Showing posts with label Chaz Springsteen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chaz Springsteen. Show all posts

Saturday, January 5, 2013

AMA Flat Track: Kerr Graphix Releases 2012 AMA Pro Singles Championship Season Video Review














Tight company you say?  For the riders in the AMA Pro Flat Track Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship Series this is a normal walk in the park for the 'junior' or 'feeder' division of The Rolling Thunder Show that is AMA Pro Flat Track racing.  Tight racing and even tighter quarters are the norm in the 450cc-based championship that acts as the proving ground for the future stars of the greatest racing series on wheels in the world.

At round 5 of the 2012 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship season never was there more of a display of the superb racing in this series then from heat race 2 as shown above on the first lap at the Allen County Fairgrounds hosting of the Ohio National Championship as the riders bore into turn one with the fans, team owners and racers lining the outside fence ready to get pelted with pea gravel as they grit their teeth in anticipation of what's to come.

With barely a portion of a wheel out front, eventual 2012 Pro Singles Champion Stephen Vanderkuur puts his #10J Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda CRF450R into the early lead in what would translate into the heat win over Zach Palmer on his #81C Honda (mostly hidden to the right of Vanderkuur.)  Michael Bickerton on the #28P Hogwrench Racing Honda tries to get inside, while Brandon Laursen on his #82J Laursen Racing Honda holds the low line.

Also battling for position are Chaz Springsteen on the #29J TCR Honda, Matt Zacher on his #15B Zacher Construction Honda, Robbie Treinen on his #71L FM Ceiling & Remodeling Honda, and Jordan McCready on the #11J Parkinson Brothers Honda.  Jacob Constantine on his #59B self-sponsored Honda, Coy Matthews on the #30F Kings Kustoms Honda, and Eric Stump on the #77A Markbilt Race Bikes Honda get a good drive off of the back row.

Ken Kerr/Kerr Graphix.com has released another season wrap-up video of his superb photo work while covering the majority of the midwest National stops throughout the 2012 season.  Earlier this week we were treated to Ken's season wrap-up of the Grand National Championship season, and today we get to enjoy his equivalent from the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship Series.  

Buckle up and hold on tight!




A big thanks to Ken Kerr/Kerr Graphix for his 2012 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship season wrap-up video from his photo collection shot this year.  We appreciate the great work, time and effort that Ken puts into the sport and he always comes through with some excellent stuff.  Thanks man!


You can view Ken's catalog here at his official site, Kerr Graphix.com:

http://www.kerrgraphix.com/#/page/home/

And here is the link to Ken's wrap-up video for the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Twins Series Championship season from earlier this week:

http://stusshots.blogspot.com/2013/01/kerr-graphix-releases-2012-ama-pro-flat.html


Tuesday, November 13, 2012

AMA Flat Track: MavTV Set to Air Round 10 from the Lucas Oil Indy Mile on November 22














Round 10 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season saw the return of the Lucas Oil Indy Mile to the series' schedule after the abrupt cancelation of the 2011 event due to the unfortunate aftermath of the stage rigging collapse just days earlier at the Sugarland concert held during the Indiana State Fair.

With The Rolling Thunder Show back on-track after a one-year hiatus, the racing returned as did the crowds, helped out by the 5th Annual Red Bull Indy MotoGP being held just down the road at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

Heat two action gets off to a roaring start as AMA Pro Flat Track official flagman Kevin Clark hits the button on the Christmas tree to kick-off the 8-lap sprint to help determine the 18-rider National main event line up.  With first-year Expert and 2011 Pro Singles runner-up Mikey Avila getting the jump on the #33E SDI/Bisha Racing/Alpinestars/Arai-sponsored XR750, the rest of the front row follows suit.

Morton, Illinois resident Rob Pearson on the #27 Roeder Racing/Eaken Racing/Moose/PMS-backed XR, Henry Wiles on the #17 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Ramspur Winery/Foremost Insurance Group/ENI USA-sponsored Ducati, Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. on the #2 Screamin' Eagle/Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Fox/Arai-sponsored factory XR, Sammy Halbert on his #7 South East H-D/The South Ass/Mo Vaughn Transport/LZ Racing-backed XR, and 2-Time AMA Grand National Champion Jake Johnson on the #1 Zanotti Racing/Schaeffer's H-D/Boughner Racing/Arai-sponsored XR750 drop the hammer in unison.  Cory Texter on the #65 Eaken Racing Kawasaki/RLT Racing/Herr's/Invisible Glass-sponsored 650R and Chaz Springsteen on the #29J Dan Dafner/TCR/Arai/Jay Springsteen-sponsored XR can be seen coming off of row 2.

