AMA Flat Track: Joe Kopp Retirement Release from AMA Pro Flat Track

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joe Kopp, the '00 AMA Flat Track Grand National Champion, sits in his pit area at the Lima Half Mile round of the AMA Pro Flat Track K&N Filters presented by Motorcycle Superstore.com Grand National Championship Series in late June of this year. Kopp was riding his Lloyd Brothers/American Agip-sponsored Ducati 1098, thusly his long-trusted Latus H-D XR sits beside him while he talks with the fans.
Kopp went back to the trusty XR for the half mile events in Lake Odessa and Hagerstown (where he won both!) and also at the West Coast round at Calistoga, where he ultimately ended up finishing in the seventh spot after having to win his semi to qualify for the main event. Smokin Joe's crash in turn one in his heat race is still clear in fan's minds when the swingarm pivot bolt broke, causing him to lowside into the airfence. Thankfully he wasn't hurt badly and Joe went on to finish second in the final year-end standings to 2010 AMA Flat Track Grand National Champion Jake Johnson and the Zanotti Racing team.
The 2010 season in AMA Flat Track was really all about change, and overall it was accepted AND displayed at a very high level. Not only did the series see added venues, but new promoters that came on board and knew how to sell the sport, new blood in the series in terms of the equipment and rules packages, and a much-tighter and entertaining show that helped to keep the fans interested throughout the season. And in terms of attendance, the people are starting to come back to see the show. Many venues, and not just the usually well-attended one's run by the IMDA, showed signs of good attendance, if not sell-outs (both new Arizona events.) And safety has also been stepped up for the series, as well. AMA Flat Track Manager Mike Kidd is the man behind the turnaround, and the series is more healthy then it's ever been as a result of his vision for the sport.
Look for more and even BETTER things in the upcoming season(s) as AMA Pro Flat Track goes further into the new decade with the best show on wheels. With new winners Ducati and Kawasaki, the return of Triumph to the series, and new and updated entries in the form of KTM, BMW and Suzuki, the series is breathing life into a sport that has captivated fans for over five decades, but who had as well felt the downturn in the sport, let alone the downturn in the economy. With entertainment at a premium now and a slicker, more polished show to be seen, the fans are returning and the action has also taken a BIG step forward.
Like I have been saying for the better part of the year now, this ISN'T your father's AMA Flat Track anymore. And I, among many others, are thrilled at the new look and feel of The Rolling Thunder Show!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just wanted to take the time to post this press release from AMA Pro Flat Track, and thank them for taking the time to display one of my shots. Originally posted back in early July, the shot above is one I took in the pit area during the Lima Half Mile event at the end of June, with Joe Kopp talking to the fans during the pitwalk that afternoon.

It also really made me feel like some of this stuff I have been putting out here on Stu's Shots has been helping and maybe even making a difference in the sport, especially after I received an e-mail from AMA Flat Track Manager and '81 AMA Flat Track Grand National Champion Mike Kidd. I can say without a doubt that he has always been one of my all-time heroes of the sport, and seeing him win the Terre Haute Half Mile in August of '75 solidified that feeling even more for a 'then' kid of 18 years old. MK mentioned how he thought this 'was a great shot' and how he felt that I had been doing a great job in 'catching all the elements of the GNC series' this year.

WOW--thanks Mike, and thanks for taking the time to check out Stu's Shots. And thanks for getting this thing turned around in the great sport of AMA Flat Track!

To note, the shot I posted above is one of Stu's Shots, but just to be clear the other shots that are attached to this press release from AMA Flat Track are NOT. I just want to make sure no one thinks that I would try to take credit for something I wasn't a part of. That's not my way of operating and I try to make sure that that is always clear with everyone who takes the time to come by and check us out.

