2013 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Champion Brad 'The Bullet' Baker Updates Us on His Season's End and Off-Season Fun

For almost anyone involved in the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship, a top-5 finish would seem to be a great finish for the season. But for defending AMA Grand National Champion Brad 'The Bullet' Baker, his eventual 5th-place finish in the final 2014 Grand National Championship standings was a major step backwards after capturing his first championship just over a year ago while winning the 2013 season-finale at the Pomona Half-Mile.

Baker did win his third AMA Grand National Championship race towards the end of the 2014 season with his win at the Calistoga Half-Mile in early October, but the run to the final races of the season was a rough road to hoe for the Washington State resident. After returning from his first trip to Europe where he won the Superprestigio Dirt Track Race while competing against defending 2013 (and now 2014) MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez, Baker's season in America was off to a slow start, and was slowed even further with his arm injury shortly after the season-opening rounds in Daytona.

After recuperating from that injury, Baker's season was dotted with equipment let down's and failures as he was getting his first season of racing under him while riding for the Harley-Davidson Motor Company factory effort, while competing in the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Twins Series events aboard the Milwaukee-based factory XR750s.

But as all champions do, Baker finally got his season heading in the right direction towards the early part of August and worked his way into his final 5th-place finish in the championship tally thanks to his determination and his ability to bring it home in one piece. In the final tally for the season, Baker still ended up with not only his win at Calistoga to his credit, but also had three top-3s, six top-5s and 12 top-10s to show for his hard work during the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship year. Not too bad for a rough year!

Baker also will be heading back to Spain to compete in the 2nd edition of the Superprestigio in early December, and also recently announced he would be adorning National #6 to the front of his mounts for the 2015 season, a National number that hasn't been in use since the mid-80s when last worn by former 2-Time AMA Grand National Champion and NASCAR race-winning crew chief, Randy Goss ('80 & '83 AMA Grand National Champion.)

In the shot above, Brad 'The Bullet' Baker is interviewed on the podium by AMA Pro Flat Track official announcer Barry Boone at the Springfield Mile II in round 14 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship after winning semi race #2 to punch his card to the National main at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on August 31. Baker had just taken the narrow victory in the first consolation race of the day over Scooter Vernon in one of the most closely-fought battles of the day on the #1 Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Screamin' Eagle Racing Parts/Dunlop Tire-sponsored factory Harley-Davidson XR750 in front of an enthusiastic crowd over the Labor Day weekend.

Brad has been kind enough to provide us with another of his positive and rousing updates that he has put together tirelessly for us throughout the season, and you can read all about his year-end exploits and what he has planned for the upcoming future below.

We wish 'The Bullet' the very best of luck in the final month of the year and for his upcoming trip to Spain to show us all proud as he defends his title in Barcelona in the Superprestigio Dirt Track Race on December 13. We know you'll make us all proud man, go get 'em, ride fast and ride safe, and thanks for all of the thrills and great memories!

Brad Baker year-end update

Hello friends! I hope this update finds all of you doing well as we approach the end of the year.

     Things have been going well for me. I have been home for a little less than a month now and it's been nice to wind down a little after the Grand National finale in Pomona, CA. It really hasn’t been too much of a wind down though as I have been racing indoor short tracks every weekend to keep pushing myself and dialing in my 450s for Daytona. I am more ahead of schedule this year than I have ever been in the past, which is awesome! The Brothers Power Sports who have supported me since I was an amateur have stepped up and supplied me with a 2015 Honda CRF450 which will be my 'A' race bike to kick off the season with. Harley-Davidson and I have also been working on our program together for the future. Although nothing is official, things are looking to be really good for us in the upcoming season. Myself being back on bikes that I’m comfortable on and working with people that I know have my back makes me feel really good about the upcoming year!

     The last part of the season ended off really well for me. Winning the second to last round of the GNC series in Calistoga, CA. was a big feat for the year. After breaking my arm really bad earlier this year and having problems getting bugs worked out of the new team really took a toll on a lot of my finishes this year. By the end of the year I was feeling just as strong as I ever have and the team, bikes and I were starting to gel together really well! My win at Calistoga proved to everyone and even myself that I still had what it takes to win races and a championship. It also marked my first win for factory Harley-Davidson and I was able to take my ecstatic mom on her very well earned first victory lap! I followed my performance at Calistoga with an almost clean sweep at Willow Springs Raceway and 3^rd place finish at the GNC finale in Pomona, CA. My strong finishes at the end put me in the top-5 in the year-end championship points. It wasn’t another championship but a top-5 against the best flat trackers in the world after having such a rough season was still a good accomplishment in my eyes. Ending the season off on such a good note has me super excited and pushing hard for next year.

