Brandon Robinson's Savannah & Volusia Steve Nace All-Star Racing & AMA Pro Flat Track Daytona Race Report

Brandon Robinson left rounds 1 & 2 of the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series in Daytona with a firm hold on 3rd-place in the overall championship standings after wrapping up a solid 2-6 finish in both races at the Daytona Beach stadium season opener.

With Thursday night's winner Sammy Halbert leading the standings with 40 points and Friday night's winner Jake Johnson close behind in 2nd-place with 37 points, BRob44 is in good company another five points back with the next event in Austin, TX. in just three short weeks on Saturday, April 9.

In the shot above, Robinson puts his #44 TJ Burnett Farms/John Y Racing/Armbruster Racing-sponsored Honda CRF450R through it's paces during qualifying for the Peoria TT during round 10 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series in Thunder Valley on August 16.

Robinson was also rewarded with a fine effort in both rounds of the Steve Nace AMA All-Star National Flat Track Series in Savannah, GA. and Barberville, FL. to kick off his new season with his new team, Jerry Kennedy Racing. BRob44 will be racing XR750s and Kawasakis this season after spending last year riding for the Latus Motorsports Triumph team, getting him back on more familiar equipment in the Kawasakis with which he won the double on back in 2013 while riding for the TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki squad. He also will have the benefit of reteaming with one of the finest tuners in the business in Brent Armbruster, so their second year together should prove very rewarding.

Check out BRob's official race report below and keep an eye out for the Pennsylvania resident this year as he should be a force to be reckoned with in the fight for the championship. Congrats to Brandon and the team for a great start to the season and the best of luck for this year as the season progresses!



Press release courtesy of Brandon 'BRob44' Robinson


BRob44 Daytona Race Report


Oxford, PA. -- March 18, 2016

Hey everyone!

Well another Daytona Bike Week has come & gone. Seems like every year it goes by faster & faster, but as always it was a blast!

I left a week earlier than normal this year to go meet up with my tuner, Brent Armbruster, up in Michigan to help get everything finished up & loaded. First stop on the Kennedy Racing trip was Savannah, and boy do I love Savannah! It is my absolute favorite track so it's always good to do some testing & kick off the new season there.

On to race day, had a hard fought battle in the Singles main with Mees & Baker, which saw each of us take turns at the lead. Ended up with a very close 3rd in that one.  Felt like I let the Singles win slip through my fingers so I went out for the Twins main with a plan for some redemption.  

Got a great start & took the lead coming off turn two where I never looked back! Ended up winning the Twins main by darn near a straightaway! It was a huge confidence booster & a perfect way to start off the new season with my new team. Let's just say the guys were pretty stoked!  

The next event we planned on was the All-Star National at Barberville. A bunch of guys tend to skip this race because of how the track has been in the past, but Steve Nace did a great job with the track prep and gave us a good track to race on. 

For some reason all day I was just a tick off & felt like I was struggling. It was one of those days where every time I got a good start the race would get red flagged, then on the restart well, yup you guessed it, I would suck it up & have to work my way from behind. Anyways I ended up with a 4th in the Singles class & a solid 3rd in the Twins. Not a bad day, but not what I was looking for.

We had a day off before we did a little bit of testing on the Singles to prepare for Daytona where we actually bounced around to a couple different tracks. It was kinda nice to get a bunch of laps in & try some new things. The next day Brent cleaned up all the bikes & well I took advantage of the warm weather and goofed off on my Jamis bicycle for a while!  
All the preparation & hard work was about to be put to the test at the first National of the year, the Daytona short track! Unlike most riders on the circuit, I absolutely love Daytona. I love how challenging this track is & the fact that I got my first Grand National win there don't hurt either!  

Qualifying on day one went pretty good where we ended up 5th overall. I ended up 2nd in my heat to Johnny Lewis. Brent made a couple small changes to the bike as the track was starting to get really rough. We made the right changes for sure as I was able to move my way up to 2nd pretty quick in the opening laps of the main. From there I played a game of cat & mouse with Sammy Halbert, where I just never got close enough to do anything with him. With a couple laps to go I just settled in and brought the Kennedy Racing/Armbruster Racing/TJ Burnett Farms Honda 450 home in 2nd-place!  It was a great feeling getting back on the box, feels like its been forever!  

