Stu's Shots R Us: October 2013

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship Year-End Awards Overview

The season ending awards for the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship were handed out after the season-finale round at the Pomona Half-Mile on October 12, and although the monetary totals were not what a lot of people would have liked to see, the sport is still thriving in it's overall adrenaline boosting attraction.

Many will probably bit.h and moan about the lack of the big dollars that once were apart of the sport several decades ago, but the fact is The Rolling Thunder Show has not had the thousands of dollars available in sponsorship that was a part of the sport in the days of the heavy tobacco sponsorship that many of the old fans (like myself) remember. And some will bemoan the fact that 'today's economy' is not a good reason for the lack of dollars, but it's pretty plain to see that it has a big impact on what two and four wheeled sports have and are attracting in the way of corporate dollars, whether they are inside the industry or outside the industry.

But anyone with half a clue will also realize that with so many things going on in today's world, people have more of a choice in ways to spend their hard-earned money, if they are able to do so in terms of entertainment, and a big slice of that money once seen in AMA Pro Flat Track is being funneled to other areas-if the companies that have or were involved in the sport are even spending it in terms of any type of sponsorship or advertising. Yeah, excuses, excuses, excuses, but look at the big picture and you will see-and know as I do as a full-time fan of The Rolling Thunder Show, and who follows it with the utmost of sincerity, seriousness and adrenaline just like I did over forty years ago when I first found it, those excuses are plain old reality, and anyone thinking different simply doesn't have that clue.

And of course the costs of operating are higher than what they were in those days for not only the track promoters and the vendors, not to mention the teams, riders and sponsors of the greatest racing show on two wheels in the world.

But bottom line, at least some money is still being funneled and set aside for the year-end awards, and those pay-outs were awarded after the final checkered flag of the season at Pomona, with many a rider being recognized for their accomplishments throughout the season as a result. And with money being paid out to many of those riders, things have improved over what they were several years ago when no year-end bonuses or monies were paid-out to the riders.

The big winner of the big slice of the pie of course went to your new 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Champion, Brad Baker, who in just his third season as an Expert-ranked rider won his first of what could be many championships in the top level flat track series in the world.

Baker took home the lion's share of the dough this season for winning the Grand National Championship and for also scoring the Singles Series title earlier in the season at the Peoria TT on August 11 while riding for the Dodge Brothers Racing team and campaigning his own Honda in the Singles events.

Bryan Smith was next in line after capturing the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track Twins Series Championship for the second year running for the Howerton Motorsports team, while newbie to the top-3 this season, Brandon Robinson, took the 3rd-place honors for the TJ Burnett Farms team. Robinson was easily the most-improved rider this season, and his stunning double win at the Springfield Mile over the Labor Day weekend was enough to make even the most casual fan take notice of his presence at the top of the heap.

Jake Shoemaker won the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track Saddlemen Rookie of the Year honors, joining former winners Baker, Matt Weidman, Jake Johnson and a host of other riders who went on to bigger and even better things as their careers progressed. Shoemaker's run this season was impressive in that he campaigned a privately-owned Kawasaki in the Twins events with an extremely tight-almost nil-budget, and did so in fine form.

There were several other awards presented this season, so a big congrats go out to all of the riders who took home the hard-earned dollars, as well as to those who didn't but yet fought the good fight throughout the season and added to what is still the greatest racing on the planet (as Dakota Dan Johnson from Today's Cycle Coverage likes to say!)

In the shot above from the Indy Mile on August 17, the top-3 finishers in the championship and at Indy-but in a different order than their season-ending battle-celebrate on the podium after what was another great show at the Indiana State Fairgrounds-hosted event run along with the 6th Annual Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP weekend and the last weekend of the Indiana State Fair shining bright in the background.

3rd-place finisher Brad Baker, event winner Bryan Smith and 2nd-place man Brandon Robinson (being interviewed by one of the golden voices of AMA Pro Flat Track, Barry Boone) all show the emotion of what Indy and most especially The Rolling Thunder Show brings after the 25-lap National main had flown the final checkers for the evening.

Flyin' Bryan had just taken the #42 Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports Kawasaki rocket to the win at the legendary Indy Mile and had captured the hometown win for his team owner, Rick Howerton. Robinson had followed him home on the TJ Burnett Farms/James Hart Racing Kawi while The Bullet had taken the #12 Dodge Brothers Racing/Sefnco Communications H-D XR750 to the final spot on the box.

