Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Mid-America Speedway in Indy Gears Up for 'Night Before the Indy Mile' Premier Event on Friday, July 10







Indy's Mid-America Speedway's 2015 'Night Before the Indy Mile' Race Return's on Friday, July 10 & to Feature Stars of AMA Pro Flat Track in Premier Open Pro Class Race

Mid-America Speedway – Indianapolis, IN. – June 25, 2015 – In what has become a big weekend of stellar racing, Mid-America Speedway on Indianapolis' southeast side will again be showcasing our 'Night Before the Indy Mile' short track event that will feature the stars of AMA Pro Flat Track who will be returning to the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Indy Mile round on Saturday, July 11.

Sponsored by Jeff Stevens and Harley-Davidson of Bloomington, IN., the evening's races will see returning riders including last year's Open Pro Class winner and 2013 AMA Grand National Champion Brad Baker, and previous Open Pro Class winner and current AMA Grand National Champion Jared Mees. Other riders expected to return to action at the track located on Indianapolis' southeast side at the Marion County Fairgrounds are Sammy Halbert, Henry Wiles, long-time track regular and Morton, IL. resident Rob 'Bugs' Pearson, Jarod Vanderkooi, and Australian Mick Kirkness, among others. This year's big race will see $1500 going to the winner, and Miriam Deitcher's Flat Track Live and D&D Exhaust will be sponsoring a special 'Dash for Cash' race that will provide $1K to win, and an extra $500 to win if the rider is running a D&D Exhaust system. Riders will be competing on 450cc-class DTX-spec machinery and some will be rolling out their framer mounts, just like Mees did to win the 2011-13 Open Pro Class events.  






Jared Mees #9 brought along his Lucas Oil Honda framer during his run of winning the 2011-2013 Open Pro Class at Mid-America, but missed the 2014 event in search of his 2014 AMA Grand National Championship. The defending AMA Grand National Champ is expected to return to the Marion County Fairgrounds on Friday, July 10 to try and win again over a stacked field expected at this year's premier event at the 'little track that could.' Photo by Mike 'Stu' Stuhler/Stu's Shots.
 
 


Other classes that will be contested at Mid-America during the 'Night Before the Indy Mile' race will be Open Quad, Open Bike, Open Amateur, 50cc, 65cc, 80-200 cc (two or four stroke), Youth, 250cc Money, Vet 30+, Vet 50+, Vintage Light (0-350cc), and Vintage Heavy (351cc+). Note that a rider may enter either Open Pro or Open Amateur, but NOT both. And as a special treat Mike O'Neil will be returning again this year with his fleet of 1949 Indian Arrow 250cc racers for a special race that will see former AMA Grand National greats like Charlie Roberts, Indiana's Jackie Mitchell and current AMA Pro Flat Track sponsor Tommy Duma racing aboard the little singles.







Brad Baker #1 shows the form in early practice at Mid-America Speedway in 2014 that he used on his Brothers Powersports Honda CRF450R to win the Open Pro Class during Mid-America's 'Night After the Indy Mile.' Baker, the 2013 AMA Grand National Champion, is expected to return again in less then two weeks to defend his title. Photo by Mike 'Stu' Stuhler/Stu's Shots.
 
 
 
 

Entry fees will be for $40 for the Open Class, $30 for adult classes, and $25 for youth classes. Pit Passes will be $10 for age 10+, $5 for age 5-9, and no charge for age 4 and under. Please note that pit passes will go to $25 at 5:00 PM. Grandstand passes will be $10 for all ages 5+. Pre-entry for all riders in all classes is available on Mid-America's website.

Mid-America will also be seeing Mike Hacker's RIDE Academy return to the track this year for two special class sessions, the first of which will take place on Sunday, July 12 and see AMA Pro Flat Track riders including Baker, Nichole Mees, Kenny Coolbeth, Ryan Wells, Cody Johncox and Hacker as class instructors. The second time RIDE Academy returns will be on August 10 after the Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP weekend. Any rider that commits to the July 10th RIDE Academy at Mid-America will receive a complimentary pit-pass for the Night Before the Indy Mile event on July 10th. The RIDE Academy instructors will also be on hand on July 10th to assist riders with any questions that they may have.

Gates open at 2:30 PM EDT, first practice starts at 4:30 PM and the first heat race will roll off the line at 7:00 PM. We hope to see you there for what will again be another exciting and star-studded evening of racing at Mid-America Speedway's 'Night Before the Indy Mile' event at the Marion County Fairgrounds on Indy's southeast side!

Track info and contact:

Mid-America Speedway at the Marion County Fairgrounds
7300 East Troy Ave.
Indianapolis, IN. 46239 – Jim Terchila/President of Mid-America Speedway/ 317-871-4392 or info@midamspeedway.com

















Press release prepared by:










Mike 'Stu' Stuhler
Stu's Shots
10826 Riverwood Blvd.
Indianapolis, IN. 46234-7686
317-299-2072 H---317-373-0522 C
 

Saturday, June 27, 2015

AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Set to Return to Charlotte Half-Mile on August 29































The riders and teams of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship will return to the Charlotte Half-Mile on Saturday, August 29 for the first race held at the facility since the 2002 season. Round 11 of the season will see The Rolling Thunder Show make a stop at the North Carolina track located at the Charlotte Motor Speedway complex 13 days after the Peoria TT and the weekend before the Labor Day weekend running of the Springfield Mile II.

The track last hosted an AMA Grand National event in 2002 in what was the third year of a three year stop on the tour's schedule just after the turn of the century. 3-Time AMA Grand National Twins Champion Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. is the only top-10 ranked rider still active that was racing the last time the series hit the venue, noted for it's hosting of many World of Outlaws sprint car races over the years.

In the shot above, Coolbeth and the #2 Zanotti Racing/Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Gator H-D-sponsored XR750 team, including championship-winning tuner Dave Atherton and his famous and retired son, Kevin Atherton, head towards the grid during the red flag at the Springfield Mile I over the Memorial Day weekend on May 24, 2015. Coolbeth currently sits atop the series standings with a 5-point lead over defending AMA Grand National Champion Jared Mees (67-62 points) after the running of the Sacto Mile on May 30. Last weekend's Hagerstown Half-Mile was rained out with no rain date available.

Check out the full press release below thanks to SMI Promotions, the promoters of the Sacto Mile, the Las Vegas Finals and the upcoming Charlotte Half-Mile on August 29. If you are in the Charlotte area during the last weekend of August, you definitely need to head to the Charlotte Motor Speedway to see the bar banging action in the greatest racing series on two wheels in the world. I guarantee it will be an event that you don't want to miss!