 

Brandon Robinson is shown on the podium
after his 2nd-place finish at the AMA Pro Flat
Track Grand National Championship round 1 at
the Daytona Short Track. Photo courtesy of
Brandon Robinson by Jerry Kennedy.

The cool thing about Daytona is we get the chance to do it all over again the next day. Day two in qualifying didn't go quite as smooth. Felt a tad off all day as the track was a bit different than normal. I ended up going down in the last session, which happened to be the faster session so I ended up a dismal 21st overall. I wasn't too worried as I knew we were a lot better than that & when it comes to racing I seem to always step it up a bit.  

I was on the second row for my heat race, but with an aggressive first couple laps I was able to work my way up to a 3rd-place finish & a direct transfer to the main. In the main I got probably the most gnarly start of my life where I was like 4th getting into turn one from the second row! Not sure how in the world I pulled that one off haha, but I sure liked it. 

Unfortunately I wasn't able to capitalize on that great start & I faded just a tad to an eventual 6th-place finish. I was pretty disappointed with myself as that is the worst I've finished in Daytona in the past four years. The track was definitely different though, something we have never seen where you could ride much higher than the normal bottom feeder line.  It was pretty greasy, but everyone has the same track so no excuses.  

 

Overall we had a great bike week & leaving Daytona 3rd overall in the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship isn't a bad way to start the year!  

 

Big thanks to my crew; Jerry, Brent, Lee, & TJ, all of our sponsors, fans, & my family for coming out to support me!  I appreciate it all, until next time, see y'all in Texas!  

Thanks, B!

Brandon Lee Robinson

15 Wood Valley Ln.

Oxford, PA 19363

484-888-9485

 

Twitter: @BRob44

Instagram: @BRob44

Facebook: Brandon Robinson

 

 

 

 

Sammy Halbert & Jake Johnson Split Wins at AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Season Openers at Daytona Short Track

The long wait for the opening rounds of the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series is finally over and it did not fail to keep us on the edge of our seats as two seasoned veterans managed to keep the young kids in tow and take the wins on Thursday and Friday nights.

In Thursday night's season opener at Daytona Beach, Sammy Halbert took win on his #69 Van's Yamaha and led all comers right from the drop of the green flag. The Slammer was never headed throughout the just-over eight minute Grand National main and managed to take the win over 2nd-place finisher Brandon Robinson by just over 1.3 seconds. 2013 AMA Grand National Champion Brad Baker rounded out the podium just shy of 1.6 seconds in arrears of BRob44.

Although the track was rough and rutted (in what seems like a usual occurrence at Daytona since moving to the Speedway in 2010), but Halbert let that play into his advantage to take his first win in Grand National competition since the 2013 season.

In the shot above, Halbert gets some help from the #69 Fredericktown Yamaha/Van's Yamaha/Lucas Oil-sponsored Yamaha YZF450 team while rolling out for the rider intros portion of round 10 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines season at the Peoria TT on August 16.

While Halbert was checking out and hauling the mail, Bryan Smith on the #42 Crosley Brands/Howerton Motorsports-backed Kawasaki was ripping through the field after being forced to win his semi race and start in the 14th-place spot on the grid. Flyin' Bryan put in what was arguably the ride of the night to bring home a very solid 5th-place finish for him and the Indy-based team and earned the MotoBatt Hard Charger award (and some solid points) for his fine efforts. Smith finished just shy of 1.7 seconds in arrears of title rival Jared Mees.

Also of note, Peoria 11-Time winner Henry Wiles, riding for his new USC/Hart Racing team, was forced to use a provisional to start in the 19th-place slot on the grid and was able to bring his new Honda ride home in the 12th-place spot.

In last night's rout, 2-Time AMA Grand National Champion Jake Johnson's return to Zanotti Racing was just what the doctor ordered for the personable former champ as he was able to get around early leader Halbert on the fourth lap and was gone on the #5 Zanotti Racing Honda CRF450R from that point on.

