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 Reviews the Season-Opening Rounds of the J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship

The rising stars of the AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Championship Series head into turn one at the start of their National main in round 9 of the 2012 AMA Pro Singles Championship at the Peoria TT on August 12, in the first of 12 laps around the confines of the Peoria Motorcycle Club facility.

Justin Reed on the #53L Rich King Racing KTM 450 SX-F appears to have a slight lead from the start, going on to finish in 3rd-place to round out the podium.  First-time series winner Dominic Colindres on the #66Y Weirbach Racing Honda CRF450R hugs the inside line in route to taking over the lead to take his first-ever win in the series while in his first ride for the team.

Jason Isennock on the #30S Highs Dairy Stores Honda (7th-place finish) holds it tight on the outside of Colindres, while Rodney Spencer, Jr. on the #74Z 831 Pinnit Honda (4th-place) looks to have the advantage on Nick Mataya on the #12L Shoe Racing Honda (5th-place), with Kurtis Lee on the #78J TCR Honda (14th-place) appearing to have lost his edge on the outside as the pack bunches up.

Coming on strong in the back are Jake Shoemaker on the #55A Montgomeryville Cycle Center Honda (6th-place), Dan Bromley on the #54A Bob Weirbach Race Team Honda (17th-place), and eventual 2012 AMA Pro Singles Champion Steven Vanderkuur just coming into the shot on the #10J Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda (2nd-place) as they lead the rest of the 18-rider main on a 12-lap romp in the hallowed halls of Peoria.

In it's fourth season of competition, the AMA Pro Singles Championship has turned out some spectacular talent from what is the 'feeder' series of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship.  All of the series' first three champions (Brad Baker '09, Jeffrey Carver, Jr. '10, Mikey Martin '11) are now racing in the big show of The Rolling Thunder Show, and providing some serious competition for their fellow Expert-ranked riders in what is arguably the best racing series on two wheels in the world.

The 2013 AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship season got off to another roaring start at Daytona last week, and saw two new winners in each of the two opening rounds held at the Daytona International Speedway.  And the field of talent is just as deep, if not deeper, for what is the series' fifth-full season of competition.  And the big question now is, who will try to take the crown away from Vanderkuur, or will the series see it's first two-time champion when the season wraps up in Pomona many months from now?

Read on below to see AMA Pro Flat Track's review of the season-openers and see if any of the possible future Grand National Champions finished up at the top where you may have expected them to....or not!

Johnson, Constantine Each Claim Victories in Opening Rounds of AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Action at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla (March 22, 2013) - Michigan's Kyle Johnson (Boughner Racing / Muskegon Motorcycle Gang) got off the line first in the 16 lap AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles first round main event at the DAYTONA Flat Track on March 14, 2013. However, Johnson was quickly passed by a charging Maryland product in Mike Poe (Jason Isennock / CCBC / Blevins).

 

Johnson stayed glued to Poe as he became the meat in a Maryland sandwich, with Jason Isennock, also a native of the "Old Line State," (Highs Dairy Stores / Foard Racing) right on their heels.  On lap eleven, Johnson was able to capitalize on a mistake by Poe to recapture the lead. Once obtaining the top spot, Johnson built his lead and clinched his first ever professional victory.

 

"I was just being patient and waiting for him to make a mistake," Johnson said. "Once I got up on the inside of the leader I got a good drive and took him on the straight away. I couldn't be more satisfied with the way I performed tonight. My bike was unbelievable and everything really came together when it mattered most. I reclaimed the lead late in the race and that was all I needed to close it out."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ryan Wells on the #94B Waters Auto Body Honda appears to have the inside line ahead of Shayna Texter on the #25A Crosley Radio Honda during racing action at rounds 1 & 2 of the 2013 AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship season at the Daytona Short Track last week.  The close, fast racing in the 'feeder' series for the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship saw two first-time winners at Daytona in Kyle Johnson and Jake Constantine and lays the groundwork for what will surely be another great season of racing for the future stars of the sport.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

 

 

Final results 1-10: 1st - Kyle Johnson, 2nd - Jason Isennock, 3rd - Mike Poe, 4th - Brandon Wilhelm, 5th - Rodney Spencer Jr., 6th - Ryan Wells, 7th - Hunter Taylor, 8th - Dan Bromley, 9th - Jake Constantine, 10th - Wyatt Maguire

 

AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles - Round 2

 

Jake Constantine stormed around the outside of fellow New Yorker Ryan Wells at the start of the 16 lap AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles main event and rode to a convincing second round win on his Allphase Masonry & Chimney / Matt's Cycle Center backed Honda. Wells tried to stay close, but the lead grew to over one second by the halfway point and over two seconds by the end of the race.

