Reviewing the 2012 Indy Dealernews International Powersports Dealer Expo Part 2

Motorcyclist Magazine had one of the larger display booths at the Indy show, including one of the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Ducatis featuring the #100 on it.  According to team co-owner Mike Lloyd, the mag is putting together a series of stories about the LBM team as part of their 100th anniversary in 2012 that will deal with their assault on the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season.

The veteran team has been supporting AMA Pro Flat Track for over two decades now, and finally got their breakout win with Joe Kopp at the helm at the May 2010 Arizona Mile.  '11 AMA Rookie of the Year Brad Baker took the LBM Ducati to a season-best 2nd place finish at the season-ending Pomona Half-Mile on October 15, 2011.

Lloyd also mentioned that the team has removed the 'Ducati' branding from the bike, instead focusing on the team's name and sponsor Nicky Hayden's name on the tank.  Nicky helped lend the LBM team some support during the mid-part of the season last year after blowing a motor at the Sacramento Mile. 

"Nicky's been great and he'll always have a ride with us" was what Dave Lloyd had told me last season, and which brother Mike also confirmed at the Indy Dealer Show.  When The Kentucky Kid ran his demo laps at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile in August 2010 it was on one of the LBM bikes.  "He'd been away from flat track for a few years, but he would have qualified in the top 20 that night in just the few laps he did run," according to Mike.

"When he's ready to come back to flat track, we'll put him on one of our bikes in a heartbeat.  We took Ducati's name off of the bike since they haven't been willing to help us out.  They offered us dealer cost on parts, but I can get that at any dealer now," according to Mike Lloyd. 

It's been refreshing with all of the other support the team get's from fans at the AMA Pro Flat Track Twins Series races.  "We actually get as many or more Harley fans coming by to check us out at the races, they love the competition and are tired of seeing 18 Harley's out there just racing against themselves," stated Lloyd.



View on as we bring you another handful of the teams, sponsors and riders who help to support racing and were on hand at the 2012 Dealernews International Powersports Dealer Expo at the Indiana Convention Center in Indy over the February 17-19 weekend.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Germany's Wossner Pistons had several displays throughout their booth at the Indy Dealer Expo.  The Werner-Springsteen Monster Energy Kawasaki team counts Wossner as one of their many sponsors in AMA Pro Flat Track.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lockhart Phillips had a nice display that included this Nicky Hayden Ducati 848.  Not to mention the pretty blond lady!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shoei Helmets had this wall display among their many lines of lids in Indy.  Among many of their sponsored riders is AMA Grand National #20 Matt Weidman.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The folks from Scala Rider had a big display of some of the rider-to-passenger and rider-to-rider communication systems they offer on-hand at the Indy show.  The Bluetooth system they offer is considered one of the finest on the market, and they were announced at the end of January as the official communication system of AMA Pro Racing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Millenium Technologies had a cool display of some of their cylinder and head work.  Zanotti Racing, Werner-Springsteen Racing and Rogers Lake Racing are a few of the sponsored teams that the take care of in AMA Pro Flat Track.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sidi Boots had this wall of racing boots displayed at the Indy Dealer Expo.  Johnny Lewis, Nicky Hayden and Jimmy Wood are a few of their sponsored riders.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mikuni Carburetors had this impressive display that included a cool backdrop that featured former 2-Time AMA Superbike Champion Wes Cooley on an early '80s Suzuki.  The carb sitting on the counter on the left was so highly-polished you could almost brush your teeth with it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had the pleasure of running into and meeting Richard Weirbach from the Iowa-based Weirbach Racing team, the 2011 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Flat Track Champions.  Richard and the team signed AMA Horizon Award winner Ryan Wells in the off-season and have been staying busy getting him some track time while running the Steve Nace AMA Dirt Track Indoor Championship inside the Southern Illinois Center at DuQuoin.  They have also been working on their XR750 for the Expert Twins Grand National Championship for the 2012 season, which they are hoping to sign someone to ride in a few races this year.  Richard headed home to Ottumwa after the show and then was on to the Minneapolis area to do some final dyno testing early in the week, before heading to DuQuoin for this weekend's final round of the Steve Nace Series.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two Brothers Racing stayed busy during the weekend at Indy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Penske Racing Shocks had some impressive goods on display.  Lloyd Brothers Motorsports and Nichole Cheza are among some of Penske's sponsored teams and riders in AMA Pro Flat Track.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Silkolene USA stayed busy inside the Indiana Convention Center-hosted dealer expo.  Notice the Jake Johnson 2011 #1 AMA Pro Flat Track plate sitting in the background.  They also sponsor Bryan Smith, Matt Weidman and Brandan Bergen in AMA Pro Flat Track.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AMA Superbike Championship rider Larry Pegram brought along one of his Pegram Racing/Foremost Insurance BMW S1000RR superbikes to display in the D2M booth at Indy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'94 AMA Superbike Champion and 2-Time World Superbike Champion Troy Corser was in the house on Friday at the Indy Dealer Expo talking with some of the SamcoSport reps.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dave Zanotti made the trip from California to display 2-Time and defending AMA Grand National Champion Jake Johnson's H-D XR750 at the Indy Dealer Show at the AMA Pro Racing/Racer X booth.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not too far around the corner from Jake's mount we found the Zanotti Racing crew holding shop in the Bazzaz booth.  Jake Johnson, crew chief Ted McDermitt and team owner Dave Zanotti talk with 2011 Springfield Mile II winner Willie McCoy along with a member of the Bazzaz team.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mentor, OH.-based Wiseco Pistons had some impressive displays at the show.  Among many of their sponsored teams and riders include Kenny Coolbeth, Jr., Nichole Cheza and Chris Carr.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The folks from Metal Rescue had this new Moto3 entry on display in their booth with a Yamaha 250 engine.  Moto3 will be replacing the 125CC two-strokes this year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tyler Porter stayed busy all weekend while helping out the great folks at Memphis Shades (who will be sponsoring Babe Demay's team this season with new rider Rob Pearson #27 in AMA Pro Flat Track.)  Brad Baker stopped by to see the main man from Fight For Dirt Track (www.fightfordirttrack.com) on Saturday of the show. 

