AMA Pro Flat Track: Stockton Half-Mile Now Scheduled for Round 3 on May 11

Two of the top stars in the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship Series go at it during one of the practice sessions at round 5 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Allen County Fairgrounds on June 30. 

Eventual 2012 AMA Grand National Champion Jared Mees on the #9 Rogers Racing/Blue Springs H-D/Saddlemen/National Cycle-sponsored Harley-Davison XR750 runs ahead of Johnny Lewis on the #10 Scott Powersports/Saddlemen/Wallace Trucking/AXO-backed Kawasaki 650R-based parallel twin as they come out of turn two onto the back straight at the annual event known as the Lima Half-Mile. 

Mees of course went on to grab the championship at the end of the season, to add to his Singles Series Championship which he captured after the Springfield Short Track in early September.  Lewis had left the series after round 6 of the season at the Hagerstown Half-Mile (while sitting in the 3rd-place spot in the championship mind you), due to creative differences as a result of Mees and Lewis coming together at round 2 earlier in the season at the Daytona Short Track II.  Lewis still ended the season as the 13th-ranked rider in the overall championship standings to go along with his season-opening cherry-breaking series victory at round 1 of the season at Daytona I.

Mees again will be on the Rogers Racing team, after switching things up with his crew chief during the off-season.  Gone is long-time wrench Brent Armbruster (now residing with the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Henry Wiles effort for 2013) and in is Kenny Tolbert, the multi-time championship-winning tuner most notably recognized for his many years spent with 7-time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr.

Lewis returned to the series at Daytona, and for the upcoming Twins Series events of the 2013 season will now be a part of the new Latus Motors Racing Triumph squad that was announced earlier this month.   Needless to say, the greatest racing series on two wheels in the world is gearing up for another incredible year of racing. 

AMA Pro Flat Track announced officially yesterday that what was one of the 'TBA' events on the original schedule for early May has now been dropped, and the Stockton Half-Mile on May 11 will now be the next event on the calendar.  That leaves 43 days for fans to get their schedules set to see the next round of the season and to get the adrenaline flowing after the season-openers at Daytona on March 14-15.

Check out the official press release below from AMA Pro Flat Track, get your calendars set and your tickets bought so you can catch The Rolling Thunder Show as it flies into the Stockton Half-Mile to get the rest of the season kick-started for another great year of racing!

Stockton Half-Mile to Host Third Round of AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Action on May 11, 2013

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 28, 2013) - Next stop, Stockton, California. The stars of AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles intend to pack up their machines and head out west for the first time this season and go handlebar-to-handlebar at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, Calif.  Despite the best efforts of all involved, the TBA event previously scheduled for May 4, 2013 will not be conducted.  Nevertheless, fans can write this upcoming Stockton event in permanent ink on their calendars, as the race is expected to bring nonstop action-packed racing from the very first heat all the way to the drop of the checkered flag in the final main event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brad Baker #12, Jared Mees #9, Jethro Halbert #69 and Luke Gough #62 battle at the front of the pack during heat race three at round 5 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season, at the Lima Half-Mile on June 30.  The 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season will head to the Stockton Half-Mile on May 11 in what will now be round three for The Rolling Thunder Show.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

 

 

"I'm thrilled to bring our series out to California for the first time this season," said Michael Gentry, COO of AMA Pro Racing.  "It seems like every time our riders compete in the Golden State it's always a world-class experience.  The fans embrace the sport and the atmosphere is just unbelievable.  The field is very competitive this year as we all witnessed in Daytona and we can't wait to get everything started back up again in May."

 

The AMA Pro Grand National Championship Expert riders will be mounted on their thundering twin-engines for the first time this season on San Joaquin County Fairgrounds' half-mile course.  Mikey Rush and Brandon Robinson were able to come out on top and stake their claim on Daytona's short track in the 2013 season's opening rounds.  The rest of the field will be ready to turn up the pressure to on the half-mile course when the Series heads West.

 

As for the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles, they will be piloting their single-engine machines for the third time this season.  Michigan's Kyle Johnson and New Yorker Jake Constantine both took checkered flags at Daytona and will look to have similar success when the lights go on in Stockton.

 

Both divisions in AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles look to be of extreme potency in 2013.  The AMA Pro Grand National Championship Experts bring back a deep field of proven veterans as well as talented young and win-hungry stars that are looking to make a name for themselves among the elite on the biggest stage in the sport.  The AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles also make up a field of young and fierce competitors looking to make an immediate impact in hopes of obtaining a championship.

 

For more information, please visit http://www.stockton99.com/. 