 

"I can't even explain how I feel right now," said an ecstatic Constantine. "To come down here and win it all is the best feeling in the world. It feels great to be on this podium, let alone be at the top of it! This win was huge for me and my team because of how bad we struggled last night in the opener. I can't thank everyone enough for helping me out; this feeling is so surreal right now."

 

Wells maintained a solid second place position throughout the race, while Thursday night's third place finisher, Mike Poe, worked his way forward taking third place yet again after passing Wyatt Maguire (Kirkland Racing / Pro1racingheads.com) on lap 12.

 

There is a log jam at the top of the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles point standings. Jake Constantine holds a single point lead over Mike Poe with Kyle Johnson and Ryan Wells another point back. Jason Isennock remains in fifth, seven points off the lead.

Final results 1-10: 1st - Jake Constantine, 2nd - Ryan Wells, 3rd - Mike Poe, 4th - Wyatt Maguire, 5th - Stephen Vanderkuur, 6th - Dominic Collindres, 7th - Gerit Callies, 8th - Rodney Spencer Jr., 9th - Brandon Wilhelm, 10th - Kyle Johnson
 

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: Weirbach Racing's Dominic Colindres #66Y Talks Daytona Short Track Rounds 1&2 in the Pro Singles Championship

Dominic Colindres on the #66Y Weirbach Racing/General Engineering/Barnett/Spectro-sponsored Honda CRF450R leads Ryan Wells on the #94B RLJ Racing Honda during heat race 2 action at round 12 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Championship round at the Springfield Short Track.  Colindres led the former Weirbach Racing rider home to finishes of 2nd- and 3rd-place in the final qualifying heat for the Pro Singles Championship, to earn direct transfers to the Pro Singles National main event on September 15.

Colindres, who signed with the Weirbach team just past the mid-point of the 2012 season, won his first outing for the team at the Peoria TT, round 9 of the 2012 Pro Singles Championship season, and ended the season ranked as the 4th-place rider in the overall standings in the 'feeder' series for AMA Pro Flat Track.

Last week in Daytona, the young California rider had a rough start to his first full season with the Iowa-based team, coming home in the 14th-place spot in round 1 on Thursday,  March 14.  But in round 2 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season the next evening, Colindres fought a good fight and was able to card a 6th-place finish in the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship main event, leaving the season-openers sitting in the 9th-place spot in the overall Pro Singles standings. 

Check out the press release below from Weirbach Racing's Dominic Colindres to see his spin on the start of the new season!


Press release courtesy of Weirbach Racing, the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Championship-winning team

Dominic Colindres/Weirbach Racing Daytona Race Report

Ottumwa, Iowa -- March 21, 2012

This past week was the AMA Grand National short track doubleheader held in Daytona, Florida.  Last year was my first time at this track and I didn't make the program the 1st day and didn't transfer from the semi the second day.  With the results from last year, I just wanted to make the main and get a few points for the championship run.

Day one during practice I felt very comfortable.  The bike was set up great and we only made a couple gearing changes.  I ended up qualifying sixth overall and was pretty happy with that because it put me on the front row start in the heat.  In the heat race I rode around in fourth the whole race and stayed there.  The track got really rough with huge ruts and I just took it easy and finished with a fourth place.  For the main event I would be lined up on the inside of the second row.  I got a horrible start and ended up getting shuffled back wards.  The track was falling apart with huge ruts coming out of the turns and my bike just wasn't set up for that bad of a track.  I rode around in fourteenth place the whole race and was just happy to finish without crashing.

Dominic Colindres is shown on the #66Y Weirbach Racing Honda CRF450R during action at the Daytona Short Track rounds of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track J&P Cycles Grand National Championship last week.  Colindres left Daytona with a 9th-place overall standing in the 2013 AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Championship hunt.  Photo courtesy of Weirbach Racing by Mia Moore/FlatTrack.com's The Fans in the Stands.


