AMA Pro Flat Track: Stockton Half-Mile Now Scheduled for Round 3 on May 11

Two of the top stars in the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship Series go at it during one of the practice sessions at round 5 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Allen County Fairgrounds on June 30. 

Eventual 2012 AMA Grand National Champion Jared Mees on the #9 Rogers Racing/Blue Springs H-D/Saddlemen/National Cycle-sponsored Harley-Davison XR750 runs ahead of Johnny Lewis on the #10 Scott Powersports/Saddlemen/Wallace Trucking/AXO-backed Kawasaki 650R-based parallel twin as they come out of turn two onto the back straight at the annual event known as the Lima Half-Mile. 

Mees of course went on to grab the championship at the end of the season, to add to his Singles Series Championship which he captured after the Springfield Short Track in early September.  Lewis had left the series after round 6 of the season at the Hagerstown Half-Mile (while sitting in the 3rd-place spot in the championship mind you), due to creative differences as a result of Mees and Lewis coming together at round 2 earlier in the season at the Daytona Short Track II.  Lewis still ended the season as the 13th-ranked rider in the overall championship standings to go along with his season-opening cherry-breaking series victory at round 1 of the season at Daytona I.

Mees again will be on the Rogers Racing team, after switching things up with his crew chief during the off-season.  Gone is long-time wrench Brent Armbruster (now residing with the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Henry Wiles effort for 2013) and in is Kenny Tolbert, the multi-time championship-winning tuner most notably recognized for his many years spent with 7-time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr.

Lewis returned to the series at Daytona, and for the upcoming Twins Series events of the 2013 season will now be a part of the new Latus Motors Racing Triumph squad that was announced earlier this month.   Needless to say, the greatest racing series on two wheels in the world is gearing up for another incredible year of racing. 

AMA Pro Flat Track announced officially yesterday that what was one of the 'TBA' events on the original schedule for early May has now been dropped, and the Stockton Half-Mile on May 11 will now be the next event on the calendar.  That leaves 43 days for fans to get their schedules set to see the next round of the season and to get the adrenaline flowing after the season-openers at Daytona on March 14-15.

Check out the official press release below from AMA Pro Flat Track, get your calendars set and your tickets bought so you can catch The Rolling Thunder Show as it flies into the Stockton Half-Mile to get the rest of the season kick-started for another great year of racing!

Stockton Half-Mile to Host Third Round of AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Action on May 11, 2013

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 28, 2013) - Next stop, Stockton, California. The stars of AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles intend to pack up their machines and head out west for the first time this season and go handlebar-to-handlebar at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, Calif.  Despite the best efforts of all involved, the TBA event previously scheduled for May 4, 2013 will not be conducted.  Nevertheless, fans can write this upcoming Stockton event in permanent ink on their calendars, as the race is expected to bring nonstop action-packed racing from the very first heat all the way to the drop of the checkered flag in the final main event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brad Baker #12, Jared Mees #9, Jethro Halbert #69 and Luke Gough #62 battle at the front of the pack during heat race three at round 5 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season, at the Lima Half-Mile on June 30.  The 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season will head to the Stockton Half-Mile on May 11 in what will now be round three for The Rolling Thunder Show.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

 

 

"I'm thrilled to bring our series out to California for the first time this season," said Michael Gentry, COO of AMA Pro Racing.  "It seems like every time our riders compete in the Golden State it's always a world-class experience.  The fans embrace the sport and the atmosphere is just unbelievable.  The field is very competitive this year as we all witnessed in Daytona and we can't wait to get everything started back up again in May."

 

The AMA Pro Grand National Championship Expert riders will be mounted on their thundering twin-engines for the first time this season on San Joaquin County Fairgrounds' half-mile course.  Mikey Rush and Brandon Robinson were able to come out on top and stake their claim on Daytona's short track in the 2013 season's opening rounds.  The rest of the field will be ready to turn up the pressure to on the half-mile course when the Series heads West.

 

As for the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles, they will be piloting their single-engine machines for the third time this season.  Michigan's Kyle Johnson and New Yorker Jake Constantine both took checkered flags at Daytona and will look to have similar success when the lights go on in Stockton.

 

Both divisions in AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles look to be of extreme potency in 2013.  The AMA Pro Grand National Championship Experts bring back a deep field of proven veterans as well as talented young and win-hungry stars that are looking to make a name for themselves among the elite on the biggest stage in the sport.  The AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles also make up a field of young and fierce competitors looking to make an immediate impact in hopes of obtaining a championship.

 

For more information, please visit http://www.stockton99.com/. 

