time is still under construction) thanks to She Loves Racing and Flat Track Today.com:

http://jakejohnson5.com/news.html
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Why You Should Be Reading Larry Lawrence's The Rider Files.com and Cycle News.com Work & The Passing of Duane Dreyer

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As Larry Lawrence interviews '09 AMA Flat Track Grand National (and mythical) Champion Sammy Halbert after his second place finish to winner Henry Wiles at the Lima Half Mile in June of 2010, a flurry of other activities go on around the scene after the running of the annual classic. The lovely and extremely talented Yve Assad, of The Fast and Dirty.com, can be seen on the left side of the shot while the entertainingly stunning Miss Lima is looking at some of the celebrations going on in the background. AMA Flat Track Announcer Scottie Duebler is on the right of the shot with his headphones around his neck as things wrap up after round seven of the 2010 AMA Pro Flat Track K&N Filters presented by Motorcycle Superstore.com Grand National Championship Series.
'Double L' has been involved in the racing scene in America for over 30 years now, writing for a bundle of publications throughout the decades such as American Road Racing, Cycle News and Cycle World, just to name a very few. His years working with the 'old regime' at the AMA as well as AMA Pro Racing were some of the best in terms of coverage for the sport, the entertainment and overall knowledge and history of the sport, and good sponsors coming and staying on board to help support the AMA and it's thousands of members, and the racing community part of things especially.
Larry's love and background in the sport has given people like you and me a great education over the years, and has produced some of the best shots in racing you will see anywhere. His friendly demeanor and undying ability to talk to anyone, has opened some doors for the average fan to be able to hear, read and see the background of racing at it's best. And he's one of the real all-around nice guys, too.
To put it mildly, if you're not reading any of Larry's stuff, whether it's his great site The Rider Files.com or writing the new and revived digital version of Cycle News.com's Archives column (one of THE best reads in motorcycle racing history), then you are living under a rock as far as motorcycle racing past and current goes, and you are probably the one still using the soup cans to talk to your buddies........get my drift?!
I first met Larry back in May of '82, when both of us were parts of different groups of riders and racing enthusiasts that ultimately converged in Waukegan, IL. on the way to the Road America round of the AMA Superbike Championship Series. I was driving one of two support vehicles for the main exodus of the group out of Indy that consisted of old friends Scott Levondoski, Brad Mercer and Scott Christie, just to name a few. There were between 8-10 riders and two cars that left Indy that cold and damp day in May, and when everyone got together just north of Chicago, the cast had grown by about 6-8 more riders. Of the rain (and alcohol, for some of us) soaked and cold weekend that year, it was not only my very first chance to see an AMA Pro race (and my only chance to see Eddie Lawson compete before heading off to Europe with The King) after having watched the WERA Series for years at Raceway Park in Indy, but it was my first meeting with one of the all-around nice guys in life. Larry showed up in Waukegan with a sano red and white '78 Suzuki GS750, and his party of riders went through more rain in their travels then ours had. And believe me, that's saying alot about that weekend.
I may be a bit more prejudiced about the man then the average fan or friend of the sport, and thusly you may want to take my judgement of people, racing journalists and historians of the sport with a grain of salt. But I'd be inclined to say that where there may be one or two people to say different, there are hundreds to say pretty much the same thing about the guy. If you aren't familiar with Larry's reporting of the sport and it's rich history, you better get started while you can still get out from under that rock........
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Thanks to Larry Lawrence for taking the time to give Stu's Shots a nod on his fine site The Rider Files.com this week. Putting together a story about shooting with some of the smaller digital cameras available today, Larry knew that all of my stuff last year was shot with a trusty little '04 model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P93 5.1 MP 'pocket camera.' I had originally purchased the camera just before Christmas in '04 before going on vacation to supplement my 35mm gear for my very first visit to Pearl Harbor (and of course my great little sister!) After retiring my '73 model Minolta SRT-101 35mm at the end of the 2008 season, it was my only means of shooting for the '09-'10 seasons.

Needless to say, I've had some fun with that little camera over the years, and I am looking forward to the new season to shoot with my new Sony a550 DSLR that I was lucky enough to acquire over the holidays (thanks Mom, I love you!) I've been very fortunate to be able to get some great shots with that little camera that have been showcased in an AMA Flat Track press release on Joe Kopp's retirement from flat track, and in a Motorcycle-USA.com video saluting Mike Kidd for his direction of AMA Flat Track during the 2010 season.

