Reviewing Round 12 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship as Bryan Smith Takes Another Win at the Springfield Mile II and Makes a Race for the Crown

Round 12 of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines series saw a great battle in the 25-lap National main at the Springfield Mile II last weekend between the top-2 in the championship standings, but in the end Bryan Smith on the #42 Crosley Brands/Howerton Motorsports/Villa-Esparza-sponsored and Kawasaki-backed EX650 pulled out all the stops and saved his tire to take the win in front of a packed Labor Day house at the Illinois State Fairgrounds oval. The win was Smith's second of the year at the mecca of speed, and fifth overall in points races (after also having earlier in the season won the non-points XGames event in Texas) and put him in solid contention for the championship crown against defending AMA Grand National Champion Jared Mees.

With the Howerton team of Jeff Gordon and Ricky Howerton (above, rolling out during the rider intros at Springfield on September 6), along with team wrench Dink Glidden, heading up the charge, Smith was able to save his tire and get the advantage on the last lap to take the win over Mees by .026 seconds and 3rd-place finisher and former 2-Time AMA Grand National Champ Jake Johnson by .027 seconds in what was a near photo finish of the classic battle the three front runners had put on during the whole race.

One of the feel-good happenings at Springfield saw Nichole Mees on the #15 Willie McCoy/H-D of Wausau Harley-Davidson XR750 take her first heat race win of her great career at Springfield, beating out the likes of Jake Johnson (above, during qualifying on the #5 Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Screaming Eagle Performance Parts/Arai Helmets-sponsored factory XR), Doug Lawrence and rookie of the year standout Jarod Vanderkooi. Mees, on the #15 Black Hills H-D/Jerry Kennedy/Wausau H-D-backed XR750 had the fans in the stands rocking with her heat race win in what is her swan song final season of racing before hanging up her steel shoe to concentrate full time on her teaching career. There weren't too many dry eyes in the house when she rolled onto the podium to celebrate the heat race #1 win, and it was well-deserved.

Jared Mees on the #1 Las Vegas H-D/Rogers Racing/Harley-Davidson Motor Co.-backed XR750 did all he could do to keep Flyin' Bryan honest during the 25-lap main at Springfield, but came up inches short in taking the win. He did, however, retain the points lead in the championship by one point (177-176 points) over his Michigan rival and close friend.

Above, the Rogers Racing team of Mees, Kenny Tolbert and Sammy Sweet wait out the red flag stoppage during the second round of qualifying at Springfield brought on by the get-off by Johnny Lewis on the #10 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Ducati. Unfortunately, Lewis suffered a concussion and what was suspected as a rebreak of a former ankle injury and his day was done when he was wheeled out of the LBM pits by the ambulance. It's been a rough year for the Lloyd Boys between Lewis' get offs at both Springfields and former 3-Time World Superbike Champ Troy Bayliss crash at the Sacto Mile in late May, and unfortunately not only was their day done, but their season as well. At least Lewis' injuries weren't ultra serious and he'll be back another day to fight the good fights, as I am sure the team headed up by Mike and Dave Lloyd will, as well.

Sammy Halbert won the Dash for Cash on his #69 Briggs Auto/Martin Trucking/Lucas Oil-sponsored and Johnny Goad-tuned Kawasaki, getting the extra point and the pole spot for the start in the Grand National main at Springfield. The tough-as-nails Kawi pilot and Washington State resident finished the day in the 4th-place spot after running at the front with the top-6 and kept his hopes in the fight for the championship with his 3rd-place in the standings (156 points.) The Slammer also kept his streak of top-9 finishes on the year intact with his run at the Labor Day weekend extravaganza.

Brandon Robinson led a lap a ran in the top-6 during the National main at Springfield on the Brent Armbruster-wrenched #44 Latus Motors/Castrol/Triumph America-sponsored Triumph Bonneville. BRob's day almost came to a sudden end on the last lap of the final, though while racing with former Grand National Champ Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. Coming through turn 3 and heading towards turn 4, the draft closed up sucking Brandon in, where he came into slight contact with Coolbeth, thankfully with both able to gather it up without going down, but Robinson in the process caught the inside guard rail with his left hand tearing a nasty gash into his clutch hand. He still brought it home in 6th-place behind Coolbeth, and still has a lock on 5th-place in the championship standings behind KC2 (143-123 points) heading into the Roar at the Shore in Delaware on Saturday, September 19.

Dashin' Davis Fisher continued his domination of not only Springfield this year in the AMA Pro GNC2 class, but in his grasp of the championship lead for the title. After having to restart his heat from the back row on a back up, the youngster and future of AMA Pro Flat Track's Rolling Thunder Show whittled his way through the field to take the win in his heat, and in the final led all 12 laps to take the win on the #67M Parkinson Brothers Racing/Bob Lanphere Beaverton Motorcycles/Dan Wall Racing-backed Kawasaki. It was the Washington State rider's third win of the year and eight top-2 finish. Davis now has a huge lead in the championship standings heading to Delaware over Jamison Minor (181-130 points) and could feasibly wrap it up next Saturday.

