AMA Pro Flat Track Set to Return to The Copper State for Arizona Mile in Phoenix on Saturday, May 14

AMA Pro Flat Track announced this week the official information about the upcoming Arizona Mile in Phoenix on Saturday, May 14, which saw tickets go on sale yesterday for what will be the series first return to The Copper State since the 2012 season. In what is being called a 'twilight race' the event will see heat races starting at 3 PM MT. The event will be held at long standing horse track facility Turf Paradise.

Arizona has hosted several events in the last several seasons dating back to the 2010 racing year, which saw two mile events held in Prescott (Joe Kopp/May winner, Jake Johnson/October winner) and Tucson hosting a half-mile event in October 2012 (Stevie Bonsey), but this will be the first return to the Phoenix area in 30 years in the days of the Camel Pro Series.

In the shot above, riders roar off the line in heat race #2 during round 11 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series at the Springfield Mile II on September 6.

Bryan Smith on the #42 Crosley Brands/Howerton Motorsports/Villa-Esparza-backed Kawasaki EX650 gets the jump on fellow contestants Brandon Robinson on the #44 Latus Motorsports/Castrol/Triumph America-sponsored Triumph Bonneville, Dominic Collindres on the #66Y Babe DeMay Racing/Memphis Shades/Motorcycle-Superstore-sponsored Yamaha FZ07 and Mikey Martin on the #91 Weirbach Racing/Racing Unlimited/Spectro Oils-backed Kawasaki.

With just 19 days until the season gets set to kick off at Daytona Beach in the annual short track doubleheader event, it's getting close to go time for the teams, riders and sponsors in The Rolling Thunder Show to hit the track and wow all of those on hand, and the return of racing to Arizona in May should make for another great event on the series calendar this year.

You can check out all of the particulars below thanks to the press release from AMA Pro Racing.

AMA Pro Flat Track set to return to Phoenix area with the Arizona Mile at Turf Paradise on May 14

Bubba Shobert completed the AMA Pro Flat Track "Grand Slam" when the series last visited the area in 1986

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 18, 2016) - AMA Pro Flat Track will be making a return to the Phoenix area for the first time in 30 years with the Law Tigers Arizona Mile, scheduled as round four of the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track season on Saturday, May 14 at Turf Paradise in Scottsdale, Ariz. "Arizona is a spectacular motorcycle market and a great place to put on events," said race promoter Chris Morgan. "We recognize the value of Arizona, the enthusiasm of the motorcycle market and how much of a perfect market it is for an AMA Pro Flat Track event." The Arizona Mile will be the first race in the area since 1986, when motorcycle racing legend Bubba Shobert won a half-mile event in Phoenix aboard the Honda RS750. With that victory, Shobert completed the "Grand Slam" of winning a Mile, Half-Mile, Short Track, Tourist Trophy and Road Racing main event. Looking to add to the sport's history in the state, the stars of AMA Pro Flat Track will be geared up for Turf Paradise as the first mile event of the season. "Arizona is a great part of the country to have a race," said Factory Harley-Davidson rider Brad Baker. "The weather will be nice and there is just a neat vibe overall. Since it will be the first mile race of the season, it will show who really did their homework over the offseason to prepare. You can always count on Bryan Smith, Jared Mees and Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. to perform well, and I know that I'm prepared to be up there with all of them." The race, being presented locally by Buddy-Stubbs Harley-Davidson, will be an "afternoon twilight event," meaning that the gates will open at noon and the race will start at 3:00 p.m. In addition to the AMA Pro Flat Track action on the race track, there will be a variety of family-friendly entertainment including stunt performances and a vendor area. "For years, the Law Tigers have proudly sponsored the AMA Pro Flat Track finals in Pomona," said Ari Levenbaum, the Vice President of Marketing for the Law Tigers Motorcycle Lawyers. "With the loss of the Pomona venue last year, the promoters and I were eager to continue our partnership and tradition of putting on Flat Track races. As riders and racing enthusiasts ourselves, we felt that it was important to find another venue that both the Flat Track racers and fans would enjoy. Bringing a race to Arizona, home to Turf Paradise and the Arizona Law Tigers, just made sense. We love supporting the racing element of motorcycling and are committed to seeing the sport grow and flourish." For more information and to purchase tickets for the Law Tiger's Arizona Mile, please visit http://www.ArizonaMile.com. Tickets will be available for purchase starting Friday, Feb. 19, 2016. Next Up: The 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track season will once again kick off with a doubleheader at the DAYTONA Flat Track during Daytona's Bike Week festivities. The twin short track races will take place at the "World Center of Racing" on Thursday and Friday, March 10 & 11. For additional information and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Events/2016/DAYTONA-Flat-Track/DAYTONA-Flat-Track.aspx. How to Watch:   FansChoice.tv is the official home for live streaming coverage of AMA Pro Flat Track events. The site also provides coverage of IMSA's development and single-make series, and NASCAR's touring and weekly series. Catch all the action at http://www.FansChoice.tv. About AMA Pro Flat Track:   AMA Pro Flat Track is the world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft/, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or live stream the on-track action on FansChoice.tv.  About AMA Pro Racing: AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.

