Motorcycle-USA.com's Backmarker Mark Gardiner Talks About the Former WERA Pro Formula USA Series

In the fall of 1990, Wayne Rainey had just clinched his first of three-in-a-row 500cc World Championships while riding for Kenny Roberts' Marlboro Team Roberts on the million dollar Yamaha YZR500 two-stroke (and team mate John Kocinski had just nailed the 250cc World Championship as well).

The King was also fielding a team in the States, but not in the AMA Pro Road Racing Series.  Due to what was then called a 'sponsor-sticker placement issue', Roberts walked away from the AMA and entered a team in WERA's F-USA Pro Series, the 'run what ya brung' road racing series that pitted 250cc two-strokes against methanol-burning big-bore four-strokes-and everything imaginable in between.  Future multiple and all-time AMA 250cc GP Champion Rich Oliver and South African Robbie Petersen (pictured above at Road Atlanta in Oct. '90) were tasked with competing in the popular series aboard some of Roberts's Marlboro-sponsored TZ250s.

Although the 'tiny' TZs were up to the task of competing, taking race wins against the might of 1100cc+ big-bore bikes was becoming another thing.  So The King, being The King that he is and always has been, took one of Rainey's championship winning 500s and set it up for the F-USA Series.  With team mate Oliver out injured late in the season (who would go on to win the '91 Formula USA Championship on one of the bikes), Petersen got a chance to show the bike's true colors at the season-ending WERA GNF races at Road Atlanta in late October/early November '90.

The bike actually debuted at the Indianapolis Raceway Park round, the penultimate stop on the series' schedule, in early October.  But as what was (and still can be) the usual case of fall race meetings in the midwest, the weekend was indundated with rain and cold on the day's final events and was postponed until the final stop of the season at the WERA GNF's at Road Atlanta in late October.  Petersen did get time on the bike at IRP, but just a few practice laps and a short, 5-lap heat race on the Saturday afternoon of the event (which of course, had beautiful midwest fall weather!)

Fast forward a couple of weeks, and hundreds of bikes, riders, sponsors, affiliates and teams and thousands of fans converged on the hilly Gainesville, GA. facility to take part in what was a rite of fall, the WERA Grand National Finals, coupled with the season-ending rounds of the Formula USA Pro Series at Road Atlanta over the course of the four-day event. 

Big names on-hand to contest the F-USA Pro Series included regular AMA racers Dale Quarterley on his Sunoco-sponsored Honda RC30, Tom Kipp on his Wiseco-backed Yamaha OW1, and future AMA and World Superbike Champion Scott Russell, on a Muzzy Kawasaki that Doug Chandler had just clinched his first-of-three AMA Superbike Championships on.

And you had the WERA big-name regulars on-hand, including Mike Smith on a Team Hammer Valvoline Suzuki (which he would not only win the Indy make-up round on but also clinch the '90 F-USA Championship with), the late Mike Harth, Andy Fenwick and Kevin Rentzell, just to name a few.

Petersen would take the #16 Marlboro Team Roberts Yamaha YZR500 two-stroke home into the 2nd spot in the Indy make-up round, but would come out on top over Russell's Muzzy Kaw at the final round at Road Atlanta in what would be some of the best racing I have ever experienced.  Listening to the high-pitched scream of the wailing banshee-like sound of the championship-winning Yamaha was unlike anything I've ever heard in comparison to the throaty roar of the big four-strokes of the day.

So while you are ready to go out and fire up the chain saw to emulate the sound of days gone by of the great might of shreeking two-stroke racers on a closed course track, take the time to read Motorcycle-USA.com's Backmarker, Mark Gardiner, as he talks about the days of Formula USA Pro Series racing below, and catch up on some of those days gone by.  Mark and M-USA.com have been kind enough to offer-up four of some of Stu's Shots archive pics in the article below.
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I first 'met' Mark Gardiner when he was writing his bitchin' Backmarker column for the now-defunct Road Racer X.com and print mag a little over four years ago.  Mark had done a column about the Honda AMA Flat Track team from it's inception with master-builder Jerry Griffiths (3-Time AMA Superbike Champion Doug Chandler's father-in-law) and the new design that Jerry had pre-purposed for competition use of Honda's CX-500 v-twin back in the late '70s/early '80s.

After reading, I sent Mark an e-mail and a few shots I had taken of then-flat track-also teamster Freddie Spencer, who had ridden (and baled) the bike in it's 750cc configuration at the summer running of the Indy Mile, as well as one I had of Jerry standing next to what was the destroyed prelude to Honda's later dominance in AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship racing in the mid-late '80s.

Since that time, Mark has been kind enough to seek me out occassionally for the use of some of my shots from back in the day, which have since been featured in the former Road Racer X (online and in print/May 2008) and recently online with Motorcycle-USA.com when writing about former '69 AMA Grand National Champion Mert Lawwill (fall 2011).

Well, Mark contacted me again while amidst his latest writings earlier this week, his April '12 Backmarker column about the now-defunct WERA Pro Series/F-USA Pro Series that originally started at Willow Springs Raceway in California in the mid '80s, and was later bought out and run by Evelyn Clark and WERA into the mid '90s +/-.