Thanks as well to everyone who takes time out of their busy day to come by and check us out here at Stu's Shots. We always appreciate it!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joe Kopp The Man! The Machine! The Family Man! His Retirement! What a career you had! Is it hard for you to believe the days of chasing a championship title is over? Yea it really is, but I think I'm ready. I have known all year long, but my biggest question was am I going to go out with the # 1 plate. Having that # 1 plate to take home would have even made it easier for me to retire. But yea, I am sure I will still be chasing some racing title doing something, just not full time GNC racing. Most riders turn expert at around 17-18 years old, you first turned expert in 1991 at the age of 22. Why the late start? I was always into the off-road scene, such as local hare scrambles and x-country races, but I would ocassional throw a leg over a bike at the local flattrack races. I remember when I was about 12 one of my first dirt track bikes was an old Yamaha RD250 twin two-stroke and that dang thing about killed me. Then I went to a Maico 490 then a KX500, which both had stock frames. I guess I learned some serious throttle control on those bikes. But I just really enjoyed racing off-road in my younger years, plus my cousins and I grew up here in Mica (WA) at the base of the mountains and trails were everywhere, so thats what we learned to ride. I always said, if they ever throw a log or some sort of obstacle in the straight at the Springfield mile, those boys are gonna get a good whoopin' . Then a few years after highschool a couple of local guys let me ride a Champion framed 250 liquid cooled Cr250 Honda at a local race and that was probably the first real flattrack framed bike I ever rode. I was like, damn, these things actually handle when you put a good chassis where they can hooke up. That year I also got my pro-am license and off we went. So yea I got a late start in flattrack, but at the same time it probably helped me out by not getting burned out at an early age. At what time in your career did you realize you were good enough to win the Grand National Championship series? I don't know that I ever thought I was good enough to win the title before I actually won it. I've never been a real confident person, like when some people get beat on ten times in row at the races and they still think they are still better than you. I was never like that, however I knew that if I ever got a bunch of confidence from winning a few races or just running up front, then these boys were gonna be in trouble. I have always been pretty confident with my racing, but to have confidence to win at the GNC level versus confidence to just qualify for a main is a whole different thing. It takes forever to build confidence but only an instant to loose it all! But over the last several years I have learned a few tricks.... but I ain't gonna tell! ha-ha Ducati Suzuki KTM Harley-Davidson Throughout your career you have probably raced more different brands of motorcycles than anyone on the series. What did winning the Mile at Prescott, AZ on the Ducati mean to you personally? You know winning the Arizona Mile on the Ducati didn't really mean that much to me at the moment. I don't think I realized the importance of it until the weeks following, then I was amazed at what it stirred up. It was truely awesome and I am very proud to be a part of it. I just have always liked to take on new challenges in my career. You achieved the flat track Grand Slam by winning short track, TT, Half Mile and Mile. Which discipline did you feel you were the most competitive and why? I would say TT's are my favorite to ride, but I think I am the most competetive on the 1/2 miles. I really don't care if the track is a cushion or clay, I just feel I can adapt to most different conditions faster than the other riders. I think that the slicker or more technical a track gets plays into my cards. I really feel comfortable in situations when you are trying to find every last bit of traction and not just wacking the throttle wide open and going for it. At the same time I have always liked to prove myself on different types of race tracks. The commitment and challenges to race at your level had to have been overwhelming at times. Was there any other time before now you thought about hanging up the steel shoe? For the last few years it was just getting harder and harder to make a full comittment each week. But even when I was down on my results, I always had GREAT people around me that kept me going. My family, sponsors and friends I had around me is what allowed me to stay competitive. You became a crowd favorite at more than your fair share of races with the longest autograph lines. Why do you think the fans picked you as their favorite rider? I have always made it a point to really try and be fan friendly with the fans but more importantly with the kids at the races and I think that really started to show in the last couple of years. I have young kids at home and I know how much they look up to a racer such as myself, so if you take the time and chat with them while signing an autograph, you would be amazed with what kind of memory it leaves with that yound child. I've always believed, you should treat someone the way you would like to be treated. Pretty simple really. I just always wanted to be known as a good guy on and off the track and I feel like I have accomplished that. Although you announced your retirement, you also stated there will be a couple times you may get the bikes dusted off to hit some races next year. Any idea which events you may plan to attend? I'm thinking somewhere like Daytona and maybe the Springfield TT since those were always two of my favorites. Plus I would like to do something like Pikes Peak ,maybe a few Endurocrosses, or what ever else comes along that would be fun to do. It appeared during your announcement speech at the awards ceremony it all was becoming a reality. That must have been tough. I knew it was going to be tough! I really could not even think too much about it in the days leading up to the awards ceremony without getting choked up. There were so many more things I wanted to say but I couldn't because I just was not able to talk. I wanted to congratulate Jake and his crew because I saw how hard they worked all year. I also wanted to thank all of my fans, friends and sponsors over the years. It was an emotional moment, but I guess people understood just what flattrack has meant to me over the years. It is and has been my life and my family's life! The saying goes...behind every great man, is a great woman. How has Deedee played a role in your racing? Where do I start? DeeDee has always played a major role in my career. Non stop, week in and week out she has helped me through the good and bad times. Now it's time for me to join her in doing things she loves to do like horse back riding or what ever she has planned. For years we have talked about maybe getting into team roping together. All I can say, if that is the direction we want to go.... those cowboys better watch out. DeeDee gets as serious as I do when it comes to being competitve. I really look forward to all the new things we will do together. Are the kids and Deedee ready to have you home? This is something we have all discussed over time, so I think everyone is ready. With all the traveling we have done over the years we will probably get ants in our pants to get back on the road and go somewhere. I don't see us just sitting home. Many sports figures have a hard time adjusting after retiring. How is Joe Kopp going to handle the slower pace and less stress? I'm not sure if I will slow down that much as I have lots of ideas. I can't financially retire, so I will need to find something fun and rewarding to do. But yea, I am not sure about less stress or slower pace, but I would say that safer is more like the word for the job I am looking for. ha-ha Any regrets along the way that stands out? I have no regrets along the way. Sure there are the things here or there that you think about, but really I have had such a GREAT time out there racing full time on the AMA GNC circuit, I would not trade it for anything! There were some battles on the track that were maybe left unfinished, but ya know what comes around goes around in my book. I love good carma and bad carma! ha-ha Congratulations on your successful racing career and we look forward to seeing you with your induction into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. WOW! The Hall of Fame would be amazing! I'm not sure if I will fall into that group, but if I do, I guess that would be like winning another championship. Thank you! TEAM LATUS VIDEO As a subscriber to this newsletter you will receive information on a regular basis. As the 2010 AMA Pro Flat Track Season draws near we may send you exciting news and announcements regarding that season on a more frequent basis.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's the kink to the same press release over at Larry Lawrence's great site, The Rider Files.com. Great stuff as always coming from one of the long-time contributors and gurus of the great sport of motorcycle racing!