For additional information contact:   AMA Pro Racing Communications, (386) 492-1014, communications@amaproracing.com

NBC Sports Set to Broadcast Season Ending Superprestigio of the Americas Race from Vegas on Tape Delay, Sunday, November 29

Great news came down the pipeline last week when it was announced that NBC Sports Network will be broadcasting the season ending Superprestigio of the Americas race in Las Vegas on a tape-delayed basis on Sunday, November 29. The event that pits American AMA Pro Flat Track riders against a diverse field of National and International motorcycle racing stars will be held inside the tight confines of the Orleans Arena this coming Saturday, November 21 in Las Vegas.

You can check here to see where to find NBC Sports Network on your local cable or satellite provider.

In the shot above, riders in the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series get ready to do battle in round 9 of the season at the Peoria TT on August 16.

(L-R) Shayna Texter stands outside of Briar Bauman and tuner/team owner James Hart of the #14 Rod Lake Racing/Drew-Massa Transportation/Arai-sponsored Honda CRF450R, team owner Babe DeMay stands behind rider Dominic Collindres on the #66Y Babe DeMay Racing/Memphis Shades/Yamaha-backed YZ450F, Thomas Englehart holds the bike he helped prepare for rider Chad Cose on the #49 ERT/Rod Lake/Nazzissi Racing-sponsored Honda, AMA Pro Flat Track's Dani Medin interviews Peoria TT record holder Henry Wiles (partially hidden by cameraman) on the #17 Zanotti Racing/Motion Pro/Bell Helmets-backed Honda, while Rogers Racing's tuners Sammy Sweet and multiple championship-winning tuner Kenny Tolbert ready the #1 Montgomeryville Cycle Center/Rogers Racing/SDI-sponsored Honda for their rider and defending AMA Grand National Champion Jared Mees while he makes some final adjustments before the start of the National main event in Thunder Valley.

Also seen on the second row, outside left is Stevie Bonsey on the #80 Cernics Suzuki/Yoshimura/Cliff Racing-backed Suzuki RMZ450.

The Superprestigio of the Americas race this coming Saturday, November 21 promises to be a great event that will no doubt cap off the wonderful season of racing we have seen this year. You can check out the full press release below thanks to SMI and be ready to take in all the action online this Saturday and watching the tape-delayed event in two weeks time. It's guaranteed to be a barn burner full of fun bar banging and tire smoking swapping of places throughout the evening.


Press release courtesy of SMI Promotions, the promoters of the AMA Pro Flat Track Season Finale and the Superprestigio of the Americas

NBC SPORTS NETWORK TO BROADCAST SUPERPRESTIGIO OF THE AMERICAS SUNDAY, NOV. 29 AT 9 P.M. ET

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 10, 2015) – NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) will televise the 2015 Superprestigio of the Americas presented by Yamaha motorcycle race on Sunday, November 29, at 9 p.m. ET /6 p.m. PT.

The Superprestigio of the Americas, held at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, will bring together motorcycle racers from different disciplines to race together on the same track that will host the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Final the night before in this exciting season-ending doubleheader. Top flat track riders such as defending AMA Pro Grand National Champion Jared Mees and former champs Jake Johnson, Kenny Coolbeth, Jr., Brad Baker and X Games Gold Medalist Bryan Smith will race against road racing champs such as former MotoAmerica/AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes and former AMA Supersport Champion Roger Hayden, current MotoAmerica champs Joe Roberts and Jake Gagne as well as more riders to be announced.

“We’re thrilled to be able to showcase the Superprestigio of the Americas to a national audience on NBCSN ,” said SMI President Steve McLaughlin. “It’s a great opportunity to expose a national audience to the excitement of flat track racing. It also provides our riders, their sponsors and the supporters of our event an immense reach to an audience of more than 85 million households on NBCSN.”

The Friday and Saturday night races at the Orleans Arena will be the centerpiece of a full weekend of exiting activities in Las Vegas, including the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Awards Banquet scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 22 at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

NBCSN’s telecast of the Superprestigio of the Americas is being made possible by sponsorship from Yamaha Motor Corp.,USA, Thom Duma Fine Jewelers, Geico, Saddlemen, Ascot Motorsports, Evans Oil Coolers, Las Vegas Harley-Davidson and Mitas Tires.

NBC Sports Group is the television “home of motorsports” in the U.S., with comprehensive coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series, the Verizon IndyCar Series and Formula One. NBC Sports Group’s motorsports portfolio also includes the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, Red Bull Global RallyCross and the AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC), presented by Maxxis.

The Superprestigio of the Americas (SOTA’15) will bring together leading motorcycle racers from various motorcycle-racing disciplines from around the world to compete head to head with the stars of AMA Pro Flat Track on a specially-designed indoor short track at the Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Nov. 21, 2015. The special race is part of the big Las Vegas doubleheader weekend with the AMA Pro Flat Track finale taking place the night before (Nov. 20, 2015) on the same track. #VegasFT

For additional information go to www.superprestigio.com or call toll free 1-844-722-6453.