 

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines.  Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.   For additional information contact:   AMA Pro Racing Communications, (386) 492-1014, communications@amaproracing.com

Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Looks Ahead to Round 2 at Road America May 31-June 2

Road America to Host Round 2 of 2013 GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Championship on May 31-June 2, 2013

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 28, 2013) - GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing is pleased to announce that Road America will play host to the Series for Round 2 of the 2013 schedule. The greatest motorcycle road racing talent in North America will arrive at the historic facility in Elkhart Lake, Wis. for the Subway SuperBike Doubleheader on the weekend of May 31 - June 2, 2013. 

 

"Although the TBD event previously scheduled as Round 2 has been removed from the schedule, we are looking forward with great excitement to the Subway SuperBike Doubleheader at Road America," said Michael Gentry, COO of AMA Pro Racing. "The great staff at Road America have been working tirelessly to create the world-class fan experience that their events are known for, and we are eager to arrive in Elkhart Lake, Wis. to contest the next round of the 2013 GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing championship on the weekend of May 31-June 2."

 

In addition to the incredible racing action on tap, a number of activities aimed at providing fans with additional excitement have already been added to the event schedule. Jason Britton, the world's outright leader in motorcycle stunt riding, will be on hand with Team No Limit to thrill fans with spectacular displays of bike control. For fans that are interested in getting a closer look at the circuit, Road America has added a unique 'Salute to Cycles' on-track riding experience.

The Salute to Cycles provides participants with the rare opportunity to ride on the 4.05-mile natural road course and develop a true appreciation for the undulating circuit where pro racers battle it out for glory and fame. As always, pre-race ceremonies will include a fan walk, which allows fans out onto the grid to see the race-prep motorcycles and get rider autographs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Martin Cardenas #36 leads Jason DiSalvo #40 during one of the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Series races at the Road America round of the 2012 Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing season.  AMA Pro Road Racing photo by Brian J. Nelson.

 

 

Other fan activities in and around the facility will include public karting and a Supermoto exhibition race at the Blain's Farm & Fleet Motorplex, as well as Dairyland Classic flat track races on Friday night in nearby Plymouth, Wis.  

  

Fans witnessed a wild and entertaining weekend filled with surprises during Round 1 at Daytona. Josh Hayes, AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Champion for three years running, was plagued with mechanical woes that forced him out of each race. While Hayes' machine faltered, teammate Josh Herrin's did not. Herrin claimed his maiden SuperBike victory in Race 1 by a mere .135 seconds over Martin Cardenas. With Hayes out of the mix yet again in Race 2, Herrin and Cardenas found themselves at the front of the pack for the second straight race. This time it was Cardenas that came away with the win and looked very sharp in his return to the National Guard SuperBike ranks.

  

Cameron Beaubier took home the coveted DAYTONA 200 checkered flag by a landslide and stamped his name among some of the greats that have come out victorious in this historic race. The young Californian rode his Yamaha YZF-R6 with conviction during the 57-lap shootout and certainly positioned himself to be arguably one of the favorites to win the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Championship.

  

Tyler O'Hara captured the AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series victory by a mere .075 seconds over a charging Kyle Wyman. In AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport, it was Stefano Mesa and Tomas Puerta who claimed victories in very close races that required technical skill and tactical maneuvers.

  

Look for this same intense racing action to carry over at Road America when all the stars of the sport return to the track to battle it out on the asphalt. 

 

Tickets for the Subway SuperBike Doubleheader at Road America start at just $20.

For more information, please visit http://roadamerica.com/Races/RaceInformation.asp?id=240. 

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

Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Reviews Season-Opening AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series from Daytona

A pair of Tyler O'Hara's #29 JCR/Scrubblade/Bartel's H-D/RS Taichi-sponsored XR1200s get some attention during the lunch break at the Indy Tire Test on August 11, in preparation for their next event as the undercard of the 5th Annual Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP Weekend on August 17-19 in the 2012 AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series.  O'Hara won his initial event in the then-two year old series at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the previous year's first race, in what was the series' first appearance at The Brickyard.

O'Hara has been one of the top contenders in what has now been rebranded as the AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series in his three seasons of campaigning the spec series events, contending for the crown last season up until the last event of the year, when the championship was won by Michael Barnes.  The series was renamed this year due to the fact that H-D did make the XR1200 available for U.S. sale for the 2013 model year.

At the season-opening round at Daytona eleven days ago, the #29 Bartel's-sponsored rider took the glory again for the first round of the year, leading a pack of ten bikes across the line, all separated by just .792 seconds after the 7-lap main event.  O'Hara beat out 2nd-place finisher Kyle Wyman by just .075 seconds, and the top seven machines crossed the line within less then .5 seconds of the 25 machines that started the final, to ensure another exciting year of racing in the 2013 AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series.

Check out the full press release of the wrap-up to the season-opener below, thanks to AMA Pro Road Racing.

