Brandon Robinson Romps the House at the Springfield Mile I Round 10 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship

Brandon Robinson made a pass on his TJ Burnett Farms/USC/James Hart Racing Kawasaki team mate JD Beach on the 6th lap of the 25-lap National main today at the Springfield Mile I and the rest, literally was history as the personable young man from Oxford, PA. went on to run away from the field and make his mark at the Illinois State Fairgrounds-hosted event.

Robinson on the #44 TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki made a clean sweep of the day in the process from the start by taking fast time in qualifying, running away in his heat in what looked like could have been a good battle with Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. on the #2 Harley factory XR before clearing out and winning by just over .6 second, winning the Dash for Cash and then winning the main by just over 5.2 seconds.

Bryan Smith, on the #42 Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports Kawasaki suffered an unknown mechanical in his heat race which forced him to come back and win his semi, started the main from the outside of row three, fighting his way through the pack to the front before running with 3rd-place finisher JD Beach on the #95 Burnett Kawi, 4th-place finisher Willie McCoy on the #59 H-D of Wausau XR and 5th-place finisher Brad Baker on the #12 Dodge Brothers Racing XR750.

To give you an idea of how tight the battle for 2nd through 7th-place was, Robinson's victory of 5.299 seconds over Smith, with Beach in 3rd-place another .237 seconds back, making it a Kawasaki sweep of a mile National, which I believe is a first for AMA Grand National Championship racing.  McCoy, in 4th was .004 seconds in arrears to Beach, Baker another .287 seconds back in 5th, Coolbeth just .014 seconds behind overall points leader Baker and last week's winner Jared Mees on the #9 Rogers Racing XR in 7th-place another .166 seconds back.  That's a spread of just .608 seconds from 2nd to 7th-place which translated to a barn burner of a battle just behind winner BRob44.

Robinson's win makes it his second of the season, after winning round 2 in mid-March at the Daytona Short Track II, and was his fifth podium of the year and sixth top-5 of the season as well.  In the last three weeks and events, he has finished 2nd at Indy and last week's 3rd-place in Virginia for a great streak heading into the last three rounds of the season.

Baker still holds the overall points lead with by 17 points over now Smith, who leap frogged Henry Wiles after Wiles' 9th-place finish on the #17 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Ducati (170-153-149).   Robinson moved up to 4th in the championship in a tie with Mees but holds the tie breaker in wins for the season (142 points.)

Retirees in today's race included Johnny Lewis who borrowed an XR750 after the new motor in his Latus Triumph went south early in the day and made less then one lap before coasting to a stop on the front straight, Steve Bonsey on the #80 Zanotti Racing XR with an unreported mechanical, Rob Pearson on the Weirbach Racing XR whose motor went up in smoke on the 13th lap of the main, Jake Johnson on the other LBM Ducati with an unknown mechanical that dropped him out of the battle for the 2nd-8th places early in the race when coming out of four he went high, threw his arm up and came down with plenty of room to spare to coast to a stop just out of sight in turn one.  Mikey Martin on the Bonneville Triumph also only made 18 laps in the main.

A big congrats to the TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki team for their 1st and 3rd-place finishes today at the Springfield Mile I by totally dominating the day at the rain delayed round.

In the podium shot above while AMA Pro Flat Track official announcer Barry Boone talks to the crowd, team mates Beach and Robinson share the TJ Burnett Farms love after their dominating afternoon at Springfield, while 2nd-place finisher Smith cools off awaiting the podium ceremonies to begin.

Tomorrow's events get rolling again at 11:15 EDT/10:15 CDT with first practice as another full day of racing is on-tap at the mecca of flat track that is the Springfield Mile II in round 11 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship.

You can check out the full results of today's great day at Springfield here, and you can also check out my traveling companion Larry Lawrence's article at Cycle News here for a round up of today's action.

Brandon Robinson Heats Up at the Right Time with AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Springfield Mile Victory

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (August 31, 2013) - On a scorching Saturday afternoon at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Brandon Robinson (TJ Burnett Farms/Kawasaki) turned blazing and consistent lap times at the Springfield Mile to come away with his second career AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles victory. The heat seemed to have no effect on the young star whatsoever as he cruised to a 5.299 second win over Bryan Smith (Crosley Radio/Kawasaki) in the first 25-lap main event of the Labor Day weekend doubleheader.

 

 

 

 

 

Brandon Robinson on the #44 TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki took over the lead from team mate JD Beach on the 6th lap of the 25-lap National main today at the Springfield Mile I and went on to run away with the victory in his second win of the season and fifth top-5 this year.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

 

 

 

 

"Everything came together early on and I was just able to go with it," said Robinson. "My team was phenomenal all week putting this bike together and I'm positive I wouldn't be standing here today if it wasn't for them. My parents weren't able to make it to Daytona when I got my first win but they're here today and I'm thrilled to get this win in front of them. I hope I can do it all over again tomorrow and complete the double."