Here's Larry's article about shooting with the little 'pocket' cams, and thanks again to Double L for the mention. You da man!

http://www.theriderfiles.com/?p=9072
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On a more somber note, Stu's Shots wants to say Godspeed to Duane Dreyer, one of Indy's and the Midwest's motorcycle racing and community icons and friends. Duane owned Dreyer Motorsports Yamaha/Suzuki/Kawasaki on Indy's west side, and his Dad Junior and brother Mike ran the oldest Honda dealership in the United States next door, where I took the better part of my motorcycle parts and bike business back in the early '70s until the late '80s, when I got out of the street riding end of my involvement with motorcycles and racing.

I had the fortune of first meeting Duane in a high school speech class back in the fall of '72, and got to know him casually over the years as one of the best area racers in motocross and road racing, and another one of the all-around nice guys you meet in life. He was a regular winner at the old Indianapolis Raceway Park motocross track back in those high school days, and then went on to compete with the likes of Scott Zampach, Ed Key and Tom Kipp in WERA Series competition in the early-to-mid '80s.

The motorcycling community has been hit especially hard with the loss of this fine man, and the world has lost another great smile along the way. My condolences go out to The Dreyer Family and all of the fans, friends and people who may have been fortunate enough over the years to have spent any time with Duane. He will be sorely missed. Godspeed DD!

Larry Lawrence did a very admirable job of compiling Duane's life story on The Rider Files.com:

http://www.theriderfiles.com/?p=9101
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AMA Road Racing Confirms Return to Barber Motorsports Park for 2011 Season

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As the racers in the AMA Superbike Championship circle the track during practice at the picturesque Barber Motorsports Park facility, fans spread out across the lawn in anticipation of the upcoming weekend in the AMA Pro Road Racing Series round at the Leeds, AL. track in April of 2007. This viewing mound at Barber takes in almost 2/3s of the track in being able to see the paddock area, the start finish line and the scoring tower, and just out of sight to the right of this shot is the multi-million dollar, and multi-level Barber Motorports Museum, which in itself is a work of art. The track also runs just below the windows in the museum so while you are taking in the sprawling displays inside you can also be staying current with the racing happenings on the track.
Fans of U.S. road racing owe it to themselves to visit the beautiful Alabama track for an event for the racing, AND the iconic museum. Make sure when you do, though, that you leave yourself at least a full day to view the museum. George Barber's collection of racing bikes, cars and one-off specials is enough to make a grown man cry, as well as bringing him to his knees with the layout of classics, modern day pieces and racing and motorcycling history.
Barber, who made his billions in the dairy industry in and around the Birmingham area, has assembled one of, if not THE, best and most complete collections of racing motorcycles and cars in the world. And his list of friends, donors and contributors to his vast collection include Michael Jordan, Jay Leno and the late Don Vesco. The museum has one whole floor dedicated to the restoration of this huge collection, and houses it's own CNC machines to fabricate whatever may be needed to get an old barn find ready for viewing in the museum hall.
I guarantee you will NEVER see anything like this ever in your life again. And the racing ain't too bad, either!
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AMA Pro Road Racing Announces Return to Barber Motorsports Park
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 16, 2011) - AMA Pro Road Racing is pleased to announce its return to Barber Motorsports Park, June 17-19, 2011. The 2011 race will mark AMA Pro Road Racing's ninth visit to the spectacular Alabama road racing complex. The full slate of AMA Pro Road Racing activities will take place on a more traditional spring date for 2011, in contrast to last year, when Barber served as the venue for the series' season finale.

The AMA Pro Road Racing series first visited Barber Motorsports Park in September 2003, then moved to a spring date from 2004 through 2009. Last year, Barber Motorsports Park played host to the final round of the year, an event that saw each road racing class championship decided. Additionally, the AMA Pro Road Racing banquet was held at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, which houses one of the finest collections of motorcycles and racing cars in the world.

"We are delighted to be returning to Barber Motorsports Park," said David Atlas, C.O.O. and Managing Member of AMA Pro Racing. "George Barber has made a tremendous investment in motorsports and motorcycle racing in particular, and our entire series appreciates the first-class facilities that are available to participants and fans alike."