Tyler O'Hara Wins AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series Race at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla (March 26, 2013) - Just about everyone expected the AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series to deliver the kind of wild and entertaining racing action it has in the past as it officially kicked off the 2013 GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing season on Friday, March 15, 2013 at Daytona International Speedway, and did it ever.   While a pack of Harley-Davidson XR1200s dueling in the draft around the high banks was to be expected, few were optimistic enough to predict an eleven-rider pack from green light to checkered flag with head-shaking moments of eight abreast as they crossed the stripe to start another circulation in the hard-fought seven-lap contest.   With no one able to make a break, the race took shape as a strategic affair, each man testing their ability to pick off multiple opponents for one last run to the flag and positioning themselves accordingly on the crucial final lap.                             Tyler O'Hara on the #29 Bartel's Harley-Davidson XR1200 leads the pack during the running of the season-opening round of the AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series at Daytona during the kick-off round to the 2013 Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Series.  AMA Pro Road Racing photo by Brian J. Nelson.     In the end, it was Tyler O'Hara (Eco Fuel Saver/ Scrubblade) who was able to strategically maneuver himself through the field of talented riders and cross the finish line first. The win for O'Hara couldn't have come at a better time as the Californian has had a bitter taste in his mouth all offseason after barely missing the AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Championship.   O'Hara followed the lead of two-time DIS Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson race winner, Kyle Wyman, who cut a path through the pack as he raced to the checkered flag.  Wyman appeared set to make it three-for-three aboard the Revolution Performance/Millennium Technologies machine, but O'Hara had just enough momentum to blast past at the drop of the checkered flag.   "It was crazy," race-winner O'Hara said. "It was almost like riding a Pro Single on a mile. I'm just happy everybody rode respectfully.  I was just riding the rear brake a lot and trying not to hit the guy in front of me. We had the whole team working extremely hard this offseason and to come away with a win is just an amazing feeling."  O'Hara spoke on being given the chance to make up for last season's narrow runner-up championship result, "I've been working extra hard. When something slips out of your fingers like that, it makes you realize how bad you want it. There's a long off-season but that's past us, and we're all looking forward now. It was a good lesson learned. We came prepared and we're in it for the long haul."   Second-place finisher Wyman spoke on behalf of the close quarters he was forced to race in throughout the duration of the race, "I know a little bit about the draft but that was the first time I've ever experienced anything like that in my entire life. That's drafting at a whole different level and it's so hard to figure out where you want to be. I kind of played with a lot of different stuff throughout the race -- I kind of put myself in a lot of different spots to see where I would end up by the end of the straightaway. Twice, I think I came out like fifth or sixth and ended up leading that lap so that's where I wanted to be. However, I'm aware that when you've got 15 XRs all trying to occupy the same piece of real estate, you're going to run into some problems. I'm just thankful that nobody crashed into each other, and we were able to come out of their safely. You could have thrown a tissue over all of us."   Rossmeyer's Harley-Davidson's Bobby Fong kicked off what turned out to be a spectacular weekend by crossing the line in third (he also finished third the following day in the 72nd running of the DAYTONA 200).  "I thought the race went well," said Fong. "It was just a scrap the whole time with all of us banging bars. It was one of the best races I've ever been in. There was a huge group of us up front, and it all came down to the draft on the final lap. I'm happy with how we ran and the hard work our team put in leading up to this race."  Rossiter's Harley-Davidson of Sarasota's Michael Corbino took fourth while Canadian Steve Crevier was credited with fifth on the Motosports Plus Harley after Carlson was DQ'd following the post-race technical inspection. Defending 2012 AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Champion Michael Barnes crossed the finish line less than a half-second behind the race winner, but only earned sixth-place on the Rossmeyer's Harley-Davidson.

Thursday Friday Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series

About GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing:   GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing is the premier motorcycle road racing series in North America and is universally regarded as one of the most competitive road racing organizations in the world. The 2012 schedule consists of 12 rounds of competition on the country's finest road courses. The Series is comprised of four production-based classes: AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike, AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike, AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport and the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series. Learn more about GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing at www.amaproracing.com/rr/. About AMA Pro Racing:   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

Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Reviews Daytona Season-Opening Rounds of AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport Series

Mesa, Puerta Start 2013 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport Season off with Victories