 

Robinson put on a fantastic display of speed all day, dominating his heat as well as the all-important Dash for Cash. Despite starting from pole position, it initially appeared that the main event wouldn't come as easily for the 23-year-old as a lightning-quick JD Beach (TJ Burnett Farms/Kawasaki) bolted from the starting line to take the holeshot. Beach led a wild pack for the first five laps before a surging Robinson was able to make his move. Once in command of the race, Robinson never looked back, pulling away and building on his lead lap after lap until he took the checkers. Saturday's win marked his third consecutive podium finish in Grand National Expert competition.

 

With Robinson's uncontested victory all but wrapped up long before the main event was over, the best race on track was the battle for second. Starting from the third row on his backup motorcycle, Bryan Smith earned a hard-fought second-place finish after running as low as 12 early in the race. The Flint, Mich. product fought his way to the front of the pack vying for the two remaining podium positions just after halfway. 

  

Beach edged out Willie McCoy (Harley-Davidson of Wausau/Harley-Davidson), last year's Springfield Mile winner, by a mere, 004 seconds to close out the podium. The GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing star has recently rekindled his liking for dirt, earning an impressive four top-five finishes in his last five AMA Pro Flat Track races.

 

McCoy and Kenny Coolbeth Jr. (Harley-Davidson Motor Co./Harley-Davidson) rounded out the top five following a tight scramble on the final backstretch with defending Grand National Champion Jared Mees (Rogers Racing/Harley-Davidson). Unfortunately for Mees, he was the odd man out and was forced to settle with a sixth-place finish.

 

With just three rounds remaining on the 2013 calendar, Smith now sits just 17 points behind series points leader Brad Baker (Dodge Bros Racing/Harley-Davidson) in the overall Grand National Championship point standings, 170-153. 

 

AMA Pro Basic Twins

 

Shayna Texter (Crosley Radio/Kawasaki) put on a clinic in her dominating AMA Pro Basic Twins victory at the Springfield Mile in the inaugural main event for the new class. The 22-year-old female sensation took the lead on the backstretch in the very first lap and seemed to increase her lead by a full second during each of the main event's 12 laps, eventually finishing 11.452 seconds ahead of nearest competitor Jason Isennock (Highs Dairy Stores/Kawasaki). Equally impressive, Texter's best laptime of 35.847 seconds topped the fast laptime of 36.024 turned by Brad Baker in the day's Expert main event. 

 

"I can't thank Racing Unlimited enough for supplying me with the motorcycle today," said Texter. "I was fast right off the bat. I've always dreamed of winning the Springfield Mile and it just feels amazing to get a win here today. There was a lot of controversy as to whether or not I could ride the twin and hopefully I was able to prove some people wrong today. I also want to thank my entire team and everyone that made this happen for me today." In the Basic Twins debut, Texter not only silenced any remaining critics who pinned her as a rider only capable of succeeding in AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles competition, but the Williow Street, Pa. product exceeded the expectations of the large number of supporters even in her corner. Texter's dominating performance likely ranks as one of the biggest wins of her young and promising career and it seems like it's just a matter of time before she makes the permanent jump to the elite Grand National Championship Expert ranks.

 

Starting from pole position, Isennock got off to nightmare of a start, falling all the way back to seventh in the running order before the first lap was completed. Isennock showed tremendous resilience, however, as he battled his way back up the field to finish in second. Last weekend's Colonial Downs victor Cody Johncox (Sunnyside Cycle/Harley-Davidson) was able to maneuver through traffic and finish third. Michael Strable (Bill Built/Kawasaki) and Eric Stump (Bob Rausch Fuel Oil/Harley-Davidson) rounded out the top five, respectively.

 

Next Up

 

AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles returns to the Illinois State Fairgrounds tomorrow, Sunday, September 1st, for the second running of the Springfield Mile. The event will complete what has already been an incredible Labor Day weekend filled with action-packed racing. For tickets and more information regarding tomorrow's event, please visit http://www.illinoismda.com/ or call 217-753-8866.

 

How to Catch the Action

AMA Pro Racing will be live streaming multiple channels of in-depth and behind-the-scenes multimedia content from this weekend's event on the AMA Pro Live streaming video website. AMA Pro Live puts fans in the director's chair, allowing them to choose from a variety of viewpoints alongside Live Timing & Scoring data and play-by-play commentary via AMA Pro Flat Track's official Twitter feed. Log on and tune in at http://www.amaprolive.com/ft/. 

About AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles:

 

AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles is a national motorcycle racing series in North America. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the Series is one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing and is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track racing in the world. The 2013 schedule consists of rounds on the country's finest dirt track courses. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft.

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 presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship Ready to Let 'Er Rip at the Springfield Mile I & II Doubleheader

The race weekend that all fans of the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship have been waiting for is nearly upon us as the stars, teams and sponsors are set to descend on the Illinois State Fairgrounds for the first doubleheader round at the Springfield Mile since the 2008 season.

