Can Bryan Smith Make it 5 Wins In-a-Row at the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Sacramento Mile on May 30?

The 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship gets into full swing in just 15 days with round 3 of the season set to roll off at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on May 24 with the Springfield Mile I, one of the most, if not THE most popular events on the series' calendar. But just less then 6 days later, round 4 will fire up on the Left Coast as the boys and girls of The Rolling Thunder Show head west to duke it out and try and knock the reigning four-time winner, Bryan Smith, off of the proverbial chopping block at the Cal Expo Fairgrounds-hosted mile oval.

Flyin' Bryan, who for the last four seasons has won the event in Sacramento four times in-a-row on a combination of Kawasakis (Howerton Motorsports 2012-13, Villa-Esparza 2014) and Harley-Davidson XR750s (Moroney's H-D 2011) and has been the one to stand on the top step of the podium after each of those 25-lap Grand National mains. But will the Michigan native be able to make it five in-a-row, an almost unheard of feat in today's ultra competitive Grand National series?

In the shot above, Smith acknowledges the crowd after taking the #42 Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio/Howerton Products-backed Kawasaki EX650-based parallel twin to the win in the Dash for Cash event at the Springfield Mile I on May 25, 2014 while AMA Pro Flat Track announcer Barry Boone gets the crowd fired up and one of the Harley-Davidson trophy ladies holds the $1K ceremonial check that will be presented to Smith for winning the Dash at the Illinois State Fairgrounds mecca of speed.

Smith, who has more then proved his dominance not only on the mile tracks on the Howerton/Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio-backed Kawasaki over the course of the last three seasons, and was also able to card Kawasaki's first-ever half-mile win at Hagerstown last July. And betting against him to win a fifth Sacto Mile event could be a Vegas odds makers long shot. Smith has also won two of the last three Twins Series championships, and all but had last year's overall title sewed up before a DQ towards the end of the season due to a slight oil leak caused him to miss out on the championship by a scant three points against fellow Michigan man Jared Mees.

Here's a big tip for all of you flat track heads out west--you DON'T want to miss this one (not like you ever want to miss any of the events in the greatest motorcycle racing series on two wheels in the world), but this event will surely further cement Smith's overall dominance on the mile ovals as well as crowning him the King of Cal Expo. I'm not a betting man, but I wouldn't bet against this one!

Check out the full release below, thanks to the great group of folks out west at SMI Promotions, who will be bringing you all of the action in just three week's time that is guaranteed to keep you on your feet all day and night as the riders bang bars, throw monster roosts of dirt and just plain out race away into the evening trying to do their best to keep Flyin' Bryan Smith off of the top of the box on Saturday, May 30.

Press release courtesy of SMI Promotions, the promoters of the Sacramento Mile.

Bryan Smith Hoping to Extend Sacramento Mile Winning Streak to Five

Already the holder of the longest winning streak Smith looks for more on May 30

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (April 29, 2015) – The Sacramento Mile has been the domain of one rider for nearly half a decade, and that rider is Bryan Smith. Last year the racer from Flint, Michigan, became the first ever to win four-straight AMA Pro Grand Nationals on the famous mile at Cal Expo. Next month, on Saturday, May 30, 2015, Smith will attempt to push his record-setting winning streak to five during the milestone 50^th running of the Sacramento Mile.

Since the return of the historic event to the AMA Pro Grand National Championship calendar in 2011, the race has been dominated by Smith.  But while he’s won four-consecutive Sacramento Miles that doesn’t mean it came easily.

Smith said last year’s victory was his toughest one yet.  In the 2014 edition any one of six riders looked to have a good shot at taking the win, but in spite of enduring relentless pressure all the way to the finish, Smith managed to win yet again on his Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio Kawasaki. Smith battled with as many as five other riders in the lead pack throughout the 25-lap main, in the end the race came down to a drafting war with Smith just holding off a surging Jake Johnson by 3-100ths of a second. Jared Mees and Brandon Robinson were in the hunt as well, the top four separated by just 4-10ths of a second in one of the closest finishes in the long history of the race.

The win not only gave Smith a record of consecutive wins at Sacramento, it also moved him to the series lead at the halfway mark in the season. Unfortunately Smith could not quite hold on to that lead. In a heartbreaker a two dollar part failed (an oil sight glass) on Smith’s Kawasaki in the penultimate round of the series costing him the championship. Jared Mees went on to clinch the title.