One of the other feel-good events of the day at Springfield was seeing former Springfield winner Shayna Texter get it all together to put it in the field for her first National main start of the season on the #52 Richie Morris Racing/McElroy Packaging/Brain Leathers-sponsored Kawasaki. In the first qualifying session, the young lady from Pennsylvania had put it in the top-4 and eventually put herself into the starting field with a 27th-place spot out of the 45 riders who took a timed lap, and she worked her magic with her new team to make the National main in heat race #3 coming home behind winner Sammy Halbert, Jared Mees and her older brother Cory Texter (more on CTex below). Seeing her and her brother race together in not only their heat but in the main was a wonderful sight, and with Nichole Mees also in the field made for the first time in AMA Grand National history that two women had made a main event at the same time. VERY COOL!

Shayna finished the day in a solid 10th-place, and got the monkey off her back after suffering through the first 2/3's of the season with not looking like things were working out for her. With her new digs with the RMR team, she now is not only looking more comfortable, but more confident as well. Watch out boys, if she gets hot, this could make for an even better show then what the series has been offering anyway!

Cory Texter just recently unveiled his new #65 Cory Texter Racing/Cycle World Magazine/McElroy Packaging-sponsored Kawasaki Vulcan mount, and was able to put it in the field at Springfield with a solid 3rd-place finish in his heat while battling with his younger sister Shayna (see above). They put on a fine show racing side-by-side in Springfield, and this time Shayna won out with CTex bringing it home in the 11th-place spot. CTex has dubbed his new mount 'The Black Hammer' and not only is it fitting, but it hits strong and hard as well.

Rookie of the Year lock and Ohio-resident Jarod Vanderkooi continued to impress at Springfield by taking an 8th-place finish on the #17F Don's Kawasaki/DPC Racing/Floyd Tapp-backed Kawasaki EX650. Qualifying 10th, the youngster and future of AMA Pro Flat Track took his 4th-place finish in heat race #1 to card himself his starting spot on the second row of the National main. His 8th-place finish was his third-best effort of the year (7th DuQuoin, 5th Charlotte) and he now sits solidly in the 12-place spot of the standings with three rounds to go.

The top-6 in the National main weren't spread out much more than this during the 25-lap final, and at times put on a show typical of great mile racing, drafting and moving and shuffling back and forth throughout the just shy of 15 minute race. It was without a doubt one of the best recent main events to watch as these six guys wowed the crowd and the folks like me on the track as they came by lap-after-lap going for it.

This was just past the half-way point as Smith on the #42 Crosley/Howerton Kawasaki leads into turn 1, with Jared Mees on the #1 Las Vegas H-D Rogers Racing XR, Sammy Halbert on the #69 Briggs Auto/Martin Trucking Kawasaki, Jake Johnson on the #5 H-D Motor Co/Arai XR, Brandon Robinson on the #44 Latus Motors/Castrol Triumph and Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. on the #2 Zanotti Racing/H-D Motor Company XR all trying to keep in the draft.

Smith lead the majority of laps on the day with 14 at the front, followed by Mees with 8, Jake with 2 and Robinson with 1. But that was just at the stripe. There were many others throughout the race all over the track with all of the drafting and shuffling going on.

Of note-Coolbeth had to win his semi to make it to the show, and made a charge off the third row that saw him in the top-8 within the first lap or two of the main, and finishing in the 5th-place spot for what surely will earn him the MotoBatt Hard Charger Award for the race. He was a man on fire at the start, and throughout, and Dave Atherton had KC's XR humming for the day!!

With two laps to go, Sammy Halbert took his turn trying to latch onto and get around Bryan Smith, and just past the stripe got a wheel on him, but Smith, who managed his tire the best of anyone in the top-4 to be able to slip out front in the run to the checkers over Mees and Johnson. In the tech teardown area, Smith's tire had enough tread he could probably still run another heat race on it, Johnson's would have made a few more laps without any problems, but Mees' tire was visibly chunked and ravaged.

One of the great things about the best racing on two wheels in the world show is every once in awhile a new, or long-time player in the sport finally breaks through to make it to the show and gain a National number. Last Sunday at Springfield, that person was Kentucky's own Zakk Palmer, the former Pro Singles Springfield winner putting his beautiful #81C Palmer Racing/Western Hills Honda-Yamaha/Durelle Racing Products-sponsored Kawasaki into the show via his 3rd-place finish in his semi behind Coolbeth and Stevie Bonsey. Palmer finished in the 15th-place spot on the day, on the lead lap and will lose his letter for next year as he earned his National number the hard-fought way. Good for you man, great job!