The '11 AMA Pro Flat Track Saddlemen Rookie of the Year flew in from Texas after spending some time with new team-owner Kenny Tolbert, who is in the process of getting the new team's Kawasaki 650R-based machines ready for the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season.  Brad 'The Bullet' said they are working on getting their final sponsorships worked out and put together for the upcoming season, and after the show was over on Sunday he was heading back to KT's home base.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motobatt Products had a booth at Indy after having just signed-on with AMA Pro Racing in November '11 as the official battery, charger and tester for the 2012 season in both AMA Pro Road Racing and AMA Pro Flat Track.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Galfer Brakes had this Storz SP1200RR on display at the Indy show.  Storz Performance has a new line of cafe-style accessories for '04-present Harley-Davidson Sportsters, and this new show bike was used as a display to show-off what can be done with a little cash and a little imagination.  This bike started as a low-mile '07 883 Sportster and was tweaked with the help of a 1200cc Wiseco piston kit, 18 inch wheels, Galfer brakes, Barnett clutch and Performance Machine brake calipers, among other changes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spectro Oils of America was busy thoughout the weekend with their Sarah Palin look-alike on-hand in their booth for pictures with the attendees.  Spectro sponsors the former 3-Time AMA Grand National Champion Kenny Coolbeth, Jr., among others, in AMA Pro Flat Track.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vance & Hines had a large display on-hand at the Indiana Convention Center for the 2012 Indy Dealer Expo, highlighted by this sweet AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series machine, decked out and ready to go racing at Daytona in about three weeks.  Vance & Hines XR1200 racing division is based out of their Brownsburg, IN. location, about 4 miles west of Stu's Shots homebase.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Book-ending our coverage of the 2012 Indy Dealer Expo, we see the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports booth that featured a surprise along with a fine display of one of the team's big sponsors, ENI USA Lubricants.  Team co-owner Mike Lloyd (brown shirt, left rear of shot) is busy talking with attendees of the show and hawking the ENI line of quality products.  "These guys are great to work with and offer a big line of products for the industry," commented Lloyd.  ENI USA rep Dave Rinefierd (2nd from right) was helping out over the weekend and was very enthusiastic about the team's efforts and their association with ENI.  "These guys are great reps for the ENI brand," stated Rinefierd.

As you can see from the 1098 on display at the LBM booth, it is sporting a new number for the 2012 season.  "Yep, Henry Wiles will be our rider for this year.  We tried to get things worked out last year and then they fell apart and that's how we ended up with Brad," according to Mike Lloyd.  "We've got four complete bikes for this season.  This one (the one on-hand in their booth) is the original 1098 we started with, along with Larry Pegram's help several years ago.  We'll have two set up for the mile races and two for the half-miles."

Team co-owner and Mike's brother Dave, wasn't on-hand for the Indy show, but had told me several weeks ago that the budget was almost complete for the 2012 season.  They should be ready to go for the first Twins Series race at Springfield over the Memorial Day weekend, and are planning to run the Savannah, GA. Steve Nace All Star round the weekend before the Daytona Short Track season-openers.

This will definitely be one of the top teams to again keep an eye out for in the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season.  With Henry having ridden for the team in the past (taking their Aprilia to a 2nd place finish at Lima in 2008) they shouldn't have the usual 'teething' problems of getting team, bike and rider to gel. 

It should be a fun and productive year.  When you get to a round of the series this year make sure you stop by and say 'hi' to the Lloyd Brothers team.  They not only know how to do it on the track, but are a fun bunch of people to hang out with, too!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This wraps up our coverage of the 2012 Dealernews International Powersports Dealer Expo, held in Indianapolis over the February 17-19 weekend.  We hope you've enjoyed our coverage of a handful of the companies, sponsors, teams and riders who help to support racing here in the United States and abroad.  Remember, without these companies and sponsors the sport we so dearly love would not be possible, so whenever you can support these companies and tell them thank you for the time, money and effort that they put into helping to make motorcycle racing possible.

We also want to again thank the great folks at Dealernews who sponsor the Indy Dealer Expo and for putting on such a great show and for allowing Stu's Shots to be a part of it this year.  We had a blast, and we hope all of our readers have enjoyed the coverage. 

Thanks again for taking the time to hang out with us here and to spend your hard-earned time with Stu's Shots!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And you can read part one of our review of the 2012 Dealernews International Powersports Dealer Expo here:

http://stusshots.blogspot.com/2012/02/reviewing-2012-indy-dealernews.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AMA Road Racing: Larry Pegram Stars in Discovery HD Theater's 'Superbike Family'

