Round 8 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship Ready to Get It Going at the Indy Mile on August 17

In less than 48 hours the stars of The Rolling Thunder Show will hit the mile oval at the Indiana State Fairgrounds for round 8 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season for the annual running of the Indy Mile.

With a big European crowd on hand in Indy for the 6th Annual Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP weekend, this year's event will surely be one for the record books.  If you haven't gotten your tickets yet, you'd better get on it here so that you are guaranteed a prime seat in the house during the last weekend of the Indiana State Fair on Indy's near east side.

In last year's heat race #2 (pictured above), Jake Johnson on the #1 Zanotti Racing XR750 took the win to qualify for the National main.  This year, Johnson will be making his debut on the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Ducati at Indy, alongside team mate Henry Wiles on the #17 LBM/Ramspur Winery Ducati as the duo will be looking to help get the LBM machines to the front in the big show this Saturday. 

Sammy Halbert will be looking to defend his Indy Mile win from last year on his #7 South East H-D XR750, and Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. on the #2 factory Harley-Davidson Motor Company XR will be looking for his first win of the season as well.  Rob Pearson (shown above on the #27 Roeder/Eaken Racing XR), will be riding in this year's event on the Weirbach Racing team, and whether they roll out their new Kawasaki, or depend on one of their strong stable machines in either of their Suzuki or XR will be decided come track time on Saturday.  Mikey Avila on the #33E SDI XR has semi-retired, so unfortunately we won't get to see his talent again at Indy this weekend.

With local based Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports Kawasaki's Bryan Smith looking to make up for last year's battery failure, Flyin' Bryan and the Howerton boys will be out for blood.  And local hero Dan Ingram will be ready to make things happen on the Brush/Eaken Racing Kawasaki this weekend and everyone will have their eyes on Clermont's favorite racer.

With a host of others also looking to make it happen, the Indy Mile is the place to be this Saturday and you are guaranteed to see a great show from the best racing on two wheels in the world as it unfolds before your very eyes.  With qualifying set to roll off at 3:00 PM EDT, get ready to see the best of the best as they do battle under the lights of the ferris wheel at Indy. 

Check out AMA Pro Flat Track's press release below, and we'll be bringing you some of the highlights next week after the action has happened and the roar has settled.

AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Riders Gear Up For Indy Mile

(Indianapolis, IN., August 15, 2013) - The stars of AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles roll into Indianapolis right in the midst of a motorcycle melee as GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing is set to pair up with the MotoGP this weekend in the "Racing Capital of the World." The Indy Mile will mark Round 8 on the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles 2013 schedule and has provided nothing short of first-class racing dating all the way back to the early 1950's.

 

 

 

 

Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. on the #2 Screamin' Eagle factory H-D XR750 leads eventual event winner Sammy Halbert on his #7 South East H-D XR750 during heat race #2 action at the Indy Mile in August 2012.  Both will be returning to the Indiana State Fairgrounds this Saturday for the running of the 2013 Indy Mile event.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

 

 

 

 

 

After recently wrapping up the Grand National Expert Singles championship at the Peoria TT last weekend, Eatonville, Washington's Brad Baker has his sights set on a clean sweep of the Grand National Expert Twins title, as well as the coveted overall Grand National Championship as he currently holds a lead in both respective categories. Baker has been on the attack right from the get-go this season and the 20-year-old seemingly has no ceiling in regards to his pure talent and ability. The former Saddlemen Rookie of the Year Award winner will be looking to add to his already impressive stat sheet this weekend when he rolls out his Dodge Bros Racing Harley-Davidson.

 

Graham, Washington product and last year's Indy Mile winner Sammy Halbert (Southeast Harley-Davidson/Harley-Davidson) hasn't had the kind of season he's envisioned so far in 2013. Halbert came off a knee injury just in time to win Round 3 at the Stockton Half-Mile and it looked like he had hit his stride perfectly. Unfortunately for Halbert, he has yet to find the podium since that win and he's coming off of a very troubling weekend at Peoria where he crashed in the evening's first qualifier and was unable to continue racing. Halbert currently sits eighth in the overall Grand National Championship point standings and will look to get back on track this weekend.