Heat race #1 blasts off to start the racing for the day at the Springfield Mile I on Sunday, September 6 with 2010-11 AMA Grand National Champ Jake Johnson leading the field heading towards turn 1 on the #5 H-D Motor Co factory XR. In hot pursuit are Nichole Mees on the #15 Wausau H-D of Willie McCoy/Black Hills H-D-sponsored XR, Doug Lawrence on the #73 Glidden Racing/Dreyer Motorsports/Tucker Rocky-backed Kawi, Jarod Vanderkooi on the #17F Don's Kawasaki/DPC Racing-backed Kawi and Steve Bonsey on the #80 Cliff Racing/Dodge Brothers Racing/Classic H-D-backed XR.

Nichole led Jake, Doug and Jarod home to take her first-ever heat race win at the Springfield Mile, and ended up finishing the day in the 16th-place spot in the main after brushing the wall on the back straight hard enough to wear a hole in her boot and bend her shifter, all the while keeping it on two wheels and out of harms way.

Lawrence took a 9th-place finish in the main on just his fourth time on the Glidden/Dreyer Kawi, while Bonsey worked his way into the main via his 2nd-place in semi race #1 behind Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. The Salinas, CA. resident finished the day with a very strong 7th-place finish in the main to keep a stronghold on 9th-place in the standings.

Bonsey on the #80 Cliff Racing XR drafts outside former Rookie of the Year Briar Bauman on the #14 USC/Hart Racing/Stevens Racing Kawasaki during one of the qualifying sessions at Springfield. Bonsey (as noted above) finished the day in the 7th-place spot in the National main, but Bauman was relegated to the truck after crashing hard in heat race #1 after contact. He was mostly unhurt, but his bike was all but destroyed in the wild crash. Bauman still has a stranglehold on the 6th-place spot in the overall standings (108 points) in spite of not making the main.


You can check out the full results of the day here thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track, and Cycle News' own Larry Lawrence put together a great report on all the happenings at the Springfield Mile II which you can check out here as well.

Next up, the men and women of The Rolling Thunder Show head to the Roar on the Shore in Delmar, Delaware for a new event this Saturday, September 19 in what will surely be another stellar event on the series' calendar.

A big thanks to Tommra Kiesow for again heading up the team that put on another super event at the Illinois State Fairgrounds mile oval. You guys rock and put on the best of shows and we thank you for your great support of this wonderful sport we all love!

Bryan Smith wins epic Springfield Mile II to tighten Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines points chase

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Sept. 6, 2015) - In an epic finish that came down to the final lap, Bryan Smith edged out a fast field of AMA Pro Flat Track stars to capture his whopping sixth Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines victory of the 2015 season.   Smith's win puts him a single point behind defending GNC1 champion Jared Mees in the championship hunt with three rounds remaining. The Michigan native deftly double drafted past Mees and Jake Johnson on the final lap to snatch the victory. With four out of five Mile wins aboard his No. 42 Crosley Radio Kawasaki in 2015, Smith continues to cement his legacy as the top Mile-circuit rider of his generation.   "On the last corner, I was wondering where Johnson came from, he about schooled Jared and I," said Smith. "It was just a fun race. We were all so fast, and I was just trying to consistently stay out front but conserve my tire at the same time. It's literally like threading the needle out there. I didn't win the Dash for Cash so I'm pretty bummed about that but I'll take the main event win over the dash any day."   Like most of his recent wins on a Mile course, Smith had to fight for this one. In fact, the gap between Smith and second- and third-place finishers, Mees and Johnson, was a mere .027 seconds. Johnson held the lead coming out of turn four of the final lap before coughing up the lead to Smith at the finish line, eventually finishing third.       Bryan Smith on the #42 Crosley/Howerton Kawasaki leads the field into turn 3 on the first lap of the 25-lap National main at the Springfield Mile II on September 6, and went on to score his second victory of the season on the Illinois State Fairgrounds oval, and fifth of the season overall to jump within one point of series points leader and defending AMA Grand National Champion Jared Mees. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Brian J. Nelson.         Second-place finisher Mees rode his No. 1 Las Vegas Harley-Davidson hard on Sunday, and he almost pulled off the upset in front of a jam-packed audience at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The defending champion leaves the Midwest with a one-point lead over Smith in the standings as the two head into the season's final three rounds.   Although he experienced the bitter sweetness of finishing third, Johnson performed extraordinarily on Sunday aboard the No. 5 Factory Harley-Davidson. The two-time champion has filled in admirably for the injured Brad Baker since taking over last month, posting the fastest qualifying time of the day and also finishing second in the Dash for Cash.   Fourth-place finisher Sammy Halbert wasn't in the photo finish at the end, but he was a legitimate threat to win throughout the race. The No. 69 Briggs Auto Kawasaki pilot made aggressive moves to get to the front of the pack during several points of the race and though he never registered a leading lap on the official lap chart, he did find himself out front multiple times. Halbert's shining moment on Sunday was his thrilling Dash for Cash victory, and he now sits third in the point standings behind Mees and Smith.   Rounding out the top-five finishers on Sunday was No. 2 Zanotti Racing rider Kenny Coolbeth Jr. The three-time champion had to use a Semi 1 win to qualify for the main event and he took full advantage of his opportunity, turning a 14th-starting position in the Main to a fifth-place finish.   Brandon Robinson, riding the No. 44 Latus Motors Racing Triumph, also led the race at one point before finishing an eventual sixth.   GNC2   Davis Fisher continues to turn heads during his record setting 2015 GNC2 campaign, as the No. 67M Parkinson Brothers Racing Kawasaki pilot earned his third win and eighth podium finish this season on Sunday at the Springfield Mile.   Fisher's Springfield Mile win was his second at the historic venue this season and the 17-year-old has all but locked up the GNC2 championship with three rounds to go. His 181 points tower over next-best competitor Jamison Minor's 131 in the GNC2 point standings.   Earning his second runner-up finish of 2015 on Sunday was Tristan Avery. The No. 16S Rod Ayers Motorsports Kawasaki pilot has proven to be lethal on the twin this year, as he also recorded a Du Quoin Mile win back in July. Avery now sits seventh in the GNC2 point standings.   Rounding out the Springfield Mile podium on Sunday was No. 94B Suzuki pilot Ryan Wells. Wells now has three third-place finishes under his belt in 2015 and he now sits 10th in the standings. No. 24F Smith Racing Kawasaki rider J.R. Addison and No. 20J Bruce Lowe Excavating Suzuki pilot Ben Lowe, rounding out the top-five finishers, respectively.   Next Up   The stars of AMA Pro Flat Track visit Delmar, Delaware for Round 12 on Saturday, Sept. 19. For tickets and more information regarding the event, fans are encouraged to visit http://delawareracing.com/DirtTrack/.     About FansChoice.tv:   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

