Saturday, March 19, 2016

Brandon Robinson's Savannah & Volusia Steve Nace All-Star Racing & AMA Pro Flat Track Daytona Race Report


































Brandon Robinson left rounds 1 & 2 of the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series in Daytona with a firm hold on 3rd-place in the overall championship standings after wrapping up a solid 2-6 finish in both races at the Daytona Beach stadium season opener.

With Thursday night's winner Sammy Halbert leading the standings with 40 points and Friday night's winner Jake Johnson close behind in 2nd-place with 37 points, BRob44 is in good company another five points back with the next event in Austin, TX. in just three short weeks on Saturday, April 9.

In the shot above, Robinson puts his #44 TJ Burnett Farms/John Y Racing/Armbruster Racing-sponsored Honda CRF450R through it's paces during qualifying for the Peoria TT during round 10 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series in Thunder Valley on August 16.

Robinson was also rewarded with a fine effort in both rounds of the Steve Nace AMA All-Star National Flat Track Series in Savannah, GA. and Barberville, FL. to kick off his new season with his new team, Jerry Kennedy Racing. BRob44 will be racing XR750s and Kawasakis this season after spending last year riding for the Latus Motorsports Triumph team, getting him back on more familiar equipment in the Kawasakis with which he won the double on back in 2013 while riding for the TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki squad. He also will have the benefit of reteaming with one of the finest tuners in the business in Brent Armbruster, so their second year together should prove very rewarding.

Check out BRob's official race report below and keep an eye out for the Pennsylvania resident this year as he should be a force to be reckoned with in the fight for the championship. Congrats to Brandon and the team for a great start to the season and the best of luck for this year as the season progresses!



Press release courtesy of Brandon 'BRob44' Robinson


BRob44 Daytona Race Report


Oxford, PA. -- March 18, 2016


Hey everyone!

Well another Daytona Bike Week has come & gone. Seems like every year it goes by faster & faster, but as always it was a blast!
I left a week earlier than normal this year to go meet up with my tuner, Brent Armbruster, up in Michigan to help get everything finished up & loaded. First stop on the Kennedy Racing trip was Savannah, and boy do I love Savannah! It is my absolute favorite track so it's always good to do some testing & kick off the new season there.
On to race day, had a hard fought battle in the Singles main with Mees & Baker, which saw each of us take turns at the lead. Ended up with a very close 3rd in that one.  Felt like I let the Singles win slip through my fingers so I went out for the Twins main with a plan for some redemption.  
Got a great start & took the lead coming off turn two where I never looked back! Ended up winning the Twins main by darn near a straightaway! It was a huge confidence booster & a perfect way to start off the new season with my new team. Let's just say the guys were pretty stoked!  
The next event we planned on was the All-Star National at Barberville. A bunch of guys tend to skip this race because of how the track has been in the past, but Steve Nace did a great job with the track prep and gave us a good track to race on. 
For some reason all day I was just a tick off & felt like I was struggling. It was one of those days where every time I got a good start the race would get red flagged, then on the restart well, yup you guessed it, I would suck it up & have to work my way from behind. Anyways I ended up with a 4th in the Singles class & a solid 3rd in the Twins. Not a bad day, but not what I was looking for.
We had a day off before we did a little bit of testing on the Singles to prepare for Daytona where we actually bounced around to a couple different tracks. It was kinda nice to get a bunch of laps in & try some new things. The next day Brent cleaned up all the bikes & well I took advantage of the warm weather and goofed off on my Jamis bicycle for a while!  
All the preparation & hard work was about to be put to the test at the first National of the year, the Daytona short track! Unlike most riders on the circuit, I absolutely love Daytona. I love how challenging this track is & the fact that I got my first Grand National win there don't hurt either!  
Qualifying on day one went pretty good where we ended up 5th overall. I ended up 2nd in my heat to Johnny Lewis. Brent made a couple small changes to the bike as the track was starting to get really rough. We made the right changes for sure as I was able to move my way up to 2nd pretty quick in the opening laps of the main. From there I played a game of cat & mouse with Sammy Halbert, where I just never got close enough to do anything with him. With a couple laps to go I just settled in and brought the Kennedy Racing/Armbruster Racing/TJ Burnett Farms Honda 450 home in 2nd-place!  It was a great feeling getting back on the box, feels like its been forever!  
 
