AMA Pro Racing Releases 2017 Schedule for American Flat Track Series (formerly know as AMA Pro Flat Track)

AMA Pro Racing, the sanctioning body for the newly rebranded American Flat Track series (formerly known as AMA Pro Flat Track) today released the new schedule for the 2017 season. The release of the schedule this early is the first time in years (and maybe more then a decade) that it has been released in it's entirety before the middle or end of November.

With many returning favorites (Springfield, Lima, Peoria, Rapid City, Sacramento, and Charlotte), some new venues added to the series' ranks (Elbridge, NY, Mechanicsburg, PA, Fort Worth, TX, Perris, CA, Woodstock, GA, and Phoenix, AZ) and some returning sites that have been visited in previous years (Lexington, KY, Calistoga, CA, and Oklahoma City, OK), two newly revamped races have also been added to the circuit (Daytona TT and Sturgis TT) making for an 18-race romp through the season that will kick off in Daytona on March 16 and wrap-up at the Perris Auto Speedway on October 7.

Overall the schedule will visit seven half-mile venues, five mile venues (with Springfield running their usual spring and late summer dates), three TT venues and two short track venues that will showcase the series' new 'Twins-only' platform across the board in all forms of racing.

In the shot above, riders roar off the line during the restart of round 6 of the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series at the Springfield Mile I on May 29.

(L-R) Eventual 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Champion Bryan Smith on the #42 Crosley Brands/T&T Construction/Howerton Motorsports Kawasaki leads the charge that will eventually see him bag the win after the 25-lap National main held at the Illinois State Fairgrounds mile oval.

Following along off the front row are 2015 AMA Grand National Champion Jared Mees on the #1 Las Vegas H-D/Rogers Racing/Harley-Davidson Motor Company XR750, Brandon Robinson on the #44 Kennedy Racing/Armbruster Racing/J&H Repair Kawasaki, 2016 Saddlemen AMA Pro Flat Track Rookie of the Year JR Addison on the #24F Smith Racing/J&F Construction/Moto Option Kawasaki, Brad Baker on the #6 Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Vance & Hines/Screaming Eagle factory XR750 and Jake Johnson on the #5 Zanotti Racing/Classic H-D/Harley-Davidson Motor Company XR750.

Also seen in this shot are 2016 Canadian Flat Track Champion Doug Lawrence on the #73 Glidden Racing/Dreyer Motorsports/Doug Lawrence Racing Kawasaki (just over JR Addison #24F's right shoulder coming off of the second row) and Kenny Coolbeth on the #2 Zanotti Racing/Harley-Davidson/Gator H-D XR750 (also coming off the second row and seen over Jake Johnson #5's right shoulder.)

It's great to see the schedule released so early for the first time in what seems like ages, which will undoubtedly help not only the teams, sponsors and riders but especially the fans to be able to schedule their travel and vacation plans this far in advance for a change. Bravo to AMA Pro Racing for getting this pulled off so early!

With the long winter months getting ready to set in in and around the Midwest, we can at least look forward to 2017 some 40 days off, and with Daytona set for the middle of March again that means that racing in the greatest two wheeled racing show in the world is now only five months and five days away!

You can check out the full press release and schedule below thanks to AMA Pro Racing and the newly renamed American Flat Track series dates and venues and start making your plans now.