"We are excited to host the AMA Pro Road Racing Series at Barber Motorsports Park and look forward to another exciting weekend of superbike racing," said Gene Hallman, President of ZOOM Motorsports, the exclusive event promoter of the Barber Motorsports Park. "While we enjoyed having the season-ending championship last fall, we are equally excited to be back in our more traditional spring date this year. With the parity of competition in this series at its highest, it's only fitting they return to what is considered one of the finest road racing facilities in the world."

Past AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike winners at Barber Motorsports Park include Aaron Yates, Mat Mladin, Ben Spies, and Blake Young. The 2010 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, Martin Cardenas, has won every DSB race held at Barber Motorsports Park, but a number of current DSB riders have posted wins in other classes at the 14-turn, natural-terrain road course, including Josh Herrin, Jake Zemke, and Jason DiSalvo. Additional current AMA Pro competitors who've claimed previous wins at Barber include Josh Hayes, Roger Hayden, and Tommy Hayden (the latter in three different classes).

The AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike, AMA Pro Daytona SportBike, AMA Pro SuperSport, and AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 series will compete at the June 17-19, 2011 weekend. In SuperSport, this will be an East Division event.

Please visit www.barbermotorsports.com for all schedule, museum, and ticket information, and visit www.amaproracing.com for complete AMA Pro information.

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 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AMA Flat Track: Matt Weidman Going It Alone for the 2011 AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship Season

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Matt Weidman readies himself for a front row start in the Springfield Short Track round of the AMA Pro Flat Track K&N Filters presented by Motorcycle Superstore.com Grand National Championship Series on September 4, 2010. His sponsor in the Singles Series for the 2010 season, George Mack (Mack Daddy Racing) can be seen on the left side of the shot in the grey MDR shirt.
The #20 MDR/Snip/Silkolene/Shoei-sponsored and Honda CRF450-mounted New York State native will be going it alone for the 2011 season in the Singles Series, as he will departing with 2010 Singles Series sponsor Mack Daddy Racing. Matt and his strong family-backed team (Dad Guy and Mom Rachel are a major force behind his career and upbringing, obviously not only preparing great equipment, but also instilling great family values, respect and level-headedness into this personable young man) will be preparing the Matt Weidman Racing Honda 450s on their own, just as they have done his Twins Series program with the XRs for the last several years.
A couple of highlights to Matt's 2010 Singles Series year included winning his heat race at the Gas City Short Track round in June of 2010, and finishing second to heat race winner Chris Carr at the Springfield Short Track round (pictured) to garner a front row start to the main event, where he eventually came home in the 10th spot. And his third place finish at the Lima Half Mile round at the end of June in the Twins Series put Matt on the box for the first time in his young AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship Series racing career, and helped him to finish ninth in the overall 2010 point standings. He also finished fifth at the Minnesota Mile towards the end of the year on his XR at what ended up being the penultimate round of the '10 season.
Look for Matt to improve on those numbers this year when the season kicks off in just 19 days. Good luck to Matt Weidman Racing in the 2011 season, we'll be watching for you and rooting for you as well!
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2008 AMA Flat Track Rookie of the Year Matt Weidman is one of a big handful of racers on the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Series rolling road show that will be going it alone for the 2011 season, as Matt and his family-backed and run team will also be preparing his Singles Series bikes along with his Twins Series bikes in the upcoming year. With the Daytona rounds set to kick off the Singles Series and the new year on March 10 and 11, Matt's 2010 sponsor Mack Daddy Racing will no longer be directly associated with his team this year.
Matt's Mom and Dad (Rachel and Guy) will be preparing the whole pie for Matt's assault on the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship, and the whole team is looking to improve on their ninth place overall finish during the 2010 season. Last year also saw Matt compete on one of Ron Woods' BMWs at Arizona, as well as trying to qualify one of legendary tuner Carl Patrick's Harley-Davidson XR750s at the Labor Day Springfield Mile round.

We're wishing the very best to Matt and his family in their quest to contest the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Series season. Best of luck to some of the finest folks in the pits!