Johnson made this one his own 'show me the money' race in running away with an over 3.4 second win over runner-up Halbert.  Coolbeth and Wiles rounded out the top-4 who were set for the National, while the rest headed to a semi.

At the end of the night, Johnson had a horrible night in crashing out while racing with Bryan Smith on the #42 Crosley/Howerton rocket Kawi in the main, Sammy went on to take his first-ever mile event win and rounded out his dirt track 'grand slam,' Coolbeth took home a great 5th-place finish in his first race back after earlier in the season breaking his leg, and Wiles took his second-best result of the season in finishing 4th in a superb ride on the Big Red LBM Italian 'L' twin.

Rob Pearson, who was supposed to be riding the Memphis Shades H-D, had to work a deal with Skip Eaken Racing at Indy after the Memphis Shades hauler broke down in route to Indy, and at the end of the night had raced both the XR and Eaken's bright orange and white Kawasaki.  Pearson rode the Roeder/Eaken XR to a 3rd-place finish in the semi, and then hopped on the Kawi in the main to take it to a strong 7th-place finish after Texter failed to qualify for the main.  Avila came home in the 12th-placed spot.
















Brandon Robinson on the #44 Werner-Springsteen Racing/Sponseller/Wossner Pistons/Big Dawg Racing-sponsored Kawasaki leads Dan Ingram on the #31J TCR/Zanna Racing/Indy Southside H-D/Tucker Rocky-backed XR750 and Willie McCoy on his #59 Harley-Davidson of Wausau/Independence H-D/Tucker Rocky/Arai-sponsored XR750 during one of the qualifying sessions at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile on August 18, 2012.

Round 10 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season saw Robinson put in the best ride of his career on the Werner-Springsteen Kawasaki, leading several laps and almost pulling out the upset win over eventual winner Sammy Halbert.  As the season progressed, Robinson got better and better on the Green Machine and elevated himself back to contending status in the Expert class.  And returning to the track that almost ended it all for him just three years earlier and having such a great run to 2nd-place on the night had to be a great shot in the arm for the Pennsylvania resident.

Talking about returns, local Clermont, Indiana resident Ingram returned to the Indiana State Fairgrounds mile oval 20 years after having previously raced at his hometown track.  Injured in a racing crash at Springfield in the spring of '93, Dapper Dan was able to mount a return to the series that also almost ended it all for him almost two decades ago, when he made his return to the Expert ranks at Springfield in late May. 

After looking strong early in his heat race, Ingram lowsided out of turn two after close contact with Brad Baker, and was forced to run the semi.  But the Hometown Hero didn't disappoint as he went on to win that semi race much to the roaring approval of the packed house on hand.  Getting the loudest ovation all night, seeing Ingram's elation on the podium alone was worth the price of admission.  Unfortunately his night ended after just one lap in the 25-lap National main when his motor went south on his Tom & Nicky Cummings-prepped XR.  But at the end of the day, everyone in the house knew that the former 3-time AMA Grand National Championship race winner was back where he belonged, and in a big way!

McCoy had an off-night for the long time veteran and mile specialist.  After winning the previous two events at the Springfield Mile, Willie was a stout favorite coming into the night's action held the same weekend as the 5th Annual Red Bull Indy MotoGP just a few miles down the road at The Brickyard.  Coming out of the semi to make the 18-rider National main, McCoy's mount went south 18 laps in and was credited with an unlucky 13th-place finish.

So it's not like I've given any spoilers away here (since this race ran almost three months ago) but you would be well advised to catch MavTV's coverage of the Lucas Oil Indy Mile when it airs next week.  In another stellar event put on by the Blue Crew, AMA Pro Flat Track did a superb job of showcasing the best racing show on wheels in the world in front of a big international crowd.

Check out the press release below from AMA Pro Flat Track to get your DVRs set now, you won't be disappointed in this one as it is a must-see event--again!








Tune-In Alert: Lucas Oil Indy Mile Airs November 22nd on MAVTV

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (November 13, 2012) - AMA Pro Flat Track's racing action from the Lucas Oil Indy Mile will be aired this Thanksgiving (November 22) evening at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT with a re-airing at 12:00 a.m. ET midnight.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jake Johnson #1 leads Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. #2, Sammy Halbert #7, Rob Pearson #27 and Mikey Avila #33E early in the running of heat 2 at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile on August 18, 2012.  MavTV and AMA Pro Flat Track announced today that MavTV will be broadcasting this great event on November 22 at 9:00 PM EST.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.
 