     There is still plenty more events to come in the off season. Next month I will be returning to Barcelona, Spain for the 2nd edition of the Superprestegio race that will be held on December 13^th. The event was a massive success as many people around the globe tuned in to follow the race. This time around it won’t just be Moto GP World Champ Marc Marquez I will be racing against. Riders such as the newly-crowned GNC Jared Mees along with 2-time World Superbike Champion and dirt track enthusiast Troy Bayliss will be joining the roster. There is even a possibility that Nicky Hayden may decide to race. (Editor's note—unfortunately it was announced this week on Nicky Hayden's Facebook page that he would not be able to make the trip due to his recent wrist surgery recuperation.) As of right now with the riders that are scheduled to race there are around 15 World Championships combined among the racers. It is truly shaping up to be an amazing race! After the new year I will be making my first trip to Australia for the Troy Bayliss Classic event. After speaking with Troy in regards to the Superprestegio and the help of my good friend Paul Edwards we were able to get things arranged for me to participate in the race. Australians take their dirt track pretty seriously and this will definitely be a challenging race. For me, both these trips will be an experience of a lifetime and it will help gain massive exposure for myself and all my supporters

     I hope all of you have a wonderful Holiday with your families and I appreciate all the support you have given me in the past and continue to give me for the future. I will try to keep you all updated through social media as much as I can on my upcoming races in Australia and Spain.

---Brad 'The Bullet' Baker

Team Pata Honda's Guintoli and van der Mark Show Positive Results from World Superbike Off-Season Testing in Jerez

News    28.11.2014                 Guintoli and van der Mark complete Jerez test Sylvain Guintoli and Michael van der Mark have completed their first shakedown tests on the Pata Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP during a private test at Jerez in Spain which concluded yesterday afternoon. The four-day test was plagued by rain showers, including a completely wet day on Thursday, which limited track time for the two new Pata Honda World Superbike riders. However, both expressed satisfaction at their first rides on Honda’s flagship production sports bike. Carrying the number one plate for the first time, Guintoli, spent his first laps on the Fireblade getting accustomed to a different engine configuration compared to the machine on which he won this year’s World Superbike championship title. However, the 32-year-old French rider gave his new team, including crew chief Flavio Prodolliet, some valuable feedback and a positive response to the 1000cc in-line four cylinder machine, particularly its refined chassis and handling characteristics. For young Dutch flyer van der Mark it was an entirely new feeling to experience the raw power of a SBK-specification race bike, despite winning the last two editions of the famous Suzuka 8-hour World Endurance race on Honda’s CBR1000RR Fireblade. The 2014 World Supersport champion, 22, started the Jerez test with a minimum level of electronics in order to fully appreciate the full-power Fireblade, with traction control and other rider aids gradually increased during the four days of testing. Sylvain Guintoli It’s been a really positive first encounter with my new team and the CBR. It’s clearly a different machine to what I’ve been riding for the last two years so this test was really all about dialling into the Honda and learning about its strengths. We’ve gone in a big, wide circle to learn how the bike reacts in a number of different situations. So, while the lap times are nothing to jump up and down about, we’ve done the base work here and we have a good direction to go in the next time we test. It’s also been good to get to know the mechanics, the technicians and the rest of the team this week. We’ve had some good laughs and there’s already a great atmosphere in the box. Michael van der Mark Well, when I first got on the bike on Monday it was certainly different, but I’ve really enjoyed this first test! The weather hasn’t been so great but I started on the first two days with no electronics, just to get a feel for the bike and a new level of power. On Wednesday I used a bit more of the electronics and we made some really big changes just to see what each part of the system can do, so that was really useful. I was quite happy with everything this week and also happy with my lap times on old tyres. I also used a qualifying tyre on Wednesday and was able to go around a second faster on that, which is the expectation I think. Now, it’s back to training through December before getting back on the bike in the middle of January, which is going to be a really busy month. Pieter Breddels The week has been really good, even though the weather here in Jerez has not. Sylvain was quite fast in the wet on our final day and we were able to test some different engine maps, as well as a different clutch and chassis settings. In the dry weather that we had on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday, we played with the CBR quite a lot and obviously had to work differently to what Sylvain has been used to. However, we made good progress and came back to some settings that have worked before. Michael was not quite so fast in the wet but his performance and work was really good in the dry and we’re very happy with his first outing on the bike. Neither rider has identified any major problems, so we’re looking forward to a lot more positive progress during a really busy testing programme in January.   Copyright-free images © 2014 Pata Honda

