AMA Pro Flat Track Adds Oklahoma City Mile Round to Still-Tentative 2016 Schedule

As we start to get into the new year, AMA Pro Flat Track announced last week that they have added the Oklahoma City Mile to the still-tentative schedule for the 2016 season, slated to run on Saturday, June 18, marking the return to the OK State for the first time since the 1999 season.

The powers that be out of Daytona Beach continue to make changes to their hierarchy and their forward-looking model in terms of The Rolling Thunder Show. New CEO Michael Lock just last week was on former AMA Pro Flat Track announcer Barry Boone's radio show last week and spoke about a lot of the current changes and the current outlook on the series as it tries to position itself for moving forward. You can hear that show here and get an idea of what the series head man has in mind for the greatest racing show on two wheels in the world.

Probably the biggest missing item though as the series awaits its first events of the season just at two months away (Daytona Short Track doubleheader on March 10-11) is the release of a full season and set schedule. 

We do know the main part of the schedule and the returning players for the upcoming season. Besides the doubleheader round at Daytona in March, we do know that both Springfield Mile races will return (May 29, September 4), Lima will be running the final Saturday in June as it has for the last three and-a-half decades (June 25), the Peoria TT (August 14), the Sacto Mile (May 21), the Black Hills Half-Mile (August 9) and the return of the Charlotte Half-Mile (August 27). 

The tentative schedule that was originally announced at the end of November during the AMA Pro Flat Track season-finale banquet can be found here:

So with adding in the date for the XGames round, a new round in mid-May in Scottsdale, AZ., the recently announced COTA round in early-April, and the currently TBA rounds in Calistoga and Las Vegas, we at least have a very good idea of what to expect for the season ahead. And as last heard and being discussed, the sanctioning body in Daytona was still working on adding another round in central Indiana (and no, still not Indy nor Terre Haute). 

In the shot above, riders get ready for the lights to go green for the start of the Lima Half-Mile on Sunday, June 28, 2015.

(L-R) Brad Baker on the #6 Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Screaming Eagle Performance Parts/Arai Helmets-sponsored factory XR750, Brandon Robinson on the #44 Latus Motorsports/Castrol/Triumph America-backed Triumph Bonneville, Henry Wiles on the #17 Zanotti Racing/Motion Pro/Bell Helmets-sponsored XR750, Sammy Halbert on the #7 Briggs Auto/Scott Powersports/Martin Trucking-sponsored XR750, Jared Mees on the #1 Las Vegas H-D/Rogers Racing/Harley-Davidson Motor Co-backed XR750 and Bryan Smith on the #42 Crosley Brands/Howerton Motorsports/Villa-Esparza-backed Kawasaki EX650 make up the first row of 18 men to make the National main at the Allen County Fairgrounds.

Also seen in this shot from the second row include Jake Shoemaker on the #55 Bonneville Performance/Triumph/Castrol-sponsored Triumph Bonneville, Wyatt Maguire on the #16 Kirkland Racing/Racing Unlimited/Steve Pruczinski-sponsored XR750, Steve Bonsey on the #80 Dodge Brothers/Classic Harley-Davidson/Alpinestars-backed XR750, Dustin Crow on the #61 Greg Crow Racing/Gary O/Glen's Autobody-backed XR750, Chad Cose on the #49 Myers Motorsports/ERT/Rod Lake-sponsored Kawasaki, and Briar Bauman on the #14 USC/Hart Racing/Stevens Racing-sponsored Kawasaki.

Shawn Baer on the #32 SBR/Straight Arrow Trucking/Shawn Baer Racing-sponsored KTM LC8 950 and Kyle Johnson on the #77 Parkinson Brothers Racing/Hot Rod Harley-Davidson/Pro 1 Industries-backed Kawasaki make up the final row of riders visible just prior to the start of the 25-lap main event.

So in essence, we do have a schedule in place, and what appears to be almost complete for the upcoming season, which will help most everyone to be able to make their plans for this year's slate of racing, other then a couple of TBAs on dates towards the end of the season and the aforementioned possible central Indiana round. Once the 'official' schedule is brought forth we will have it here for everyone to compare notes on.

In the meantime, check out the press release below thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track concerning the OK City race in June and start marking your calendars!