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla (March 26, 2013) - The two AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport races at Daytona International Speedway on March 15-16, 2013 proved to maintain the high level of competitiveness even after some of its finest riders in 2012 graduated to other divisions for 2013.  James Rispoli headed to AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike and Dustin Dominguez joined the AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike ranks. With the departure of these two superstars, the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport class still put on an unbelievable show filled with action packed racing and even a photo-finish.   Stefano Mesa and Tomas Puerta, two likely candidates to come out victorious at Daytona, did just that. Mesa, a Colombian-born American, and Puerta, a Colombian from Medellin, have a healthy rivalry dating back several seasons, and both triumphed in the 10-lap doubleheader at Daytona.   Mesa won on Friday and claimed his second career AMA Pro victory, emerging on top of a drafting battle by just 0.026 seconds.  "It feels great. The MotoSport.com RMR/Triple Crown bike was awesome," he said.  "They make such a great bike. We all rode a very solid race, I remember looking back and thinking anybody could win it. We were all in the draft and it came down to the last lap."                             Tomas Puerta #12 leads the pack during one of the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport Series races at Daytona in mid-March.  Puerta and Stefano Mesa #37 split wins in the season-opening rounds of the 2013 Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Series.  AMA Pro Road Racing photo by Brian J. Nelson.       Mesa's win was hard earned, as he found himself barely ahead of a six-rider pack when he crossed the finish line.  David Sadowski, Jr., Hayden Gillim (Team 95), Matthew Sadowski, Puerta, and Sebastiao Ferreira all finished within 0.274 seconds.   Saturday's race was a chance at redemption for RoadRace Factory's Puerta. After winning the pole and spending most of the race at the front on Friday, he was shuffled back on the final lap and was forced to settle with a fifth place finish. On Sunday, the affable Colombian found himself in a similar situation at the front of the pack. However, this time, Puerta was able to shake the field and pull away on the final lap, eventually winning the second race by 1.03 seconds.  "I made a mistake on the last lap yesterday," said Puerta. "I took a bad angle on the banking on the last lap and couldn't get back to the front. Today, the bike ran great, and I can't thank my team enough. This race was much better."   The battle for the podium was closer, as it took a photo finish to determine who would stand atop it. Young Californian CJ Weaver took second place, rallying from a practice crash to earn his first AMA Pro podium. Corey Alexander took third as the National Guard/Celtic Racing rider pulled ahead of Jeffrey Tigert late in the race.  Travis Wyman (Harv's H-D) finished fifth and David Sadowski, Jr. once again finished in the lead pack, taking sixth.   After claiming victory in the first race, Mesa was in good shape yet again, however, on the last lap, he tried to cut the track and gain an advantage when he missed the chicane and reverted back to an eighth place finish. Miles Thornton (Arai/Sidi/Held) and Miller, Jr. rounded out the top ten. When all was said and done, twelve riders finished within three seconds of Puerta, showing how deep and close the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport class is this year.	Thursday Friday Saturday   Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport Race 1   Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport Race 2

About GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing:   GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing is the premier motorcycle road racing series in North America and is universally regarded as one of the most competitive road racing organizations in the world. The 2012 schedule consists of 12 rounds of competition on the country's finest road courses. The Series is comprised of four production-based classes: AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike, AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike, AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport and the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series. Learn more about GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing at www.amaproracing.com/rr/. About AMA Pro Racing:   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 Reviews the Season-Opening Rounds of the J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship

The rising stars of the AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Championship Series head into turn one at the start of their National main in round 9 of the 2012 AMA Pro Singles Championship at the Peoria TT on August 12, in the first of 12 laps around the confines of the Peoria Motorcycle Club facility.

Justin Reed on the #53L Rich King Racing KTM 450 SX-F appears to have a slight lead from the start, going on to finish in 3rd-place to round out the podium.  First-time series winner Dominic Colindres on the #66Y Weirbach Racing Honda CRF450R hugs the inside line in route to taking over the lead to take his first-ever win in the series while in his first ride for the team.

Jason Isennock on the #30S Highs Dairy Stores Honda (7th-place finish) holds it tight on the outside of Colindres, while Rodney Spencer, Jr. on the #74Z 831 Pinnit Honda (4th-place) looks to have the advantage on Nick Mataya on the #12L Shoe Racing Honda (5th-place), with Kurtis Lee on the #78J TCR Honda (14th-place) appearing to have lost his edge on the outside as the pack bunches up.

Coming on strong in the back are Jake Shoemaker on the #55A Montgomeryville Cycle Center Honda (6th-place), Dan Bromley on the #54A Bob Weirbach Race Team Honda (17th-place), and eventual 2012 AMA Pro Singles Champion Steven Vanderkuur just coming into the shot on the #10J Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda (2nd-place) as they lead the rest of the 18-rider main on a 12-lap romp in the hallowed halls of Peoria.

In it's fourth season of competition, the AMA Pro Singles Championship has turned out some spectacular talent from what is the 'feeder' series of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship.  All of the series' first three champions (Brad Baker '09, Jeffrey Carver, Jr. '10, Mikey Martin '11) are now racing in the big show of The Rolling Thunder Show, and providing some serious competition for their fellow Expert-ranked riders in what is arguably the best racing series on two wheels in the world.

