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Jumat, 19 April 2013

AMA Pro Flat Track Announces Test & Tune Session at Stockton Half-Mile on April 28

Round 5 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season saw contenders in heat race #2 lead the field off at the Allen County Fairgrounds-hosting of the Lima Half-Mile on June 30. Henry Wiles on the #17 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Ducati, Dan Ingram on the #31J TCR/Zanna Racing H-D XR750, Bryan Smith on the #42 Moroney's H-D XR, and Rob Pearson on the #27 Memphis Shades XR head towards turn one during the running of one of the longest-standing Nationals on the AMA Pro Flat Track calendar.

AMA Pro Flat Track announced today that the Stockton Half-Mile, round 3 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season, will be hosting a test & tune session on Sunday, April 28 in preparation for the upcoming first Twins Series event on the series' calendar on May 11.

In what for some may be considered short notice to schedule travel to this special hosting, in fairness to all, last year's test & tune at the Lima Half-Mile was officially announced just two weeks before it was held at the Allen County Fairgrounds. Last year's Lima test was attended by a majority of east coast-based teams, as travel was also a factor in some of the west coast teams being able to attend. This will in all likelihood be the same case, but reversed, for the Stockton test, with more of a balance of west coast teams contesting the special session. Overall, this is still a good chance for the series' regulars to be able to get in some extra seat time in preparation for the meat of the schedule ready to kick-off in just over 20 days time.

Thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track for the official press release below which has all of the details for the upcoming test in the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season!

AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Riders Gear Up for Test & Tune at Stockton Half-Mile

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 19, 2013) - AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles is gearing up for its first trip out west as the Grand National riders make the switch from their 450cc single-cylinder mounts to the twin-cylinder monsters used on mile and half-mile ovals.

Approximately two weeks before the Stockton Half-Mile, the promoter of the event, Tony Nocetti, is offering licensed AMA Pro Expert Class and J&P Cycles Pro Singles riders the opportunity to test and tune their motorcycles at the Stockton Half-Mile from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 28, 2013.

There are many new teams and a wide variety of equipment expected to compete during the 2013 season, with Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki, Ducati, Triumph, KTM and Suzuki all expected to be represented in the Expert Twins class this year.

Mikey Avila #33E, Brandon Robinson #44, Henry Wiles #17, Bryan Smith #42 and Sammy Halbert #7 blast off from the line at the Santa Rosa Mile during round 14 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season on September 30. AMA Pro Flat Track today announced the scheduling of a test & tune session to be held at the Stockton Half-Mile on Sunday, April 28 in order to help riders and teams become better acclimated with the new facility on the series' calendar. Round 3 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season is set to roll-off for the first Twins Series event of the year on Saturday, May 11 at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

The test and tune will open to the press and public, where they can get an up-close preview of the Stockton Half-Mile oval and the riders that will compete on it when the Series returns for the main event on May 11, 2013.

For more tickets and more information please visit www.stockton99.com.

Direct link for tickets - http://www.showclix.com/events/17007

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

Rabu, 17 April 2013

AMA Pro Flat Track Expands 2013 Schedule with Addition of Colonial Downs Mile Event on August 24

Henry Wiles on the #17 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Ducati 'L' twin leads Rob Pearson on the #27 Eaken/Roeder Racing H-D XR750 during one of the qualifying sessions at the Indy Mile during round 10 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season on August 18.

Wiles qualified 11th and Pearson in the 14th-place spot out of the 47 riders who took a qualifying time during the event held in conjunction with the Indiana State Fair. Both had some of their best finishes of the year later that night, with Wiles coming home in the 4th-place spot, and Pearson in the 7th-place spot, after jumping off of the Eaken/Roeder/Ford XR and riding the Eaken Racing/Dick Ford Kawasaki in the 25-lap National main.

The 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season was just extended to 15 events today, as AMA Pro Flat Track announced the addition of the Colonial Downs Mile to the schedule on August 24. The track, primarily a horse racing facility, measures in at just over a mile and should make for some exciting racing for the east coast crowd.

With Wiles returning to the LBM team for the 2013 Twins Series schedule, and Pearson riding for the Weirbach Racing team this season (and debuting the team's new Kawasaki 650R Twins mount this year) the new event on the schedule should make a nice venue for the big bikes to get out and breath!

Thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track for the press release below, where you can check out the particulars on the event and see where to get your tickets for what will be round 12 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season.

AMA Pro Racing Adds Colonial Downs to 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Schedule

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 17, 2013) - Officials from AMA Pro Racing announced today the addition of Colonial Downs to the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles schedule. The circuit, which measures in at just over a mile, will feature the stars of the rolling thunder show on August 24, 2013 as Round 12 and brings the total number of mile races on the schedule to six. The race will mark the first time in the storied history of the Grand National Championship that the series will visit Colonial Downs, located in New Kent, Virginia.

"We're thrilled to bring our series to the legendary Colonial Downs race track," said Dan Johnsen, Director of AMA Pro Flat Track. "We are very proud to add a venue of this caliber to our schedule. Our riders will now have one more opportunity to battle for position in the point standings and also allows us to showcase our magnificent sport to a new market hungry for flat track racing."

The AMA Pro Grand National Experts will roll out their twin-engine machines on the last Saturday of August as Colonial Downs is one of the largest dirt tracks in the United States, coming in at 1.25 miles. The rising stars in the J&P Cycles Pro Singles will have their skills put to the ultimate test in late August aboard their 450cc machines, in a race which will surely come down to the wire.

Chad Cose #49, Brad Baker #12, JD Beach #95, Luke Gough #62, Jared Mees #9, Johnny Lewis #10 and Jake Johnson #1 lead the front row off to a start in heat race #3 at round 5 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Lima Half-Mile on June 30. AMA Pro Flat Track announced the addition of another mile event to the schedule today, to be held at the Colonial Downs track in New Kent, VA. on August 24, making the 2013 schedule now 15-total events for the season. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

For tickets and more information regarding the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles event scheduled for August 24, 2013 at Colonial Downs, please visit http://www.colonialdowns.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/.

For additional information contact:

AMA Pro Racing Communications, (386) 492-1014, communications@amaproracing.com

Sabtu, 13 April 2013

AMA Pro Flat Track: IMDA & RIDE Academy Team to Bring 'Legends Race' to Springfield Mile I Round 4 on May 26 to Help Promote Newly-Announced Pro-Level Basic Twins Class

Round 6 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Springfield Mile I saw a handful of the top riders in the series, past, present and future ready to roll out for one of the practice sessions on May 29 for the first of two mile events to be held on the schedule for the new season.

Bryan Smith on the #42 Fasthog.com-sponsored XR750, Matt Weidman on the #20 White's H-D-backed XR, Chris Carr on the #4 American Motorcyclist Association-backed XR and Jared Mees on the #9 Rogers Lake Racing-sponsored XR get ready to put their talents, wrists and machinery to work in the early part of the day's program at the Illinois State Fairgrounds-hosted event.

Carr, who was in his final season of 'full-time' racing, is one of several former greats in The Rolling Thunder Show that will be returning to Springfield on May 26 to entertain the fans and help promote newly-announced Basic Twins Class for the up-and-coming Pro-level riders. 2000 AMA Grand National Champion Joe Kopp and 3-Time AMA Grand National Champion Jay Springsteen will join the 7-Time Champ along with a handful of other veterans and greats of the sport in putting on a special exhibition race to be held as part of the day's program during the Memorial Day Weekend thriller.

The IMDA and RIDE Academy (owned and operated by former and current AMA Grand National greats Mike Hacker, Johnny Lewis and Kenny Coolbeth, Jr.) are banding together to put on this very special event in the hopes of showcasing the past greats of the sport, while the Expert-ranked contenders and the Pro-level riders do their job to showcase the present and future stars of the greatest racing show on two wheels in the world while competing in the day's regular portion of the program.

This is one event of any on the schedule, but especially one that is held at Springfield, that you won't want to miss. Everyone knows you must have a ticket to see this great race, but with the day's action planned at Springfield on May 26, the seat you buy it for probably won't get much use throughout the day's events.

Thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track for the press release below which will help fill you in on more of the details, and another round of thanks goes out to the IMDA, who twice a season tirelessly put on a super event at Springfield, and also to the great group of guys at RIDE Academy for going to such great lengths in order to further promote and better the great sport that is the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship. You guys rock!