Bryan Smith, of Flint, Michigan, will attempt to win a fifth consecutive Sacramento Mile on Saturday, May 30 at Cal Expo. (Photo courtesy AMA Pro Racing.)

So Smith will have more than enough incentive this year to try to earn the title he and many others felt he deserved to have last season and a record fifth win at Sacramento would help him move towards that goal.

“What we’ve been doing the past couple of seasons seems to have worked pretty well at Sacramento,” Smith said, stating the obvious. “Last year we got some serious competition at Sacramento and I think it’s even going to be tougher to win this year. There are several teams who have stepped up their programs for 2015, but our team has improved as well, so hopefully we’ll present a moving target to our competition.”

Smith said the sting he and his team felt after losing last year’s title over a something as inconsequential as a broken oil sight glass didn’t last long.

“Obviously it was disappointing,” he said. “But we knew that the championship should have been ours and I think all the fans saw that as well. But things like that happen in racing and we know we left nothing on the table. We went to the final round at Pomona (Calif.) last year and won that race and I think that left us with a positive outlook as we looked ahead to this season.”

Smith has some ground to make up after a difficult opening to 2015 at the Daytona Short Track in March.

“Obviously after the bad week I had down at Daytona I need all the wins I can get to put myself back in the championship picture,” he admitted. “Sacramento will be a big race for us and to be able to win a fifth straight there would be amazing.”

In addition to watching Smith attempt a “five-peat” in the premier GNC1 event at the Sacramento Mile this year, fans will also get the opportunity to see three-time World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss racing a Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Ducati in his run at AMA Pro Grand National racing. They’ll also see the stars of tomorrow in the GNC2 class and watch legendary AMA Grand National Champions Jay Springsteen and Chris Carr renew their friendly rivalry in the “Clash of the Titans II”. Springsteen took victory in last year’s inaugural Clash by the slightest of margins. He’ll be looking to repeat at this year’s event, but look for Carr to go all out to try to even the score.

Red Lion Woodlake Hotel Sacramento will once again be the Official Hotel for the 2015 Sacramento Mile. Make your reservations today by calling 1-916-922-2020 and mention AMA Pro to secure your fan rate. Limited space is available.

The AMA Pro Grand National Championship series is one of the longest running motorcycle racing championships in the world. On the long straights of the Sacramento Mile top speeds can reach 130 miles per hour. 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. Visit www.sactomile.com to keep up with all the latest on the event.

Practice for the 50th Sacramento Mile begins on Saturday, May 30 at 2:00 p.m. and opening ceremonies for the evening program kick off at 6:00 p.m.

Visit us at: http://www.sactomile.com/
Via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SactoMile
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sactomile
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/sactomile

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*** 2015 Ticket Information: Ticket information is available for the May 30, 2015 Sacramento Mile at www.sactomile.com.

Fans can order tickets online  at https://secure.interactiveticketing.com/b/ae283e, by calling 1-844 SAC MILE (1-844- 722-6453).

Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are available. Contact the Cal Expo Group Sales Department at boxoffice@calexpo.com for more information.

Round 4 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Season to See the 50th Running of the Sacramento Mile on May 30; Can Bryan Smith Make it a 5-Peat?

One of the longest running events in the history of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship will be celebrating it's 50th running this year on May 30 as the fabulous Sacramento Mile will once again see The Rolling Thunder Show hit the track in anger in round 4 of the 2015 season on May 30.

One of the most popular events on the series calendar, as well as one of the largest-attended races on the West Coast, the Sacto Mile has a long list of famous winners over the course of it's run. Carr, Springsteen, Parker, Graham, Shobert and Smith are but a few of the names that have graced the victory podium at the Cal Expo-hosted event in the race's running over the years, and the big question that remains to be answered this season is 'can Bryan Smith make it a five-peat' this year by making it five wins in-a-row on the big mile oval located in the California capitol?

Smith, who won the 2011 event on his own and his father's Moroney's H-D-backed Harley-Davidson XR750, has won this event the last three year's running while riding a somewhat different variation of the Crosley Radios/Howerton Motorsports-Products ultra-sleek Kawasaki rocket. Smith's first win for then-team owner Rick Howerton was at the Sacto Mile in late July of 2012 and hasn't relinquished that top spot on the box with what has been a close cousin to the original rocket that Howerton created starting late in the 2010 season, seeing it first hit the track during the 2011 season and then putting Flyin' Bryan in the seat for the 2012 season and beyond.

