SMI Announces Yamaha as Presenting Sponsor of the Superprestigio of the Americas Race in Las Vegas on November 21

Former AMA Superbike pilot and SMI president Steve McLaughlin announced last week that Yamaha has been brought on board as the presenting sponsor of the Superprestigio of the Americas race scheduled at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, November 21.

With their long-storied history in the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship, it will be great to see the crossed tuning forks brand back alongside the greatest racing show on two wheels in the world when this big event rolls off and pits former champions of different disciplines against the stars and heroes of The Rolling Thunder Show within the tight confines of the indoor Orleans Arena facility.

In the shot above, former racer and championship-winning tuner Babe DeMay and team work on DeMay's brilliant blue #66Y Babe DeMay Racing/Memphis Shades/Yamaha/Motorcycle-Superstore-sponsored Yamaha FZ07 of rider Dominic Collindres in preparation for the Springfield Mile II in round 11 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series on September 6.

DeMay, with limited funding from Yamaha, built a nearly-stock GNC1-spec half-mile and mile racer based around the popular FZ07 parallel twin, and in the team's first outing this season saw some decent results once Collindres got settled into the role of the team's rider. With Cory Texter starting out in the saddle, Collindres, the former GNC2/Pro Singles Peoria TT winner, took over the ride at the end of June at the Lima Half-Mile. In the three events that he qualified for, the first year expert managed impressive finishes of 14th-place (Lima), 13th-place (Black Hills) and just missed out on a podium finish with a 4th-place finish (Delaware) aboard the trick looking machine.

Collindres (and tuner to the stars DeMay) did a great job in bringing Yamaha back into the spotlight this season, and also pulled out a superb 3rd-place finish aboard DeMay's Yamaha YZ450F Singles mount at the Peoria TT in early August while also winning his heat and besting defending AMA Grand National Champ Jared Mees in the process.

Yamaha had most recently announced the unveiling of their prototype Yamaha FZ07 flat tracker at the AIMExpo in Orlando last month, but weren't ready to admit whether or not they would be hitting the track with it for the 2016 season. Rumors have been swirling since late spring that they had talked to several riders about possibly contesting a factory-backed team in the Grand National Championship, among them former 2-Time AMA Grand National Champion Jake Johnson. It would only be fitting to see them come back to the sport in an assault involving Johnson, who is known as a great development rider and a bring-it-home type of racer throughout his illustrious career in the sport. We'll see and we can only hope!

With Yamaha being announced as the presenting sponsor in Vegas, maybe this will help to spur them along in getting back to the track with a full factory assault on the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series. Keep your fingers crossed!

Check out the full press release below, and if you are in the Vegas area over the November 20-21 weekend, be sure to get to the Orleans Arena to see the AMA Pro Flat Track Finals on November 20 and the Superprestigio of the Americas race on November 21. You won't be disappointed.


Press release courtesy of SMI, the promoters of the Superprestigio of the Americas race in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena on Saturday, November 21.

YAMAHA NAMED PRESENTING SPONSOR OF SUPERPRESTIGIO OF THE AMERICAS

LAS VEGAS (NOV. 4, 2015) – SMI is proud to announce that Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA will be the presenting sponsor of the inaugural running of the Superprestigio of the Americas on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

“We’re thrilled to bring Yamaha on board as a presenting sponsor of the Superprestigio of the Americas,” said SMI President Steve McLaughlin. “Having a company so steeped in racing tradition makes them a natural partner to launch what we hope will become one of the premier motorcycle racing events in the country. Yamaha and racing are almost synonymous and it’s a great honor to have them as presenter of the first Superprestigio of the Americas.”

The first ever Superprestigio of the Americas (SOTA’15) will bring together top racers from varying racing disciplines to race head to head against AMA Pro Flat Track racing’s leading riders in a big two-day season-ending event at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Running the day before the Superprestigio of the Americas, on Friday, Nov. 20 at the Orleans Arena, will be the AMA Pro Flat Track Championship finale where the 2015 AMA Pro Grand National Champion will be crowned.

Yamaha has a rich history in AMA Grand National Flat Track racing highlighted by AMA Grand National Championships won by legendary Hall of Famer Kenny Roberts in 1973 and ’74. The Yamaha TZ700-based flat track motorcycle remains one of the most unforgettable machines ever raced in the history of AMA Grand National competition. Kenny Roberts reuniting with the TZ and doing exhibition laps at racing speed at the Indy Mile during Indianapolis MotoGP weekend in 2009, instantly became an iconic moment in the history of flat track racing.