The 2013 AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship season got off to another roaring start at Daytona last week, and saw two new winners in each of the two opening rounds held at the Daytona International Speedway.  And the field of talent is just as deep, if not deeper, for what is the series' fifth-full season of competition.  And the big question now is, who will try to take the crown away from Vanderkuur, or will the series see it's first two-time champion when the season wraps up in Pomona many months from now?

Read on below to see AMA Pro Flat Track's review of the season-openers and see if any of the possible future Grand National Champions finished up at the top where you may have expected them to....or not!

Johnson, Constantine Each Claim Victories in Opening Rounds of AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Action at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla (March 22, 2013) - Michigan's Kyle Johnson (Boughner Racing / Muskegon Motorcycle Gang) got off the line first in the 16 lap AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles first round main event at the DAYTONA Flat Track on March 14, 2013. However, Johnson was quickly passed by a charging Maryland product in Mike Poe (Jason Isennock / CCBC / Blevins).

 

Johnson stayed glued to Poe as he became the meat in a Maryland sandwich, with Jason Isennock, also a native of the "Old Line State," (Highs Dairy Stores / Foard Racing) right on their heels.  On lap eleven, Johnson was able to capitalize on a mistake by Poe to recapture the lead. Once obtaining the top spot, Johnson built his lead and clinched his first ever professional victory.

 

"I was just being patient and waiting for him to make a mistake," Johnson said. "Once I got up on the inside of the leader I got a good drive and took him on the straight away. I couldn't be more satisfied with the way I performed tonight. My bike was unbelievable and everything really came together when it mattered most. I reclaimed the lead late in the race and that was all I needed to close it out."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ryan Wells on the #94B Waters Auto Body Honda appears to have the inside line ahead of Shayna Texter on the #25A Crosley Radio Honda during racing action at rounds 1 & 2 of the 2013 AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship season at the Daytona Short Track last week.  The close, fast racing in the 'feeder' series for the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship saw two first-time winners at Daytona in Kyle Johnson and Jake Constantine and lays the groundwork for what will surely be another great season of racing for the future stars of the sport.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

 

 

Final results 1-10: 1st - Kyle Johnson, 2nd - Jason Isennock, 3rd - Mike Poe, 4th - Brandon Wilhelm, 5th - Rodney Spencer Jr., 6th - Ryan Wells, 7th - Hunter Taylor, 8th - Dan Bromley, 9th - Jake Constantine, 10th - Wyatt Maguire

 

AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles - Round 2

 

Jake Constantine stormed around the outside of fellow New Yorker Ryan Wells at the start of the 16 lap AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles main event and rode to a convincing second round win on his Allphase Masonry & Chimney / Matt's Cycle Center backed Honda. Wells tried to stay close, but the lead grew to over one second by the halfway point and over two seconds by the end of the race.

 

"I can't even explain how I feel right now," said an ecstatic Constantine. "To come down here and win it all is the best feeling in the world. It feels great to be on this podium, let alone be at the top of it! This win was huge for me and my team because of how bad we struggled last night in the opener. I can't thank everyone enough for helping me out; this feeling is so surreal right now."

 

Wells maintained a solid second place position throughout the race, while Thursday night's third place finisher, Mike Poe, worked his way forward taking third place yet again after passing Wyatt Maguire (Kirkland Racing / Pro1racingheads.com) on lap 12.

 

There is a log jam at the top of the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles point standings. Jake Constantine holds a single point lead over Mike Poe with Kyle Johnson and Ryan Wells another point back. Jason Isennock remains in fifth, seven points off the lead.

Final results 1-10: 1st - Jake Constantine, 2nd - Ryan Wells, 3rd - Mike Poe, 4th - Wyatt Maguire, 5th - Stephen Vanderkuur, 6th - Dominic Collindres, 7th - Gerit Callies, 8th - Rodney Spencer Jr., 9th - Brandon Wilhelm, 10th - Kyle Johnson
 

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: Weirbach Racing's Rob Pearson #27 Talks about Savannah, Volusia & Daytona

Rob Pearson works it on the #27 Memphis Shades/Yamaha/Wiseco/K&N-sponsored YZ450F during heat race 3 action at round 9 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Peoria TT on August 12.  After qualifying in the 9th-place spot for the day, the Morton, IL. resident set sail during the heat race to earn a 3rd-place finish to mark his spot in the 18-rider National main event later in the day.  Pearson went on to one of his best finishes of the season to card a 7th-place spot, which helped him to finish out the season as the 11th-ranked rider in the overall standings in The Rolling Thunder Show.

Having been associated with his Yamaha program for the last several seasons in the Singles Series events, 'Bugs' announced over the off-season that he was switching teams and would be riding for the Iowa-based Weirbach Racing team for the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season.  And as most know, Weirbach's program has been headlined by their superior Hondas with which they were able to win the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Championship with, along with then-rider Mikey Martin. 

