Kawasaki Antes Up $75K in Prize Monies For AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship

Kawasaki took a big step late last week and upped the ante to help out the Expert/GNC1 riders in the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship by providing $75K in prize monies that will be disbursed among the field at each event and at the end of the season in points pay outs. They will join Harley-Davidson who announced several weeks ago that they would be providing $126K in prize monies to the premier class in The Rolling Thunder Show.

The Kawasaki EX650-based parallel twin burst onto the scene in August 2010 when Bryan Smith, riding Bill Werner's original model, won not only the Indy Mile, but just eight days later also took home the spoils at the Springfield Mile II in early September of that year. Werner, the 13-time AMA Grand National Championship-winning tuner, had been working on perfecting the Mean Green twin for several seasons, and with Smith taking the two big track victories broke the long hold that the H-D XR750 had held in terms of wins on the big tracks since Honda's last win in August '98, and ultimately knocked the door down for a big handful of teams to start contesting the series on the reliable, and less costly Japanese twin.

Since that time almost six full seasons ago, Kawasaki has all but been the bike to beat on the big tracks, mostly under the control of mile specialist Flyin' Bryan Smith. However, in 2013 Brandon Robinson on a TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki, took home the double win at the Springfield Mile I & II on August 31 and September 1 and showed the fans, the field and the teams that there was another force to be reckoned with. Smith also helped Kawasaki earn the manufacturers championship and won two Twins Series titles, and was within three points of winning the big pot of gold in the form of the 2014 AMA Grand National Championship if not for a DQ late in the season relegated him to finish second to fellow Michigan rider and long time racing friend and foe, Jared Mees.

In the shot above, Brandon Robinson and the #44 TJ Burnett Farms/USC/Hart Racing-backed Kawasaki team head out for rider intros prior to BRob44 winning the first of his double mile wins at the Springfield Mile I on Saturday, August 31. Robinson, who just four years earlier nearly had his career ended due to a nasty crash at the Indy Mile, totally dominated the Labor Day weekend at the Illinois State Fairgrounds by setting fast time, winning the fastest heat races, winning both Dash for Cash races, and taking home the king's share of the gold in totally dominating the rest of the field to win both Grand National mains on the James Hart-prepped and TJ Burnett-funded Kawasaki rockets. Robinson added to his first Grand National win at Daytona over five months earlier, and ended the season ranked as the 3rd-place rider in the greatest racing series on two wheels in the world. Team owner Burnett can be seen along the fence in the background.

There have been several other teams that have put a dent in the competition since Smith's first win on Werner's Monster Energy Kawasaki effort in August '10. Scott Powersports' effort, with Johnny Lewis and Matt Weidman turning the throttle both showed some grand results. This year they will have Sammy Halbert turning the throttles for them. Weirbach Racing will be in their second full season of campaigning the ultra fast Kawi twin, this year with 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Champ Mikey Martin back in the team's saddle, and no fewer then five or six other big teams that have made the switch to the Mean Green brand. And let's not forget Shayna Texter's dominating double wins at Springfield in 2013 aboard an Alan Rodenborn-prepped Racing Unlimited Kawi in the Basic Twins/Pro Twins class.

So it goes without saying that seeing Kawasaki step up to the plate in terms of big money for the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship is not only a great marketing tool for them but a super deal for the series, riders and teams. Seeing them come on board with not only race event pay outs but year-end pay outs is a big shot in the arm for the sport, and we say a big thank you and tip of the helmet for them taking this on for The Rolling Thunder Show. BRAVO and thank you Mean Green!

Check out the full release below thanks to AMA Pro Racing, and remember it's just two weeks time until racing gets into full swing for the season when the boys and girls of The Rolling Thunder Show head to the Illinois State Capitol for the Springfield Mile I on Sunday, May 24, and between you and me and the fencepost, I can't wait!