AMA Pro Racing announces 2017 American Flat Track schedule

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 11, 2016) – AMA Pro Racing is proud to announce an expanded 18-round schedule for the debut season of the newly rebranded American Flat Track series (formerly AMA Pro Flat Track). The 2017 calendar includes improvements to geographic diversity, the mix of track configurations (six Miles, seven Half-Miles, two Short Tracks and three TTs) and boasts the most rounds on a schedule since 2011. American Flat Track has been re-envisioned for 2017. In addition to a rebranding of the series, the class structure and event format have also been modernized. Every event on the 2017 schedule will feature the world’s best flat track motorcycle racers competing on powerful, twin-cylinder motorcycles in the AFT Twins class, while the rising stars of the sport battle it out on spirited single-cylinder machines in AFT Singles. AMA Pro Racing’s subsidiary promotions company AFT Events, which was formed in 2016 to develop the event experience and bring the sport to new markets, has expanded from a single round in 2016 to eight next season. That expansion has allowed for careful consideration in the planning of the calendar, which features an efficient, streamlined flow of events aimed at minimizing costs for participants.   The 2017 season will kick off on March 16 during Bike Week in Daytona Beach, Fla. on a new TT circuit under the bright lights inside Daytona International Speedway. The debut event is moving inside the “World Center of Racing” on a one-of-a-kind .6-mile TT track designed by seven-time Grand National Champion Chris Carr. The DAYTONA TT will mark the dawning of a new era for America’s most historic form of motorcycle racing, and will serve as the first battleground for the great American war between Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycles in 2017. 2017 American Flat Track Schedule   March 16: DAYTONA TT – Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla. March 25: Georgia Short Track – Dixie Speedway, Woodstock, Ga. April 1: Charlotte Half-Mile – Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C. May 13: Arizona Mile – Turf Paradise, Phoenix, Ariz. May 20: Sacramento Mile – Cal Expo Fairgrounds, Sacramento, Calif. May 27-28: Springfield Mile I* – Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill. June 3: Red Mile – The Red Mile, Lexington, Ky. June 17: OKC Mile – Remington Park, Oklahoma City June 24: Lima Half-Mile – Allen County Fairgrounds, Lima, Ohio July 8: Rolling Wheels Half-Mile – Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, Elbridge, N.Y. July 29: Calistoga Half-Mile – Calistoga Speedway, Calistoga, Calif. Aug. 6: Buffalo Chip TT presented by Indian Motorcycle – Buffalo Chip Campgrounds, Sturgis, S.D. Aug. 8: Black Hills Half-Mile – Black Hills Speedway, Rapid City, S.D. Aug. 13: Peoria TT – Peoria Motorcycle Club, Peoria, Ill. Sept. 2-3: Springfield Mile II** – Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill. Sept. 9: Williams Grove Half-Mile – Williams Gove Speedway, Mechanicsburg, Pa. Sept. 23: Lone Star Half-Mile – Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, Texas Oct. 7: Perris Short Track – Perris Auto Speedway, Perris, Calif. * AFT Singles will race a TT on May 27 ** AFT Singles will race a Short Track on Sept. 2   Next Up: American Flat Track will kick off the 2017 season during Daytona’s Bike Week on Thursday, March 16 with the all-new DAYTONA TT, built inside the trioval at the “World Center of Racing.” The DAYTONA TT will mark the dawning of a new era for America’s most historic form of motorcycle racing, and will serve as the first battleground for the great American war between Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycles in 2017. T Tickets for the DAYTONA TT are now on sale and can be purchased at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. How to Watch:   FansChoice.tv is the official home for live streaming coverage of American 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 American Flat Track:   American 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 American Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/flat-track 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

Bryan Smith Goes 3-for-3 at AMA Pro Flat Track Springfield Mile I and Makes it Three In-A-Row On the Season

Round 6 of the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series again proved the dominance of Howerton Motorsports Kawasaki's Bryan Smith on the mile ovals as Flyin' Bryan took his third win in-a-row on the season (all on mile ovals) and his third-straight win at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Unfortunately, Sunday's race got off to a bad start when Brad Baker on the factory H-D XR750 got into CR Motorsports' Stevie Bonsey at the start of the second go-around heading into turn one. Even worse, Bonsey's bike split the airfence and the haybales, causing Bonsey to go into the fence hard. After being hauled out by the ambulance, Bonsey was and is reported as having suffered a neck fracture that will now cause him to have to wear a halo for the next couple of months, but per postings on Facebook he appears very upbeat and ready to get the healing process completed and return to action. You can keep up with his updates here on FB.

After the restart, it was a big duel all the way around for the 25-lap National main, which saw no fewer then six combatants going at it all over, especially heading to the stripe. Smith ended up leading 16 laps, with Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. credited with a lap, Jared Mees with five laps and Baker with three. And those were just at the stripe. Also in the mix for the entire battle were Brandon Robinson on the Kennedy Kawasaki, with Glidden/Dreyer Motorsports' Doug Lawrence doing a great job of hanging just shy of the top-5 at the end.

In the shot above, riders hit the gas on the restart of round 6 of the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series at the Springfield Mile I on Memorial Day Weekend Sunday, May 29.