In the shot above, Bryan Smith stands on the top of the box after taking the #42 Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radios/Howerton Products-sponsored Kawasaki EX650 to the win at the Springfield Mile I in round 3 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on May 25. 3rd-place finisher Jared Mees and runner-up Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. flank Flyin' Bryan while AMA Pro Flat Track official announcer Barry Boone gets the crowd ready for the victory celebrations ahead during the Memorial Day weekend running of the classic flat track event.

With the racing season almost upon us and the Daytona short track events set to kick off the 2015 season in just six days running, it will just be a matter of time before the Twins Series fires up in Springfield over the Memorial Day weekend, and just after the Sacto Mile hits the West Coast scene just shy of a week later at the end of May. West Coast fans will again relish in the high speeds and action-packed racing that the racing at Cal Expo affords and will again be given the chance to see the best two wheeled racing program in the world bang handlebars at over 125mph in another draft-inducing celebration of speed on one of the series finest venues.

Check out the full press release below thanks to the fine folks out of the State Capitol of California who again will be bringing the best of the best together for all of you West Coast racing fans as the Sacramento Mile rolls into town on May 30. You better get your tickets now as this program is coming on fast and furious and will be upon you before you know it and you don't want to miss a moment of the great action coming your way!

Press release courtesy of the Sacramento Mile, round 4 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season.

2015 Marks the 50^th Running of the Sacramento Mile AMA Pro Grand National

New Race Date of May 30, 2015 for Historic Event

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (March 6, 2015) – The Sacramento Mile AMA Pro Grand National will reach a historic landmark on May 30^th, as the race runs for the 50^th time. The race boasts one of the richest traditions in Grand National Championship racing. Leading riders and teams from across the country will converge on Cal Expo, all in hopes of coming away winner of the 2015 Sacramento Mile.

Michigan’s Bryan Smith returns to Cal Expo this May to try to add to his record fourth consecutive Sacramento Mile victory. Last year’s race was one of the most exciting in the event’s long history. Smith battled with as many as five other riders in the lead pack throughout last year’s 25-lap main. In the end the race came down to a drafting war with Smith just holding off a surging Jake Johnson by 3-100ths of a second. Jared Mees and Brandon Robinson were in the hunt as well, the top four separated by just 4-10ths of a second.

Smith said he felt the pressure of trying to make history at Sacramento.

“I was loose and the groove wasn’t as well defined as it has been in past years,” Smith said. “Definitely for whatever reason, maybe it was the added pressure of being four in a row I’m not sure, but Jake and Jared didn’t let me have it easy that’s for sure.”

 

 

 

Opening ceremonies commence during round 8 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship at the Sacramento Mile on July 26. The 2015 event will be held almost two months earlier on May 30 and will see the 50th running of the hugely popular West Coast event. Photo courtesy of the Sacramento Mile by Larry Lawrence.

 

 

 

Smith was thrilled with putting his name in the history books with last year’s victory.

“It’s awesome,” Smith said of being the first to win four in a row. “Especially considering the guys I beat out. Scotty Parker is one of my best friends and an all-time hero of flat track. So to beat anything he’s accomplished is pretty awesome. It’s a proud day for me for sure.”

The past Sacramento Mile winners list reads like a Who’s Who of American motorcycle racing. The legendary Carroll Resweber was the first to taste victory at Sacramento, when he rode his factory Harley-Davidson to victory in the AMA Grand National held in California’s capital city on July 19, 1959. Since then Motorcycle Hall of Famers such as Joe Leonard, Gary Nixon, Hank Scott, Jay Springsteen, Ricky Graham, Bubba Shobert, Scott Parker and Chris Carr have all stood atop the Sacramento Mile podium.

The Sacramento Mile has roots even farther back in motorcycling history. The old fairground track first hosted a national motorcycle race in 1914, when Bob Perry rode an Excelsior to victory in the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM) 5-Mile National Championship.

For a list of past winners click on this link: http://www.sactomile.com/history/sacramento-mile-winners/

You can be a part of this year’s historic race by attending in person. Tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis. Seats have not been reserved from prior years’ attendance. Advance Adult Tickets start at $29. Space is limited, so buy early and secure your ideal seat to cheer on your favorite rider!