Kawasaki to post over $75,000 in contingency to AMA Pro Flat Track riders in 2015

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 6, 2015) - Kawasaki has entered the contingency battlefield in AMA Pro Flat Track's premier Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines class. The reigning AMA Pro Flat Track Manufacturer of the Year will post a total of $75,450 in the form of per-race and year-end payouts to participants competing on Kawasaki machinery throughout the 2015 season. "We would like to thank Kawasaki for supporting the sport and investing in our riders," said Michael Gentry, Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing. "Week in and week out, the riders are the ambassadors of our sport and the brands that they showcase on the race track. The 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track season is about to kick into high gear, and we're excited to see how the twin-cylinder competition unfolds at Springfield." The twin-cylinder EX650 has been the bike to beat on many of the Mile courses over the past few years, but in 2014 the Kawasaki platform proved its diversity when Bryan Smith took the checkered flag at Hagerstown and gave the brand its first ever Half-Mile victory. The single-cylinder Kawasaki KX450F has also been competitive in GNC1 Singles competition, sitting atop the podium at the Peoria TT in six of the last seven years with Henry Wiles on board. "This is a clear case of Kawasaki listening to our riders and expanding our Team Green program," said Chris Brull, Kawasaki Vice President of Marketing. "Over the last four years we have seen competitors in the AMA Pro Flat Track series choose Kawasaki and we want to reward them for that choice. Our Team Green program has been around for more than 30 years and our renewed support of Flat Track racing shows how the Team Green program continues to evolve." The pay day for Kawasaki riders will begin in less than 30 days as the series will visit Springfield, Ill., on May 24 for the iconic Springfield Mile. Kawasaki has been the machine of choice for the winner of four of the last five Springfield Miles. For tickets and information regarding the Springfield Mile, set to be held at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill., on May 24, fans are encouraged to call (217)753-8866. The entire event can also be viewed live and in high definition at www.FansChoice.tv.

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.

AMA Pro Flat Track: Brandon Robinson #44 Splits from TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki Team, USC/James Hart Racing to Go it Alone

The official news hit the web this week as it was announced that Brandon Robinson AMA Grand National #44 had decided to split from his 2013 team of TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki. Although the cat was let out of the bag to me back on December 18, I took the high road that I always try to take in putting out news and info to let both TJ and Brandon make their respective announcements before I would divulge what I had been let in on.

RRob44 will be going it alone along with his 2013 tuner James Hart as James Hart Racing/USC will pursue their 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track efforts on their own Kawasaki EX650-based Twins.

After a stellar season in '13, Robinson ended the season ranked as the 3rd-place rider in the season-ending standings after having a breakout year campaigning the Burnett Farms Kawasakis in the Twins and Singles classes. BRob's first big win came just two races into the new season when he took the team's KX450F to the Daytona Short Track II win in March, and then did what virtually has been impossible-largely due to scheduling-and stole the doubleheader at the Springfield Mile Labor Day weekend marathon round some 5 1/2 months later. Robinson's stat line was a stuff of AMA Pro Flat Track legends that also included six podium finishes, seven top-5 finishes and nine top-10 finishes to go along with those three big wins on the year. Worst finishes of 17th (Hagerstown) and 18th (Peoria) and a DNS at Castle Rock kept him from what could have been an even better career year.

In the shot above, Robinson awaits the first practice round at the Indy Mile on the #44 TJ Burnett Farms/USC/James Hart Racing Kawasaki during round 8 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship on August 17. Tuner and then-fellow TJ Burnett Farms Racing team member James Hart can be seen walking up behind BRob44, with part time team mate JD Beach #95 in the background. Weirbach Racing's Rob Pearson #27 sits to Robinson's left, while Burnett team wrench Billy Gruwell holds the starter motor for the #44 team.

According to TJ Burnett, while attending to some health and family issues, some changes and decisions had been made that he was unaware of that led to the split with his team. However, Burnett promises to come back as strong as ever as he will be campaigning a Pro Singles Championship team for Pacific Northwest rider Davis Fisher, whom Burnett has been watching and working closely with for some time, grooming the youngster for his Pro debut coming up at Daytona in mid-March.