(L-R) Eventual winner Bryan Smith on the #42 Crosley Brands/T&T Construction/Howerton Motorsports-sponsored Kawasaki, Jared Mees on the #1 Las Vegas H-D/Rogers Racing/Harley-Davidson Motor Co-backed XR750 (2nd-place finish), Brandon Robinson on the #44 Kennedy Racing/Armbruster Racing/J&H Repair-sponsored Kawasaki (4th-place finish), JR Addison on the #24F Smith Racing/J&F Construction/Moto Option-sponsored Kawasaki (17th-place finish), Brad Baker on the #6 Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Vance & Hines/Screaming Eagle-backed factory XR750 (3rd-place finish) and Jake Johnson on the #5 Zanotti Racing/Classic H-D/Harley-Davidson Motor Co-backed XR750 (11th-place finish) lead the charge off the front row.

Also part of the mix are Doug Lawrence (2nd row, behind Addison) on the #73 Glidden Racing/Dreyer Motorsports/Doug Lawrence Racing-sponsored Kawasaki (6th-place finish) and Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. (just behind team mate Jake Johnson) on the #2 Zanotti Racing/Harley-Davidson/Gator H-D-sponsored XR750 (5th-place finish). 

The top five finishers were separated by only .220 seconds after the 25-lap main, with 6th-place finisher Lawrence on the Indy-based Glidden/Dreyer Kawasaki just .503 seconds behind Coolbeth. Also of note, a big tip of the helmet to Jeremy Higgins on the #82 Higgins Racing Kawasaki for what may have been his career-best mile finish of 7th-place.

A big thumbs up to Ryan Wells for winning his first-ever Twins Series event in the GNC2 class, while local Indy resident and first year Pro rider Kevin Stollings taking home his first-ever podium in a Twins event and leading several laps during the GNC2 main to nearly nip Wells at the stripe only to come up short by .033 seconds. Keep an eye on this Stollings youngster as he has a very bright future ahead of him.

For more on last Sunday's races, check out all of AMA Pro Flat Track's videos and reports below, as the racing at Springfield as usual didn't disappoint.

You can also get the full results here, and Cycle News' Dave Hoenig's report here as well.