 

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: Johnny Lewis Announces Return to Grand National Racing with Latus Triumph for 2013 Twins Series

Great news for AMA Pro Flat Track fans hit the airwaves last night when it was announced on Pit Pass Radio that Johnny Lewis, the former AMA Supermoto Champion and winner of the season-opening round of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track season at Daytona, would be returning to the track for the 2013 season alongside the returning AMA Grand National Championship-competing Latus Motors flat track team. 

2000 AMA Grand National Champion Joe Kopp was also announced as one of the heads of the new project (no doubt in part because of his long-time ties with the Latus organization located in the Northwest Territory of Oregon, not far from Kopp's home state of Washington), which will see Smokin' Joe return to the series where he almost won his second AMA Grand National Championship while riding for Latus and the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports team before retiring from full-time competition at the end of the 2010 season. 

The team will be fielding Triumphs run out of the Latus shop, with sponsorship from Latus Triumph, Castrol Oil and GE Capital, among others, in the Twins Series rounds of the now-rebranded 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles season, with Lewis slated to do the riding and Kopp looking to head up the team throughout the season.

Lewis, who ran the first six races of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season before walking away from the series after disagreements were raised with how the on-track incident with eventual '12 AMA Grand National Champion Jared Mees at round 2 in Daytona ended up playing out last season.  For those not familiar with the incident, the night after Lewis took his cherry-breaking win in the series at the start of his third season in The Rolling Thunder Show, he and Mees were involved in a 'questionable' incident on the last lap of the 25-lap National main at the short track inside Daytona International Speedway.  Mees went on to finish in the runner-up spot behind the night's second new winner-in-a-row, Matt Weidman, while Lewis collected himself and eventually finished in the 8th-place spot. 

Lewis announced last night on Pit Pass Radio and his new video on You Tube (see both below) that he had been testing the new Triumph at Oglethorpe Speedway outside Savannah, GA. yesterday and that he and the team were excited about their prospects for the season ahead.  The new Latus Triumph flat track team is expected to debut their new efforts together in competition this Friday, March 8 at the official kick-off to Bike Week in the Steve Nace Racing All-Star Series event at Oglethorpe.

Check out the link below to hear JL10 make his big announcement and then see his video as he blasts the new Latus Triumph around the track in testing from the Peach Tree State yesterday.  This is great news for AMA Pro Flat Track all around, for the fans, the team and the sponsors.  Latus Motors in the past has brought a great deal to the greatest sport on two wheels in the world and with the addition of former AMA Grand National Champion Kopp to the team's mix, add in Johnny Lewis 'wild and crazy guy' attitude and killer riding skills and you have a match made in heaven for the coming year.  Way to go guys and congrats!

In the shot above, Lewis is interviewed for the fans by AMA Pro Flat Track official announcer Barry Boone after taking the #10 Scott Powersports/Triple J Racing/Wallace Trucking/Arai-backed Kawasaki 650R-based mount to the heat race win in round 5 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track season at the Lima Half-Mile on June 30.  After coming home in the 5th-place spot in the National main that night, Lewis competed in one other National at the Hagerstown Speedway the next week (with another strong 4th-place finish on the Scott Kawi) before taking his hiatus from the series for the rest of the season, while sitting in the 3rd-place spot in the championship.  It's going to be great to have you back JL!

2000 AMA Grand National Champion Joe Kopp talks with the fans during the fan walk at the Lima Half-Mile in June 2010 (with the #3 Latus Motors/LBM XR750 on display.)  The return of Kopp to the track full-time (albeit in an advisory role) will bring big points with the fans as the Washington State resident is a fan favorite throughout the series and should bring a great mix of leadership, quality and class to the on- and off-track progression of the Latus Motors Triumph team.  Welcome back Joe!


 Check out Johnny Lewis' interview from last night with the great guys from Pit Pass Radio.

And here's the video of JL10 testing in Savannah yesterday that he uploaded last night on You Tube.

These are the sweet graphics JL10 will be rockin' in Daytona next week for the season-opening Singles Series rounds at Daytona, which include his sponsors Triple J Racing, Wallace Trucking and RIDE Academy.   The action kicks off on Thursday, March 14 at Daytona with round 1 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles season and continues on March 15 with round 2.  JL10 sponsor graphics photo courtesy of Johnny Lewis.

RIDE Academy's Ocala, FL. Stop on January 26-27 to Have AMA Pro Flat Track Director Dan Johnsen in Attendance

RIDE Academy founder and former AMA Grand National competitor and National #67 Mike Hacker (back to camera) can be seen talking with current AMA Grand National #10, Johnny Lewis at round 3 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Springfield TT on May 26.