The race, now being held on Saturday, May 30th, has moved up two months on the AMA Pro Flat Track schedule. We continue to offer FREE Motorcycle Parking to our fans who ride to the Miller Lite Grandstands at Cal Expo in Sacramento. All Children and Youth Standing Room Only admission will be FREE again this year with a properly ticketed Adult.

Our hugely favored Turf Club, Legends Club, and Box Seats continue to be the premiere sought-after seat. These sections will fill up early. Don’t delay as these seats may not be available closer to the event date.

Click http://www.sactomile.com/tickets/ for the Sacramento Mile Ticket Page.

Call our knowledgeable Sacramento Mile staff to personalize your event experience. The phone line remains a Toll Free call at 1-844-SAC MILE (722-6453). Phone lines will be busy early in the sale. Leave a message and you will receive a return call within 24 hours.

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 long straights of the Sacramento Mile top speeds can reach 130 miles per hour and, running just inches apart, riders then broadslide their machines into the turns at triple-digit speed, controlling their arc through 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 50^th Sacramento Mile begins at on Saturday, May 30 at 2:00 p.m. and opening ceremonies for the evening program kick off at 6:00 p.m.

Visit us at: http://www.sactomile.com/
Via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SactoMile
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sactomile
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/sactomile

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*** 2015 Ticket Information: Ticket information is available for the May 30, 2015 Sacramento Mile at www.sactomile.com.

Fans can order tickets online  at https://secure.interactiveticketing.com/b/ae283e, by calling 1-844 SAC MILE (1-844- 722-6453).

Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are available. Contact the Cal Expo Group Sales Department at boxoffice@calexpo.com for more information.

Larry Lawrence
o. (317) 852-2896
c. (317) 332-3899
www.SactoMile.com
lawrencemedia@hotmail.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brad Baker year-end update

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

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

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

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

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

---Brad 'The Bullet' Baker

Jared Mees & Rogers Racing Crowned 2014 Grand National Champions at AMA Pro Flat Track Banquet

After 16 rounds and 15 races were completed, the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season came to an exciting end last weekend with the season finale at the LA Fairplex-hosted Pomona Half-Mile Flat Track Finals, where Jared Mees and his #9 Rogers Racing team fought hard to come home in the 4th-place spot to clinch the 2014 AMA Grand National Championship.

Mees, who had a career year in winning two races, capturing nine top-3s and 14 top-5s in route to winning his second overall Grand National Championship to go along with his 2009 AMA Grand National Twins Series Championship and the 2012 AMA Grand National Singles Championship.

Along with star rider and Michigan resident Mees, second year tuner for the team, Kenny Tolbert, won his eighth AMA Grand National Championship, second only to legendary tuner Bill Werner (13 championships with Gary Scott, Jay Springsteen and Scott Parker) and was awarded the Mechanic of the Year award along with fellow team member Sammy Sweet.

In the shot above, Mees and the #9 Rogers Racing/Las Vegas H-D/Blue Springs H-D-sponsored Harley-Davidson XR750 team of Kenny Tolbert and Sammy Sweet (partially hidden) are shown being introduced to the crowd by AMA Pro Flat Track official announcer Barry Boone at the Springfield Mile I during rider intros at round 3 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on May 25.

Read on to see who else copped the share of monies and awards for what was another great season of racing in The Rolling Thunder Show during the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season.