After running a big handful of the Steve Nace Indoor Dirt Track Series events during the off-season in DuQuoin, IL., Pearson and the Weirbach Racing team were able to get acclimated to one another and get some seat time in for Rob on the team's Honda CRF450R rockets.

The team made their 'official' 2013 flat track season debut during Bike Week activities, and got a chance to see how they would match-up to the rest of the competition.  Competing at the Savannah and Volusia events of the Steve Nace Racing AMA All Star Series presented by Golden Tyre before the season-opening rounds at Daytona, the team got a chance to roll out various pieces of their arsenal in preparation for the upcoming Grand National tour. 

Rob not only spent more time on the team's fast Hondas, but got a chance to sample their XR750 and Suzuki SV650-based Twins rides, and came away with some great news in anticipation of getting their new Kawasaki 650R-based Twin effort rolling before the first Twins Series event in Stockton come May.  And he came away with some great info and confidence that should help both he and the boys in Iowa happy as they get ready for the summer long stretch in the greatest racing series on two wheels in the world.

Check out Rob's insight into their season kick-off in his and Weirbach Racing's press release below, and we'll be keeping a close eye on this great new partnership as we get ready for the full onslaught of racing in the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season.  And a big congrats and good luck to Rob and the team this year, we're looking forward to seeing you guys in action together!


Press release courtesy of Rob 'Bugs' Pearson/National #27 and Weirbach Racing, the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Championship-winning team.

Ottumwa, Iowa -- March 22, 2013

Bike Week 2013 is all finished up and it went over pretty well this year.  I got my first chance to race a twin this season at Savannah.  Dick met me for the practice day and we got the Weirbach Racing XR 750 on the track.

The next day was the ALL Star race, the bike was working well and I finished 2nd place in the heat, we didn’t nail the set up for the main and ended up 7th.  Weirbach’s 450 Honda was strong out of the truck and we ended up with a 3rd place finish in the main on the fast red clay half mile. 

The speed of the Honda makes me think we should have something good for the Peoria TT.  I was right at home on the Harley and I know it’s capable of winning until our Racing Unlimited Kawasaki’s are ready for the track.   

A couple days after Savannah we raced at the Volusia County half mile, another Steve Nace All Star event.  We left the Harley in the truck and worked on Weirbach’s Suzuki SV 650.  This was my first time on the smaller Suzuki twin as I have had some time on the 1000cc model.  I really like how the SV ran and how it jumped off the starting line. 

I got the start in the heat race and stayed out in front of Brandon Robinson and Jared Mees to sit on the pole for the main.  I spun pretty bad coming off the start in the main and ended up coming forward to a 3rd place finish.  I also got my R&R Racing Yamaha on the track for the first time this year at Volusia.  I was running 2nd in the main but left a little too much room and allowed Mees to take me off the bottom of the groove and fall back to 4th.  I have to thank Randy Rothe for the help with the Yamaha.   

Daytona round 1 started great with a 2nd overall in qualifying.  The Weirbach Racing Honda was working good in the heat but I got moved off the groove by Johnny Lewis and headed for a semi.   I worked my way into the main with a 2nd in the semi for a third row start in the main.  The track was getting pretty rough and I got bounced around some but still moved forward for an 11th.

Rob 'Bugs' Pearson on the #27 Weirbach Racing Honda CRF450R is shown during a qualifying practice session at round 1 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season at the Daytona Short Track.  Photo courtesy of Weirbach Racing by Mia Moore/FlatTrack.com's The Fans in the Stands.


The next day round 2, again went well in qualifying with 5th overall.  I had the hole shot in my heat until a first turn crash brought out the red flag.  The restart wasn’t as good for me but I challenged Mees for 2nd on the last lap and ended up direct transferring with a 3rd. 

This put me in the middle of the second row for the main, which was a tuff spot to start.  I got funneled  back pretty quickly.  I made my way thru traffic for a respectable 9th on the smoother but slick Daytona track. 

The best finishes I have ever had in Daytona and just a few points from the overall top ten .
 
I  have to thank Dick and Ted Weirbach for all the help and I am looking forward to getting some time on our new Racing Unlimited Kawasaki twins.