Brandon Robinson is shown on the podium
after his 2nd-place finish at the AMA Pro Flat
Track Grand National Championship round 1 at
the Daytona Short Track. Photo courtesy of
Brandon Robinson by Jerry Kennedy.
The cool thing about Daytona is we get the chance to do it all over again the next day. Day two in qualifying didn't go quite as smooth. Felt a tad off all day as the track was a bit different than normal. I ended up going down in the last session, which happened to be the faster session so I ended up a dismal 21st overall. I wasn't too worried as I knew we were a lot better than that & when it comes to racing I seem to always step it up a bit.  
I was on the second row for my heat race, but with an aggressive first couple laps I was able to work my way up to a 3rd-place finish & a direct transfer to the main. In the main I got probably the most gnarly start of my life where I was like 4th getting into turn one from the second row! Not sure how in the world I pulled that one off haha, but I sure liked it. 
Unfortunately I wasn't able to capitalize on that great start & I faded just a tad to an eventual 6th-place finish. I was pretty disappointed with myself as that is the worst I've finished in Daytona in the past four years. The track was definitely different though, something we have never seen where you could ride much higher than the normal bottom feeder line.  It was pretty greasy, but everyone has the same track so no excuses.  
 
Overall we had a great bike week & leaving Daytona 3rd overall in the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship isn't a bad way to start the year!  
 
Big thanks to my crew; Jerry, Brent, Lee, & TJ, all of our sponsors, fans, & my family for coming out to support me!  I appreciate it all, until next time, see y'all in Texas!  

Thanks, B!

Brandon Lee Robinson
15 Wood Valley Ln.
Oxford, PA 19363
484-888-9485
 
Twitter: @BRob44
Instagram: @BRob44
Facebook: Brandon Robinson
 
 
 
 

Saturday, March 12, 2016

Sammy Halbert & Jake Johnson Split Wins at AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Season Openers at Daytona Short Track

































The long wait for the opening rounds of the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series is finally over and it did not fail to keep us on the edge of our seats as two seasoned veterans managed to keep the young kids in tow and take the wins on Thursday and Friday nights.

In Thursday night's season opener at Daytona Beach, Sammy Halbert took win on his #69 Van's Yamaha and led all comers right from the drop of the green flag. The Slammer was never headed throughout the just-over eight minute Grand National main and managed to take the win over 2nd-place finisher Brandon Robinson by just over 1.3 seconds. 2013 AMA Grand National Champion Brad Baker rounded out the podium just shy of 1.6 seconds in arrears of BRob44.

Although the track was rough and rutted (in what seems like a usual occurrence at Daytona since moving to the Speedway in 2010), but Halbert let that play into his advantage to take his first win in Grand National competition since the 2013 season.

In the shot above, Halbert gets some help from the #69 Fredericktown Yamaha/Van's Yamaha/Lucas Oil-sponsored Yamaha YZF450 team while rolling out for the rider intros portion of round 10 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines season at the Peoria TT on August 16.

While Halbert was checking out and hauling the mail, Bryan Smith on the #42 Crosley Brands/Howerton Motorsports-backed Kawasaki was ripping through the field after being forced to win his semi race and start in the 14th-place spot on the grid. Flyin' Bryan put in what was arguably the ride of the night to bring home a very solid 5th-place finish for him and the Indy-based team and earned the MotoBatt Hard Charger award (and some solid points) for his fine efforts. Smith finished just shy of 1.7 seconds in arrears of title rival Jared Mees.

Also of note, Peoria 11-Time winner Henry Wiles, riding for his new USC/Hart Racing team, was forced to use a provisional to start in the 19th-place slot on the grid and was able to bring his new Honda ride home in the 12th-place spot.






























In last night's rout, 2-Time AMA Grand National Champion Jake Johnson's return to Zanotti Racing was just what the doctor ordered for the personable former champ as he was able to get around early leader Halbert on the fourth lap and was gone on the #5 Zanotti Racing Honda CRF450R from that point on.