IMDA and Ride Academy to Host Race of Legends when AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Returns to Springfield Mile on Memorial Day Weekend

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 12, 2013) - AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles will be bringing the series to Springfield, Ill. on May 26, 2013 for its first go-around of the Springfield Mile this year. Along with the usual intense racing action, Ride Academy is set to host a "Race of Legends" during the event.

"The Springfield Mile is really shaping up to be another spectacular event and this is just one of the many projects that the IMDA has in the works," said Dan Johnsen, Director of AMA Pro Flat Track. "The history of this sport is what makes it so great, and we know that our fans will appreciate this opportunity to see their favorite legends back on the track."

The race will include a select group of past Grand National Championship event winners who will be on hand to show their support for the Basic Twins class scheduled to return to the series. Jay Springsteen, Joe Kopp, Rich King, Ronnie Jones, Steve Beattie, Steve Morehead, Mike Hacker and Chris Carr will all be in attendance and participating in the race.

The main event in the AMA Pro Singles Championship roars off the line during round 16 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Springfield Mile II on September 4. The great group of people that run the IMDA, the promoters of the Springfield Mile events, will be teaming up with RIDE Academy for the upcoming round 4 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season on May 26 to bring a host of former racing legends together in a special exhibition 'legends race' to help promote AMA Pro Flat Track's new plans for a Basic Twins Class in order to get the Pro-level riders more experience on a Twins Series-based bike. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

Mounted on Honda dirt bikes courtesy of Ride Academy, the former stars of the sport will race on a short track specifically designed for this event, giving the fans a "bird's eye view" of all the action. The race will be located on the front-stretch of the Springfield Mile and will measure at about a quarter-mile in length. Each participant will be provided number plates and jerseys so that the fans will be able to identify very easily who's who on the track. The race format will include two six--lap heat races and one 12-lap Main Event.

Ride Academy is a school that former flat track rider Mike Hacker created when he retired from racing. The veteran uses his knowledge obtained from racing to help out current riders of today's era. In addition to the "Race of Legends" and AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Springfield Mile event, Ride Academy will also be holding motorcycle instructional classes before all the action even kicks off on Wednesday and Thursday, May 22-23, 2013.

AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles will head to the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. for the Springfield Mile on May 26, 2013. For tickets to the event and additional information on the Race of Legends, please visit the IMDA's website at http://www.illinoismda.com/.

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

For additional information contact:

AMA Pro Racing Communications, (386) 492-1014, communications@amaproracing.com

Jumat, 12 April 2013

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:

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

For additional information contact:

AMA Pro Racing Communications, (386) 492-1014, communications@amaproracing.com

Kamis, 11 April 2013

Brandon Robinson #44 & the TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki AMA Pro Flat Track Team Talk Great Season Start with Win at Daytona

Brandon Robinson waits for one of the final qualifying sessions at round 10 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Indy Mile on August 18, while team owner Bill Werner stands guard over the #44 Werner-Springsteen Kawasaki 650R that Robinson would later in the day take to his best-ever career finish of 2nd-place. Team co-owner Jay Springsteen can be seen between the two in the background talking with one of the other team members.

Robinson, who left the Werner-Springsteen team during the off-season, joined up with the TJ Burnett Farms Kawasaki team along with USC and James Hart Racing, and started the 2013 season with a bang that saw it capped with his first-ever career win at round 2 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship Series at the Daytona Short Track II event on March 15.

BRob44 told Stu's Shots last week that he had a great relationship with Werner and would have loved to have stayed with the legendary team owner, but the Wisconsin resident was wanting to cut back to where it wouldn't have allowed Robinson to run the full schedule for the 2013 season. Having nothing but the utmost respect for the 13-Time AMA Grand National Championship-winning tuner, Brandon also felt as if Werner had given him a great chance to get his career back to the top after his near career-ending injuries at Indy in August '09, and loved riding for him during the 2012 season.

With a phone call coming from TJ Burnett, Robinson and the southern Illinois team owner were able to work out a plan to contest the full year on the 2013 schedule, along with events run over the off-season at the Southern Illinois Center in DuQuoin alongside team mate JD Beach, and the majority of the events on the Steve Nace All-Star Series for '13 as well. Robinson won three out of four of the first Twins and Singles events in Georgia and Florida, before heading to Daytona to run the season-openers in The Rolling Thunder Show.