You can read Matt Weidman Racing's press release here thanks to FlatTrack.com:

http://www.flattrack.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1033&Itemid=32

And here is a good look at Matt's team building one of his Singles Series Hondas at his official website, MattWeidman.com:

http://mattweidman.com/buildabike.html
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AMA Pro Racing Moves Former AMA Flat Track Grand National Champion Mike Kidd Into Sponsorship Sales

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Mike Kidd throws his #72 Kruger Racing Harley-Davidson XR750 into turn one in route to his heat race win (and eventual main event win) during the Terre Haute Action Track round of the Camel Pro Series/AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship Series in August of 1975. Kidd, who would go on to win the '81 AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship and help to usher in Big Red Honda into the sport of AMA Flat Track in the early-mid '80s, was named the Director of Sales for AMA Pro Racing yesterday. The man who led the resurgence of The Rolling Thunder show for the last two years as Director of Flat Track Racing, will now oversee sponsorship sales in AMA Pro Racing for both of it's Flat Track and Road Racing brands.
Dan Johnsen was named the new Director of Flat Track Racing several weeks back, and will now oversee operations for AMA Flat Track, while Kidd works on building the entertainment and sales operations that the sport has suffered from of late. After retiring in the mid '80s, the man who one time held the nickname of Mr. Hardluck, Mike went on to operate and run the ArenaCross Series in the sport, later selling it off to Clear Channel Entertainment and then running it for them. Mike knows racing, and better yet, racing fans and has been doing this for years!
Kidd was brought into the new DMG/AMA Pro Racing ranks in late 2008 to oversee the turnaround in the Greatest Show on Wheels in AMA Flat Track after the Nascar group purchased the rights to the racing side of things from the AMA group out of Pickerington, OH. His ability to sell the entertainment side of the sport and to promote the brands, makes and sponsors within and around the sport is legendary in all forms of racing since his retirement. AMA Flat Track will be losing a great leader, but AMA Pro Racing overall should see an upsurgence in the sport with Kidd at the helm. The man knows the fans, the sport and the demographics to get it done, and his contacts and ability to sell the sport should lead to great things, especially with the economy of late at least looking like it is starting to level out and move forward somewhat.
Stu's Shots wishes one of his long-time heroes (let alone a new and great friendship gained throughout the 2010 season) the very best in this new endeavor. After having being around this sport since the early-mid '70s,I can't think of anyone within the industry that has a better grip on how and what the sport needs and the fans want, let alone how to go about bringing it to fruition in growing the sport and fan base. Just my honest opinion, for what it's worth.
Congrats to MK and Bravo to AMA Pro Racing! If Mr. Johnsen can continue to grow and progress with AMA Flat Track while following in the steps of Mike Kidd, the sport should see an even better year in 2011 after the great turnaround of 2010.
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AMA Pro Racing Announces New Sales Position for Industry Veteran Mike Kidd

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 11, 2011) - AMA Pro Racing is pleased to announce the appointment of longtime AMA Pro Flat Track participant, champion, and administrator Mike Kidd to the post of Director of Sales for AMA Pro Racing. The winner of twelve AMA Pro Flat Track races and the 1981 AMA Pro Grand National Championship, Kidd is an AMA Hall of Fame inductee who also acted as Director of AMA Pro Flat Track from 2009 through 2010. He'll now utilize his considerable talents, relationships, and experience in the industry to sell sponsorships of both the AMA Pro Road Racing and Flat Track series. "We are delighted that Mike can continue to benefit AMA Pro Racing," said David Atlas, C.O.O. and Managing Member of AMA Pro Racing. "His experience in this sport is unrivaled, and he has a proven record of putting together strong sponsorship packages." "I have held several roles throughout my career in the motorcycle industry," said Kidd, "and it's an honor and privilege to be appointed AMA Pro Racing Director of Sales for our flat track and road race properties." Kidd has already begun his new assignment, and is currently working to finalize a number of dynamic 2011 sponsorship programs for AMA Pro Road Racing and Flat Track. Visit www.amaproracing.com for more information on all of AMA Pro Racing's exciting championship series.