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Larry Lawrence
c. (317) 332-3899
SMI Media Rep
Sacramento Mile - May 30
Charlotte Half Mile - Aug 29
Las Vegas Finals - Nov 20
lawrencemedia@hotmail.com

SMI Announces Yamaha as Presenting Sponsor of the Superprestigio of the Americas Race in Las Vegas on November 21

Former AMA Superbike pilot and SMI president Steve McLaughlin announced last week that Yamaha has been brought on board as the presenting sponsor of the Superprestigio of the Americas race scheduled at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, November 21.

With their long-storied history in the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship, it will be great to see the crossed tuning forks brand back alongside the greatest racing show on two wheels in the world when this big event rolls off and pits former champions of different disciplines against the stars and heroes of The Rolling Thunder Show within the tight confines of the indoor Orleans Arena facility.

In the shot above, former racer and championship-winning tuner Babe DeMay and team work on DeMay's brilliant blue #66Y Babe DeMay Racing/Memphis Shades/Yamaha/Motorcycle-Superstore-sponsored Yamaha FZ07 of rider Dominic Collindres in preparation for the Springfield Mile II in round 11 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series on September 6.

DeMay, with limited funding from Yamaha, built a nearly-stock GNC1-spec half-mile and mile racer based around the popular FZ07 parallel twin, and in the team's first outing this season saw some decent results once Collindres got settled into the role of the team's rider. With Cory Texter starting out in the saddle, Collindres, the former GNC2/Pro Singles Peoria TT winner, took over the ride at the end of June at the Lima Half-Mile. In the three events that he qualified for, the first year expert managed impressive finishes of 14th-place (Lima), 13th-place (Black Hills) and just missed out on a podium finish with a 4th-place finish (Delaware) aboard the trick looking machine.

Collindres (and tuner to the stars DeMay) did a great job in bringing Yamaha back into the spotlight this season, and also pulled out a superb 3rd-place finish aboard DeMay's Yamaha YZ450F Singles mount at the Peoria TT in early August while also winning his heat and besting defending AMA Grand National Champ Jared Mees in the process.

Yamaha had most recently announced the unveiling of their prototype Yamaha FZ07 flat tracker at the AIMExpo in Orlando last month, but weren't ready to admit whether or not they would be hitting the track with it for the 2016 season. Rumors have been swirling since late spring that they had talked to several riders about possibly contesting a factory-backed team in the Grand National Championship, among them former 2-Time AMA Grand National Champion Jake Johnson. It would only be fitting to see them come back to the sport in an assault involving Johnson, who is known as a great development rider and a bring-it-home type of racer throughout his illustrious career in the sport. We'll see and we can only hope!

With Yamaha being announced as the presenting sponsor in Vegas, maybe this will help to spur them along in getting back to the track with a full factory assault on the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series. Keep your fingers crossed!

Check out the full press release below, and if you are in the Vegas area over the November 20-21 weekend, be sure to get to the Orleans Arena to see the AMA Pro Flat Track Finals on November 20 and the Superprestigio of the Americas race on November 21. You won't be disappointed.


Press release courtesy of SMI, the promoters of the Superprestigio of the Americas race in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena on Saturday, November 21.

YAMAHA NAMED PRESENTING SPONSOR OF SUPERPRESTIGIO OF THE AMERICAS

LAS VEGAS (NOV. 4, 2015) – SMI is proud to announce that Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA will be the presenting sponsor of the inaugural running of the Superprestigio of the Americas on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

“We’re thrilled to bring Yamaha on board as a presenting sponsor of the Superprestigio of the Americas,” said SMI President Steve McLaughlin. “Having a company so steeped in racing tradition makes them a natural partner to launch what we hope will become one of the premier motorcycle racing events in the country. Yamaha and racing are almost synonymous and it’s a great honor to have them as presenter of the first Superprestigio of the Americas.”

The first ever Superprestigio of the Americas (SOTA’15) will bring together top racers from varying racing disciplines to race head to head against AMA Pro Flat Track racing’s leading riders in a big two-day season-ending event at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Running the day before the Superprestigio of the Americas, on Friday, Nov. 20 at the Orleans Arena, will be the AMA Pro Flat Track Championship finale where the 2015 AMA Pro Grand National Champion will be crowned.

Yamaha has a rich history in AMA Grand National Flat Track racing highlighted by AMA Grand National Championships won by legendary Hall of Famer Kenny Roberts in 1973 and ’74. The Yamaha TZ700-based flat track motorcycle remains one of the most unforgettable machines ever raced in the history of AMA Grand National competition. Kenny Roberts reuniting with the TZ and doing exhibition laps at racing speed at the Indy Mile during Indianapolis MotoGP weekend in 2009, instantly became an iconic moment in the history of flat track racing.