Stretching his lead to nearly 2.6 seconds over eventual 3rd-place finisher Halbert, JJ5 took advantage of the slick and smooth surface (in stark contrast to Thursday's track surface) and held the front position for the final 22 laps of the 25-lap National main. Johnson's team mate, Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. was able to get around Halbert as well towards the end of the race and finished in the runner-up spot, just over 1.8 seconds behind to make it a Zanotti Racing sweep.

Another provisional was used last night, this time by Bryan Smith on the #42 Howerton Motorsports Kawasaki after failing to make the cut in his semi earlier in the evening. Smith would have earned himself another Hard Charger Award for his valiant 8th-place finish, just ahead of defending AMA Grand National Champ Jared Mees on the #9 Rogers Racing Honda, but Brad Baker on the #6 Brothers Powersports Honda sliced his way through the field after a 17th-place start to earn a hard-fought 4th-place finish. JD Beach rounded out the top-5 for round 2 on his #95 Team 95 Yamaha.

In the shot above, Jake Johnson on the #5 Montgomeryville Cycle Center/JM9/Ramspur Winery-sponsored Honda CRF450R puts his team mate's for the day Jared Mees ride through the motions during the final qualifying session at round 10 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines season at the Peoria TT on August 16.

With two of the three Singles events in the rearview mirror, Halbert leaves Daytona with the points lead with 40 points and Johnson just three points behind. After 2-6 finishes on the #44 Kennedy Racing Honda, Brandon Robinson sits in the 3rd-place spot with 32 points, Baker in fourth with 31 points and Coolbeth, as a result of his 9-2 finishes for the season openers in fifth with 29 points. Mees and Smith are tied for sixth with 25 points apiece, which is a great start for the Michigan rivals and especially for Smith who has left Daytona the last couple of years with a huge deficit to make up for later in the season.

Thankfully we don't have too long to wait for round 3 as the riders and teams head to Austin, TX for the Circuit of the Americas round on Saturday, April 9 in just four short weeks, where the big boys and girls bring out the big hardware for the start of what can really be called the real season ahead alongside the Red Bull MotoGP COTA round.

A big congrats to Slammin' Sammy and JJ5 for their wins and to all of the competitors for a great double bill of racing the last two evenings. Good job had by (most) all and we're looking forward to the season to get into full swing in just 28 days!

You can get the full rundown of the races from the last couple of nights below thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track, who put on a good show for the fans in Daytona.

Sammy Halbert Wins Round One of Season-Opening AMA Pro Flat Track Race on the DAYTONA Flat Track