AMA Pro Flat Track Announces New Basic Twins Class for Pro-Level Riders, to Debut at Springfield Mile II with Full Schedule Expected for 2014 Season

Round 13 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Championship saw the 'feeder' series of AMA Pro Flat Track head to the confines of the Illinois State Fairgrounds mile oval in what was to be another wild and exciting race for the Pro-level riders and class, running in conjunction with the Expert-ranked stars of The Rolling Thunder Show.

With just a couple of laps to go, riders head down the front straight in a pack that you could literally throw a blanket over, within inches of one another, and within inches of the start/finish line.  And all on a 450-based singles series motorcycle running at it's peak, with no room for error or any throttle left to get you out of harm's way, should and when it occurs.

In what has started to become a game of 'letting the pit bull play with the hand grenade' in the AMA Pro Singles Championship, the class showcased on the undercard of the National program has especially at the Springfield Mile become one of holding one's breath for a 12-lap main.  While the riders equipped with their potent 450 singles machines race so tightly-packed together for the length of the race that just one small mistake or mishap can cause mayhem that will ripple through the 18-rider field quicker then a brush fire in drought-stricken Kansas.

As a result of what has for the last couple of seasons, and especially after last year's ultra-close quarters at Springfield in the Pro Singles class, been a probable accident waiting to happen, the powers that be within AMA Pro Racing and the IMDA (the promoters of the Springfield rounds) had decided originally for this season that they were going to do away with the Pro Singles bikes on the mile oval, all for safety's sake mind you.  Not that the racing hasn't been good, nor has anyone been injured seriously, yet, but in the interests of making sure that a major accident or injury would not occur, and after lengthy discussion, have slated the Pro Singles on the mile to be a non-points paying event, and has been left open for those that DO want to race there, can still do so, but for cash payout only.

Although some will see this as a poor way to handle the possibilities of 'what could occur' the fact still remains that the 450s on the mile have been so closely grouped and tightly-wound that it was, or is, just a matter of time before someone pulled that pin on that hand grenade and let the pit bull loose in the fenced-in area.  And if that were to occur running at 120mph+ on a tightly-wound single-cylinder racing motorcycle, the affects could be devastating, and even fatal. 

I don't have the answer any more then anyone else as to why only Springfield would or were to be affected in this move, as we all know Indy, Santa Rosa and Sacramento are also mile venues.  But for some reason the layouts of those tracks don't have the same 'grouping' effects that always occur at the Illinois State Fairgrounds venue when riders on the 450s are at speed.  Some may and will say that more injuries occurred during the Pro Singles last stop at the Peoria TT last year, and others may also recall losing Canadian rider Jesse Phibbs after his accident at the Indy Mile in August 2010, in which he suffered what would weeks later be fatal injuries, after his crash in one of the Pro Singles qualifying heats on the back stretch.

However, none of the other tracks on the schedule seem to have the propensity to 'bunch-up' the riders so closely in what is a VERY tight pack, and for what usually lasts for the length of the races on tap, and so far, other then a few wild re-starts and get-togethers, no one has of yet to suffer fatal or career-ending injuries.  In this respect, the powers that be, AMA Pro Racing and IMDA, have made a concerted effort to keep this from happening.  And bully for them!