Oklahoma City Mile Added to 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Schedule

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 7, 2016) - AMA Pro Racing and event promoter BrassMonkey Promotions LLC have partnered to put Oklahoma City back on the map of professional dirt track racing. The Oklahoma City Mile has been added to the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track schedule on Saturday, June 18 at the newly renovated Remington Park.   "There's a lot of excitement because there hasn't been anything like this here in over 15 years," said Shawn Brassfield, promoter of the Oklahoma City Mile. "Since the speedway at the fairgrounds was torn down, fans have been missing the sport and are excited about the return of racing."   AMA Pro Flat Track last visited Oklahoma City in 1999, when 7-time Grand National Champion Chris Carr took home a Half-Mile victory. The 2016 event will mark the first Mile event held in the Sooner State, but the racing action is only part of the story. The off-track entertainment will inundate fans with an abundance of family-friendly activities for the Father's Day weekend.   "Our aim is to create an event that's not just for the hardcore race fan, but a great family-friendly outing for Father's Day as well," said Brassfield.   BrassMonkey's vision for the Oklahoma City Mile is to make it an entertainment experience. They plan to give the 50-million-dollar venue an atmosphere that resembles a carnival by transforming the infield into a "fun zone," with face painting for children and over-the-top entertainment for adults.   For more information, please visit the Oklahoma City Mile website at http://okcmile.com/. To purchase tickets for the event, please visit http://www.stubwire.com/events/okcmile/2016/.   Next Up:   The 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track season will once again kick off with a doubleheader at the DAYTONA Flat Track during Daytona's Bike Week festivities. The twin short track races will take place at the "World Center of Racing" on Thursday and Friday, March 10 & 11.   For additional information and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Events/2016/DAYTONA-Flat-Track/DAYTONA-Flat-Track.aspx.  How to Watch:   FansChoice.tv is the official home for live streaming coverage of AMA Pro Flat Track events. The site also provides coverage of IMSA's development and single-make series, and NASCAR's touring and weekly series. Catch all the action at http://www.FansChoice.tv.   About AMA Pro Flat Track:   AMA Pro Flat Track is the world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit http://www.amaproracing.com/ft/, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or live stream the on-track action on FansChoice.tv.   AMA Pro Racing is thepremier 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 to Add COTA Half-Mile Race Alongside MotoGP Weekend on Saturday, April 9, 2016

AMA Pro Racing announced late yesterday that the Circuit of the Americas facility, located in Austin, TX., will play host to a new points-paying race early next year that will run alongside the COTA MotoGP Weekend and the MotoAmerica Road Racing series that is scheduled over the April 8-10, 2016 weekend.

COTA established itself as a very worthy host for the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship during the 2015 season while playing host to the first-ever ESPN XGames competition featuring the stars of The Rolling Thunder Show in early June. Dan Johnsen, former AMA Pro Flat Track manager and his team did a wonderful job of prepping the facility with a limited time schedule after the area had been inundated with torrential rain storms just days before the event was set to roll off.

Less then one week before the event was held, the facility had been under over 6-8" of water yet DJ and his team were able to groom a track that, albeit extremely rough, was able to host the inaugural race in the ESPN Flat Track XGames. The race eventually was viewed by nearly 500K fans on live tv on ESPN in a special 3-hour hosting in prime time on the largest sports cable television network for it's initial airing.

In the shot above, riders roar off the line during heat race #2 at round 7 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series at the Indy Mile on July 11.

(L-R) Bryan Smith on the #42 Crosley Brands/Howerton Motorsports/Villa-Esparza Kawasaki -sponsored EX650, Steve Bonsey on the #80 Cliff Racing/Dodge Brothers/Classic Harley-Davidson-backed XR750, Shaun Baer on the #32 SBR/Straight Arrow Trucking/Baer Racing-sponsored KTM LC8 950, Sammy Halbert on the #7 Briggs Auto/Scott Powersports/Martin Trucking-backed Kawasaki 740, and Nichole Mees on the #15 Black Hill's Harley-Davidson/Jerry Kennedy/Mr. Sign Yonkers NY-sponsored XR750 make up the riders towards the front getting an advantage heading off the line.

Also seen in this shot are Mick Kirkness on the #87 Waters Autobody.KTM/GE Capital-sponsored KTM LC8 (partially hidden behind Baer #32), Chad Cose on the #49 Myers Motorsports/ERT/Rod Lake-backed Kawasaki 740 (partially hidden behind Halbert #7), Colt Chebultz on the #67 Estenson Logistics/H-D of Salina, KS/T&R Racing-sponsored XR750, Jake Mataya on the #29 McGrane Racing/Scott Powersports/GO-Moto-backed Kawasaki 740 (partially hidden behind Mees #15), and Duke Erickson on the #21 21st Street Body Shop/Fredericktown Yamaha/Black Hill's H-D-sponsored XR750.