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Rapp on the #82 Vance & Hines Ducati 996 leads a group of riders during race two action at Mid Ohio during the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire running of the AMA Superbike Championship in July of 2000. Following are #69 Nicky Hayden on the American Honda RC51, Larry Pegram on the #72 Competition Accessories Ducati 996, #43 Jason Pridmore on the Yoshimura American Suzuki GSX-R750 and eventual 7-Time AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin on the #1 Yoshimura American Suzuki GSX-R750. 2000 was the first year that both Mid Ohio and Road America debuted the double round weekends that were initially made part of the schedule with the Big Kahuna Nationals at Road Atlanta in the '98 season.
Pegram, who after campaigning Foremost Insurance-sponsored Ducati 1098/1198-based machines the last couple of years in the AMA Superbike Championship, made the switch to the new for AMA Road Racing BMW S1000RR during the off season, and will be keeping Foremost as his premier sponsor in the series for the 2011 season. His off season testing at track such as Jennings GP and at the official Daytona tire test have shown great promise, and as always 'The Worm' should prove to be a threat for the top podium spots during the upcoming season that kicks off at Daytona on March 10. He finished the '09-'10 seasons both years fourth in the championship standings winning several races along the way, after going winless since his initial AMA Superbike win at Willow Springs in 1999 while riding for Eraldo Ferracci's Ducati team.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Larry Pegram and his Pegram Racing/Foremost Insurance Group-sponsored racing family and team debuted today on a new program on Discovery HD TV's channel called 'Superbike Family.' The docu-reality series follows Pegram, his family and his race team from just before the start of the '10 AMA Superbike Championship Series season kick off at Daytona as they prepare for the 2010 AMA Superbike season.

Not being a fan of reality tv, when I first read the news of this new show I was just a little hesitant to get on board with it, even if it DID involve the high speed ballet of superbike racing in the United States. But after watching the first two half-hour eps (of six total to be shown) I can say I was very impressed with not only the presentation of the show itself, but of the background and race film used in the show to highlight the season's goings on. It did a very nice job of presenting the United States' premier road racing series, let alone the hard work, dedication and effort put forth by the entire Pegram Racing family and team. If you are a fan of the AMA Superbike Championship like I am (as well as a big LP fan!) you will want to catch this show.

You can read the press release below thanks to Dean Adams' SuperBikePlanet.com, and you can catch the remaining episodes on the next two Saturdays (March 5 and 12) at 1100 EST on The Discovery Network's HD Theater TV channel. If you aren't familiar with that channel (it's on DirecTV channel 281 in the Eastern United States), you can bring up your own local U.S.-based tv listings by going to Zap2It.com or TitanTV.com to determine via your local television provider if your provider does carry this HD-only channel.

Good luck to Larry Pegram and Pegram Racing in the upcoming 2011 AMA Superbike Championship, and we hope to see ole Lare back on top of the box again at a few rounds this season!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SuperBikePlanet.com has the press release and times for 'Superbike Family' on Discovery HD TV right here:

http://superbikeplanet.com/2011/Feb/110222wormteevee.htm
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can follow #72 Larry Pegram and his Foremost Insurance Group-sponsored BMW S1000RR team here via Larry's official website:

http://pegramracing.com/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Larry Pegram to Race BMW S1000RR in AMA Superbike for 2011 Season

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

Larry Pegram looks for the wet line in the turn 11 area at Road America during practice for the AMA Formula Xtreme Series in June of 2008. With a drying track, while running on race-rain slicks, the #72 Pegram Racing/Foremost Insurance Group/Leo Vince-sponsored Ducati 848 pilot tries to get the best set-up for the Suzuki Superbike Doubleheader presented by Rockstar Energy Drink weekend's event in the AMA Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme presented by HMR Series.

This was Larry's second year being associated with Ducati, after campaigning Honda CBR1000RR's in the '05-'06 seasons in the AMA Superbike Championship Series class while running his own team along with HotBodies sponsorship. Pegram finished fourth in the year-end standings in the Formula Xtreme Series class for both the '07-'08 seasons, before moving back into the premier AMA Superbike class in '09-'10 with Ducati and running their 1098/1198-based platforms and winning several events along the way. Pegram's first win in the AMA Superbike Championship Series came at Willow Springs back in '99 while riding a Ducati for the legendary Eraldo Ferracci's FBF Ducati team.

Pegram had announced last week his split with Ducati, and today made the announcement that he would be campaigning the BMW for the 2011 season. With the improvements seen in the World Superbike Championship over the course of the last two seasons with the BMW, this could prove to be a great career change for Pegram. And this can only be good for the Bavarian Motor Werks company, as well, adding a top-flight rider to their fairly new machines in the premier class in the U.S. series.

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

After announcing his split last week from Ducati after four good years in the AMA Formula Xtreme and AMA Superbike Series, Larry Pegram made it official today he will be riding the BMW S1000RR for the 2011 season. The last time Pegram was NOT associated with Ducati was in the '05-'06 seasons when he campaigned Honda CBR1000RR's in the premier class, with so-so results.

Pegram's pairing with the BMW marque's inline four superbike should be a great move for all, and especially the fans. Getting a top-notch rider of Larry's capabilities on the third-year machine should help elevate it's stature in the AMA Superbike Championship, and also give fans a great chance to see the Bimmer run up towards, or hopefully AT the front of the premier class series in the United States. Former '94 AMA Superbike Champion Troy Corser, who will be returning to the WSBK BMW team for his third year in 2011, has helped to develop the bike into a front-runner in the World Class series, and would have probably gotten even closer in the 2010 season if not for mid-to-late season injuries.

Pegram has been racing in the AMA Road Racing Series since the early '90s, and is not only well-known to fans throughout the world, but is also a very popular sort himself around the track. This should be a great move all around and we can't wait to see them hit the track together 'officially' at Daytona in March 2011!

You can read the press release here from Pegram Racing, courtesy of the uber-cool SuperBikePlanet.com:

http://superbikeplanet.com/2010/Nov/101124mw.htm

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

Everyone have a VERY Happy and Safe Thanksgiving, and thanks to YOU for spending your time with us here at Stu's Shots!