2015 AMA Ice Race Grand Championships to be Held at Lake Koshkonong in Wisconsin on February 14-15

AMA Ice Race Grand Championship to crown first AMA champions of 2015

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- November 26, 2014 -- The American Motorcyclist Association will recognize its first champions of 2015 at the Feb. 14-15 AMA Ice Race Grand Championship. This extreme event, promoted by North American Action Sports (NAAS), takes place on Lake Koshkonong at the Oaklawn Academy in Edgerton, Wis.

"After many years, the AMA Ice Race Grand Championship returns to Wisconsin," said AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant. "The winter months bring out some of the most dedicated racers, and the best of the best converge on the AMA Ice Race Grand Championship. We're looking forward to working with NAAS to offer our racers a top-level program and a great facility."

Race action during the AMA Ice Race Grand Championships is shown from the event in 2014. Photo courtesy of the AMA by Jen Muecke.









A popular feature this year is expected to be the Ice GP portion of the program.

"Due to the growing popularity of the GP-style tracks, we're introducing national-championship racing in Ice GP this year," said NAAS promoter Patrick Grzebinski. "This style of track includes multiple left and right turns, as well as the traditional half-mile track. That's two different tracks, with select classes, mostly big bikes, competing in Ice GP."

The AMA Ice Racing Grand Championship features classes for riders from 4 years old to 50-plus competing on bikes that range 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 Ice Racer of the Year.

For more information about the event, or to register, call North American Action Sports at (989) 871-3356 or visit www.naactionsports.com.

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

AMA Pro Flat Track Releases 'Partial' Schedule for 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Season

AMA Pro Racing late yesterday announced a 'partial' 12-race schedule for the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season that will see returning series regular events at Daytona, Hagerstown, Springfield (which will see both the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend events return), Peoria, Lima, along with several other events seen on the schedule from this season that will wrap-up the year of racing again at the Pomona Half-Mile.

With Indy, Colonial Downs, Knoxville and Grays Harbor missing from the series' schedule from the 2014 season, AMA Pro Racing announced that they are still working on the final four venues for next season.

There has been considerable rumbling going on that Indy may not return, nor Colonial Downs in Virginia. Grays Harbor wouldn't leave much of a dent in the schedule due to the low turnout of fans (and riders) in the only Twins event in the Northwest Territory, and Knoxville wouldn't be much of a factor either due to the lack of fan attendance at the World Capital of Sprint Car racing.

Indy had a smaller audience this season than what has been seen in years past, but even with the Indiana State Fair and the Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP round just down the road it would be a big shame to not see it return after missing several years in the early-mid '00s after track attendance dropped off at the last AMA-promoted event in '99 and the Formula USA-hosted round in 2000 that saw the event declared complete after rain set in and the program running late saw the event called after heat races were run. Family Events, the promoter of the event since it's return to the schedule during the 2008 season, was also bought out by another promotional outfit recently and it has been said that they aren't as interested in running the event again. Real sorry to hear that, and I personally posted on the Indiana State Fair and Indy Mile Facebook pages voicing my displeasure with the rumors that have been circling like sharks at a chum fest. Please take the time to do so yourselves to help let the people in charge know we want the Indy Mile back on the schedule for 2015!

Colonial Downs would be a shame for the fans, as it had a big turnout in attendance, but it has been real rough on the riders and especially the equipment in the two seasons it has been on the schedule at the horse track venue located approximately 20 miles east of Richmond, VA.

In the shot above, riders head to the white flag in the last few feet of lap 24 of the 25-lap National main at the Springfield Mile II in round 14 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season on August 31.