Hacker and Lewis (seated on the #10 Scott Powersports/Saddlemen Seats/Silkolene/Wallace Trucking-sponsored Honda CRF450R) will be opening the 2013 season of RIDE Academy's riding schools next weekend as they take their many years of on and off track experience to the Sunshine State to spend another weekend teaching their skills to a sold-out class at the Marion County Speedway in Ocala, FL.  Also expected to lend a hand in the teaching department is former 3-Time AMA Grand National Twins Champion, Kenny Coolbeth, Jr., who is also a frequent instructor for the riding school.

Also seen in this picture are Willy Halbert (getting Sammy's #7 Frederickstown Yamaha set to go for the first round of practice at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Multipurpose Arena) and 2012 Daytona Short Track II winner, Matt Weidman on his #20 DFW Honda.

Check out the full press release below the next shot, and even though the school is sold out in Ocala, if you're in the area be sure to drop by to take in some of the great action sure to be present with these greats of AMA Pro Flat Track as they teach their tricks to the lucky few who will be in class next weekend!

AMA Pro Flat Track Director Dan Johnsen (center) can be seen talking with Australia native Mick Kirkness/AMA Grand National #87 and Sammy Halbert/AMA Grand National #7 at round 14 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.coms season at the Peoria TT on August 21.  Johnsen, who will be entering his third year as the manager of flat track operations for AMA Pro Racing after taking over the reigns from former '81 AMA Grand National Champion Mike Kidd in early 2011, will make the trip from the DMG offices in Daytona Beach next weekend to sit-in as a student at RIDE Academy's stop at the Ocala, FL. season-opening class.


Press release courtesy of Mike Hacker/RIDE Academy founder & Johnny Lewis AMA Grand National #10/RIDE Academy instructor

RIDE Academy Draws in AMA Pro Racing

 Director of AMA Pro Flat Track to Attend RIDE Academy

Ocala, FL. (January 18, 2013) – Since first appointed the Director of Flat Track for the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Series, Dan Johnsen has been looking to learn more about the sport even if it means throwing a leg over a bike and strapping on a steel shoe.  At the first RIDE Academy of the season in Ocala Florida, Dan will be doing just that!  He will be joining a sold out class where RIDE Academy will provide two days of training and instructing, both on and off the track.  Dan Johnsen will make the trip from the Daytona Beach, FL headquarters for the January 26/27 "RIDE Academy Ocala", presented by Metro Racing.

Dan will get the chance to ride and learn from AMA Pro Flat Track professionals: Johnny Lewis (National #10), Kenny Coolbeth (National #2) and former National #67 Mike Hacker.  The RIDE crew with also be bringing in two guest instructors, 2012 AMA Pro Singles race winners: Ryan Wells (94B) & Cody Johncox (96B).  Johnny Lewis stated in a conversation earlier this week, that he feels RIDE Academy is going to be able to show him (Dan Johnsen) the little things you can’t see by sitting in the stands or track side.  “The game is changing. From the bikes to the techniques of the riders, it’s not in a text book. 2013 is going to be a new chapter for AMA Pro Flat Track racing on many levels, and I feel Dan is taking the appropriate next steps to further his knowledge in the sport,” says Johnny Lewis.

It's not all business for Dan though.  He will be strapping on his helmet along with a steel shoe and is prepared to have some fun with the RIDE crew over the two days while seating up on one of the RIDE Academy CRF Honda training bikes.  RIDE starts the students off on their professionally prepared CRF Honda bikes, ranging from 50cc’s to 230cc’s.  They begin on a smaller course designed to allow the rider to progress faster than they would be able to riding at 100% performance on a full-size race bike.  Just like every other RIDE Academy Ocala student, Dan will then advance to the race bike on day 2 on a larger short track.  This will then lead into a full-size TT track for the last portion.

RIDE Academy Ocala, Florida is sold out but for more information on this school and other RIDE dates coming to a track near you, follow us on Facebook @ fb.me/rideacademytraining or at www.rideacademy.com.


About RIDE Academy

Riding. Instruction. Determination. Excellence.
RIDE Academy is determined to change the world of flat track racing.  We believe we have a formula that will lead many riders to success.  We are here to extend our combined knowledge to fellow riders so that they can become the best they can be in a far less amount of time that it has taken each of us.

About Metro Racing

Taking a page from motorcycle history and providing it to the enthusiasts of the world.  Check out our website at www.metroracing.com where you can get all kinds of cool vintage motorcycle gear.  Buy our stuff and support our racing habit!

From the Department of 'I Wanna Be a Rock Star': AMA Pro Flat Track Announces 2013 Pro License Applications Now Available

So you've been riding flat track for years and now you're ready to move up to the 'bigs' to race with the 'names' of the sport including newly-crowned 2012 AMA Grand National Champion Jared Mees, 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Twins Series Champion Bryan Smith, and former AMA Supermoto Champion Johnny Lewis?  Well now's your chance to throw your hat (......er, let's make that helmet...) into the ring to do so!