Stretching his lead to nearly 2.6 seconds over eventual 3rd-place finisher Halbert, JJ5 took advantage of the slick and smooth surface (in stark contrast to Thursday's track surface) and held the front position for the final 22 laps of the 25-lap National main. Johnson's team mate, Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. was able to get around Halbert as well towards the end of the race and finished in the runner-up spot, just over 1.8 seconds behind to make it a Zanotti Racing sweep.

Another provisional was used last night, this time by Bryan Smith on the #42 Howerton Motorsports Kawasaki after failing to make the cut in his semi earlier in the evening. Smith would have earned himself another Hard Charger Award for his valiant 8th-place finish, just ahead of defending AMA Grand National Champ Jared Mees on the #9 Rogers Racing Honda, but Brad Baker on the #6 Brothers Powersports Honda sliced his way through the field after a 17th-place start to earn a hard-fought 4th-place finish. JD Beach rounded out the top-5 for round 2 on his #95 Team 95 Yamaha.

In the shot above, Jake Johnson on the #5 Montgomeryville Cycle Center/JM9/Ramspur Winery-sponsored Honda CRF450R puts his team mate's for the day Jared Mees ride through the motions during the final qualifying session at round 10 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines season at the Peoria TT on August 16.

With two of the three Singles events in the rearview mirror, Halbert leaves Daytona with the points lead with 40 points and Johnson just three points behind. After 2-6 finishes on the #44 Kennedy Racing Honda, Brandon Robinson sits in the 3rd-place spot with 32 points, Baker in fourth with 31 points and Coolbeth, as a result of his 9-2 finishes for the season openers in fifth with 29 points. Mees and Smith are tied for sixth with 25 points apiece, which is a great start for the Michigan rivals and especially for Smith who has left Daytona the last couple of years with a huge deficit to make up for later in the season.

Thankfully we don't have too long to wait for round 3 as the riders and teams head to Austin, TX for the Circuit of the Americas round on Saturday, April 9 in just four short weeks, where the big boys and girls bring out the big hardware for the start of what can really be called the real season ahead alongside the Red Bull MotoGP COTA round.

A big congrats to Slammin' Sammy and JJ5 for their wins and to all of the competitors for a great double bill of racing the last two evenings. Good job had by (most) all and we're looking forward to the season to get into full swing in just 28 days!

You can get the full rundown of the races from the last couple of nights below thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track, who put on a good show for the fans in Daytona.








Sammy Halbert Wins Round One of Season-Opening AMA Pro Flat Track Race on the DAYTONA Flat Track

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Mar. 10, 2016) - Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Yamaha YZ450F) passed Jake Johnson (No. 5 Honda CRF450R) for the lead on lap 2 of the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines 25-lap main event Thursday night at the DAYTONA Flat Track and never looked back for a convincing victory in the season-opening race of the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track season.

Halbert, who earlier in the evening set the GNC1 division's fastest qualifying time (18.638 seconds) on the quarter-mile course, steadily opened up his lead in the caution-free race. He also posted the fastest lap of the race (19.066 seconds) on lap 2 to take the Öhlins Fastest Lap Award, earned the McElroy Packaging Lucky 13 Award by leading the race at the completion of the 13th lap, and took the checkered flag a race-high 1.382 seconds ahead of runner-up Brandon Robinson (No. 5 Honda CRF450).

Halbert saluted the large crowd in attendance with some celebratory "doughnuts" after the finish.

"It's been way too long and we just got to keep it rolling," Halbert said. "The boys did a good job getting it hooked up. I am not a guy who usually does doughnuts or knows how but you just got to win Daytona and you learn how instantly. When you win Daytona it just comes naturally, and I am just so happy to get up here on top."

Halbert's victory followed podium finishes on the DAYTONA Flat Track in three of the past four years and was his first victory on the GNC1 tour since 2013 on the Stockton Half-Mile in California.


The field spreads out coming out of turn four with
eventual winner Sammy Halbert on the #69 Van's Yamaha
YZF450 (center) ready to blast away from the rest. Photo
courtesy of AMA Pro Flat Track by Dave Hoenig.