Just shy of two months after Indy these three men would also celebrate their stellar seasons in what was another great year of racing.

Check out the full press release below to get a better rundown of the awards handed out at Pomona a couple of weeks ago, and be thankful and happy that these guys (and gals) were able to pocket ANY extra dollars for their great efforts this season.

And when you want to bit.h and moan about the lack of money in the sport, get off the couch and go to a race and support the riders, teams and sponsors of the sport to help do something about it, because if you are just complaining and not giving anything back, YOU are part of the problem, and NOT the solution. And you are missing one heckuva great show!

AMA Pro Racing Recognizes Top Performers of 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Season

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 24, 2013) - Following the conclusion of the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles season finale at the LA County Fairplex in Pomona Calif., a year-end celebration was held on victory podium and streamed live as awards and accolades were distributed to the sport's top performers from 2013.

Bryan Smith on the #42 Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports Kawasaki battles with Brad Baker on the #12 Dodge Brothers Racing/Specialty Fabrication Harley-Davidson XR750 during round 13 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship at the season-finale at the Pomona Half-Mile. Smith scored his second Twins Series Championship in a row, while Baker took the overall 2013 AMA Grand National Championship after winning the Singles Series Championship earlier in the season at Peoria. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

For their integral part in the success of the 2013 season, the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles community would like to extend many thanks to all of the sponsors that supported these important year-end awards.

AMA Pro Grand National Championship

Brad Baker (Dodge Bros Racing) claimed his first ever overall Grand National Championship and it took a brilliant final-round effort to do it. Baker's two wins and seven total podiums were enough to edge out a worthy opponent in Bryan Smith (Crosley Radio) by 17 points in the overall standings. The Dryad, Wash. product was recognized for his astonishing achievements this season and was awarded $13,000 and the coveted Grand National Championship No. 1 plate for winning the title.

The following awards were given out on behalf of AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles to the outstanding participants in AMA Pro Grand National Championship competition:

1. Brad Baker - $13,000

2. Bryan Smith - $7,000

3. Brandon Robinson - $4,000

4. Jared Mees - $3,000

5. Henry Wiles - $2,000

6. Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. - $1,000

AMA Pro Grand National Expert Twins Championship

Bryan Smith won two mile-long races in 2013 on the back of his powerful Kawasaki and earned his second consecutive AMA Pro Grand National Expert Twins Championship. Smith's two victories and six podiums lifted him over Brad Baker in Expert Twins competition by 11 points in the standings, adding heat to an already scorching hot rivalry between the two superstars.

AMA Pro Grand National Expert Singles Championship

Brad Baker became a force on the AMA Pro circuit this season as he not only claimed the overall Grand National Championship but also wrapped up the 2013 AMA Pro Grand National Expert Singles Championship as well early on after edging out Henry Wiles by just two points in the standings. Baker's consistency on his 450cc Specialty Fabrication Inc. Honda and KTM this season led to three second-place finishes and his first ever championship of any kind at the elite expert level.

AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship

Wyatt Maguire (Kirkland Racing) and Ryan Wells (Waters Auto Body) found themselves in a tight-fight against each other all season and it was only fitting that the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship came down to a single marker separating the two to decide the winner. Maguire edged out Wells 137-136 in the points to claim his first ever championship to earn the No. 1 plate in J&P Cycles Pro Singles competition for the 2014 season.

The following awards were given out on behalf of AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles to the outstanding participants in AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles competition.

1. Wyatt Maguire - $10,000

2. Ryan Wells - $5,000

3. Stephen Vanderkuur - $4,000

4. Shayna Texter - $3,000

5. Kyle Johnson - $2,000

6. Rodney Spencer, Jr. - $1,000

Additional Sponsor Awards

The Sunoco Go the Distance Award went to the top-four riders that completed the furthest distance in their respective classes in 2013.

Grand National Championship

1. Jeffrey Carver, Jr. (417.55 miles) - $4,000

2. Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. (412.6 miles) - $3,000

3. Bryan Smith (411.6 miles) - $2,000

4. Brad Baker (408.8 miles) - $1,000

J&P Cycles Pro Singles

1. Dominic Colindres (229.45 miles) - $2,000

2. Ryan Wells (227.75 miles) - $1,500

3. Wyatt Maguire (224.5 miles) - $1,000

4. Hunter Taylor (221.75 miles) - $500

The Cortech Performance Edge Award went to the Grand National Championship rider who posted the highest number of "fastest lap of the race" in event finals during the 2013 season.