Kawasaki's Bryan Smith wins third consecutive Mile in 2016 at Springfield Mile I

Video Highlights and Photos from the 2016 Springfield Mile: VIDEO: GNC1 Main Finish VIDEO: GNC1 Main Highlights VIDEO: GNC2 Main Highlights PHOTO: 2016 Springfield Mile Photos SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (May 29, 2016) - Bryan Smith proved his dominance at the Springfield Mile I on Sunday, taking home his third consecutive Mile victory of the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track season. This Mile win didn't come as easily, as the Michigan native had to fight to the finish with a pack of riders every lap, topping second place finisher No. 1 Jared Mees by a margin of 0.119 of a second at the conclusion of the race. Smith, who pilots the third-generation No. 42 Crosley/Howerton Kawasaki Ninja 650, wrestled tirelessly with Harley-Davidson-mounted riders, Mees, eventual third place finisher No. 6 Brad Baker and No. 2 Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. and was officially scored with leading 16 of the 25-lap Main Event. The win was also Smith's third consecutive Springfield Mile victory, having won both of last year's contests at the historic venue. "It feels pretty awesome," Smith said. "To have three Miles back-to-back and win them all. I don't care what kind of track it is, it's awesome. But to win the Miles that I love, obviously to have three in a row at a historic venue like Springfield, is great. There's not just one thing that was going through my mind through the last lap. There was a million thoughts of what to do, what not to do, go fast, not too fast, spin the tires, just a million thoughts. I was able to get just enough of a draft off of turn four in that last lap and just barely squeak by Jared." Three-time and reigning Grand National Champion Mees expressed his desire to win the coming races over the "Mile Specialist" but shared his appreciation for the bar-to-bar racing that went down during Sunday's race. "It's definitely getting old finishing second on the Miles to the same guy," Mees said. "But hats off to those guys. They're working hard and that thing is fast. It's hard to get it before the finish line but the team is working really hard and we're trying to find more and more power and reliability. I felt like we had a little bit more than last year but you know, it is Mile racing at its best and a close finish is normal at the Springfield Mile." Baker officially led three laps during the Main by using the all-important draft to push past his competitors. The Washington native took home the final spot on the podium. "It feels really good," Baker said. "I've had the speed the last three races or so but it feels good to be here on the podium. It was a really fun race and the end of the race was an all-out battle." Baker's Factory Harley-Davidson teammate No. 67 Davis Fisher had a lot to prove with the competition debut of the next generation Harley-Davidson XG750R, and the rising star did not disappoint. Fisher experienced a mechanical issue in his Heat race but earned his Main Event starting spot thanks to a photo finish in his Semi race for the final transfer position. After picking off riders throughout the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines Main Event, Fisher earned the new machine its first Top 10 result with his eighth place finish. "Davis is doing a great job of developing the new bike and moving forward with it but we know the XR is proven and capable of winning," Baker continued. "Now we know the XG is capable of getting into the top 10 and now we have to see if it is capable of getting on the podium and winning. Until it gets to that point, I'm going to keep on the old, faithful XR750 that's been around for 44 years and then eventually going to be jumping onto that thing when it's ready. I want that bike to get better because if it gets better than the XR that means I'll have a weapon to try to get on the top spot or the box on these Miles instead of always nipping at the heels of the Kawasaki." Smith now leads the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines point standings by 16 points over No. 69 Sammy Halbert, 110-94. In the GNC2 class, No. 94B Ryan Wells was unrelenting as he duked it out for his first Mile win of the 2016 season with second place finisher No. 99J Kevin Stollings and third place No. 23F Jeffery Lowery. "It's my first Mile (win) and it's awesome," Wells said. "Especially at the Springfield Mile, the biggest Mile you could win, and for it to be a typical Springfield Mile ending, winning by half of a tire, it's cool. I would have liked to win by more but it's awesome. I wish I wouldn't have seen a red flag with two laps to go but it all worked out and I'm happy. I knew I had a fast bike but I was drafting Stollings earlier in the race, and the kid's real small and lightweight, so I knew if anybody could get by me before the line it would be him. I came out of turn four and I heard somebody; I peeked down underneath my handlebars and I saw the red bike and I knew it was him. I got as small as I could and was watching our front wheels go across the line and I was pretty pumped about it." Wells now leads the GNC2 point standings by 18 points over No. 14A Dalton Gauthier, 103-85. Award Updates Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines: Harley-Davidson Pole Award: No. 42 Bryan Smith McElroy Packaging Lucky 13 Award Winner: No. 1 Jared Mees MotoBatt Hard Charger Award Winner: No. 67 Davis Fisher Öhlins Fastest Lap Award Winner: No. 73 Doug Lawrence Sunoco "Go The Distance" Award Leader: No. 65 Cory Texter (197.5 miles completed) GNC2: Larry and Judy McElroy Rookie of the Race Award Winner: No. 99J Kevin Stollings Westside Truck Parts "Just off the Box" Award Winners: No. 27U Jamison Minor (4th), No. 16S Tristan Avery (5th) Sunoco "Go The Distance" Award Leader: No. Dylan Morin (136.75 miles completed) 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

FansChoice.tv coverage from Round Six at the Springfield Mile I is now available for VOD viewing

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (May 30, 2016) - AMA Pro Flat Track has completed Round 6 at the Springfield Mile I on May 29 where Kawasaki-mounted No. 42 Bryan Smith secured his third Mile win of the season over three-time Grand National Champion No. 1 Jared Mees, while Factory Harley-Davidson rider No.6 Brad Baker came in third. Also, be sure to watch No. 67 Davis Fisher pilot the new generation Harley-Davidson XG750R into a top 10 finish in the GNC1 Main Event. VOD coverage of Round 6 for both the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines and GNC2 classes is now available in high-definition on FansChoice.tv and can be accessed by following the links below. 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Springfield Mile I: 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track GNC1 Main 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track GNC2 Main   2016 AMA Pro Flat Track GNC1 and GNC2 Semis 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track GNC1 and GNC2 Heats 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Pre-Race Show Other videos from AMA Pro Flat Track can be viewed using the following links: FansChoice.tv: http://www.fanschoice.tv/ama-pro Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMAProFlatTrackSeries/videos YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AMAProVids/videos Photos by: Brian J. Nelson 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

Selected Riders from AMA Pro Flat Track Set to Return to ESPN's Summer XGames in Austin, TX June 2-5

In just over two months time, selected riders from AMA Pro Flat Track will again hold stage alongside the stars of extreme sports when they visit the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX for their second outing in the ESPN XGames competition.