A 5th-place finish on the first night and a win the next night in round 2 left him in the lead in the overall point standings (both career firsts) with what is now a 30 day break until round 3 at the Stockton Half-Mile on May 11.

The team is working on new and interesting paths in the weeks and months ahead and should have more to announce as we get into the meat of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season, as well as the majority of the events they plan to run during the 2013 Steve Nace Racing All-Star AMA National Flat Track Series presented by Golden Tyre season.

JD Beach's #95 TJ Burnett Farms/USC/Hart Racing Kawasaki sits in waiting while rider Beach gets his gear together in the background, during round 12 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Springfield Mile II on September 16.

Robinson has enjoyed working alongside Beach as a team mate, and they have been able to help one another out throughout the off-season and during testing at Savannah leading up to the first events of the season for the 2013 schedules.

According to team owner Burnett, 'both work real well together and help to make us one big happy family' as a team unit. Robinson and Beach will be paired as team mates throughout the season in most of the AMA Grand Nationals that don't coincide with Beach's ride in the Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing schedule, where he normally contests the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Series in his full time job.

Check out the TJ Burnett Kawasaki team and rider Brandon Robinson's press release below and take in some of the great things happening with this young, eager and very capable team!

Brandon Robinson and the T.J. Burnett Farms/USC/Hart Racing Kawasaki team take 'Lucky 13' season-opening races by storm

Press release (Please note--all pics right click/open new window)

Oxford, PA. – April 11, 2013 – Brandon Robinson and the T.J. Burnett Farms/USC/Hart Racing Kawasaki team have had a dream start to their first season of racing together. After joining forces during the off-season late last year, the Pennsylvania resident and the 'little team that could' participated in some of the Steve Nace Racing Indoor Flat Track Series events held in the confines of the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, IL.in hopes of getting ready for the 2013 season ahead of them. Little did they know what kind of a break-out start to the season they would have.

Heading south for the season-opening rounds of the Steve Nace Racing All-Star AMA National Flat Track Series presented by Golden Tyre in preparation for the eight-month grind that is the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season, Brandon had never even had a chance to sit on the team's Kawasaki 650R-based Twins Series efforts.

“Yeah, we just started testing the Tuesday before the Savannah round, which was the first time I had got a chance to ride the bikes,” stated BRob44, “and they were very similar to the Werner-Springsteen mounts I rode last year, in terms of chassis set-up. The team is working on the Scott Powersports chassis' that they started with, and I was able to get some seat time in on the newer C&J-framed bikes that we hope to have ready in time for the mile events on the Grand National schedule.

“JD Beach (Robinson's team mate when JD is not fulfilling his obligations in the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Series) came in on Thursday and helped us out, and we were able to kind of work off one another in getting them right for each of our styles of riding. We'd spent quite a bit of time on the 450s racing in Du Quoin during the winter break, so we tried to concentrate on the twins for the long season ahead.”

Those testing sessions worked out pretty well, because when the dust had settled at Savannah and the next event two days later in Volusia, Brandon had already pocketed three of the four wins in the first two Twins and Singles events on the SNR schedule, with a 2nd-place finish in the Twins race at Volusia topping off the team's first two major events together.

The season-opening doubleheader rounds at the Daytona Short Track at Daytona International Speedway awaited them a few days later.

The first qualifying session of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season saw Brandon Robinson #44 qualify in the 4th-place spot out of the 42 riders on-hand who took a timed qualifying session, on the T.J. Burnett/USC/Hart Racing Kawasaki KX450F. Photo by Dave Hoenig/Flat Trak Fotos.com.

Qualifying for round 1 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season went well for the team's first Grand National race together. Brandon put his Kawasaki 450 in the 4th-place spot for the March 14 event.

“We made a few changes but didn't have to do too much in order to get the Singles bikes set-up for the race,” continued Robinson, “and we started in the 2nd-place spot in the first heat race, which we were able to win over 2-Time Singles Series Champion Henry Wiles.”

After finishing 6^th in the Dash, the team felt like they were ready for the first 25-lap National main of the season, where they came away with a 5th-place finish behind winner Mikey Rush, Brad Baker, 2012 AMA Grand National Champion Jared Mees and Wiles.

“We're all a pretty laid back bunch on the team, so working together has been good for everyone. But we still had one more night to go before the long break before Stockton in May,” stated Robinson, “and we moved up a spot in qualifying on night two by taking the 3rd-place qualifying position.