 

Any mention of a mile-long dirt track race involving motorcycles wouldn't be relevant if Flint, Michigan's Bryan Smith's (Crosley Radio/Kawasaki) named wasn't involved in discussions regarding possible candidates to claim victory. Smith has been the most consistent rider on mile-long circuits in recent AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles history and is currently one-for-one this year as he earned a main event win at the Sacramento Mile. Smith looked to be on his way to another dominating victory at the Indy Mile last year but a bike malfunction late in the race prevented him from doing so. Look for Smith to be searching for redemption this weekend as he tries to better his current third position in the overall Grand National Championship point standings.

 

AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles

 

Mead, Washington's Wyatt Maguire (Kirkland Racing/Yamaha) and Albion, New York's Ryan Wells (Waters Auto Body/Honda) are currently dead even in the points. Both riders are locked in at 93 points and the two have seen better days than their last visit to the Indiana State Fairgrounds, both finishing outside the top five here a year ago.

 

Undoubtedly the hottest AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles rider coming into Round 8 is San Martin, California native and last weekend's Peoria TT winner Rodney Spencer Jr. (Mack Daddy Racing/Honda). Spencer's huge win lifted him to third in the point standings and is primed to make a title run.

 

Davison, Michigan rider and defending AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles champion Stephen Vanderkuur (Parkinson Brothers Racing/Honda) comes into the weekend as last year's Indy Mile victor and will need another similar performance this time around if he plans on keeping his 2013 title hopes alive. Vanderkuur currently sits fifth in the points and is running out of events to make up the ground needed if he plans on repeating with another championship.

 

Willow Street, Pennsylvania's Shayna Texter (Crosley Radio/Honda) enters the weekend seventh in the points but, like her teammate Bryan Smith, has been known to excel on mile-long tracks as she also won the Sacramento Mile in AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles competition this year. Look for Texter to put in a solid performance this weekend.

 

How to Catch the Action

 
AMA Pro Racing will be live streaming multiple channels of behind-the-scenes video of the weekend's activities alongside Live Timing & Scoring on the AMA Pro Live streaming video website (http://www.amaprolive.com/ft/). AMA Pro Live puts fans in the director's chair, allowing them to choose from a variety of viewpoints.

 

About AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles 

AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles is a national motorcycle racing series in North America and is considered one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the Series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track racing in the world. The 2013 schedule consists of rounds on the country's finest flat track courses. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft.

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

AMA Pro Flat Track Announces Live Streaming Video to be Available at all Remaining Rounds of 2013 Season

In what can only be some of the best news to cross the wire in some time, AMA Pro Flat Track and it's operators, the Daytona Motorsports Group, today announced the addition of Live Streaming Video for the remaining scheduled 13 rounds of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season.

Beginning with this weekend's upcoming round 3 at the Stockton Half-Mile on May 11, AMA Pro Flat Track will utilize two cameras at each event (with more scheduled to be added in the future) that will stream video of each event, starting from the first practice session of the day and continuing until the end of each event throughout the 2013 season.

With this announcement, all fans of The Rolling Thunder Show will now be able to keep up with all of the action at the track, coupled with AMA Pro Flat Track's Live Timing interface, that will allow fans not being able to attend each event to follow along with the action as it happens right at the track.

A BIG bravo and tip of the helmet to the great folks in Daytona that run and operate the greatest racing series on two wheels in the world for coming through for the friends and fans of AMA Pro Flat Track in being able to provide everyone with this great service.  Thank you for your efforts and for this great endeavor in bringing the fans closer to the action in what is surely to be a great and rewarding experience for all involved-and especially, the fans!

To help usher in this great announcement today, the shot above comes to you from round 4 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Springfield Mile I event on May 27 from last season, as the riders get ready to roll in the first Twins Series event of the year in Stockton, CA. this coming Saturday.

(L-R)  Row two consists of--Johnny Lewis on the #10 Scott Powersports Kawasaki.  Lewis, who left the series last year after only competing in the first six events of the year, returns to action this weekend with his new team on the Latus Motors Racing Triumph.  Next to JL10 is 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Singles Series Champion, Sammy Halbert, on his #7 South East H-D XR750.  The Slammer will also be back in action for the first time this season at Stockton after having to sit out the opening rounds of the season at Daytona due to recovering from his injuries suffered during the off-season.