 
How to catch the action:
 
Find out how to get MAVTV by going to http://mavtv.com/get-mavtv.html
 
MAVTV is available nationwide on:
  • Dish Network - 361
Please check your local listings for a channel line-up to find MAVTV. Search Lucas Oil Motorsports Hour or Motorsports Hour if you don't see the program listed.
 
Stay connected with AMA Pro Flat Track at www.twitter.com/AMAProFlatTrack and www.facebook.com/AMAProFlatTrackSeries.

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






Wednesday, March 30, 2011

AMA Flat Track: Pro Singles Class Proves It's Worth With Champs Brad Baker & Jeffrey Carver


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

While 2nd place finisher Chaz Springsteen looks on and event winner Brad Baker takes a swig of water, 3rd place finisher Mikey Labelle is interviewed by AMA Flat Track race announcer Scottie Duebler on the victory podium for the AMA Pro Motorcycle Superstore Pro Singles main event at Lima, OH. in June of 2010. After 12 hard-fought laps, Bad Brad took a convincing win on the half mile of just over 3.4 seconds from Springsteen, who came home just .313 seconds ahead of Labelle, who likewise finished just .050 seconds ahead of 4th place finisher James Rispoli. Baker is sponsored on his #1 Honda CRF450 by Rod Lake/Mike Velasco/Brothers Powersports, and was the defending and inaugural '09 AMA Pro Singles Champion.
The Pro Singles Class was originally established during the 2009 season as a showcase and ladder class for the younger and/or less experienced riders in flat track to get track time in competitive environments and to hone their talents in hopes of moving up to the premier class in flat track, the AMA Grand National Champion Series. It has proven to be an ultra-competitive series, and with the riders showcasing their talent on single cylinder-based machines, the costs are somewhat kept in-check as opposed to running a competitive Twins-based machine. Some of the best racing at any given event, whether on a short track, TT, half mile or mile course, has been seen in the Pro Singles Championship Series and close racing and finishes are the norm at any given event.
While Baker has moved on and up to the AMA Flat Track Grand National Champion Expert division for the 2011 season, both Springsteen and Labelle will be competing again during the upcoming season in the Pro Singles Series. Springsteen wasn't in attendance at Daytona, and Labelle had a rough start to his season in finishing last in the first race and not qualifying for the main in the second earlier this month.
After finishing in the 5th spot in the 2010 Pro Singles standings, look for Labelle to improve steadily throughout the upcoming season. And with a 7th place finish in last year's standings to his credit, Chaz should have a good year in 2011 as well. With Baker and '10 Pro Singles Champ Jeffrey Carver, Jr. making the move to the Expert class for this year, look for someone to step up to fill the void left by the departure of these fine young men in representing the sport and showcasing the talent level in this feeder class.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With just over two weeks to go for round three in the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Series and AMA Pro Singles Series, a little reflection on the first two years of the AMA Pro Singles Flat Track Championship Series is due. With both '09 Pro Singles Champ Brad Baker and '10 Champ Jeffrey Carver, Jr. making the move to the 'bigs' in the AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship Series, there is a wide-open range of riders coming up in the feeder series that could take over the top spots vacated by these fine young men. And with the level of competition seen in the first two years of the series, nothing less then the best should or will be expected as the season gets rolling full swing come late spring. Mikey Avila on his #33E Honda CRF450 is the front runner after the first two rounds at Daytona with 1/2 finishes to his credit in the openers. Gerit Callies on his #76L Honda also carded 2/1 finishes and looks to give Avila a run for his money in 2011. Who else do you expect to see step up in the 2011 season?

When AMA Pro Flat Track came up with the overall formula for the Pro Singles Championship Series to replace the Expert Twins Series for 2009 and beyond, the idea was to have a level playing field to showcase the talent of the up-and-comers on single cylinder-based machines, in order to draw the competition level closer together, and as much as possible under racing scenarios, lower the costs to go racing. Costs of maintaining a single cylinder machine should/could prove to be less then maintaining a twin cylinder machine, and also all major manufacturers produce a 450CC machine that can be set up as a flat tracker with 'minimal' work, to make a more level playing ground. Whether you can use words like 'lower costs' and 'minimal' in discussing racing in general is another subject all together, obviously, and not the aim of this discussion.