You can check out Mark's latest keyboard-pounding effort at Motorcycle-USA.com right here:

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/811/12676/Motorcycle-Article/Backmarker--Formula-USA-Racing.aspx

(And a big thanks to Mark Gardiner and Motorcycle-USA.com for again featuring some of the Stu's Shots archives!  And don't forget to check out Mark's 'Riding Man' which is available for tablet readers through the Amazon link on the left side of the column.  'Riding Man' is Mark's story of traversing across the pond to campaign the Isle of Man TT, a must-read for any motorcycle racing fan and/or fan of the infamous TT event.)
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Here's another great look at the F-USA Series and Roberts' team, thanks again to Larry Lawrence and Cycle News' Archives column:

http://cyclenews.coverleaf.com/cyclenews/20110419?pg=85#pg85
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AMA Flat Track: Mikey Martin Daytona Bike Week Race Report

Mikey Martin on the #91Y Weirbach Racing/General Engineering/Barnett Clutches/Spectro-sponsored Honda CRF450R tries to get an inside run for the 4th-place spot in his battle with Andrew Smith on the #84P TNT Harley-Davidson/Parts Unlimited-backed Honda during round 14 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Peoria TT on August 21, 2011. 

Smith got the nod over Martin, but Martin won the war at the end of the season and clinched the championship for the 2011 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Series for himself and the Iowa-based Weirbach Racing team.  Smith finished 25th in the season-ending standings running a partial schedule and qualified for five of the 20 rounds, with Martin qualifying for all 20 and winning three-in-a-row (Hagerstown, Lake Odessa, Sacramento) for his and the team's stellar season.

Of note, on-track the duo actually finished 5-6, however after apparent-winner Briar Bauman was disqualified for a fuel-test failure issue after the podium ceremonies, the win was awarded to season-ending runner-up Mikey Avila, and the rest of the field moved up.

Martin got off to a rough start in the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Daytona Short Track rounds 1 & 2 three weeks ago, and failed to qualify for either round in what would have been his full-time debut as a rookie in the Expert class.  Not for want of trying, Martin qualifed in the top-48 both nights to make the heat race cut-off, but had a tough time of trying to race out of his heats or semis to make the National mains.

Round 3 of the season reconvenes on May 26 at the Springfield TT on May 26.
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In the pit area at the Lake Odessa, MI. I-96 Speedway round on July 23, 2011, the Bonneville Performance Triumph team gets busy on rider Shawn Baer's #32 Bonneville Performance/Wiseco Pistons/GBR/Penske Racing Shocks-sponsored Triumph 865-based twin machines.   

For the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season, Martin will be riding the British mounts in the 11 Twins Series events, with backing from the Triumph factory to help out the hard-working Bonneville Performance guys.  The first Twins Series round is just over 50 days off at the Springfield Mile I, round 4 of the series on May 27.

This is great news for not only the BPT team, but for the sport as a whole as Triumph has been absent from any form of participation or sponsorship in the decades-old series for over three-and-a-half decades.  Former 2000 AMA Grand National Champion Joe Kopp has been lending the team support and should be a big factor in helping the team, and Mikey, to make more mains in the new season.
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Press release from Mikey Martin, AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship #91/ 2011 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Champion

Mikey Martin’s Daytona Beach - Race Report

What a long, strange trip it’s been…. 6540 miles over the course of 18 days.

We had been in preparation for this Daytona trip since the end of the last season.  I knew going into my rookie season as an expert that we had to prepare two Grand National quality bikes for the Singles program. I was previously on a team where they supplied race ready bikes and all I had to do was show up and meet the team at the track.   I had found myself having to completely build two bikes from the ground up all at in a short amount of time.

We worked on the bikes and my van until the minute I had to leave.  Once on the road I headed straight to Savannah, Georgia to Oglethorpe Speedway.  It was a long 44-hour drive.  The Bonneville Performance, Factory Triumph Race team met me two days prior the actual race event to test and tune on the Triumphs and to continue making the adjustments to help me feel comfortable on the bikes.  This was only my second time on the bikes.

Joe Kopp had been asked by Triumph if he would assist me with the bike set-up and coach me. It was an honor the have Joe in my corner.  I learned a lot. I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank Joe and can’t wait until the next time we have an opportunity to work together, which most likely will be at the Springfield Mile.

Joe and I also shot a promotional video for Triumph.  This was the first time I had ever done anything like that and I was nervous.  I was told that both of us had done a great job, I can’t wait to see it.  We had a film crew in our pits the whole time we were there, it added a whole new element to the experience.

The race got rained out and we had to stay an additional night in Savannah.  The next morning they tried to run a dual event where the originally scheduled event ran as scheduled and the Pro and Expert venue would run as soon as the amateur event was over.  That left us with a condensed program since the Oglethorpe Speedway has a strictly enforced curfew.

In the heat race I came off the line in about sixth and felt like at about lap three that the bike was really starting to hook up good as I was getting some heat in the tires, but with the laps being cut down to six laps due to the condensed program, I did not have enough time to make the final pass for the direct transfer spot to the main and was now going to the semi.  Lesson learned.  I will be using tire warmers in the future.

When the flag dropped for the semi I did not realize that I had started the bike in third gear, instead of taking off in second and up-shifting twice and running fourth gear, I started in third and up-shifted twice and ended up running fifth gear.  I had a great start and was in second place.   Once I realized that the mistake had been made, I had to slow the bike down to down shift.  When I down shifted I had lost three positions and found myself in fifth place.   I was on the move and ended up making a few passes but with the condensed program I was unable to make the final pass by two feet and missed the main event by the final transfer spot. This is a great track to learn on and the competition was that of a national.  I feel very confidant going into my next twins’ race that I can have some great results.