Bryan Smith leads the pack heading towards the stripe on the #42 Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio/Howerton Products-sponsored Kawasaki EX650 as he holds off the charging Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. on the #2 Zanotti Racing/Moroney's H-D/Burt Ives Honda-sponsored Harley-Davidson XR750, while Jared Mees on the #9 Rogers Racing/Las Vegas H-D/Blue Springs H-D-sponsored XR and Jake Shoemaker on the #55 USC Kawasaki/Hot Shot Motors/Hart Racing-backed Kawasaki do their best to make them honest in what was a prime example of the best racing on two wheels in the world at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Smith and Coolbeth would swap spots on the podium, while all four riders would finish within .363 seconds of one another when the dust had settled.

A big tip of the helmet to AMA Pro Flat Track for at least getting a partial schedule out earlier than any other schedule announcements since late November of 2009 when the 2010 schedule was released. Although we all would like to see the schedule released and confirmed complete much earlier in the year, this is the earliest announcement by at least three days in the last five years, so progress has been made, whether you are ready to accept that or not. Great job, and hopefully we see more venues come back and/or added in the four events that are still in negotiations as noted.

You can see the full announcement and race dates below thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track.

Twelve Confirmed Dates Announced as Part of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Schedule

AMA Pro Racing is currently in Negotiations to Add Four Additional Events to the '15 Calendar 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (November 21, 2014) - AMA Pro Racing is pleased to announce 12 confirmed events on the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track schedule. In addition to the events listed below, AMA Pro Racing is currently negotiating with four additional venues and intends to announce the complete 16-race calendar in the near future.   Dirt track motorcycle racing was born in the United States and the series is one of the oldest motorsports championships in America. The first national race sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) was held in 1924 on a one-mile dirt oval in Toledo, Ohio. AMA Hall of Famer Jim Davis won that very first race, setting the stage for three decades of growth and the creation of the Grand National Championship (GNC) in 1954.   As an homage to the 90-year history of the sport and the long list of Grand National Champions, the classes that comprise AMA Pro Flat Track have been renamed GNC1 and GNC2. All of the AMA Pro Flat Track events in 2015 will feature non-stop entertainment and thrilling motorcycle racing action from the world's top dirt track racing talent in GNC1, while the future stars of the sport will earn their stripes in GNC2 competition.   Sticking with tradition, the season will get underway during the Bike Week festivities in Daytona Beach, Fla. with a doubleheader at DAYTONA Flat Track on March 12 and 13. Last year, Briar Bauman and Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. claimed victories at the season-opening two-day event to launch a spectacular season of racing.         Jake Johnson on the #5 Ramspur Winery/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Parkinson Brothers Racing-sponsored Honda CRF450R leads the early going at the Daytona Short Track II in round 2 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship on March 14. AMA Pro Flat Track announced late yesterday a 'partial' schedule for the upcoming 2015 season. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Larry Lawrence.         Next up on the slate are two events that are steeped in history. On May 24, riders will convene at the hallowed Illinois State Fairgrounds for the first edition of the 2015 Springfield Mile. The next week, May 30, the series heads to the West Coast for the Sacramento Mile, where Bryan Smith will try to make it five wins in a row at the Cal Expo Fairgrounds.   On June 20, Half-Mile fans can get their fix when the series returns to Hagerstown Speedway in Hagerstown, Md. Smith won the event in 2014, giving Kawasaki its first ever victory on a Half-Mile in the premier GNC1 division.   The following week, June 27, riders will attack the pea-gravel Half-Mile in Lima, Ohio. Jared Mees, the eventual 2014 Grand National Champion and owner of the National No. 1 plate for 2015, got his first win of the season at the Allen County Fairgrounds last year.   The series will then jump back out west for the first of two TT (Tourist Trophy) events in 2015. Castle Rock Race Park in Castle Rock, Wash., is scheduled to host AMA Pro Flat Track on Saturday, Aug. 1. Henry Wiles, the dominant force of the last decade in TT races, will try to repeat there.   Aug. 4 is the date for the Black Hills Half-Mile at Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City, S.D., which is sure to attract plenty of the motorcycle enthusiasts in town for the 75th running of the world famous rally in Sturgis.   Next up, the riders will take to the sky for the second outing in 2015 with the legendary Peoria TT set for Aug. 16. In 2014, Wiles made headlines with his 10th straight victory at PMC Race Park, and he'll be trying to make it 11 in a row when he gets back to Peoria, Ill. in 2015.   The series then returns to the Illinois State Fairgrounds for the second running of the Springfield Mile. Coolbeth eked out his second Mile victory of the season at the iconic facility during Labor Day Weekend in 2014.   The championship battles will then play out on the West Coast with back-to-back races in California. Riders will attack Calistoga Speedway, nestled in the heart of wine country, on Oct. 3, before finishing off the season in Pomona, Calif. with the Flat Track Finals at the LA County Fairplex on Oct. 10.   Confirmed Dates on the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Schedule   March 12: DAYTONA Flat Track I, Daytona Beach, Fla. March 13: DAYTONA Flat Track II, Daytona Beach, Fla. May 24: Springfield Mile I, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill. May 30: Sacramento Mile, Cal Expo Fairgrounds, Sacramento, Calif. June 20: Hagerstown Half-Mile, Hagerstown Speedway, Hagerstown, Md. June 27: Lima Half-Mile, Allen County Fairgrounds, Lima, Ohio August 1: Castle Rock TT, Mt. St. Helens Motorcycle Club, Castle Rock, Wash. August 4: Black Hills Half-Mile, Black Hills Speedway, Rapid City, S.D. August 16: Peoria TT, PMC Race Park, Peoria, Ill. September 6: Springfield Mile II, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill. October 3: Calistoga Half-Mile, Calistoga Speedway, Calistoga, Calif. October 10: Flat Track Season Finale, LA County Fairplex, Pomona, Calif.   AMA Pro Flat Track will kick off the 2015 season on March 12 and 13 with a doubleheader at the DAYTONA Flat Track. For tickets and information, please visit http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines.   Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.