Up next is one of the first ladies of flat track, Ms. Nichole Cheza on the #15 Global Products XR750.  Fans need not fear, as Ms. Nichole is on the pre-entry list and will be riding her Global Products XR at Stockton this weekend.  The newest addition to the points leader list, Daytona Short Track II winner Brandon Robinson on the #44 Werner-Springsteen Racing Kawasaki will be leading the field of contenders into Stockton along with his TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki team this Saturday after starting the season out on a big hot streak.

Jethro Halbert, older brother of Sammy, lines up next on the #69 Goodwin Racing XR750.  Jethro just completed the purchase of the former Kenny Tolbert Racing Kawasakis that were campaigned for one event last season at Springfield by Brad Baker and will be ready to go come Saturday, as well.  And filling out row 2 is former AMA Pro Singles competitor, Mikey Avila on the #33E SDI/Bisha Racing XR750.  Word has it that Avila has retired from the sport and has entered the military.  He'll surely be missed, as other then former AMA Pro Singles Champions Baker, Jeffrey Carver, Jr., Mikey Martin and Stephen Vanderkuur, Avila was the most competitive and highest ranking finisher in the series since it's inception in the 2009 season.

Row 3 has Henry Wiles on the #17 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Ramspur Winery Ducati, and as reported last week The Hammer will be aboard a newly-built XR750 courtesy of LBM's new crew chief, Brent Armbruster this weekend.  After his double Singles Series Championships in '09-'10, Wiles also has two solid half-mile wins on XR equipment at Pomona in '09 and Lima in 2010, so without a doubt this will make Henry a top pick right out of the hat for this weekend's race.

Out of Morton, IL., also known as the home of the Caterpillar Company, is Rob Pearson on the #27 Memphis Shades XR.  Pearson will be aboard either one of the Weirbach Racing mounts this weekend as they announced back in December his addition to their team.  Richard Weirbach announced the other day on Facebook they were loading up their XR and Suzuki SV650-based Twins Series mounts for the weekend, and should have their new Kawasaki ready in time for Springfield on May 26.

Steve Bonsey sits alongside Pearson on the #80 Dodge Brothers XR, and also announced he will be on-hand at Stockton this Saturday, although at this time we're not sure of what he will be throwing a leg over yet.  Whatever that may be, SB80 will be in the mix as he's been working out and getting ready for the new season!

And last but not least, Clermont, Indiana's Dan Ingram lines up for what was his first return to the Twins Series since his near career-ending crash at Springfield in 1993.  Dapper Dan is astride the #31J TCR/Zanna Racing H-D XR750, and is on his way to Stockton as this is being written, as reported yesterday, to campaign the Brush/Eaken Racing XRs this weekend, and then the team's Kawasaki come Springfield in just over two weeks.

So strap in, hang on and get ready to fire up your laptop or pc, as the greatest racing series on two wheels in the world is set to go at it in just over 72 hours at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, as The Rolling Thunder Show heads west to do battle in one of the new facilities and venues on the series schedule.

Again, a big thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track for the newly-announced Live Streaming Video for the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season, which you can read more about in the full press release below!

AMA Pro Live to Provide Streaming Video Coverage of 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Events

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 8, 2013) - AMA Pro Racing is pleased to announce that the AMA Pro Live streaming video system will be broadcasting at all AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles events in 2013.  AMA Pro Live is a multi-channel streaming video system that puts the fan in the director's chair, allowing them to select from a variety of cameras located around the racetrack while monitoring live timing and scoring data and social media feeds.  The online system can be accessed through a web browser from any computer, tablet or mobile device by navigating to http://www.amaprolive.com.

 

"This is an exciting step for our sport," said Michael Gentry, Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing.  "The ability to live stream our events will help us reach a crucial demographic and provide coverage of the sport globally.  Our staff has worked long and hard on this system and we are proud to be able to provide live streaming for the fans this season."

 

Initially, AMA Pro Live's implementation at AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles events will consist of two video channels alongside live timing and scoring and social media feeds, providing complete coverage from the first practice until the final checkered flag. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeffrey Carver, Jr, #23, Doug Lawrence #73, Johnny Lewis #10, Sammy Halbert #7, Jake Johnson #1 and Jared Mees #9 roar off the line during the Dash for Cash event at the Hagerstown Half-Mile, round 6 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season on July 7.  The Daytona Motorsports Group, operators of the greatest racing show on two wheels in the world, AMA Pro Flat Track, announced today the addition of Live Streaming Video for the remaining scheduled 13 rounds of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season, starting with this weekend's Stockton Half-Mile on Saturday, May 11.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

 

 

The first channel will feature a camera mounted in the P.A. booth overlooking all of the action, and will include an audio feed of Scottie Deubler and Barry Boone providing play-by-play analysis of the racing.  The second camera will be located trackside near the start-finish line, giving fans a close-up view of the day's racing activity and allowing them to hear the thunder of the motorcycles as they roar around the track.  Additional channels are planned for future events, including a roaming camera in the pits and on-board cameras mounted on the motorcycles.