Robinson started the third heat race on the pole, and ended up taking the win over Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. and Jethro Halbert, which again saw #44 with a slot in the Dash for Cash, where the former 2008 Expert Twins Champion improved his first round result with a 2nd-place behind 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Saddlemen Rookie of the Year, Brad Baker. But the 25-lap National was still ahead.

Round 2 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season at the Daytona Short Track II outing saw an improvement for the Kawasaki-mounted Robinson throughout the evening's program. Photo by Dave Hoenig/Flat Trak Fotos.com.

With round 2 ready to commence, Brandon started the night in the second position, alongside Baker (due to Baker's faster heat win earlier in the evening) and Wiles, Bryan Smith, Coolbeth and Mees filling out the front row. Coolbeth led at the start, but by lap 2 Robinson put the inside move on The King of Cool and went on to lead the rest of the main to earn his first-ever AMA Grand National Championship main event win.

Asked if he'd come down from his cloud yet, Robinson said, “Yeah, some, but we've all been so busy since that it still seems like it was just yesterday.” After working his way back from career-ending injuries suffered at the 2009 Indy Mile, the youngster with the Pennsylvania-wide grin had finally taken his big win in front of a packed crowd at Daytona.

“I feel very fortunate to have landed with such a great group of guys. T.J. (team owner T.J. Burnett). James (crew chief James Hart) and Billy (team wrench Billy Gruwell) have been super to work with, and to come away four wins in seven races is a testament to the work they have put in on getting us ready for this year,” exclaimed Brandon, “and I'm just thrilled to be able to get such a great start to the season with and for them. And to get that first National win was a dream come true.”

Team owner T.J. Burnett, crew chief James Hart, rider Brandon Robinson and team wrench Billy Gruwell celebrate on the podium after Brandon's break-out win in round 2 of the 2013 season at Daytona. Photo by Dave Hoenig/Flat Trak Fotos.com.

“Things started coming together for us early last season,” stated team owner Burnett. “James and I have been friends since we were kids, and he was having some financial trouble keeping things going. That's where I came in with some assistance to get the team through the end of the season and beyond. Last year we had several riders on the bikes (most notably Beach, when not contesting the AMA Pro Road Racing rounds), and then to get Brandon on-board really was the glue that bonded us over the off-season and into the beginning of '13. We've had help from Jimmy Wood/Southland Suspension in getting the forks and the chassis' set-up, especially with the air forks on the '13 model bikes” which are a work in progress. To get that first win under our belt was a big step!”

Robinson beams on the podium after taking his career-first AMA Grand National Championship win in round 2 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season at the Daytona Short Track II on March 15. Photo by Dave Hoenig/Flat Trak Fotos.com.

With Daytona in the rear view mirrors and now just over 30 days until round 3 of the season at the Stockton Half-Mile, the team is doing everything except resting on it's laurels. Robinson has made a couple of trips to the team's headquarters in southern Illinois while working on getting the chassis' fine-tuned for the long stretch ahead.

“We're planning a full slate to the year, of course we're doing all of the Nationals and going to try to do the majority of the All-Star races, as well. Next up is Stockton, and then in between there and the Springfield Mile I, we're going to hit the Little Rock event on the All-Star schedule,” Robinson stated, “in order to get things a little bit more dialed in for the summer stretch run of the schedule.

“I was at T.J.'s last week then made the trip back home for a photo shoot with Next Moto Champion magazine (where he will be featured on the cover of the May 2013 issue), and the rest of the time I have just been training and working out trying to get myself set for the rest of the year ahead.”

With the next race scheduled for May 11 at the Stockton Half-Mile at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, the time is getting nearer for the team and the season to get going full-steam ahead. And if anyone thinks that resting on their Daytona laurels is an option, then they don't know how busy and focused this great bunch is.

Be sure to take the time to come and visit the team at the AMA Grand Nationals and the Steve Nace All-Star events as they rip and roar their way across the nation in search of what surely will be another big win. Each and every round of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season will host a fan walk for the fans to come take part in meeting the teams and the riders, and Brandon Robinson and the T.J. Burnett Farms/USC/Hart Racing Kawasaki team are looking forward to sharing their time and great fortunes with every one of those fans.