AMA Pro Racing Renames Classes Beginning with 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Season

An unusual spin was announced earlier this week when the powers that be out of Daytona released a press release noting that the class names for the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship series will be renamed next season to GNC1 (previously known as the Expert class) and GNC2 (previously known as the Pro class since the Pro Singles division's inception at the beginning of the 2009 season.)

The announcement further states that the change was made to better capitalize on the 'sport's rich history' of what is the oldest form of high-speed two wheeled racing on the North American continent and in the world. It was also announced that the former Pro Singles class and the non-points paying Pro Twins class will be merged to better give the junior series riders more experience throughout the season to better prepare themselves for the move to what has previously been known as the Expert ranks.

In the shot above, teams go about getting ready for the first round of practice at the first Twins Series race of the season at the Springfield Mile I on May 25 in round 3 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season.

Brandon Robinson can be seen talking in his #44 USC Kawasaki/Hot Shot Motorworks/Hart Racing-backed Kawasaki pit, while Jeff Gordon (sitting on ground, back to camera) and Dink Glidden can be seen working on the #42 Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio/Howerton Products-backed Kawasakis of rider Bryan Smith. And defending AMA Grand National Champion Brad Baker talks with his team, along with rider/coach/suspension guru and former AMA Grand National competitor Mike Hacker in the #1 Harley-Davidson Motor Company/Screamin' Eagle Racing Parts/Dunlop Tire-sponsored factory XR750 pit area.

You can read the full release below thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track.

AMA Pro Racing Announces New AMA Pro Flat Track Class Names to Embrace History of the Grand National Championship

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 19, 2014) - AMA Pro Racing announced today a renaming of the classes for AMA Pro Flat Track with a nod to the rich history of the world's longest-running and most prestigious dirt track championship and its long list of Grand National Champions.   The previously named Expert division, which has been contested by some of the top motorcycle racing talent in the world since the inception of the Grand National Championship in 1954, will now be called GNC1, while the sport's up-and-comers will compete in a class titled GNC2.   "As we focus on the bright future of flat track racing, we felt a renaming of the classes was necessary in order to embrace the legendary history of the sport," said Michael Gentry, Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing. "We are excited about the future and feel these changes will make the format easier for fans to understand while honoring the Grand National Champions who built this great American sport."   The Grand National Champion's No. 1 plate, currently owned by Jared Mees, will be awarded to the top GNC1 rider at the end of the 2015 season. Just like in the Expert class in 2014, competition will include the thundering twins on Half-Mile and Mile circuits while the riders will compete on single-cylinder motorcycles for Short Track and TT (Tourist Trophy) events.   Jake Johnson #5, Bryan Smith #42, Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. #2, Brandon Robinson #44, Henry Wiles #17 and Jared Mees #9 battler during one of the Springfield Mile races at the Illinois State Fairgrounds during the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season. AMA Pro Racing announced earlier this week that the class structures will be renamed starting with the upcoming 2015 season, to better help 'embrace the sport's rich history.' The new class names will be GNC1 and GNC2 instead of the Expert and Pro ranks as what they have been called since the Pro Singles division's inception at the beginning of the 2009 season. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Larry Lawrence.       At the end of the season, the top rider in the GNC2 class will be crowned in a similar fashion and awarded a No. 1 plate for that division. The riders in GNC2 will mount single-cylinder machines at most stops, as was the standard during the Pro Singles era. In order to provide a stepping-stone platform for the stars of tomorrow, riders will compete and earn points for the GNC2 championship aboard twin-cylinder motorcycles tuned to a specific performance envelope at larger circuits, such as the Springfield Mile.   AMA Pro Flat Track will kick off the 2015 season on March 12 and 13 with a doubleheader at the DAYTONA Flat Track. For tickets and information, please visit http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines.    Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.