The Daytona Motorsports Group-owned and operated AMA Pro Flat Track today announced pro license applications are now being accepted for the upcoming (how soon does it start, and are we close to getting a schedule released before the first snow flies this year) 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season.

Now take into account before you throw that ceremonial helmet into the ring, you WILL be going up against the best of the best in The Rolling Thunder Show.  You will be required to race in four forms of racing in the series (mile, half-mile, TT and short track), you will be required to transport a minimum of two bikes per each of those events on the calendar, which means you will need a minimum of two Twins Series machines for EACH of those types of tracks (that means two-each for half-mile AND mile events) and you might be able to get by with two Singles Series machines for the short track and TT events on the schedule by just mounting up your front brake onto your bike for the 2-4 TT events that will assuredly be on the calendar.

Then you'll need to book all of your extra race gear, find a decent van and/or transporter to use to move those machines criss-crossing the country several times during the season, book your hotel and/or camping arrangements and pay for your fuel to move those machines across the country.  But wait, it doesn't end there......(actually, when it comes to racing, it NEVER ends.......)

You will be competing on a bevy of dirt tracks around the country that are made up of a variety of clay, soil, rock, pea gravel and you name it when it comes to surface possibilities.  And if you run one of the series' longest current tenured events on the schedule at the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio, you will need a MINIMUM of a half-case of duct tape in order to protect your investment from the constant showering, pelting and down and out hammering that it will take when running said event at the Lima Half-Mile.....just like the pros above that you so aspire to want to race against and with.

Believe me, this is barely dipping your toe into what it would take to mount a serious effort in the greatest racing series on wheels in the world, but it gives you an idea of the uphill battle you will/would/are facing looking said venture into the eyes and taking it on like a fighting Roman Emporer.  But when it's all said and done, you WOULD be racing against the stars of The Rolling Thunder Show, and you WOULD be rubbing elbows (or leather pads) with said stars when you are screaming out of the corner at Lima and the guy in front of you is showering you with a fire hose-plus size roost made up of pea gravel and sandblasting rock and sand. 

Round 5 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season saw three men putting on a show at Lima during the first practice session of the afternoon, and in the process slinging a pea gravel roost that would stop a small army in it's tracks.

Out front, eventual 2012 AMA Grand National Champion Jared Mees leads the roosting on the #9 Rogers Racing/Blue Springs H-D/National Cycle/Lucas Oil-sponsored XR750, with eventual 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Twins Series Champion Bryan Smith on his #42 Moroney's FastHog.com/American H-D/Doc's H-D-backed XR trying his best to stay out of the pelting, with former AMA Supermoto Champion Johnny Lewis playing tag with the haybales on the highline on the #10 Scott Powersports/Saddlemen Seats/Wallace Trucking/AXO-sponsored Kawasaki 650R-based mount.  For the record, Mees finished 4th, Lewis 5th, and Smith 8th at the end of the day in the 25-lap National main, won by one Sammy Halbert.

So, are you still ready to 'bring it' against the best of the left-clankers (thanks Chew & Mia!) in The Rolling Thunder Show?  You can check out the info below and get on the bandwagon now as AMA Pro Flat Track announces what you need to do for the 2013 season to fulfil that dream!

2013 AMA Pro Flat Track License Applications Now Available

To: AMA Pro Flat Track Community

From: AMA Pro Member Services

Date: November 7, 2012

Subject: AMA Pro Flat Track License Applications Now Available

Licensing applications for the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track season are now available. AMA Pro Racing License and Crew membership applicants will receive a 10% discount on membership fees for the 2013 season if completed applications and payments are received in the AMA Pro Racing office by Friday, January 4, 2013.

The following files have been made available in the Competitor Information section of AMAProRacing.com.

2013 AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles and Expert License Application

• Included in the following document are the 2013 season flat track license regulations and eligibility questionnaire.
• The file can be downloaded at http://www.amaproracing.com//assets/2013-AMAP-FT-Pro-Expert-App.pdf

2013 AMA Pro Flat Track Crew Membership Application

• The file can be downloaded at http://www.amaproracing.com//assets/2013-AMAP-FT-Crew-App.pdf

Please contact Doris Pitts in AMA Pro Racing Member Services at (386) 492-1014 ext. 152 for any questions regarding the license and entry process.

 

 

AMA Pro Flat Track 2012 Springfield Labor Day Weekend Preview

After one of the greatest events of the season at round 10 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile two weeks ago, what could possibly top it in the remaining six events of the season?!  Maybe this weekend's running of the Springfield Mile II at the Illinois State Fairgrounds where the best in the business in The Rolling Thunder Show will assemble to duke it out at 130 MPH on the straights of the mile oval to put on a show that will (or should if you have a pulse) leave you breathless and gasping for more when the final checkered flag falls on round 12 of the season tomorrow.