 

AMA Pro Live will be live streaming content from all rounds on the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles schedule.  For those that can't make it to the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, Calif. for this weekend's Stockton Half-Mile, this link - http://www.amaprolive.com - will grant them direct access to AMA Pro Live and allow them to follow along as the event unfolds.  Live streaming of practice and qualifying is set to begin Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 3:30 p.m. EST (12:30 p.m. PST), with opening ceremonies for the main event set to begin at 10:00 p.m. EST (7:00 p.m. PST).

 

It's just a matter of days until the stars of AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles roll out their twin-cylinder machines for the first time this season.  For tickets and more information on the Stockton Half-Mile, please visit http://www.showclix.com/events/17007.

 

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

 

AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles is a national motorcycle racing series in North America and is considered one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the Series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track racing in the world.  The 2013 schedule consists of rounds on the country's finest flat track courses.  For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles, please visit http://www.amaproracing.com/ft/.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AMA Flat Track: Round 7 of the 2012 Season Happens Today as The Rolling Thunder Show Hits the Sacramento Mile

After a three week break since the last round of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season, The Rolling Thunder Show is ready to kick it into gear again today with round 7 of the season ready to commence at the Cal Expo Fairgrounds with the running of the Sacramento Mile.

With the run-up to this great event this week, we have shown you a brief glimpse of two of the sport's stars and their machines who will be on-hand today to battle it out for the glory in the 25-lap National main event.  Clermont, Indiana's Dan Ingram will be there to take the #31J Dodge Brothers XR750 into the main event alongside unofficial team mate and regular Dodge Brothers competitor, Stevie Bonsey.  And the great guys from the Bryan Smith #42 Howerton Motorsports Kawasaki team will be there to roll out their newest adaptation of the potent 650R-based parallel twin rocket.

Unfortunately, two of the sport's biggest stars and fiercest competitors won't be on-hand today.  Scott Powersports' Kawasaki pilot Johnny Lewis #10 will be sitting out this round and the Castle Rock TT event next weekend, and Harley-Davidson Motor Company rider Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. #2 is still recovering from his tib/fib leg break at Lima so also won't be making the trip (but at least the last factory-supported machine in the series will have '11 AMA Rookie of the Year Brad Baker #12 manning the point on it's potent XR750 today.)

And as of the other day, Matt Weidman #20, the '08 AMA Flat Track Rookie of the Year, will be on-hand if he has found a Twins Series ride for today.  The normal campaigner of the Greg Crow Racing XR750-based team, who was injured at Lima four weeks ago, has healed up well enough to make the event, should he be able to find a ride since GCR wasn't going to be able to make the west coast trip.  Also expected to return to the track after recuperating from her SF Mile I injuries is Nichole Cheza #15 on her Global Products XR750 (also seen in the shot above partially obscured on the second row.)

Two of the sport's biggest stars will also be a part of the action today and I would be amiss in notting bringing their names to the top of the list of today's favorites.  Sammy Halbert and his #7 South East H-D and Henry Wiles on the #17 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Foremost Insurance Group-sponsored Italian 'L' twin will should both play into the mix today once the racing gets underway, as should many of the following riders shown in the shot above

Round 4 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Springfield Mile I gets ready to go on May 27, and the front row gets set to dig in as the National main is ready to hit Illinois State Fairgrounds mile oval for the 25-lap event.

Jared Mees on the #9 Rogers Racing/Blue Springs H-D/Saddlemen/National Cycle-sponsored XR750 gets some help from crew chief Brent Armbruster with the starter as Luke Gough on the #62 Dick Ford/Skip Eaken Racing Kawasaki/Johnson Cams/KK Motorcycle Supply-backed parallel twin pulls up to the line (partially hidden.)