http://www.theriderfiles.com/?p=6806

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AMA Flat Track: Joe Kopp Talks Family, Flat Track and the Future

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After winning the second semi at the Springfield Mile to qualify for the National main event, Joe Kopp smiles for the cameras as AMA track announcer Barry Boone gets ready to interview him on September 5. The #3 Latus H-D/American Agip/Lloyd Bros/MotoConcepts-backed Ducati 1098-based rider came within 20 points this season of adding to his 2000 AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship, but a series of late-season problems encountered by the team caused him to just come up short to eventual champ Jake Johnson.
Smokin Joe didn't have a bad year, though, when you look at the big picture of things. Winning the Yavapai Downs Mile in May for Ducati's first ever AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Twins Series win in itself was the break out story of the year, and then Kopp added wins on the half miles at Lake Odessa and Hagerstown while riding the Latus H-D XR, to total 21 AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship wins for his 'full-time' years in the series.
The possibilities are pretty good that we will see the #3 back on the track next year, just not at every race. Joe has said he plans to run a few select events in the future, which is great news for all of us Joe Kopp fans. Those races can't get here fast enough to see him back out there wringing it out again!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Kopp may have announced his 'full-time' retirement from the great sport of AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship racing, but the chances are still pretty good we will see him around the track in 2011 and beyond. The 2000 AMA Flat Track Grand National Champion had stated throughout the 2010 season that this would be his last full-time year in the series, no matter the outcome in the championship in which he was a very solid part of throughout the season. He made the 'official' announcement at the year-end banquet awards ceremony in Arizona on October 9 and we covered that story last week. You can find the link to that story below.