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

AMA Road Racing: Larry Pegram & Ducati Part Ways for 2011 AMA Superbike Championship

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Larry Pegram on the #72 Competition Accessories Ducati 998 leads 3-Time AMA Superbike Champion Doug Chandler on the #10 Team Kawasaki ZX-750 at Mid Ohio during race two action in the AMA Superbike Series round in July 2001. Pegram first hooked up with Ducati riding for Eraldo Ferracci's Fast by Ferracci Ducati team in '99, where he won his first premier class race at Willow Springs. Even during the '00s, Pegram's only year he wasn't associated with Ducati was in the 2005 season, during which time he campaigned Honda's CBR1000RR on his Pegram Racing team in the top level series.
During the '09 and '10 seasons, Pegram campaigned Ducati 1098s and 1198s with Foremost Insurance as his title-sponsor, winning his first race in over ten years in the AMA Superbike Series at Road America in June of '09, and then winning both rounds at Topeka later in the year. Larry started off the 2010 season strongly while winning the first of two races at Auto Club Speedway in late March and adding five more 3rd place finishes to his year, including the season opening first race at Daytona. He finished fourth in the season-ending standings for both seasons, his personal best in the premier class since the end of the '90s.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In what has been deemed 'not totally unexpected' news, it was announced today by Larry Pegram and his Pegram Racing team that he will be splitting from Ducati for the upcoming 2011 AMA Superbike Championship Series. Having ridden in the premier class on the Italian marques' 1098/1198 platform for the last couple of seasons (and winning three races in both seasons along the way), the rumblings about the split has been stirring since almost the end of the 2010 season at Barber Motorsports Park back in September. Pegram's Foremost Insurance Group Ducati 1198 F08's have been for sale on his website since about a week after the season wrapped (for a cool $100K each.)

Pegram didn't make mention of what he may be riding for the 2011 season, only that within a week or so he would be making an announcement as to what his plans are. With just shy of four months before the lights go green in Daytona, that should be plenty of time to get something serious together for the upcoming season. And with many riders/teams still unsigned for next year, whether it be talent or machinery changes, there is still a long way to go until racing resumes in Florida. And a lot of dominoes to fall into place.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's the official press release courtesy of Dean Adams and his great group of folks at SuperBikePlanet.com:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2010/Nov/101116c.htm

Pegram's 2010 Ducatis have been listed for sale on his website since just after the end of the season at Barber. For $100,000, you too can own yourself a full-blown 2010 edition Ducati 1198 F08 AMA Superbike and be ready to put it on the grid at Daytona in March:

http://pegramracing.com/forSale/1198_f08/1198_f08.php
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AMA Pro Flat Track Lucas Oil Indy Mile MotoGP Weekend Preview

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

Former AMA Flat Track winner and National #23 Kevin Atherton (L) makes an adjustment on the Latus/Lloyd Bros/American Agip Ducati of Joe Kopp, the 2000 AMA Grand National Champion, as one of the Lloyd Bros. team members looks on. Kopp took the big twin Ducati to the mile win at Arizona back on May 1st, and hopes to do so again at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile on Saturday night. Per the entry list as of this writing he is entered on the Ducati. Larry Pegram will be making an appearance as well and you can read more on that below.
On the right side of the shot, which was taken at Lima in June, is defending Twins Champion Jared Mees #1 Rogers Lake/Blue Springs-sponsored XR750 as it is being brought up for race time from the pit area. Look for both Jammin' Jared and Smokin' Joe Kopp to be in the mix all night this coming Saturday. It's going to be fast and fun!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

One of the all-time legendary figures in AMA Flat Track is 7-Time AMA Flat Track Grand National Champion tuner Kenny Tolbert. Behind the infamous Bill Werner, Kenny has wrenched
for more AMA Flat Track Grand National Championships and main event wins then any other tuner to have ever walked the hallowed grounds of an AMA Flat Track event. Of course, those multiple championships and wins have come with the pairing of Tolbert with 7-Time AMA Grand National Champion, and the Prince of Peoria, Chris Carr, whose #4 Lancaster H-D/DFW Honda/Arai Helmets-backed XR750's sit in the foreground of this shot at Lima earlier this summer. Of course, Carr won the return to the Lucas Oil Indy Mile in September of 2008, and the pair will be looking to repeat that success in just less then 48 hours from this writing.
I was very fortunate to be able to officially meet both Chris and Kenny earlier this summer and can say it was a pure delight to be able to meet, talk and get to hang out with them. There is nothing like having watched your heroes for over two-and-a-half decades to finally get to meet them and learn they still have the enthusiasm and the drive that you always thought they would and did, as well as learn that they were two of the funniest and warmest individuals to talk with in general. These guys have always had an ultra-strong mile track program, so look for the pairing to put Chris' #4 up at the front Saturday night at the Indy Mile.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

When you talk legends in AMA Flat Track racing, the names Jay Springsteen and Bill Werner always come to the top of the heap. The pairing of the '76-'78 AMA Grand National Champion Springer with super-tuner to the stars Bill Werner in the Harley-Davidson Factory Wrecking Crew was a match and friendship made in heaven. Springer went on to win 40-some odd races along with his three GN Championships, and Bill Werner went on to win some 150 Grand National races as well as 13 Championships as a tuner to the stars. Besides his three with Springer, Bill got his first in '75 with then-champ Gary Scott, and went on to collect nine more with the all-time winner in AMA Flat Track racing, Scott Parker, as the two paired for over a decade-and-a-half to win over 90 races and nine championships together. Can you say history re-written?!
Werner and Springsteen paired up after the '09 season was over and formed Werner Springsteen Kawasaki Racing, and put National #42 Bryan Smith in the seat of the team's Ninja 650-based twins racers. With sponsorship from Monster Energy/Kawasaki/Wossner Pistons/Supertrapp and a list that would cover this page, the team has had some bright spots in a growing year, one of which was when Smith put the #42 machine on the podium in the spring running of the Springfield Mile. Teething and growing the first-year team being what it is, going into the Lucas Oil Indy Mile, the team sits eighth in the AMA Pro K&N Filters Grand National Overall Championship. Saturday night could be a big building block, and with Indy and three other mile tracks left in the season, could finish strong to wrap up the season. Never count these men out as there is way too much experience between them to rule them out.
In the picture Springer can be seen speaking with AMA Flat Track's Ken Saillant while Bill Werner looks over the machines in final prep before the running of the Lima Half Mile earlier this year.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