Press release courtesy of SMI Promotions, the promoters of the Sacto Mile and Charlotte Half-Mile.

AMA Pro Grand National Motorcycle Racing Returns to the Carolinas

Charlotte Motor Speedway to host Don Tilley Memorial Charlotte Half-Mile on Aug. 29
CHARLOTTE, NC (June 24, 2015) – After a 13-year absence the AMA Pro Grand National Championships are returning to Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Half-Mile dirt oval with the Don Tilley Memorial Charlotte Half-Mile on Saturday, August 29, 2015. It’s round 11 of the 15-race series, which features the premier event the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines as well as the GNC2 support race. This marks the first time the series has raced at the Dirt Track at Charlotte since 2002, when Kevin Varnes won the Charlotte AMA Grand National on a Harley-Davidson.
This race is named after legendary North Carolina Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealer and race bike builder Don Tilley, who tragically died in an accident last August.
The Dirt Track at Charlotte is a half-mile clay oval on the Charlotte Motor Speedway complex. The Don Tilley Memorial is a return to the early roots of the facility. The track was built in 2000 and one of its first premier events was an AMA Grand National on July 22, 2000, won by Mike Hacker on a Saddlemen Racing/Dodge Brothers Harley-Davidson XR750. The Dirt Track at Charlotte hosted three AMA Grand Nationals from 2000 to 2002. Those nationals were won by Hacker (2000), the late great North Carolina motorcycle racing legend Will Davis (2001) and Varnes (2002).






Kenny Coolbeth (No. 2), of Center Hill, Florida, is one of the few riders still in the series today who raced at Charlotte back in the early 2000s. (Larry Lawrence photo/SMI)
 
 
 
After four rounds so far this season it’s Kenny Coolbeth, Jr., leading the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines. Coolbeth, of Center Hill, Florida, is one of the few riders still in the series today who raced at Charlotte back in the early 2000s. Coolbeth leads defending series champ Jared Mees. Both Coolbeth and Mees race Harley-Davidsons. The surprise rider in third in the standings is Triumph rider Brandon Robinson. Robinson is looking to give the Triumph brand its first AMA Grand National victory in 36 years.
The Tilley Memorial is one of the races Coolbeth has circled on his calendar.
“I’m really looking forward to coming back to Charlotte,” Coolbeth said. “I remember it as one of the best Half-Mile tracks we ever visited. The thing that’s really nice about it is that it’s a racy track, there were a lot of different lines and a lot of good passing opportunities.”
Coolbeth twice finished runner-up at Charlotte and he hopes that in the return to the track he can finally score the victory that he was so close to earning.
“I finished second to Will Davis and then the next year to Kevin Varnes,” Coolbeth said. “It would be nice to get a win there. I love the track and it suits my style, so I think I’ll have as good a shot at it as anyone.”
Coolbeth discounts any notion that since he’s raced Charlotte before that he’ll have an advantage.
“It’s been a long time ago now,” he said. “And all the riders pick up on tracks so fast. I don’t think I’ll have any advantage. It’s a wide-open, fast track, so any of a number of riders could do well there. It should be some good racing.”
Coolbeth went on to say he also looks forward to coming back to North Carolina, calling the area the home of some of the most enthusiastic racing fans in the country.
The AMA Pro Grand National Championship series is one of the longest running motorcycle racing championships in the world. Known by its fans as flat track racing, many consider this form of motorcycle racing the most exciting on the planet. On the straightaways of the Dirt Track at Charlotte top speeds can reach 120 miles per hour running just inches apart, then pitching their machines into the turns and controlling their arc by throttling up and spinning their bike’s rear wheel, all of this on a racing surface made of dirt! Flat track racing has produced many of America’s Motorcycle Grand Prix Champions such as Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Kenny Roberts, Jr. and Nicky Hayden.
Practice for the Don Tilley Memorial Charlotte Half-Mile begins at on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 2:00 p.m. and opening ceremonies for the evening program kick off at 6:00 p.m.
---
*** 2015 Ticket Information: Ticket information is available for the Aug. 29, 2015 Don Tilley Memorial Charlotte Half-Mile at www.charlottehalfmile.com
Fans can order tickets online at http://www.charlottehalfmile.com/tickets/, by calling the Toll Free Ticket Hotline 1-800-745-3000.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are available. Contact the Don Tilley Memorial Charlotte Half-Mile Group Sales Department at info@charlottehalfmile.com  or call 1-844-722-6453 for more information.
###
Larry Lawrence
c. (317) 332-3899
SMI Media Rep
Sacramento Mile - May 30
Charlotte Half Mile - Aug 29
Las Vegas Finals - Nov 20





AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Round at the Lima Half-Mile Postponed to Sunday, June 28









AMA Pro Flat Track Lima Half-Mile postponed until Sunday, June 28

LIMA, Ohio (June 27, 2015) - The Lima Half-Mile, originally scheduled for today, June 27, has been rescheduled for tomorrow, Sunday, June 28, due to inclement weather.
 
Practice and qualifying for both the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines and GNC2 classes will begin tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET (7 a.m. PT), with opening ceremonies set to begin at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) and heat races scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. PT).
 
"The AMA Pro Flat Track staff and our partners at the Allen County Fairgrounds determined it would be best to run the Lima Half-Mile tomorrow given the circumstances and the condition of the track's surface today," said Steve Morehead, Flat Track Senior Race Manager. "It's not likely that we would have been able to get the track in racing condition at any point this afternoon but we're confident tomorrow's forecast will allow us to put on an excellent show for our fans."
 
Live streaming of the Lima Half-Mile will begin with practice and qualifying tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. ET (7 a.m. PT) on www.FansChoice.tv.
 
 
 
 
 
Heavy rains in the area left standing water around the Lima Half-Mile at the Allen County Fairgrounds, and with persistent heavy mist in the area AMA Pro Flat Track Senior Race Manager Steve Morehead made the correct call to postpone today's event until tomorrow. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.
 
 
 
 
"I'm glad there is a rain date, and I'm anxious for tomorrow," said current Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines points leader, Kenny Coolbeth Jr. "I'm looking forward to getting the track dried out and going racing."
 
"The weather is supposed to clear and be sunny tomorrow, and we'll have time to prep the racetrack properly," said Dean Gallup, the promoter of the Lima Half-Mile. "We should have a really good program tomorrow afternoon."
 
Jared Mees will be going for his second straight Lima victory on his No. 1 Las Vegas Harley-Davidson machine, but he will be challenged by a field full of the best dirt track motorcycle racers in the world, including Coolbeth, Bryan Smith, Brad Baker and more.
 