Bryan Smith looks down as Jeff Gordon gets a hand from team owner Ricky Howerton in getting the #42 Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports/Powered by Eaken Racing Kawasaki/Midwest Performance Hardware-sponsored rocketship fired up for the main.  Eventual SF Mile I winner Willie McCoy makes some final adjustments to his gear with the #59 Harley-Davidson of Wausau/Independence H-D/Tucker Rocky/Arai-backed and self-built XR750.  McCoy will be sitting out today's action at the Sacto Mile, but will return to the series at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile on August 18 and the Springfield Mile II round on September 2.

2-Time and defending AMA Grand National Champion Jake Johnson edges the #1 Zanotti Racing/Schaeffer's H-D/Boughner Racing/Arai-backed XR750 to the line as crew chief Ted McDermitt and team owner Dave Zanotti can be seen walking away from the grid just behind him.  And finally, Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. eyes his spot on the line with the #2 Screamin Eagle/Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Fox/Arai Helmets-sponsored factory mount.

Also partially seen on the second row are Brandon Robinson on the #44 Werner-Springsteen Monster Energy Kawasaki, Jethro Halbert on the #69 Goodwin Racing XR, and last year's runner-up in the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship and 2012 Rookie of the Year contender Mikey Avila on the #33E SDI/Bisha Racing XR750.

So get ready for some seriously great action as AMA Pro Flat Track brings you another big event this afternoon at the Sacramento Mile as round 7 of the 2012 season gets ready to hit a home run on the left coast!

Here's everything you'll need today to keep up on what's happening at round 7 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season as the heroes and stars of The Rolling Thunder Show take their battle to the Cal Expo Fairgrounds for the Sacramento Mile.

You better strap in and hold on, this train's on a roll and it's not going to stop until way past the checkered flag tonight on the West Coast!

(note--all links can be viewed in each of their own windows so you can toggle back and forth between what you want to check out.  Right click, open in new window to view.)

AMA Pro Flat Track Live Timing & Scoring:

http://live.amaproracing.com/ft/

THE best on-the-ground and at-the-event-coverage of any and all of the AMA Pro Flat Track events, Miriam Deitcher has been bringing us her Flat Track Live @ Facebook for going on two seasons now.  After working with AMA Pro Flat Track and Progressive Insurance back in the early '00s with the excellent 'Live Timing,' Miriam has since been bringing us unparalled coverage of the greatest racing series on wheels in the world with her up-to-date and widespread coverage of what is going on at the races.  For those of us that can't be there today, Miriam will keep us ALL informed.  Thanks again Mir for all your tireless work, and we'll be dialed into your updates as we always are when we're not there enjoying them with you!

https://www.facebook.com/FlatTrackLive

AMA Pro Flat Track event info, schedule and results (standard, drop-down version):

http://www.amaproracing.com/ft/events/event.cfm?year=2012&eid=2012021235

AMA Pro Flat Track complete event and complete results info.  These are the same results AMA Pro Flat Track posts in the pit area during each and every event and due to the tireless work from the great folks manning the event's happenings at the track, you can get them, too, within minutes of each session of both classes today (PDF version):

(note-as of press time on this story, Sacramento's event was not in the list as of yet, but will be updated later in the day!)

http://results.amaproracing.com/

Sacramento Mile official event website:

http://www.calexpo.com/events/event/sacramento-mile/

For those of you commuting locally to the race, here is the link to the Sacramento traffic cams courtesy of the California Department of Transportation, District 3:

http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist3/departments/traffic/cameras/

Where IS the Cal Expo Fairgrounds in Sacramento, you say?

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=1600+Exposition+Blvd.,+Sacramento,+CA+95815&hl=en&ll=38.592674,-121.434116&spn=0.00857,0.01929&t=h&hnear=1600+Exposition+Blvd,+Sacramento,+California+95815&z=16&layer=t&lci=com.google.webcams

And finally, what is the weather going to be like today in Sacramento?  Thanks to the Weather Underground for the weather goods!

http://www.wunderground.com/q/zmw:94203.1.99999


Now, let's get ready to rock 'n roll and boogie down as the first practice session is set to hit the track today at 5:15 EDT/2:15 PDT.

AMA Flat Track: Lima Half-Mile Test & Tune June 14, Ohio National Championship June 30

Round 4 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season is ready to roll after the drop of the first green flag at the Springfield Mile I round on May 27.  Just seconds after this was taken as the 19-rider field headed into turn one, Nichole Cheza, Brandon Robinson, Sammy Halbert and Rob Pearson were involved in an accident that sent Nichole to the doctor the week after with a lower back injury, Sammy Halbert to the hotel later in the day with multiple bruises and batterings, and Rob Pearson to some serious soreness from his involvement. 