Leading the 2010 AMA Pro Flat Track K&N Filters presented by Motorcycle Superstore.com Grand National Championship overall point standings for the better part of the year, the wheels on his championship season slowly started to fall off of his and the Lloyd Brothers team efforts as the series was just hitting the stretch run. With multiple errors that plagued the overall great year the team had, the final straw was not only losing the chain in Minnesota, but the rain-out at Knoxville. With just one season-ending event to decide the overall championship, the Lloyd Brothers Ducati rider found himself in a position that was too much to come back from. And not to take anything away from 2010 AMA Flat Track Grand National Champion Jake Johnson and the Zanotti Racing team, either, which seemed to be running strong on all cylinders all season long.

Most of you know Larry Lawrence as the guy who had covered AMA Flat Track racing for the now defunct, hardcopy version of Cycle News for the last few years. As well as the great 'Archives' column that featured great looks back in motorcycle racing history which he had penned for them for the last 4-5 years as well, and also his super site The Rider Files.com that debuted in June of 2009. Larry got in touch with Joe Kopp in the last few days to talk with the 2000 Champ and get his views on hanging up the steel shoe and what the future holds for him. Being a great family man, one of Joe's main topics of discussion were his family. And he also states that although the full-time racing is over with for him, he does still plan to run some select races in the future, as well as wanting to get involved with racing or the motorcycle industry in one form or another.

Here is the link to Larry's interview with Joe which is a must-read and a very cool listen! Kick back for about 20 minutes and listen to what Smokin Joe has to say about the year, why he chose the #3, and what the future holds for him and his family:

http://www.theriderfiles.com/?p=6658
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Poppa Wheelie has these great shots from Joe's win on the Ducati in Arizona in May:

http://pwheelie.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html#229673509661457140
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out Joe Kopp's website here to keep up with his news and race reports. He still shows an AMA EnduroCross event on his schedule coming up on November 20 in Las Vegas. That is the same weekend as the AMA Banquet and Hall of Fame ceremony as well. Kopp was scheduled to run the EnduroCross at Indy but decided to sit it out since the championship run was heating up. Joe ran an event late last fall in the EnduroCross series and ended up on the podium. This would be a great way to see him racing in one form or another:

http://www.joekoppracing.com/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the link to last's weeks post on Joe Kopp announcing his retirement from full-time AMA Pro Flat Track competition:

http://stusshots.blogspot.com/2010/10/ama-flat-track-joe-kopp-retires-from.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AMA Flat Track: Joe Kopp Retires From Full Time AMA Flat Track Competition

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joe Kopp and Dave Lloyd look over the practice and qualifying numbers during the break in on-track action at the Springfield Mile on September 5. The 2000 AMA Flat Track Grand National Champion had said before the season started, and well into the season, that no matter which way the championship went he would hang up his steel shoe at the end of the 2010 season. After the season ending Budweiser Racing Arizona Mile in Prescott Valley on October 9, Joe issued the 'official' announcement along with his race report that his full time run in active competition had come to an end.

Smokin Joe finished 5th in the season finale to end the season in 2nd place in the championship to Jake Johnson, 289-269 points, and end his 'full time' career in AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship racing with a total of 21 wins. The future AMA Hall of Famer won three of those races this year, including the break-out win on his Latus H-D/Lloyd Brothers/American Agip/MotoConcepts-backed Ducati 1098 at the Yavapai Downs Mile back on May 1. However, with his announcement he also said that he would still be racing 'here and there' so if we are lucky we may still get a chance to see Joe at some select rounds in the future. And this fan and reporter will be looking forward to that.

Thanks for all you have done for AMA Flat Track, Joe. It's been a pleasure to watch you all these years on and off the track, and we can't wait to see you strap that steel shoe back on again!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm a little slow in getting this posted, so there are many people out there that may have already read and heard the official announcement of 2000 AMA Flat Track Grand National Champion Joe Kopp's retirement from full time competition in the series. Joe had made mention of his impending retirement not only at the start of the season but well into the season as well. And like myself, I'm sure a lot of people had hoped he would forget about that talk no matter what way the championship run would end up. Not seeing the #3 on the track (or the #43 as he used to carry before winning the championship in 2000) is going to feel and look pretty strange after all these years. And I for one am not looking forward to that.