Riders, teams, sponsors and fans alike are ready to flock to the mecca of AMA Pro Flat Track racing and are set to be treated to a double bill of racing action on Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1 mostly thanks to the deluge of rain compliments of Mother Nature that inundated the area over the Memorial Day weekend that saw the postponement of the summer-opening swing for The Rolling Thunder Show.

With a full compliment of rider entries, at this time second only to the 47 Experts that timed in at round 8 at the Indy Mile two weeks ago, Springfield could get a big bump of late entries once tomorrow is here, adding even more to the big program on tap for the fans ready to take in this weekend's action.

With first practice set to roll out on track at 11:15 EDT/10:15 CDT on both days, it's highly recommended that you get there early to take it all in as the weekend's events are sure to keep you busy and buzzing.  And Stu's Shots will be on hand at Springfield to bring you all of the action after-the-fact and fill you in on who did what, said what and raced what.

In the shot above, Sammy Halbert on his #7 South East H-D XR750 leads this pack of riders trying to catch eventual winner Bryan Smith, including Jake Johnson on the #1 Zanotti Racing XR, Wille McCoy on his #59 H-D of Wausau XR, and Jared Mees on the #9 Rogers Racing XR at the Springfield Mile II on September 16, 2012.

Of note, Sammy is expected to return to the track after his quiet time away from the track recuperating from his Sturgis and Peoria TT injuries, Jake will again be ready to back up team mate Henry Wiles in his third ride of the season on the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Ducati, McCoy worked late into this morning repairing case damage on his self-built XR readying to hit the road from Texas to Springfield, Mees will be hot coming off his Mega-Mile win at Colonial Downs Raceway last weekend while also getting ready to marry his fiancé Nichole Cheza on Sunday at the track, the first Basic Twins Class race will see the future stars of flat track battle it out in their first race in years NOT on a Pro Singles machine and a big list of other things happening over the weekend that, again, will keep a true race fan working overtime trying to keep up.

So get it going and head to Springfield, because if you miss this weekend's events at the house of speed at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, you will miss the race weekend to beat all for the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season.

Labor Day Weekend Doubleheader at Springfield Mile Up Next for AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (August 30, 2013) - The Illinois Motorcycle Dealer's Association (IMDA) will play host to the stars of AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles this weekend, as the series visits Springfield, Ill. to run the legendary Springfield Mile twice in an action-packed doubleheader. The two 25-lap Grand National Championship mains will see the world's top riders battling it out in the final event scheduled east of the Mississippi River in 2013.

 

 

 

 

Bryan Smith #42 leads Sammy Halbert #7, Jake Johnson #2, Willie McCoy #59, Jared Mees #9 and the rest of the field during the Springfield Mile II on September 16, 2012.  Rounds 10 & 11 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season will run tomorrow, Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

 

 

 

 

 

The dirt track racing festivities at the Illinois State Fairgrounds will get started on Friday, August 30th, with amateur races set to begin at 7:00 p.m. local time on the short track located in the multipurpose arena.

 

The stars of the Grand National Championship will then take to the mile-long circuit for Round 10 on Saturday, August 31, with opening ceremonies scheduled for 1:00 p.m. local time. Round 11 will bring the weekend to a close the following day, with opening ceremonies set to begin at 1:00 p.m. local time on Sunday, September 1.

 

No one enters the highly anticipated weekend with a bigger chip on his shoulder than Bryan Smith (Crosley Radio/Kawasaki). The Flint, Mich. product had a third 2013 victory within his grasp last weekend at Colonial Downs before an unexpected letdown dashed his efforts. The veteran started strong and was leading at the midway point before experiencing a mechanical blip that resulted in a lackluster 12th-place finish.

 

Luckily for Smith, rival Brad Baker (Dodge Bros Racing/Harley-Davidson) also had a weekend to forget in Virginia. Baker also fell victim to a motorcycle malfunction, but -- unlike Smith -- he was unable to complete the race. His 19th-place result allowed for Smith to take the lead in the Grand National Expert Twins point standings heading into Springfield.

 

JD Beach (TJ Burnett Farms/Kawasaki) is enjoying a brief gap in the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing schedule and the GoPro Daytona SportBike competitor will be back for more AMA Pro Flat Track action this weekend in Illinois. Beach has shown moments of brilliance in each of his last three GNC outings, recording one podium finish, in addition to fifth- and sixth-place results. If history is any indication, Beach can be expected to challenge for the podium at Springfield, as the Philpot, Ky. native earned a fourth-place result here last fall.