On day two during practice I felt comfortable again.  We didn't make any changes during all the qualifying sessions and I ended up qualifying ninth overall.  This would give me a front row start for the heat race again.  There was rumors that they were not going to tear up the track again so it would hopefully be smooth all the way around that night.  In the heat race I tried to rail the outside of turn one but that didn't work out.  I got shuffled all the way back to seventh.  I couldn't get the bike to hook up at all up high and ended up getting passed coming out of turn four because I sat there spinning.  My eighth place in the heat meant I had to go to the semi.  In the semi I just barely missed the hole shot and was in second the whole race, battling for first.  The bike was working a little bit better down low so I was looking forward to the main, but had to start on the third row.  In the main I rode around in last place for about four or five laps.  Then I found a fast line and started to get hooked up and made a pass just about every lap.  I made my way all the way up to sixth but ran out of time before I could advance any farther.  I was really happy with that and got some decent points.

Overall for Daytona in 2013 I am happy with the way things went.  I made the main both days and got some valuable points.  After missing five races last year, I already have several more points than this time last year, and I am ninth overall so the championship dream is looking good.  I also feel like I started to figure out Daytona in the second day main which makes me feel more confident for the next time I go there.


I'd really like to thank my sponsors:

Weirbach Racing, KDM Forrest Products/Michael King, General Engineering, Barnett, Spectro, DynoJet, K&N, Saddlemen, Motorcycle Superstore, Works Connection, White lightning Retrievers, PMP Sprockets, Motion Pro, Spider Grips, Evans Coolant, Cheney Engineering, G2 Ergonomics, All Balls Racing, Firecoat Custom Powderworks, CP Pistons and Carrillo Rods, Web Cams, Foudree's Graphics, Sunoco, Pro Wheel, Southland Racing/Race Tech, Supertrapp , TNT Honda, Regina Chain, Factory Backing, Hinson, Pit Posse, Jet-Hot, Bell Helmets, Cosmetic Graphics, ProFactoryHoses.com , Engine Ice, Rekluse, and Chicken Hawk Racing, my Mom and Dad, Jason Saito, Mach 1.

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: Gerit Callies Looks Set to Return to the Track in the AMA Pro Singles Championship at Daytona

Gerit Callies is seen signing autographs for the fans at round 5 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Lima Half-Mile on June 30, during the fan walk festivities at the Allen County Fairgrounds in between the on-track action.

Callies and his #76L Fun Mart Cycles/Rod Lake/Power Brokers/Gillespie-sponsored KTM 450SX-F team had a solid 12-point lead in the 2012 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Series Championship heading into round 9 of the season at the Peoria TT (having won three events on the season), before being involved in one of the nastiest-looking crashes of the season during the Pro Singles main event.  Due to injuries suffered in that devasting bang-up, the South Dakota resident missed the remaining 11 rounds of the season and slipped to 8th-place in the final year-end tally.

However, great news came out of the Callies' and AMA Pro Flat Track camps yesterday in that he looks to be ready to return to action in next month's season-openers at the Daytona Short Track.

You can check out the press release from Gerit Callies and AMA Pro Flat Track here that talks about Callies' return this season at Daytona in just under three weeks' time.

AMA Pro Flat Track: Waters Auto Body KTM Team to Field Steve Murray in Twins Series, Adds Ryan Wells for Pro Singles Class

Dave Waters, owner and team manager of the Waters Auto Body 'Project K' KTM AMA Pro Flat Track team, checks out the action on the track as riders Jeremy Higgins #82 and Steve Murray #51 get ready for their first practice session at round 4 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Springfield Mile I on May 27.

The team has retained Murray to campaign the #51 KTM North America/Waters Auto Body Racing/Bell Helmets/Arlen Ness-sponsored KTM LC8-based Twins Series mount for the upcoming 2013 season in what will be his second year with the team, while Higgins will be stepping aside for the year after riding for the team the last three seasons.

Rider Ryan Wells tries to cool off while the Iowa-based Weirbach Racing team goes about getting the #94B Weirbach Racing/General Engineering/Barnett/Spectro-backed Honda CRF450R ready to go for round 5 of the 2012 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship season at the Lima Half-Mile on June 30.  In spite of missing out on five rounds in the 2012 season (Daytona Short Track I and the last four rounds of the season), Wells, a former AMA Horizon Award winner, still finished the year ranked as the 7th-place rider in the 'feeder' Pro Singles Championship class.