Robinson, who started fifth on the front row just to the right of Halbert, moved up to second in the race's early laps but was never able to get close enough to attempt a winning pass. It's a great way to start the season," Robinson said. "It's exactly what we need. It shows how good we are this year and hopefully we can keep this momentum going."

Brad Baker (No. 6 Honda CRF450R) finished third after starting in the same position and just on the other side of Halbert on the grid. "I feel really good," Baker said. "I have to tell you that it was a tough one tonight, you had to ride really tense with a lot of caution, but I am really happy to be on the podium. It's a good way to start out the year. It's a long season and consistency is the key for a championship, and you can never be disappointed with a podium. At DAYTONA this is probably one of my best finishes for the past couple of years."

Three-time and reigning GNC1 Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Honda CRF450R) finished fourth while 2014 and 2015 title runner-up Bryan Smith (No. 42 Kawasaki KX450F) completed the top five. Smith, who advanced to the main after winning his semi, improved eight positions after starting 14th to capture the MotoBatt Hard Charger Award.

In the 16-lap GNC2 main event, Dalton Gauthier (No. 14A Yamaha YZ450F) slipped past Jesse Janisch (No. 32L Honda CRF450R) on lap 2 and raced to the victory. He opened up a race-high 1.3-second lead only to see the margin disappear when the race's second red-flag incident stopped the action on lap 10. Gauthier kept both his composure and the race lead on the restart and went on to take the victory by 0.714 of a second. "I knew how to get a start in front of these guys," Gauthier said. "I kept looking at the jumbotron and was seeing that I was pulling away from them and I knew that I was good. I looked back and I knew that I had enough ground to get the win."

Last year's DAYTONA Flat Track round two race winner, Justin Jones (No. 19B Honda CRF450), finished second while Hayden Gillim (No. 69C Suzuki RM-Z450) snagged the final podium position in third. Michael Lainhart (No. 17B Honda CRF450R) earned the NERGIA Fast Moving Award by gaining 11 positions to finish 6th in the GNC2 Main.

In preliminary race action, Halbert, Baker and Johnny Lewis won GNC1 heats and Smith and Stevie Bonsey split the GNC1 semis.

Gauthier, Jones and Jamison Minor won GNC2 heats while Tyler Seguin and Tristan Avery were victorious in the semis.

In the Super Hooligans exhibition race, Roland Sands (No. 10 Indian Scout) won in the first appearance of the series at the DAYTONA Flat Track.
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. Catch all the action at http://www.FansChoice.tv.

About AMA Pro Flat Track:

 

AMA Pro Flat Track is the world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft/, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or live stream the on-track action on FansChoice.tv. 


 About AMA Pro Racing:

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








Jake Johnson Wins Round Two of Season-Opening AMA Pro Flat Track Race on the DAYTONA Flat Track

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Mar. 12, 2016) - Jake Johnson (No. 5 Honda CRF450R) came out on top in a two-lap tussle with Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Yamaha YZ450F) in the opening stages of Friday night's Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines 25-lap main event at the DAYTONA Flat Track to score his first AMA Pro Flat Track race victory since his 2011 Grand National Championship season.

Johnson led teammate Kenny Coolbeth Jr. (No. 2 Honda CRF450R) across the finish line by 1.851 seconds to give Zanotti Racing a one-two finish in the second and final main event of the season-opening AMA Pro Flat Track doubleheader on the quarter-mile DAYTONA track.

Jake Johnson on the #5 Zanotti Racing Honda CRF450 R ran
down and passed early leader Sammy Halbert on the fourth lap to
win his first AMA Grand National race since 2011 last night
in Daytona Beach in round 2 of the 2016 season. Photo courtesy of
AMA Pro Flat Track by Dave Hoenig.

Johnson won in GNC1 for the first time since 2011's season-ending race on the Pomona Half-Mile in California, his fourth victory in that year's title-winning season.

"It's been a while since I've won a race," Johnson said. "It's been since 2011 and oddly enough it was one of the last times that I rode for Zanotti. I kind of had a dry spell but we got back together and we did it again. It's awesome to go one-two with my teammate. It was nice enough of Kenny to let me have this one. He has had a couple of wins the last couple of years. But it hasn't sunk in yet for me, it almost feels like my first win. I want to thank everybody that's stuck behind me the last couple of years. It's good to win again."