After the great win by Sammy Halbert at Indy on August 18, the rest of the field will be looking to get to the front early and try to make it a Sammy sandwich, and after the impressive and depressing final results at Indy and the trickle down effects of those turnarounds this weekend's Springfield Mile II should prove just what the doctor ordered for those that walked away from Indy with less-then-stellar results.

And we could pretty much guarantee you that five of the six men in the shot above from the Springfield Mile I National main on May 27 will try to have some say-so in those matters.

With Bryan Smith suffering an electrical malady on the #42 Crosley Radio/Howerton Motorsports powered by Eaken Racing Kawasaki/Midwest Performance Hardware-sponsored 650R-based parallel twin, Flyin' Bryan will most likely be looking to turn that night's dissapointment around and even better his 3rd-place run at Springfield in the spring race. 

Jake Johnson crashed out at Indy on the #1 Zanotti Racing/Schaeffer's H-D/Boughner Racing/Arai-backed XR750 but emerged unscathed save for some serious leather rash and a tweaked Milwaukee V-twin that absorbed a pounding after flipping end-over-end several times.  And Jersey Jake not only has a few points to make up for after Indy, but is also uncharacteristically looking for his first win of the season after not having been off of the podium since the Springfield TT on May 26.  And this is the time of the season that Johnson has historically started making major moves towards the front in gathering his '10-'11 Championship runs together.

Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. returned to action at Indy and ran extremely strong to card a 5th-place result on the #2 Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Screamin' Eagle/Fox/Arai Helmets-backed factory XR750, and after having gotten swept away from the main pack as shown above at the half-way point of the spring race to bring it home in the 6th-place position.  The King of Cool is hunting his first win of the 2012 season and this weekend could be it for the former 3-Time AMA Grand National Twins Champion.

Johnny Lewis #10 parted ways with the Scott Powersports team before the Indy round, but Matt Weidman will be in the saddle on the #20 Scott/Saddlemen/Fiorio Investments/SNIP-sponsored 650R-based ride this weekend after a super 8th-place finish on the Kawi at Indy.  In his first ride on the Kawi, and first on anything but an XR750 save for one west coast outing on the Ron Woods Rotax/BMW two seasons ago, Mighty Matt adapted VERY quickly to the power output difference of the parallel twin and he could very well be a top-5 spoiler for this weekend's outing.  Don't take your eyes off of the 2008 AMA Pro Flat Track Rookie of the Year as if you do, he could be gone....fast!

Jared Mees has been another case for his run to the 2012 AMA Grand National Championship in bringing home one win on the year (Hagerstown) and throwing down one great result after another all season long.  Mees run to 3rd-place at Indy on the #9 Rogers Racing/Blue Springs H-D/Saddlemen/National Cycle-backed and Brent Armbruster-tuned XR was the stuff that champions, and future champions are made of.  Jammin' Jared has two Twins Series Championships to his credit ('09 and '11) and is making another strong case in his search for the overall championship in his 2012 season, and could add to his Springfield Mile I win in 2011 to get that done.

And don't forget Springfield Mile double-winner Willie McCoy who will be on-hand again displaying his mile-specialist efforts on his #59 Harley-Davidson of Wausau/Independence H-D/Tucker Rocky/Arai-sponsored XR750.  After suffering a mechanical at Indy, look for the Texas veteran to better his results this weekend by something at least as much as Texas is big.  And being the two-time defending winner at Springfield, look for this hard charger to be in the mix.

There is also a handful of other riders ready to spoil the party for the aforementioned group this weekend (weather permitting--see below under Henry Wiles) that includes Brad Baker on the #12 Dodge Brothers XR (6th at Indy for a superb run for the '11 Rookie of the Year), Henry Wiles on the #17 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports 'L' twin (looking to grab his 3rd top-5 of the year after his great 4th-place effort at Indy), and Brandon Robinson on the #44 Werner-Springsteen Racing Kawasaki who carded his best-ever result of 2nd-place and his first-ever Twins Series podium at Indy.  And there could be other spoilers thrown into the mix this weekend as well.

One downturn to the weekend is that we won't see Clermont, Indiana's Dan Ingram on the #31J TCR/Indy Southside H-D XR750.  Dapper Dan suffered a wrist injury during his heat race crash at Indy (where he went on to win his semi and get the full house rocking at Indy), that will keep him away from the track this weekend and will be getting surgery on his wrist (after my conversation with Dan on Wednesday evening of this week.)  But he does have a few good things in the mix for some possibilities for the remaining Knoxville and west coast rounds, should his wrist be up to the action.  If/when that happens, we'll bring you the news on that here.