Winner - Brad Baker (5) - $1,000

The Saddlemen Rookie of the Year Award went to the eligible rookie rider who earned the most points in Grand National Championship competition this season.

Winner - Jacob Shoemaker (66 points) - $5,000

The MotoBatt Hard Charger Award, worth $250, went to the rider who improved the most positions from each weekend's main events.

Final results:

1. Matt Weidman - Daytona Flat Track I

2. Mikey Rush - Daytona Flat Track Daytona II

3. Kenny Coolbeth Jr. - Stockton Half-Mile

4. Henry Wiles - Hagerstown Half-Mile

5. Jake Johnson - Sacramento Mile

6. Henry Wiles - Castle Rock TT

7. Henry Wiles - Peoria TT

8. Jake Johnson - Indy Mile

9. Kenny Coolbeth Jr. - Virginia Mega Mile

10. Bryan Smith - Springfield Mile I

11. JD Beach - Springfield Mile II

12. Johnny Lewis - Flat Track Finals

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

New Jersey Motorsports Park Round Confirmed for 2014 Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Schedule

New Jersey Motorsports Park and AMA Pro Racing Announce September 13-14, 2014 GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Event Weekend

North America's premier motorcycle road racing series to make sixth annual trip to Millville facility

Sent on behalf of New Jersey Motorsports Park:

MILLVILLE, N.J. (October 28, 2013) - New Jersey Motorsports Park's biggest event will be back - again - in 2014. The facility located in Millville, N.J. will play host to the full complement of GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing classes on September 13-14, 2014 , including AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike, AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike, AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport and the AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series.

"GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing has become a fan favorite on the New Jersey Motorsports Park calendar of events," said Brad Scott, NJMP general manager. "We greatly enjoy working with the AMA Pro Racing group and look forward to another great year of racing during the Devil's Showdown."

In 2013, Josh Herrin and Josh Hayes split victories in the headlining National Guard SuperBike class' doubleheader, with Herrin leaving southern New Jersey with a 22 point lead before eventually capturing his first AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike championship following the season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

2014 AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Champion Josh Herrin leads the field on the #2 Monster Energy/Graves Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R1 during one of the SuperBike races at NJMP during the 2013 season. Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing has confirmed that the track will return to the schedule in the 2014 season. AMA Pro Road Racing photo by Brian J. Nelson.

The GoPro Daytona SportBike and Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport Eastern Division championships were also decided on NJMP's 2.2-mile, 14-turn natural road course known as Thunderbolt Raceway during a gorgeous weekend in September.

"The New Jersey round always makes for an exciting weekend," said Michael Gentry, Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing. "It's one of the last events on the schedule every year and this year will mark the sixth consecutive season of competing at the incredible venue. The stakes will be high as there will certainly be championships on the line."

Additional details including fan activities, ticket information, and promotional announcements are forthcoming. For more information, call 856-327-8000 or visit NJMP.com. You can also find New Jersey Motorsports Park at Facebook.com/NewJerseyMotorsportsPark or on Twitter at @NJMP.

About New Jersey Motorsports Park:

Sitting on more than 500 acres in Millville, N.J., New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) is nestled snugly in a beautifully forested region surrounded by scenic rivers and the nearby Delaware Bay. NJMP is conveniently located near Philadelphia, the Jersey Shore, New York and Baltimore, offering diverse and dynamic motorsports attractions. The park includes two world-class road courses, Thunderbolt and Lightning, a motorsports country club membership program known as the "Drivers Club," the Finish Line Pub restaurant, and F1 New Jersey, one of the top karting facilities in the U.S. NJMP is a proud partner of Inspira Healthcare and Tower Hospitality. For more information, visit www.NJMP.com or call (856) 327-8000. GPS Address: 8000 Dividing Creek Road, Millville, NJ 08332.

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 2013 schedule consists of nine 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 Harley-Davidson Series. Learn more about GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing at www.amaproracing.com/rr/.

For additional information contact:

AMA Pro Racing Communications, (386) 492-1014, communications@amaproracing.com

Mitchell State Park in Cadillac, MI. to Host 2014 AMA Ice Race Grand Championship on February 8-9

AMA Ice Race Grand Championship to kick off 2014 amateur racing season

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- October 28, 2013 -- Some of the toughest racers in American Motorcyclist Association amateur competition will line up at the Feb. 8-9 AMA Ice Race Grand Championship in Cadillac, Mich., to determine the first AMA national championships of the 2014 season.