Last month Yamaha thrilled show goers at AIMExpo 2015 by unveiling its Yamaha DT-07 Flat Track concept bike. The machine, powered by a Yamaha FZ-07 engine, was the hit of the show. This summer an FZ-07-based machine built by Babe DeMay showed great promise in flat track competition. Dominic Colindres won a Grand National Heat race at the Roar on the Shore Grand National in Delmar, Del., in September and went on to score an excellent fourth-place finish in the national.

“Yamaha is very excited to be a part of the Superprestigio of the Americas,” said Yamaha’s Communications General Manager Bob Starr. “We love the concept of bringing together top riders from various disciplines to compete head to head in this kind of all-star competition. We think the event will be a big success and we’re pleased to be involved particularly during the 60^th Anniversary celebration of Yamaha Motor Company.”

Spots are still open for additional AMA Pro Grand National riders to qualify and some of those won’t be decided until the night before SOTA’15 during the AMA Pro Flat Track final on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015, also at the Orleans Arena.  The two riders who win the GNC1 and GNC2 class in the AMA Pro Flat Track final Friday night will also gain participation in the Superprestigio of the Americas. More details to come at www.superprestigio.com.

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.

 

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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

 

 

Additional Riders Named to Superprestigio of the Americas Race in Las Vegas on November 21

The promoters of the Superprestigio of the Americas, SMI, announced late last week the addition of eight riders to the field for the big race scheduled at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, November 21.

Among the riders named were Ohio native and soon-to-be-officially announced 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Rookie of the Year Jarod Vanderkooi, California resident and Daytona Short Track winner Stevie Bonsey, and 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track GNC2 Champion and Oregon resident Davis Fisher.

In the shot above, Bryan Smith on the #42 Crosley Brands/Howerton Motorsports/Villa-Esparza-sponsored Honda CRF450R leads Stevie Bonsey on the #80 Cernics Suzuki/Yoshimura/Cliff Racing-backed Suzuki RMZ450, and Jarod Vanderkooi on the #17F Don's Kawasaki/DPC Racing/Woody Kyle Racing-sponsored Honda battle for position during the running of round 10 of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series at the Peoria TT on August 16, 2015. Bonsey and Vanderkooi will join Smith among 11 other riders previously announced and announced this past week in the Superprestigio of the Americas race in Las Vegas on November 21.

As of now, a total of 14 riders have been named to take part in the United States' version of the Superprestigio event that pits riders against like-built equipment against one another in a battle royale on a 1/10th mile size track inside the confines of the Orleans Arena in Vegas. 4-Time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes was announced as one of those previously announced riders that also include Jarod Mees, Jake Johnson and Bryan Smith.

Check out the official press release below to get more details on the who, what and when of what should be a super event coming up in Las Vegas in just over a month!


Press release courtesy of SMI Promotions, promoters of the Sacto Mile, Charlotte Half-Mile and the Las Vegas Finals.

EIGHT ADDITIONAL RIDERS NAMED TO SUPERPRESTIGIO OF THE AMERICAS LINEUP

LAS VEGAS (OCT. 16, 2015) – Eight additional riders have been added to the rider roster for the inaugural running of the Superprestigio of the Americas at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015. The eight riders joining those already named are pro flat track racers Doug Lawrence, Stevie Bonsey, Andrew Luker, Justin Jones, Henry Wiles, Jarod Vanderkooi, Davis Fisher and Jesse Janisch.

Those riders earned their way into the Superprestigio of the Americas by either winning AMA Pro Grand National Short Tracks or TTs in both the GNC1 and GNC2 classes this season or in the case of Davis Fisher for winning this year’s AMA Pro GNC2 Championship and Jarod Vanderkooi for being 2015 Flat Track Rookie of the Year. Lawrence earned his way for winning the 2015 Flat Track Canada Championship.

“With the addition of these eight riders we are beginning to fill out what promises to be one of the strongest fields ever assemble for a flat track event,” said promoter Steve McLaughlin, head of SMI. “This group is a combination of solid veteran riders like Henry Wiles, Doug Lawrence and Stevie Bonsey, along with a talented group of up-and-comers like top rookie Jarod Vanderkooi and those riders from the GNC2 class. This will be the first time for some of these young riders to compete against the top GNC1 riders.”

Bonsey was winner of the Daytona 1 Short Track GNC1 race. Luker and Jones were the Daytona GNC2 winners. Wiles gets in for his victory in the Peoria TT as well as Janisch for winning the GNC2 class at Peoria.

These eight join fellow flat trackers Jared Mees, Brad Baker, Kenny Coolbeth, Jr., Jake Johnson, Bryan Smith as well as Superbike racer Josh Hayes as riders already named for the competition. More riders will be named in the coming weeks.

Spots are still open for additional AMA Pro Grand National riders to qualify and some of those won’t be decided until the night before the event.  The two riders who win the GNC1 and GNC2 class in the AMA Pro Flat Track final at the Orleans on Friday night will also gain participation in the Superprestigio of the Americas. More details to come at www.superprestigio.com.