In the shot above, proud team owner TJ Burnett smiles as his rider, Robinson, suits up for the first practice session of the Springfield Mile II during round 11 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season on September 1. Robinson had just stolen the show in front of a packed house on one of Burnett's rockets at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, and several hours later would be smiling even more as his riders would again place 1-3 (with Beach taking a second 3rd-place finish over the weekend) in what was the team's home race. Burnett hails from Opdyke, IL. located approximately 30 miles east of Du Quoin, another flat track mecca over the decades. At the end of the weekend the Big Man was close to tears after having taken wins in the biggest event of AMA Pro Flat Track's long history, and deservedly so.

In the rough and tumble world of The Rolling Thunder Show, the most competitive and greatest form of racing on two wheels in the world, it's very hard to duplicate the success as a complete team, let alone after switching teams from one year to the next. History tells us that in order to continue with that same level of success, teams and riders that stick together over the course of their careers have the best chances of maintaining, let alone replicating or bettering their levels of success.

But with the level of talent that the TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki team put together for the 2013 season, 2014 and beyond should look extremely bright-with all things being equal-for all members of this strong group of people. With Robinsons's last couple of season having grown stronger not only when riding for Bill Werner/Jay Springsteen team in the 2012 season and then again with the TJB team last year, plus the tuning talents of James Hart in his corner, #44's season should be large and bright.

And the same can be said for TJ Burnett and his young protégé, Davis, who has shown the level of talent that would befit an owner such as the Burnett Farms team to take him under his wing to further progress him along the ranks of and as a Pro and future Expert-ranked rider. Keep an eye peeled for what this now-even younger team will and should do come March in Daytona, as this Burnett has a great eye for talent and could be ushering in the likes of a new Brad Baker, Ryan Wells or Jeffrey Carver, Jr. in terms of potential greatness.

You can check out the full press release below from Brandon Robinson, which actually came out early this last week announcing his teaming up with James Hart and USC as they go it alone for the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season. And we here at Stu's Shots wish all members of both entourages the very best of luck in the coming season and in the future, and we'll be there to root them all on and shoot the stuff that we, and you, want to see from them all. Go get 'em guys!

Press release courtesy of: Promos By CTex || DAOapparel.com

Brandon Robinson Gears Up for Promising 2014 Season with USC Racing and James Hart Racing

 

Oxford, PA (01/07/2014) – Coming off a career best season in 2013, Brandon Robinson returns to the AMA Pro Flat Track series with a similar but slightly different program for 2014.  Robinson will be on Kawasaki 650’s and Kawasaki 450’s again next season tuned by James Hart with support from USC Racing, Hot-Shot Motorworks and James Stevens Racing.

 

Last season Robinson turned many heads as he finished 3^rd in series points and claimed three victories during the season.  His wins came at the prestigious events Daytona Short Track and back-to-back Springfield Miles in the fall.  He scored additional podiums at the Sacramento Mile, Colonial Downs Mile, and the Indy Mile.  Robinson looks to improve on his success from 2013 and keep the momentum going into 2014 will a solid team built around him this off-season.

 

 

 

Brandon Robinson on the #44 TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki is shown at speed at the Springfield Mile over the Labor Day weekend during rounds 10 & 11 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season, where BRob44 completed the double over the epic weekend to add his name to a very short list of riders to have completed the double win at the historic venue located on the grounds of the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Photo courtesy of Brandon Robinson and James Hart/USC Racing.

 

 

 

 

 

“Excited would be an understatement. The 2013 season was amazing and I can’t thank my sponsors and team enough for helping me accomplish so much and getting one step closer to my dream of being Grand National Champion, “ said Robinson. “We have been really busy during the off-season getting the bikes ready for 2014. I didn’t think we could improve on what we learned last year, but I was wrong and I can’t wait to get these USC Kawasaki’s on the race track and compete again.”