The event, promoted by North American Action Sports LLC, will take place at the Mitchell State Park.

Riders battle at Mitchell State Park in Cadillac, MI. during the 2013 AMA Ice Race Grand Championship event. The 2014 event is scheduled for February 8-9. Photo courtesy of the American Motorcyclist Association by Jen Muecke.

"The winter season isn't the off season for everybody," said AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant. "For many racers, January and February offer prime racing conditions with thick ice and plenty of competition to keep it fun and fast at the AMA Ice Race Grand Championship. We're looking forward to working with NAAS to offer our racers another great event."

The AMA Racing Ice Race Grand Championship features classes for riders from 4 years old to 50-plus competing on bikes ranging from lightly modified off-road machines to full-on, purpose-built ice racers. Riders will battle for AMA national no. 1 plates in a number of classes. The top riders at the event also will compete for the AMA Ice Racer of the Year award, given to the most impressive rider on the ice, while the youth riders will chase the honor of AMA Youth Rider of the Year.

"We are excited to host the 2014 AMA Ice Race Grand Championship," said Rosanna Grzebinski of NAAS. "The town of Cadillac is a great family-friendly location for this event, and you can bet there will be something for everybody to enjoy."

To learn more about the event, call the NAAS office at (989) 871-3356. Pre-entry will be available online at www.bajamx.com on Dec. 1.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling.

For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.

Media contact: James Holter
Phone: (614) 856-1900, ext. 1280
E-mail: jholter@ama-cycle.org

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Road America to Host 35th Annual Event in 2014 Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Season

The Daytona Motorsports Group-led Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing series announced yesterday that Road America, the iconic circuit located in Elkhart Lake, WI. and just an hour's drive north of Milwaukee will return to the series' schedule for the 35th straight year in the 2014 season.

The four+ mile track has been a regular stop on the schedule since the 1980 season and other than Daytona is the longest tenured event on the schedule for the premier road racing series on the North American continent.

In the shot above, Robertino Pietri on the #311 Maltin Polar/Roadracingworld.com-sponsored Suzuki GSX-R1000 leads this mid-pack battle during race one of the AMA Superbike Championship Series stop on the schedule in June 2008 as they come out of the turn 11 kink area at Road America. Bringing up the rear of this four rider battle is Scott Jensen on the #61 Pirelli/BG Oils-backed Suzuki.

Check out the full press release below from the folks on Fentress Blvd. in Daytona to get the dates set on your calendar for the upcoming event in 2014.

Road America to Play Host to 35th Consecutive GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Event on May 30-June 1, 2014

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (October 25, 2013) - Road America remains one of the most iconic circuits on the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing schedule every year and on the weekend of May 30 - June 1, 2014, the 4.05-mile natural road course in Elkhart Lake, Wis. will play host to yet another highly anticipated weekend of competition.

The Series' premier AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike class first began competing on the legendary circuit as part of the 1980 season, the fifth year of competition for the class. Three decades later, the SuperBikes are still the stars of the show and 2014 will mark the 35th consecutive running of the event.

SuperBike star Josh Hayes has made himself at home at Road America over the last several years. The Mississippian has claimed six National Guard SuperBike victories at the track dating back to 2010, including an impressive five in a row.

Martin Cardenas on the #36 Yoshimura Factory Suzuki GSX-R1000 leads Josh Hayes on the #1 Monster Energy/Graves Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R1 and team mate Josh Herrin #2 coming into turn 6 at Road America during one of the AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Series races in June 2013. Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing announced that the Elkhart Lake, WI. circuit will return to the series' schedule for the 2014 season for it's 35th annual visit. AMA Pro Road Racing photo by Brian J. Nelson.

In the 2013 rendition of the event, rising star Cameron Beaubier's only GoPro Daytona SportBike loss all season long came at the hands of Jake Gagne. The two Californian riders split the weekend's victories in what turned out to be a Midwest shootout between two of the sport's most talented up-and-coming riders.

Beaubier will put his skills to the ultimate test this go-around however, as the 2013 GoPro Daytona SportBike champion has graduated to the National Guard SuperBike ranks for 2014, joining top contender Hayes on the Yamaha squad.