As was announced this week, Wells will be hooking up for the 2013 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship season with fellow New York residents, Dave & Rhonda Waters, to campaign the Pro Singles class aboard their Waters Auto Body machines.

You can check out the full press release below as we wish the Waters Auto Body team and riders Steve Murray and Ryan Wells good luck for the upcoming 2013 season as we look forward to seeing them hit the track this year!


Press release courtesy of Dave & Rhonda Waters, Waters Auto Body 'Project K' KTM AMA Pro Flat Track team

WELLS TO “FLY” UNDER WATERS AUTOBODY/PROJECT K RACING BANNER

February 11, 2013 -- Albion, NY


Dave & Rhonda Waters are proud to announce their support of Flyin’ Ryan Wells to the Waters Autobody/Project K Racing Team for the 2013 Pro Singles Series.  Ryan has always shown the drive and determination required that it takes to become a championship rider and it is our pleasure to be able to help this young man and his family strive for the Pro Singles Championship in 2013.

Ryan Wells, the 2012 Daytona short track winner, has shown us that after being injured mid-year when he was not able to achieve the success he had aimed for that he has learned, grown and worked hard to overcome some of the obstacles that stopped him from attaining that goal.  He has been training all winter and we have seen that first hand.

Ryan Wells is shown taking the checkered flag on the #94B Weirbach Racing Honda at round 2 of the 2012 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Series season at the Daytona Short Track II.  Wells will be riding for the Waters Auto Body team in the 2013 season.  Photo courtesy of the Waters Auto Body AMA Pro Flat Track team.


“Dave & I have always tried to help the riders in our area excel in the sport.  In keeping with that tradition, Wells is a natural fit and we are excited about the future of the team and all the possibilities.  Our thought is Ryan & Steve will compliment one another with each other’s experiences and bring a friendly yet competitive atmosphere.”

Ryan had this to say regarding the team, “I am very excited to be working with the Waters Autobody/Project K Racing team as I feel we will communicate and work together well as a team.  I also feel having Steve Murray as a teammate will be a great learning step for me on and off the track.”

Piloting the KTM’s for the AMA Expert Twins season will be the sole pilot Steve Murray for a second year.  Jeremy Higgins has decided to curtail his race schedule for the upcoming season and dedicate more time to other aspects of his personal life.

 “Dave and I would like to express our gratitude and thanks to Jeremy and the Higgins family for the past three years.  Jeremy & Jack have given so much input over the years that have helped our team to continually make changes to bring the KTM’s closer to the goal of making mains week in and week out.  We can never thank them enough for all the hard work, long hours and lasting memories that were made and we wish them the best for 2013.”

AMA Flat Track: Shayna Texter to Ride for Crosley Radio in Pro Singles Championship for '13

Shayna Texter is shown signing autographs for the fans during round 12 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Springfield Short Track on September 15.  One of the most popular riders on The Rolling Thunder Show tour, the Pennsylvania resident regularly has people lined up in her pit area during the fan walk at each event throughout the hour long break in the on-track action, as seen from this shot from the final National main event at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Multipurpose Arena.

Texter and her #25A DFW Honda/RLT Racing/McElroy Packaging/Herr's-sponsored Honda CRF450Rs had a rough go of it at Springfield, however, in spite of qualifying in a respectable 30th-place spot out of the 55 riders on-hand in the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship Series who took a timed lap on the day.  Surprisingly, she missed the Pro Singles main by just shy of 1.5 seconds in her heat and by just .183 seconds in the Last Chance Qualifier heat race.  

In her third full season of contesting the 'feeder' series for AMA Pro Flat Track, Shayna had a very strong season in spite of the Springfield outcome in mid-September.  Winning three rounds of the series' tour (Sacto Mile, Knoxville and Tucson Half-Miles), she finished the season ranked as the 5th-place rider in the Pro Singles Championship to further cement her legend as one of the fastest people on two wheels in the greatest racing show on wheels in the world.

It was announced late Saturday that Shayna would be getting sponsorship from Crosley Radio, along with her existing sponsor, DFW Honda, for the 2013 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship season to better help propel her to the top in one of the tightest and fastest competitions on wheels.

Check out the press release below as we await the coming of the new season, with Daytona less then six weeks away, and we wish Shayna the very best of luck to go after her passion. Go get 'em lady!


Press release courtesy of Shayna Texter/RLT Racing and Crosley Radio.

Note-to view, right click/open in new window.