On the first day at the Daytona Short Track I had the honor of being introduced to the audience and on Speed TV in the opening ceremonies by the CEO, Greg Heichelbech of Triumph North America.  I also did a one-on-one interview with Speed TV.

Mikey Martin in action on the #91 AC Racing/Acerbis/Alpinestars/Andrews Bros-sponsored Honda CRF450R at the Daytona Short Track rounds in March 2012.  Photo by Dave Hoenig/Flat Trak. Fotos.com, courtesy of Mikey Martin.
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Due to the luck of the draw I had in my opinion the worst possible qualifying positions in terms of the sessions that I was girded in.   On the first day of timed qualifying I was in the sixth session which was the last session, at Daytona that is usually a good thing since the track takes on rubber and the track keeps getting faster, but the AMA decided to reverse the order in the second qualifying session, which meant last in first out.  The first group came in and was able to relax and watch the track, put on tire warmers and change gearing but being in the last group we only had time to change our gearing and it was time to go back out.  After the second qualifying session I was almost 7/10ths of a second faster than my first session.  At that point I was fifth fastest overall, but there was five groups left and by the time the second session was over I was sitting in thirty-fourth position.  A second row start is not where you want to be at Daytona but I was in the program.

I had a second row start in the heat race.  Only the top four advance directly to the main.  I was doing great but at this level of competition you don’t move to the front very easily.  I ended up seventh.  This put me in the semi. Only three riders advance from the semi to the main.  I made a gearing change and got ready for the semi. I was on the second row and got a great start.  I was in about fifth coming out of turn two and found myself really fighting the bike and could not hold it down in the corners.  The bike felt like it wanted to go straight to the wall and I started loosing positions.  By the time the checkered flag was thrown I was in tenth place. I went to the pits and tried to figure out what made the bike handle so bad.

Once we got back to the pits and reflected on everything we decided to change out the rear shock and get ready for day two.

On the second day, I was hopeful that I would have better luck with my qualifying grid position but this time I was in the fifth group, so that meant that in the second qualifying session I would be the second group out with four groups behind me.  I knew I was just going to have to make the best of it.

I was once again on the second row for my heat race I ended up getting a seventh in the heat, which meant that I was again going to a semi.  At this point I was still confident that I would make the main event, so we went back to the pit and made some final adjustments and got ready from the semi. At the start of the race I came from the second row on the outside, coming out of turn one I was in about thirteenth and had ten laps to make ten passes to make the main.  I was making a pass about every lap. Coming down to the white flag lap I was in fourth and I needed the last pass to get the final transfer spot but it didn’t happen I tried to make the pass on the outside going into turn three, it was a drag race to the checkers but Mikey Rush got the drive and the final transfer spot to the main.

Mikey Martin in action on the #91 Honda at the Daytona Short Track rounds in March 2012.  Photo by Dave Hoenig/Flat Trak Fotos.com, courtesy of Mikey Martin.
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My next National will be at Springfield, IL with a TT on May 26^th and the Mile on May 27^th.  Please drop by the pits and get an autograph sheet and say hi.

I can’t thank my sponsors enough. I have a lot of existing sponsors and some new ones.  I want to give a special thanks to Bill Gately, Mike Cougle and Steve Gately of Bonneville Performance.  I also want to thank Joe Kopp, and everyone at Triumph Motorcycles.

Thanks to our great sponsors:

AC Racing, Acerbis, All Balls, Alpinestars, Andrews Brothers Racing, Applied Coatings, Arai Helmets, Bonneville Performance, Barnett, Crank Works Inc., CV4, Durelle Racing Suspension, D&D Exhaust, Eddie Adkins, EBC Brakes, K&N Filters, Kibblewhite Precision Machining, Lightshoe, Mayberry Construction, Millennium Technologies, Motion Pro, MTFX Graphics, PMP Sprockets, Pro Plates, R-3 Powersports, RK Chain, R&S Erection, Saddlemen, Safety Kleen, San Joaquin Chrome, San Joaquin Steel, Spectro Oils, Spider Grips, SPY Optics, SHY, Triumph Motorcycles, Vortex, VC Graphix, Web Cams, Wiseco Pistons, Woody Kyle Racing, Works Connection

Follow Mikey:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/MikeyMartin91

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/#!/Mikey91Martin

AMA Pro Flat Track rider bio:

http://www.amaproracing.com/ft/riders/rider.cfm?did=4095
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AMA Pro Flat Track Releases Finalized 2012 Grand National Championship Schedule

With just five races left on the schedule, round 16 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Springfield Mile II on September 4 was the first of the remaining Twins Series events on the schedule and saw 2010 AMA Grand National Champion Jake Johnson (shown above waiting for his heat race) sitting in the third spot in the overall standings, behind then-points leader Sammy Halbert and Jared Mees.

After taking his #1 Zanotti Racing/Schaeffer's H-D/Boughner Racing/Arai-sponsored H-D XR750 to a 3rd-place finish at the iconic Illinois State Fairgrounds, Jersey Jake, Slammin' Sammy and Jammin' Jared were still in the same spots in the championship hunt, with still 10 points separating them in the standings.