Coolbeth, who won round two at DAYTONA last year, was happy to share the podium with his teammate this time around in a Zanotti one-two finish. "I'm super proud," Coolbeth said. "Dave Zanotti puts his heart and soul into our program and it shows. He's a hell of a guy and he would do anything for us. It was a good race. I had to work for it. I got a terrible start and we should've been right there with Jake. He was probably on cruise control and determined."

Halbert, who won Thursday night's opening round of the DAYTONA doubleheader, finished third and took an early season GNC1 championship lead with 40 points, three ahead of Johnson's 37 points.

"I'm the only guy up here on the podium two days in a row, so stoked with that, and I've got to give it up to my whole team," Halbert said. "Jake and I had a good battle there for a minute. He passed me and I kind of gave it back to him a little bit and he really gave it back to me, so that was cool. I'm sure it made it exciting, I was just doing the best that I could in second there but Kenny was coming and I tried to hold him off but he got me."

Halbert now rides with No. 69, the number his late brother Jethro Halbert raced in competition. Jethro Halbert, who passed away last August from injuries sustained in a 2014 accident at the Calistoga Half-Mile in California, was remembered by race fans and the AMA Pro Flat Track community in a beachside memorial service in Daytona Beach earlier this week. I really didn't know what to expect with the track today," Halbert said. "It was so different than yesterday. I didn't really have a game plan going in like I did last night, but I just did my best to channel my inner Jethro and get calm, and I was stoked to get the 69 up on the box again, so I'm really happy overall."

In addition to the victory, Johnson swept the majority of the GNC1 main event partner bonus awards. He earned the Öhlins Fastest Lap Award when he made what proved to be the winning pass on Halbert on lap four with a time of 19.285 seconds. He remained up front and, on the 13th lap, took the McElroy Packaging Lucky 13 Award as the race leader at the halfway point.

Thursday's third-place finisher Brad Baker (No. 6 Honda CRF450R) was fourth on Friday after advancing to the main from the third and final transfer spot in his semi. He started on the last row in 17th but went on to improve 13 positions to capture the MotoBatt Hard Charger Award.

JD Beach (No. 95 Yamaha YZ450F), who posted the fastest GNC1 qualifying time on Friday afternoon, finished fifth in the main.

In the 16-lap GNC2 main event, Dylan Morin (No. 26E Kawasaki KX450F) made the final by winning his semi and then charged from 14th on the grid to his first AMA Pro Flat Track victory. Riding a high line around the DAYTONA Flat Track, Morin passed Justin Jones (No. 19B Honda CRF450) on lap 11 for the lead and took the checkered flag with a 0.612 of a second margin of victory. His charge to the front saw him improve the most race positions to earn the NERGIA Fast Moving Award.

"It's a dream come true to be standing here on the top of the box," Morin said. "This is my first win and I am freakin' pumped. I can't believe it right now, that semi was pretty rough, and getting up here from the last to win in the main, I just can't believe I did that."

Jones earned runner-up honors for the second night in a row while Thursday night's winner Dalton Gauthier (No. 14A Yamaha YZ450F) also doubled up on GNC2 main podiums at DAYTONA with a third-place showing.

In preliminary race action, Briar Bauman, Coolbeth and Johnson won GNC1 heats while Cory Texter and Jake Constantine split the GNC1 semis.

Gauthier, Jones and Parker Norris won GNC2 heats while Andrew Luker joined Morin in taking the semi victories.

Next up for AMA Pro Flat Track is round three at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) on Saturday, April 9, where the series will make its debut during the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas race weekend.
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. Catch all the action at http://www.FansChoice.tv.

About AMA Pro Flat Track:

 

AMA Pro Flat Track is the world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft/, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or live stream the on-track action on FansChoice.tv. 


 About AMA Pro Racing:

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






Tickets Now On Sale for COTA Round on April 9 & Just-Added Central New York Raceway Park Round on August 20 Completes 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Schedule

























SMI Promotions, the promoters of round 3 of the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season in Austin, TX has announced that tickets are now on sale for the COTA round of the series scheduled for Saturday, April 9. This will be the first points-paying event at the new facility after The Rolling Thunder Show's initial appearance at the facility in early June '15 as part of the ESPN XGames. The new track will also be designed by 7-Time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr.