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Mar. 10, 2016) - Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Yamaha YZ450F) passed Jake Johnson (No. 5 Honda CRF450R) for the lead on lap 2 of the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines 25-lap main event Thursday night at the DAYTONA Flat Track and never looked back for a convincing victory in the season-opening race of the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track season. Halbert, who earlier in the evening set the GNC1 division's fastest qualifying time (18.638 seconds) on the quarter-mile course, steadily opened up his lead in the caution-free race. He also posted the fastest lap of the race (19.066 seconds) on lap 2 to take the Öhlins Fastest Lap Award, earned the McElroy Packaging Lucky 13 Award by leading the race at the completion of the 13th lap, and took the checkered flag a race-high 1.382 seconds ahead of runner-up Brandon Robinson (No. 5 Honda CRF450). Halbert saluted the large crowd in attendance with some celebratory "doughnuts" after the finish. "It's been way too long and we just got to keep it rolling," Halbert said. "The boys did a good job getting it hooked up. I am not a guy who usually does doughnuts or knows how but you just got to win Daytona and you learn how instantly. When you win Daytona it just comes naturally, and I am just so happy to get up here on top." Halbert's victory followed podium finishes on the DAYTONA Flat Track in three of the past four years and was his first victory on the GNC1 tour since 2013 on the Stockton Half-Mile in California.  The field spreads out coming out of turn four with eventual winner Sammy Halbert on the #69 Van's Yamaha YZF450 (center) ready to blast away from the rest. Photo courtesy of AMA Pro Flat Track by Dave Hoenig. Robinson, who started fifth on the front row just to the right of Halbert, moved up to second in the race's early laps but was never able to get close enough to attempt a winning pass. It's a great way to start the season," Robinson said. "It's exactly what we need. It shows how good we are this year and hopefully we can keep this momentum going." Brad Baker (No. 6 Honda CRF450R) finished third after starting in the same position and just on the other side of Halbert on the grid. "I feel really good," Baker said. "I have to tell you that it was a tough one tonight, you had to ride really tense with a lot of caution, but I am really happy to be on the podium. It's a good way to start out the year. It's a long season and consistency is the key for a championship, and you can never be disappointed with a podium. At DAYTONA this is probably one of my best finishes for the past couple of years." Three-time and reigning GNC1 Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Honda CRF450R) finished fourth while 2014 and 2015 title runner-up Bryan Smith (No. 42 Kawasaki KX450F) completed the top five. Smith, who advanced to the main after winning his semi, improved eight positions after starting 14th to capture the MotoBatt Hard Charger Award. In the 16-lap GNC2 main event, Dalton Gauthier (No. 14A Yamaha YZ450F) slipped past Jesse Janisch (No. 32L Honda CRF450R) on lap 2 and raced to the victory. He opened up a race-high 1.3-second lead only to see the margin disappear when the race's second red-flag incident stopped the action on lap 10. Gauthier kept both his composure and the race lead on the restart and went on to take the victory by 0.714 of a second. "I knew how to get a start in front of these guys," Gauthier said. "I kept looking at the jumbotron and was seeing that I was pulling away from them and I knew that I was good. I looked back and I knew that I had enough ground to get the win." Last year's DAYTONA Flat Track round two race winner, Justin Jones (No. 19B Honda CRF450), finished second while Hayden Gillim (No. 69C Suzuki RM-Z450) snagged the final podium position in third. Michael Lainhart (No. 17B Honda CRF450R) earned the NERGIA Fast Moving Award by gaining 11 positions to finish 6th in the GNC2 Main. In preliminary race action, Halbert, Baker and Johnny Lewis won GNC1 heats and Smith and Stevie Bonsey split the GNC1 semis. Gauthier, Jones and Jamison Minor won GNC2 heats while Tyler Seguin and Tristan Avery were victorious in the semis. In the Super Hooligans exhibition race, Roland Sands (No. 10 Indian Scout) won in the first appearance of the series at the DAYTONA Flat Track. How to Watch:   FansChoice.tv is the official home for live streaming coverage of AMA Pro Flat Track events. The site also provides coverage of IMSA's development and single-make series, and NASCAR's touring and weekly series. Catch all the action at http://www.FansChoice.tv. About AMA Pro Flat Track:   AMA Pro Flat Track is the world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft/, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or live stream the on-track action on FansChoice.tv.   About AMA Pro Racing: AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.

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

Jake Johnson Wins Round Two of Season-Opening AMA Pro Flat Track Race on the DAYTONA Flat Track