For more information on the event, please visit www.ohionationalchampionship.net.
 
How to Watch:

FansChoice.tv is the official home for live streaming coverage of AMA Pro Flat Track events. The site also provides coverage of IMSA's development and single-make series, and NASCAR's touring and weekly series. 

About AMA Pro Flat Track:

AMA Pro Flat Track is a national motorcycle racing series in North America and is considered one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the Series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track racing in the world. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, 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






Legendary Racer Dave Aldana to Act as Grand Marshal for AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio July 10-12













































Legendary racer, multi-race winner and all around nice guy Dave 'Bones' Aldana has been chosen to serve as the Grand Marshal at the upcoming AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days celebration being held again at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on July 10-12.

Aldana, best known to most fans these days as the guy in the skeleton leathers, will be making the trip to Lexington, OH. to oversee and serve at the AMA's annual vintage meet again being held at one of the premier facilities in the United States.

In the shot above, Aldana can be seen during the rider's meeting at Mid-America Speedway in Indianapolis during the track's 'Night After the Indy Mile' on Saturday, August 9, 2014. Aldana was on hand to compete on his fleet of Honda XL350s and Bultaco 250 during the 2nd Annual AMA Vintage races held at the 'little track that could' on Indianapolis' southeast side of town at the Marion County Fairgrounds. Aldana is expected to return to this year's 3rd Annual gathering at Mid-America in early August to defend his wins in the Vintage 60+ class.

Check out the full press release below from the AMA and if you are in the MId-Ohio area over the July 10-12 weekend, be sure to look Dave up and tell him that Stu's Shots says 'Hi' and that we again are looking forward to seeing him here in Indy in a few short weeks!







Hall of Famer Dave Aldana to serve as grand marshal of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days


PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- June 25, 2015 -- One of motorcycle racing's all-time fan favorite riders, David Aldana, will be the grand marshal for AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, July 10-12, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

Aldana, known for his trademark black leathers with a white skeleton print, will not only meet and greet fans at this year's event, but he'll also compete in the vintage motocross and dirt track programs of the AMA Vintage Grand Championship that takes place during AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.

"These days, there's a real vibrant community of fans, collectors and vintage racers who fondly remember the 1970-80 era of racing," Aldana said. "Those same people are now coming out to events like AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days to re-live and re-experience those memories. They are dedicated enthusiasts and die-hard motorcyclists, and I love to spend time with them and connect over motorcycles."

Aldana said vintage racing helped pull him back into motorcycling after a layoff following his professional career.

"When I was growing up, I just enjoyed riding, whether it was my motorcycle or my bicycle," Aldana said. "When I quit road racing in the 1990s, I just stopped everything. Then when I had an opportunity to ride a vintage flat track bike, I had that same feeling that I had when I was younger. The pressure was off. I could just go out and have fun riding. That's what vintage racing is about."

One of the most colorful personalities in racing, Aldana teamed with AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Mike Baldwin to win the prestigious Suzuka eight-hour endurance race in 1981 as a Honda factory rider contesting the FIM World Championship Endurance Series. He later rode the revolutionary Elf Hondas in the world endurance series. One of the most versatile racers in the history of the sport, Aldana competed in nearly every form of motorcycle racing, including motocross and speedway racing.

Prior to his foray into endurance racing, Aldana was a top AMA Grand National Series competitor during the 1970s, winning four AMA nationals during his career. By the late-1970s, Aldana began concentrating on road racing. He became a factory rider for Suzuki and later joined Kawasaki's AMA Superbike team in 1980.

When not racing in Europe and Asia, Aldana raced in select races in America. In 1983, he finished third in the AMA Superbike race at Daytona aboard a works Honda. In 1985, Aldana rode the new Suzuki GSX-R750 for Cycle Tech Racing with teammate John Kocinski, who will be inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in October, to win the WERA National Endurance Championship.

For 2015, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is a fundraiser for the facility, which houses the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and other thematic exhibits that celebrate motorcycling's heritage.

The museum was founded in 1990 to provide a permanent home to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, which celebrates and preserves the rich tradition of motorcycling in America through the recognition of the sport's greatest heroes. Proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days are donated to the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization tasked with funding the operation of the museum and Hall of Fame activities.

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days also includes North America's largest motorcycle swap meet with parts, bikes and memorabilia from all eras. Bike shows bring out examples of some of history's most beloved motorcycles, while stunt shows, such as the American Motor Drome Wall of Death, and demo rides of current production bikes keep attendees entertained. Seminars feature some of the country's leading experts on numerous motorcycling topics.

It all adds up to one of motorcycling's premier events. Purchase tickets now from Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
.

To learn more about the event, see photos and read stories from past AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, visit www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com

You also can opt-in to receive the official AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days e-newsletter at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/vmdupdates. For updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, search for the hashtag #AMAVMD.

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.
  
Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join  
 Media contact: James Holter
Phone: (614) 856-1900, ext. 1280
E-mail:
jholter@ama-cycle.org

Road racer John Kocinski, former Harley-Davidson executive Richard Teerlink elected to AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame







Road racer John Kocinski, former Harley-Davidson executive Richard Teerlink elected to AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame

Class of 2015 to be inducted Oct. 17 in Orlando, Fla.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Motorcycle road racer John Kocinski and former Harley-Davidson Motor Co. President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Richard Teerlink have been elected to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2015.

"These two men represent the best of motorcycling -- John through his performance on the track and Richard through his performance in the executive suite," said Ken Ford, a member of the Hall of Fame executive committee and treasurer of the AMA board of directors. "It will be my honor to welcome both of them into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame this October."

The Class of 2015 includes three competition category inductees and three non-competition category inductees. Others in the Class of 2015 include racer Rodney Smith, entrepreneur and patron John Parham, racer Alex Jorgensen and Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. Racing Division Manager Keith McCarty.

Kocinski and Teerlink are the final inductees to be announced for 2015.

Kocinski, who began racing as a teenager, won the AMA 250 Grand Prix Championship in 1987, 1988 and 1989 and took the 1989 600 Supersport win at Daytona International Speedway. In 1990, in his first full season with Team Roberts, he won the 250cc World Championship in Europe, claiming eight pole positions and notching seven wins on tracks he had never seen before. In 1997, he won the World Superbike championship, scoring 10 wins on a Honda RC45, the bike's crowning world title.

Kocinski went on to record 18 AMA 250 GP wins. During his career, he raced on teams that included AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame members David Aldana, Erv Kanemoto, Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey, including Team Roberts assembled by Kenny Roberts. He officially retired from racing in 2002. Kocinski will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the Road Racing category.