2014 AMA Pro Flat Track champions honored

POMONA, Calif. (Oct. 13, 2014) - The 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track season came to a thrilling end, with both the Grand National Championship Expert and Pro Singles titles being claimed by the tightest of margins at the Flat Track Finals at the LA County Fairplex on Saturday.   Sunday, following the exciting night of races, the champions and other riders of note were lauded at the yearend awards ceremony held at Pomona Valley Mining Company.   Jared Mees poses with his Rogers Racing Harley-Davidson XR750 during the AMA Pro Flat Track banquet where he was officially crowned the 2014 AMA Grand National Champion. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.     The voices of AMA Pro Flat Track Barry Boone and Scottie Deubler hosted a fun afternoon that included multiple looks back at the 2014 season in addition to the distribution of awards and checks.   GNC champion Jared Mees was awarded the No. 1 plate by the American Motorcyclist Association's Joe Bromley, and he was joined on stage by the Rogers Racing Harley-Davidson he rode to fourth place in the season finale to clinch the title by three points over Bryan Smith.   Pro Singles champion Kyle Johnson also received his No. 1 plate from Bromley after finishing second in Pomona and taking the championship by a single point over Davis Fisher.   Jarod Vanderkooi was awarded the No. 1 plate for winning both Pro Twins races this season, as well.   Johnson is awarded a national number for being the Pro Singles champion, but other riders who earned their national numbers were recognized, including; Jay Maloney, Danny Koelsch, Shayna Texter, Cody Johncox, Chaz Landers, Ronnie Jones and Colt Chebultz.   After 16 rounds, the winners of the Sunoco "Go The Distance Award" were honored and presented with checks for being the riders who completed the furthest distance over the course of the 2014 season. In Pro Singles, the $2,000 winner's check went to Bronson Bauman. Mees received a check for $3,000 for being the top Expert rider in terms of distance traveled. Mees also received $1,000 from Cortech for winning the "Performance Edge Award" as the rider who recorded the most fastest laps in main events in 2014.   Bryan Smith's Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio team was recognized with the "Team Excellence Award' for their professionalism throughout the year, and Jeffery Carver Jr. was awarded the  "Outstanding Performance" award, mainly for riding so many different bikes and remaining competitive over the course of the season.   Saddlemen's Tom Seymour was on hand to congratulate the Saddlemen GNC Rookie of the Year, Wyatt Maguire, who made seven main event appearances in this first season in premier class.   Pro Singles runner-up Fisher was the recipient of a special award, the Brintlinger Award for Excellence in Sportsmanship, which was voted on by members of the AMA Pro Flat Track paddock. Craig Parkinson of Parkinson Brothers Racing, accepted his award for Pro Singles Mechanic of the Year, and Honda was named the Manufacturer of the Year in the class. In addition to Johnson and Fisher being honored, Pro Singles third place finisher Ryan Wells was given a check for $2,000 along with a trophy.   GNC Mechanic of the Year honors went to Kenny Tolbert and Sammy Sweet of Rogers Racing and Kawasaki was named the Manufacturer of the Year in GNC competition.   The largest checks were saved for last as the top three finishers in the GNC standings were honored. Jake Johnson was third and received $4,000 and a trophy. Smith took home a check for $6,000 with his trophy. Mees was awarded $10,000 in addition to the coveted No. 1 plate, and was also recognized with a stunning Rolex watch presented by Thom Duma of Thom Duma Fine Jewelers.   Thunder MultiMedia provided three excellent videos, including a fun look back at the personalities in the paddock and recaps of both the Pro Singles and GNC seasons.   A special No. 1 plate was presented to Dave and Kathy Hoenig for their many years of dedication to the sport of flat track. The couple has attended 444 Grand Nationals, including 369 consecutive.   The event served as a fitting end to an entertaining 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Season with excitement already beginning to build for 2015.   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 Flat Track awards banquet

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 Wins Fourth Sacramento Mile In-a-Row in Round 8 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship

Bryan Smith accomplished last Saturday night what no other rider has ever been able to do in winning his fourth race in-a-row at the Sacramento Mile in round 8 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship. Taking his #42 Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio/Howerton Products-sponsored Kawasaki EX650 to the win in front of a huge crowd, Flyin' Bryan managed to win again and make history in winning the second mile event of the season, at the season's halfway point.

The 25-lap National main saw four lead changes, with Smith leading the bulk of the laps (22 laps) at the stripe, with Jake Johnson, Henry Wiles and Jared Mees each leading a lap, although Smith's advantage never grew to more than .145 seconds and on a couple of laps as small as .003 seconds.

In the shot above, Smith can be seen talking with AMA Pro Flat Track official announcer Barry Boone after winning the Dash for Cash event on the #42 Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio/Howerton Products-backed Kawasaki at the Springfield Mile I on May 25 in round 3 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season.

The Sacto event was covered by several outlets, and some of the best coverage of the event, as always, came from Cycle News.com, with Andrea Wilson putting in a great story of the event in this write up.

The local newspaper, The Sacramento Bee, had this write up of round 8 of the 2014 season at Cal-Expo.

And Cory Texter, National #65 put this story together for Cycle World.com from Saturday night's Sacramento Mile. Also, a big congrats to Cory for his best-ever finish in an AMA Grand National Championship main event with a 10th-place finish on the Racing Unlimited Kawasaki!

Full results can be found here thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track.

AMA Pro Flat Track's official photographer, Dave Hoenig, shot these pics from Sacto.