Pearson and Robinson made the re-start, only for Pearson to drop-out on his back-up bike after several laps, with Robinson able to continue until almost the half-way point in the 25-lap National main before his engine expired.  All are expected back as of this writing for round 5 of the season at Lima on June 30, with Nichole getting the worst of the injuries in being ordered to strict bedrest for several weeks after, but hoping to return in time for Lima as well.

(L-R above):  Johnny Lewis comes off of the second row on the #10 Scott Powersports/Saddlemen Seats/Wallace Trucking/AXO-sponsored Kawasaki 650R-based twin.  Lewis would go on to lead 8 laps on the day, finishing in the 5th spot after getting some serious seat time in at the front of The Rolling Thunder Show for the day at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.  Sammy Halbert unfortunately only made it into turn one before the aforementioned melee took place, sending him into the airfence on the outside of turn one on his #7 South East Harley/The South Ass/Mo Vaughan Transport/LZ Racing-backed XR750.  Sammy was back in the gym late last week and you know he'll be ready to go to defend his 2011 win at the Lima Half-Mile on June 30.

Before being involved in the turn one incident, Nichole was on her way to having what could have been her very best outing yet at Springfield.  Having qualified 2nd to fast-man Lewis earlier in the day, she was involved in what was the closest heat race finish of the day, behind heat and event-winner Willie McCoy, '11 Springfield Mile I winner and boyfriend Jared Mees, and Robinson, finishing in the 4th spot just .154 seconds behind winner McCoy on her #15 Global Products/Harley-Davidson Co/Black Hill's H-D/Mr. Sign-sponsored H-D XR750.  Here's hoping her injuries are completely healed in time for the June 30 event!

Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. appears to be slow off of the line from the front row by the angle of the shot, but Coolbeth's #2 Screamin' Eagle/Harley-Davidson Motor Co./Fox/Arai Helmets-backed factory XR750 was anything but slow on the day, winning the fastest heat race of the afternoon and still finishing in the 6th spot of the main after colliding with another rider on the last lap of the National.  Coolbeth put in a run at Springfield that all but made him an automatic bid to contend for this year's AMA Grand National Championship after placing 4th in last year's overall standings.  And he did a good job of reminding everyone that you NEVER count out a former 3-Time Grand National Twins Champion.  Ever.

Brandon Robinson made it into the main on the #44 Werner-Springsteen Racing Kawasaki/Action Motorsports/Big Dawg Racing/Metro-sponsored 650R-based twin in what was a grand ride for the former AMA Champion.  Robinson finished just .058 seconds behind winner McCoy in their hotly-contested heat race, showing that he is in fine form for the 2012 season.  This was one of the feel-good stories of the weekend, after Robinson also made the TT the night before.  Since suffering his near-career ending injuries after getting thrown out of the park at the 2009 Lucas Oil Indy Mile, Robinson has endured a litany of surgeries and has slowly but surely shown he still belongs in a National main event.  Look for more good things out of this great young man this year!

Jethro Halbert got his spot in the Springfield Mile I main event by taking the #69 Goodwin Racing/Drew-Massa Trans/SHR/Arai-backed XR750 to a 3rd-place finish in heat race 3 earlier in the day behind Coolbeth and Luke Gough, and just ahead of younger brother Sammy.  He ended the day with a very solid 7th-place finish after the restart and ensuing 25-lap National.  After riding for the Babe DeMay/Memphis Shades team in 2011, Jethro is off to a strong start in the 2012 season and his new program seems to be working better for him for sure.

Mikey Avila was able to qualify for the Springfield Mile I round by taking the 4th-place spot in his heat race on the #33E SDI/Bisha Racing/Alpinestars/Arai-sponsored XR behind the Howerton Products/Eaken Racing Kawasaki rocket of Bryan Smith, defending 2-Time AMA Grand National Champion Jake Johnson and Johnny Lewis.  Avila recovered from his wild, slideways-off-the-line start to bring it home in the 12th-place spot after missing the TT event the evening before.  Once Avila gets more acquainted with his Twins Series ride, look for even more improvement out of the former 2-Time AMA Pro Singles Championship runner-up.