And AMA Pro Flat Track has completed the 2016 schedule with the addition of a new facility in Central New York State. Central New York Raceway Park has been added to the schedule for round 12 of the season on Saturday, August 20, located in the Syracuse, NY area. The new track is touted as a 'new state-of-the-art' facility due to it's new and innovative surface.

In the shot above, racers roar off the line during one of the restarts during round 5 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series at the Allen County Fairground on June 28.

(L-R) Brad Baker on the #6 Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Screaming Eagle Performance Products/Arai Helmets-sponsored factory XR750, Brandon Robinson on the #44 Latus Motorsports/Castrol/Triumph America-sponsored Triumph Bonneville, Henry Wiles on the #17 Zanotti Racing/Motion Pro/Bell Helmets-backed XR750, Sammy Halbert on the #7 Briggs Auto/Martin Trucking/Lucas Oil-sponsored XR750 and Jared Mees on the #1 Las Vegas H-D/Rogers Racing/Harley-Davidson Motor Co-sponsored XR750 fight through the spray during the running of the Lima Half-Mile.

Also seen fighting for position in this shot are Jake Shoemaker on the #55 Bonneville Performance/Castrol/Triumph-sponsored Triumph Bonneville (partially hidden over Halbert's right shoulder), Johnny Lewis on the #10 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Ducati.net/Vintage Motorcycles-backed Ducati 1100 (just over Mees' helmet) and Steve Bonsey on the #80 Dodge Brothers Racing/Classic Harley-Davidson/Alpinestars-sponsored XR750.

With the new signing of the NY facility, this makes 14 rounds for the 2016 season.

You can read all about where and how to get your tickets for the COTA round next month and the NY track addition in August below thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track's official press releases.








Tickets now on sale for AMA Pro Flat Track COTA Half-Mile during the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Mar. 10, 2016) - The world's best dirt track racers will take to their twin-cylinder motorcycles for the first time in 2016 when AMA Pro Flat Track debuts at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) on Saturday, April 9, during the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas race weekend.

Both the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines and GNC2 classes will compete on a brand new and purpose-built half-mile track designed by seven-time Grand National Champion Chris Carr.

The AMA Pro Flat Track races will be run less than a quarter of a mile away from the main entrance to COTA's road racing circuit where both MotoGP and MotoAmerica will be competing over the weekend. Both the GNC1 and GNC2 classes will be showcased, introducing a new and exciting type of motorcycle racing to Red Bull Grand Prix fans after road racing qualifying concludes on Saturday afternoon.

"My team has been working tirelessly alongside AMA Pro Racing to bring this event to the fans," said Steve McLaughlin, Team SMI promoter. "Together, we have been able to bring all of the moving pieces together to create a unique experience for the motorcycle racing world and we're already receiving a lot of crossover support from the road racing paddock."

A full field of top GNC1 riders will be hoping to make history in Texas by becoming the first main event winner on the re-engineered COTA Half-Mile circuit. The list includes three-time and reigning GNC1 Champion Jared Mees, perennial title contender and X Games gold medalist Bryan Smith, ageless veteran Kenny Coolbeth, Jr., Saddlemen Rookie of The Year contender Davis Fisher and his Factory Harley-Davidson teammate Brad Baker, Jake Johnson, Sammy Halbert and many more.

In keeping with the Red Bull Grand Prix weekend's international flavor, motorcycles from three different continents will be represented in the AMA Pro Flat Track entries, including Harley-Davidson, Triumph, Ducati, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and more.

Tickets for the inaugural event, with seating limited to the first 4,000 fans on a first come, first served basis, are now available. Pricing ranges from $55 for adults down to free admission for children 12 and under. A variety of ticket packages and special discounts will be available, and more information can be found at www.texasflattrack.com/tickets/.

For tickets and additional information on the event, please contact Team SMI toll free at 1-844-722-6453. For group sales, contact the Circuit of The Americas Box Office at 1-512-301-6600. For more information, please visit the event website at www.texasflattrack.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/texasflattrack/ and follow the Twitter account at @TexasFlatTrack.
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. Catch all the action at http://www.FansChoice.tv.