MotoAmerica Announces New Hire Nicole Cox to Race Operations Manager Position

Costa Mesa, Calif. (November 19, 2014) — MotoAmerica, the new North American road racing series, is pleased to announce the hiring of Niccole Cox as its Race Operations Manager, effective immediately.   Cox comes to MotoAmerica from MotoWest Grand Prix where she managed all aspects of the business as its Operations Manager. In her new role at MotoAmerica, Cox’s responsibilities are to include, but will not be limited to the following: Rider and team registration, registration and activation of contingency programs, providing race-operation communications to teams, payments of funds to teams, registration of service and support companies, participant credentials, oversee timing and scoring requirements, coordinating MotoAmerica race operations requirements with racetracks (including paddock planning and assignments), and overseeing race operations staffing and equipment needs at events.   “MotoAmerica is pleased to welcome Niccole to our team,” said Chuck Aksland, the COO & Executive Director of Race Operations for MotoAmerica. “Her background made her an ideal candidate to help us develop our procedures and processes. Through Niccole’s previous experience with the MotoWest organization, she has a great understanding of the requirements we need in place to ensure a smooth running event. As with any start-up, there are a million and one details to be worked out in a short amount of time. Niccole has hit the ground running and soon we will be able to release details on rider/team and service company registration options as well as contingency program options for companies interested in partnering with MotoAmerica.”   In addition to her experience working in the industry, Cox is also an avid club road racer.   “With American road racing now in the hands of passionate and driven road racers and enthusiasts, I am certain 2015 will be an exceptional year for our sport and I am elated for this opportunity to work with and learn from the MotoAmerica team,” Cox said. “Our sport is ready for a revitalization, and I am humbled to be a part of this journey.”   About MotoAmerica MotoAmerica is the new North American roadracing series created in 2014. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that includes three-time 500cc World Grand Prix Champion Wayne Rainey, ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland, motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges, and businessman Richard Varner. To learn more, please email info@motoamerica.com 3186 Airway Ave Unit D, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 / / Info@MotoAmerica.com

Weirbach Racing Announces Signing of 2011 AMA Pro Singles Champ Mikey Martin to AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Team for 2015 Season

News out of the Weirbach Racing camp this week came across the wire as the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Championship-winning team announced the re-signing of their former championship-winning rider, Mikey Martin, to their AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship team for the upcoming 2015 season.

The Ottumwa, Iowa-based team, who dominated the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Championship with three wins during their 2011 assault, had been working with riders Rob Pearson and 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Rookie of the Year and 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Champion Wyatt Maguire for the last couple of seasons. After parting company with Pearson after the Indy round in early August, the team had been working with Maguire for the last few events of the season in 2014.

In the shot above, Ted and Richard Weirbach (left and 2nd from left) flank the team's #27 Weirbach Racing/Racing Unlimited-sponsored Kawasaki 750 and 700 during round 3 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship at the Springfield Mile I on May 25.























Martin, who after capturing the 2011 Pro Singles Championship for the Weirbach Racing team, took the leap into the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship for the 2012-2014 seasons with the Bonneville Performance Triumph team. Although he had some defining moments while on the English parallel twins, he never seemed to come to terms with the machines that have been campaigned by the Bonneville Performance team headed up by the Gately Brothers out of California. Martin finished 20th, 17th and 17th in the overall standings of the championship during his three-year tenure with the Bonneville Performance team.