Henry Wiles (coming off of the 3rd row between Jethro and Avila's shoulders) had a mostly up-and-down day for the #12 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Foremost Insurance Group/Ramspur Winery/ENI USA-backed Ducati 'L' twin team.  Having to race the semi in order to qualify for the National main event, Wiles did so in style by winning his semi by over 1.3 seconds over Shaun Baer on a Baer Kawasaki and returning-to-the-Nationals Dan Ingram on a TCR H-D XR750.  But something electrical let go in the machine at just over the half-way point and the motor went to running on one cylinder, relagating Hammerin' Hank and the hard-working LBM team to a dismal 14th-place finish for the first Twins Series event of the 2012 season.

Look for Hammerin' Hank to be strong at Lima after nearly getting the Lloyd Brothers team their first National victory there several years ago and running away from the field in 2010 to take the win.  Missing last year's round due to his recovering from surgery, he will be looking forward to getting back to one of his few Twins Series victory tracks.

Steve Bonsey told me at Springfield he's planning on running as many Nationals this year as his budget will allow--all of them, he hopes.  Bonsey took the #80 Dodge Brothers Racing/Alpinestars/Saddlemen/A&A Racing-backed XR750 home to a solid 10th-place finish at Springfield after qualifying via a 3rd-place in his semi behind Jeffrey Carver, Jr. and Rob Pearson.  Bonsey then had a great battle throughout the National with Carver and Ingram to firmly finish just behind Carver and just ahead of Ingram in what was one of the better battles in the field on the day.

Matt Weidman on the #20 Geremy Crow Racing (GCR)/White's H-D/Fiorio Investments/SNIP-sponsored XR750 also had an up-and-down day.  After a 9th-place finish in his heat, Mighty Matt just missed the cut via his semi by .042 seconds after coming home fourth behind Wiles, Baer and Ingram.  He was forced to use a provisional to make the main, and only made it just past the half-way mark before retiring for the day and losing the points lead in the process.  Look for Matt to be 'mighty' tough at Lima, where he finished 3rd in 2010 and 2nd last year.  Cushion tracks are his thing, and he does his thing real good there!

And finally, Clermont, IN. resident Dan Ingram returned to the scene of the place that nearly ended his life and racing career some 19 years prior.  Just barely seen in this shot, Dapper Dan did one heckuva job at Springfield on the #31J TCR/Indy Southside Harley/Zanna Racing/Tucker Rocky-sponsored XR750 coming off of the back row to come home in a strong 11th-place finish on the day.  Dan's planning on running the year with the Tom and Nicky Cummings team and will be at the 'test and tune' day at Lima on June 14 to get the #31J machine dialed in for the June 30 National.

AMA Pro Flat Track and the people from the Ohio National Championship will be opening the Lima track from 1-6 PM EDT this Thursday to host riders, teams and fans for a testing day working up to round 5 of the 2012 season.  With the great crew of Dan Johnsen and Steve Morehead leading the folks out of Daytona Beach to the heartland of Ohio, the day's activities should be more laid back then a National event, but run with the precision of the super group of people that bring us the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season.

So if you can get to the test day this Thursday June 14 and/or the Lima Half-Mile on June 30, you won't regret it.  You'll see the majority of riders that were on-hand at Springfield mixing it up, and Lima not only historically has one of the best-attended events on the schedule, but also has one of the best racing surfaces in the country with it's limestone/pea gravel mix of cushion racing, which provides for some of the best racing in The Rolling Thunder Show, the greatest form of racing on wheels in the world!  And why would you want to miss that!?

Lima, Ohio National Championship round 5 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season.  Promotional poster courtesy of the Ohio National Championship and the Allen County Fairgrounds.

--Here are some important links for the Lima Half-Mile round scheduled for Saturday, June 30--

AMA Pro Flat Track link to event info for round 5 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, OH.:

http://amaproracing.com/ft/events/event.cfm?year=2012&eid=2012021220

Event and ticket info for the Lima Half-Mile from the event promoters:

http://www.ohionationalchampionship.net/

Directions to the Allen County Fairgrounds, direct from their site:

http://www.allencofair.com/directions/

Round 5 event schedule from AMA Pro Flat Track:

http://amaproracing.com/assets/2012-AMAP-FT-Schedule-Lima.pdf

AMA Pro Flat Track Announces Saddlemen Rookie of the Year Candidates

Round 14 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Peoria TT saw first-year Pro Singles rider Briar Bauman take the checkered flag and the podium ceremonies after appearing to win the 12-lap main on his #10Z Rod Lake Racing/Brown's Cycles/Lazer Racing/Gene & Gail Cummings-sponsored Honda CRF450R.  In only his third race in the series, the Salinas, CA. resident had won his first-ever Pro main event at an AMA Pro Flat Track race.