But just as he had during the 2010 season, Johnson pulled it out, taking the final two wins of the season to come from behind and win his second AMA Grand National Championship in-a-row by 16 points over runner-up Mees and 17 points over season-long points leader Halbert.  Johnson would join a very exclusive list of men who have won multiple championships in the decades-old series.

With the 2012 season-opening rounds at the Daytona Short Track now over 2 1/2 weeks in the rear-view mirror, we now await rounds 3 & 4 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Springfield TT and Springfield Mile I on May 26-27.

When the schedule for the season was originally released back in late December, AMA Pro Flat Track had left open two dates as TBA that originally were hoped to be added to the schedule for the 2012 season, however those dates have now been quashed and the official, final schedule has now been set as what was originally set, minus the two 'TBA' dates, making for a 17-round season.

You can check out the official, finalized schedule below, along with info about the renaming of the Tucson round in October, below thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track.
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AMA Pro Racing Announces Final 2012 Schedule for AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 3, 2012) - AMA Pro Racing announced today the final schedule for the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track season. The AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com and AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles will compete in a total of 17 rounds. AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance GNC Expert Singles will compete at six rounds, broken down into three Short Tracks and three TT, while the mighty Expert Twins will contest the remaining 11 rounds, consisting of six Half-Mile and five Mile tracks. The 2012 season kicked off with a bang last month at the DAYTONA® Flat Track with two riders taking their breakout Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship wins as Johnny Lewis held off Matt Weidman and Sammy Halbert for his first in the Thursday night final and Matt Weidman taking the checkered flag over Jared Mees in Friday's main event. USA Raceway has been renamed to Tucson International Raceway and the recently-announced Half-Mile event, scheduled for October 6, 2012 as the penultimate round on the schedule, will now be called the Tucson Half-Mile. Two previously announced TBA events which were in negotiation will not be included in the 2012 schedule bringing the final count to 17 rounds, with the 2012 AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com schedule coming to a close on October 13th, 2012 on the Half-Mile track at the LA County Fairplex in Pomona, Calif. Complete 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Schedule: March 15, 2012 DAYTONA Flat Track I Daytona Flat Track, Daytona Beach, Fla. Short Track March 16, 2012 DAYTONA Flat Track II Daytona Flat Track, Daytona Beach, Fla. Short Track May 26, 2012 Springfield TT Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill. TT May 27, 2012 Springfield Mile Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill. Mile June 30, 2012 Lima Half-Mile Allen County Fairgrounds, Lima, Ohio Half Mile July 7, 2012 Hagerstown, Half-Mile Hagerstown Speedway, Md. Half Mile July 14, 2012 I-96 Half-Mile I-96 Speedway, Lake Odessa, Mich. Half Mile July 28, 2012 Sacramento Mile Cal Expo, Sacramento, Cailf. Mile August 4, 2012 Castle Rock TT Castle Rock Race Park, Castle Rock, Wash. TT August 12, 2012 Peoria TT PMC Race Park, Peoria, Ill. TT August 18, 2012 Indy Mile Indiana State Fairground, Indianapolis, Ind. Mile September 1, 2012 Springfield Short Track Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill. Short Track September 2, 2012 Springfield Mile II Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill. Mile September 8, 2012 Knoxville Half-Mile Knoxville Raceway,Knoxville, Iowa Half Mile September 30, 2012 Santa Rosa Mile Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa, Calif. Mile October 6, 2012 Tucson Half-Mile Tucson International Raceway, Tucson, Ariz Half-Mile October 13, 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Finals LA County Fairplex, Pomona, Calif. Half Mile

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

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AMA Pro Road Racing & M1 Entertainment Release Big Kahuna Road Atlanta Schedule of Events & Activities for April 20-22

M1 PowerSports Releases Entertainment-Filled Event Schedule and Fan Track Map for the Triumph Big Kahuna Atlanta AMA Pro Nationals