Riders for the most part will be competing on the same short track/TT bikes they in Grand National competition with the use of Mitas Tires, but additionally smaller 250cc machines are also eligible to run in the SOTA’15, so it will be interesting to see if any riders choose to compete on the smaller and lighter 250s on the tight confines of the Orleans Arena floor.

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.

 

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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

 

 

4-Time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes to Contest Superprestigio of the Americas in Las Vegas on November 21

4-Time AMA Superbike Champion and the second-winningest rider in the series, Josh Hayes, will be turning in his ultra-fast Graves Motorsports Yamaha R1 for a flat track racer as he will be heading to Las Vegas to contest the Superprestigio of the Americas race on November 21 as was announced last week.

Hayes will be joining already announced riders and former AMA Grand National Champions Jared Mees, Jake Johnson, Brad Baker, Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. and 2015 ESPN XGames winner and current contender for the 2015 AMA Grand National Championship, Bryan Smith as the first riders invited for this one-off event set to take place inside the confines of the Orleans Arena the day after the season-finale of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship series.

In the shot above, Hayes #1 Monster Energy/Graves Motorsports-sponsored Yamaha R1s sit under the team's tent at the MotoAmerica round held in conjunction with the Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 7, 2015.

Hayes, who lost his bid for a fifth title last month to team mate Cameron Beaubier, will be among a stacked field of riders in this endeavor and with his experience in training on the dirt could play into the wildcard factor in the race on the 1/10th mile oval at the Orleans. If you're going to be in Vegas for the AMA Pro Flat Track season finale, you don't want to miss this one, either.

Check out the press release below thanks to SMI, this year's promoters of the Sacto Mile, the Charlotte Half-Mile, the Las Vegas Short Track finale and the Superprestigio of the Americas 2015 race.


Press release courtesy of SMI, promoters of the Superprestigio of the Americas in Las Vegas, November 21

SUPERBIKE RACING LEGEND JOSH HAYES TO RACE SUPERPRESTIGIO OF THE AMERICAS

LAS VEGAS (OCT. 6, 2015) – Iconic MotoAmerica AMA Superbike racer Josh Hayes will race the Superprestigio of the Americas at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015. Hayes will race a Yamaha YZ-450F-based machine in the competition.

Hayes is quite simply one of the most dominant riders in the history of AMA Superbike. His numbers speak for themselves: A four-time AMA Superbike title winner with Monster Energy/Graves Motorsports Yamaha, Hayes is ranked second all-time for AMA Superbike championships, wins, with 58 career victories, and poles, with 37. This season marked the 18th season on the pro circuit for Hayes. He won a series leading 10 races, but came up just four-points shy of winning another AMA Superbike title. Even at the highest level of motorcycle racing Hayes has proved his mettle. He turned a lot of heads with his solid MotoGP wildcard performance at Valencia in 2011 where he finished seventh.

Like many road racers Hayes has used flat track as a form of training to keep him sharp for Superbike competition, so racing on the indoor short track won’t be totally unfamiliar to him, but it will mark his first time racing against some of the best flat trackers in the world.

For Hayes the Superprestigio of the Americas will present a unique challenge.

"When you look at some of the guys coming to compete in Las Vegas, the competition level is going to be extremely high,” Hayes said. ”I’ve raced some local flat track events in Southern California, but I’m definitely putting myself at the low end of the experience spectrum at the Superprestigio. I’m a racer so I’ll go out there and give it my best shot. We all want to be at the top no matter what kind of racing we do.”

Hayes joins AMA Pro Grand National Champions Jared Mees, Jake Johnson, Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. and Brad Baker, along with X Games Flat Track Gold Medalist Bryan Smith as riders already invited to the inaugural Superprestigio of the Americas (SOTA’15).

“I have my own personal bike and Keith (Yamaha racing boss Keith McCarty) has offered to let me test a bike they’ve built,” Hayes explained. “So I’m not sure which one I’ll ride yet. I’m looking forward to racing in Las Vegas and having a lot of fun. I haven’t had a chance to get my focus on getting prepared for the race yet, but that’s coming soon. I still have a little time.”

Saturday night’s Superprestigio of the Americas will be the culmination of an exciting doubleheader weekend of racing. Friday night at the Orleans Arena will witness the AMA Pro Flat Track Final, a race that will decide this year’s AMA Pro Grand National Championship.

Keep posted for future announcements of other riders who will be invited to SOTA’15.

Spots are still open for additional AMA Pro Grand National riders to qualify and some of those won’t be decided until the night before the event.  More details to come at www.superprestigio.com.

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.

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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