Although the full 2016 schedule for the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship has yet to be released by the powers that be in Daytona Beach, the addition of this round in Austin, TX. will be a very welcome site to all of those involved, and that schedule should be forthcoming sometime in the next week or so. We do already know that Daytona will kick off the season next year in March, that both Springfields are set to return, as are Lima and Peoria, and Charlotte. We also know that Indy and DuQuoin are gone and it sounds like Hagerstown has been dropped as well. There has also been some buzz that there is another event awaiting finalization somewhere in central Indiana, but nothing solid has been confirmed as of yet as to where or when (and NO, it's not Terre Haute thankfully!)

The Austin/COTA round will also be promoted by Team SMI, the same group of great people behind the Sacto Mile, Charlotte Half-Mile and the season-ending Las Vegas Short Track and Superprestigio of the Americas, so you know it will be a first-class effort all around.

Check out the full press release below thanks to AMA Pro Racing and make your plans now to head to COTA in Austin, TX. over the April 8-10 weekend to see the greatest racing on two wheels in the world alongside the stars of MotoGP and MotoAmerica.

Circuit of the Americas to play host to AMA Pro Flat Track in 2016

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  (Dec. 11, 2015) - AMA Pro Racing and Team SMI announced today that Circuit of the Americas will play host to AMA Pro Flat Track in 2016. The world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series will make its inaugural visit to the purpose-built Grand Prix facility on April 9, 2016, running in conjunction with the Grand Prix of the Americas.   "I'm delighted that we are able to bring AMA Pro Flat Track racing to COTA, to complete the ultimate festive weekend of motorcycle sport," said Michael Lock, CEO of AMA Pro Racing. "Today's MotoGP stars are fascinated with our unique brand of racing and the growing Superprestigio events in Las Vegas and Barcelona are testament to the wide appeal and recent interest in Pro Flat Track racing."   Circuit of the Americas is no stranger to dirt track racing. The sport debuted at the Summer X Games in 2015, and many of AMA Pro Flat Track's top riders were there to put on a show for the ages. After a grueling battle, Kawasaki-mounted Bryan Smith took a dramatic victory.   "We're excited to be part of what will be the greatest ever two-wheel racing competition," said Bobby Epstein, Chairman of the Circuit of the Americas. "With MotoGP, MotoAmerica and AMA Pro Flat Track running on the same weekend - at the same venue - it will be unbeatable entertainment."   Additional details about the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track round at Circuit of the Americas will be released by event promoter Team SMI in the coming months. 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

Second Half of 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Season to Kick Off Tuesday, August 4 at the Black Hills Half-Mile

After a little over a three week break from the season, the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship will resume it's season schedule with the annual running of the Black Hills Half-Mile in Rapid City, SD this Tuesday, August 4. An unusual but standard racing meet scheduled in the middle of the week, the event runs alongside the widely popular Sturgis Rally currently taking over the area in Southwest South Dakota.

With just 14 points separating the top-4 in the standings (Jared Mees 113 points, Bryan Smith 106, Sammy Halbert 100, Brad Baker 99), the time is now for those wanting to make their move to the top of the ladder in determining who will walk away at the end of the season with the 2015 AMA Grand National Championship crown.

With 2013 AMA Grand National Champion Brad Baker being the hot rider in the series as it reached it's midway point, Baker not only took the win at the Lima Half-Mile in convincing style, but also took the first mile win of his career at Indy back on July 11. And if not for a freak mechanical at DuQuoin over the July 4th weekend, could surely have taken the win there as well on his factory Harley-Davidson XR750.

But Mees, the defending AMA Grand National Champion who has lead the points since the Lima round on June 28, is not one to let his championship lead evaporate that easily. Although The Jammer has yet to stand on top of the box this season his string of top-4s since the Springfield Mile I in late May has kept him at or near the top of the standings and in itself shows the massive effort that the Rogers Racing crew has put into their efforts again to retain that #1 plate for the 2015 season.

With 3-time winner and Howerton Kawasaki rocket rider Smith as hot as could be expected this year, it could also be noted that Flyin' Bryan was also the big winner of the XGames event in early June, and has set claim to finally try and grab that elusive #1 that he and the Indy-based team have so deliberately gone after in the last four seasons. And you can't count out The Slammer, Sammy Halbert, who use of both his Johnny Goad-tuned Kawasaki and Harley XR have kept the Washington State resident in the mix with four top-5 finishes and a no-worse then 8th-place finish on the year.