3-Time AMA Grand National Champion, and now #2-plate wearer Kenny Coolbeth, Jr., looks on during rider intros at Lima in June. Sponsored by the Screamin' Eagle/H-D Motor Corp/Arai and Fox, Coolbeth won the '09 running of the Lucas Oil Indy Mile, and with a factory motor, you can never rule him out on the big tracks. Or anywhere, for that matter, as the 18 year veteran is older, wiser and much more cunning then his youthful looks make him out to be.
Just in front of the King of Cool is GN rookie PJ Jacobsen and his #99B Moroney's 1-800-FASTHOG/Weiss Racing/Shoei-sponsored XR750 and crew.
Contesting the AMA Road Racing Series this year for Celtic Racing, PJ has been taking some time off from the pavement races to run some AMA Pro Flat Track events, winning a semi in Lima and also putting it into the field at the spring mile at Springfield. He'll be at Indy trying to make the field again before he heads to New Jersey for the penultimate round of the AMA Road Racing Series during Labor Day Weekend. You can read his team's press release below and find out more PJ.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Current AMA Flat Track Manager Mike Kidd, former National #72 and then #7 after winning the 1981 AMA Grand National Championship, rolls through the pits at Indy during the double-header round in August of 1977. Just a week before, MK had crashed at the terrible Terre Haute track, breaking his wrist/forearm-if you look closely, you can see his cast on his left arm. He came back to podium and win this very weekend, and won a total of two Indy Miles in his long and illustrious AMA Flat Track career. A multiple factory team rider, Mike rode for the factory Triumph and Harley-Davidson teams and was one of the first riders to sign up with Honda when they came into AMA Flat Track in the early '80s. Winning the '81 AMA Grand National Championship by five points in the final round at Ascot over Hank Scott, Mike was also the first rider to bring outside-the-sport sponsorship to the table in running his own program. His Army sponsorship for his AMA Flat Track program in the late '70s/early '80s was unprecedented for it's day and set the bar for future outside-the-sport sponsorships to come into the great sport of flat track racing.

Since retiring from racing, he and his brother Gary started the Arenacross series, ran it successfully and then sold it to Clear Channel and ran the program for them for some years, with also a high level of success in doing so with his and his brother's knowledge of the sport, the fans and the racers. Mike and Gary have brought the same level of enthusiasm and professionalism to AMA Flat Track in running the program for them the last couple of years, and both are largely responsible, along with former Grand National competitor Steve Morehead, of bringing the sport of AMA Flat Track back to the forefront in terms of excitement and high speed thrills. Their knowledge of the sport, the owners, fans, promoters and track preparation have turned the sport around where the show now goes off on time-in most cases-and is efficient and fun to be a part of again. And he still has his youthful smile that he had some 36 years ago when I first started watching him win races in this great arena of high speed motorcycle racing.

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

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

Brandon Robinson, National #44, sits in his pits while being interviewed by Larry Lawrence of The Rider Files.com during the Gas City Short Track earlier in the summer. Sponsored by Lancaster H-D/Action Motorsports/Ruckus 44 and his parents and grand parents, Brandon may best be remembered at this point in time for two things. One, winning the 2008 AMA Flat Track Expert Twins Championship, and two, flying out of the park at the Indy Mile during the August 2009 running of the main event in turn one. Coming back from devastating leg, hip and rib injuries at the very least, the young man looked good at Gas City and finished seventh in the short track Expert Singles event in June.

Since he is still in the healing process, and admitted in June that his movement 'is very limited at this time' from all of his operations from his injury, Brandon didn't run last weekend's Peoria event in order to rest up for Indy this weekend. We can't wait to see the enthusiastic young man back out in the mix on the big tracks again and wish him the very best of luck-and safe racing-for his future!

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

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

Larry Pegram rolls his #72F Lloyd Bros/American Agip Ducati into place in the pits at Indy during August of 2009 in preparation for the evening's events. Larry didn't make the main last year, but came back on the bike-now running the #99 number plate-to get 10th at the spring running of the Springfield Mile. With Joe Kopp having won at Arizona now, Larry is ready to equal that result after the work he has helped the team with in getting the big twin Ducati up to speed in AMA Pro Flat Track competition.

This weekend should help as Larry has the weekend off from his Foremost/Ducati/Pegram Racing AMA Road Racing duties, and will be looking to put it in the show and finish up front on the Hypermotard 1100-based machine. We'll be ready to see him put it together. Larry has been competing in AMA Flat Track for over 20 years now.

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

With less than 48 hours until the running of the 2010 edition of the Lucas Oil Indy Mile AMA Pro Flat Track event, Stu's Shots wanted to bring this little preview out since we will be at both IMS and the Indiana State Fairgrounds over the course of the next three days for this monumental weekend here in the World Capital of Racing.