A consumate professional on and off the track, let alone a constant threat in the series over the years, Smokin Joe has not only been one of my favorites, but a standard fan favorite as well to many other devotees to the wonderful sport of AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship racing. With a broad, sly smile to go along with his bravado and ability to wring the best out of a flat track motorcycle, he has been one of the constants on the series trail since the early-mid '90s and has thrilled and entertained many a face in the crowd along the way. To put the Lloyd Brothers Ducati on the top of the podium back in May for what is one of the break out stories in series history is itself a testament to Joe's riding prowess and ability. Let alone grabbing two more wins this year on his Latus H-D, a race mount that couldn't be farther from the handling and power characteristics of the Big Duc.

We'll look forward to seeing Joe back around the track in the future, as with his background there are an awful lot of young, up and coming riders that will surely benefit from his experience and knowledge in how to set up and ride an AMA Flat Track machine. I'm sure Joe could give them, and anyone for that matter, a couple of pretty good tips!

Thank you, Joe, for all that you have done for AMA Flat Track as well as for the fans--this one included. You will be missed out there, man!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joe has been doing race reports over the years about his race weekends, and this year has done a great job of chronicling the struggles of switching back and forth from one bike to another, and dealing with the differences between the tried-and-true XR and the Big Duc. This is his final 'full time' race report on the Arizone Mile, as well as his 'official' retirement announcement. Man, that sounds strange, but like with all good things in life, at one time they all must end:

http://www.joekoppracing.com/CommentDetails.aspx?NewsletterID=111

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Today's Cycle Coverage.com has the same report that Joe has on his site, with a few different pics thrown in as well:

http://www.todayscyclecoverage.com/wordpress/2010/10/16/kopps-korner-2/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joe Kopp Talks About the Chain Coming Off at The AMA Flat Track Minnesota Mile

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Kopp talks with some of the fans during the pitwalk at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile on Saturday, August 28th, while team members of the #3 Latus H-D/Lloyd Bros Racing/American Agip/MotoConcepts-backed Ducati 1098-based machine
talk in their pit area. Matt Weidman #20 and his Mom, Rachel, can just be seen in the background to Joe's right.
Smokin Joe has been stating for the most part that this would be his final year in AMA Pro Flat Track Racing, and up until the Canterbury Park round on September 11th had held the points lead in the series championship since the beginning of the summer. And until that time looked like he would or could be going out as a champion again, after winning the 2000 AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship. But when he lost his brake pedal on lap 2 and then his chain derailed and wrapped itself around the countershaft sprocket on lap 19 of the final, that hard-earned point lead had turned into a 10 point deficit.
And of course you can't not say that losing points at Indy, Springfield and Minnesota due to not making or being able to run the Dash races didn't help any. At Indy the bike wouldn't fire on the line causing him to miss the Dash, and at Springfield he had to come out of, and win the semi to make the main. And at Minnesota, not qualifying for the Dash again cost him valuable points. And in those three rounds alone, new overall point leader Jake Johnson rode the #5 Zanotti Racing XR into all of the Dash rounds, and scored 8 more valuable points in them as a result.
And now you have Knoxville getting canceled, and a one race shoot-out in Prescott Valley in less than three weeks for the 2010 AMA Pro Flat Track K&N Filters Grand National Championship. Not that Joe and the team might not be able to rally, or that something could or would happen to JJ to cause him to finish WAY behind Joe on the day, in both the Dash race and the main. But at this time, after seeing a lot of this season close up again after all these years, if I were a betting man, which I'm not, I would have to place mine on the #5. Of course, anything can happen. I know one thing......it's been a GREAT year for AMA Flat Track fans! And it's going to get better!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Kopp puts out a nice little newsletter/press release after each of the AMA Pro Flat Track K&N Filters presented by Motorcycle Superstore.com Grand National Championship races. He talks about the team, the bike, the track they were at and basically runs down into really nice detail exactly how each round went-or went wrong. His most recent release is pretty interesting in how he lost his brake pedal and then the chain on the Ducati during the Canterbury Park Mile main event.