So don't let the remnants of Hurricane (Himacane) Isaac keep you away from what will eventually be some of the best racing of the year, as it always is, at Springfield.  You won't be dissapointed as the boys and girls of The Rolling Thunder Show will leave you leaping for more as they hit the track for the Labor Day Weekend Classic!

Henry Wiles rolls out his #17 Don's Kawasaki/DPC Racing/Nick Nazzisi/Schiller's Tree Svc-sponsored KX450F in preparation for the first practice session at round 3 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the final Springfield TT National on May 26.  Wiles' long-time tuner Johnny O follows closely behind with his stopwatch in his pocket and his mind on seeing The Hammer take another big win at the beautiful Springfield Multipurpose Arena event.

He wasn't dissapointed as Henry went on to take his fourth win in five events at the Memorial Day Weekend race, held before a packed house in spite of the looming loss of the event on the 2013 calendar (it was announced earlier in the season that both Singles Series events at Springfield that bookend the summer run in The Rolling Thunder Show would be dropped from the schedule next season due to the current economy.)  Don't fret, though, as Steve Nace Racing and his great Kentucky-based crew will be putting on the support events that will be scheduled on the All-Star calendar.  What that amounts to is a great support event during the spring race and again during the late summer race that will in all likelihood pan out as 'mini' Nationals, with a good turnout of AMA Pro Flat Track's finest stars already in town for the big show wanting to earn some extra cash to help pay their traveling expenses.  And a double-mile round over Labor Day Weekend for 2012 to boot!

What is scheduled as tonight's final Springfield Short Track National for the foreseeable future is the one that is in question this weekend due to the remnants of Hurrican Isaac circulating Central Illinois that have already caused one wash-out in the form of last night's amateur program that was shortened considerably due to the deluge of rain that hit the area.  And with rain in the area again today, things could still tip either way in terms of whether the show is postponed until Monday or scrubbed altogether.  Or if things turn for the better, runs yet this evening.

If Mother Nature should cooperate, look for Jake Johnson, Jared Mees, Sammy Halbert, Jeffrey Carver, Jr., Matt Weidman, Brad Baker, JD Beach and a handful of others to try and knock the reigning king of Springfield's Singles Series event off of his perch.  Remember, Wiles returned to the Springfield Short Track late last summer after having missed some events in the season due to his DuQuoin injuries to totally dominate the evening and win his 5th-straight short track at Springfield. 

Here's hoping that not only the weather cooperates but that either way we still get this great event in either today or Monday.

AMA Pro Flat Track Heads Back to Springfield for Action Packed Labor Day Race Weekend

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 30, 2012) - Labor Day Weekend and the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association (IMDA) promoted Springfield Doubleheader has become the promised land for dedicated fans of the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com and Lucas Oil.

 

The weekend consists of a short track at the Illinois State Fairgrounds' multi-purpose arena for the 450cc single-cylinder bikes on Saturday, before moving to the Holy Grail of flat track racing on Sunday, the Springfield Mile. The mile features the big twin-cylinder (750cc / 1000cc) monsters of AMA Pro Flat Track's Expert Twins division turning laps at over 100mph.

 

The Saturday night short track race always features great handlebar rattling action with plenty of bumping, banging and hurt feelings to go around. Surprisingly, the only currently active rider with a Springfield Short Track win is Henry Wiles (Don's Kawasaki). Wiles is famous for his Peoria TT dominance, but the beautiful State Fair Arena has been just as much his personal playground. Of the last 10 races held in the Arena (TT & Short Track), Wiles has won nine. He was forced to miss the 2010 TT while recovering from knee surgery.

 

Defending Grand National Champion Jake Johnson (Zanotti Racing) has finished second the last two Springfield Short Track events and desperately needs a 2012 win. Johnson saw his string of podium finishes snapped at Indianapolis due to a rare crash in the Lucas Oil Indy Mile. The DNF dropped Johnson to third in the points race behind Sammy Halbert (South East Harley-Davidson / Fredericktown Yamaha) and points leader Jared Mees (Rogers Racing) neither of which have fared too well on the tight short track.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jake Johnson #1 leads Bryan Smith #42 and Johnny Lewis #10 during the running of the Springfield Mile I on May 27, 2012.  AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.

 

 

Of course there are always the "Young Lions" who are making their marks on the trail. Jeffrey Carver (Kiesow Racing) is quietly having a solid season and has recorded a podium finish on the short track. Fellow Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Champion Brad Baker (Brothers Powersports / Dodge Brothers) hopes to settle his season down after jumping from team to team early in the year. Saddlemen Rookie of the Year leader Briar Bauman (USC Racing) has to be considered another contender along with his teammate, part-time dirt tracker, JD Beach.