This will be the second year alongside the popular competition where the stars of The Rolling Thunder Show put on a great show last year in their inaugural showing that saw Jared Mees lead the majority of the main event only to suffer a mechanical breakdown with less then a half lap to go and Bryan Smith go on to earn the first-ever gold medal in the XGames flat track competition in front of a packed house and with just over 500K people watching live in prime time on ESPN's cable network.

This year the track will have more development before the competition starts up as former 7-Time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr has done a total redesign of the facility that will see it's initial testing come next weekend on Saturday, April 9 with the Harley-Davidson Lone Star Half-Mile in round 3 of the season.

In the shot above, the riders in heat #1 roar towards turn one during racing action at the Springfield Mile II at round 12 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series on September 6.

(L-R) Stevie Bonsey on the #80 Cliff Racing/Dodge Brothers/Classic Harley-Davidson-sponsored XR750, Jarod Vanderkooi on the #17F Don's Kawasaki/DPC Racing/Floyd Tapp-backed Kawasaki EX650, Doug Lawrence on the #73 Glidden Racing/Dreyer Motorsports/Tucker Rocky-sponsored Kawasaki 740, Jake Johnson on the #5 Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Screamin' Eagle Performance Parts/Arai Helmets-backed factory H-D XR750 and Nichole Mees on the #15 H-D of Wausau/Willie McCoy/Black Hills Harley-Davidson-sponsored XR750 battle to see who will take the point before throwing it into turn one at the Illinois State Fairgrounds mile oval.

Check out the preview below from AMA Pro Flat Track and be ready to see the stars of the Grand National Championship head back to Austin next week for the season's third event of the year and it's first Twins Series race of the season and then be ready for their return to the ESPN XGames competition in early June in front of a live television audience and what will surely be another packed house at the COTA facility.

Harley-Davidson Flat-Track Racing Returns to Summer X Games Austin for Second Year

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Mar. 25, 2016) - AMA Pro Flat Track stars return to the stage for another year at ESPN's Summer X Games in Austin, Texas for the Harley-Davidson Flat-Track Racing event at Circuit of The Americas on June 2 - 5. The X Games will be broadcast live on both ESPN and ABC. "The X Games is an outstanding festival for the world's leading young extreme athletes and we are proud to once again have the AMA Pro Flat Trackers showcase our uniquely American sport," said Michael Lock, CEO of AMA Pro Racing. "The action will be fast and furious and the redesigned track will deliver thrilling racing from start to finish." During last year's Summer X Games, Kawasaki rider No. 42 Bryan Smith secured the inaugural flat track gold medal over top rival and reigning Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines champion No. 1 Jared Mees. "It was great to win the gold last year," Smith said. "It was pretty special. I was the first one and pretty lucky to win it. To be back there again will be cool and I'll hopefully defend my gold medal and be the only guy with two flat track golds. "I'm excited to be able to showcase what we have in flat track and how special it is and I hear the track will be better this year," Smith continued. "In order to prepare, my team and I treat it just like any other AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National, which is what our whole careers and lives are based around." After leading the majority of the 20-lap race, Mees suffered a mechanical issue on the final lap which forced him to leave the track and miss the win, allowing Smith to take home the victory. Mees has something to prove when he returns to the X Games in June, and is guaranteed to be a frontrunner in Austin. "X Games for me was a little bitter," Mees said. "Leading from start to almost finish and coming up a half of a lap short with a pretty comfortable lead was a bitter part of the season for me. It would've been cool to collect the very first ever gold medal, but unfortunately the gold medal is sitting on somebody else's shelf. I'm looking forward to going back because I'm motivated to go to every race and win. All in all I'm excited to be returning." Sammy Halbert, rider of the No. 7 Harley-Davidson, finished second at the X Games while Factory Harley-Davidson rider No. 6 Brad Baker closed out the podium with his third-place result. "Summer X Games was such an amazing experience," Baker said. "It felt so awesome to be able to compete for an X Games medal just like the famous athletes I have grown up watching on TV. I'm really looking forward to this year's event. I came up two places short of gold last year, so I'm really going to be pushing for gold this time. X Games is just an awesome experience whether you are an athlete or a spectator, so I'm pumped for many reasons." The purpose-built dirt track has been redesigned by seven-time Grand National Champion Chris Carr with the goal of providing additional racing lines. "The purpose of the redesign was to create more drama on the race track," Carr said. "The new track should provide more passing opportunities and will set the stage for a great show." Two months prior to the Summer X Games, a full field of the world's best dirt track motorcycle racers will take on the newly re-engineered track at Circuit of the Americas on Saturday, April 9 during the Harley-Davidson Lone Star Half-Mile. Tickets for the April 9 event are now available and can be purchased at www.texasflattrack.com/tickets/. For group sales, contact the Circuit of The Americas Box Office at 1-512-301-6600. For more information about the 2016 Summer X Games, please visit ESPN's website at http://xgames.espn.go.com/xgames/. 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