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Mar. 12, 2016) - Jake Johnson (No. 5 Honda CRF450R) came out on top in a two-lap tussle with Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Yamaha YZ450F) in the opening stages of Friday night's Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines 25-lap main event at the DAYTONA Flat Track to score his first AMA Pro Flat Track race victory since his 2011 Grand National Championship season. Johnson led teammate Kenny Coolbeth Jr. (No. 2 Honda CRF450R) across the finish line by 1.851 seconds to give Zanotti Racing a one-two finish in the second and final main event of the season-opening AMA Pro Flat Track doubleheader on the quarter-mile DAYTONA track.  Jake Johnson on the #5 Zanotti Racing Honda CRF450 R ran down and passed early leader Sammy Halbert on the fourth lap to win his first AMA Grand National race since 2011 last night in Daytona Beach in round 2 of the 2016 season. Photo courtesy of AMA Pro Flat Track by Dave Hoenig. Johnson won in GNC1 for the first time since 2011's season-ending race on the Pomona Half-Mile in California, his fourth victory in that year's title-winning season. "It's been a while since I've won a race," Johnson said. "It's been since 2011 and oddly enough it was one of the last times that I rode for Zanotti. I kind of had a dry spell but we got back together and we did it again. It's awesome to go one-two with my teammate. It was nice enough of Kenny to let me have this one. He has had a couple of wins the last couple of years. But it hasn't sunk in yet for me, it almost feels like my first win. I want to thank everybody that's stuck behind me the last couple of years. It's good to win again." Coolbeth, who won round two at DAYTONA last year, was happy to share the podium with his teammate this time around in a Zanotti one-two finish. "I'm super proud," Coolbeth said. "Dave Zanotti puts his heart and soul into our program and it shows. He's a hell of a guy and he would do anything for us. It was a good race. I had to work for it. I got a terrible start and we should've been right there with Jake. He was probably on cruise control and determined." Halbert, who won Thursday night's opening round of the DAYTONA doubleheader, finished third and took an early season GNC1 championship lead with 40 points, three ahead of Johnson's 37 points. "I'm the only guy up here on the podium two days in a row, so stoked with that, and I've got to give it up to my whole team," Halbert said. "Jake and I had a good battle there for a minute. He passed me and I kind of gave it back to him a little bit and he really gave it back to me, so that was cool. I'm sure it made it exciting, I was just doing the best that I could in second there but Kenny was coming and I tried to hold him off but he got me." Halbert now rides with No. 69, the number his late brother Jethro Halbert raced in competition. Jethro Halbert, who passed away last August from injuries sustained in a 2014 accident at the Calistoga Half-Mile in California, was remembered by race fans and the AMA Pro Flat Track community in a beachside memorial service in Daytona Beach earlier this week. I really didn't know what to expect with the track today," Halbert said. "It was so different than yesterday. I didn't really have a game plan going in like I did last night, but I just did my best to channel my inner Jethro and get calm, and I was stoked to get the 69 up on the box again, so I'm really happy overall." In addition to the victory, Johnson swept the majority of the GNC1 main event partner bonus awards. He earned the Öhlins Fastest Lap Award when he made what proved to be the winning pass on Halbert on lap four with a time of 19.285 seconds. He remained up front and, on the 13th lap, took the McElroy Packaging Lucky 13 Award as the race leader at the halfway point. Thursday's third-place finisher Brad Baker (No. 6 Honda CRF450R) was fourth on Friday after advancing to the main from the third and final transfer spot in his semi. He started on the last row in 17th but went on to improve 13 positions to capture the MotoBatt Hard Charger Award. JD Beach (No. 95 Yamaha YZ450F), who posted the fastest GNC1 qualifying time on Friday afternoon, finished fifth in the main. In the 16-lap GNC2 main event, Dylan Morin (No. 26E Kawasaki KX450F) made the final by winning his semi and then charged from 14th on the grid to his first AMA Pro Flat Track victory. Riding a high line around the DAYTONA Flat Track, Morin passed Justin Jones (No. 19B Honda CRF450) on lap 11 for the lead and took the checkered flag with a 0.612 of a second margin of victory. His charge to the front saw him improve the most race positions to earn the NERGIA Fast Moving Award. "It's a dream come true to be standing here on the top of the box," Morin said. "This is my first win and I am freakin' pumped. I can't believe it right now, that semi was pretty rough, and getting up here from the last to win in the main, I just can't believe I did that." Jones earned runner-up honors for the second night in a row while Thursday night's winner Dalton Gauthier (No. 14A Yamaha YZ450F) also doubled up on GNC2 main podiums at DAYTONA with a third-place showing. In preliminary race action, Briar Bauman, Coolbeth and Johnson won GNC1 heats while Cory Texter and Jake Constantine split the GNC1 semis. Gauthier, Jones and Parker Norris won GNC2 heats while Andrew Luker joined Morin in taking the semi victories. Next up for AMA Pro Flat Track is round three at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) on Saturday, April 9, where the series will make its debut during the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas race weekend. How to Watch:   FansChoice.tv is the official home for live streaming coverage of AMA Pro Flat Track events. The site also provides coverage of IMSA's development and single-make series, and NASCAR's touring and weekly series. Catch all the action at http://www.FansChoice.tv. About AMA Pro Flat Track:   AMA Pro Flat Track is the world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft/, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or live stream the on-track action on FansChoice.tv.   About AMA Pro Racing: AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.   For additional information contact:   AMA Pro Racing Communications, (386) 492-1014, communications@amaproracing.com

The Battle for the 2015 AMA Grand National Championship All Comes Down to the Season Finale at the Las Vegas Short Track This Friday, November 20

The final event of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series that everyone has been waiting for over the course of the last two months of inactivity is almost upon us, as the stars of The Rolling Thunder Show get set to duke it out in the season finale event at the Las Vegas Short Track, inside the tight confines of the Orleans Arena to determine who the 2015 AMA Grand National Champion will be this Friday, November 20.