Since being paired up with the Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP round, AMA Pro Flat Track's return to the popular Indy Mile track has seen a resurgence in fans, action, race teams and the program as an overall whole. With AMA Flat Track Manager Mike Kidd at the helm, with the help of his brother Gary, along with track-prep specialist and former Grand National competitor Steve Morehead, the series is hitting on all cylinders and at a pretty good clip as well.

With title sponsorship being announced in late May in the terms of the series new name--AMA Pro K&N Filters presented by Motorcycle Superstore.com Grand National Championship--Mike and Company have really helped to turn the greatest show on wheels around in very little time. Considering the dwindling numbers in the ranks of racers, venues and fans from just six or so years ago, the series has and is once again proving to all why the Rolling Thunder show is the best show on two wheels again.

With this being the third year back since returning to Indy since the late '90s, the action should be fast and very furious for the first of six remaining events on the AMA Pro Flat Track schedule. Including Indy, with four miles, one half mile and one short track left in the 2010 season, round 12 at Indy could very well prove to be pivotal in many ways. And with the crowd that is expected to be on hand, this will be a great showcase to kick in the run to the 2010 AMA Grand National Championship, where the eventual champion will be crowned in Arizona the second weekend in October. With the overall championship having Joe Kopp out front with 208 points over second place Sammy Halbert with 191 points, Jake Johnson in third with 190, defending Singles Champion Henry Wiles in fourth with 188, and defending Twins Champion Jared Mees in fifth with 187 points, the race for the crown is far from over. And is most likely to get pretty heated starting about 7:30 PM EDT Saturday evening.

Believe me, you don't want to miss it as the AMA Pro Flat Track Rolling Thunder Show storms into the Indiana State Fairgrounds and shows the fans where, and what, the real racing is all about. Be there or be square, as it's gonna fly by you at about 140 MPH in a pack that make fighter pilots look like youngsters.

Read some of the releases and whether you are there, or not, you can follow the action below with the links provided. Stu's Shots will be there and will have some extra coverage after the weekend is over to showcase this great two wheeled sport that is re-inventing itself and showing the fans that everything else is just a race.

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

Here's a press report from defending GN Twins Champ Jared Mees as he talks about the last two races and the lead up to Saturday night's legendary Indy Mile pairing with the Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP round:

http://www.theriderfiles.com/?p=5671

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

AMA road racer P.J. Jacobsen has been running some AMA Flat Track events, and he has the Indy Mile on his calendar this weekend before he heads to New Jersey Motorsports Park for the Labor Day weekend running of the AMA Road Racing Series. Here's his press release courtesy of his sponsor Moroney's 1-800-FASTHOG as posted over at RoadRacingWorld.com:

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=41714

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

Here is the official event page for round 12 at Indy (they still have it listed as round 13 forgetting about the canceled Grove City event) as posted over at the AMA Pro Flat Track site:

http://amaproracing.com/ft/events/event.cfm?eid=2010021065

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

Nicky Hayden will be at the Indy Mile, but unfortunately not to throw a leg over one of the Lloyd Bros. Ducatis. Instead, he will be the Grand Marshall for the event and you can read the press release here as posted over at SpeedTV.com's Moto Racing News site:

http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/motogp-hayden-to-be-indy-mile-grand-marshall/

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

Here's the weather info for the Indiana State Fairgrounds running of the AMA Pro Flat Track Indy Mile event thanks to The Weather Underground folks:

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/hdfForecast?query=46205&searchType=WEATHER

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

And thanks to Google Maps here is the link to the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Just zoom in to the grandstand area and/or the infield area to get where you need to go once on the premises. The place is real easy to get around in, and around on!

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=indiana+state+fairgrounds&hl=en&cd=1&ei=0wl3TLfOJp-sNe3OkNMP&sig2=xc-HZA516IANKrnA-eWYoQ&ie=UTF8&view=map&cid=9401432956597038257&ved=0CHwQpQY&hq=indiana+state+fairgrounds&hnear=&ll=39.826995,-86.134443&spn=0.007399,0.019205&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A

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

SpeedTV.com's Moto Racing News has the rundown from last year's Lucas Oil Indy Mile which was won by 3-Time Grand National Champion Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. on the Screamin' Eagle H-D XR750. You can read about it here:

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-flat-track-coolbeth-takes-indy-mile/

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

And thanks to SuperBikePlanet.com we have some review shots of the return of AMA Pro Flat Track to the Indy Mile at the 2008 Lucas Oil Indy Mile in September of 2008, which was won by 7-Time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr on his Kenny Tolbert tuned H-D XR750. Check them out here as you get ready for Saturday night's action on the fast and furious Indiana State Fairgrounds track:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2008/mgp/indy/mile/index.htm

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

Note--I didn't post a link for the AMA Flat Track Live Timing and Scoring since they don't put the fresh and updated link up until the day of the race itself. I have updated the link on the left side column, which should prove to be correct with the way they have been changing the paths for the link to each race. However, on race day you should be able for sure to get it by going to the link below, which is the AMA Pro Racing opening page, and they should have a link for it at the top of the page highlighted in green, again, come race day:

http://amaproracing.com/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And you can get your very own Legends of The Indy Mile shirts right here-pretty cool!

http://legendsofflattrack.com/index.html

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

Larry Pegram Ducati Foremost Racing Live Webcam for AMA Superbike Mid Ohio Round

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Larry Pegram's Pegram Racing/Leo Vince/Competition Accessories/Foremost Insurance Group Ducati 749R sits under the team's canopy in the paddock area at Mid Ohio in the summer of 2007. Pegram raced the AMA Formula Xtreme Championship in '07 and finished fourth in the class with six top five finishes and three podiums to his credit. The big twin was no match for the inline fours of Erion Honda's duo of Josh Hayes and Aaron Gobert, or the inline of Attack Kawasaki's Steve Rapp. The 2010 season marks four years with Larry onboard the Italian marque, after riding Hondas in '06. This is his second straight year back in the premier AMA Superbike class and he has already proven to be a front runner again after a stellar year last year aboard the team's 1098R's. After first round qualifying today Larry sits in the third spot to line up for the AMA Superbike finals tomorrow and Sunday.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Larry Pegram, who has raced just about everything imaginable in the AMA Pro Racing series and for what seems like forever, is in the middle of a great run this year after having a stellar year back in the premier AMA Superbike class last year. After today's provisional qualifying session at Mid Ohio, Pegram sits in the 3rd spot on the grid for the AMA Superbike races with his Foremost Insurance Ducati 1098R just .542 seconds behind race and series front runners Tommy Hayden and Josh Hayes. Go Larry!