I'd really like to thank my sponsors:

Weirbach Racing, KDM Forrest Products/Michael King, General Engineering, Barnett, Spectro, DynoJet, K&N, Saddlemen, Works Connection, White lightning Retrievers, PMP Sprockets, Motion Pro, Spider Grips, Durelle Racing, Cheney Engineering, G2 Ergonomics, All Balls Racing, Firecoat Custom Powderworks, CP Pistons and Carrillo Rods, Web Cams, Foudree's Graphics, Sunoco, Pro Wheel, Southland Racing/Race Tech, Supertrapp , TNT Honda, Regina Chain, Factory Backing, Hinson, Pit Posse, Jet-Hot, Bell Helmets, Cosmetic gaskets, ProFactoryHoses.com , Engine Ice, Rekluse, and Chicken Hawk Racing,        

AMA Pro Flat Track: Zanotti Racing's Jake Johnson Talks Daytona Season-Openers, the Team's New Kawasaki Twins Series Effort & Testing

Jake Johnson on the #1 Zanotti Racing/Schaeffer's H-D/Southland Pro Suspension/Arai-sponsored Honda CRF450R during the final qualifying session at round 12 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Springfield Short Track, and taking the overall fast-time out of the 48 riders who timed-in for the final National event to be held at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Multipurpose Arena.  Johnson would go on to win his heat race, take a hard-fought 3rd-place finish in the Dash for Cash and then brought home a 5th-place finish in the 25-lap National main.

Johnson and the Zanotti Racing team had a great year by just about anyone's standards in the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season, just not by their's.  After taking back-to-back Grand National Championships in the '10-'11 seasons, the team finished out last year ranked in the 3rd-place spot in the overall standings.  And for the first time in their three years together, also failed to win a National main, although Jake's string of podium finishes from round 3 until just before the Indy Mile in mid-August sure made it look like they were awfully close to knocking down the door.

During the off-season, the team went back to the drawing board, and with the help of one former 2-Time AMA Grand National Champion/3-Time 500cc World Champion by the name of Kenny Roberts, as well as engineering work from former grand prix stalwart Warren Willing, the team set out to right what they considered their wrongs from the 2012 season, by building a Kawasaki 650R-based Twins Series mount.  If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right!? 

And that's exactly what has been moving down the pike for the California-based team, with steps moving closer as the 2013 schedule takes a break after the Daytona season-opening rounds last week.  When the first Twins Series event rolls around in mid-May, this team will roll out their first-ever Kawasaki-based twin in order to lay claim to the #1 plate they rightfully feel belongs back on their machines.

With Jake leaving Daytona in the 3rd-place standings in the championship hunt, it's worth noting that they are off to a strong start.  Johnson rode like a man on fire during both rounds 1 and 2, and his efforts in his heat race, semi and the National main in round 2 on Friday night last week were stuff legends, and champions are made of. 

After colliding with the previous night's winner, Mikey Rush, in their heat race, Johnson was forced to line up for the restarted heat on the back row.  Although only making it back to the 5th-place spot and semi bound, his slicing through the field was amazing.  Coming back to win his semi to qualify for the 25-lap National main, Jake again set sail from the back row and a 15th-place starting spot, to work his way into a 4th-place finish by the time the checkers flew.  Possibly the only other rider with as stellar of a ride that night was put in by first-time winner Brandon Robinson.  And with 2nd-place finisher Brad Baker losing his points for the evening (although he has filed an appeal to try and get those re-instated), Johnson and the Zanotti team left Florida with some very solid points in their run to reclaim that #1 plate.

Check out the full press release below (with some in-house pics from the team of their new Kawasaki effort) and see what Zanotti Racing and Jake Johnson have up their sleeve and planned for the rest of the season, and check out what Jake has to say about their southern swing to kick-start the new season of racing in The Rolling Thunder Show, the best racing on two wheels in the world!


Press release courtesy of Zanotti Racing, 3-Time AMA Grand National Champions.

March 21, 2013

Hi, I am Jake Johnson and welcome to the Jake Johnson/Zanotti Racing race report.

After falling short of our goal of our third championship last year, we re-evaluated our race program from top to bottom during the off-season. I am both excited and flattered that the King, Kenny Roberts has taken an interest in getting us back to the top by helping us develop a Kawasaki for the season and bringing in the legendary Warren Willing to develop the chassis.

(Note all photos: right click, open in new window to view.)

I will be sure to keep everyone updated throughout the year on the progress of this project. This will definitely be a flat track machine that will move our sport forward.

 

Our team owner, David Zanotti and Ted McDermitt worked tirelessly during the off-season rebuilding all of the bikes in David’s extensive stable. Every bike was rebuilt down to the most minute detail. All shocks and forks were broken down and sent off to Jimmy Wood of Southland Racing and rebuilt with the assistance of Race Tech Suspension. After our test session at Perris Raceway in January with Jimmy and Race Tech I am very optimistic that we have moved in the right direction in regards to our suspension!

 

I was very excited leaving frozen Pennsylvania for the sunshine of Georgia and Florida for the season opener.

 

Testing began in Savannah on Wednesday. It was a full day of work as we put in over 50 timed laps with a variety of set up and suspension configurations. It proved to be an extremely productive day with lap times continuing to get better untill we ran out of daylight. Ted definitely had the Harleys prepared for optimal performance.