Perhaps no one is looking forward to Road America more than Corey Alexander. The Carmel, N.Y. product went back-to-back and claimed victory in both of last year's Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport races.

Steve Rapp's Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series win at Road America in '13 ignited a four-race win streak that eventually led to his capturing of the 2013 AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series championship. Rapp will be looking for a repeat performance when the thundering Harley-Davidson XR1200 machines roll into the Badger State once again.

For tickets and additional information on the 2014 event, please call 1-800-365-7223 or visit Road America online at http://www.roadamerica.com/.

Fans can stay connected with Road America on Twitter (@roadamerica), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/RoadAmerica) and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/raceroadamerica) for the latest news all season long.

About GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing:

For additional information contact:

AMA Pro Racing Communications, (386) 492-1014, communications@amaproracing.com

Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Talks Social Media, Live Streaming & Online DVR/Video Use Gains in 2013 Season

AMA Pro Racing's Live Streaming and Social Media Initiatives Enhanced Fan Experience and Delivered Significant Gains in 2013

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 24, 2013) - Heading into the 2013 season, AMA Pro Racing made a concerted effort to bolster the social media and live streaming offerings covering GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing and AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles events in order to provide new and innovative methods for fans to follow the company's two cornerstone national motorcycle racing series. Thanks to a number of successful initiatives, significant gains have been made and the company is looking to expand their internet-based outreach in 2014.

Live Streaming

Beginning with the season opening DAYTONA 200 and DAYTONA Flat Track races, AMA Pro Racing expanded their online coverage of the events on AMA Pro Live, the live streaming website developed in 2012. Over the course of the 2013 season, 166,854 unique visitors live streamed a total of 45,150 viewer hours via AMA Pro Live.

Located at http://www.amaprolive.com/, AMA Pro Live enables fans to stream live video from the events on any computer, smart phone or tablet. The website offers live timing & scoring data, play-by-play commentary via Twitter and viewpoints from a variety of cameras. In 2012, AMA Pro Live was conceptualized and developed to offer GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing fans a behind-the-scenes experience. Since being rolled out to AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles for the 2013 season, the dirt track community has rallied behind the concept and AMA Pro Flat Track fans accounted for over two-thirds of the viewership this season.

Also new this year, an International Pay-Per-View channel was added to AMA Pro Live, allowing GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing fans outside of North America to live stream fully produced race broadcasts.

Online DVR and AMA Pro Video

Following the kickoff event, AMA Pro Racing launched the AMA Pro Live Online DVR, giving fans access to flag-to-flag, high definition race broadcasts from the 2012 and 2013 seasons. The Online DVR has received overwhelming support from the fanbase, with nearly 100,000 unique visitors accessing the service in 2013, spending an average of one hour on the site during each visit.

Defending 3-Time AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Champion Josh Hayes on the #1 Monster Energy/Graves Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R1 leads the field into turn one during one of the series' races at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course stop in July 2013. AMA Pro Racing saw significant gains across the board in total users of it's online live streaming, DVR/video services and social media postings during the 2013 season. AMA Pro Road Racing photo by Brian J. Nelson.

From the mid-April debut of the Online DVR to date, there have been 350,274 full race broadcasts viewed using the service. The Online DVR for GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing can be accessed at http://www.amaprolive.com/rr/dvr/ while the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Online DVR is available at http://www.amaprolive.com/ft/dvr/.

The AMA Pro Video duo of Cristy Lee and Chris Killen produced 81 videos from GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing events in 2013, interviewing the stars of the sport, producing captivating on-board laps using GoPro Hero3s and capturing some of the best behind-the-scenes moments for fans to view all year long.

AMA Pro Racing's official YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/AMAProVids/) hosts all of the Online DVR race broadcasts and AMA Pro Video content. So far in 2013, the channel has seen a 578% increase in subscribers. Fans are invited to subscribe to the channel in order to keep up with the latest videos at http://bit.ly/1dmSvMe.

Since January, there have been over 1 million YouTube video plays on the channel, accounting for a total of 5 million minutes watched by fans across the globe, a number that is equivalent to 11 years of viewer time.

Social Media

Social media outlets are fast becoming the central pipeline for how people get their information, and AMA Pro Racing has invested heavily in providing exposure for the sport via the social media giants Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

In just under a year, GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing's Facebook page has seen an 88% increase in likes and AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles has increased its Facebook fan base by 147%. On Twitter, @AMAProSBK has increased its followers by 61% while @AMAProFlatTrack saw a 55% increase.