 

In reality, it could be any of a large contingent, but they all have to beat Wiles to have a chance.

 

After the 450cc singles are all packed away, the action moves to Sunday's Springfield Mile and the big bore twins. Bryan Smith (Howerton Racing), himself a two-time Springfield Mile winner has been dominate on his Kawasaki, but has come away with just one 2012 win, the Sacramento Mile. A strategy error in the Memorial Day Springfield race and electrical problems at Indy have plagued Smith in the other two Mile events contested so far as part of the 2012 schedule.

 

The race has always been a 140 mph chess match, favoring the veteran riders when it comes down to the final five miles of the 25 lap race. To reinforce this fact, semi-retired Willie McCoy (Harley-Davidson of Wausau / Independence Harley-Davidson) has a two-race winning streak on the legendary mile going for him. McCoy qualified for his first Springfield Mile National in 1996. Perhaps even more impressive is the rejuvenated Dan Ingram (Total Control Racing), who rode his first Springfield National in 1984. Unfortunately for the Indiana native, a crash at the Indy Mile two weeks ago has put his participation at this weekend's round in jeopardy.

 

The top three in the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship chase have all had solid Springfield races in the past. Points leader Jared Mees has one win, while Jake Johnson has posted two wins. Sammy Halbert has been very fast, but bad luck, including a massive turn one crash in the spring that ended his day, has short circuited his efforts. 

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

 

Current points leader Stephen Vanderkuur (Parkinson Brothers Racing) appears to be back at full strength after a broken leg in 2010 sidetracked his career. Ryan Wells (5 Star Steel & Fabrication) is just two points back. Jake Shoemaker (Montgomeryville Cycle) and Jason Isennock (Highs Dairy) remain in the thick of the points race.

 

Shoemaker is looking to repeat his win of last year's Labor Day Mile, but there are truly so many riders in this class that have a chance of winning either or both days.

 

For more information on the Springfield Short Track, please click here.

 

For more information on the Springfield Mile II, please click here.

 

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

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines.  Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com. 

For additional information contact:

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

 

 

 

AMA Flat Track: Bryan Smith & Brad Baker to Appear at Red Bull Indy MotoGP Autograph Signing at IMS on Friday, August 17 to Promote Lucas Oil Indy Mile on August 18

AMA Pro Flat Track and Family Events, the great folks promoting the 2012 Lucas Oil Indy Mile announced today that Sacramento Mile winner and Howerton Motorsports rider Bryan Smith and 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Saddlemen Rookie of the Year Brad Baker will be on-hand tomorrow to sign autographs at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to help promote round 10 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds being held on Saturday, August 18.

Flyin' Bryan and The Bullet will be helping to promote Saturday's big Indy Mile event and will be part of a special 'Q&A' session being held in the infield Friday afternoon from 11:45-12:45 EDT during the Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP events held at The Brickyard.  AMA Pro Flat Track announcer Scottie Duebler will also be joining the two big stars from The Rolling Thunder Show to help drum-up even more interested for the Lucas Oil Indy Mile this Saturday that is already gaining speed as the big event nears.

In what is shaping up to be one of the premier events of the season for the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com calendar, these two riders are a perfect match to come out and mingle with the fans to talk up the great action in the greatest racing series on wheels in the world.

In the shot above riders get ready to roll out for round 4 of the season at the Springfield Mile I on May 27 for the first qualifying session of the first Twins Series mile event of the year.

Johnny Lewis on the #10 Scott Powersports Kawasaki will not be on-hand this weekend as he has reportedly split from the team due to safety, monetary and rules issues encountered earlier this season.  2008 AMA Rookie of the Year Matt Weidman #20 will be filling the seat on the bright red parallel twin and should be poised to get some great results now that he is healed from his Lima Half-Mile get-off on June 28.

Baker, on the #12 Kenny Tolbert Racing Kawasaki, hasn't made his plans for the remaining Twins Series event official, although he is on the pre-entry list with KT Racing as his sponsor.  Phone calls to Kenny Tolbert in Texas were not answered as his voice mail box is full.  Baker had mentioned a few weeks ago he was trying to get things put together for the rest of the year.  We'll know tomorrow when we talk with Brad at IMS to find out what he will be riding on Saturday night.

Rob Pearson on the #27 Memphis Shades XR750, Doug Lawrence on his #73 R&J Racing XR750, Bryan Smith on the #42 Crosley/Howerton/Eaken Kawasaki, Jeffrey Carver, Jr. on the #23 Kiesow Racing XR750 and Henry Wiles on the #17 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Foremost Insurance Ducati will all be racing Saturday night and are part of the pre-entries listed as of press time tonight.  As of 9:00 PM EDT on Thursday night a total of 40 Experts were lined up to take part in round 10, one of those being a now-confirmed and returning to the track Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. on the #2 Harley-Davidson factory entry, who has been out since his injury at Lima in late June as well.