Having led the 2010 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship overall point standings since the beginning of the summer, the 2000 AMA Flat Track Grand National Champion had been having a banner year to say the least, especially for someone who has talked retirement. He's led the series for half the season, and has won on two different makes of motorcycles at two different types of tracks (mile and half mile), and he took Ducati to it's first ever AMA Flat Track Series win back in May at the Prescott Valley Mile. With as much as an 18 point lead at one time over then-runner up Jersey Jake Johnson on the #5 Zanotti Racing XR, things were looking pretty good until the series hit the Lucas Oil Indy Mile back at the end of August. And then not only the chain but the wheels were starting to fall off.

Having qualified for the Dash via his heat one 2nd place behind heat and eventual main winner Bryan Smith, Kopp's bike wouldn't fire for the points and money race. Zero-Dash points and Johnson not only scored 2 in the Dash, but finished 2 spots ahead of him in the main. At Springfield Kopp gained a point on JJ in the short track Dash, but finished two spots back in the main. On the mile, Kopp missed the Dash and had to win the semi to qualify for the main, while Jersey Jake failed to score in the Dash when crashing out unhurt. But he finished one spot up on Joe in the main.

In Minnesota, Johnson again gained 4 valuable points via a 2nd place in the Dash race, Kopp missed it due to a 3rd place in heat three. And then the main. Jake brought it home in second behind winner Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. and Joe was credited with 16th after only completing 19 laps when the chain finally came off and wrapped around his countershaft sprocket, prematurely ending his night, and possibly his run at the 2010 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship. And now losing Knoxville in what was all but a must-have race in order for Smokin Joe to mount a charge to gain points back on new series leader Jake Johnson.

With one round left to go in the 2010 AMA Pro Flat Track K&N Filters presented by Motorcycle Superstore.com Grand National Championship Series in Arizona in 18 days, there are still four men with a chance at the title mathematically. Johnson leads with 265 to Kopp's 255. Jared Mees on the #1 machine lies in 3rd with 246 points, and newly crowned 2-Time Singles Champ Henry Wiles has the #17 machine in the 4th spot with 239 markers. But at this point, if you're betting on anyone other then Johnson, the way he's been running and finishing solid all season long, I think you are fighting a losing battle. One, that unfortunately Joe Kopp may have lost much sooner then when the chain came off in Minnesota.

You can read Joe's great report here from over at Joe Kopp Racing.com. I can only imagine what the hell it would feel like to first, lose your brakes on a 130 MPH mile track for one, but then to have the chain wrap itself around the sprocket as well at those speeds. It sure makes for an exciting read!

http://www.joekoppracing.com/CommentDetails.aspx?NewsletterID=110
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stu's Shots wants to thank the competitors in the 2010 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Series for what has been a great year of racing and a great turn around for flat track racing in general. The Mike Kidd-led AMA Pro Flat Track team with Steve Morehead and Company has really done a fine job of re-working the show for not only timeliness, but for entertainment value as well, so without a doubt, thank you all as well! And now that the crowds are starting to come back the series that has been the best show on wheels for decades can actually showcase the show the way it should be--top notch and fun as all get-out! Great job by one and all and the greatest racing anywhere!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joe Kopp Takes Ducati to Victory at AMA Flat Track AZ Mile