Last month Yamaha thrilled show goers at AIMExpo 2015 by unveiling its Yamaha DT-07 Flat Track concept bike. The machine, powered by a Yamaha FZ-07 engine, was the hit of the show. This summer an FZ-07-based machine built by Babe DeMay showed great promise in flat track competition. Dominic Colindres won a Grand National Heat race at the Roar on the Shore Grand National in Delmar, Del., in September and went on to score an excellent fourth-place finish in the national.

“Yamaha is very excited to be a part of the Superprestigio of the Americas,” said Yamaha’s Communications General Manager Bob Starr. “We love the concept of bringing together top riders from various disciplines to compete head to head in this kind of all-star competition. We think the event will be a big success and we’re pleased to be involved particularly during the 60^th Anniversary celebration of Yamaha Motor Company.”

Spots are still open for additional AMA Pro Grand National riders to qualify and some of those won’t be decided until the night before SOTA’15 during the AMA Pro Flat Track final on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015, also at the Orleans Arena.  The two riders who win the GNC1 and GNC2 class in the AMA Pro Flat Track final Friday night will also gain participation in the Superprestigio of the Americas. More details to come at www.superprestigio.com.

The Superprestigio of the Americas (SOTA’15) will bring together leading motorcycle racers from various motorcycle-racing disciplines from around the world to compete head to head with the stars of AMA Pro Flat Track on a specially-designed indoor short track at the Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Nov. 21, 2015. The special race is part of the big Las Vegas doubleheader weekend with the AMA Pro Flat Track finale taking place the night before (Nov. 20, 2015) on the same track. #VegasFT

For additional information go to www.superprestigio.com or call toll free 1-844-722-6453.

 

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Larry Lawrence
c. (317) 332-3899
SMI Media Rep
Sacramento Mile - May 30
Charlotte Half Mile - Aug 29
Las Vegas Finals - Nov 20
lawrencemedia@hotmail.com

 

 

Henry Wiles Scores 11th-Straight Win at AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Round 10 at the Peoria TT

Henry Wiles made another mark in the history books yesterday by taking his 11th-straight win at the Peoria TT in round 10 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines Series. Although things didn't go completely his way throughout the day (Wiles qualifying effort of just over .2 second behind fast qualifier Jared Mees was pretty much his only missive), The Hammer did what he had to do the rest of the day to round out another golden day in Thunder Valley by winning the Dash and taking the win in the National main by just over 1.3 seconds over defending champ Mees.

Above, Wiles on the #17 Zanotti Racing/Motion Pro/Bell Helmets-sponsored Honda CRF450R got the jump on the field on the first lap and led all going into turn 1. From that point on, Mees never got closer then .054 seconds (lap 16 of the 25-lap main) and Wiles was able to stretch his lead through traffic to 1.342 seconds at the end of the day.

Also hot on Wiles' heels is Briar Bauman #14 (see more below), Mees #1 and Sammy Halbert #69 on his Fredericktown Yamaha/Van's Yamaha/Kibblewhite-sponsored YZ450F. Halbert (repping his late brother Jethro's National #69 instead of his usual #7) ended the day in 9th-place, still keeping a stranglehold on the 3rd-place spot in the championship and keeping his string of top-10s on the season intact. Also behind these riders is Jake Johnson #5 (also more below) and partially in the shot Mick Kirkness on the #87 Goeken Racing/Chisum Racing/Ipone Oil-sponsored Yamaha. Kirkness finished the day in 7th-place, the last rider to be lapped by the lead finishing duo of Wiles and Mees.

2010-2011 AMA Grand National Champion Jake Johnson returned to action for the first time since the Daytona doubleheader season-opening rounds, compliments of a ride on one of Mees' spare Montgomeryville Cycle Center Honda's. Johnson qualified 8th out of the 25 GNC1/Experts on hand, but made a rare mistake during his heat and dropped the bike and was forced to ride the semi in order to make the main.

Johnson got a slow start in the semi on the #5 Montgomerville Cycle Center/JM9/Ramspur Winery-backed Honda, but within a couple of laps had taken off to go on to take the win to punch his card to the National. Starting on the back row, Johnson got an incredible start and was in the top-7 by the time the field hit turn 1 in Thunder Valley (see shot above.) He went on to finish in the 6th-place spot, the last rider on the lead lap and will surely end up being the MotoBatt Hard Charger for the event.

JD Beach, fresh off clinching the MotoAmerica SuperSport title in Indianapolis the weekend before, came ready to race with his #95 Yamaha USA/Victory Circle Graphics/Team 95-backed Yamaha YZ450F and was on fire throughout the day running in the top-5. The part time dirt tracker brought it home in 4th-place. Above he battles with local boy Rob Pearson on the #27 R&R Racing/Country Saloon/Clipper Industries-backed Yamaha, defending champ Jared Mees on the #1 Montgomeryville Cycle Center/Rogers Racing/SDI-sponsored Honda and Jake Cunningham on the #94K Best Exteriors/Arai Helmets/Motion Pro-sponsored Yamaha during their heat race.