Unfortunately, due to what was termed a 'fuel' violation after race-ending testing, he was disqualified for his win and Mikey Avila on his #33E SDI Insulation/MEH Corp/Boughner Racing/Arai-backed Honda was awarded the win.  At the end of the season, Avila had finished 2nd in the overall point standings in the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship behind series champ Mikey Martin, but Bauman would finish 6th after only campaigning eight of the series' 20 races for the season.

It should be noted that Bauman's DSQ was in no way ever termed a situation where he was trying to get an advantage on the rest of the field, it was simply a case of the fuel not testing to 'spec' for the after-race testing, and in all probability it was most likely a case of some leftover fuel having gotten mixed in with the Sunoco spec fuel for the event.

For the 2012 season Bauman, Martin and Avila are now campaigning the Expert division in the series, and are now in the running for the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Saddlemen Rookie of the Year Award, each hoping to join former ROY winners Brad Baker, PJ Jacobsen, Matt Weidman, Jake Johnson and Jared Mees, just to name a few, as the season-ending top finisher in the freshman class of Expert GNC racing.

In the shot above, Bauman hands his #10Z Honda off to one of his crewmen just after the Pro Singles final, with Avila's #33E Honda setting against the fence in the background.  Also on-hand to take in the Pro Singles ceremonies is Tyler Porter from Fight For Dirt Track.com, who was doing some shooting and videotaping of his own at the August 21 event.

AMA Pro Flat Track and AMA Pro Racing's Director of Sales, Mike Kidd (former '81 AMA Grand National Champion) issued a new-style press release concerning the new class in the Expert division, and you can check it out below.  Be sure to check out all of the sponsors of the series and get signed up for updates, and while you are there get your ticket order in early for rounds 3 & 4 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Springfield TT (May 26) and Springfield Mile I (May 27).
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Saddlemen Flat Track Rookie of the Year     DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY Daytona Beach, FL March 17 DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 27, 2012) - The first two rounds of the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com are in the books. Both nights had standing room only, over 120 entires with two first time winners standing on top of the podium; Round #1 Johnny Lewis Round #2 Matt Weidman Again in 2012 the Harley-Davidson Insurance Year End Points Fund for the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Experts is the biggest award with a total of $100,000 to be split between the top 12 in the final GNC Combined point standings. On paper starting the 2012 season the Saddlemen "Rookie of the Year" award looks to hold another competitive class of youngsters. 16 year old Briar Bauman (USC Kawasaki / Ronnie Brown) leads a couple of 18 year old riders, Mikey Avila (SDI Insulation / Joe Bisha) and Mikey Martin (Bonneville Performance Triumph / Acerbis), after a great debut, posting eighth and sixth place finishes. Avila also qualified both nights and finished 17th and 19th. Martin missed both nights with his best finish just one out in his semi on Friday. Bauman is tied for seventh in the point standings 22 ahead of Avila. Saddlemen has once again posted a $5,000 year end award to the eligible rider who scores the most points in the Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship. Bauman finished the 2011 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship in 6th place. Bauman won three of the eight races he competed in and finished within the top-five positions seven of the eight races. Bauman added, "I ask a lot of myself, but I really want a top-ten overall finish in the class and the Saddlemen Rookie of the Year Award. I can't tell what's going to happen on the twins, but top-ten overall and Rookie of the Year." USC Racing, Saddlemen Seats, WKR - Kawasaki #10Z Briar Bauman   click here -- AMA PRO INTERVIEW - BRIAR BAUMAN Next AMA Pro Grand National Flat Track For Tickets Call 217-753-8866 or 888-468-1622   CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS DOUBLE HEADER MAY 26 TT MAY 27 MILE AMA PRO RACING WEBSITE Mike Kidd Director of Sales AMA Pro Racing 817-825-7081 mkidd@amaproracing.com 2012 AMA Pro Series Sponsors Join Our Mailing List