A Press Release Issued by M1 PowerSports:   DENVER, Colo. (April 2, 2012) - M1 PowerSports has released the official event schedule and fan track map for the Triumph Big Kahuna Atlanta, the first of three AMA Pro Road Racing Nationals on the 2012 schedule which make up the Triumph Big Kahuna Triple Crown. The April 20-22, 2012 event marks AMA Pro Road Racing's return to Braselton, Ga.'s Road Atlanta, the incredible venue where M1 PowerSports held the original and highly successful Big Kahuna AMA Nationals over 10 years ago. The freshly-released Triumph Big Kahuna Atlanta Event Schedule is filled with amazing entertainment options for the whole family. The on-track media and fan activity will begin on Thursday, April 19, 2012 with GEICO Two-Seat Superbike Rides with Chris Ulrich and an M1 Track Walk hosted by some of the country's best motorcycle road racing talent. Fans can take to the track Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the Yamaha Demo Rides, Ultra-Exotic MonoTracer Charity Rides and Historic Moto Grand Prix laps scheduled for two sessions each day, and fans can even take their own bikes out at the end of each day with the purchase of a $25 3-Day Triumph Fan Lap ticket. At the beginning of each lunch break, former AMA Pro Champions will take laps on the machines that made them stars as part of the Historic Moto Grand Prix, followed by sighting laps and National Guard 2-Up Rides by international road racing standout Jason Pridmore. On race days, the AMA Pro Fan Walk and Autograph Session will be in full swing on pit lane and fans are invited to check out race-prep motorcycles while rubbing elbows with the stars of the sport. To find their way around, fans are encouraged to download the Triumph Big Kahuna Atlanta Track Map, which includes exact locations for each and every hot spot, including the Mobile View JumboTrons and the Café Racer Village, sure to be the heart of the weekend's incredible fan experience. Located at the top of the hill in the center of the facility, fans can check out the offerings of over 60 vendors, watch a Café Racer Magazine Custom Bike Show, catch Jason Britton Team No Limit Stunt Shows, take part in a Friday Night Fan Party and rock out to a concert by alternative country-rock band Cigar Store Indians, scheduled to take the stage at the end of the day on Friday and Saturday. As always, M1 PowerSports will end with awe-inspiring fireworks displays that are sure to wow the entire crowd. With over 30 Motorcycle Dealers Selling Tickets Across the South East, as well as the all-new M1 PowerSports Facebook Ticket Portal, purchasing tickets to the event has never been easier. The proprietary M1 PowerSports Facebook Ticket Portal App can be accessed by visiting http://www.facebook.com/M1PowerSports/app_201979679905395. If you're not already a fan of M1 PowerSports on Facebook, you still have an opportunity to register to win an exclusive hospitality package through the M1 MotoMadness Facebook Promotion by visiting http://www.facebook.com/M1PowerSports/app_321484137884204. Admission for children 12 and under is free, and parking is free for everyone at each round of the Triumph Big Kahuna Atlanta. M1 PowerSports also offers Military and College Discounts in the way of Buy 1 Get 1 Free ticket packages. Information on these great deals, as well as additional Group Discounts, tent and RV camping packages can be found on the Triumph Big Kahuna Atlanta event page on the M1 PowerSports Online Store, located at http://www.m1powersports.com/big-kahuna-atlanta/. Not only are kids free, but M1 PowerSports has created an incredible hospitality offering just for them. The Big Kahuna Birthday Party is a birthday experience for children that connects the best in family fun with the thrill and excitement of the Triumph Big Kahuna Triple Crown. The package includes free admission for up to 20 children, a one hour long private birthday bash with AMA Pro riders on race day at an exclusive, behind-the-scenes location of their choice and the opportunity to hand out the trophy to the winner of that day's AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport race. Adults that are participating in the Big Kahuna Birthday Party will receive 50% off of any ticket package that they would like to purchase. For reservations, please call (303) 377-3278 and ask for the Big Kahuna Birthday Party. Big Kahuna Cabana Passes, giving fans access to exclusive hospitality offerings, can also be purchased via the Triumph Big Kahuna Atlanta Event Page. The Big Kahuna Cabana Pass includes admission for all three days of on-track activity, free paddock access, VIP parking and a copy of the official event program. In a special hospitality area reserved exclusively for Big Kahuna Cabana Pass holders, fans can catch every second of racing action on closed-circuit televisions while enjoying snacks and appetizers. Fans with restored vintage/classic race bikes can take part in the Historic Moto Grand Prix, offering exclusive parking within the AMA Pro paddock and the option to ride on Road Atlanta's 2.55-mile road course during the event weekend. Please visit http://www.m1powersports.com/historic-moto-grand-prix/ for more information. Another great way to get on track, 3-day Triumph Fan Lap tickets can be had for just $25 and are still available. To purchase, please visit http://www.m1powersports.com/big-kahuna-atlanta-tickets-fan-lap.html. Tickets for the Triumph Big Kahuna Atlanta begin at just $20, including FREE parking, and entertainment offerings are being added to the schedule by the day. Get ready for the Atlanta's biggest entertainment experience in years and grab your tickets now at the M1 PowerSports Big Kahuna Atlanta event page, located at http://www.m1powersports.com/big-kahuna-atlanta/. For tickets and information about the Big Kahuna Miami, scheduled for September 21 - 23, 2012 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla., visit http://www.m1powersports.com/big-kahuna-miami/. For tickets and information about the Big Kahuna New Orleans, scheduled for October 5 - 7, 2012 as the first professional motorsports event at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, La., visit http://www.m1powersports.com/big-kahuna-new-orleans/. To download the Triumph Big Kahuna Atlanta Event Schedule, please visit http://www.amaproracing.com//assets/M1-AMA-Pro-2012-Triumph-Big-Kahuna-Atlanta-Fan-Schedule.pdf.   The Fan Track Map can be downloaded at http://www.amaproracing.com//assets/M1-AMA-Pro-2012-Triumph-Big-Kahuna-Atlanta-Fan-Map.pdf.

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

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AMA Flat Track: Chad Cose Press Release Report from San Jose Indoor

Round 3 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season gets ready to kick into gear as riders for heat one line-up inside the Southern Illinois Center at DuQuoin on April 16. 

Eventual heat, Dash for Cash and National main event winner Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. takes the pole via his fast qualifying time on his #2 Chaplin Kawasaki/Spectro Oils/Wiseco-sponsored KX450F, with Chad Cose rolling his #49 M.E.H. Corp/Arlen Ness/Bell Helmets-backed Honda CRF450R into the second starting spot.  In next comes Jimmy Wood on his #37 Southland Racing/M.E.H. Corp/Race Tech-sponsored Honda, with eventual Rookie of the Year Brad Baker working his way up to the line on the #12 ENI USA/REM/Arai Helmets-backed Honda.  Cose and Wood followed Coolbeth home in the heat getting a direct line to the National main, where they finished 10th and 9th respectively.  Baker would work his way out of one of the semi races to bring his Honda home in 7th.