 

The efforts will be strongly backed by USC Racing. USC Racing is owned and operated by Gerry Booher, a former Grand National racer. USC Racing has been a fixture on the Grand National Flat Track scene since 1969. USC has sponsored legends such as Ricky Graham, Terry Poovey, Bryan Bigelow and Kevin Varnes in past seasons.

 

James Hart Racing will return as Brandon’s mechanic for the 2014 season. James Hart Racing is owned by James Hart who has been involved in GNC Racing since 1988.  Hart is a former GNC racer who carried National #81 and was very successful throughout his career.  James will also assisted by his father Roy Hart who was a very competitive racer in his own right.  With James and Roy combined together they are very knowledgeable in race bike setup and reading the racetrack conditions to make necessary changes for a winning performance.  Notable riders James has wrenched for in the past include Johnny Murphree, A.J. Eslick, Robbie Pearson, J.D. Beach, and Brandon Robinson.

 

Hot-Shot Motorworks is a key component to the a promising 2014 season. The company is owned by Dan Thompson and is an engine design and development company that has designed many products for Hi-Performance Street and Racing motorcycle engines throughout their 40 years of existence. Dan Thompson has built and tuned for many notable racers throughout the AMA GNC Series since 1977.  After leaving the GNC Series in 1996 to concentrate on other engine development programs, Dan has decided to return to the GNC scene for the 2014 season to build a Kawasaki engine program for USC Racing, James Hart Racing and James Stevens Racing. Hot-Shot Motorworks has already designed many performance products for the Kawasaki engine that has allowed significant gains in engine performance from the team’s successful 2013 season.

 

James Stevens Racing has been a strong supporter and sponsor of USC Racing, James Hart Racing and Hot-Shot Motorworks for many years and will again be involved with support for the 2014 GNC Series. James has had helped many notable riders over the years including Jeffrey Carver, Kevin Atherton, Tripp Nobles, David Estok, Michael Barnes and Robbie Pearson to name a few.

 

The AMA Pro Flat Track season kicks off March 13^th and March 14^th in Daytona Beach, FL. Robinson and his team will also compete in the AMA All-Star Series during bike week at Ogelthorpe Speedway in Savannah, GA on March 7^th and Volusia Speedway in Barberville, FL on March 9^th.

 

For more information on Brandon Robinson, follow him on social media. @BRob44 on Twitter and Instagram ||Facebook.com/BrandonRobinsonRacing

 

Brandon Robinson 2014 Sponsors:

 

USC Kawasaki, James Hart Racing, Hot-Shot Motorworks, James Stevens Racing, R&D Machine, Arai, ATI Physical Therapy, Penske Racing Shocks, AXO, Go Pro,  Saddlemen, Pro Plates, Motion Pro, Royal Publishing, VC Graphix, DAO, PMP Sprockets, Spectro Oils, Wiseco Pistons, Cometic Gaskets, Lectron Carburetors, Evans Coolant, G2 Ergonomics, Works Connection, K&N, Impact Armor, Hartman Photography, Jim Chapman, Tom Scibek, Joe Reynolds, John Y, TJB, Mom & Dad

 

Brandon Robinson - GNC 44
15 Wood Valley Lane
Oxford, PA 19363
484-888-9485

Website:  BrandonRobinson44.com
Twitter:  @BRob44
Instagram: @BRob44
Facebook:  Brandon Robinson

Sponsors:

 

USC Kawasaki, James Hart, Hot Shot Motorworks, James Stevens Racing, R&D Machine, Arai, ATI Physical Therapy, Penske Shocks, AXO, Go Pro, Saddlemen, Pro Plates, Motion Pro, Royal Publishing, VC Graphix, DAO, PMP Sprockets, Spectro Oils, Wiseco Pistons, Cometic Gaskets, Lectron Carburetors, Evans Coolant, G2 Ergonomics, Works Connection, K&N, Impact Armor, Hartman Photography, Jim Chapman, Tom Scibek, John Y, TJB