Briar Bauman extended his strong season run of top-5 finishes with another 5th-place on the #14 Rod Lake Racing/Drew-Massa Transportation/Arai-backed Honda. Bauman qualified 4th on the day and also brought home a 3rd-place finish in the Dash thanks to his solid 2nd-place run in his heat, and continues his move towards the top-5 in points. His 5th-place at Peoria was his fourth top-5 of the year, and his third top-5 in the last six races (Lima & Black Hills 3rd-place.)

Chad Cose has had some tough mechanical luck this year with the Myers Motorsports team Kawasakis, but not for lack of trying. With the Myers team getting ready for the next Twins round in Charlotte on August 29, Cose was at the ready in Thunder Valley on the #49 ERT/Rod Lake/Nazzissi Racing-sponsored Honda. Qualifying 10th out of the 25 GNC1 riders who took a timed lap, The Cali Kid fought hard for his 3rd-place finish in his heat, which put him in the Dash (with only two heats running on the day, the top-3 from each heat went to the Dash for Cash bonus race.) Finishing in 6th-place, the likeable Californian readied himself for the main, and ready he was, fighting it out throughout the day to bring home a very solid 8th-place finish, for his second top-10 on the year (9th-place Daytona II.)

 

The surprise and breakout performance of the day went to rookie Dominic Collindres on the #66Y Babe Demay/Memphis Shades/Yamaha-sponsored YZ450F. The former winner in the Pro Singles class in 2012 while riding for the Weirbach Racing team, Collindres, in only his third GNC1 event, won his heat over defending champ Mees (above battling it out again in the Dash) and then nailing down 4th-place in the Dash. In the main, the Californian had a clear advantage over 4th-place finisher Beach to get his very first podium spot in his young but bright career. A great show by this fine young man after earlier in the season being the first to put the new Yamaha FZ07 twin in a main at Lima. Great job!

Mees did all he could all day long to try and keep Wiles within striking distance, but after 25-laps not even the tough-as-nails Michigan resident could haul in his fellow Michigan man. Mees was fast qualifier on the day on the #1 Montgomeryville Cycle Center Honda, and tried his best to catch not only Collindres in their heat, but Wiles in the main. He was able to leave Peoria with some solace, however, as he extended his lead in the championship to 29 points over Bryan Smith (11th on the day) 156-127 points with five rounds remaining on the season.

In the end, it was all Henry on the #17 Zanotti Racing Honda, winning what could very likely be the last Singles Series race at the fabled facility, what with the talk of the Twins taking over completely for next season. Wiles moved into the all-time TT win list with his 16th win on a TT course (Chris Carr still lies in 2nd with 15 wins) and will need two more wins to equal Carr's overall win total of 13 on Cameron Lane in Peoria.

You can view the full results here thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track, and a big thanks goes to my traveling companion and host Larry Lawrence for this article in Cycle News about yesterday's romp in the Valley.

The series now takes a weekend break before heading to Charlotte, NC on August 29 for another new event on the 2015 series calendar.

Henry Wiles makes history with 11th straight Peoria TT victory

PEORIA, Ill. (Aug. 16, 2015) - Henry Wiles did exactly what everyone expected him to do on Sunday, Aug. 16 at the Peoria Motorcycle Club, and his 1.342-second win over Jared Mees stamped his name in the AMA Pro Flat Track record books, forever.   Wiles' 11th straight Peoria TT main event victory extends his consecutive win record at the Midwest venue, and his win also gave him 16 TT (Tourist Trophy) victories, the most by any rider to ever compete in the Grand National Championship.   Like he has done numerous times over the last decade, Wiles took the holeshot on lap one of the main event. However, unlike many Peoria TTs in the past, this one had to be earned. Wiles was shadowed by a hard charging Mees for the entire race. The two stars quickly gapped the field by more than 10 seconds, began lapping riders on Lap 12 and eventually lapped all but four of 16 other competitors in the race.   Mees, aboard the No. 1 Montgomeryville Cycle Center Honda, gave Wiles a good run, and even qualified faster than him earlier in the day, but when it came down to it, Wiles was just too fast.   Wiles' victory propelled him to eighth in the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines point standings, while Mees' second-place finish helped him extend his lead in the standings to 29 points over Bryan Smith, who finished 11th in the race aboard his No. 42 Crosley Radio Kawasaki.   Closing out the podium for his best finish of 2015 was Dominic Colindres, and the No. 66Y Babe Demay Yamaha pilot let everyone know he was on top of his game early on when he took the Heat 1 victory over Mees and the rest of the field.   Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day was J.D. Beach's fourth-place finish in the Peoria TT main event. The 2015 Moto America Supersport champion made the most of his rare appearance in the flat track world on Sunday, and he looked sharp all day aboard the No. 95 Yamaha USA machine.   No. 14 Rod Lake Racing Honda rider, Briar Bauman, earned his second-consecutive top-five finish on Sunday with an impressive fifth-place finish.   Riding the backup bike of Jared Mees, Jake Johnson piloted the No. 5 Montgomeryville Cycle Center Honda to a sixth-place finish on Sunday in his first AMA Pro Flat Track race since the Daytona opener in March.   Sammy Halbert, sporting the No. 69 Vans Yamaha machine in honor of his late brother, Jethro Halbert, finished ninth on Sunday.   GNC2   In the GNC2 main event, Jesse Janisch earned a thrilling .038-second victory over second-place finisher and current points leader Davis Fisher. Janisch, piloting the No. 32L 34 Racing Honda, started from third on the grid and battled with Fisher on every lap. The two were neck-and-neck heading into the final turn and it looked as if either one could have claimed the victory at the end.   Fisher's runner-up effort aboard the No. 67M Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda keeps him sitting comfortably in the GNC2 points lead over Dan Bromley, while Janisch's win boosts him to 19th in the standings. Finishing third to close out the podium was No. 30Z Rod Lake Racing pilot Bronson Bauman. It was Bauman's second podium appearance in the last three rounds and he currently sits fourth in the points.   No. 19B RLJ Honda rider Justin Jones and No. 69C Bell Helmets Suzuki pilot Hayden Gillim rounded out the top five finishers, respectively. Like Beach, Gillim is a road racer with extensive flat track roots, and the two put together impressive performances for not having competed in AMA Pro Flat Track this season. Bromley, who sits second in the points behind Fisher, rode his No. 54A Bromley Brothers KTM to a sixth-place finish while Jamison Minor, who currently sits third in the standings, finished 12th in the main event.   Up Next   The stars of AMA Pro Flat Track head to Charlotte, N.C., for the Don Tilley Memorial Charlotte Half-Mile on Aug. 29 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. For tickets and information regarding the event, fans are encourage to visit http://www.charlottehalfmile.com/.  How to Watch:   FansChoice.tv is the official home for live streaming coverage of AMA Pro Flat Track events. The site also provides coverage of IMSA's development and single-make series, and NASCAR's touring and weekly series. Catch all the action at http://www.FansChoice.tv. About AMA Pro Flat Track:  AMA Pro Flat Track is the world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft/, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or live stream the on-track action on FansChoice.tv.