To follow GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing and AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles on social media, please use the following links:

GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing:

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/AMAProRoadRacing
Twitter - http://twitter.com/AMAProSBK
Instagram - http://instagram.com/AMAProSBK
Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/AMAProSBK/
YouTube - http://bit.ly/1dmSvMe

AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles:

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/AMAProFlatTrackSeries
Twitter - http://twitter.com/AMAProFlatTrack
Instagram - http://instagram.com/AMAProFlatTrack
Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/AMAProFlatTrack/
YouTube - http://bit.ly/1dmSvMe

About GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing:

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

For additional information contact:

AMA Pro Racing Communications, (386) 492-1014, communications@amaproracing.com

Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing's 73rd Daytona 200 Scheduled for Saturday, March 15, 2014

73rd Daytona 200 Set for Saturday, March 15, 2014

Sent on behalf of Daytona International Speedway:

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 24, 2013) - The 73rd Daytona 200, America's most historic motorcycle race and the kick-off event to the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing season, will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

"Opening our season at Daytona International Speedway is a source of pride for AMA Pro Racing," said Michael Gentry, Chief Operating Office of AMA Pro Racing. "The racing is always competitive, and we're sure the fans are as excited as we are about starting the 2014 season."

The 72nd Daytona 200 gets underway in March 2013 with eventual winner Cameron Beaubier on the #6 YES/Graves Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R6 on the inside pole. Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing has announced the 2014 race will kick-off the season at Daytona on Saturday, March 15. AMA Pro Road Racing photo by Brian J. Nelson.

The season-opening AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike motorcycle race will feature riders battling the twists and turns of Daytona International Speedway's 3.51-mile road course for 57 laps, 200 miles. In the 2013 Daytona 200, Graves Yamaha rider Cameron Beaubier delivered a flawless performance leading 50 of the 57 laps on his way to a 22.254-second margin of victory.

Beaubier added his name to the long list of motorcycle legends that have conquered the Daytona 200 including Scott Russell, Miguel Duhamel, Mat Mladin, Kenny Roberts, Dick Klamforth and Brad Andres.

In addition to the Daytona 200, the Speedway will host a full complement of GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing classes March 13-15 including the National Guard SuperBike, Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport and the Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series. The AMA Pro Flat Track doubleheader is scheduled for March 13-14.

Kicking off Daytona 200 Week on Saturday night, March 8 will be the prestigious Daytona Supercross By Honda - the only AMA Supercross event in Florida in 2014. The tough and challenging course will once again be designed by Supercross legend Ricky Carmichael.

Tickets for all motorcycle racing events are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for the latest news all season long. Fans can follow the latest on DAYTONA Rising, the $400 million frontstretch renovation at the "World Center of Racing" by using #DAYTONARising on Twitter or visiting www.daytonarising.com.

About GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing:

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

For additional information contact:

AMA Pro Racing Communications, (386) 492-1014, communications@amaproracing.com

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Wrapping Up Brad Baker's 1st AMA Grand National Championship & 2nd Win of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship Season at the Pomona Half-Mile

2013 AMA Grand National Champion Brad Baker was a monster in the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season, in winning two races, garnering eight podiums (one of which his points were taken away due to a protest filed at the Daytona Short Track II round where questionable use of improper front forks caused his finish to be questioned) and 12 top-5 finishes for the 13-round season. His only blip on the radar for his otherwise stellar season was a 19th-place finish at the Colonial Downs round in late August when his motor on his #12 Dodge Brothers Racing H-D XR750 went south during the early going of the National main.

Not bad for the fine young man out of Washington State, who had battled equipment and team issues throughout the 2012 season, and after earning the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Saddlemen Rookie of the Year while earning nine top-5 finishes on the season while piloting the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Ducati in the Twins Series and his own Honda's in the Singles Series. Oh, and not to mention also capturing the 2013 AMA Grand National Twins Series Championship after his 2nd-place finish at the Peoria TT in early August, to go along with his 2009 AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Championship in the first year of the junior series on the schedule.

And now at the ripe young age of 20 years old, Baker has become the 3rd-youngest AMA Grand National Champion (or the fourth youngest if you consider Jay Springsteen had captured the '76-'77 titles at age 18 and 19.) No matter how you spin the numbers, Bad Brad 'The Bullet' Baker has put together some very impressive numbers in nailing down his first of what could be many titles in The Rolling Thunder Show.