But, the Pro-level riders DO still need to gain the expertise and experience on the big tracks so that one day, if they so wish, they can step-up to the Expert-level ranks and compete with the likes of Jake Johnson, Bryan Smith, Jared Mees and company on the fastest tracks in the nation.  And that is where AMA Pro Flat Track has now taken measures to introduce a new, Basic Twins Class, in hopes of helping those Pro-level riders to gain that level of experience, and especially on the mile tracks.

It was announced earlier today by the Daytona Motorsports Group in Daytona Beach, that starting with the Springfield Mile II on September 1, what is now scheduled to be round 12 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season, the new Basic Twins Class will be introduced as a non-points paying event preview.  This new class is also a big step in helping the Pro riders attain familiarity with the power and speed differential compared to running the 450 singles at all of their events, and will morph into a full-time and points and cash-paying series for what is now the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship.

The shot above does a nice job of highlighting how closely-wound and tightly-packed the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship class runs on the mile track at Springfield, and even with this being within a handful of laps until the end, the entire 12-lap final has pretty much been a carbon copy of this type of action for the last several years.

Leading this pack is Dominic Colindres on the #66Y Weirbach Racing Honda CRF450R, followed by Wyatt Maguire on the #18M Kirland Racing Yamaha YZ450F, Michael Bickerton on the #28P Hogwrench Racing Honda, Zakk Palmer on the #81C Double Dick Bandits Honda, eventual winner Cody Johncox on the #96B Sunnyside Cycle Yamaha, Shayna Texter on the #25A DFW Honda (hidden, directly behind Palmer and just over Johncox' right shoulder), and Cole Anderson on the #21L Diesel Minnesota Honda.  With Johncox pulling out the win at the checkered flag, Palmer, Bickerton and Anderson would fill out the top-4, with Texter in the 6th-place spot, Maguire coming home in 8th and Colindres in the 9th-place spot.  Now that is some tight racing!

Check out the official press release below from AMA Pro Flat Track to get all of the details that have been released on the new Basic Twins Class, and I say bravo for taking the steps to get this done from the powers that be!

AMA Pro Racing to Launch New AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Class for Pro Licensed Riders 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 12, 2013) - AMA Pro Racing officials announced today a new class for AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles aimed at developing the up-and-coming riders in the J&P Cycles Pro Singles division.  The new class, titled Basic Twins, will provide a stepping stone for Pro licensed riders, allowing them to showcase their talents on twin-cylinder machines as they make the transition to the Grand National Championship. 

 

"This is an important step in building up our young talent and creating a healthy environment for the future of the sport," said Dan Johnsen, Director of AMA Pro Flat Track.  "Allowing our Pro licensed riders to show their skills and talents, while gaining experience on the twins, eases their transition as they move through the ranks of AMA Pro Flat Track on their way to becoming the stars of tomorrow."

 

The new Basic Twins class is a re-envisioning of the Basic Expert Twins division that ran as part of the series during the 2007 and 2008 seasons.  The same engines approved for competition in the Grand National Expert Twins class will be eligible in the Basic Twins class, but with varying levels of modification required in order for them to fit within a reduced performance envelope.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bryan Smith #42 leads Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. #2 and eventual winner Willie McCoy #59 during round 4 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Springfield Mile I on May 27.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

 

 

The class is scheduled to debut during the fall running of the Springfield Mile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds as a non-points-paying exhibition race, and beginning with the 2014 season, the Basic Twins will be featured in place of the J&P Cycles Pro Singles class at select half-miles and miles.  As part of the transition, the J&P Cycles Pro Singles race at the upcoming spring running of the Springfield Mile will also be contested as a non-points-paying exhibition race.

 

The next stop for the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles season is the Stockton Half-Mile at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, Calif.  For tickets and information, please visit www.stockton99.com.

 

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

 

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

 

For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles, please visit http://www.amaproracing.com/ft/.

 

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

AMA Pro Flat Track Announces J&P Cycles as New Title Sponsor for Pro Singles Championship Series for the Upcoming 2013 Season

Round 5 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season saw the series head to the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, OH. for the annual running of the Ohio National Championship held at the Lima Half-Mile. 

Lining up for heat race #2 in the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship Series on the front row are (L-R) Zakk Palmer on the #81C Double Dick Bandits Honda CRF450R (who went on to finish second in this heat and claim the overall win later in the evening), eventual 2012 AMA Pro Singles Champion Stephen Vanderkuur on the #10J Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda (who would win this heat), Robbie Treinen on the #71L FM Ceiling and Remodeling Honda, Michael Bickerton on the #28P Hogwrench Racing Honda, Matt Zacher on the #15B Zacher Construction Honda, and Brandon Laursen on the #82J Laursen Racing Honda.