For this weekend, the Pegram Racing team is offering an 'in view' live webcam of the goings on in their garage at Mid Ohio. (it requires Apple Quicktime plug-in to view)

So while you are checking out the Live Timing and Scoring feeds from the races outside Lexington, you can have a look at what Larry and the Foremost Ducati team are up to.

Check it out here--and thanks to Larry and the team for the live feed. You guys rock as usual!

http://pegramracing.com/liverace/index.php
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Happy Birthday to Steve Crevier From Stu's Shots!

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

Steve Crevier bends the #14 Smokin' Joe's Team Honda RC45 through the carousel at Mid Ohio during a practice session for the AMA Superbike Series annual trek to the Lexington, OH. track in the summer of '97. Crevier was probably better known in his home country of Canada then here in the States, though he was undoubtedly one of the more popular riders in the paddock during his years of competition in lower North America. Back home he garnered six Canadian Superbike Championships ('89 on a Yamaha, '91-'93 on Kawasakis, '00-'01 on Honda RC51's), not to mention his four Canadian National Sport Bike (600) Championships and his three Canadian Open/750 Production Championships. He also won the '98 AMA 600 Supersport Championship here in the U.S. while campaigning GSX-R600's for Team Yoshimura Suzuki.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Steve Crevier on the #14 Yoshimura Suzuki TL1000 twin is seen going into the turn 11 area while qualifying for the AMA Superbike event at Mid Ohio in July of 1999. Crevier was teamed with Ohio's own Larry Pegram during the '98-'99 seasons on the big twins, while team mates Mat Mladin and Aaron Yates were teamed on the GSX-R750s. Crevier won the '98 AMA 600 Supersport Championship for the team while riding GSX-R600s and won the Mid Ohio event in '98 three events before the end of the season to help seal up the championship over Team Muzzi Kawasaki's Doug Chandler.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Mat Mladin on the #66 Team Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R750 leads the Yosh TL squad of Larry Pegram on the #72 and Steve Crevier on the #14 through the carousel at Mid Ohio during AMA Superbike final action in July of '98. Rich Oliver on the Team Yamaha YZF-750 #97 machine is seen bringing up the rear of this pack. Suzuki team mate Aaron Yates is long gone on the #20 GSX-R750 and captured the event final.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

You can see the almost-ever present smile on his face through his helmet opening as Steve Crevier chats with his mechanic just before the start of the Mid Ohio AMA Superbike final in August of '92. Crevier rode for Two Brothers Racing (Craig and Kevin Erion) and campaigned Honda RC30s for the team alongside team mate Fast Freddie Spencer during the '92 season.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

The Team Muzzy Kawasaki ZX7-based #14 machine of Steve Crevier cranks a big wheelie after winning the pole for the one-time AMA Superbike event at Gateway International Raceway (just over the river from St. Louis) in the hottest event of the year--and maybe the decade--in August of '95. Crevier campaigned the Rob Muzzy machine while also competing in the AMA 600 Supersport Championship during the '95 season.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Steve Crevier is one of the easiest going, and most animated individuals to ever hit the AMA Road Racing scene, and he is celebrating his birthday on Friday June 18, and Stu's Shots justs wants to tip the helmet to this great racer and all around fun guy.

Crevier, who currently resides in Maple Ridge, BC, CA., was born in 1965, and competed in the AMA Road Racing series for over a decade starting in '92 (at least that's when I started seeing him around the U.S. races) for teams including Two Brothers Racing, Team Muzzy and the Smokin' Joe's Honda team. While campaigning Team Yoshimura Suzukis in '98 and '99, he won the '98 AMA 600 Supersport Championship (while also winning the '98 Mid Ohio round of the series). He added that championship to go along with his six Canadian Superbike Championships, four 600 Canadian Championships and three 750/Open Production Canadian Championships. Can you say winner?!
One of the more animated people on/off the track, very rarely have I ever seen the man at a race without a big smile on his face and laughing and carrying on about something jovial. And Crevier never fails to perform on the track, especially with his race-ending stoppies and smokies and wheelies. Never a dull moment when he is near or on the track, it is a pleasure to watch him get it on while racing and while on the cool off lap! The man is a 3-ring circus in and about himself with his antics, and he's always shown the crowd a great time.