In the shot above, Baker and his #12 Dodge Brothers Racing/Sefnco Communications/Specialty Fabrication-sponsored XR750 team head out for the rider intros prior to the Indy Mile in round 8 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season on August 17. Team coach and rider strategist and former AMA Grand National #23 Kevin Atherton guides the immaculately prepared Harley-Davidson out to the line while his father, Dave Atherton, and the man behind the brains and brawn that powered Baker's XR throughout the year follows closely behind with the starter motor. The Bullet pulled off a 3rd-place finish that night, one of his eight top-3s of the season, behind eventual winner Bryan Smith, the man Baker fought with throughout the season and at the final round in what was one of the best and closest battles on a half-mile track in what seems like ages, and 2nd-place finisher at Indy Brandon Robinson, who also battled with the duo to the end for the elusive championship honors.

To read more about the final round of the season, check out this great story from Cycle News' Andrea Wilson, who did a fine job of covering the season-finale on the left coast.

And for a super recap of Baker's season, Cycle News' Larry Lawrence does another fine job of touting the superior year that The Bullet had in 2013 in this story out this week. And a big thanks, again, to LL for putting up with me and dragging me along to the races this season-it was a grand time as it has been for the last four seasons and who makes the race weekends even more enjoyable and fun then what they already are--you are a fine man and a great friend and I appreciate all you have done to help me out and show me the ropes!

Last but not least, a big tip of the helmet and a hearty congrats to Brad Baker, for doing only what two other men younger than him have done in the over 60 years of racing in the AMA Grand National Championship, and for never getting down, letting up or hitting any major bumps (okay, maybe just one at Colonial Downs, but who's counting, right?!) along the way to capture what is surely the first of many more AMA Grand National Championships. You da man dude, so take a big bow as you and the Dodge Brothers Racing team and the Atherton Family deserve it for such super year and for being a wise old man for a wise young man. Great job!

AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Recap: Pomona Half-Mile

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 17, 2013) - The way Brad Baker (Dodge Bros Racing/Harley-Davidson) threw his hands up in merriment as he stood atop the podium following his clutch win at the LA County Fairplex in Pomona, Calif. to close out the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles season and earn the coveted AMA Pro Grand National Championship last weekend, it looked as if he had just reached the pinnacle of his career. However, the 20-year-old from Mead, Wash. appears to have only breached the surface of his talent and seemingly unlimited potential as a professional motorcycle racer in the world's most elite form of dirt track racing.

Brad Baker on the #12 Dodge Brothers Racing XR750 is shown in action at round 13 of the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season at the Pomona Half-Mile on October 12. Not only did The Bullet clinch the championship with his second win of the season at the season-finale round, but he did it by winning the event in total dominating form. Congrats to The Champ on a fine year, very well deserved! AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

Baker's victory last weekend was his second on the season and the single-most important win of his young, yet already illustrious career. The former Saddlemen Rookie of the Year Award recipient has made nothing but huge strides since turning pro in 2009 and entering the Grand National Championship in 2011. Though Baker entered the 2013 season with an already impressive resume that included an AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles title in his debut 2009 season, he still set the bar high for himself this year as there were a few more accolades to be obtained.

Baker produced three consecutive bittersweet second-place main event results to open up the 2013 season and finally broke the win barrier at Hagerstown on July 6 when he earned his first career victory at the GNC Expert level. Baker didn't win again until the finale, when he rode his Harley-Davidson XR750 brilliantly to claim his first AMA Pro Grand National Championship and National No. 1 plate. Altogether, Baker claimed two race wins and six podiums in 13 rounds -- finishing outside the top ten only once -- and in 2013, those numbers added up to #1. The young star will have the iconic number emblazoned on his motorcycle with pride in 2014.

After winning the coveted Grand National Championship crown, Baker said, "When I crossed the finish line for the final time it was almost a surreal feeling. To see the checkered flag and know that I had just won the championship was an incredible moment that I can't really explain."

When asked about his near incident between turns one and two early on, a potential wreck that almost cost him his shot at the title, Baker replied "I was just pushing hard out there. I never enter a race with aspirations of coming in second place. I go 100% every time out and have confidence in my ability to stay within myself and put up good results. Bryan (Smith) gave me a great run all day and the fact that the championship was on the line made it even more competitive. He's a great guy to race against because you know he's going to give you a clean strong effort as well."