Motorcycle-Superstore.com Celebrates 2012 Sponsorships in AMA Pro Racing

The action is hot and heavy in the AMA Pro Flat Track Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship Series, as highlighted by turn one action above in one of the races at the Peoria TT on August 12, 2012.  Round 9 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season was another case of the great racing that takes place in the 'feeder' series that runs alongside the AMA Grand National Championship program.

Battling in heat one on the day are Wyatt Maguire on the #18M Kirland Racing/Pro 1 Racing Heads/AXO/Bell Helmets-sponsored Honda CRF450R, Zack Cassidy on his #23P Cassidy Racing/Ghetto Racing/Motorsports.com/Illinois H-D-backed Honda and Nick Daniels on the #32P Fat Boy Racing/FRA/WKR/Hart Racing-sponsored Honda as they chase Jayson Beal on the #17L Beals Sheet Metal/Mason City Honda/One Industries/100% Goggles-backed Honda.  Of the lot, Cassidy raced his way out of the Last Chance Qualifier later in the afternoon and went on to a 16th-place finish in the 18-rider 12-lap Pro Singles main event.

Motorcycle-Superstore.com will be entering their fourth full season of sponsoring the Pro Singles Championship, one of the most competitive forms of high-speed racing on the planet.  During the 2012 season they upped the ante in the points fund and look to be doing the same again for the 2013 schedule, while also sponsoring the AMA Pro SuperSport Series in the Geico Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Series, among other disciplines of the sport.

They recently put together a highlight video of their sponsorship efforts which you can check out below, as we give a tip of the helmet and a big thanks to them for all of their efforts in The Rolling Thunder Show!

Thanks to Motorcycle-Superstore.com for this 2012 highlight video and for their involvement with AMA Pro Flat Track and the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship Series.

AMA Flat Track: Kerr Graphix Releases 2012 AMA Pro Singles Championship Season Video Review

Tight company you say?  For the riders in the AMA Pro Flat Track Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship Series this is a normal walk in the park for the 'junior' or 'feeder' division of The Rolling Thunder Show that is AMA Pro Flat Track racing.  Tight racing and even tighter quarters are the norm in the 450cc-based championship that acts as the proving ground for the future stars of the greatest racing series on wheels in the world.

At round 5 of the 2012 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship season never was there more of a display of the superb racing in this series then from heat race 2 as shown above on the first lap at the Allen County Fairgrounds hosting of the Ohio National Championship as the riders bore into turn one with the fans, team owners and racers lining the outside fence ready to get pelted with pea gravel as they grit their teeth in anticipation of what's to come.

With barely a portion of a wheel out front, eventual 2012 Pro Singles Champion Stephen Vanderkuur puts his #10J Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda CRF450R into the early lead in what would translate into the heat win over Zach Palmer on his #81C Honda (mostly hidden to the right of Vanderkuur.)  Michael Bickerton on the #28P Hogwrench Racing Honda tries to get inside, while Brandon Laursen on his #82J Laursen Racing Honda holds the low line.

Also battling for position are Chaz Springsteen on the #29J TCR Honda, Matt Zacher on his #15B Zacher Construction Honda, Robbie Treinen on his #71L FM Ceiling & Remodeling Honda, and Jordan McCready on the #11J Parkinson Brothers Honda.  Jacob Constantine on his #59B self-sponsored Honda, Coy Matthews on the #30F Kings Kustoms Honda, and Eric Stump on the #77A Markbilt Race Bikes Honda get a good drive off of the back row.

Ken Kerr/Kerr Graphix.com has released another season wrap-up video of his superb photo work while covering the majority of the midwest National stops throughout the 2012 season.  Earlier this week we were treated to Ken's season wrap-up of the Grand National Championship season, and today we get to enjoy his equivalent from the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship Series.  

Buckle up and hold on tight!

A big thanks to Ken Kerr/Kerr Graphix for his 2012 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship season wrap-up video from his photo collection shot this year.  We appreciate the great work, time and effort that Ken puts into the sport and he always comes through with some excellent stuff.  Thanks man!