Stu's Shots wishes Steve a very Happy Birthday and wants to thank him for all of his years of on-the-edge competition and for showing the fans a great time.
And thanks for taking the time to sign a bunch of my pictures over the years, as well. It's always been and always will be a pleasure!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Larry Pegram to Run Springfield Mile for Lloyd Bros This Weekend

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

Larry Pegram on the #72F XR750 gets ready for action as #1 Chris Carr and #80 Rich King (both also XR750-mounted) roll up to the line in the May 2000 running of the Memorial Day Weekend Springfield Mile. As per AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship rules, Pegram carried the letter 'F' behind his usual #72 during events he ran in 2000, indicating that he hadn't run or gained any points-paying efforts in the previous year to be able to wear a 'solid' number plate.
Larry will be aboard the Lloyd Brothers Ducati this upcoming weekend at the Springfield Mile and hopes to duplicate the success that Joe Kopp had aboard the machine at the beginning of the month at Prescott Valley. Kopp has mentioned in several interviews since his ground-breaking win that the testing they had done so far with the big Duc, that the track surface in Arizona suited the bike perfectly, but wasn't sure how it would be suited at Springfield or even Indy. Stay tuned and we hope it suits it well for Larry to get on the top podium spot this weekend at the historic Springfield track!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



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

Larry Pegram is seen chatting it up with former World Champion Fast Freddie Spencer in the paddock at Mid Ohio in July of 2005. Pegram ran his HotBodies Racing/Trianglecycles Honda CBR1000RR during the 2005 AMA Superbike season and ended up 11th overall in the championship, struggling against the might of the Team Honda CBR's, not to mention the onslaught of the Yoshimura Suzuki team. With Freddie's long-standing ties to Honda, I'm sure this conversation was VERY interesting. They are talking outside of Larry's spot in the paddock and you can see one of his CBR1000RR's sitting under the tent behind them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great news for flat track fans as Larry Pegram will be stepping aboard the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Ducati this weekend for the spring running of the classic Springfield Mile.
Having scored their first AMA Flat Track win with Joe Kopp at the controls in Arizona at the first of the month, the Lloyd Brothers will be looking to duplicate their success with Larry this weekend at the Illinois capitol. With his background on the bike and the amount of time put into the machine by Joe and Larry, expectations will be high to duplicate their winning ways now that they have their first win under their belts.
We wish the team and Larry the very best of luck this weekend and we will be watching this one to see how it goes for all parties involved. With the parity in the flat track series in terms of different makes of bike involved, this could and should be an even MORE exciting weekend then what Springfield usually is anyway. And who knows, maybe another contender in the ranks will step up to challenge the ever-conquering XR and the Ducati as well?!
This should be a great race event, and looks to add to the excitement that is a guarantee at Springfield-or any mile for that matter. WFO baby!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to RoadRacingWorld.com for the Foremost Insurance press release link concerning the news of Larry's ride on the big Lloyd Brothers Duc this weekend at Springfield:
http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=40568
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joe Kopp's Ducati AMA Flat Track Win Is The Shot Heard Round The World

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

Larry Pegram's Lloyd Brothers Racing Ducati sits in the pits at the Indy Mile during MotoGP weekend in August of 2009. Pegram rode the bike in several events last year and had been working with a version of the bike since the '04-'05 season.
The 2010 version took '00 Grand National Champion Joe Kopp and The Lloyd Brothers to victory in Prescott Valley last Saturday. It was not only Ducati's first win in AMA Flat Track competition at any level, but it was the first Grand National win for the talented Lloyd Brothers team as well. Very well deserved with some intense and long time veterans on the team like former GNC competitors Kevin Atherton and Davey Durelle working in different capacities to bring this project to fruition.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And a shot for AMA Flat Track that was much needed, at that.
Perusing the internet the last few days since Joe Kopp, Lloyd Brothers Racing and Ducati made history in the desert last weekend by winning the Arizona Mile, the amount of press for everyone is astounding. From the AMA to Kopp to Ducati, the amount of information out there by doing a Google search is unparalled in AMA Flat Track racing. From the States to the UK to Australia, people are picking up on this great win and series history making event. And all the while giving AMA Flat Track the shot of adrenaline that the series has needed for years, and maybe decades.
I've put together a VERY small, but very interesting smattering of the articles that I thought did the best job of showing the sport overall, as well as highlighting the monumental achievement itself that this is and should be for AMA Flat Track as a whole.
See what you think and congrats again to AMA Flat Track, Joe Kopp, Lloyd Brothers and Ducati for this festive and fun win and event.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's the links to some of the action and noise emanating from around the globe on this great accomplishment for AMA Flat Track, Joe Kopp, Lloyd Brothers Racing and Ducati. Read and right on!

MCNews Australia has a Ducati press release on the race:
http://www.mcnews.com.au/NewsArchives/2010/May/Duc_Flat.htm
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Full Noise is a bike mag from down under in Australia and has the Ducati press release here:
http://www.fullnoise.com.au/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_full&news_id=7543&Ntitle=Flat+Track:+Ducati+makes+history+with+its+first+ever+US+Grand+National+Flat+Track+victory&cfid=11250710&cftoken=27828703&dts=85201010555
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's Sideburn Mag's stories and pics from the folks in The UK:
http://sideburnmag.blogspot.com/2010/05/ducati-win-gnc-mile.html

http://sideburnmag.blogspot.com/2010/05/yavapai-action.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Poppa Wheelie has some real nice pics and stories to go with his coverage from the event:
http://pwheelie.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html#3719282652444695138

http://pwheelie.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html#6331072867778896714

http://pwheelie.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html#4253883936348600990

http://pwheelie.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html#5974034346337646736
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The KneeSlider.com has a nice article with a couple of pics of the event:
http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2010/05/05/ducati-flat-tracker-beats-a-field-of-harley-davidsons-nice-base-for-a-street-tracker/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2WheelTuesday.com has another look at the race with some great pics as well:
http://2wheeltuesday.com/2010/05/ama-flat-track-joe-kopp-puts-ducati-on-the-podium-first-time-ever-in-grand-slam-flat-track/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DucatiNewsToday.com from New Zealand by way of Atlanta has an article and pics, too:
http://www.ducatinewstoday.com/2010/05/ducati-humbles-harley-on-the-dirt/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------