Teerlink was part of the executive team responsible for Harley-Davidson's financial turnaround in the late 1980s. As president and CEO, Teerlink helped establish the company's new mission, values, objectives and strategies. His approach included working closely with employees at all levels of the organization, as well as with union leaders. In addition, he believed a participative approach with dealers, suppliers and riders would lead to the development of mutually beneficial relationships.

Teerlink joined Harley-Davidson in 1981 as chief financial officer. That year, the company posted an operating loss of $15.5 million on revenue of $210 million. When Teerlink retired as chairman and CEO in 1999, Harley posted operating profits of $416 million on revenue of $2.45 billion and held nearly 50 percent of the U.S. market for 650cc and larger motorcycles. He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the Ambassadors and Industry category.

Kocinski and Teerlink will be inducted at the 2015 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Oct. 17, in Orlando, Fla. The ceremony is open to the public and, for the second consecutive year, takes place in conjunction with the AIMExpo -- the fast-growing and high-impact event that brings together consumers, dealers, manufacturers, and the world press in one location for global product launches, demo rides, motorcycling seminars, and much more.

Tickets to the 2015 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony are available now at www.motorcyclemuseum.org. Regular entry is $25 per person. VIP tickets that include an exclusive reception, reserved seating and the AIMExpo show admission are $90 per person.

For updates on the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, keep an eye on MotorcycleMuseum.org, as well as the AMA's social media channels, including Facebook (www.facebook.com/AmericanMotorcyclist and www.facebook.com/AMAHallofFame) and Twitter: @AMA_Riding.

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers are selected through a nomination and voting procedure that includes ballots cast by living Hall of Fame members, members of the American Motorcyclist Association and AMHF boards of directors, and members of, and advisers to, the Hall of Fame category committees.

To nominate a future Hall of Famer, visit: www.motorcyclemuseum.org/induction.

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.
  
Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join  

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

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame to induct Keith McCarty, Alex Jorgensen







AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame to induct Keith McCarty, Alex Jorgensen

Class of 2015 to be inducted Oct. 17 in Orlando, Fla.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association has announced two more inductees of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2015. Race team manager Keith McCarty and dirt-track racer Alex Jorgensen will be inducted Oct. 17 in Orlando, Fla., as part of the 2015 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Orange County Convention Center.

"I'm pleased to welcome two additional inductees to the Class of 2015," said Ken Ford, a member of the AMA and American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation boards of directors. "Keith McCarty was instrumental in the launch and growth of numerous Hall of Fame careers. His mastery of the preparation, skill and strategy necessary to excel in racing have contributed to numerous AMA National Championships. Alex Jorgensen enjoyed one of the longest successful dirt-track careers. He also is one of the sport's most versatile athletes, with wins across eras, disciplines and brands."

 McCarty and Jorgensen join motocrosser and off-road racer Rodney Smith and entrepreneur and patron John Parham in the Class of 2015. The two final inductees of the Class of 2015 will be announced shortly.

Keith McCarty's first job as a motorcycle mechanic was for U.S. Suzuki in 1973 for rider Mike Runyard. In 1975-76, he wrenched for AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Tony DiStefano, winning two 250cc AMA National Motocross Championships. When the motocross schedule didn't conflict, he worked with the Hall of Fame duo of Erv Kanemoto and Gary Nixon in road racing.

In January 1977, McCarty began his long career with Yamaha as the mechanic for AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend Bob "Hurricane" Hannah. McCarty has remained in Yamaha's racing division ever since, working as mechanic, supervisor, department manager and, most recently, division manager for all of Yamaha's U.S. racing activities. McCarty, who lives in Orange, Calif., is known not only for his technical knowledge, but also for inspirational prowess and organizational acumen that transcends racing disciplines, making him not only an asset for Yamaha but also a valued member of the motorcycling community.

Alex "Jorgy" Jorgensen exemplifies the talent, skill and diverse abilities that are trademarks of the greatest AMA Grand National competitors in history. Of the handful of riders who have wins in all four dirt-track disciplines -- short track, TT, half mile and mile -- Jorgensen is the only rider who achieved the feat in his first four Grand National wins, while competing on four different motorcycles -- Can-Am, BSA, Norton and Harley-Davidson.

Jorgensen's career boasts a number of special wins. He is the last rider to win an AMA Grand National on a Norton or BSA, both wins coming at Ascot. He earned Can-Am its first AMA Grand National win. He also logged the first AMA Grand National victory on Rotax's four-stroke single at the Ascot TT. From 1982 to 2004, the Rotax engine would dominate the highest levels of short-track and TT competition. Along with Gary Scott, Jorgensen holds the record of most AMA Grand National wins at Ascot with six.

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction ceremony is open to the public and, for the second consecutive year, takes place in conjunction with the AIMExpo -- the fast-growing and impactful event that brings together consumers, dealers, manufacturers, and the world press in one location for global product launches, demo rides, motorcycling seminars, and much more.

Tickets to the 2015 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony are available now at www.motorcyclemuseum.org. Regular entry is $25 per person. VIP tickets that include an exclusive reception, reserved seating and the AIMExpo show admission are $90 per person.

For updates on the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, keep an eye on MotorcycleMuseum.org, as well as the AMA's social media channels, including Facebook (www.facebook.com/AmercanMotorcyclist and www.facebook.com/AMAHallofFame) and Twitter: @AMA_Riding.

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.
  
Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join  

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

Sunday, June 14, 2015

News & Notes from the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Rounds at the Springfield Mile I, Bryan Smith's 5th Straight Win at the Sacto Mile & Inaugural Win at the ESPN XGames


























The 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season is in full swing, and one team up to this point has taken the horse by the reigns and has won two of the last points paying races, as well as AMA Pro Flat Track's initial introduction to a world stage in terms of the ESPN XGames.

The Bryan Smith #42 Howerton Motorsports/Crosley Brands/Villa-Esparza/Kawasaki team has taken what they have done over the course of the last three seasons and even stepped it up a notch in it's fourth year together. Last year's teaming saw team lead/builder/engineer Rick Howerton step aside to spend more time with his family, and even though Rocket Rick still had his hands in the mix, it wasn't in terms of the full time effort that he had put forth in the previous two seasons. Without Indy's Gasoline Alley man heading up the charge, Indy's other Gasoline Alley resident, Jeff Gordon, and Dreyer Motorsports' Dink Glidden helped lead Bryan and their Kawasaki to it's first half-mile win at Hagerstown, and to within three points of the season-ending championship. If not for a fluke mechanical, that same Kawasaki and team could very well have been wearing the #1 plate this year. Coulda, shoulda, woulda.

