AMA Flat Track: Kawasaki Racing Looks at Scott Powersports' Johnny Lewis & USC Racing's JD Beach Twins Series Efforts

Johnny Lewis talks in the pit area during the break in the on-track action at round 11 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series at Lake Odessa, MI. on July 23.  Lewis' stable of #10 Scott Powersports/Dubach Racing Developments/Saddlemen/Triple J Racing-sponsored Kawasaki 650R-based mounts sit alongside for all to view and see during the fan pit walk at the I-96 Speedway Half-Mile event.

JL10 and the Scott Powersports team have made some substantial strides in the series this year with their now-second year mounts.  His 2nd place finish (the best ever for this former Supermoto competitor in the Twins Series) at the Hagerstown round, added to his 5th place finished this year at Hartford, along with dual 6th place finishes at The Springfield Mile II and Knoxville have helped keep him and the Scott team in the 7th overall spot in the championship standings, with 165 points.

Lewis had a virtual rocket at Springfield earlier in the month, and led several laps for his first time leading a National mile event.  If not for the red-flag interupted event, and the ensuing 5 lap dash to the end, his 6th place finish very well could have been even higher. 

Don't be surprised to see more out of this fine young racer out of Pennsylvania.  With the hard work that the Scott team puts in on the machine in the pit area, coupled with the also hard work that Johnny is doing in twisting the throttle on the track, it's just a matter of time before they find that top step on the box.  And with three half-mile events to end the season with Brainerd, Calistoga and Pomona coming up, it could be sooner then later!
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JD Beach powers his #95 Universal City Kawasaki Motorsports/Morlandt Electric/Alpinestars/Arai-sponsored KX450F during an early practice session at the Peoria TT round on August 21, 2011.  Beach used the weekend off from the AMA Pro Road Racing Superbike Championship Series calendar to get in some seat time at the legendary Peoria facility, and was rewarded with a 13th place finish at the end of the day for his efforts.  With a deep, 18-rider field in the National main, Beach fought with Brad Baker and Shaun Russell throughout the 25-lap main event.

JD showed up at the Knoxville round the weekend before last, with all of his duties done for the year on the Cycle World/Attack Performance Kawasaki, and proceeded to put the USC/Universal Kawasaki 650R-based machine in the main, and sailed home to a 5th place finish for his best-ever finish in an Expert Twins Series event, as well as the best finish for the USC Kawasaki. 

JD reported on Facebook today that he is headed to Brainerd this coming weekend, and then on to Calistoga for the penultimate round of the season, to throw a leg over the Twins Series machine again.  With his ability and the way the Universal/USC Kaw is coming around, he could very well move up a finishing spot or two.
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Morton, IL. resident Rob 'Bugs' Pearson waits alongside of his #27 USC Kawasaki/WKR/Hart Racing/Shoei-sponsored team in preparation for the National main event at the Springfield Mile II round of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series on Sunday, September 4.  Pearson was drafted to run the USC machine for the day and earned a ticket to the main via his heat #3 fourth place finish.  However, during the main (before the red flag interuption) Pearson's mount threw a chain and put him down-thankfully and largely unhurt.  But his day was over and he was credited with a 16th place finish.

The USC machine showed some promise with Pearson, who normally runs his own XR-based program, and he seemed to adapt well to the bike after having ridden H-Ds for so long.  Of course, that's what Experts do, is jump on something else and being ready to go as well.  The machine has a beautiful paint job, somewhat resembling a '60s era Andy Warhol design.  VERY cool!
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Check out the great story and photos that Kawasaki Racing has on Johnny Lewis #10 Scott Powersports and JD Beach's USC Racing Kawasaki Twins Series efforts here:

http://www.kawasaki.com/Racing_news/Article.aspx?id=1694
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