In the shot above, riders blast off the line and spray their fellow compatriots at the start of the National main event in round 5 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines class at the Lima Half-Mile on Sunday, June 28.

(L-R) Eventual winner Brad Baker on the #6 Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Screaming Eagle Racing Products/Arai Helmets-backed factory XR750, Brandon Robinson on the #44 Latus Motorsports/Castrol Oil/Triumph America-backed Triumph Bonneville, Henry Wiles on the #17 Zanotti Racing/Motion Pro/Bell Helmets-backed H-D XR750, Sammy Halbert on the #7 Briggs Auto/Scott Powersports/Martin Trucking-backed H-D XR750, Jared Mees on the #1 Las Vegas H-D/Rogers Racing/Harley-Davidson Motor Co-sponsored XR750 and Bryan Smith on the #42 Howerton Motorsports/Crosley Brands/Villa-Esparza-backed Kawasaki EX650 spray the rest as they hammer off the line for the first time in the 25-lap main at the Allen County Fairgrounds delayed event.

Also seen in the background are Jake Shoemaker on the #55 Bonneville Performance/Castrol Oil/Triumph-sponsored Triumph Bonneville (just behind Wiles' left shoulder), Wyatt Maguire on the #16 Kirkland Racing/Racing Unlimited/Steve Pruczinski-backed H-D XR750 getting some massive air off the start line of row 2, Steve Bonsey on the #80 Dodge Brothers Racing/Classic Harley-Davidson/Alpinestars-backed XR750 (between Halbert and Mees on row 2), Dustin Crow on the #61 Greg Crow Racing/Gary O/Glen's Autobody-backed XR750 and Chad Cose on the #49 Myers Motorsports/ERT/Rod Lake-backed Kawasaki EX650 rounding out the second row. Coming off of row 3 Shawn Baer can be seen on his #32 Baer Racing Products/Straight Arrow Trucking/Blatts Pattern Shop-sponsored KTM LC8 950 (behind Crow.)

So if you are in the Sturgis area for the world's biggest bike rally, you owe it to yourself to make it to the Black Hills Speedway Tuesday night to catch the stars of The Rolling Thunder Show put on what they do best in the best racing series on two wheels in the world. If you don't make it, you're just another race fan-poser and may as well head to the bar to drown your sorry sorrows.

AMA Pro Flat Track riders set to compete in the Black Hills Half-Mile during the 75th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 30, 2015) - South Dakota is known for its celebrations of all things motorcycles, and on this special Tuesday night, Aug. 4, it will be a celebration of speed and fierce AMA Pro Flat Track racing action in Rapid City on the Half-Mile oval at Black Hills Speedway.   Current points leader and defending Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines champion Jared Mees will aim to reach the podium for the sixth time this season as the No. 1 Las Vegas Harley-Davidson pilot has been sharp all year, accounting for three second-place finishes.   No. 42 Crosley Radio Kawasaki rider Bryan Smith is another competitor who has thrived in the premier class so far in 2015. Smith has won three of the four Mile races this year and the Flint, Mich., native will look to put together another strong performance on the Half-Mile surface in Rapid City. Smith finished eighth in the only Half-Mile event so far this season at the Lima Half-Mile and he currently sits second in the points.   Sammy Halbert has yet to finish outside the top ten in any round so far in 2015 and he will look to continue that streak next Tuesday when the lights go green in Rapid City. The No. 7 Briggs Auto Harley-Davidson rider sits third in the point standings after seven rounds.   Perhaps no other rider on the AMA Pro Flat Track circuit is coming into Rapid City with more confidence and momentum than that of the No. 6 Factory Harley-Davidson pilot Brad Baker. The 2013 Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines champion has won two of the last three main events and he will look to keep rolling on Tuesday night. Baker currently sits fourth in the points.   Three-time champion Kenny Coolbeth Jr. has been in a bit of a funk as of late, as the No. 2 Zanotti Racing Harley-Davidson competitor has finished 17th and 15th in two of the last three main events. Despite sitting fifth in the points, Coolbeth still has his sights set on his fourth-career Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines championship.   Sitting sixth in the point standings entering Round 8 at Black Hills Speedway is Brandon Robinson. The No. 44 Latus Motors/Triumph Bonneville competitor has looked stellar at certain points during the 2015 season, particularly at the Sacramento Mile, where he finished a hair-length behind Smith for a second-place finish.   Briar Bauman, mounted on the No. 14 Hart Racing Kawasaki, recorded consecutive ninth-place finishes at Du Quoin and Indianapolis and he will strive for better results on Tuesday in an effort to improve on his seventh-place position in the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines point standings.   GNC2   It's no surprise that Davis Fisher has asserted himself as one of the up-and-coming stars of AMA Pro Flat Track. The 17-year-old second-year rider missed the GNC2 championship by a single point in 2014 and he has come back with a vengeance in 2015. Fisher, pilot of the No. 67M Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda, is the current GNC2 points leader and he will look to build on his lead in Rapid City.   Fisher isn't the only young talent in AMA Pro Flat Track's feeder class, as Nick Armstrong, pilot of the No. 44E Southland Racing Honda is right on Fisher's tail in the point standings. Armstrong also has momentum in his favor after his Indy Mile win last round on July 11.   No. 27U Jamison Minor is another GNC2 competitor that has shown tremendous success in 2015 so far. Minor is responsible for three top-five finishes and currently sits third in the points. Dan Bromley, riding the Bromley Brothers KTM Racing machine, and J.R. Addison, pilot of the Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda, each sit fourth and fifth in the GNC2 point standings, respectively.   All of the AMA Pro Flat Track action from Rapid City can be viewed live, in high definition on http://www.FansChoice.tv.   For tickets and more information regarding the Black Hills Half-Mile, please visit https://www.sturgisharleydavidson.com/.     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