With his third win of the season, Smith now leads the championship hunt over Jared Mees by just two points (150-148), with Jake Johnson still in the 3rd-place spot another 6-points back (142), early season leader Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. (5th-place at Sacramento) in the 4th-place spot (129 points) and Sammy Halbert (7th-place) in the 5th-place spot in the championship battle (123 points).

The series heads to the Castle Rock TT for Saturday night's running of round 9 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship.

Smith's narrow victory just another exciting chapter
in history of the Sacramento Mile

SACRAMENTO Calif., (July 29, 2014) - Four consecutive wins hint that Bryan Smith has been dominant at the Sacramento Mile, but a closer look tells a different story, that Smith needed every ounce of talent and every bit of muscle from his Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio Kawasaki to pull off the feat, which he completed Saturday at the Cal Expo in Round 8 of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season.   Smith won the Expert main by just .030 seconds over Jake Johnson for his record fourth straight win in the heralded event. His four victories have been by 0.192 seconds - combined.   Bryan Smith #42 leads Jake Johnson #5 and Jared Mees #9 to the checkers to take his fourth win in-a-row at the Sacramento Mile on Saturday, July 26. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.   The back-and-forth affair drew the crowd to its feet on early every lap, and hit a fever pitch the final time around the mile oval. Johnson, on his No. 5 Ramspur Winery Kawasaki, made one last attempt to get by Smith, but wound up a half-bike short. Jared Mees came home in third on his Rogers Racing Harley-Davidson, just .056 seconds back of Smith in a finish no one will soon forget.   "The whole 25 laps boiled down turn four, the last lap," Smith said. "That four seconds, I just had to really dial the power on and not break the tire loose, luckily, obviously, it worked out. It was cool, not only to have a dogfight and come out on top of it - if I hadn't of won, it wouldn't have been so cool obviously - but it's awesome for me that I know the crowd enjoyed it and it kept everybody on their toes. I would rather just win by a straightaway, but from a fans standpoint, I can respect what they like."   Although it was four in a row for Michigan's Smith, and he was considered the favorite coming into the event, the result was far from a foregone conclusion. "It wasn't sure to me, it was a dogfight," Smith said. "Jake and Jared were right there the whole time. The way the track was, it made it so no one could really jump out there. ... It was a scrap the whole race, it felt like to me. I was just as little looser in the corners than them guys, and, luckily, I was able to hold onto it."   Johnson was the biggest thorn in Smith's side all night, powering by Smith in turns one and three multiple times. But on the final lap, the Pennsylvania rider elected to sit back and make one final attempt to take the checkered flag first. "If the straightaway was maybe 30 feet longer..." Johnson said. "It's fun, it's definitely stressful. ... It was a dogfight the whole way, I didn't know what was going to happen, really. I just knew Bryan was kind of controlling the race. I knew he was going to be the toughest to beat. I just tried to latch onto him and try a last-second draft pass at the line and I came up a bit short."   Smith walked away from California with the points lead over second place Mess. Johnson is right on their tails in third, eight points behind Smith and six in back of Mees (150-148-142).   "We're in it, we're consistently on the box, waiting for that win to happen," Johnson said. "It'll come. We're doing what we need to do, staying up front, staying on the podium. We just gotta keep rolling."   Mees had spots on the track where he was fastest and even put down the race's best lap, but ultimately he was third in the mad dash down the final stretch. "It was a good race, it was a lot of fun out there battling with these guys," Mees said. "I just had a little mistake on my end here and there and I just couldn't get there at the very end."   Brandon Robinson took fourth on his No. 44 USC Kawasaki and was one of a half dozen riders who ran out front at one point in the night. Robinson sits sixth in points, 40 in back of Smith, and certainly not out of title contention. Kenny Coolbeth and his No. 2 Zanotti Racing Harley-Davidson sit fourth in points following his fifth place showing Sacramento and Sammy Halbert is sixth in points following his seventh place finish aboard his No. 7 South East Harley-Davidson. Defending GNC champion Brad Baker was sixth on his Factory Harley-Davidson and is eighth in points as the AMA Pro Flat Track season enters a crucial span of three races in seven days.   