On Saturday March 31, Californian Chad Cose loaded his '05 motocross bike up in his van and headed to the San Jose Indoor, going up against the likes of Kayl Kolkman, eventual event winner Jethro Halbert, Jared Mees and a host of other riders who made an event out of the indoor concrete track race at the San Jose Fairgrounds.

You can read Chad's press release below to see how things went for C.R.C. Racing in between the Daytona Short Track season-openers and rounds 3 & 4 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season scheduled for May 26-27.
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Press release from Chad Cose Racing, April 2, 2012:

Hello Everyone,

 

This weekend I got the chance to stay pretty close to home as we had a local race in San Jose, California.  Every year San Jose Fairgrounds plays host to an indoor concrete short track to pay tribute to the legends of our sport and give some of us pros a chance to bang each other around for a decent amount of money.

 

This year Rod Lake didn't promote the race and put up the big purse we were accustomed to seeing over the last few years, however P&D Promotions kept the event going and offered a purse for the pro riders. There was about 6 or 7 National number guys on-hand and a flock of local guys ready to race what some call "a fist fight in a phone booth."  I didn't bring my National bike to the race, so we threw some flat track suspension on my '05 motocross bike and gave it a go.

 

After our one-lap qualifying session was said and done I ended up 7th overall.  This would line me up second over from pole in my heat race.  I got off the line 2nd and hounded fast qualifier Kayl Kolkman for the quick 7-lap heat race, falling about half a wheel short for the win at the finish. I ended up second but they only transferred the winner to the small 10-rider main event.

 

I pulled the holeshot from pole in my semi and went on to win to punch my ticket to the main.  You had to either win your heat race or semi during the whole program which meant everyone in the main was on their game.  My semi win would line me up second over from pole in the main event.  Our first start was red flagged after about 3 laps due to a couple riders going down.

 

Once we got the green and were going again I was sitting in 6th. I passed one rider and closed in on Jared Mees for 4th.  It looked as if Jared was having trouble with his bike, but eventually took over 4th and set my sights on 3rd.

 

I slowly began to reel in Mikey Rush for third and thought I had a shot at him when lapper Briar Bauman and him got together.  It was a little late as he settle back in for about 5 laps left.  The checkers flew and I crossed the line 4th.  It was definitely one of those deals where if you got out front you were in good shape and if you were coming from behind you had your work cut out for you.

 

All in all we had a decent weekend and a good time. I also got a chance to meet up with a few of the great guys from Bell Helmets who came out to check out the race and support Flat Track.  Most importantly I stayed healthy for Springfield, which at a race like this the crazy accidents usually happen.

 

I can't thank my sponsors, family, friends and fans enough for everything.  Thanks again to everyone!

 

Chad Cose 49

To become a partner or follow the progress of C.R.C Racing and Chad Cose you can find news, updates and race results on the sources below.

"I would also like to thank all the great people on board C.R.C Racing for the 2012 season".

ChadCose.com

Follow Chad Cose on Twitter

Or follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chad-Cose/238684089543217

2012 Sponsors:

C.R.C Racing, VC Graphix, American Supercamp, Oakland H-D, Saddlemen, Amped Apparel, Bell Helmets, G2 Ergonomics, Eddie & Jodi Mulder, Arlen Ness, Digger Helm, Fightfordirttrack.com, O'Neal, Spider Grips, Team Slideways, Top One Oil, Lightshoe, Utopia Optics, Race Image, Motion Pro, Web Cams, A&A Racing, CP Pistons
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2012 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Nominees Announced

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame announces 2012 nominees

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- April 2, 2012 -- The American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation (AMHF) is proud to announce the 2012 nominees for induction into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. The names of 26 individuals, each highly accomplished in the sport, business and lifestyle of motorcycling, compose the ballot from which the class of 2012 will be selected for induction into the Hall of Fame.

"It's an exciting time for everyone involved in the process of selecting Hall of Fame inductees," said AMHF Board of Directors Chairman Jeff Heininger. "We are so proud of our nominees and their accomplishments, each of whom embodies the passion, spirit and dedication to excellence that exemplifies the Hall of Fame members already honored at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame."

Located on the campus of the AMA in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame tells the stories of motorcycling's heroes and legends, and preserves the history of motorcycling. Hall of Fame nominees are selected from a number of specialties within two main categories. The non-competition category includes ambassadors/industry, design/engineering and leadership/motorcyclist rights advocates, and the competition category includes flat track, motocross/Supercross, off-road, roadracing, and specialty competition.


The 2012 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame nominees are (alphabetically):