With another win at Springfield, the 5th win in-a-row at the Sacto Mile, and the XGames triumph, Smith and Company are on a roll. And although in terms of a turnaround, last week's XGames win for Flyin' Bryan was virtually handed to him due to reigning champ Jared Mees' fluke mechanical on the last lap of the Austin-hosted main event, which in front of a live, international audience, with over 450K viewers tuned in, saw the tables turned and the team handed what most likely would have been a 2nd-place finish, a big win. If karma was what took Smith and team out of the mix last year, it surely has come around so far for the team in 2015.

Many will say that now the Flint, Michigan-area resident will have to come to closer terms with his Singles program in order to better capitalize on the championship, and with Pomona now out of the mix and Las Vegas now the last race of the season, one more Singles race could make the difference for this year's championship crown.






























Sammy Halbert for the first time in several seasons has put aside his family-owned and run team to join forces with the Scott Powersports/BriggsAuto.com Kawasaki team, headed up by another iconic figure in the sport, one Johnny Goad. For those that haven't been around since that glory season, Goad tuned the Ricky Graham Honda/Goad Racing team to the banner year they had in '93 which saw Ricky G and team take 12 wins on the season and Graham's third championship.

Sammy as always, has been spot-on in his riding, and with top-5 finishes at Daytona and Springfield, an 8th-place at Sacto, and a runner-up at the XGames, the Slammer is showing top form on his new team for the new season. And with the summer run of cushion tracks and half-miles soon to be upon us, old #7 and the Briggs Auto/Scott Powersports/Martin Trucking/Lucas Oil-backed Kawasaki team will undoubtedly be right there in the mix.













































2013 AMA Grand National Champion Brad 'The Bullet' Baker has spent the last two seasons recovering from injuries at this point in each calendar year, but to see the fire in his eyes and the results he has been able to attain so far right at or near the top on the factory Harley-Davidson XR750 all the more incredible. And with finishes of 3rd, 4th and 3rd-place in the last three events, I'd say that the #6 Harley-Davidson Motor Company/Screaming Eagle Performance Products/Arai Helmets-sponsored rider and team are ready to get over the hump and get that first win under their belt, and most likely sooner, then later.



















The Ottumwa, Iowa-based Weirbach Racing team, headed up by the father and son duo of Richard and Ted Weirbach, have reunited with 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Champion Mikey Martin and are off to their best start in the few seasons that they have been competing full time in the GNC1/Expert ranks. With fresh Kawasakis out of the Racing Unlimited shop of Alan Rodenborn, located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, the team is as ready as ever to take the next step forward in their quest to be a major stalwart in The Rolling Thunder Show.

The #91 Weirbach Racing/Racing Unlimited/Arai/Motion Pro-sponsored team has racked up two top-10s in Springfield and Sacramento, a heat race win and a Dash for Cash win at Sacto, and an 8th-place finish in Austin to start off the year on a very bright note. And after talking with the team in Springfield, is more then ready to take that next step to the next level, while having a boatload of fun while doing so.





























Cory Texter may not have the results he surely deserves early in the season, but the new Yamaha rider has still got the time to settle in on the new #65 Yamaha Motor-USA/Memphis Shades/McElroy Packaging/Herrs-sponsored Yamaha FZ-07-based mount. And with tuner to the stars Babe Demay behind the build of Yamaha's newest entry into the bar banging action of AMA Pro Flat Track, it probably won't be long before those results start to come to fruition for the Pennsylvania resident.

Of note, Texter teamed up again with a Racing Unlimited Kawasaki built by Alan Rodenborn for the XGames, but unfortunately missed the main after a spill in his heat and a 12th-place finish in the LCQ. But between him and sister Shayna, Racing Unlimited's Rodenborn has done a heckuva job of keeping great equipment available for the siblings.



































Defending 2014 AMA Grand National Champ Jared Mees and the #9 Rogers Racing/Las Vegas H-D/Harley-Davidson Motor Corp/SDI Racing-backed XR750 team suffered from an extremely rare mechanical failure on the last lap of the XGames, which handed the win to Bryan Smith. But overall The Jammer is only five points out of the championship lead with three top-3s to show for it and the majority of the season ahead to take another big swing at the big prize of wearing the #1 plate in the greatest racing series on two wheels in the world by the end of the 2015 season. And with his never-say-die attitude and ability, you can NEVER count Mees out of the equation, especially this early in the year.













































With his third team in as many seasons, Brandon Robinson and the #44 Latus Motors/Castrol/Triumph America/GE Capital-backed Triumph Bonneville team are already seeing the type of results that the British-made twin has surely deserved since they re-entered the world of AMA Pro Flat Track. Sitting in 3rd-place in the championship, BRob44 nearly won Triumph's first oval race in over four decades (1974) and first in the Twins Series since Alex Jorgensen won in the late '70s in just their second outing together two weeks ago at the Sacto Mile. Riding like a boss and showing the world that he and the Brent Armbruster-tuned Triumph are capable of running at the front, Robinson and the Triumph are quickly coming together, and with a 2nd-place finish to show for it at Sacto, you can bet it won't be long before he gets to that next highest step on the podium. And Robinson's showing at Springfield in his first Grand National on the Triumph running at the front before a mechanical put him out showed the strides that this team has made in the off-season and what a quality rider in Robinson's ability can and will bring to the table for the Latus team.

Check out their very cool video from Springfield here, and don't be surprised if another Pennsylvania resident on the British-made twin keeps knocking it down as the season progresses.




















2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Champion Kyle Johnson showed up at Springfield with a freshly-built #77 Parkinson Brothers Racing/Hot Rod Harley-Davidson/Pro 1 Industries/Ray C's Harley-Davidson-sponsored Kawasaki, as well as a TJ Burnett Farms backup bike, and promptly went out and won one of the semis in just his first Twins race as a GNC1 rider. Look for more out of this Michigan rider as the season progresses and the team comes together in the big boys and girls class.













































After last year's team owner TJ Burnett decided to step away due to health concerns for this season, last year's runner-up in the AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Championship, Davis Fisher, got together with Fort Dodge, Iowa's Alan Rodenborn to contest the Pro Twins Class on the #67M Racing Unlimited/Parkinson Brothers Racing/Bob Lampher Beaverton Motorcycles/Dan Wall Racing-sponsored Kawasaki. Fisher took control at Springfield and won his third GNC2/Pro Twins race in-a-row in style (last year's double win didn't count for championship points.) A crash at Sacto dropped him in the points, but after last year's injuries at Indy forced him to miss a couple of rounds, don't look for the crash at Cal Expo to slow the Washington State resident down for the remaining races on the schedule.






