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 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AMA Pro Flat Track Releases 2011 AMA Flat Track Grand National Racing Expert Number List

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When the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Series season kicks off at the Daytona Short Track in 26 days, three of these riders will all share one new thing in common coming into the new year. They will be sporting new competition numbers based on their placings and finishes in the 2010 AMA Pro K&N Filters presented by Motorcycle Superstore.com Grand National Championship season. At least 11 competitors will be changing numbers on their number plates for the new season, which should see the usual high turn-out of riders at the second year facility when action kicks off on March 10.
Jake Johnson will be dropping the #5 he only wore during the '10 season (after carrying the #14 for years in the series) and will be bolting on the #1 plate to his Zanotti Racing machine in recognition of winning the 2010 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship. Johnson's great year in the 2010 season while riding his Dave Zanotti Racing Honda 450s and H-D XR750s saw him win multiple events on his way to clinching the championship by twenty points over runner-up Joe Kopp.
Jared Mees will not only drop the #21 he wore in the Singles Series, and after wearing #1 in the Twins Series last year (for winning the '09 AMA Pro Flat Track Twins Series Championship), he will be sporting the infamous #9. Jammin' Jared joins retired Michigan Mafia member Jay Springsteen, as well as past champion Gary Nixon in raising that great number to new and unexplored wins in the series for the future, and will surely be represented well in the future of the sport, as it has been for over four decades with these two legends of the sport.
JD Beach will also make a change for the new season in dropping the 'C' from the back end of his #95C Craig Rogers Honda. Shown lined up on the second row at the Springfield Short Track in September of 2010, Beach had a stellar first Expert race at the event, coming home on the podium in third behind event winner Henry Wiles and Jake Johnson. It was enough for Beach to clinch his first points in an Expert Grand National event to earn his Expert Grand National number.
Other riders shown ready to go for the Springfield final are #80 Steve Bonsey (the only first-time winner in the series in the 2010 season) on his Bob Weirbach Racing Honda, Bryan Smith on the #42 Werner Springsteen Monster Energy Kawasaki, 2-Time AMA Flat Track Twins Champion and '07 AMA Flat Track Singles Champion Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. on his #2 Bettencourts Honda, and on the back row #71 Donald Mullen II on his Miller Motorsports Honda.
Read on below the official press release from AMA Pro Flat Track to see who the other riders are that will be starting the 2011 season 'anew' when the green flag drops for the upcoming season in just less then four weeks. It looks to be a great season for AMA Pro Flat Track and you better get ready to get your ticket to The Rolling Thunder Show!
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AMA Pro Racing Announces 2011 Grand National Flat Track Numbers

Daytona Beach, Fla. (February 10, 2011) - AMA Pro Racing has released the Expert Grand National Number list for 2011. The highly anticipated list features new numbers for twelve riders. The most obvious change has defending Grand National Champion Jake Johnson exchanging his #5 for the coveted #1 when the AMA Pro Grand National season gets underway March 11th at the Daytona Flat Track.

After a few years of splitting the #1 between the Twins and Singles classes, this year's plate will only be worn by one rider: the Grand National Champion. Singles Champion Henry Wiles will revert back to his longtime-held #17, while former Twins Champion Jared Mees will bring back the revered #9, the longtime number of Jay Springsteen and Gary Nixon.

Former AMA Pro Racing Pro Singles Champions Brad Baker and Jeffery Carver will be moving to the Expert ranks and will sport new National Numbers of their own. Carver was presented the #23 at last year's awards banquet by Kevin Atherton, and Brad Baker and his brother Scott will be #12 and #11, respectively.

Another brother combo has Merle Scherb moving from the #95 to #78, his dad's number from 2000 through 2002. Merle's twin brothers, Logan and Lucas, will also be carrying National Numbers. Logan retains the #18, while Lucas earned the #22 for this year.

The 2011 AMA Pro Racing Flat Track Rookie of the Year, PJ Jacobsen, will also assume his father's old number. PJ-who also competes in the AMA Pro Road Racing Championship-will be #99, which was held by Keith from 1996 through 1998.

Another road racing power, JD Beach, has dropped the "C" from his #95, as he will also be splitting his season between the dirt and the asphalt.

New York's Jeremy Higgins and Gary Conklin will be dropping their "B"s, as Higgins staged a strong finish to 2010 and Conklin made his one National main at Daytona last year.

Journeyman rider Aaron Lindfors also made his first National main last year. For 2011, he'll run the #46 in honor of his home state's Kris Armentrout and Stan Engdahl.

The list below represents the National Numbers for 2011. Please note that 2011 license applications are not yet entirely complete, therefore consider this list provisional.