What's being called the 2-5-8 starts with the Castle Rock TT in Castle Rock, Wash., on Saturday, Aug. 2, followed by the Black Hills Half-Mile by Dunlop in Rapid City, S.D. on Aug. 5, then the Indy Mile in Indianapolis on Aug. 8.   The championship hunt is sure to take a completely different form over just a week's time.   AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles   Davis Fisher looked to be the rider to beat Saturday night in the AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles main event at the Sacramento Mile. Fisher and his 67M T.J. Burnett Farms Honda built a comfortable lead on the pack through most of the race - then Kyle Johnson broke free of that group.   Following a thrilling fifth-to-second dive bomb into turn one, Johnson settled in and methodically cut down Fisher's lead, eventually reaching his rear tire on the final lap. Johnson made the pass in turns one and two, and held off a last-gasp draft pass attempt for his fourth victory in the last five races on his No. 77J Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda. "I really didn't think I would be able to catch him that fast," Johnson said. "I really had to make some perfect laps and just hit all my marks perfectly."   Once Johnson caught Davis and the crowd erupted in anticipation of a thrilling final mile, strategy came into play. With the draft playing such a large role, Johnson had to pick his spot and consider even sitting behind Fisher and making an attempt to draft by at the line. "I thought about it, I thought, 'Maybe if I get out front, he might draft back past me,'" Johnson said. "But I was out front, I just tried to make my corners perfect."   Fisher wasn't put off by being in second, knowing he'd have one more shot coming down the homestretch, but he was just short in that attempt. "I followed him into the corner in one, and just stayed in behind him and was hoping to draft by him on the front straightaway," Fisher said. "I was close."   While Johnson left California with the points lead, Fisher is right on his heels, 122-119, with three races slated over seven days starting with the Castle Rock TT on Saturday.   It was also a big points day for California's own Nick Armstrong, who rode his No. 44E Southland Racing Honda to a third place finish. "It feels awesome, California race, it's kind of like a home race for me," Armstrong said.   Dominic Colindres (No. 66Y Honda) and Brandon Wilhelm (No. 24J Honda) rounded out the top five in Sacramento.   While it's Johnson and Fisher in a dogfight atop the points standings just past the AMA Pro Flat Track's midpoint in the season, the battle behind them is tight, and the duo haven't left too many riders out of contention with seven races to go.   Ryan Wells and his No. 94B KTM are in third, 11 points back of Johnson, following a sixth place showing in California. Wilhelm and Bronson Bauman (No. 30Z Rod Lake Racing Honda) are fourth and fifth with 87 and 80 points, respectively. Jarod Vanderkooi is slowly creeping up the standings as well. The youngster on the No. 17F Johnny's Vintage Motorcycles Honda is eight after finishing seventh in Sacramento and he has two victories to his name this year - one at the Springfield Mile and a Pro Singles checkered flag at Grays Harbor.   AMA Pro Flat Track Expert top 10 finishers 1. Bryan Smith (Kawasaki) 2. Jake Johnson (Kawasaki) 3. Jared Mees (Harley-Davidson) 4. Brandon Robinson (Kawasaki) 5. Kenny Coolbeth (Harley-Davidson) 6. Brad Baker (Harley-Davidson) 7. Sammy Halbert (Harley-Davidson) 8. Stevie Bonsey (Harley-Davidson) 9. Briar Bauman (Harley-Davidson) 10. Cory Texter (Kawasaki)   AMA Pro Flat Track Expert top 10 points leaders 1. Bryan Smith 150 2. Jared Mees 148 3. Jake Johnson 142 4. Kenny Coolbeth 129 5. Sammy Halbert 123 6. Brandon Robinson 110 7. Stevie Bonsey 83 8. Brad Baker 82 9. Henry Wiles 76 10. Briar Bauman 63   AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles top 10 finishers 1. Kyle Johnson (Honda) 2. Davis Fisher (Honda) 3. Nick Armstrong (Honda) 4. Dominic Colindres (Honda) 5. Brandon Wilhelm (Honda) 6. Ryan Wells (KTM) 7. Jarod Vanderkooi (Honda) 8. Bronson Bauman (Honda) 9. Dan Bromley (KTM) 10. Ryan Foster (Honda)   AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles top 10 points leaders 1. Kyle Johnson 122 2. Davis Fisher 119 3. Ryan Wells 111 4. Brandon Wilhelm 87 5. Bronson Bauman 80 6. Dylan Morin 70 7. Dan Bromley 69 8. Jarod Vanderkooi 65 9. Kolby Carlile 52 10. Dominic Colindres 45   Next Up The stars of AMA Pro Flat Track will head to Castle Rock, Wash., and the Castle Rock Race Park on Aug. 2, 2014. Footage of the Sacramento Mile is available to view on AMA Pro Racing's YouTube portal at www.youtube.com/amaprovids.   How to Watch  FansChoice.tv will be the official home for live streaming coverage of AMA Pro Flat Track and AMA Pro Road Racing events in 2014. The site will also provide 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. The 2014 schedule consists of 16 rounds on the country's finest flat track courses. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft.