Title Fight in the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Heads to the Springfield Mile II for the Final Mile Event of the Season

With just three events left and only one mile race remaining in the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship, tomorrow's round 14 of the season at the Springfield Mile II could very well hold some of the final cards to be dealt in terms of which of the three riders left in the championship battle walks away with the best hand before heading west for the final two half-mile races of the season.

With just 18 points separating the three title contenders with a realistic shot at the championship, tomorrow's final mile race will undoubtedly lay the final groundwork in the fight for the 2014 AMA Grand National Championship. And as everyone knows by now, those fighting to keep championship points leader Bryan Smith from claiming the double at the Springfield Mile II tomorrow will have to bring their best 'A' game in order to keep those title aspirations alive heading into the final two events of the season on the left coast.

In the shot above, riders line up and ready themselves to do battle at the Springfield Mile I on May 25 in round 3 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship.

Front row (L-R): Brandon Robinson on the #44 USC Kawasaki/Hart Racing/Stevens Racing Kawasaki EX650, Jared Mees on the #9 Rogers Racing/Blue Springs H-D/Las Vegas H-D XR750, Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. on the #2 Zanotti Racing/Moroney's H-D/Burt Ives Honda-sponsored Harley-Davidson XR750, Henry Wiles on the #17 Don's Kawasaki/DPC Racing/EA Racing Kawasaki, Jake Johnson on the #5 Ramspur Winery/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Parkinson Brothers Racing Ducati and Bryan Smith on the #42 Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio/Howerton Products Kawasaki head the field as they ready for the green light to go for 25-laps in the National main at the Illinois State Fairgrounds mecca of speed.

Second row (L-R): Sammy Halbert on his #7 South East H-D/White's H-D/Specialty Fabrication-backed XR750, Brad Baker on the #1 Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Screamin' Eagle Racing Parts/Dunlop-sponsored factory Harley-Davidson XR750, Shawn Baer on his #32 Baer Racing Products/KB 5/Kam's Peformance-sponsored KTM LC8 950, Mikey Martin on the #91 Bonneville Performance/Factory Triumph Racing/Castrol Racing-sponsored Triumph and Willie McCoy on his #59 H-D of Wausau/Tucker Rocky/Independence H-D-backed XR750 ready themselves for the flash of the green light.

Third row (L-R): Johnny Lewis on the #10 KTM/GE Capital/Waters Autobody-sponsored KTM LC8 950 and Dustin Crow on the #61 Greg Crow Racing/Gardner Racing/Harley-Davidson of Salina-backed XR750 bring up the back of the field in the 18-rider National main.

We could go on about all of the possibilities that could transpire tomorrow at Springfield, but most of them have been hashed around that at this point it wouldn't add much more fire to the burning of the outcome in what will undoubtedly be another great event, so if any way possible you can be there tomorrow, you need to do so or you will miss one of the premier events of the season put on by AMA Pro Flat Track and the great promoters of the Springfield Mile, the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association. And like all of the other races this season, if you can't, FansChoice will have you covered--but nothing like being there!

We wish everyone good luck, safe and fast racing as we get ready to close out the Midwest portion of this year's AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship!