The T.J. Burnett Farms/USC/Hart Racing Kawasaki team and rider Brandon Robinson AMA Grand National #44 would like to thank our sponsors:

TJ Burnett Farms, USC Racing Kawasaki, James Hart Racing, Arai, ATI Physical Therapy, Penske Racing Shocks, AXO, Saddlemen, Protect All, Pro Plates, ISC Racers Tape, Motion Pro, Southland, Race Tech, Lemonds Kawasaki, WKR, Mr. Sign, Bill Built, Royal Publishing, VC Graphix, DAO Apparel.com, PMP Sprockets, Spectro Oils, CP Pistons, G2 Ergonomics, Works Connection, K&N Filters, Hartman Photography, Mitchell Mechanical, Big Dawg Racing, Ricko, Jim Chapman, Tom Scibek, Joe Reynolds, John Y, Mom & Dad.

2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season schedule:

http://www.amaproracing.com/ft/events/

2013 Steve Nace Racing All-Star AMA National Flat Track Series presented by Golden Tyre season schedule:

http://www.stevenaceracing.com/allstar.html

You can follow Brandon Robinson, the 2008 AMA Pro Flat Track Expert Twins Champion here via his official website:

http://brandonrobinson44.com/

Or via his Twitter account:

https://twitter.com/BRob44

Or via Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/BrandonRobinsonRacing

Press release prepared by:

Mike Stuhler/Stu's Shots

Indianapolis, IN. 46234
http://stusshots.blogspot.com/
stuman714@yahoo.com
317-373-0522

Senin, 08 April 2013

Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Announces Barry Boone to Return as Official Announcer for 2013 Season

Round 10 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season saw the stars of The Rolling Thunder Show sharing the stage in Indy with the 5th Annual Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP Weekend, returning alongside the premier road racing series in the world after the cancelation to the schedule from the previous year due to the tragedy suffered at the Indiana State Fairgrounds during the Sugarland concert.

AMA Pro Racing's Barry Boone holds the mic for Bryan Smith after the Michigan resident had taken the #42 Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports powered by Eaken Racing Kawasaki 650R-based parallel twin to the win in the Dash for Cash early in the evening, while the lovely ladies representing AMA Pro Flat Track's best display the $1000 bonus check awarded to Flyin' Bryan for his popular win on the evening.

Earlier today, Boone was again officially announced to be returning to his official announcing duties with the Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Series for the 2013 season, and is also looking to fill his busy schedule with his open weekends also providing announcing duties for the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship Series.

This is another great announcement from the DMG-led Blue Crew as Barry does a wonderful job, alongside Scottie Duebler, of keeping the fans abreast of the action on the track during each event throughout the season. This is one fan looking that much more forward to the full season ahead, and we shout-out a big 'congrats' to Barry and look forward to seeing him back at the track again this year, keeping us all entertained!

Check out the full press release below thanks to AMA Pro Road Racing!

Barry Boone to be AMA Pro Racing's Official Announcer for Second Consecutive GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Season

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 8, 2013) - AMA Pro Racing is pleased to announce that Barry Boone will resume the role of Official Announcer for the 2013 GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing season. The one-of-a-kind voice will be treating fans to in-depth race coverage and insightful commentary throughout every event this year. This season will mark Boone's second full year of announcing at GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing events, and his fifth year of announcing for AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles.

Barry Boone is shown while performing his announcing duties at one of the 2012 Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing events. AMA Pro Road Racing photo by Corey J. Coulter.

"I couldn't be more excited to be back on board with GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing again in 2013," said Boone. "It's an honor to speak on behalf of AMA Pro and our great promoters. I'll continue to focus on entertaining the fans while delivering them the information they deserve at each event this season. We are the premier road racing series in America and I can't wait for our next event."

Boone has built a solid reputation for himself as a man with an innate ability to keep fans up to date with all of the on-track action, as well as the off-track drama. Listen for Boone's voice at GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing's next event, the Subway SuperBike Doubleheader at Road America, scheduled for May 31-June 2, 2013 in Elkhart Lake Wis.

Tickets for the Subway SuperBike Doubleheader at Road America start at just $20. For more information, please visit http://roadamerica.com/Races/RaceInformation.asp?id=240.

For additional information contact:

AMA Pro Racing Communications, (386) 492-1014, communications@amaproracing.com