You can view Ken's catalog here at his official site, Kerr Graphix.com:

http://www.kerrgraphix.com/#/page/home/

And here is the link to Ken's wrap-up video for the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Twins Series Championship season from earlier this week:

http://stusshots.blogspot.com/2013/01/kerr-graphix-releases-2012-ama-pro-flat.html

AMA Flat Track: Stu's Shots & Todays Cycle Coverage.com 2012 Season Wrap-Up

The top-7 men in the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season get ready to roll out for the first practice session of the day at round 13 at the Springfield Mile II on September 16.  With four rounds to go in the season, the battle for the 2012 AMA Grand National Championship was coming to a head with the Pomona season-finale lying just 27 days away.

Finishing what could have been a totally miserable season after breaking his leg at round 5 at Lima just shy of three months earlier, Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. rounded out his season with another win (after having taken the Knoxville Half-Mile win in just his second race back from injury).  Coolbeth took the #2 Screamin' Eagle/Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Fox/Arai Helmets-sponsored factory XR750 to a decisive win at Pomona to end the season ranked in the 7th-place position after missing out on five of the season's 16 rounds due to his recovery.

After having another stellar year in winning three rounds in the Singles Series for the 2012 season (Springfield TT and Short Track and his record-tying 8th win at the Peoria TT), Henry Wiles and the #17 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Foremost Insurance Group/Ramspur Winery/ENI USA-backed Ducati team had what could easily be referenced as an up-and-down season in the series' ten Twins Series events. 

Losing three motors on the year, the team fought hard to still bring home two top-5 results with finishes of 2nd and 4th at Lima and Indy, respectively, and also added three other top-10 finishes to round out the year on a much higher note to rank as the 6th-place rider for the 2012 season.

2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Saddlemen Rookie of the Year Brad 'The Bullet' Baker was probably the most-traveled of riders throughout the 2012 season in terms of how many different motorcycles he threw his leg over in competition.  Starting off the season riding for Kenny Tolbert Racing on a fleet of Kawasaki KX450Fs and 650R-based mounts, it all fell apart for KT and the Washington state resident at the fourth round of the season at the Springfield Mile I round.

Failing to make the main, just days later Tolbert pulled the plug on the team due to lack of funding (other then what was coming out of the Texan's pockets) and mothballed the team, leaving Baker without any current options.  By round 5 at Lima he showed up on a bike that reportedly hadn't been in competition in several years, qualified strong only to end the evening in the 17th-place spot with only two points scored in two events.

See-sawing between some strong rides on a Tony Dodge-prepped XR, putting in two events on the Harley factory mount in place of injured team rider Coolbeth, and then competing on his own Baker Brothers' Honda for the remaining Singles Series events on the calendar,  the sophomore Expert ended the year with a super 2nd-place finish at Pomona and as the 5th-ranked rider in the nation.  I don't believe since Gary Scott's defense of his '75 championship has a rider rode or competed on such a wide breadth of equipment in one season and Baker's ability to jump on different machinery throughout the year more then shows it is just a short matter of time before we see him on top of the box.

Bryan Smith was one of only four men in the 2012 season that made all 16 events on the year (the other three will be mentioned shortly.)  With the advantage of two wins on the year on the #42 Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports powered by Eaken Racing/MPH/Guts Wear-sponsored Kawasaki 650R-based rocket (Sacto Mile and Springfield Mile II) and a big handful of top-3s, Flyin' Bryan not only finished the season as the 4th-ranked rider in the country, but also took home the ceremonial Twins Series Championship for the year. 

All of the talk this last season was focused on and around the new parallel twin mount that first showed it's strength and prowess under the mile specialist's grip at the Springfield Mile I round by winning his heat and the Dash for Cash (and eventually a hard-fought 3rd-place in the first Twins Series event of the season.)  By mid-year the talk had turned to advantages and riding styles and differences between the power output, weight and racing lines used by the new breed of mile machines.

At Pomona last month, it also showed that a Kawi could also end up on the box at a half-mile event in what was a great 3rd-place finish to cap off the season's ramblings.  It was also what I believe to be the second-best finish on a half-mile track since the Kawi's first started hitting the track in the 2010 season (Johnny Lewis took the #10 Scott Powersports Kawi to a 2nd-place finish at Hagerstown in 2011.)

With his string of 10 of 11 podium finishes between the Springfield TT and the Springfield Mile II rounds, 2-Time and defending AMA Grand National Champion Jake Johnson looked more than able to keep in the fight for his third series title in the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season.