With the title down to the three remaining survivors of the rough and tumble season, defending champion Jared Mees will do his best to stave off the charges of rivals Bryan Smith and Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. to determine who will get to wear that elusive #1 plate for the 2016 season, and with just 20 points separating the three (Mees 188 points, Smith 181 points, Coolbeth 168 points) you can be sure that the battle royale will not only involve the three main men in the chase for the 2015 crown, but the rest of the competitors as well once the riders hit the surface inside the Orleans Arena come Friday afternoon (practice begins 6PM ET/3 PM PT).

In the shot above, riders vie for position coming out of turn 2 during the National main event at round 9 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series at the Peoria TT on August 16.

In the mix of this dirt-slinging fray are Rob Pearson on the #27 R&R Racing/Country Saloon/Clipper Ind.-sponsored Yamaha YZ450F, Jake Cunningham on the #94K Best Exteriors/Arai Helmets/Motion Pro-backed Yamaha, JD Beach on the #95 Yamaha USA/Victory Circle Graphics/Team 95-sponsored Yamaha, and reigning AMA Grand National Champion Jared Mees on the #1 Montgomeryville Cycle Center/Rogers Racing/National Cycle-backed Honda CRF450R.

Everything that can be said has been said up to this point heading into the final round of the season where riders will take to the track in just over 48 hours of this writing, and if you don't have your bets in and your rider picked to make it happen for you, the time is almost up.

Check out the full press release below from AMA Pro Flat Track to get up to date on the happenings for Friday night. The colored links throughout will take you to the schedule of events for Friday's finale shoot out and to the results page for the Las Vegas event, and FansChoice.TV is the place to go to catch all of the action online. May the best man win!

A huge shout out to all of the riders, teams and sponsors for this year, and the best of luck to everyone this Friday night. Good luck and go get 'em!

AMA Pro Flat Track visits Las Vegas for the Flat Track Season Finale on Friday night, Nov. 20

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 18, 2015) - The battle for the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines championship will end in Las Vegas this Friday night, Nov. 20, on a purpose-built short track inside the dome of the Orleans Arena.

 

Defending champion Jared Mees has put together another monster year and he'll enter the season's final round with a seven point advantage over Bryan Smith and a 20 point edge over Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. in the standings.

 

The rivalry between Mees and Smith this season has been nothing short of fascinating, and the two will duke it out one final time on a track that neither have competed on before. The event format has been specifically tuned to provide a full night of compelling racing on the purpose-built short track, including six GNC1 heat races and a B Main prior to the night's 25-lap main event.

 

Mees will ride the No. 1 Montgomeryville Cycle Center Honda CRF450R in Las Vegas and Smith will pilot the No. 42 Crosley Radio Kawasaki KX450F. Smith, a Mile specialist, will be giving it all he's got in a attempt to claim his first-career Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines championship. If Mees is able to hold off Smith and win the championship, it will be his third title in the premier class in the last four years.

 

Coolbeth is the only other rider besides Mees and Smith in the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines field who has a chance at winning the 2015 championship. Despite being 20 points behind down, he will have an outside chance to win it all on Friday aboard the No. 2 Zanotti Racing Honda CRF450R if the night doesn't play out in favor of Mees or Smith.

 

Aside from the championship fight between the trio of contenders, one of the most intriguing storylines entering the weekend is the return of Brad Baker. Baker was injured during the Black Hills Half-Mile in August and the 2012 GNC1 champion hasn't raced in AMA Pro Flat Track competition in over three months. Baker will ride the No. 6 Brothers Powersports Honda CRF450R on Friday night and again on Saturday during the Superprestigio of the Americas presented by Yamaha.