In the shot above, Martin rolls out for the final round of qualifications on the #91 Bonneville Performance/Factory Triumph Racing/Castrol Racing-sponsored Triumph Bonneville during round 14 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Springfield Mile II on August 31.

With this week's announcement, this should be great news for fans of the Iowa-based team and Californian Mikey Martin, while reuniting the championship team that is already familiar with one another, making the transition to the team's new Kawasakis somewhat more seamless for the popular rider, and also helping along in developing the bikes around the 2011 AMA Pro Singles Champ.

You can check out the team's official press release below, as we congratulate the Weirbach Racing team and Mikey Martin, and wish them the very best going forward into the 2015 season!


Press release courtesy of the Weirbach Racing team, the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Champions

2011 Pro Singles Champion Mikey Martin and Weirbach Racing reunited for 2015

Akron, Ohio -- November 10, 2014 -- Previous AMA Pro Singles Champion Mikey Martin signs on as full time rider for the 2015 season with Weirbach Racing of Ottumwa, Iowa. This is the same team and rider combo that captured the 2011 AMA Pro Singles Championship.

 

 

 

 

Mikey Martin #91Y is shown with the Iowa-based Weirbach Racing team while celebrating capturing the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Championship at the end of the 2011 season at the Pomona Half-Mile on the team's potent Honda CRF450R. The boys out of Iowa announced earlier this week the re-signing of Martin to their 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship team. Photo courtesy of Weirbach Racing.

Martin, who stepped up to the AMA Pro Expert Ranks in 2012, had been riding for the Bonneville Performance/Castrol/Triumph team until the end of the 2014 season. Looking forward to being back with old friends, Martin had this to say, “I’m looking forward to riding and working again with Dick and Ted. We seem to communicate well and the results speak for themselves. This time around the competition is much tougher than the last time I rode for them in the Pro ranks. We’re up to the challenge for sure!”

After three years, Martin will also be making a brand change from the Triumph to a Kawasaki power plant. Testing will take place for the team prior to the spring opening race at Volusia in March of 2015. This winter they will be building a 3^rd Kawasaki and rebuilding the two they already have in their stable.

Team owners Ted and Dick Weirbach also stated, “We are very excited for the return of Martin to ride our Kawasakis, we have two years of experience with the 750’s and feel like we can be a threat at all the Grand National events."

Movistar Yamaha's Lorenzo On Top, Rossi 4th in Day 1 of MotoGP Off Season Testing in Valencia