The Lloyd Brothers Motorsports team's latest incarnation came together late to put a team together, but what a team it is in the pairing for former AMA Supermoto Champ Johnny Lewis and former 3-Time World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss. However, the team got off to a rough start with Lewis crashing out of the main at Springfield on the #10 Lloyd Brothers/Ducati/Ducati.net/Vintage Motorcycles-sponsored Ducati 1100, thankfully not suffering from major injuries.

Unfortunately, the same could not be said for Bayliss after losing it during the semi race on the #21i Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Ducati/Ducati.net/TroyBayliss Events-backed Ducati 1100 and suffering from some severe leg and ankle injuries. How soon Bayliss will be able to return is still up in the air, but Lewis will be back in the mix after a strong XGames finish (4th-place) when the team returns to the track at Lima on June 27.














































Bayliss was the focus of attention at Springfield, in spite of not making the National main, but that didn't stop the buzz from seeing the former MotoGP winner by those on hand during the Memorial Day weekend running at the Illinois State Fairgrounds mile oval. Here he talks with Cycle News's Larry Lawrence and Andrea Wilson during a break in the day's action in the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Ducati pit area.































Former 2-Time Springfield winner Willie McCoy made his usual trek to the Illini State with a pair of his immaculate self-built #59 H-D of Wausau/Independence H-D/Redline Oils/Arai-sponsored Harley-Davidson XR750s and came away with a very solid 5th-place finish. Six days later, the Texan headed west to contest the Sacto Mile and came away with another great result of 7th-place in California.

If that wasn't enough for one of the series' most popular part-time riders, McCoy suppled former 3-Time AMA Pro Flat Track Twins Champ Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. with a ride at the XGames when Zanotti Racing's mounts weren't able to be ready after some rare mechanical failures at Sacto. Coolbeth may have only finished in 9th-place in Austin, but he was styling big time in Texas on Texas-built muscle. And what a neat gesture by one of the neat guys of the sport to help out The King of Cool!













































Coming together late in the 2014 season, Rob Pearson and the Waters Autobody KTM team stayed together and will be contesting the full Twins/GNC1 series for the 2015 season. Bugs promptly went out at Springfield and took the #27 KTM/GE Capital/Waters Autobody Racing/Shoei-sponsored KTM 990 Super Duke to the win in the semi for the team. Here he is shown being congratulated by team owner/head wrench Dave Waters on the podium after the semi ceremonies.

On a neat side note, Pearson also went to Austin for the XGames thanks to bike owner/former racer Ben Knight, another Illinois resident. Ben loaned Rob his American H-D-sponsored XR750 for the XGames, and although they didn't make it to the main, they did get a solid 3rd-place in the LCQ event in Austin. And looked darn good in the process!


































The 2015 season will be a part time, building process for Shayna Texter on her new #52 Crosley Radio/Sixth Man/McElroy Packaging/Sportbike Track Time-backed Kawasaki. Missing the mains at both the miles in Illinois and California, this will be a year for her to get her legs back under her after an abysmal season aboard the Triumphs in 2014. And when she does get those legs back into solid shape with her new mount, the rest better look out as we all know from her romp at Springfield (in what was then the Basic Twins races in 2013) what this fine young lady can do when the planets align for her on the track.

Of note, Shayna and brother Cory made history by becoming the first brother and sister to ever compete in the ESPN XGames. The feature on the siblings was extremely moving, and unless you don't have a pulse, should have brought most to near tears.













































2012 Pro Singles runner-up Jake Shoemaker is another rider who is on a new team again for the 2015 season (his third in the last three seasons) as he made his debut at Springfield aboard the #55 Bonneville Performance/Castrol/Triumph/GE Corp-sponsored Triumph Bonneville. Finished of 14th-place at Springfield and 11th-place at the Sacto Mile may not seem stellar to the average fan, but the fact that Shoe got the Bonneville Performance into both mains and finished both races right out of the box is really pretty much a great thing for the new teaming. And working as a co-unit alongside Joe Kopp/Brent Armbruter and Brandon Robinson on the Latus Motors team can only help both units to move up in the ranks as the season progresses.

On a side note, the 2013 Rookie of the Year made it to Austin, but with only a 10th-place finish in the LCQ to show for it. But his slide out in his heat race, and holding onto the bike to keep it out of the racing line was a big moment, and showed how talented a rider Shoemaker is and is forethought in the moment to not impede the rest of the field due to his misfortune.
































The Zanotti Racing squad's new look for 2015 has Henry Wiles on the #17 Zanotti Racing/Motion Pro/Bell Helmets/Pinit Motorsports-sponsored XR750 tuned by Steve Polk, and returning teamster Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. again on the #2 Zanotti Racing/H-D Motor Co/Gator H-D/Chaplin Honda-backed XR750, again tuned by 2013 championship winning tuner Dave Atherton.

Coolbeth leads the standings after three top-5s and a 7th-place at Springfield (again winning at Daytona), and a 2nd-place in the LCQ at Austin with a final finish of 9th-place in the XGames main. Coolbeth won four races last year in his initial outing with the 3-Time Grand National Championship winning team and looks to keep that momentum going this year as well.

Wiles, after parting company with the Don's Kawasaki team at the end of the 2014 season, missed the XGames due to the rare mechanicals the team suffered at the Sacto Mile (18th-place finish.) But with his 4th-place at round 2 at Daytona to go with his Springfield showing of 6th-place The Hammer won't need much time to get into the top-10 in points starting with next weekend's return to the Hagerstown Half-Mile.


















When it's all said and done, and the b.s. stops as the green flag drops, this year's version of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship promises the same or an even more elevated level of excitement (if that is possible) for the series, it's fans and it's teams and riders. With so many variables and manufacturers dotting the sport, we could see some new, or returning names and marques to not only the podium but to the top step should all of the right cards fall into place this year.

With Bryan Smith #42, Jared Mees #1, Sammy Halbert #7, Brad Baker #6, Brandon Robinson #44, Johnny Lewis #10 and Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. #2 heading up the rest of the great stars in this great sport, the action will undoubtedly leave us all gasping for air at each round, venue and turn of a wheel.