Ramspur Winery Santa Rosa Mile to be Season-Ending Event for AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship on September 25

Another piece of the puzzle in the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship schedule came together late yesterday with the announcement that the people behind Ramspur Winery and SDI Insulation will be promoting the return of the Santa Rosa Mile in what will be the season-finale for the 2016 season on Sunday, September 25.

Located at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, CA., the event will see the stars of The Rolling Thunder Show return to the track last raced at during the 2012 & 2013 seasons, as well as adding another top notch west coast and California event to the series schedule. The event weekend will also include Amateur and Pro-Am short track racing on the two days prior to the National race season finale, to make it one big weekend of fun and racing.

In the shot above, riders line up for heat race #3 during the running of the Indy Mile in round 7 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on July 11.

(L-R) Kayl Kolkman on the #98 JetTuning/Dream Scape Engraving/KSU-sponsored Kawasaki EX650, Doug Lawrence on the #73 Glidden Racing/Dreyer Motorsports/Tucker Rocky-backed Kawasaki, Jake Shoemaker on the #55 Bonneville Performance/Castrol/Triumph-sponsored Triumph Bonneville, Briar Bauman on the #14 USC/Hart Racing/Stevens Racing-backed Kawasaki, Johnny Lewis on the #10 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Ducati.net/Vintage Motorcycles-sponsored Ducati 1100 and Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. on the #2 Zanotti Racing/H-D Motor Co/Gator H-D-sponsored XR750 take their place on the front row prior to the drop of the go flag.

Also seen in this shot in the back, right is Jay Maloney on the #12 MRT/Avila/Speed & Strength-sponsored Kawasaki EX650.

This is great news for the riders, teams, sponsors and fans of The Rolling Thunder Show, the greatest racing series on two wheels in the world. With this race now over 3 1/2 months out it gives everyone on board plenty of time to book their plans and reservations in order to make things come together at a wonderful venue that has always been well received by everyone involved.

Thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track for this wonderful news that you can check out below in their full press release. And don't forget, this coming Thursday, March 10 and Friday, March 11 the season gets off to a roaring start with the Daytona Short Track doubleheader.

Ramspur Winery Santa Rosa Mile Announced as 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Season Finale September 25

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Mar. 4, 2016) - AMA Pro Racing is pleased to announce that the Ramspur Winery Santa Rosa Mile will serve as the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track season finale. The Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, Calif. will play host to the top dirt track motorcycle racing talent in the world on Sunday, September 25 where the next Grand National Champion will be crowned. The promotion team of Terry Otton, of Ramspur Winery and Steve DeLorenzi, of SDI Insulation, Inc., has secured the entire Sonoma County Fairgrounds for last weekend in September to present a trifecta of racing. On Friday, September 23 and Saturday, September 24, the Chris Beck Arena will feature evening Amateur and Pro-Am Short Track competition. On Sunday, AMA Pro Flat Track action will take over the grounds and the battle for the championship will begin. "We are thrilled and honored to bring back such a prestigious race," said Otton. "Steve and I are excited to be returning this picturesque mile, three-day event to the schedule with a fresh approach and high expectations. Our team is committed to top level event production, improving our fan experience and providing the best racing possible. It will contain more excitement for the fans, more opportunities for the riders and more exposure for the industry. We, in collaboration with AMA Pro Racing, intend to set the bar with this finale, in order to showcase and initiate the evolution and broadening of the sport for 2017." "To be able to stage our finale in Santa Rosa is absolutely ideal," said Michael Lock, CEO of AMA Pro Racing. "We are delighted to be able to bring the curtain down on the season at a classic Mile venue and in the heart of the bay area, where there are thousands of passionate flat track race fans." The mile race will bring a new level of excitement to fans and riders alike, as the promoters plan to deliver a variety of family-friendly entertainment over the course of the weekend. More information on the Ramspur Winery Santa Rosa Mile will be available in the coming weeks. 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