Three years into the running of the series now, Honda has without a doubt established itself as the 'machine of choice' in the Pro Singles Class with it's CRF450 machine. Two out of three riders entered in the class at Daytona were Honda mounted, and those numbers are also similar in the Expert Singles Class as well. With Henry Wiles' and Kawasaki's dominance in the Expert Singles Series the last couple of years, they have gained a few spots in terms of machines being entered by riders for 2011.

Mark Cernicky, who writes for Cycle World.com, put together a competitive Honda CRF450 for the Pro Singles Class in '10 and made the main at Prescott Valley for the season-ender back in October. He also did some racing near his home in California at Perris Speedway and managed to win some races along the way, too. Along the way, he put together a great story of putting his effort together. You can read about it here:

http://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle_news/racing_articles/11q1/what_i_did_last_summer_-_racing
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

While you are waiting for round three of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Series and AMA Pro Singles Championship Series to kick off in a little over 17 days in DuQuoin, IL. on April 16, you can check out the rules packages here:

http://www.amaproracing.com/competition/index.cfm?cid=20459
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

AMA Flat Track: Monster Energy Werner Springsteen's Bryan Smith Talks Racing


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

Bryan Smith, Barry Smith (Bryan's father) and Bill Werner discuss set ups on the #42 Werner Springsteen Monster Energy Kawasaki DTX450s in their pit area during a break in the on-track action at the Gas City Short Track round of the the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Series in June of 2010. AMA Pro Singles rider and WSMEK team mate Chaz Springsteen can be seen on the far right side of the shot looking over his #29J machine in his pit area. Smith would miss the main event of the Expert Singles Series and Springsteen ended up finishing 13th in the Pro Singles final.
Flyin Bryan will have a new team mate on board for the 2011 season with JR Schnabel/National #33 joining the Bill Werner/Jay Springteen mantled team. This should be a big help in terms of development of the EX650R-based twin, which still won two races with Smith at the controls at Indy and the September running of the Springfield Mile. Having another rider on hand to share the set-up and testing for the team should prove to narrow that curve, and if so, the rest of the competition had better be looking over their shoulders once the season picks up full swing in Arizona come May.
But probably the area that the team most needs to concentrate now on would be the Singles program, and Smith has been doing some serious ice racing in Michigan during the off-season to help keep him in shape, as well as getting a leg up on the competition before the first green flag of the season flies at Daytona on March 10. In 2010 he struggled on the Singles bikes, with best finishes in the six round series of 6th at Daytona round two and 5th at the Springfield TT in May. Not qualifying for the main at Gas City was definitely the low point of the season on the 450, and shoring up this part of the program will put Smith and the #42 team right up at the head of the pack for contention for the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship and that coveted #1 plate.
Look for this to improve drastically for Bryan in 2011. You don't keep a member of the Michigan Mafia down for long, and if off-season training can and will make a difference, he's already a step ahead of just about everyone already!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kawasaki Racing and Monster Energy have been doing a great job of rolling out news and videos to highlight the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Series and the #42 Werner Springsteen Monster Energy Kawasaki team. After a great year in 2010, Bryan Smith is getting ready for the new season that kicks off at Daytona on March 10. During the off-season he has been teaming up with other Michigan Mafia members to do some ice racing on his KX450-based flat track machine on the frozen lakes in and around the Flint, MI. area, his home stomping ground.

With new team mate JR Schnabel coming on board the Werner Springsteen team for the 2011 season, this could prove to be the extra kick the team needs to step up in contention for the #1 plate in AMA Grand National Championship Racing. Development on the EX650R-based twin will now be shared between the #42 of Smith and the #33 of Schnabel, and everyone knows that JR has always had a great Singles Series program throughout the years, so that should prove to be an extra burst to Flyin Bryan as well. With his off-season training shown in the video below from Kawasaki Racing, this should prove to help him improve on his 2010 Singles Series finishes.

Thanks to Kawasaki Racing and Monster Energy for doing such a super job of highlighting The Rolling Thunder Show and the Werner Springsteen Monster Energy Kawasaki Flat Track Team!