But in the end, the champ and the #1 Zanotti Racing/Schaeffer's H-D/Boughner Racing/Arai-backed XR750 team not only had dropped to the 3rd-ranked spot on the year but Johnson failed to win a National main for the first time in his over ten years competing in the series.    Never fret, the quiet man with the championship focus will be back as strong as ever carrying the #5 again, proudly ready to go after it again.  And you can bet he'll be ready to make up for lost time.

Sammy Halbert again led the series in overall wins for the 2012 season (Lima Half-Mile, Castle Rock TT, Indy and Santa Rose Miles) and with his first-ever mile event win at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile on August 18 grabbed the dirt track 'grand slam' along the way.  Looking to steal the championship from Jared Mees by getting a 2nd-place in the Dash at Pomona after both Mees and Johnson missed the extra points-paying event, Slammin' Sammy's #7 South East Harley/The South Ass/Mo Vaughn Transport/LZ Racing-sponsored XR had his clutch go south in the National main and ended up with an unlucky 13th-place finish to end the year ranked as the 2nd-overall rider in the nation. 

Jared Mees had previously wrapped up the ceremonial 2012 Single Series Championship at the Springfield Short Track on September 15, but even then stated he still had 'unfinished business' in terms of clinching the overall championship at Pomona.  After getting banged and moved around at Pomona, Mees settled into an eventual 8th-place finish that would cap his run to the 2012 AMA Grand National Championship on the #9 Rogers Racing/Blue Springs H-D/National Cycle/Lucas Oil-sponsored XR750. 

With the team announcing several weeks ago that tuner Brent Armbruster would be leaving the team (and moving to the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports corral for the 2013 season), Mees' and Rogers' new tuner, Kenny Tolbert, will be back in action spinning the wrenches for the new AMA Grand National Championship-winning effort.

Could KT also be bringing along his fleet of Mean Green Kawi 650Rs that have been in the closet since mid-June?  Mees had talked of having to put a Kawi together in order to keep with the Kawi rockets in mid-September.  Or will KT's signing make the difference for them to be able to stay with their tried and true XR fleet?  Don't forget, the chances are still pretty good that the rules will get some tweaking in terms of restrictor sizes mandated and in weight minimums being set for all of the competitors for the 2013 season.  But will that be enough to keep the pundits quiet? 

Only time will tell, and it's going to be a long off-season...............

Stephen Vanderkuur hops off of his #10J Parkinson Brothers Racing/Performance Cycle & Dyno/MDR/SSR-sponsored Honda CRF450R after winning his heat race at round 5 of the 2012 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles season at the Lima Half-Mile on June 30.  AMA Pro Flat Track announcer Barry Boone talks to the crowd while Vanderkuur gets some help with his mount and gear prior to the podium celebrations.

Vanderkuur ended the season with three wins on the year and capped off his 2012 Pro Singles Championship in style by winning the season-finale round at Pomona to go with his previous wins at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile and Santa Rosa Mile events.  The young rider, another of a long line of superior flat track talent to come out of the state of Michigan, didn't even qualify for the first two rounds at Daytona, yet still finished the season on top over two riders who qualified for all 16 rounds on the season (runner-up in the 2012 championship Jake Shoemaker and 3rd-place man Jason Isennock) and completed his great run for the championship with seven top-3 performances, ending the year with a tally of 214 points to Shoemaker's 192 and Isennock's 175 points.

A big congrats to our new 2012 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Champion, Stephen Vanderkuur, who had a strong season to capture the fourth Pro Singles Championship since the series' inception in 2009.  Vanderkuur joins former series champions Brad Baker, Jeffrey Carver, Jr. and Mikey Martin in a very unique group of young men who have since moved up to the AMA Grand National Expert class to compete against the best racers in the world in The Rolling Thunder Show.  A job well done, and I'm sure we'll see our new champion competing against the big boys before too long!


Dan Jacobson, Sr. is one of the many fans, photographers and journalists that follow the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship to every event possible each season.  Based out of the Great White North in Fargo, North Dakota, 'Dakota Dan' as he is known, probably puts on thousands of miles each year traveling to the events he covers from his remote location, and chronicles those events at Todays Cycle Coverage.com.  Check out Dan's latest from the season-finale at Pomona below, along with some super photography from Tom Hnitaw.

A big thanks to Dan Jacobson, Sr. & Todays Cycle Coverage.com for this great write-up on the season-finale at round 16 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Pomona Half-Mile:

http://www.todayscyclecoverage.com/wordpress/2012/11/09/the-king-of-cool-and-fast/