2011 AMA Pro Racing Flat Track National Numbers

# Rider Home Town

1*^ Jake Johnson Franklinville, NJ

2 Kenny Coolbeth Morris, CT

3 Joe Kopp Mica, WA

4 Chris Carr Fleetwood, PA

7 Sammy Halbert Graham, WA

9* Jared Mees Clio, MI

10 Johnny Lewis Coatesville, PA

11* Scott Baker Eatonville, WA

12* Brad Baker Chehalis, WA

13^ Dan Gedeon Warren, OH

15 Nichole Cheza Clio, MI

16^ AJ Eslick Tulsa, OK

17 Henry Wiles Winn, MI

18 Logan Scherb Decatur, TX

19 Ion Stear Harvard, IL

20 Matt Weidman Westerlo, NY

22* Lucas Scherb Decatur, TX

23* Jeffrey Carver Alton, IL

24^ Logan Myers Wheeler, MI

25^ Brian Phillips Auburn, PA

26 Brandan Bergen Kewanee, IL

27 Rob Pearson Morton, IL

28^ Shaun Russell Westville, IL

29^ Jake Mataya Brooklyn Center, MN

30 Brock Schwarzenbacher Beaver Dam, WI

32 Shawn Baer Bethel, PA

33^ JR Schnabel Campbellsport, WI

34 Jeremy DeRuyter West Bend, WI

35^ Brady Mueller Port Orchard, WA

37 Jimmy Wood Redlands, CA

39^ Matt Burton Ottumwa, IA

40^ Aaron King Dysart, IA

42^ Bryan Smith Flushing, MI

44 Brandon Robinson Oxford, PA

45 Jesse Janisch Hartford, WI

46* Aaron Lindfors Salina, KS

49 Chad Cose Fremont, CA

51^ Steve Murray Grand Blanc, MI

53^ Don Taylor Port Colborne, Ont., CN

55*^ Gary Conklin Harpursville, NY

56 Mike Radley Coeymans Hollow, NY

58^ Adam Carpinello East Greenbush, NY

59 Willie McCoy Keller, TX

61 Dustin Crow Peoria, IL

62^ Luke Gough Onalaska, WA

65 Cory Texter Willow Street, PA

68 Josh Koch Cedar, MN

69 Jethro Halbert Graham, WA

70 John Hlebo III San Jose, CA

71^ Don Mullen Coatesville, PA

72 Tim Eades Colonial Heights, VA

73 Doug Lawrence Mississauga, Ont., CN

74^ Mitch Vernon Olympia, WA

78* Merle Scherb Decatur, TX

80^ Stevie Bonsey Salinas, CA

81 Justin Hittle Peoria, IL

82* Jeremy Higgins Bergen, NY

87^ Mick Kirkness Jefferson City, MO

88^ John Raun Wood Perkasie, PA

90^ Joe Hartrich Tonawanda, NY

92^ Kevin Vance Williamsfield, IL

95* JD Beach Philpot, KY

99* PJ Jacobsen Montgomery, NY

* NEW # for 2011

^ Pending License Application

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 http://www.amaproracing.com/.

For additional information contact:
AMA Pro Racing Communications, (386) 492-1014, communications@amaproracing.com

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Here's the link to AMA Pro Flat Track and the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Series season schedule:

http://www.amaproracing.com/ft/events/

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Ultimate Motorcycling.com has this version of the AMA press release, but they have added a few great pics from the 2010 season. Thanks to UM for their great version of this great news:

http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/2011/ama-flat-track-2011-number-list

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AMA Flat Track: Jared Mees Wins 3rd ICE Series Championship & Reviews the '10 AMA Flat Track Season