• Mark Buckner - National/international motorcycling rights advocate, past state coordinator for ABATE of Colorado, past board member/president/chairman of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation.
• Rod Bush (d. 2005) - Industry leader as former president of KTM North America and member of KTM worldwide board of directors, former member of AMA Board of Directors.
• Derek "Nobby" Clark -- Factory mechanic and tuner for numerous World Grand Prix roadracing championships and Daytona 200 and Imola 200 victories from the 1960-80s.
• Ty Davis - Multiple championships in AMA Grand National Enduro, AMA National Hare & Hound and Baja 1000, 1990 125cc Supercross champion, multitime ISDE gold medalist and top American.
• Skip Eaken - Tuner/builder for riders who finished first in dozens of AMA Grand National Dirt Track competitions, crew chief for three AMA Grand National Championships and an AMA Superbike Championship.
• Jimmy Ellis - First AMA Supercross Series champion and multitime motocross champion.
• Sue Fish - A pioneer of professional women's motocross racing in the 1970s and '80s, multitime Women's World Champion and two-time Superbowl of Motocross champion.
• Louis Gerencer - Multitime National Hillclimb champion and past president of the Hillclimbers Association.
• Charles Gustafson Sr. (d. 1951) - Indian chief engineer who developed the first side-valve engine that debuted in 1916, and is also credited with developing the first kickstarter.
• Tommy Hays - (d. 1941) The dominant TT rider of the pre-Grand National Championship era who won numerous AMA National Championships in four years.
• Jack Johnson - Multitime desert racing champion with numerous Baja 1000 wins, silver and gold International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) medalist.
• Ron Lechien - 1983 AMA Rookie of the Year, 1985 125 Motocross National Champion, multitime USGP winner, numerous outdoor national motocross wins and Supercross wins.
• Bob Leppan - World's fastest motorcyclist 1966-1970 who directed the team that set the 2007 land speed record for production motorcycles.
• John Long - Bonneville Land Speed record holder, five-time U.S. Team member for Anglo-American Match Races, numerous starts in AMA national roadraces and Daytona 200s.
• Dennis Mahan - Mechanic for numerous dirt-track, motocross and roadracing champions, first U.S Motocross des Nations team manager, industry racing manager and product specialist.
• Rob Muzzy - Engine builder/tuner, crew chief, team owner and businessman with numerous AMA roadracing, drag racing, dirt-track and motocross titles and Daytona 200 wins, a World Superbike Championship and a Suzuka 8-hour endurance championship.
• Don Pink - (d. 1984) Dominant 1940s competitor in numerous disciplines, AMA congressman, founder of the New York State Dealers Association and the NY/NJ Metropolitan Sports Committee.
• Randy Renfrow - (d. 2002) Multitime AMA National road racing champion, winner of numerous AMA national races, and a consistent winner in 250 GP racing.
• Jarno Saarinen - (d. 1973) Finnish roadracing world champion and the first European to win the Daytona 200.
• Brian Slark - England-born motocross organizer in the 1960s, imported/built Rickman, Metisse and Cheney motocrossers and helped establish the Mungenast and Barber motorcycle museums.
• Rodney Smith - Multiple championships in AMA Grand National Cross Country, AMA National Hare Scrambles and AMA National Reliability Enduro, multitime ISDE gold medalist and top American, third in 1988 FIM 125cc World Motocross Championship.
• Gloria Struck - North American and European world traveler and motorcycling ambassador, Motor Maids member since 1946.
• Charlie Vincent - Top 1960s off-road racing competitor in the eastern United States, ISDT gold medalist and AMA congress delegate.
• Lance Weil - (d. 2006) Roadracer, mechanic, designer, fabricator and businessman, competed in Europe and the Isle of Man, and the founder of Rickey Racer.
• Al Wilcox (d. 2011) - Life member of the AMA and the Mid-Atlantic Road Racing Club who flagged AMA races for 50 years (and WERA for 30), including 15 years at Daytona.
• Gene Wirwahn - Credited with building the foundation for the AMA's government relations advocacy efforts, championed numerous legislative victories and actively promoted responsible riding on behalf of the AMA and the FIM.

In the coming weeks, six new members representing the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2012 will be elected from these nominees -- three from non-competition categories and three from competition categories. The Hall of Fame class of 2012 will be announced this summer, and the new members will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame at a gala ceremony on Nov. 16 at the Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa in Las Vegas, Nev., during the AMA Legends Weekend. Ticket information will be announced soon at MotorcycleMuseum.org.

For more information about the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the induction process, please visit MotorcycleMuseum.org > Induction.

About the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation

Founded in 1990 by the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, the goal of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is to tell the stories and preserve the history of motorcycling. Located on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio, the Museum's three major exhibition halls feature the machines and memorabilia of those who have contributed notably to the sport. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to motorcycling, including those known for their contributions to road riding, off-road riding and all categories of racing, as well as those who have excelled in business, history, design and engineering.

More information can be found at MotorcycleMuseum.org. 

Contact: James Holter
Phone: (614) 856-1900, ext. 1280
E-mail: jholter@ama-cycle.org

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AMA Pro Road Racing Announces New Ticket Sales Info for Road Atlanta Big Kahuna Rounds