Check it out:

http://www.kawasaki.com/Racing_news/Article.aspx?id=1513
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

AMA Flat Track: 2010 AMA Pro Singles Year-End Review and Awards


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

AMA Pro Motorcycle Superstore.com Pro Singles podium celebrations are just getting started at the Gas City/I-69 Speedway stop of the tour back on June 19. AMA track announcer Scotty Duebler interviews 3rd place finisher Brian Tapp, rider of the #37C Honda CR450 backed by WKR/West Coast Hot Shoes. Tapp finished 24th in the 2010 AMA Flat Track Pro Singles Championship with 31 points, with Gas City being his best result on the year.
2010 AMA Pro Flat Track Motorcycle Superstores.com Pro Singles Champion Jeff Carver stands behind his event-and series-winning #24P YZ450 Yamaha, which is backed by Vans/Yamaha Motor Corp/GYTP/Carvers BBQ. Carver won five events, came home 2nd four times, and also carded two 3rd place finishes on the year to have the championship sealed before the season ending race in Arizona, where he finished 4th (his second of the year) and totaled 293 points to win the title over 2009 Pro Singles Champion Brad Baker, with 267 points.
James Rispoli can be seen talking with Carver after a fine 2nd place finish at Gas City, and 4th place in the Pro Singles Championship on the year with 160 points while riding the #71B Honda sponsored by Cycle Dynamics/ANT-Racing/Vadnais Machine. Rispoli also split time in the AMA Pro Road Racing Series running in the AMA SuperSport East Series where he finished 5th in the year end standings.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Rider intros are underway at the Springfield Mile round of the 2010 AMA Pro Motorcycle Superstore.com Pro Singles Series on September 5. Eventual event winner Michael Toon is being introduced to the the crowd by AMA track announcer Barry Boone as his #22L Honda sponsored by Price Truck Line/Kennedy Tires/Woody Kyle Racing is held at the ready for him.
Toon was victorious on the day, beating out #81C Zakk Palmer by .020 seconds with 2009 Pro Single Champ coming home 3rd on the day just .051 seconds back from Toon. Toon finished the year 9th in the Pro Singles Championship with 104 points.
Behind Toon is eventual 2010 AMA Pro Motorcycle Superstore.com Pro Singles Champion Jeff Carver alongside his #24P Van's Yamaha. Carver came home 5th at Springfield, just .335 seconds behind winner Toon. The Champ also had another 5th place finish on the year the night before on the Springfield Rodeo Arena Short Track. Carver was awarded his ceremonial #1 plate for winning the championship at the season ending banquet, and was also awarded National #23 from Kevin Atherton, which he will wear in the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Series.
Rider #2oT is Mikey Labelle, alongside his Honda sponsored by WeirBach Racing/General Engineering/Barnett Clutches. Labelle finished 4th on the day at Springfield just .122 seconds back from winner Toon. He also won his first-ever AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles event at the season ending round in Prescott Valley, to finish the year 5th in the season ending standings with 139 points. He dedicated that win to rider Jesse Phibbs, who died the week before from injuries sustained at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile on August 28.
These Pro Singles events are serious business with multiple-bike battles and close racing at it's VERY best, doing a great job to highlight the up-and-comers into the great sport of AMA Flat Track Racing. You can tell from the time differences shown in the few shots I have posted and results shown that they are a pretty exciting affair, to say the least. AMA Flat Track has done a super job of using this series to showcase it's future in racing, and you always see the very best of racing with these young men wringing the heck out the 450s, especially on the mile tracks!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Lima Half Mile round podium celebrations are underway in the AMA Pro Motorcycle Superstore.com Pro Singles class as AMA track announcer Scotty Duebler reads off 2nd place finisher Chaz Springsteen's list of sponsors. Chaz, the nephew of 3-Time AMA Flat Track Grand National Champion Jay Springsteen, rode his #29J Monster Energy/Kawasaki/Werner & Springsteen-sponsored Kawasaki EX450 to his only podium of the year at Lima, and finished out the season 7th in the Pro Singles Championship with 130 points. He also scored two 4th place finishes in the May Arizona Mile and at the Minnesota Mile for the year.
Lima winner, and 2009 AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Champion Brad Baker is all smiles behind his #1 Honda, backed by Rod Lake/Mike Velasco/Brothers Powersports. Baker also scored three other wins on the year (Arizona Mile in May, Calistoga on the half mile, and Springfield on the short track) to finish 2nd in the year end standings behind Carver, 293-267 points. Baker also carded two 2nd place finishes and five 3rd place finished on the year for a super year. As part of AMA Flat Track's ladder program, Baker was also able to run three Grand National events in the Twins Class at Lake Odessa, Calistoga and the season ender at the Yavapai Downs Mile. Look for Brad in 2011 in the bigs, too, possibly alongside Carver. Having raced together for the championship in the Pro Singles Series now for two years, these guys are pretty familiar with one another and should also put on a super show as 'rookies' in the AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship Series. 3rd place finisher at Lima was #20T Mikey Labelle, who is mostly obscured in this shot, but has been talked about in the previous shot rundowns.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With the 2010 AMA Pro Motorcycle Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship having been decided before the season ending round at Yavapai Downs, Jeffrey Carver, Jr. ended up winning the title over 2009 Pro Single Champion Brad Baker by a margin of 26 points, 293-267 in the final tally. Both of these fine young men will be moving up to the Expert GNC Class for the 2011 season, showing that the current ladder/growing system for the sport is working quite well in bringing new talent into the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Series. Between these two hard chargers, they won 9 of 16 events on the schedule (Carver's 5 to Baker's 4) and accounted for 22 podium spots on the year as well.