Crosley Radio's Bryan Smith finished second in the overall GNC title chase but he did manage to lock up the AMA Pro Grand National Expert Twins Championship. Smith's second-place effort at Pomona was his seventh podium of the season and the Flint, Mich. product had one of his most impressive seasons to date.

Another rider who had an outside shot at overtaking Baker in the overall points was TJ Burnett Farms' Brandon Robinson. Robinson entered the weekend 15 points back after scorching the competition and completing the double with his back-to-back victories at Springfield. Robinson's late season heroics were halted at Pomona, however, as the Oxford, Pa. native never could get himself in position to threaten Baker in the main event. Robinson's ninth-place effort was enough, though, to salvage a career best third-place position in the final overall GNC point standings.

"It was a great opportunity for me to even have a shot at the championship going into the final race," said Robinson. "I struggled a little bit at Pomona but my team and I are definitely happy about the way things went this season. The great thing about it is that I'll be with the same team, TJ Burnett Farms, again next season so that will just be another year of chemistry that we'll have together as we try to roll over some momentum going into 2014."

Rod Lake Racing's Briar Bauman put together his finest performance of the season with a third-place effort at Pomona. Bauman closed out the podium mounted on the only Suzuki in the field.

Defending Grand National Champion Jared Mees (Rogers Racing/Harley-Davidson) finished fourth at Pomona and in the overall standings. Though Mees had a below-average season for his undoubtedly high standards, he did manage to rebound after early-season woes and a mid-season injury that cost him severe ground in the points. Mees finished with one win and four podiums in 2013 and will strive to improve on those results and compete for the overall GNC again next season.

All in all, five different makes of motorcycles made up the top ten in the finale at Pomona, magnifying the increased diversity of motorcycle brands competing for wins in 2013. Jake Johnson finished seventh on a Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Ducati while Johnny Lewis came in tenth place riding a Latus Motors Racing Triumph Bonneville.

AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles

One point. That was the difference between the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship falling on the east coast or landing out west. Mead, Wash.'s Wyatt Maguire (Kirkland racing/Yamaha) edged out archrival and Albion, N.Y. product Ryan Wells (Waters Auto Body/Honda) last weekend by a single point in the final standings to claim his first ever championship. Maguire entered the final bout with a five-point cushion over Wells, a lead that looked to be safe for the majority of the evening until Maguire slipped from third on the grid to fourth with four laps remaining while Wells maintained a comfortable second-place position. Maguire would hold on to finish fourth and hang on to his lead in the points by a single marker, edging out a second-place finishing Wells on the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles leaderboard 137-136.

Aside from the title fight between Maguire and Wells, the fastest man on the track in J&P Cycles Pro Singles competition last weekend was Bucyrus, Ohio's J.R. Addison. Addison (Parkinson Brothers Racing/Honda) led all but one lap in the main event and went on to record his best finish of his career, winning by 7.236 seconds over the field to close out the 2013 season. Addison is most definitely a name to watch out for in 2014 as the 16-year-old is just getting started in what looks to be a promising career for the young gun. He finished 13th in the standings in his first season at the J&P Cycles Pro Singles level and is already looking to improve upon that in '14.

Fan favorite and Willow Street, Pa. native Shayna Texter put together a decent performance in the season's final event, coming in seventh on her No. 25A Crosley Radio/DFW Honda to close out the year. Texter had a stellar year as she finished fourth in the points despite missing two races in 2013. What was most impressive about the 22-year-old female phenom this year is that her best performances came in AMA Pro Basic Twins competition, where she shredded the competition at Springfield, earning two landslide victories on a Kawasaki EX650. Texter's wins came in such dominating fashion that she left zero doubt in anyone's minds that she belongs at the most elite level of competition; and it's only a matter of time before she gets there.

Twin Lake, Mich. product and J&P Cycles Pro Singles rookie Kyle Johnson (Mike Raugh/Kawasaki) produced yet another podium result with a third-place finish last weekend at Pomona. Johnson proved to be one of the better stories of '13, as he catapulted onto the scene at Daytona with his first career victory in Race 1 and refused to let up on the throttle for the remainder of the season. Johnson captured four total podiums in 2013 and went on to finish fifth in the J&P Cycles Pro Singles point standings.

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