Also seen on row two are Chaz Springsteen on the #29J TCR Honda, Coy Matthews on the #30F Kings Kustoms Honda, and Jordan McCready on the #11J Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda (who would take home the 3rd-place spot in heat 2.)  Shayna Texter can be seen lining up on the back row on the #25A DFW Honda CRF450R.

AMA Pro Flat Track announced today that J&P Cycles will be the new title sponsor for what will now be called the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship Series, taking over where Motorcycle-Superstore.com had been in charge for the last couple of seasons.  J&P will also be ponying up a $25K point fund total (of which $10K will be payable to the 2013 AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship Series winner) for the new season ahead.

You can check out more on this great news below thanks to the press release from AMA Pro Flat Track, as we get ready to gear up for the new season, which will kick-off in fine fashion at the Daytona Short Track doubleheader on March 14 and 15 in just over two weeks' time.

J&P Cycles Named Presenting Sponsor of AMA Pro Flat Track and Title Sponsor of J&P Cycles Pro Singles Division

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 26, 2013) - AMA Pro Racing is pleased to announce a newly formed partnership with J&P Cycles, naming J&P Cycles as the Presenting Sponsor of AMA Pro Flat Track and Title Sponsor of the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles class. As part of the agreement, J&P Cycles will contribute a $25,000 Year-End Points Fund for the rising stars of the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Class after the motorcycle parts and accessories giant.   "We are very excited to begin this partnership with J&P Cycles," said Michael Gentry, Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing. "I see great things in store for the future in the ranks of the J&P Pro Singles class and look forward to the success our up and coming riders will attain thanks to this new relationship. The support that J&P Cycles has pledged through the year-end points fund is vital to the growth of the sport and is deeply appreciated by the entire paddock."   J&P Cycles will have access to a number of marketing and promotional activations in 2013. At each event on the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles schedule, the company will have access to on-site activation. The two companies will also be working together to develop unique and engaging website content and social media initiatives in order to further the sport by engaging the younger demographic.                               Zakk Palmer #81C leads the rest of the field during round 16 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Springfield Mile II during the running of the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship Series.  AMA Pro Flat Track announced today that J&P Cycles out of Anamosa, Iowa will be the new title sponsor for the Pro Singles Championship Series for the 2013 season.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.     "J&P Cycles is proud to be a part of the AMA Pro Flat Track series this year," said J&P Cycles Vice President/General Manager Zach Parham. "AMA Pro Flat Track represents the grass roots of racing at its best, and we are pleased to be a part of this sport with so much history. The racing this year is going to be exciting and we look forward to sharing the excitement and action with our customers."   The J&P Cycles Pro Singles division is the deepest it's been in recent years. The talent pool is impressive and growing, and the Championship is almost guaranteed to come down to the wire when the season concludes in Pomona. Defending champion Stephen Vanderkuur will be gunning for a repeat season, but the Michigan product will undoubtedly have his hands full as aggressive competitors such as Jake Cunningham, Dominic Colindres, Shayna Texter, Gerit Callies and many others all share the same aspiring title hopes. As if pride wasn't enough for these young stars, a $10,000 bonus will now be awarded to the 2013 J&P Cycles Pro Singles Champion. The complete pay structure for the J&P Cycles Year-End Points Fund is as follows: Champion, $10,000; 2nd place, $5,000; 3rd place, $4,000; 4th place, $3,000; 5th place, $2,000; 6th place, $1,000.   The 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles season will kick off as part of the historic DAYTONA 200 Week. The AMA Pro Grand National Championship and J&P Cycles Pro Singles divisions take to the track in a set of one-day events on March 14 and 15, 2013 at the DAYTONA Flat Track, located just outside of the Daytona International Speedway's west banking. For tickets, please visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.   About J&P Cycles:   J&P Cycles is the world's largest retailer of aftermarket parts and accessories for Harley-Davidson and V-Twin Cruiser motorcycles. In business for 34 years, we carry a full line of products from the brands you trust: Kuryakyn, Vance & Hines, Performance Machine, Mustang Seats and many more. J&P Cycles carries tens of thousands of items in stock, in print and online, delivers the best customer service and return policy in the industry. For more information, visit www.jpcycles.com and start building your dream today!

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

AMA Pro Flat Track Heads to Springfield Doubleheader Rounds for Final Midwest Races of the 2012 Season

What was originally scheduled as round 11 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Springfield Short Track over Labor Day Weekend is getting ready to kick-off in fine fashion this afternoon at 4:30 PM EDT/3:30 PM CDT at the Multipurpose Arena on the Illinois State Fairgrounds as round 12.

Two of the top contenders for tonight's race sit in wait above at round 3 ready for practice at the Springfield TT on May 26.  Jake Johnson on the #1 Zanotti Racing/Schaeffer's H-D-sponsored Honda CRF450R and Sammy Halbert on his #7 South Ass/Fredericktown Yamaha-backed YZ450F will be two of the protagonists in the battle to win the last short track National to be held at Springfield in the foreseeable future.