AMA Pro Flat Track returns to Springfield Mile for second time in 2014

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 28, 2014) - The AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship battle is heating up as it nears the end, and it'll roll back to Springfield Illinois, for the second running in 2014 of the Springfield Mile on Sunday.    On-track action begins at 10:15 a.m. CT (11:15 a.m. ET, 8:15 a.m. PT) with the Pro Twins main scheduled for 3:40 p.m. CT (4:40 p.m. ET, 1:40 p.m. PT) and the Expert main is set for 4:10 p.m. CT (5:10 p.m. ET, 2:10 p.m. PT). Fans can catch all the action, live in high definition at FansChoice.tv.   Bryan Smith was the victor on the hallowed grounds back in May, and the Michigan native and pilot of the No. 42 Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio Kawasaki enters the eventwith a six-point lead over Rodgers Racing's Jared Mees in the title hunt. Smith, who is famously comfortable on longer tracks, is coming off a win at the circuit's longest stretch, the 1.25-mile Virginia Mega Mile. But in May, he needed every ounce of speed out of his Kawasaki, as he won by just .041 seconds over Kenny Coolbeth. Mees was third, just .153 seconds behind Smith.       Bryan Smith #42 leads Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. #2 and Jared Mees #9 to the checkers at the Springfield Mile I on May 25. Round 14 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds tomorrow will be the place to be to see whether Smith can continue his overall dominance on the big tracks and at the mecca of speed. Smith's only non-victory on the mile tracks this season came three weeks ago at the Indy Mile where Coolbeth dominated the evening's events. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.         Coolbeth, who is fourth in points with 171, has shown speed all season, and would be firmly entrenched in the title hunt if not for a little bad luck and lackluster showings in the season's two TT events. The pilot of the No. 2 Zanotti Racing Harley-Davidson even has a win on a mile track, taking the checkered flag at the Indy Mile. Coolbeth also owns three Springfield victories.   Jake Johnson has been the model of consistency this year, standing on the podium six times to keep the title within grasp. The Ramspur Winery rider has also found speed on four different bikes this year, including the Kawasaki he rode to third in Virginia. Johnson is third in points, 18 behind Smith and 12 back of Mees.   Henry Wiles shot up the points standings with wins in both TT events. The fifth place Don's Kawasaki rider took his No. 17 machine to sixth in the last Springfield Mile and has now been in the top 10 in the last four events. Wiles is five points ahead of defending GNC champion Brad Baker (154-149). Baker has been solid during the latter part of the season, finishing no worse than sixth in each of the last six races. He was fifth in Springfield in May, and was riding in third until a last-lap mechanical in Virginia.   Sammy Halbert will look to rebound from a string of bad luck. The South East Harley-Davidson pilot missed the main in Virginia following a crash in his heat race and was 15th and 19th the two races prior. But the rider of the No. 7 machine has five top fives this year, including the Sacramento Mile, where he was the fast qualifier. Halbert is still seventh in points with 139. Brandon Robinson (USC Kawasaki), Stevie Bonsey (Zanotti Racing) and Briar Bauman (Monster Energy Kawasaki) round out the top 10 in points heading into Springfield.   At Springfield, the Pro class will run the twins for just the second time this year. When the up-and-comers visiting the track in May, Jarod Vanderkooi had his coming out party.   The Ohio Johnny's Vintage Motorcycles rider dominated every time he was on-track even though it was the 16-year-old's first ever AMA Pro Flat Track race. Vanderkooi, who turned 16 after the season-opener in Daytona, cruised to a 6.656-second victory over T. J. Burnett Farms' Davis Fisher.   Vanderkooi and Sylvester Farms' Brandon Wilhelm were the only two Pro Twins riders to clock a lap in the 35-second range in the main event. Wilhelm was fourth while Jamison Minor (Roy Miller Racing) was third. J.R. Addison will also be a rider to watch in the Pro Twins. The Parkinson Brothers Racing pilot was injured in a crash at Springfield in May, but returned this past weekend at Virginia and took the checkered flag, showing he's already back up to speed and knows how to get around a bigger circuit fast.   How to Watch: FansChoice.tv will be the official home for live streaming coverage of AMA Pro Flat Track and AMA Pro Road Racing events in 2014.    About AMA Pro Flat Track: AMA Pro Flat Track 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 2014 schedule consists of 16 rounds on the country's finest flat track courses. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, 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

Black Hills Half-Mile Tickets Now On Sale for Round 10 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship

What was once an annual stop on The Rolling Thunder Show's schedule, the Black Hills Half-Mile round of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship will again be returning to the schedule this coming August 5 in round 10 of the 2014 season as part of the Sturgis Rally in Rapid City, SD, one of, if not the largest-attended motorcycle-related festivals on the North American continent. The event will be promoted by Black Hills Harley-Davidson and it's owner, Terry Rymer, who harkens back to the day when Ricky Graham, Kevin Atherton, Rich King and others took their frustrations out on the track in route to winning during the weeklong festivities in the Badlands-area located track.