	Grand Prix of Valencia - MotoGP IRTA Test - Day 1 Lorenzo Leads First Day of Valencia MotoGP Testing 10.11.2014 17:00 Local time GMT+1 Sunny Air 18°C Track 19°C Humidity 34%
	Pictures for editorial use only - Copyrights 2014 Yamaha Motor Racing Srl Full photo gallery
	Valencia (Spain), 10th November 2014 After having closed the 2014 season only yesterday, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi were back on the track less than 24 hours later to successfully test the 2015 YZR-M1 machines for the upcoming season. The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team made the most of the beautiful weather at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit by starting the session with the 2014 machine. The data derived from this year's bike was used as a point of reference once they switched to the 2015 M1 at half point. Forty-five minutes into the five-hour long test session, Lorenzo entered the track as the eighth rider and immediately set the pace. After setting multiple fastest laps he led for most of the session with a 1’31.501. After completing seven laps he returned to the pits, but soon increased his lead further to a 1’31.421 when he returned to the track. Upon return to the pits he was pushed back by Pol Espargaro, but 2 hours and 20 minutes into the session Lorenzo retook the lead and soon improved his time to an impressive 1’30.975, making him the only rider to go under the 1’31 mark. With two hours of the session remaining, teammate Valentino Rossi also joined his rivals on the track to have a go on the 2015 bike. It only took the nine-time World Champion five laps to reach the top five and he soon further improved his time to a 1’31.312. This was enough to shoot him up the rankings to third, just behind Lorenzo and Smith, but in front of Pol Espargarò. The Yamaha top four was leading the standings into the final hour of the first day of testing. Back in the pits Rossi got pushed back to fourth as Pol Espargarò improved. Rossi was determined to regain his position and headed back out to post some more flying laps. He was unable to improve in place, but further improved his time to a 1’31.250, just 0.275s behind his teammate.
	Jorge Lorenzo 1st / 1'30.975 / 45 laps "I was very happy to do this test because the weather was very stable all day. There was no wind and this was good because we were able to do all the things we needed try. We tried a lot of things to reduce the weight, especially with the chassis, but it’s important to have the same feeling despite decreasing the weight. Other than that we worked on the setting and some other little things. I am satisfied because I rode the fastest lap time, even better than the times set this weekend during the Grand Prix. I didn’t ride a 1’30 before, so this means the bike is working well.”
	Valentino Rossi 4th / 1'31.250 / 42 laps “Today the biggest news was the chassis. We tried a chassis that’s a little bit different and we didn’t expect a lot of difference, but in reality the bike is better. I felt good and it helped me with braking and entering the corners. Yamaha did a good job and I already was able to go faster than the 2014 race bike, so that’s not bad. Later we tried some other things: a different pipe, some electronics and some other things. It’s been a good day. We have to work on all the areas of the bike but especially we have to try to stress the rear tyre less and keep a better pace when the tyre has done a lot of laps.”
	Massimo Meregalli “After the end of a successful season, today we had a positive first day of testing. We used this session to get a feeling for the bike and to test some small things. Though the differences between the new 2015 bike and the 2014 one are minimal, there were some changes made on the frame and piping. We can be very satisfied with today’s results because Jorge rode an impressive lap in the 1’30’s, which is better than the times ridden this weekend. Valentino also showed a good pace and closed an all-Yamaha top four. This shows that the bike is working well.”
	NOTES
	The extended imagery from today's MotoGP IRTA Test Session at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit (Valencia, Spain), is available on www.yamahamotogp.com.
	TEST RESULTS
	1. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1'30.975 2. Pol Espargarò (SPA) Monster Yamaha Tech3 1'31.118 3. Bradley Smith (GBR) Monster Yamaha Tech3 1'31.204 4. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1'31.250 5. Andrea Iannone (ITA) Ducati Team 1'31.465 6. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 1'31.602 7. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Ducati Team 1'31.644 8. Cal Crutchlow (GBR) CWM LCR Honda 1'31.847 9. Michele Pirro (ITA) Ducati Test Team 1'32.054 10. Yonny Hernandez (COL) Energy T.I. Pramac Racing 1'32.146 11. Hector Barbera (SPA) Avintia Racing 1'32.190 12. Stefan Bradl (GER) NGM Forward Racing 1'32.209 13. Danilo Petrucci (ITA) Pramac Racing 1'32.314 14. Aleix Espargaro (SPA) Team Suzuki MotoGP 1'32.315 15. Scott Redding (GBR) Marc VDS Racing Team 1'32.998 16. Alex De Angelis (RSM) Octo IodaRacing Team 1'33.132 17. Maverick Viñales (SPA) Team Suzuki MotoGP 1'33.268 18. Karel Abraham (CZE) Cardion AB Motoracing 1'33.446 19. Mike Di Meglio (FRA) Avintia Racing 1'33.594 20. Loris Baz (FRA) NGM Forward Racing 1'33.834 21. Eugene Laverty (IRL) Drive M7 Aspar 1'34.320 22. Jack Miller (AUS) CWM LCR Honda 1'34.633 23. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Factory Aprilia Gresini 1'34.919 24. Alex Hofmann (GER) Aprilia Test Team 1'35.646 25. Marco Melandri (ITA) Factory Aprilia Gresini 1'35.959 26. Marc Marquez (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 1'36.181
	CIRCUIT INFORMATION
	Technical Informations Circuit Ricardo Tormo Valencia Location Valencia, Spain Length (m) 4005 Width (m) 12 Turns 14 Turns righ 5 Turns left 9 Pole position right Record Lap Time 1'31.515 Rider M.Marquez Bike Honda Year 2014 Best Lap Time 1'30.237 Rider M.Marquez Bike Honda Year 2013 2013 Results 1st J.Lorenzo (Yamaha): 46'10.302 2nd D.Pedrosa (Honda): +3.934 3rd M.Marquez (Honda): +7.357
	Movistar Yamaha MotoGP c/o Yamaha Motor Racing srl | Via Tinelli 67/69, 20855 Gerno di Lesmo (MB) Italy | yamahamotogp.com