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

AMA Pro Flat Track Announces New Basic Twins Class for Pro-Level Riders, to Debut at Springfield Mile II with Full Schedule Expected for 2014 Season

Round 13 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Championship saw the 'feeder' series of AMA Pro Flat Track head to the confines of the Illinois State Fairgrounds mile oval in what was to be another wild and exciting race for the Pro-level riders and class, running in conjunction with the Expert-ranked stars of The Rolling Thunder Show.

With just a couple of laps to go, riders head down the front straight in a pack that you could literally throw a blanket over, within inches of one another, and within inches of the start/finish line.  And all on a 450-based singles series motorcycle running at it's peak, with no room for error or any throttle left to get you out of harm's way, should and when it occurs.

In what has started to become a game of 'letting the pit bull play with the hand grenade' in the AMA Pro Singles Championship, the class showcased on the undercard of the National program has especially at the Springfield Mile become one of holding one's breath for a 12-lap main.  While the riders equipped with their potent 450 singles machines race so tightly-packed together for the length of the race that just one small mistake or mishap can cause mayhem that will ripple through the 18-rider field quicker then a brush fire in drought-stricken Kansas.

As a result of what has for the last couple of seasons, and especially after last year's ultra-close quarters at Springfield in the Pro Singles class, been a probable accident waiting to happen, the powers that be within AMA Pro Racing and the IMDA (the promoters of the Springfield rounds) had decided originally for this season that they were going to do away with the Pro Singles bikes on the mile oval, all for safety's sake mind you.  Not that the racing hasn't been good, nor has anyone been injured seriously, yet, but in the interests of making sure that a major accident or injury would not occur, and after lengthy discussion, have slated the Pro Singles on the mile to be a non-points paying event, and has been left open for those that DO want to race there, can still do so, but for cash payout only.

Although some will see this as a poor way to handle the possibilities of 'what could occur' the fact still remains that the 450s on the mile have been so closely grouped and tightly-wound that it was, or is, just a matter of time before someone pulled that pin on that hand grenade and let the pit bull loose in the fenced-in area.  And if that were to occur running at 120mph+ on a tightly-wound single-cylinder racing motorcycle, the affects could be devastating, and even fatal. 

I don't have the answer any more then anyone else as to why only Springfield would or were to be affected in this move, as we all know Indy, Santa Rosa and Sacramento are also mile venues.  But for some reason the layouts of those tracks don't have the same 'grouping' effects that always occur at the Illinois State Fairgrounds venue when riders on the 450s are at speed.  Some may and will say that more injuries occurred during the Pro Singles last stop at the Peoria TT last year, and others may also recall losing Canadian rider Jesse Phibbs after his accident at the Indy Mile in August 2010, in which he suffered what would weeks later be fatal injuries, after his crash in one of the Pro Singles qualifying heats on the back stretch.