Jersey Jake will be looking to add to his legend as a master of the tracks at the fabled events held over the course of the last dozen 10-11 seasons in trying to win his first-ever short track there after carding two Springfield Mile wins on the big oval and the Springfield TT from May 2011.  Halbert will be looking to grab another Singles Series Championship to go along with his 2011 #1 plate in the 450 class as the two battle with Singles points leader Jared Mees to close out the Singles portion of the 2012 calendar.

The series will shift to the mile oval for Sunday's running of the Springfield Mile II that was originally scheduled as round 12 and will now make up the 13th event on the 2012 season's calendar.  In both previous events at the fastest mile in the country, Texan Willie McCoy hauled his #59 Harley-Davidson of Wausau/Independence H-D-sponsored XR750 to the front and to the top of the podium in the waning moments of each race to capture his first and second-ever Grand National main event wins in his over 25-year career as one of the finest and the fastest in The Rolling Thunder Show.

With tutelage over the years from two of the baddest, fastest and best in the business in the form of 7-Time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr and his long-time compadre in multi-championship winning tuner, wrench, builder and master of the Milwaukee iron, Kenny Tolbert, McCoy has shown that he not only knows how to haul the mail in the best racing series on wheels in the world, but can build a pretty darn good horse to do so with as well.

Brandon Robinson on the #44 Werner-Springsteen Racing/Big Dawg-backed Kawasaki showed at the Springfield Mile I round he is finally returning to winning form after his '09 Indy Mile crash that curtailed his racing efforts.  Although his final result at Springfield back in May was cut short due to a first lap crash and resulting retirement, since that time BRob44 has put it on the podium for his first-ever Twins main event (Lucas Oil Indy Mile) and carded a 4th-place finish at the Sacto Mile and a 7th-place result last weekend at Knoxville to let everyone know he is returning to top form and show legendary team owners and multi-time championship winners Bill Werner and Jay Springsteen that they did no wrong in hiring the former Expert Twins champion.

Jared Mees' runs the last several seasons have carded the transplanted Pennsylvania/Michigan resident to the top of everyone's go-to-it list as he leads the championship overall standings heading into this weekend's doubleheader rounds.  Although unlike last season where he took multiple wins Mees' single triumph at Hagerstown earlier this season along with is rock-solid efforts have taken him and the #9 Rogers Racing/Blue Springs H-D XR750 to the top of the list and the one that Johnson and Halbert must run down in the remaining five events of the year if they have any hope for grabbing the big piece of the pie that is the AMA Grand National Championship.

Nichole Cheza will be ready to run with the boys on the #15 Global Products/Harley-Davidson Co-backed XR after the solid efforts she put in last weekend at Knoxville in winning her semi and bringing home an eventual 8th-place finish.  One of the finest in the business as well as one of the most popular people in the pits, the Michiganite will sure to be ready to run with and run down the boys come Sunday's green flag to start the day's events.

And Stevie Bonsey is another who has shown again that he has the talent and ability to run up front after his semi win at Indy on the #80 Werner-Springsteen Kawi and his strong efforst early in the season on the Dodge Brothers/Alpinestars-backed XR.  The '09 AMA Pro Flat Track Rookie of the Year will be filling in the seat again tomorrow on the Big Green Machine of the iconic duo of Werner and Springsteen and should be a force to reckon with all day long.

The picture above highlights the five mentioned here in their battle during heat race #2 at the Springfield Mile I round in late May.  When the checkers flew for this one, McCoy led Mees, Robinson and Cheza home for their direct transfers to the main, while Bonsey raced into the final during his semi race later in the day.

The bike that everyone is hoping to beat or ready to openly complain about will return to the track tomorrow for the third mile effort of the Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports powered by Eaken Racing Kawasaki team with Bryan Smith #42 ready to make amends for his SF Mile I 'slip' and the battery failure at Indy that surely would have been another win for the team at Indy.

Although the cries and wails have been heard from those that think they have been out-gunned with the rocket-fast parallel twin, one thing that is sure that with the playing field leveled per AMA Pro Flat Track regulations and a possibility that an extra millimeter of restrictor may be given back to the XR teams for the 2013 season, master builder and craftsman Ricky Howerton and team member Jeff Gordon aren't too worried about being still able to run and run fast.  Which means the long-time IndyCar engineer still has something in his back pocket to keep the stunning machine at the front--with the help of Flyin' Bryan's great throttle-twisting ability.

Without a doubt, just as it has been since it rolled out above at the first Twins round at Springfield in late May, everyone will have an eye on the #42 bullet as the fans will flock to get an eye on one of the newest and most innovative machines to grace The Rolling Thunder Show track and paddock and play the game as has been written ala the rules and formulations of the AMA Pro Flat Track guidelines.  And the competition could still very well be looking for a close-up view, as well, but it could be from behind if results are determined on the track.