 

Filling in for Baker during the last four rounds has been Jake Johnson, and the two-time champion has performed very well. Johnson has recorded back-to-back third-place finishes and he'll look to roll some of his momentum into this weekend when he takes to the track aboard the No. 5 Honda CRF450R in Vegas.

 

Sammy Halbert has put together another strong season and he'll enter Vegas sitting fourth in the GNC1 point standings. Prior to last round at Delaware, the Graham, Wash., native hadn't finished outside the top ten in any main event so far this season. Look for the No. 69 Fredericktown Yamaha YZ 450F pilot to maintain consistency in the final races of the season.

Opening ceremonies for Friday's night's AMA Pro Flat Track Season Finale will take place at 7:30 p.m. PT (10:30 p.m. ET), followed by a full slate of races leading up to the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines championship-deciding 25-lap Main Event at 10:00 p.m. PT (1:00 a.m. ET). All of the action will be live streamed free of charge and in high definition on FansChoice.tv at http://www.fanschoice.tv/watch-live/ama/flat-track.

 

GNC2

 

It has been a year to remember for Davis Fisher. The 17-year-old clinched the GNC2 championship at the penultimate round of the 2015 season with his victory at the Roar on the Shore in Delmar, Del. The second-year competitor entered the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track season as the odds-on favorite to claim the GNC2 championship after coming up one point shy of the title a year ago, and he'll sport the No. 1 plate in Vegas on his Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda CRF450R this Friday for the final event of the season.

 

Although the GNC2 championship is locked up, the next three riders in the standings are all within three points of each other in the standings. Second-place rider Bronson Bauman has 145 points to his credit, Dan Bromley sits in third with 144, and Jamison Minor comes into Last Vegas fourth in the points with 143. The trio of riders have each had outstanding seasons. Bauman has accounted for one victory and four podiums in 2015, and he'll ride the No. 30Z Rod Lake Honda CRF450R in Vegas.

 

Bromley's consecutive runner-up finishes at Indianapolis and Black Hills, combined with his six top-five finishes have him well within striking distance of closing out the year with a runner-up result in the championship. He will ride the No. 54A Bromley Brothers KTM 450SX-F on Friday. Minor, who has qualified for every main event so far in 2015, will be competing for the second spot in the final GNC2 point standings on Friday aboard the No. 27U Roy Built Honda CRF450R in Vegas.

 

The 20-lap GNC2 main event is slated to begin at 9:30 p.m. PT (12:30 a.m. ET). Fans that can't make it to Las Vegas are invited to follow along with all of the live streaming action by logging on to FansChoice.tv at http://www.fanschoice.tv/watch-live/ama/flat-track.

 

Superprestigio of the Americas presented by Yamaha

In addition to watching the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track championship wrap up, flat track fans are in for a double dose of racing action this weekend in Las Vegas. On Saturday night, the Superprestigio of the Americas presented by Yamaha will bring together leading motorcycle racers from various motorcycle-racing disciplines from around the world to compete head-to-head with the stars of AMA Pro Flat Track.

In addition to live streaming on FansChoice.tv, the Superprestigio of the Americas presented by Yamaha will be aired on NBCSN on Sunday, November 29, at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT).

 

For tickets and additional information on this weekend's flat track spectacular in Las Vegas, please go to www.superprestigio.com or call toll free 1-844-722-6453.

About AMA Pro Flat Track:   AMA Pro Flat Track is the world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft/, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or live stream the on-track action on FansChoice.tv.   About AMA Pro Racing:     AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

--

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

AMA Pro Flat Track to Allow 2015 AMA Pro GNC2 Champion Davis Fisher to Wear #1 Plate at Las Vegas Short Track Season Finale

Davis Fisher set the world of AMA Pro Flat Track racing on fire during the last two seasons in the AMA Pro Pro Singles/GNC2 Championship, nearly winning the title last season only to come up one point short in the end, but this season being able to seal the deal with one round to go at the Delaware Half-Mile.