 

Henry Wiles and Jake Johnson -- newly formed teammates on the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports squad -- will be on the attack this weekend. Harley-Davidson-mounted Johnson earned a second-place result in the first Springfield Mile held last year, but the New Jersey native has had a frustrating season so far and will be on a mission to take home his first podium in 2013 this time around. Wiles, known for his impeccable versatility on the shorter, more dynamic circuits featured in Grand National Singles competition, raised eyebrows last weekend at the Virginia Mega Mile with a strong second-place finish on his Ducati. The Winn, Mich. native will look to carry that momentum into this weekend.

 

Defending Grand National Champion Jared Mees (Rogers Racing/Harley-Davidson) comes into the weekend sitting fourth in the Grand National Championship point standings and will need big performances in both miles if he hopes to have a chance at defending his title. Mees recorded fourth- and third-place finishes at Springfield last year and comes into this weekend with a significant amount of confidence after winning at Colonial Downs.

 

AMA Pro J&P Cycles Basic Twins

 

The long anticipated arrival of the AMA Pro Basic Twins, a new class designed to provide AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles riders with a transition to the Grand National Expert level, is finally here. 

 

The AMA Pro Basic Twins class has been designed specifically for Pro Singles riders that have the aspiration of one day competing at the Grand National Expert level. This stepping stone division will provide a way for the Pro Singles riders to get a feel for the powerful twin-cylinder motorcycles at the professional level without the added pressure of competing against the already proven Grand National Experts. 

 

There are 12 riders pre-entered for Saturday's inaugural event and 10 riders set to run on day two, and that number is expected to increase as post-entry is available for the class.

 

Among the AMA Pro Basic Twins contenders already entered, Shayna Texter looks to be the class of the field. The young star already has two AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles victories on mile-long circuits under her belt thus far in 2013 and she was just .008 of a second away from claiming a third win last weekend at Colonial Downs, finishing second behind Cody Johncox. Texter will be mounted on a Crosley Radio Kawasaki EX650 for both AMA Pro Basic Twins races scheduled this weekend at Springfield. Johncox will look to repeat last weekend's result at Colonial Downs, his first win in J&P Cycles Pro Singles competition this season. This time around, however, Johncox will put his single-cylinder Yamaha YZ 450F on the shelf and ride a Harley-Davidson. Johncox claimed victory at the second running of the Springfield Mile here a year ago and the young star will certainly be looking for a repeat performance this weekend. In his first year as a professional rider in J&P Cycles Pro Singles competition, Kyle Johnson is another rider that will make the leap to Basic Twins class this weekend. Johnson has been consistent for the majority of the season and has one win to his credit. The Twin Lake, Mich. product will be mounted on a Harley-Davidson with support from Sunnyside Cycle and Top Gun Construction.

 

Other notable riders slated to compete in the 12-lap AMA Pro Basic Twins mains include Jason Isennock (High Dairy Stores/Kawasaki EX650), Bronson Bauman (Goodwin Racing/Harley-Davidson), Michael Bickerton (DCT/Kawasaki EX650).

  

Fan Experiences

 

Aside from the incredible on-track racing action that the dual miles will provide this weekend, fans that will be in attendance for Sunday's races will get a chance to witness two AMA Pro Flat Track superstars get married on center stage in front of the entire flat track community. Jared Mees and Nichole Cheza will tie the knot at 12:30 p.m. local time, just 30 minutes before Opening Ceremonies are scheduled to commence. The two have had the wedding planned for quite some time now and it will surely be a sight to see as both Mees and Cheza are nationwide fan favorites. For fans who are unable to be in attendance, the entire wedding will be available to view live on AMA Pro Racing's live streaming video website at http://www.amaprolive.com/ft/.

 

After Saturday's AMA Pro Flat Track races, there will be a "Rookie's Class of '79 & Friends After-Party" scheduled to be held in the Orr Building at the fairgrounds, with doors opening at 6:00 p.m. local time. So far, there are already 54 GNC riders - past and present - expected to be in attendance. Notable riders include: Scotty Parker, Ronnie Jones, Wayne Rainey, Chas Roberts, Tommy Duma and many more. There will be autograph sessions, photo opportunities, meet and greets, raffle drawings, a memorabilia auction and live music, with all of the proceeds generated at the event going to the Aid to Injured Riders (AIR) Foundation.

How to Catch the Action

AMA Pro Racing will be live streaming multiple channels of in-depth and behind-the-scenes multimedia content from this weekend's event on the AMA Pro Live streaming video website. AMA Pro Live puts fans in the director's chair, allowing them to choose from a variety of viewpoints alongside Live Timing & Scoring data. Log on and tune in at http://www.amaprolive.com/ft/.

 

Round 10 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles season will take place at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. this Saturday, August 31, 2013, with practice and qualifying set to begin at 10:15 a.m. local time.

 

Round 11 will take place this Sunday, September 1, with practice beginning at 10:15 a.m. local time. For tickets and additional information about the event, please visit http://www.illinoismda.com/ or call 217-753-8866.