The AMA Pro Singles Class was brought in new for the 2009 season, taking the place of the old Pro Expert Twins Class that preceded it. Needless to say this change has been instrumental in bringing AMA Flat Track fans some of the most exciting race action that AMA Flat Track has had to offer over the years, and even decades. The racing is as close as you can get, and some of the most exciting that each event has to offer. All entrants race DTX production-based 450s so it makes for some VERY close action and thrills.
Personally, one of THE best races of the year was watching eventual champ Jeff Carver start on the back row (due to a false start) in his heat race at Indy in August to power his way around the outside of everyone to win in only six laps. And then to come off the back row again to finish the main in 3rd place, only because I think not only he was worn out, but so was the rear tire on his #24P Van's Yamaha.

Some of the best racing on the year came out of the Pro Singles races I witnessed. And the talent pool looked great this year, and very promising for the 2011 season as well.

You can catch up on a couple of interviews and photos in the links below. And we congratulate 2010 AMA Pro Motorcycle Superstore.com Pro Singles Champion Jeff Carver for a great year, as well as all of the participants in the 2010 Pro Singles season. What a ride and what a great year for these young men. Great job to all and thanks for the memories of a super season in AMA Flat Track!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2010 AMA Pro Flat Track Motorcycle Superstore.com Pro Singles Year End Top 10 Point Standings:

1. Jeffrey Carver, Jr. 293 points (5 wins, four 2nd place finishes, two 3rd place finishes)
2. Brad Baker 267 points (4 wins, two 2nd place finishes, five 3rd place finishes)
3. Michael Avila 194 points
4. James Rispoli 160 points
5. Mikey Labelle 139 points
6. Michael Martin 137 points
7. Chaz Springsteen 130 points
8. J.D. Beach 118 points (four wins on the year, moved to Expert GNC Class at Springfield)
9. Michael Toon 104 points
10. Jake Shoemaker 90 points
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is AMA Pro Flat Track's official release on the year end banquet awards. 2010 AMA Pro Motorcycle Superstore.com Pro Singles Champion Jeff Carver is featured as he gets his ceremonial #1 plate, and also is awarded National #23 for 2011 in the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Series. Kevin Atherton was on hand to award him his 'old' number. Carver will get to wear a 'solid' National number due to the AMA awarding those to previous champions in the feeder/
growing series of the Pro Singles Championship:

http://amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=40247

Ultimate Motorcycling.com has this version of the AMA PR on the Pro Singles awards at the year end banquet in Prescott Valley, along with a couple of good pics as well:

http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/2010/ama-flat-track-carver-gets-his-no-1-plate

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

Tyler Porter over at Fight For Dirt Track has this great interview with 2010 AMA Pro Motorcycle Superstore.com Pro Singles Champion Jeff Carver, Jr. from after the season ending race in Prescott Valley:

http://www.fightfordt.com/runscript.cfm?page=carverarizona.cfm

Tyler also has this interview with Mikey Labelle, who got his break out first-time win as an AMA Pro Singles rider at Prescott Valley. Labelle, who finished 5th in the 2010 AMA Pro Motorcycle Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship with 139 points, dedicated his Yavapai Downs Mile win to Jesse Phibbs. Jesse was the Pro Singles rider from Canada (who less than a few hours before the crash had won his first pole at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile event) that was severely injured on the first lap of the first Pro Singles heat race at Indy on August 28, and who several weeks later succumbed to his numerous injuries:

http://www.fightfordt.com/runscript.cfm?page=labelleaz.cfm
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here are some great shots over at Poppa Wheelie's super site of first-time Pro Singles winner Mikey Labelle at the Yavapai Downs Mile on October 9:

http://pwheelie.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html#1887631098252223774
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------