As a result of him clinching the championship at the Roar on the Shore, and the fact that he will be moving to the GNC1 Championship for the 2016 season, AMA Pro Flat Track will be allowing him to wear the #1 plate at the season finale round of the Las Vegas indoor short track being held at the Orleans Arena this coming Friday, November 20.

Jerry Cameron out of the Beaverton, OR. area where Fisher resides from, was able to get this photo last night of Dashin' Davis' Honda CRF450R with the #1 plate aboard at the season finale short track in Salem, OR. A big tip of the helmet to Jerry!

In the shot above, Dashin' Davis on the #67M Parkinson Brothers Racing/Bob Lanphere Beaverton Motorcycles/Dan Wall Racing-sponsored Honda CRF450R battles with Justin Jones on the #19B RLJ/Elder Trucking/Hollink Motorsports-backed Honda during heat race #2 in the AMA Pro GNC2 Championship series at round 9 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Peoria TT on August 16.

With the long two-month wait since the last round in Delaware, fans, riders and teams alike are chomping at the bit to get the last race of the season in this Friday in Las Vegas, and the event is looking to be a very competitive one inside the confines of the indoor Orleans Arena facility, and the entry list for both the GNC1 and GNC2 classes are shaping up nicely.

We wish the best to the new champion in the GNC2 class, Davis Fisher, as he heads into his last event as a Pro/GNC2 rider before taking the big step into The Rolling Thunder Show GNC1 class for the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship, and I am sure he won't disappoint either this coming weekend or next season when he moves up to the bigs. Go get 'em man and good luck!

You can check out the full press release below from AMA Pro Flat Track as we await the final round coming up this Friday.

2015 GNC2 Champion Davis Fisher to wear No. 1 plate in Vegas

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 13, 2015) - Davis Fisher clinched the 2015 GNC2 championship after earning the Roar on the Shore victory in dramatic fashion last round in Delaware. On Nov. 20 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Fisher will sport the No. 1 plate on his Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda CRF450R during AMA Pro Flat Track's final round of competition in 2015.

 

The No. 1 plate is typically reserved for the defending champion in each of AMA Pro Flat Track's classes. However, since there is not an active defending champion in the GNC2 class this season, Fisher has been granted the right to wear the heavily sought-after No. 1 plate on his motorcycle at the AMA Pro Flat Track season finale.

 

"It feels great to be able to run the No. 1 in Vegas," said Fisher. "It will be really cool because I'm able to show what I have earned by wrapping up the GNC2 championship early and there is no deciding factor in Vegas. It feels even better knowing that I have accomplished this after missing the championship by a single point in 2014."

 

 

 

Davis Fisher #67M on the Parkinson Brothers Racing Kawasaki leads Andrew Luker on the #11Z Kennedy Racing XR750 during a qualifying round at the Springfield Mile II on September 6. Fisher, who clinched the GNC2 Championship at the Delaware Half-Mile, will be granted the right to wear the #1 plate in his final GNC2 race at the Las Vegas Short Track Season Finale this coming Friday, November 20. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Last season, Michigan-native Kyle Johnson topped Fisher by just one point to claim the GNC2 championship before stepping up to the elite Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines class. It was Fisher's championship to lose heading into 2015, and the Oregonian didn't disappoint.

 

Like many riders who win the GNC2 championship, Fisher plans to graduate to the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines ranks next season. This rising star is sure to impress when he matches up against the best flat track racers in the world in 2016.

 

The Flat Track Season Finale will take place on a specially-designed indoor short track at the Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday night, Nov. 20. The Superprestigio of the Americas will take place on the following night, Nov. 21, bringing together leading racers from various motorcycle-racing disciplines to compete head to head with the stars of AMA Pro Flat Track.

 

To purchase tickets for the Flat Track Season Finale or the Superprestigio of the Americas, please visit www.superprestigio.com. If you can't make it to Vegas, be sure to tune in to the FansChoice.tv broadcast at www.fanschoice.tv/watch-live/ama/flat-track or watch the cable broadcast of the event on NBC Sports Network the following weekend on Sunday, November 29 at 9:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. PT).

About AMA Pro Flat Track:   AMA Pro Flat Track is the world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft/, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or live stream the on-track action on FansChoice.tv.   About AMA Pro Racing:     AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.