 

About AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles:

AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles is a national motorcycle racing series in North America. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the Series is one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing and is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track racing in the world. The 2013 schedule consists of rounds on the country's finest dirt track courses. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft. 

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

TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki Mounted Brandon Robinson Earns 3rd-place Finish at Colonial Downs in Round 9 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship

Brandon Robinson backed up his 2nd-place finish at the Indy Mile from 12 days ago with another stellar run to the podium to take a 3rd-place finish at Colonial Downs Raceway in round 9 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season on Saturday, August 24.

Robinson, aboard the #44 TJ Burnett Farms/USC/James Hart Racing Kawasaki EX650, took the long road home in getting there after sliding out during his heat race at the Virginia Mega-Mile and restarting from the back only to come storming back to make the cut to the 19-rider main in New Kent, VA.

After several riders were eliminated due to the dry and dusty conditions found at the horse racing facility that sits just east of Richmond, VA., the Pennsylvania rider managed to run up front for the duration of the shortened, 18-lap National main to card his fourth podium of the season and his fifth top-5 in nine rounds this season.

The soft spoken rider who lets his right wrist do the talking, enjoyed the new facility that The Rolling Thunder Show christened last weekend, and stated that he had never been to a track that allowed 'full throttle, feet on the pegs' racing that the riders encountered at Colonial Downs, and obviously it worked in his best interest by carding another great spot on the podium.

In the shot above, Robinson and his crew chief, James Hart, roll the #44 TJ Burnett Farms/USC/James Hart Racing Kawasaki out to the line during rider intros at the legendary Indy Mile on August 17, where Robinson earned a 2nd-place finish for his best result since the Sacramento Mile earlier this summer.

Check out our press release below on behalf of the great group of guys on the TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki team to see what BRob44 had to say about the new venue encountered last week in Virginia.

Brandon Robinson & the TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki team take 3rd-place finish in round 9 at the Virginia Mega Mile for fourth podium of the season

Press release – For Immediate Release

Oxford, PA. – August 28, 2013 –Round 9 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season at the inaugural Mega Mile saw the TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki team with rider Brandon Robinson earn their second podium result in as many races as Brob44 brought the team's EX650-based mount home to a 3rd-place finish in New Kent at the Colonial Downs Raceway. The result marked the fourth podium for Robinson and his fifth top-5 of the season.

After a 2nd-place effort at the previous week's event at the legendary Indy Mile, the #44 TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki rider rode to another solid finish, even after hitting the ground in his heat race. “We were pushing a little too hard and just slid out while in the lead,” stated Robinson, “and I'm a little sore, but the bike was good to go and we were able to regroup and make the National main after the restart, and then it was feet up and wide open the rest of the way. I've never been able to ride like that at any other track, so it was a cool experience to be able to do it at Colonial Downs. It was really a fun track to race at.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Henry Wiles, Jared Mees and Brandon Robinson celebrate their 2-1-3 finishes at the Colonial Downs Raceway Virginia Mega-Mile on Saturday, August 24.  Photo courtesy of Brandon Robinson by Dave Hoenig/Flat Trak Fotos.com.

 

 

 

 

As a result of finishing in the 3rd-place spot behind winner Jared Mees on the Rogers Racing XR750 and runner-up Henry Wiles on the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Ducati, Robinson gained a few more points in the championship hunt to remain solidly in the 5th-place position in the overall championship standings with 113 points. Brad Baker still leads the standings with 156 points in spite of his DNF in Virginia, with Wiles leapfrogging around Bryan Smith for the 2nd-place spot (139-134 points) and Mees holding on to the 4th-place spot (128 points.)

Four races remain in the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season, with the doubleheader round coming up this coming weekend over the Labor Day holiday at the Springfield Mile. “We're really looking forward to Springfield, and we'll have all four bikes rebuilt (from the motor loss at Indy) for JD Beach and I to ride. It should be a great weekend for all of us,” continued Robinson.

The TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki team is looking forward to seeing all of the fans at Springfield this coming weekend, and invites each and every one of them to come down to visit with us so we can share the great fortunes we are experiencing this year with all of you. Please be sure to come on by and check us out during the fan walks at the Springfield Mile I & II events on Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1!

Brandon Robinson #44 & the TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki AMA Grand National Championship team would like to thank all of our sponsors for the 2013 season:

TJ Burnett Farms, USC Racing Kawasaki, James Hart Racing, Arai, Next Moto Champion, ATI Physical Therapy, Penske Racing Shocks, AXO, Saddlemen, Protect All, Pro Plates, ISC Racers Tape, Motion Pro, Southland, Matrix Race Products, Race Tech, Lemonds Kawasaki, WKR, Mr. Sign, Bill Built, Royal Publishing, VC Graphix, DAOapparel.com, PMP Sprockets, Spectro Oils, CP Pistons, G2 Ergonomics, Works Connection, K&N, Hartman Photography, Mitchell Mechanical, J&H Repair, Big Dawg Racing, Ricko, Jim Chapman, Tom Scibek, Joe Reynolds, John Y, Mom & Dad

Press release prepared by:

Mike Stuhler/Stu's Shots/Indianapolis, IN 46234 (317) 373-0522

stuman714@yahoo.com

http://stusshots.blogspot.com

 

Round 9 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship Review of the Virginia Mega-Mile

Round 9 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season saw the stars of The Rolling Thunder Show head to the Colonial Downs Raceway in New Kent, VA. for an event that would be held on the longest track that the series has ever encountered in modern times and in recent history.