On a side note, Nichole Mees, on her #15 Black Hills Harley-Davidson/Jerry Kennedy/Mr Sign Younkers, New York/SDI Insulation-sponsored XR750 (shown above on the second row at Springfield on May 24), was able to join husband, Jared at the XGames in Austin and set a new record for the first husband and wife team to compete alongside one another in the long time games event. A 9th-place finish in the LCQ kept her out of the main, and with Jared's rare DNF mechanical, the Michigan residents obviously didn't fare near as well as would have been expected, but both did their usual stellar job of representing the sport we all love in front of a large television audience, that was actually the 11th-most watched sports show for the day on Thursday, June 4.

If you want to catch up on the readings from the last few weeks, here is a good chance to do so thanks to Cycle News.

1). Springfield Mile round up thanks to my traveling partner, Larry Lawrence.

2). Sacto Mile wrap up thanks to Double L again!

3). ESPN XGames happenings thanks to Andrea Wilson.

You can also read up on AMA Pro Flat Track's official releases on Sacto and the XGames below, as well all get ready for the series to fire back up next Saturday, June 20 at round 5 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship at the Hagerstown Half-Mile. You better get your tickets now, cuz this trains moving fast and it doesn't look to slow down for the next few months!










Bryan Smith wins Harley-Davidson Flat Track Racing at X Games 
gold as flat track shines on world stage

AUSTIN, Texas (June 4, 2015) - Fans all over the world were treated to a night of tantalizing action and classic dirt track battles as the sport of flat track motorcycle racing and its stars made their debut in the X Games on Thursday. Following some last-lap drama, Bryan Smith took the inaugural Harley-Davidson Flat Track Racing at X Games gold medal. Sammy Halbert took silver and Brad Baker rounded out the podium with a bronze. The event's heat races, last chance qualifier and 20-lap main event were all broadcast live to an international audience on ESPN.
"To come away with the win, the gold medal, I'm stoked," said Smith. "It's great for the whole sport. I've been watching the X Games since I was 10 years old, 12 year old, and I'm finally here. There were some twisted events there at the end and there were a few passes at the beginning. I'm sure it was a good show, and I'm sure it could be even better next time."
Smith looked sharp all night aboard the No. 42 Crosley Radio machine, but he was the beneficiary of some luck, good for him but bad for AMA Pro Flat Track No. 1 plate holder, Jared Mees. Mees was in control for most of the contest before his No. 1 Las Vegas Harley-Davidson machine suffered a mechanical failure exiting turn two on the race's final lap. The defending Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines champion was scored in 11th place at the end of the race.
Bryan Smith #42 inherited the lead on the last lap of the main event of the ESPN XGames Harley-Davidson Flat Track race held at Austin, TX. at the Circuit of the Americas track and went on to take the gold medal in AMA Pro Flat Track's inaugural showing at the extreme sport event's opening evening. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.
"Jared slowed, there were sparks coming off his bike, and it was like a mirage," said Smith.
Second place finisher and pilot of the No. 7 Briggs Auto machine, Halbert, was neck-and-neck with Smith all night, and the Graham, Wash., native was thrilled to come away with a silver medal in his first X Games.
"I'm stoked," said Halbert. "The goal was to come here and at least get a medal and it feels great to do it. I obviously wanted the gold but I'm really happy to get up here and on the box and medal."
Piloting the No. 6 Factory Harley-Davidson, Baker rode with fury all night and claimed the bronze medal in his X Games debut.
"I'm really happy to bring home a bronze medal," said Baker. "I had a good feeling before the main event that I was going to be able to run for the win. The track slowed down a lot and my motorcycle wasn't able to pull the gear off the corner. It's really cool and I think this (medal) will hang from the mirror of my pickup for a little while. It's a big deal to have a medal here at the X Games and we'll be back next year trying to go for gold, hopefully. I think the fans were impressed with what happened and I'm definitively happy with the result, even though I wish it was better."
Johnny Lewis, riding the No. 10 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports entry, and Jake Johnson #5, rounded out the top five, respectively.
In total, 12 riders made the main event on Thursday night at the 3/8-mile dirt oval at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
Harley-Davidson Flat Track at X Games complete results
1.       Bryan Smith
2.       Sammy Halbert
3.       Brad Baker
4.       Johnny Lewis
5.       Jake Johnson
6.       Briar Bauman
7.       Doug Lawrence
8.       Mikey Martin
9.       Kenny Coolbeth, Jr.
10.   Michael Kirkness
11.   Jared Mees
12.   Brandon Robinson 

About AMA Pro Flat Track:
AMA Pro Flat Track is a national motorcycle racing series in North America and is considered one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the Series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track racing in the world. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, 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



Bryan Smith makes it two straight with Sacramento Mile victory;

Kenny Coolbeth retains AMA Pro Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines points lead