Press Releases Issued by M1 PowerSports: AMA Pro Road Racing National Tickets for M1 PowerSports' Triumph Big Kahuna Atlanta Now Available on Facebook DENVER, Colo. (March 30, 2012) - Getting to the Triumph Big Kahuna Atlanta, the first of three AMA Pro Road Racing Nationals that make up the 2012 Triumph Big Kahuna Triple Crown presented by Dunlop Tire and LeoVince, has never been easier with the launch of M1 PowerSports' latest Facebook application. America's foremost motorcycle road racing promotional company has launched an online ticket sales portal on their official Facebook page, allowing fans to securely purchase tickets to the April 20-22, 2012 event at Braselton, Ga.'s Road Atlanta without leaving the comfort of their Facebook profile. "Our goal is to 'Get People to the Track' and Facebook is the number one place to reach out to the masses and get them involved in our sport," said Cameron Gray, CEO of M1 PowerSports. "The launch of our Facebook sales portal for the Road Atlanta event is just the beginning. Over the course of the 2012 season we'll be expanding our online offering to allow fans to gain access to all of the Triumph Big Kahuna Triple Crown events and our official Moto1 event merchandise through the leading social media networks." The official M1 PowerSports Facebook page, located at http://www.facebook.com/M1PowerSports, is the go-to spot for the latest news about the Triumph Big Kahuna Triple Crown presented by Dunlop Tire and LeoVince. Fans are invited to check out the newly-launched M1 PowerSports Facebook Ticket Portal by visiting http://www.facebook.com/M1PowerSports/app_201979679905395. Tickets for the Triumph Big Kahuna Atlanta begin at just $20 and entertainment offerings are being added to the schedule by the day. Get ready for the Atlanta's biggest entertainment experience in years and grab your tickets now at the M1 PowerSports Big Kahuna Atlanta event page, located at http://www.m1powersports.com/big-kahuna-atlanta/. For tickets and information about the Big Kahuna Miami, scheduled for September 21 - 23, 2012 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla., visit http://www.m1powersports.com/big-kahuna-miami/. For tickets and information about the Big Kahuna New Orleans, scheduled for October 5 - 7, 2012 as the first professional motorsports event at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, La., visit http://www.m1powersports.com/big-kahuna-new-orleans/. Thirty Motorcycle Dealers Now Selling Tickets for M1 PowerSports' Triumph Big Kahuna Atlanta AMA Pro National DENVER, Colo. (March 30, 2012) - With 30 motorcycle dealers across the South East signed on to sell ticket packages for the April 20-22, 2012 Triumph Big Kahuna Atlanta AMA Pro SuperBike Nationals at Road Atlanta, fans looking to purchase their tickets in advance of the event only need to go as far as their favorite motorcycle dealer. "The support we've received from the local motorcycle dealerships and shops has been fantastic," said Cameron Gray, CEO of M1 PowerSports. "We're very thankful for the relationships that we've developed with these partners and now their clientele will have the chance to get their hands on some of the very first Triumph Big Kahuna Atlanta tickets." List of participating dealers, organized by state and then city: Alabama Custom Performance P: 205 424-8611 1130 19th St. North Bessemer, AL 35020 BMW MOA Foundation P: 205-821-7205 2539 John Hawkins Pkwy Suite 101-111 Birmingham, AL 35244 Cycle Gear P: 256-883-1691 8922 Memorial Parkway Southwest Huntsville, AL 35802 Pelham Powersports P: 205-664-4999 2878 Highway 31 S Pelham, AL 35124 Georgia Augusta Triumph/Ducati 706-650-9995 3680 Wheeler Rd. Augusta, GA 30909 Cycle World of Athens (also Harley-Davidson of Athens) P: 706-548-3300 4225 Atlanta Hwy Bogart, GA 30622 NPR Ducati P: 678-369-1199 4071 Mars Hill Rd Bogart, GA 30622 Cycle Nation of Canton P: (770) 720-9554 645 Riverstone Parkway Canton, GA 30114 KTM World P: 770-748-0771 1501 Culp Lake Rd Cedartown, GA 30125 Mountain Motorsports (Conyers) P: 770-761-4800 899 Iris Dr. SE Conyers, GA 30094 Stone Mountain Harley Davidson P: (770) 979-7999 900 Dogwood Dr. Southeast Conyers, GA 30012 MPH P: 770-888-8799 4255 Browns Bridge Rd Cumming, GA 30041 Kawasaki Northeast Georgia P: (706) 654-9840 3340 Highway 53 # A Hoschton, GA 30548 Cycle Gear P: 678-225-0131 722 Collins Hill Rd Lawrenceville, GA 30046 Lawrenceville Honda Yamaha P: 770-822-0089 175 Park Access Dr. Lawrenceville, GA 30046 Metro Cycles P: (770) 941-9050 631 Thornton Road Lithia Springs, GA 30122 Pro Line Motorsports P: (770) 497-0994 3412 Diversified Dr. Loganville, GA 30052 Capitol Cycle Company P: (478) 475-5711 4950 Mercer University Dr. Macon, GA 31210 Harley Davidson of Macon P: (478) 474-3344 5000 Mercer University Dr. Macon, GA 31210 BMW Ducati Motorcycles of Atlanta P: 770-984-9844 1750 Cobb Pkwy SE Marietta, GA 30060 WOW Motorcycles P: 770-424-8804 508 Cobb Pkwy N Marietta, GA 30062 Cycle Gear P: 770-752-1820 11230 Alpharetta Highway Unit 112 & 113 Roswell, GA 30076 Cycle Gear P: 770-272-9873 2441 Cobb Parkway Smyrna, GA 30080 Tennessee Pandora's European Motorsports P: 423-468-4104 4784 Hwy 58 Chattanooga, TN 37401 White's Cycle & Marine P: 423-499-6000 4917 Hwy 58 North Chattanooga, TN 37416 America's Motorsports (615) 834-8990 930 8th Avenue South Nashville, TN 37203 South Carolina Aiken Motorcycle Sales & Services P: 803-649-2872 2129 Whiskey Rd Aiken, SC 29803 Cycle Gear P: 803-750-9294 817 St. Andrews Rd Columbia, SC 29210 Cycle Gear P: 864-322-6626 2017 Wade Hampton Blvd Greenville, SC 29615 Virginia We Ride Motorsports P: 434-696-4190 1431 6th St. Victoria, VA 23974

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

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