Measuring 1 1/4 miles in length, the massive track that sits just east of Richmond, VA. is normally used as a horse racing facility, and not only the size of the venue proved trying for the teams and riders, but the dusty conditions that existed even a day after a complete soaking by Mother Nature.

Many a team encountered some sort of problem due to those conditions, and several of the top teams and riders also suffered major mechanical failures, or even multiple failures, throughout the day's events.  Most notable among those were current overall points leader Brad Baker losing two motors on his #12 Dodge Brothers Racing H-D XR750, one of which was suffered during the shortened 18-lap National main which took The Bullet out of the running early and relegated him to a 19th-place finish.  And expected event winner Bryan Smith, on the #42 Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports Kawasaki rocket was also cursed with an unknown electrical malady that caused his EX650-based mount to falter down the stretch, come back to fire and allow him to finish the final, but well down in 12th-place after running away with the early part of the program and opening laps of the main.

But those that did benefit from the downfall of others, as well as prosper on the wide-open track made for quite a show, and the one that came away the top dog on the day was defending AMA Grand National Champion Jared Mees on the #1 Rogers Racing/Blue Springs/Las Vegas H-D-sponsored XR750. 

Mees was able to capitalize on the misfortunes of the early leaders and hang in for his first win of the season, his second mile win of his career (Springfield Mile I 2011) and the first race win for his new tuner, Kenny Tolbert.  After the year that Mees has had in terms of injuries, including the broken arm that his still healing from his practice crash in Ashland, OH. in mid June as well as his dislocated shoulder suffered during the Castle Rock event several weeks ago, The Jammer hung tough to scoop up the fixings at the Mega-Mile and mega event held at Colonial Downs.

In the shot above, Mees can be seen during the final round of qualifying on the #1 Rogers Racing XR at the Indy Mile on August 17.

After a decent but tough weekend overall for the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports team the week previous at the legendary Indy Mile, misfortunes were overcome as the #17 Lloyd Brothers/Ramspur Winery/Foremost Insurance Group-backed Ducati of the 2-Time AMA Grand National Singles Series Champion found the high line and the rev line to pass everyone in the field after being relegated to a fourth-row start due to suspected electrical problems right before taking his sighting lap.

Wiles opted for the fourth-row and lone spot behind the field in case the miss on the big red Duc wouldn't clear out, and found out quickly that whatever caused the big 'L-twin' to misfire quickly cleared out and was Hammerin at full rev once underway.  From that point, Hammerin Hank did what he is famous for, and took off for the front, and only managed to miss the Rogers Racing XR of winner Mees when the field in the 18-lap National had seen the checkers fly, and had actually gotten to within just shy of 2 seconds of The Jammer at the race's end. 

And new team mate Jake Johnson, after having two mounts go south on him at Indy in his heat and semi and being forced to start the Indiana State Fairgrounds-hosted event on a provisional, was able to regroup for a solid 7th-place finish in Virginia in his second ride for the Ohio/Indiana and Michigan-based LBM team. 

Not a bad weekend overall for the boys and with Springfield coming up in less then 48 hours, the rest of the teams and riders now have to wonder if the LBM camp will find their full stride come race time Saturday afternoon.  If they do, there are a couple of expected winners for the SF Mile I & II events that may start to sweat if it does, and could happen.

In the shot above, Henry can be seen talking with one of the LBM crew (middle, left of center) as the rest of the team goes about their duties prior to the first round of practice at Indy on August 17.  Even the team co-owners can be seen getting wild and crazy with the wrenches in the heat of the action, which shows you the dedication these guys have for their riders and team, let alone the sport.  Either that or they want to make sure and keep new crew chief Brent Armbruster (kneeling, second from left working on Jake Johnson's bike) honest and on his toes.

TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki rider Brandon Robinson rounded out the podium at Colonial Downs and made it two-for-two in as many races for landing on the podium after taking a fall in his heat race on the #44 TJ Burnett Farms/USC/James Hart Racing Kawasaki EX650.  While leading in his heat, BRob44 came out of turn 4 and did a low slide that turned him and his mount around in front of the pack.