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Kopp on the #3 chases J.R. Schnabel on the #33 during the main event at the Springfield Short Track over Labor Day weekend in 2005. Kopp won the AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship in 2000 and wore the #1 plate during the '01 season.
After having worn the #43 up until he won the championship, Joe elected to carry the #3, that had been worn most recently by the late Ricky Graham, from the 2002 season forward. He has more then made the #3 plate proud, and won last night's Prescott Valley Mile over Sammy Halbert on the #7 H-D XR-750.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Lloyd Brothers Ducati GT1000-based flat tracker of #72f Larry Pegram sits in the pits at the Indy Mile in August of 2009. Past champion Joe Kopp came on board with Lloyd Brothers Racing for the 2010 season and promptly won his first outing with the team in Arizona last night. Kopp was to have had his choice of the Ducati or his regular Latus Motors XR for the miles or half-miles for the season, but I would say after last night's outing there won't be much problem working out a choice at least on the mile tracks this year. Kopp led the national at Prescott until the 8th lap when Sammy Halbert on the #7 machine took over. Kopp was able to catch Slammin' Sammy on the last lap at the line and won by a mere .024 seconds-less then half a wheel. It's going to be good to see some parity on the big tracks and this win is just what the flat track community needed, and couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Go Joe and a big Congrats for your hard earned win! Let's hope team mate Larry Pegram wasn't too awfully upset. He had been working with the team since the '04 or '05 season and was hoping to score the team's first win. Pegram will race both Springfield events and at Indy in August over MotoGP weekend. Maybe we'll see two Ducks on the podium at those events. Bravo to Lloyd Brothers as well for their tireless development on this trick machine!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of Joe Kopp's Team Latus H-D XR-750's sits in the pits at the Indy Mile in August of 2009. George Latus is a Harley dealer from the Northwest Territory who has been involved in flat track racing for some years now. Latus Motorsports also owns the Ducati 848 that Steve Rapp has been campaigning in the AMA Road Racing Daytona Sportbike class and took his maiden voyage on the team's bike to the podium at the Daytona 200 for a fine and hard-fought 3rd place finish. Kopp and Latus H-D have kept immaculate equipment for as long as I can remember and are to be commended for their hard work and efforts.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Kopp on the #3 Lloyd Brothers/Latus Racing Ducati GT1000-based machine took the victory last night over #7 Slammin' Sammy Halbert at the Prescott Valley Mile in Arizona. In what was Kopp's maiden ride with the team, Kopp led off the line and held it until lap 8 when Halbert took over. Kopp was able to hang in and eventually nip Halbert at the line for his first victory of the 2010 season and his 11th Grand National win overall. Kopp is also the 2000 AMA Grand National Championship.
Kopp's win last night was a 'history in the making' moment for Ducati in mile racing as well. At least in the 'modern' era since the late '60's/early '70's. Lloyd Brothers Racing has been working with the Ducati for several years now, and Larry Pegram put a variation of the machine in it's first mile national at Duquoin back in the fall of 2004. To see it get it's maiden win after all their hard work is excellent, let alone a great way to start off the season. The win ended a streak of 134 races since anything other then a H-D XR-750 won an AMA Flat Track Grand National event. The last time anything other then an XR won on the mile was when Ricky Graham won the Labor Day event at Springfield in September of 1993 when he sealed his 3rd GNC. The last time anything other then an XR won on a half-mile was when Corbin Racing's Rich King won the Joliet event in August of '98.
When it was announced that Smokin' Joe would be coming on with the team earlier in the year, it was said he would have his choice of the Ducati or his usual Latus Motors XR to use on the big-bike tracks. I guess there won't be too much more guessing about which mount he will most likely use from here on out. At least on the mile tracks.
Great job by all--Joe Kopp, Lloyd Brothers and Latus Motors for this epic win in AMA Flat Track racing. To see another solid brand come around and for a new team member to come on board and win his initial outing with them is superb, and should be great for the sport in terms of parity and good racing. Of note, Kopp beat six other makes last night in the final for his 11th win. The other manufacturers represented in the final at Prescott Valley were H-D, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Aprilia, and a Wood-Rotax BMW. With parity such as this the Grand National half-miles and miles should be pretty exciting this year.
Congrats to all last night for a great race and for ringing in the big-bikes with a bang for the 2010 AMA Flat Track season! You can read on below for the results and official story of the final.
Hats and helmets off to Joe Kopp and company for a great and hard-earned win last night. Take a bow guys, you deserve it!
Also a big pat on the back to the AMA Flat Track team of Mike Kidd, Steve Morehead and company for putting on a winning show. All reports have been very favorable, the promoter did their job in selling tickets and the AMA put on a great show for everyone. Bravo!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's the story of the race thanks to the bible of motorcycle racing, CycleNews.com:
http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/flat-track/2010/05/02/kopp-wins-prescott-mile
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Full results thanks to AMA Pro Racing:
http://amaproracing.com/ft/events/results.cfm?eid=2010021010
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim Thomas from FlatTrack.com has a pic and a rundown of last night's racing right here as well:
http://www.flattrack.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=746&Itemid=1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The great blokes at Sideburn Mag have some excellent pictures of the event you can check out here:
http://sideburnmag.blogspot.com/2010/05/yavapai-action.html
And here:
http://sideburnmag.blogspot.com/2010/05/ducati-win-gnc-mile.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------