In the shot above, round 3 of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship saw the first Twins Series event of the 16-race season get underway at the Springfield Mile I on May 25, and in heat race #2 the action as always was hot and heavy for the four direct transfers available to the 25-lap National main.

Leading this pack behind eventual heat winner Jake Johnson are Stevie Bonsey on the #80 Zanotti Racing/Classic H-D/Top 1 Oil-sponsored H-D XR750, with Brandon Robinson on the #44 USC Kawasaki/Hart Racing/Hot Shot-backed EX650 working his way forward after a slow start to the 8-lap event.

Sorting out the final qualifying spot in the heat behind BRob44 are Briar Bauman on the #14 Werner-Springsteen Racing/Monster Energy/Cometic-backed Kawasaki and Shawn Baer in his first appearance for the 2014 season aboard a new-for him #32 Baer Racing Products/KB 5/Kam's Performance-sponsored KTM LC8 950. Baer's first ride on his new KTM, after campaigning Kawasakis the previous two seasons saw him take the last direct transfer to the main.

And working things out behind the front runners are Nichole Cheza-Mees on the #15 Harley-Davidson/Black Hills H-D/Mr. Sign-backed XR750 and Wyatt Maguire on his #16 Kirkland Racing/Urban Custom Bikes/Motorcycle-Superstore-sponsored Suzuki SV650.

If you are headed to Sturgis for the big rally in early August, you won't want to miss the Black Hills Half-Mile round of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship, to take in the greatest racing on two wheels in the world for what will probably be the least expensive thing you purchase in the land of chrome and iron.

Tickets are only $25 in advance and $30 at the gate, and the full details on how to save some $$ by getting them before you get there are below thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track's press release.

Tickets on sale now for Black Hills Half-Mile by Dunlop at Black Hills Speedway

Sent on behalf of Terry Rymer:   RAPID CITY, South Dakota, (July 3, 2014) - Tickets for the Black Hills Half-Mile by Dunlop, during the legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, in Sturgis, S.D., are now on sale. The race will be held at the Black Hills Speedway's half-mile dirt oval on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014, as part of the largest motorcycle event in America.   Black Hills Speedway and Black Hills Harley-Davidson are proud to bring the exciting sport of AMA Pro Flat Track racing back to Rapid City. This will be round number 10 of the 16 round schedule which began in March at Daytona International Speedway. The series then travels coast to coast ending with the final round in Pomona, Calif. Riders chase points and prize money to see who will be crowned the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Champion.    "All through the 90's the Black Hills of South Dakota held this annual event at Black Hills Speedway, and I remember how popular it was for Sturgis Rally attendees as well as local race fans," said Terry Rymer, Sturgis Half-Mile promoter and General Manager and Co-Owner of Black Hills Harley-Davidson.       Heat #2 roars off the line at the Lima Half-Mile on Saturday, June 28 in round 5 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season. AMA Pro Flat Track and the promoters of the Black Hills Half-Mile announced on Thursday that tickets are now on sale for round 10 of the season for the Tuesday, August 5 event. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.         "I have always been a huge fan of AMA Pro Flat Track and looked forward to having a race in my home town each year and I believe this will be an awesome event again this year. I was approached by the track owner and asked if I would be interested in helping bring the race back to Black Hills Speedway. Suddenly, years of memories, watching great racers like Ronnie Jones (the inaugural race winner in 1991), Ricky Graham, Scott Parker, Chris Carr, Kevin Atherton, Joe Kopp and Rich King came back to me and of course I said 'heck yeah, let's do it!' I started making a few phone calls to my motorcycle industry partners for support and it was pretty amazing how easy it was. I found out people in the industry want a national level motorcycle event tied in with the Sturgis event.   "I really am excited about this, not only for this year but many years to come. Of course I have to thank our title sponsor Dunlop Motorcycle Tires as well as our sponsors Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Vance and Hines Exhaust, Drag Specialties, Budweiser, Law Tigers and of course Black Hills Harley-Davidson. Their support has been overwhelming and this event couldn't happen without them."    General admission tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the gate. They can be purchased online at, Blackhillshd.com or by calling (800) 727-2482 Gates open at 4 p.m., open pit fan walk from 6:15-7:15 p.m. opening ceremonies begin at 7:30 p.m. with heat races starting at 8 p.m

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

Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Talks Jake Johnson's 4th-Place Finish at Round 3 of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship at the Springfield Mile I

Round 3 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship saw the first appearance of the Twins Series machines sans restrictors for the first time in over 2-1/2 decades, and did the racing ever turn out great for the fans, teams and sponsors of The Rolling Thunder Show.