About AMA Pro Flat Track:

 

AMA Pro Flat Track is the world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft/, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or live stream the on-track action on FansChoice.tv. 

About AMA Pro Racing:

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








2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Schedule Finalized With Central New York Raceway Park Confirmed As Round 12

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Mar. 9, 2016) - AMA Pro Racing announced today the finalization of the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track schedule and confirmed that Central New York Raceway Park (CNYRP), the ground-breaking facility in central New York, will host Round 12 of the series on Saturday, August 20.

The debut event at the all-new facility will feature both the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines and GNC2 classes in action and completes the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track 14 round schedule.

The innovative new circuit in Central Square, N.Y, which is located just North of Syracuse in Oswego County, will have a state-of-the-art racing surface comprised of a substance called "SYNDI," which is a synthetic wax additive that has been combined with clay in order to create a dustless surface to benefit racers and fans alike. This unique application has been designed to save time on race day preparation and will also greatly diminish the length of weather delays with a quicker drying time. 
 
"Bringing Pro Flat Track back to upstate New York is a great opportunity for our sport," said Michael Lock, CEO of AMA Pro Racing. "We are grateful for the support of our loyal fans in the Northeast and eastern Canada and we are excited to be able to test and debut the new racing surface at CNYRP's impressive new facility."

Glenn Donnelly, President of CNYRP, expressed his excitement of the newly established relationship with AMA Pro Racing and the innovative surface of the venue's flat track.

"The AMA Pro Flat Track series has a long history in Central New York," Donnelly said. "Now, with the demolition of the Syracuse Mile track, we are glad that we could work on bringing AMA Pro to our brand new facility. We look to build on the tradition and make the event a success for years to come."

A test at CNYRP on a to-be-announced date in July will provide riders and teams with their first chance to try out the new surface while building some pre-event excitement for the following month's race.

"We are pleased with the results from SYNDI," Donnelly said. "With just about 50% application, we created a better track for competition. We will continue to develop the product and believe that when it is fully applied at CNYRP, we will have a dynamite surface for the AMA Pro Flat Track competitors and spectators."

For more information about Central New York Raceway Park, please visit http://www.centralnyracewaypark.com/.

2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Schedule:

March 10: DAYTONA Flat Track I - Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.
March11: DAYTONA Flat Track II - Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.
April 9: Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas
May 14: Arizona Mile - Turf Paradise, Phoenix, Ariz.
May 21: Sacramento Mile - Cal Expo Fair, Sacramento, Calif.
May 29: Springfield Mile I - Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill.
June 18: Oklahoma City Mile - Remington Park, Oklahoma City, Okla.
June 25: Lima Half-Mile - Allen County Fairgrounds, Lima, Ohio
July, TBD: Official Series Test - Central New York Raceway Park, Central Square, N.Y.

July 30: Charlotte Half-Mile - Charlotte Motor Speedway, Charlotte, N.C.
August 9: Sturgis Half-Mile - Black Hills Speedway, Rapid City, S.D.
August 14: Peoria TT - Peoria Motorcycle Club, Peoria, Ill.
August 20: Central New York Raceway Park - Central Square, N.Y.
September 4: Springfield Mile II - Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill.
September 25: Santa Rosa Mile - Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa, Calif.

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. Catch all the action at http://www.FansChoice.tv.

About AMA Pro Flat Track:

 

AMA Pro Flat Track is the world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft/, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or live stream the on-track action on FansChoice.tv. 

About AMA Pro Racing:

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







AMA Pro Flat Track Announces Return of Presenting Sponsors and Partners City National Bank and Vance & Hines


































It's been another busy week out of Daytona Beach (besides the opening of the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season) with the announcement of the return of two big sponsors to the series. Both City National Bank (returning for the 2nd year) and Vance & Hines (returning for their 3rd year) will be coming back on board as contingency and series sponsors for the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series.

In the shot above, Brad Baker waves to the crowd from the podium after taking the win in heat race #1 at round 5 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines season at the Allen County Fairgrounds-hosted Lima Half-Mile on June 28 on the #6 Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Screaming Eagle Performance Products/Arai Helmets-sponsored and factory supported H-D XR750.