Thankfully, no harm, no foul as the too tall rider out of Pennsylvania again showed strong form and big b...s to come back in the final to card his fourth podium and fifth top-5 of the season.  "I've never been to a track where we ran wide open, feet on the pegs and throttle pegged like we did at Colonial Downs and I had some fun," stated BRob44 after the weekend's events.  And his results showed after nailing down another spot on the box for the Southern Illinois-based team owned by one of the strongest and biggest fans of AMA Pro Flat Track.

Team owner TJ Burnett, who missed making the trip to Virginia, was in Indy just a day after going under the knife for kidney stone surgery on his return from the Great Northwest swing earlier in the week.  Not expecting to make it to Indy after his surgery, the big man from Illinois was on-hand at Indy and hanging tough for someone who just hours earlier had been in a hospital bed in the Chicago area.  To give you an idea of how tough and dedicated this guy is, he stated that he was more 'torn up about the loss of the motor' at Indy that Brandon suffered then he was about healing up after his surgery.  "I can handle the healing, it's losing the motor like that that hurts me," stated the likeable farmer and flat track team owner during the Indy weekend.  Now that's dedication! 

In the shot above, Robinson and his crew chief, James Hart, line up the roaring Burnett Kawi on the second row at Indy prior to the start of the night's National main on August 17.  Hart, who has done more then his share of work this year in rebuilding lost motors and tracking down several mechanical ills suffered throughout the season, is just as calm, cool and collected as he looks in this shot and does a superb job of keeping BRob44 and the team's rocket roosters in check, and does a darn good job of it.

With the series heading to Springfield for rounds 10 & 11 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season this weekend, it's go or go home time for all of the teams and riders in the greatest racing show on two wheels in the world.  With the two Springfield Miles, Santa Rosa and the season ender in Pomona, it's time to get it together as the season is winding down quickly.

While you ready yourself for one of the biggest and best weekend's in racing, you can also read Larry Lawrence's great article in Cycle News from Colonial Downs to help get you geared up for what will be another stellar weekend of racing at the Illinois State Fairgrounds mile oval.

AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Round 9 Recap Virginia Mega Mile