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'09 AMA Grand National Flat Track Twins Champion Jared Mees can be seen talking with his Rogers Lake Racing team members shortly after coming up just .096 seconds short of winning the Springfield Mile on September 5, 2010. Finishing third behind winner Bryan Smith on the #42 Monster Energy Werner Springsteen Kawasaki and Chris Carr on the #4 Lancaster H-D XR, Mees won the second heat of the day to earn his ticket to the main event, starting from the middle of the front row, over the annual Labor Day weekend round on the Illinois State Fairgrounds oval. Battling for 25 long, hot and fast laps with two of the other bests in the business (as well as with Jake Johnson, Willie McCoy and Kenny Coolbeth) the the Kawasaki pulled it out over Carr by .048 seconds to take it's second win in a Twins Main event in eight days.
Prior to the podium ceremonies to close out the day's activities, the #1 Rogers Lake/Blue Springs H-D/Rockysonline.com/Lucas Oil-sponsored and XR750-mounted Mees cools off after a great battle, held in front of one of the as-usual stellar crowds at this fine facility. Jammin Jared would finish the 2010 AMA Pro Flat Track season in the third place in the championship, and he was only one of two riders (Chris Carr being the other) that finished the season in the top eight without a series win.
Jared's program is and has always been exceptionally strong, and his riding abilities are top notch, allowing him to post some top finishes in the series to rank high in the points. The former Rookie of the Year and Horizon Award winner should prove as tough as ever in the upcoming season, and as his record has shown, you better not EVER count him out when it comes to top finishes.
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Jared Mees wrapped up his second in a row, and third overall ICE Speedway Series Championship in Bloomington, IL. over the last weekend in January. The '09 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Twins Champion took home the honors again this year in the popular east and west coast off-season series, and with the 2011 AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship Series getting ready to kick off in Daytona in just over 28 days, Jammin Jared has a great start to the season due to his off-season training regimen and ICE Series participation.

The Michigan rider has long had one of the best overall programs in the series and his outlook to racing, as well as his consistent finishes prove he's one to always keep an eye out for on the track. Catch up with Jared in some of the press and news releases below, as well as his 2010 season review. And be on the look out for this fine young man when the 2011 season goes green on March 10.

We'll be anxious for the season to get rolling, and as always will be watching for the new #9 (yes, Jared will carry a new number in the 2011 season, and chose Jay Springsteen and Gary Nixon's legendary racing number to campaign!) when things get rolling next month. Good luck to you this season Jared!
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Here's Jared's press release after clinching his third ICE Speedway Series Championship in Bloomington, IL. over the last weekend in January, and thanks as always to Larry Lawrence at The Rider Files.com:

http://www.theriderfiles.com/?p=8923

You can check out the ICE Series here with results posted for the winter events:

http://icespeedway.com/cgi-bin/newsv/eventsv.cgi

Jared Mees reviews the ICE Speedway Series season here in this press release over at Larry Lawrence's great The Rider Files.com:

http://www.theriderfiles.com/?p=8879

Video highlights of Jared Mees' 2010 AMA Pro K&N Filters presented by Motorcycle Superstore.com Grand National Championship Series season:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o6dAB831xk&feature=player_embedded
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MotoGP Sepang Test Ends With Marco Simoncelli On Top of The Boards

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Marco Simoncelli's San Carlo Gresini Honda Racing RC212V sits on display outside the team's garages during the Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP Weekend in August of 2010. The '08 250CC World Champion finished his rookie year in the premier MotoGP Series in the 8th position in the overall standings, and had a great, consistent finish to the season. Throughout the 18 race season, the Honda satellite rider only suffered two DNFs, and finished second in the running for Rookie of the Year to Ben Spies on his Tech 3 Monster Energy Yamaha.
After having ridden a two-stroke based racing motorcycle for years, his overall transition to the more powerful and heavier four-stroke class has shown some great strides after suffering early season teething problems. Setting fast time in the first official test of the season can't be a bad thing for the personable Italian, either.
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Marco Simoncelli lurked around in the top five of testing times during the three day test held at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia last week, but he knew when to go for the gusto on the closing day to set fastest overall time for the first official test of the year in the run for the 2011 MotoGP World Championship. Riding his San Carlo Gresini Honda, the 'Big Hair' rider bested new Repsol Honda teamster Casey Stoner (and his new team mates Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso) in setting the fastest time of the test on the closing day. Eight riders finished the test within .777 seconds of one another, and 10 within just over a second of one another.

The second test of the year will see the best road racers in the world return to Sepang on February 22-24 and the final test will be held at night in Qatar on March 13-14, several days before the first round of the season on the Losail Circuit in Doha on March 17-20. With this being the last season for the 800s before the move back to 990s for the 2012 season, these close test times at least help to show some promise of a year of good, competitive racing in the MotoGP Series.

Here's the official wrap up for the 3-day Sepang MotoGP test, thanks to the great folks at Cycle News.com:

http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2011/02/03/simoncelli-leads-honda-sweep-in-sepang

Courtesy of Ultimate Motorcycling.com comes this release (with some rider quotes) about the first official test for the 2011 MotoGP World Championship Series season:

http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/2011-sepang-motogp-test-results-day-3
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