Sacramento Mile    Expert Main Event Pro Singles Main Event Sacramento Mile Track Walk with Shayna Texter and Bryan Smith

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

Press release courtesy of SMI, the promoters of the Sacramento Mile

Bryan Smith Earns Record Fourth Consecutive Sacramento Mile Victory

Top four separated by just 4-10ths of a second at the flag

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (July 26, 2014) -- Bryan Smith said this was the toughest one yet, but in spite of enduring relentless pressure all the way to the finish, Smith, 31, of Flint, Michigan, managed to win a record fourth consecutive Sacramento Mile on his Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio Kawasaki. Smith battled with as many as five other riders in the lead pack throughout the 25-lap main, in the end the race came down to a drafting war with Smith just holding off a surging Jake Johnson by 3-100ths of a second. Jared Mees and Brandon Robinson were in the hunt as well, the top four separated by just 4-10ths of a second.

The win not only gave Smith a record of consecutive wins at Sacramento, it also moved him to the series lead at the halfway mark in the season. He now holds a two-point advantage over Mees (150-148), who led coming into this race. Jake Johnson remains a very close third with 142 points.

Smith said he felt the pressure of trying to make history at Sacramento. "I was loose and the groove wasn’t as well defined as it has been in past years,” Smith said. “Definitely for whatever reason, maybe it was the added pressure of being four in a row I’m not sure, but Jake and Jared didn’t let me have it easy that’s for sure.”

Johnson ran a Ramspur Winery/Lloyd Bros Motorsports Kawasaki tonight. It marked the third brand of motorcycle he’s ridden in the Twins races this season. He did everything right on the final lap, but his slingshot move came up just short. “My strongest point of the track was going into three,” Johnson explained. “I tried to give Bryan a little bit of a lead so I could get a run on him. I got a good drive through three and came off of four and just… if the straightway was maybe 30 feet longer. We were close. It was good.”

This was the 49^th running of the Sacramento Mile and Smith was thrilled with putting his name in the history books. “It’s awesome,” Smith said of being the first to win four in a row. “Especially considering the guys I beat out. Scotty Parker is one of my best friends and an all-time hero of flat track. So to beat anything he’s accomplished is pretty awesome. It’s a proud day for me for sure.”

The top finishing Californian rider was Stevie Bonsey of Salinas, who was eighth. Briar Bauman , also of Salinas, was ninth in the 18-rider field.

Kyle Johnson took a come-from-behind win in the Pro Singles final on his Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda. He chased down and nipped Davis Fisher on the final lap, the TJ Burnett Farms Honda, by a scant 0.025 seconds. Nick Armstrong was third. The victory moved Johnson into the lead of the Pro Singles Series by three points over Fisher.

Jay Springsteen and Chris Carr brought the fans to their feet with their exhibition race. “Springer” drafted Carr at the line to win the exo and the two were running times within a half second of the leaders in tonight’s races.

Next up for the series is the Castle Rock TT on August 2.

Results of the Sacramento Mile – July 26, 2014

1 42 Bryan Smith Flint, MI Kawasaki EX650 25 Laps 38.425
2 5 Jake Johnson Coatesville, PA Kawasaki EX650 +00.030 38.448
3 9 Jared Mees Clio, MI Harley-Davidson +00.056 38.336
4 44 Brandon Robinson Oxford, PA Kawasaki EX650 +00.505 38.
5 2 Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. Morris, CT Harley-Davidson +01.923 38.689
6 1 Brad Baker Eatonville, Wa Harley-Davidson +06.361 38.419
7 7 Sammy Halbert Graham, WA Harley-Davidson +06.381 38.824
8 80 Stevie Bonsey Salinas, CA Harley-Davidson +06.393 38.846
9 14 Briar Bauman Salinas, CA Harley-Davidson +09.474 38.852
10 65 Cory Texter Willow Street, PA Kawasaki EX650 +13.899 39.025