Although some pundits may say 'well, a Kawasaki still won.....,' those that were there and that are in the know were treated to some of the best and closest racing the series has seen for years, and without a doubt were party to one of the greatest races they have ever witnessed. And there was no doubt that the parity was there amongst the ranks of the XR's, the big Duc and the Kawis.

One of the teams and riders that were able to claim a distinct advantage due to losing the fuel restrictions that were in place before this season was the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports team and their star rider, 2-Time AMA Grand National Champion Jake Johnson.

Tuner to the stars Brent Armbruster had the big #5 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Ramspur Winery/Parkinson Brothers Racing-sponsored 1098/1100 on song, and Jersey Jake took full advantage of Armbruster's and the team's tuning and suspension prowess throughout the day at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The final tally will say that winner Bryan Smith led 20 laps of the 25-lap National main at the stripe on the Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio Kawi, while Johnson led four laps and runner-up finisher Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. led a single lap on the Zanotti Racing XR-750. But Johnson was able to get the runs necessary in order to draft to and at the front in order to get the big Duc up there, largely thanks to the vast resource of knowledge that his crew chief and wrench spinning master put into his mount. And once they get the final chassis settings put into place that they need in order to get their mount just a tad more stable, the rest better look out.

During heat race #2 as shown above, Johnson can be seen leading the pack out of turn four in the 8-lap affair, one in which he won in the end, but not without a strong fight from Brandon Robinson on the #44 USC Kawasaki/Hart Racing/Hot Shot-sponsored mount. Jake took off with the lead in the early stages and looked to have it wrapped before the rest caught up and Robinson had worked his way around Steve Bonsey on the #80 Zanotti Racing/Classic Harley-Davidson/Top 1 Oil-backed XR.

Once Robinson got around Bonsey, he set sail for Johnson, and by lap 7 was right on his heels. By the time they had gotten around to turn 3, Robinson had passed the big #5 in spite of Jake's prowess, and looked to have the heat win. But coming out of four, Johnson poured the coals to the Italian 'L' twin and nipped BRob44 at the line....by .014 seconds, or roughly half a wheel, but enough to take the win and lead them both into the Dash for Cash bonus round. Quite the exciting start to the day for the team, and for the fans who saw this great duel with a couple of experienced and clean-riding veterans. It sure had my adrenaline flowing!

Seen in the shot above, Johnson leads as Bonsey keeps it close, with Robinson barely visible behind the Zanotti Racing #80 machine. Close on their heels is Briar Bauman on the #14 Werner-Springsteen/Monster Energy/Cometic Gasket Kawasaki, Shawn Baer on his #32 Baer Racing Products/KB 5/Karn's Performance-backed KTM LC8 950, Nichole Cheza-Mees on the #15 Harley-Davidson/Black Hills H-D/Mr. Sign-backed XR and Wyatt Maguire on the #16 Kirkland Racing/Urban Custom Bikes/Motorcycle-Superstore-sponsored Suzuki SV650. Behind Johnson and Robinson, Bonsey and Baer took the final direct transfers to the National main and the rest were left to duke it out in the semi later in the afternoon.

All in all, it was great day of racing, but Jake Johnson and the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Parkinson Brothers Racing/Ramspur Winery team took a big step in garnering their 4th-place finish for the day, and coupled with their great results from Daytona, left Springfield in 2nd-place in the points, just 2 points behind early points leader Coolbeth (53-51) heading into round 4 at the Knoxville Half-Mile in Knoxville, Iowa on June 15. And Jake has that famous smile back on his face that shows he, and the team, are back 'having fun again,' just like he and team owner Dave Lloyd talked about early Sunday after qualifying was over. If Sunday's results are any indication of what the season holds for this great and deserving bunch of guys, it's going to be a super season for them.

Bravo to the boys and girls at LBM/PBR for their excellent effort and results from Sunday, and you can check out their race report below to get it straight from the horse's--or horsepower's--mouth!

Press release courtesy of the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship team.

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