 

Thursday we drove to Neeses, South Carolina for 450 testing and once again we left feeling we moved forward and better prepared for Daytona.

 

Oglethorpe Speedway on Friday night was, as always, immaculately prepared and extremely fast. Our lLap times were faster than they were on our test day and but we were still looking for a little extra, so we tried one of Chris Carr’s Golden Tyres for our last practice. I was very pleased with the results. We dropped a second off our previous practice session’s time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the heat I got a solid start but Kenny Coolbeth had a better drive coming out of turn 2 than I did. I spent the remainder of the race trying different lines looking for an opening or the mistake that never came. Kenny rode a great race and I was relegated to second.

 

I felt very confident going into the main with a solid starting spot on the front row. Maybe I was too confident. I over-revved the motor and spun the rear wheel all the way to the first turn. In a non-national with only 12 laps to get your job done I had put myself in quite a hole coming out of turn 2 in 6^th place.

 

I moved up to 4^th pretty early in the race behind Kenny Coolbeth who in turn, was all over Jared Mees. Kenny made an aggressive move under Jared but I was just a bit too far back to follow by with him. With laps winding down Jared was freewheeling into the corners and protecting the bottom leaving me nowhere to go but to the top. On the last corner I decided to try to drive around him, and luckily there was traction up there and I was able to make a pass stick on the outside for a hard fought 3^rd place finish. Brandon Robinson rode off with the race and looks to be a force to be contended with this year. He was fast all night.

 

Chris’s Golden Tyres worked great all night. We ran a Goodyear bald in 25 laps on test day but the Golden Tyre that we used in the heat and main (20) laps was still hooked up on the last lap, and the remaining tread looked like it could have gone another 50 laps. I think Chris has a winner there.

 

We left Georgia for Daytona feeling guardedly optimistic. I have had a bit of success in Daytona but I have also had some miserable nights. The teams that hit the set up properly have a big advantage at this track.

 

Night one on Thursday started out well, our lap times dropped in each session and I qualified 3^rd overall with a pole position start in the heat. I got a decent start in the heat but was behind Brad Baker who was fast all weekend. I was fortunate to get by him late in the race winning my heat, earning a start in the Dash for Cash. As the past 3 years have proven, the Dash for Cash points are critical in attaining a championship. I got a subpar start in the DFC but felt good and was able to salvage a 3^rd and some precious points towards the championship.

 

As we prepared for the main we felt confident a win was within reach. It took a few starts to get the National underway with Jethro Halbert going down twice. When we finally got underway I was fighting in the front of the pack and feeling good. About 10 laps into the race the bottom brushed off and the cushion outside the groove started moving higher and higher. This development left me with the wrong set up halfway through the race. I went from a high of running 3^rd at one point, to holding on for dear life and barely holding on to a 7^th place finish. We were disappointed with our results after being fast all day but we just didn’t foresee the changes.

Friday was a polar opposite of the previous night. We struggled a bit in qualifying, then got a great start in our heat going into turn 1 behind the previous night’s winner, Mikey Rush. Unfortunately, Mikey tucked the front wheel right in front of me and I couldn’t avoid him and went down. I was relegated to the 4^th row for the restart and was only able to work my way to 5^th place behind my good friend and brother-in-law Johnny Lewis. This forced me into a semi to qualify for the National. This ended up being a blessing in disguise as we were able to tweak our bike a little more and we were all of a sudden going fast. I got a good start and won the semi with Mikey Rush keeping the heat on all race long.

We made a few more minor changes to the bike and prepared for an uphill battle as I would be starting from the 3^rd row in the main. As it was, the main event turned out to be somewhat uneventful. I got a solid start and kept my head down trying to put in solid laps and move myself forward at every opportunity. After 25 laps I was able to work my way to 4^th and salvage the night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The season opener could have treated me better, but I can’t complain as Daytona’s always a crapshoot. I am leaving Daytona a solid 3^rd place in the points for the 2013 overall championship. I am looking forward to our next race at the new track in Stockton, California. Our Twins program has always been a strength and I don’t see anything on the horizon to change that.

 

I would like to thank David Zanotti, Ted McDermitt, and Jimmy Woods for their tireless support all week.

 

Thanks also to my sponsors and supporters at Arai, Silkolene Lubricants, Vortex, Schaeffer’s H-D, Pinit Motorsports, Southland Racing, Race Tech Suspension, Motion Pro, Sidi, Cometic, K&N Filters, NJK Leathers, Chickenhawk Tire Warmers, Bazzaz, Yoshimura, Moto Café in Sunnyvale, Works Connection, Millennium Technologies, G-2 Ergonimics, Mikuni, Mike Stauffer, Troy Lee Designs