However, none of the other tracks on the schedule seem to have the propensity to 'bunch-up' the riders so closely in what is a VERY tight pack, and for what usually lasts for the length of the races on tap, and so far, other then a few wild re-starts and get-togethers, no one has of yet to suffer fatal or career-ending injuries.  In this respect, the powers that be, AMA Pro Racing and IMDA, have made a concerted effort to keep this from happening.  And bully for them!

But, the Pro-level riders DO still need to gain the expertise and experience on the big tracks so that one day, if they so wish, they can step-up to the Expert-level ranks and compete with the likes of Jake Johnson, Bryan Smith, Jared Mees and company on the fastest tracks in the nation.  And that is where AMA Pro Flat Track has now taken measures to introduce a new, Basic Twins Class, in hopes of helping those Pro-level riders to gain that level of experience, and especially on the mile tracks.

It was announced earlier today by the Daytona Motorsports Group in Daytona Beach, that starting with the Springfield Mile II on September 1, what is now scheduled to be round 12 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season, the new Basic Twins Class will be introduced as a non-points paying event preview.  This new class is also a big step in helping the Pro riders attain familiarity with the power and speed differential compared to running the 450 singles at all of their events, and will morph into a full-time and points and cash-paying series for what is now the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship.

The shot above does a nice job of highlighting how closely-wound and tightly-packed the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship class runs on the mile track at Springfield, and even with this being within a handful of laps until the end, the entire 12-lap final has pretty much been a carbon copy of this type of action for the last several years.

Leading this pack is Dominic Colindres on the #66Y Weirbach Racing Honda CRF450R, followed by Wyatt Maguire on the #18M Kirland Racing Yamaha YZ450F, Michael Bickerton on the #28P Hogwrench Racing Honda, Zakk Palmer on the #81C Double Dick Bandits Honda, eventual winner Cody Johncox on the #96B Sunnyside Cycle Yamaha, Shayna Texter on the #25A DFW Honda (hidden, directly behind Palmer and just over Johncox' right shoulder), and Cole Anderson on the #21L Diesel Minnesota Honda.  With Johncox pulling out the win at the checkered flag, Palmer, Bickerton and Anderson would fill out the top-4, with Texter in the 6th-place spot, Maguire coming home in 8th and Colindres in the 9th-place spot.  Now that is some tight racing!

Check out the official press release below from AMA Pro Flat Track to get all of the details that have been released on the new Basic Twins Class, and I say bravo for taking the steps to get this done from the powers that be!

AMA Pro Racing to Launch New AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Class for Pro Licensed Riders 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 12, 2013) - AMA Pro Racing officials announced today a new class for AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles aimed at developing the up-and-coming riders in the J&P Cycles Pro Singles division.  The new class, titled Basic Twins, will provide a stepping stone for Pro licensed riders, allowing them to showcase their talents on twin-cylinder machines as they make the transition to the Grand National Championship. 

 

"This is an important step in building up our young talent and creating a healthy environment for the future of the sport," said Dan Johnsen, Director of AMA Pro Flat Track.  "Allowing our Pro licensed riders to show their skills and talents, while gaining experience on the twins, eases their transition as they move through the ranks of AMA Pro Flat Track on their way to becoming the stars of tomorrow."

 

The new Basic Twins class is a re-envisioning of the Basic Expert Twins division that ran as part of the series during the 2007 and 2008 seasons.  The same engines approved for competition in the Grand National Expert Twins class will be eligible in the Basic Twins class, but with varying levels of modification required in order for them to fit within a reduced performance envelope.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bryan Smith #42 leads Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. #2 and eventual winner Willie McCoy #59 during round 4 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Springfield Mile I on May 27.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

 

 

The class is scheduled to debut during the fall running of the Springfield Mile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds as a non-points-paying exhibition race, and beginning with the 2014 season, the Basic Twins will be featured in place of the J&P Cycles Pro Singles class at select half-miles and miles.  As part of the transition, the J&P Cycles Pro Singles race at the upcoming spring running of the Springfield Mile will also be contested as a non-points-paying exhibition race.

 

The next stop for the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles season is the Stockton Half-Mile at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, Calif.  For tickets and information, please visit www.stockton99.com.

 

About AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles:

 

AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles 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 2013 schedule consists of rounds on the country's finest flat track courses.

 

For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles, please visit http://www.amaproracing.com/ft/.

 

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

AMA Pro Flat Track Reviews the Season-Opening Rounds of the J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship

The rising stars of the AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Championship Series head into turn one at the start of their National main in round 9 of the 2012 AMA Pro Singles Championship at the Peoria TT on August 12, in the first of 12 laps around the confines of the Peoria Motorcycle Club facility.

Justin Reed on the #53L Rich King Racing KTM 450 SX-F appears to have a slight lead from the start, going on to finish in 3rd-place to round out the podium.  First-time series winner Dominic Colindres on the #66Y Weirbach Racing Honda CRF450R hugs the inside line in route to taking over the lead to take his first-ever win in the series while in his first ride for the team.