The powers that be out of Florida have done a super job of getting more sponsors and returning sponsors on board for The Rolling Thunder Show, and these two inclusions that were announced this last week are prime examples of the new regimes work at trying to pump new and returning monies into the series to help out the riders, teams and ultimately the fans.

Check out the full press releases below to see all of the particulars as announced by AMA Pro Racing.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 







AMA Pro Racing and City National Bank Enter a Second Year Agreement for the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Season

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Mar. 8, 2016) - AMA Pro Racing and Los Angeles-based City National Bank are proud to announce a renewed agreement for the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track season, with the inclusion of a $5,000 year-end award that will be granted to the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines champion.

City National Bank, known as "The Bank to the Stars," is excited to be reuniting with the superstars of AMA Pro Flat Track. Through this agreement, the GNC1 rider who gains the most points at the end of the season will receive the newly established year-end contingency award to support their endeavors in Pro Flat Track racing.

"We are delighted to enjoy a relationship with City National Bank and are grateful for their renewed commitment to our sport," said Michael Lock, CEO of AMA Pro Racing. "We are excited to enter into a second year with them and look forward to continuing our partnership."

David Pijot, Senior Vice President and Relationship Manager of City National Bank's southeast motorsports entertainment division, has expressed his eagerness for the renewed relationship and the opportunity to provide financial assistance to the champion rider.

"We are pleased to be renewing our official agreement with AMA Pro Racing," said Pijot. "We are proud to help keep the momentum going in the Flat Track community and we are excited to see what the 2016 season brings."

AMA Pro Racing and City National Bank formed their initial relationship in 2015, supporting riders to reach their potential in the GNC1 class. Now, having tasted the intensity of AMA Pro Flat Track racing, City National Bank has enthusiastically established its presence for a second year.

About City National:

With $36.4 billion in assets, City National Bank provides banking, investment and trust services through 75 offices, including 16 full-service regional centers, in Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, Nevada, New York City, Nashville and Atlanta. In addition, the company and its investment affiliates manage or administer $53.9 billion in client investment assets.

City National is a subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), one of North America's leading diversified financial services companies. RBC serves more than 16 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the United States and 38 other countries.

For more information about City National, visit the company's website at cnb.com.
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. Catch all the action at http://www.FansChoice.tv.


About AMA Pro Flat Track:

 

AMA Pro Flat Track is the world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft/, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or live stream the on-track action on FansChoice.tv. 

About AMA Pro Racing:


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








AMA Pro Racing Announces Renewed Partnership with Vance & Hines as Presenting Sponsor for 2016 Flat Track Season

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Mar. 7, 2016) - AMA Pro Racing announced today the renewed partnership with Vance & Hines as the Presenting Sponsor of the Harley-Davidson GNC1 class for the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track season.

"Vance & Hines has been, and continues to be, a strong advocate for Pro Flat Track," said Michael Lock, CEO of AMA Pro Racing. "The continuation of the partnership provides great support to this most original and uniquely American sport. We're excited to have them back and working with our team during this keenly anticipated year."

The manufacturer of aftermarket motorcycle performance parts has been the Presenting Sponsor of the GNC1 class since 2014. As part of the partnership, Vance & Hines has expressed a great deal of excitement in regards to the growth of the sport and the coming fight for the year-end title of who will be the next Grand National Champion.

"We're excited to build a strong relationship with AMA Pro Racing as we work together to grow the sport," said Terry Vance, co-founder of Vance & Hines. "My hopes are that our involvement will make people more aware of Flat Track and the true race fan would be able to see a much more professional show due to the additional money allocated to AMA Pro Flat Track. The reason we got involved is that we felt Flat Track racing has a very bright future and the best overall chance of accelerated growth of any form of motorcycle racing in the coming years."

For more information about Vance & Hines, please visit their website at http://vanceandhines.com/.
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. Catch all the action at http://www.FansChoice.tv.

About AMA Pro Flat Track:


AMA Pro Flat Track is the world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft/, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or live stream the on-track action on FansChoice.tv. 


About AMA Pro Racing:

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