All eyes will also be on the great battle on the track in the 2012 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Series events.  With Shayna Texter again wowwing the boys and the fans in winning the Knoxville Half-Mile round on her #25A DFW Honda/Herr's-backed mount, the boys will be looking to run her down this weekend as they eventually did as shown at Springfield above in the final dash to the checkers in the Pro Singles main event.

What will or could happen in the junior series will keep the fans on their feet as the ultra-competitive class has proved time and time again that the 450-based class can put on one fine show.

Above Zakk Palmer on the #81C Double Dick Bandits Honda, Texter on her #25A DFW Honda, Stephen Vanderkuur on the #10J Performance Cycle & Dyno Honda, Jake Shoemaker on the #55A Montgomeryville Cycle Center Honda and Jake Cunningham #94L Arai Helmets Honda run for the gold in the closing feet of round 4 of their 2012 season, with Cunningham getting to the line just inches in front of Palmer, Texter, Vanderkuur and Shoemaker in what was one of the fastest, finest and most memorable Pro Singles events in the series' now four years of competition.

Today and tomorrow will be no different, so tune in and keep an eye out for the fastest and the most strategic of efforts from the men and women that comprise The Rolling Thunder Show in what will surely be a remarkable weekend for the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season and you don't want to miss a move!

AMA Pro Flat Track Returns to Run Long Awaited Springfield Race Weekend

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 13, 2012) - After a two week delay prompted by Hurricane Isaac, the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com and Lucas Oil returns to the Illinois State Fairgrounds for the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association (IMDA) promoted Springfield ST and Mile doubleheader weekend.

 

The weekend consists of a short track at the Illinois State Fairgrounds' multi-purpose arena for the 450cc single-cylinder bikes on Saturday, before moving to the Holy Grail of flat track racing on Sunday, the Springfield Mile. The mile features the big twin-cylinder (750cc / 1000cc) monsters and 100mph lap speeds.

Last week's Knoxville National shook the points race up as points leader Jared Mees (Rogers Racing / Blue Springs Harley-Davidson) suffered a rare mechanical problem forcing his Harley-Davidson XR750 to the sidelines. "It is what it is. Is shook up the points quite a bit more than I would of liked for sure," said Mees. "We're still in the lead, just not by as much."

Defending Grand National Champion Jake Johnson (Zanotti Racing) and Sammy Halbert (South East Harley-Davidson / Fredericktown Yamaha) have closed to within 11 points and are tied for second. Halbert has the tie breaker in hand now with three wins on the season.

"Springfield is huge. We will go there with guns loaded," said Halbert. "We will be ready to have some fun and go fast. The point race definitely tightened up. Now we have all had a DNF. That's the way it goes. I look forward to finishing the year off strongly."

Yet to win a race in 2012, Johnson feels he is ready to make Springfield history. "Springfield Short Track is one that I've been looking forward to all year. I've won the TT, I've won the Mile and I've gotten second a bunch of times at the Short Track. I'd love to be able to win that event," said Johnson. "With it being the last year, I'd love to be able to win all three of those. I don't think anybody has won all three. Not just in one year, but since they have been having them. That's been a big one on my list."

 

 

Jake Johnson #1, Jared Mees #9 and Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. #2 are shown in battle during the Springfield Mile I round on May 27, 2012.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

"It's still going to be a fight until the end. It's just going to come down to finishes now. I'm looking forward to it," added Johnson. "We've hit the reset button and we're close in points. Hopefully we can pull that off and have a good weekend at Springfield. If not, come out with some more good finishes. Hopefully no crashes, no breaks, just finish."

Crosley Radio / Howerton Motorsports' Bryan Smith nearly won the Springfield Mile in May and has posted a win at the Sacramento Mile, now sitting fourth in points. "I'm pumped for Springfield," said Smith. "The mile I'll be back on the Kawasaki. I'm ready to get back to the mile and I'm excited to go to the Springfield short track. I've got a really good 450 for the short track. It will be a big weekend and I'm looking forward to it."

The Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles class will also be competing both days. While Saturday's Short Track race is always competitive, the Mile on Sunday normally requires the holding of your breath for 12 laps as the 18 riders fight over one of the biggest wins of their young careers.

Coming off a solid second place finish last week in Knoxville, current points leader Stephen Vanderkuur (Parkinson Brothers Racing) holds a seven point lead over Ryan Wells (5 Star Steel & Fabrication). Jake Shoemaker (Montgomeryville Cycle) and Jason Isennock (Highs Dairy) remain in the thick of the points race.

Shoemaker is looking to repeat his win of last year's Labor Day Mile, but there are truly so many riders in this class that have a chance of winning either or both days. After posting her second win of 2012 last week by repeating her historic win at the Knoxville Half Mile, Shayna Texter (DFW Honda / RLT Racing) is the crowd favorite wherever she goes, and many are predicting another win on Sunday.

Tickets for this weekend are on sale now and can be ordered by calling 217-753-8866 or 888-468-1622. Tickets for the 2013 races can be ordered starting January 2, 2013.

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