Nick Armstrong wins GNC2 Main and takes class points lead

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 3, 2015) - As the dust settled following Bryan Smith's thrilling victory at the Sacramento Mile on Saturday, a similar picture to the prior week emerged. Smith won the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines main event by a scant margin while Kenny Coolbeth Jr. did just enough to maintain his points lead following the fourth round of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track championship.
Aboard the No. 42 Crosley Radio Kawasaki, Smith led 11 out of 25 laps on Saturday night in the 50th running of the iconic Sacramento Mile at the Cal Expo in Sacramento, Calif. to top a podium composed of three different motorcycle brands.
Smith was in his classic Mile form at Sacramento, routinely forfeiting his lead in the corners before running his opponents down aboard his powerful Kawasaki on the front and back stretches during the night's main event. Smith prevailed for the fifth straight time at the Cal Expo, but by the slimmest margin yet, as he was forced to make a last-moment draft pass out of Turn 4 to beat Brandon Robinson to the finish line by two hundredths of a second. It was the second AMA Pro Flat Track win for Smith in as many weeks.
Bryan Smith #42 leads Brad Baker #6 (partially hidden), Johnny Lewis #10, Mikey Martin #91  and the rest of the field during the early running of heat race #2 at the Sacto Mile on Saturday, May 30. Martin went on to win the heat, but Smith won his 5th-straight National main later in the day at the Cal Expo-hosted event. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.
"That was five years in a row and this was by far the hardest one," said smith. "My tire is bald and there was smoke coming off everybody's rear tire the last couple laps. It was fun but it was nerve-wracking. I would like to thank all the fans. When I got up there and they were all cheering, that's the best thing."
With the win, Smith now holds the fifth spot in the official point standings. Also, because he started from ninth position, Smith earned the MotoBatt Hard Charger Award, recognizing the GNC1 rider who improves the most from their starting spot in the main.
Robinson, riding the No. 44 Latus Motors/Castrol Triumph, led eight laps in the main event. After slipping off the groove and falling back in the pack, he fought to the front again and led four laps before Smith took it from him at the finish line on lap 25. "I'm excited and pumped about finishing second, it's awesome," said Robinson. "A lot of people were second-guessing my decision to ride for Triumph this year but my Latus Motors/Castrol Triumph team gave me a great bike. My mechanic worked his butt off all night. We struggled in qualifying and we were on the third row for the heat race, but we just kept charging all night. We got the bike better and it was just on a rail during the main event and I just can't believe Bryan got me at the line." Robinson's best finish of the year puts him third in the point standings heading into Round 5, the Hagerstown Half-Mile, scheduled for June 20.
Jared Mees earned his third podium appearance of 2015. The defending champion rounded out the podium in Sacramento with a third place finish aboard his No. 1 Las Vegas Harley-Davidson machine and he now sits third in the championship battle. "A good ride is finishing third place, there's no doubt, but just feeling how good the motorcycle was, I am a little disappointed," said Mees. "I felt like I had pretty good control of the race for once on these Miles and I slid a little wide with two or three laps to go. That's when Baker ran it in pretty deep underneath me and just kind of jumbled us all up and let Robinson put a little gap between us."
Brad Baker, aboard the No. 6 Factory Harley-Davidson, posted the fastest lap of the race with a time of 37.493 and earned an impressive fourth place finish in Sacramento. Baker also took the lead in the Sunoco "Go the Distance Award," a year-end prize that recognizes the rider who completes the furthest distance on-track over the course of the season.
Coolbeth finished fifth aboard the No. 2 Zanotti Racing Harley-Davidson, and though it was his second consecutive race having missing the podium, he still left Sacramento with the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines points lead. Jeffrey Carver Jr. came in sixth on his No. 23 Don's Kawasaki entry and now sits 11th in the points. Willie McCoy, aboard the No. 59 Harley-Davidson of Wausau Harley-Davidson, finished seventh in the Sacramento Mile main event. The Justin, Texas, product now sits 12th in the point standings. Sammy Halbert put together a top-10 effort, but it was actually the worst showing of the season for the rider of the No. 7 Briggs Auto Kawasaki. Halbert settled for eighth place and now sits fourth in the point standings, well within striking distance of the leader, Coolbeth.
Nichole Mees had a strong showing in what will be her final season of Harley-Davidson GNC1 competition, earning a ninth-place finish aboard her No. 15 Black Hill's Harley-Davidson. Lodi, Calif.'s Mikey Martin won the all-important Dash for Cash to take top spot on the grid for the night's GNC1 Main. The local favorite got off to a great start aboard his No. 91 Weirbach Racing Kawasaki and led the 18-rider freight train to the stripe on Lap 1, but was quickly shuffled back and finished an eventual 10th place finish.
Harley-Davidson GNC1 rookies Jarod Vanderkooi, riding the No. 17F Don's Kawasaki, and Kyle Johnson, aboard the No. 77 Parkinson Brothers Racing Kawasaki, finished 15th and 16th, respectively, and the two are now tied with 12 points apiece in the standings. Both riders are vying for the Saddlemen Rookie of the Year award.
Johnny Lewis continued to show strength aboard the latest addition to the eligible machine list for AMA Pro Flat Track competition. The Ducati Scrambler-inspired 1100cc powerplant out of the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports stable made its second appearance in a GNC1 Main in as many attempts, with Lewis taking home a 13th place finish at Sacramento. Lewis' teammate Troy Bayliss showed early promise in the Sacramento Mile, the second of five scheduled AMA Pro Flat Track stops for the Australian road racing star in 2015. Bayliss shaved seconds off his lap times over the course of the day, but crashed in his semifinal and suffered a broken ankle. The Ducati-mounted superstar maintained his upbeat persona and has received immense support from fans on social media as he returns home to recover.
With Shawn Baer's 14th place finish aboard the No. 32 SBR KTM 990 Super Duke, five brands were represented on the grid for the GNC1 Main at Sacramento.
  
GNC2
It was a glorious night for Nick Armstrong in AMA Pro GNC2 competition. The fourth-year man and pilot of the No. 44E Southland Racing Honda rode his way to victory in front of a packed crowd in his home state. Armstrong not only came away with the win, but he also left Sacramento with the GNC2 points lead.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was Davis Fisher's crash while leading the GNC2 main event that brought out the red flag with three laps remaining. Instead of winning the race, Fisher, mounted on the No. 67M Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda, finished 17th and now sits third in the point standings behind Armstrong and Brandon Wilhelm.
Tristan Avery gave Armstrong a run for his money on the race's final lap, however, the No. 16S Ron Ayers Motorsports Honda rider lost to Armstrong by .063 seconds as the two were neck-and-neck at the finish line. "It's crazy," Avery said. "This feeling is so amazing, and I came a long way and worked really hard to get this and get to where I am. It's a dream come true, it really is."
Wilhelm rode his No. 24J Mike Butler Racing Honda to a third place finish and he now sits second in the point standings. "I got a decent start, but I got pushed off the groove," Wilhelm said. "I don't even know, I might have been like ninth or 10th place. The restart really helped. I just kept on trucking and I got up here on the box."
Jamison Minor, riding the No. 27U Roy Built Honda, finished fourth in the GNC2 main event and he now sits fourth in the points as well. Andrew Luker, rider of the No. 11Z Kennedy Racing Honda, sits fifth in the points heading into Round 5 following a 13th place finish in Sacramento.
Next up, the stars of AMA Pro Flat Track will visit Hagerstown, Md., for the Hagerstown Half-Mile on June 20 at Hagerstown Speedway. For tickets and additional information, please visit http://www.hagerstownspeedway.com/ama.pdf
Every AMA Pro Flat Track event can be streamed live, in high definition and on any device at FansChoice.tv. For more information, please visit http://www.fanschoice.tv.
Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines Point Standings (After Round 4)
1. Kenny Coolbeth Jr., 67
2. Jared Mees, 62
3. Brandon Robinson, 56
4. Sammy Halbert, 55
5. Bryan Smith, 52
GNC2 Point Standings (After Round 4)
1. Nick Armstrong, 56
2. Brandon Wilhelm, 55
3. Davis Fisher, 52
4. Jamison Minor, 48
5. Andrew Luker, 46
Fans can also watch every round of the AMA Pro Flat Track season live online, in high definition and free of charge at www.FansChoice.tv.
 
Photos


Sacramento Mile


 
Welcome to Sacramento
 
Brad Baker X Games Harley-Davidson Flat Track Feature Video

Pre-Race Show
GNC2 Heat Races
LCQ and Dash for Cash
GNC2 Main Event
GNC1 Main Event


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,