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 28, 2013) - Round 9 of AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va. last weekend marked the first time ever that the series raced on the 1.25-mile pea gravel surface. Jared Mees (Rogers Racing/Harley-Davidson) took advantage of a Bryan Smith (Crosley Radio/Kawasaki) mechanical issue on lap nine and cruised to his first victory of the 2013 season. "I've had a very up-and-down season with injuries and what not," said Mees. "More than anything I just wanted to win the race."   Brad Baker #12, Jared Mees #1, Briar Bauman #14, and Jake Johnson #5 battle during round 9 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season at the Virginia Mega-Mile at Colonial Downs Raceway on Saturday, August 24.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.      For the first eight laps, it looked as if Smith would run away with his third victory of the season as he at one point controlled a very comfortable lead. Unfortunately for the Flint, Mich. product, his Kawasaki EX650 came up lame out of turn two on the ninth lap and forced him off the lead. After critical seconds had passed, Smith was indeed able to get his bike working again but it was too late. Smith was unable to make up the ground he'd lost and would go on to finish 12th, 25.362 seconds behind Mees. "Virginia was a heartbreaker," said Smith. "Mainly because I thought I had a really good chance to win. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, too. When I went down, one of the first people I saw pass me was Brad (Baker) and I thought to myself 'there goes the championship'. Then when I finally got my bike running again, he went down less than 30 seconds later and it was just a crazy chain of events. I'm really looking forward to Springfield and I have a tremendous amount of confidence in my team to give me the best chance to win moving forward."   Another notable rider to go down because of motorcycle issues was current Grand National Championship points leader Brad Baker (Dodge Bros Racing/Harley-Davidson).   Baker was in serious contention with Mees for second place before Smith sputtered out and wasn't far off the lead when he too had his motorcycle let him down. The severity of Baker's mishap, however, proved to be much worse than Smith's as the Eatonville, Wash. product was unable to continue racing, resulting in a catastrophic 19th place finish and putting his championship title hopes in jeopardy.   Winn, Mich.'s Henry Wiles (Lloyd Brothers Racing/Ducati) charged the field after starting all the way back on the fourth row to finish second in the main event. Wiles got a tremendous start and made his way up to the front group of riders within the race's first few laps. "The Ducati was running good," said Wiles. "I got off to a great start which was a huge factor in me coming in second. I have to thank my team and the slew of guys that are behind me, I can't thank them enough."   Starting from ninth on the grid, Brandon Robinson (TJ Burnett Farms/Kawasaki) followed up his impressive second-place finish at the Indy Mile with a third-place effort at Colonial Downs. A combination of a little luck with Baker and Smith falling out has put Robinson back in Grand National Championship discussions as the Oxford, Pa. native now sits third in the points. "It feels pretty good, especially after my heat crash while I was leading," said Robinson. "It was a long race for sure. I didn't get the best start after missing a shift but I just battled and kept pushing. Jared (Mees) and Henry (Wiles) were riding great, when I got in third position I just wanted to take it easy and land on the podium again."   Starting from the fifth slot, Briar Bauman (Monster Energy Kawasaki/Kawasaki) edged out Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. (Harley-Davidson Motor Co./Harley-Davidson) by .009 seconds to finish fourth for his best performance this season. The Salinas, Calif. product has landed in the top five in two out of the last three main events and looks to be heating up down the homestretch. Coolbeth Jr.'s fifth-place effort was equally impressive as he did so after starting from 15th on the grid.   AMA Pro Grand National results - Colonial Downs, Aug. 24, 2013 1. Jared Mees - Clio, Mich. - Harley-Davidson  2. Henry Wiles - Winn, Mich. - Ducati  3. Brandon Robinson - Oxford, Pa. - Kawasaki EX650  4. Briar Bauman - Salinas, Calif. - Kawasaki EX650  5. Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. - Morris, Conn. - Harley-Davidson  6. JD Beach - Philpot, Ky. - Kawasaki EX650  7. Jake Johnson - Coatesville, Pa. - Ducati 8. Johnny Lewis - Coatesville, Pa. - Triumph Bonneville 9. Jake Shoemaker - Glenmoore, Pa. - Kawasaki EX650  10. Matt Weidman - Westerlo, N.Y. - Kawasaki EX650    AMA Pro Grand National Championship Point Standings   Brad Baker (156) Henry Wiles (139) Bryan Smith (134) Jared Mees (128) Brandon Robinson (113) Jake Johnson (101) Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. (96) Jeffrey Carver, Jr. (84) Robert Pearson (82) Stevie Bonsey (78)   AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles   Luckily for Cody Johncox (Sunnyside Cycle/Yamaha), the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles main event was 10 laps and not an inch further as the New Yorker came out on top in a three-way photo finish between himself, Shayna Texter (Crosley Radio/DFW Honda) and Stephen Vanderkuur (Parkinson Brothers Racing/Honda). "It was great to win the first AMA Pro Flat Track main event held at Colonial Downs," said Johncox. "I got as small as I could on the final backstretch and just prayed they didn't draft by me."   Despite starting the main event from 10th on the grid, Texter fought her way to the stripe to finish second and it could have just as easily been her atop the podium if the race consisted of any more laps. Texter's runner-up performance marks her third straight finish inside the top two in mile-long races. "I unfortunately put myself on the second row to start the main event but I was able to put my head down and go to work," said Texter. "I came up a little bit short but it still is good for the points and I can't thank my team enough for working their butts off all day. I was also nice to have my family in attendance for the first time in a while."   Vanderkuur's third-place finish lifted him to third in the point standings and the defending J&P Cycles Pro Singles champion has given himself a chance to repeat with four rounds remaining. Jeffrey Lowery (Englehart Racing/Honda) and current J&P Cycles Pro Singles points leader Wyatt Maguire (Kirkland Racing/Yamaha) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, after the two were tangled up on the final lap. Lowery edged out Maguire by a mere .013 seconds for fourth place.   There wasn't a lot of movement at the top of the J&P Cycles Pro Singles point standings with Maguire finishing fifth and Ryan Wells (Waters Auto Body/Honda), who currently sits in second place in the points, finished sixth on his Honda CRF450R.   AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles results - Colonial Downs, Aug. 24, 2013   1. Cody Johncox - Attica, N.Y. Yamaha - YZ 450F 2. Shayna Texter - Willow Street, Pa. - Honda CRF450R 3. Stephen Vanderkuur - Davison, Mich. - Honda CRF450R  4. Jeffery Lowery - St Louisville, Ohio - Honda CRF450R  5. Wyatt Maguire - Mead, Wash. - Yamaha YZ 450F 6. Ryan Wells - Albion, N.Y. - Honda CRF450R 7. Justin Jones - Holley, N.Y. - Honda CRF450R  8. J.R. Addison - Bucyrus, Ohio - Honda CRF450R  9. Bronson Bauman - Salinas, Calif. - Honda CRF450R 10. Kyle Johnson - Twin Lake, Mich. - Kawasaki KX450F   AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Point Standings   Wyatt Maguire (121) Ryan Wells (116) Stephen Vanderkuur (102) Shayna Texter (97) Kyle Johnson (91) Rodney Spencer Jr. (89) Dominic Colindres (86) Bronson Bauman (67) Ryan Kearns (60) Jason Isennock (59)   Next Up AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles heads to Springfield, Ill. for Rounds 10 and 11. The doubleheader Labor Day weekend will feature the stars of the sport competing on the legendary Springfield Mile for the first time this year on Saturday, August 31, 2013 and again the following day on Sunday, September 1, 2013. For tickets and information, please visit http://www.illinoismda.com.   About AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles:   AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles is a national motorcycle racing series in North America. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the Series is one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing and is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track racing in the world. The 2013 schedule consists of rounds on the country's finest dirt track courses. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft.

Virginia Mega Mile

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