Jason Isennock on the #30S Highs Dairy Stores Honda (7th-place finish) holds it tight on the outside of Colindres, while Rodney Spencer, Jr. on the #74Z 831 Pinnit Honda (4th-place) looks to have the advantage on Nick Mataya on the #12L Shoe Racing Honda (5th-place), with Kurtis Lee on the #78J TCR Honda (14th-place) appearing to have lost his edge on the outside as the pack bunches up.

Coming on strong in the back are Jake Shoemaker on the #55A Montgomeryville Cycle Center Honda (6th-place), Dan Bromley on the #54A Bob Weirbach Race Team Honda (17th-place), and eventual 2012 AMA Pro Singles Champion Steven Vanderkuur just coming into the shot on the #10J Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda (2nd-place) as they lead the rest of the 18-rider main on a 12-lap romp in the hallowed halls of Peoria.

In it's fourth season of competition, the AMA Pro Singles Championship has turned out some spectacular talent from what is the 'feeder' series of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship.  All of the series' first three champions (Brad Baker '09, Jeffrey Carver, Jr. '10, Mikey Martin '11) are now racing in the big show of The Rolling Thunder Show, and providing some serious competition for their fellow Expert-ranked riders in what is arguably the best racing series on two wheels in the world.

The 2013 AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship season got off to another roaring start at Daytona last week, and saw two new winners in each of the two opening rounds held at the Daytona International Speedway.  And the field of talent is just as deep, if not deeper, for what is the series' fifth-full season of competition.  And the big question now is, who will try to take the crown away from Vanderkuur, or will the series see it's first two-time champion when the season wraps up in Pomona many months from now?

Read on below to see AMA Pro Flat Track's review of the season-openers and see if any of the possible future Grand National Champions finished up at the top where you may have expected them to....or not!

Johnson, Constantine Each Claim Victories in Opening Rounds of AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Action at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla (March 22, 2013) - Michigan's Kyle Johnson (Boughner Racing / Muskegon Motorcycle Gang) got off the line first in the 16 lap AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles first round main event at the DAYTONA Flat Track on March 14, 2013. However, Johnson was quickly passed by a charging Maryland product in Mike Poe (Jason Isennock / CCBC / Blevins).

 

Johnson stayed glued to Poe as he became the meat in a Maryland sandwich, with Jason Isennock, also a native of the "Old Line State," (Highs Dairy Stores / Foard Racing) right on their heels.  On lap eleven, Johnson was able to capitalize on a mistake by Poe to recapture the lead. Once obtaining the top spot, Johnson built his lead and clinched his first ever professional victory.

 

"I was just being patient and waiting for him to make a mistake," Johnson said. "Once I got up on the inside of the leader I got a good drive and took him on the straight away. I couldn't be more satisfied with the way I performed tonight. My bike was unbelievable and everything really came together when it mattered most. I reclaimed the lead late in the race and that was all I needed to close it out."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ryan Wells on the #94B Waters Auto Body Honda appears to have the inside line ahead of Shayna Texter on the #25A Crosley Radio Honda during racing action at rounds 1 & 2 of the 2013 AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship season at the Daytona Short Track last week.  The close, fast racing in the 'feeder' series for the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship saw two first-time winners at Daytona in Kyle Johnson and Jake Constantine and lays the groundwork for what will surely be another great season of racing for the future stars of the sport.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

 

 

Final results 1-10: 1st - Kyle Johnson, 2nd - Jason Isennock, 3rd - Mike Poe, 4th - Brandon Wilhelm, 5th - Rodney Spencer Jr., 6th - Ryan Wells, 7th - Hunter Taylor, 8th - Dan Bromley, 9th - Jake Constantine, 10th - Wyatt Maguire

 

AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles - Round 2

 

Jake Constantine stormed around the outside of fellow New Yorker Ryan Wells at the start of the 16 lap AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles main event and rode to a convincing second round win on his Allphase Masonry & Chimney / Matt's Cycle Center backed Honda. Wells tried to stay close, but the lead grew to over one second by the halfway point and over two seconds by the end of the race.

 

"I can't even explain how I feel right now," said an ecstatic Constantine. "To come down here and win it all is the best feeling in the world. It feels great to be on this podium, let alone be at the top of it! This win was huge for me and my team because of how bad we struggled last night in the opener. I can't thank everyone enough for helping me out; this feeling is so surreal right now."

 

Wells maintained a solid second place position throughout the race, while Thursday night's third place finisher, Mike Poe, worked his way forward taking third place yet again after passing Wyatt Maguire (Kirkland Racing / Pro1racingheads.com) on lap 12.

 

There is a log jam at the top of the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles point standings. Jake Constantine holds a single point lead over Mike Poe with Kyle Johnson and Ryan Wells another point back. Jason Isennock remains in fifth, seven points off the lead.

Final results 1-10: 1st - Jake Constantine, 2nd - Ryan Wells, 3rd - Mike Poe, 4th - Wyatt Maguire, 5th - Stephen Vanderkuur, 6th - Dominic Collindres, 7th - Gerit Callies, 8th - Rodney Spencer Jr., 9th - Brandon Wilhelm, 10th - Kyle Johnson
 

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