This is going to be a great event, so be sure to go check out Bryan Smith and Brad Baker tomorrow at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and then check out what will surely be one of the hottest races for the year in terms of sheer speed, adrenaline and action at the 2012 Lucas Oil Indy Mile on Saturday night, August 18.  You won't be disappointed!

Check out the official press release below courtesy of Family Events and the 2012 Lucas Oil Indy Mile!

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Top AMA Flat Track Riders to Sign This Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway   Lucas Oil Indy Mile Contenders Invited to Red Bull Indianapolis GP Practice Day for Q&A Autograph Session (INDIANAPOLIS -- August 16, 2012) Riders Bryan Smith and Brad Baker, two of the greatest AMA Pro Flat Track stars in the sport competing in Saturday’s Lucas Oil Indy Mile Grand National at the legendary Indy Mile track at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, will travel across town to meet Moto GP race fans face-to-face this Friday. The autograph session, part of the Red Bull Indianapolis GP Weekend will be held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this Friday, August 17, from 11:45 am to 12:45 pm on the Main Stage adjacent to the Interactive Display Area in the infield. Friday is a practice day for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP.   This event will offer fans the chance to meet and greet these top riders during autograph signings, chat with them during a Q&A session, and see flat track bikes on display. Official AMA Pro Flat Track announcer Scottie Deubler will also be on hand to moderate.   Brad Baker currently sits in seventh in the Grand National Champion combined point standings and is a top tier rider with a great personality. Bryan Smith, one of the best mile-course riders out there is currently fourth in the standings. Bryan is the returning champ of the Lucas Oil Indy Mile and will be riding a bike that was built in Indianapolis. Both riders are poised to make a run at the title and one hour isn’t a lot of time so come on out and take full advantage of this opportunity to meet some of the fastest riders in the world.   The Lucas Oil Indy Mile returns as a featured event of the Indiana State Fair, and again coincides with the Red Bull Indianapolis GP weekend. Activities will be begin with gates opening at 2:00pm, timed-qualifying from 3:00pm-5:00pm, opening ceremonies 7:00pm with the first race at 7:30pm.   Tickets on sale now for Lucas Oil Indy Mile   Advance tickets available at The Indiana State Fairgrounds Box Office, any Ticketmaster location, www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000. For additional ticket information and web links, please visit www.IndyMile.com.         www.IndyMile.com

AMA Flat Track: Scott Powersports' Johnny Lewis #10 Brings Home Two Top-5 Finishes at Lima & Hagerstown

Johnny Lewis talks with AMA Pro Flat Track announcer Barry Boone after taking the win in heat race #3 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. 

JL10 went on to finish 2nd in the Dash for Cash behind winner Henry Wiles, and had a great showing in the National main while racing with brother-in-law Jake Johnson to card a strong 5th-place finish.

Moving on to round 6 of the 2012 season at the Hub City Classic Half-Mile in Hagerstown, MD., the Pennsylvania resident returned to the site of his best-ever Twins Series finish (2nd-place in 2011) to take the #10 Scott Powersports/Saddlemen Seats/Wallace Trucking/AXO-sponsored Kawasaki 650R-based parallel twin to another top-5 finish of 4th-place.

After battling throughout the National main for the third spot on the podium with eventual 3rd-place finisher Jeffrey Carver, Jr. and Sammy Halbert (5th-place at Hagerstown), Lewis, Carver and Halbert had what was possibly the best race in the field while swapping positions for the final spot on the box.

After finishing 5th in round 4 of the 2012 season at the Springfield Mile I round, Lewis' last three outings are something to be proud of for the 3rd-year series contender as he continues to make his mark in The Rolling Thunder Show.

You can read JL10's full press release below.

Scott Powersports’ Johnny Lewis earns top-five finishes at Lima and Hagerstown rounds of AMA Pro Flat Track

(NEWS RELEASE)

Lewis remains in third place in the AMA Pro Grand National Championship

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (July 13, 2012) – In only his third full season competing in the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com, Scott Powersports/Saddlemen’s Johnny Lewis is consistently running at and near the front. Since the opening round, he has finished in the top five four out of six events. During the recent Lima Half-Mile in Ohio and the Hagerstown Half-Mile in Maryland, Lewis finished fifth and fourth, respectively, on his custom-built Scott Powersports’ Kawasaki 650.

Lewis dedicated the Daytona Short Track opening round double-header to his friend and former KTM factory mechanic, the late Mark “Tex” Adams. Since then, Lewis has continued to dedicate his season in memory of Tex.

“This has been my strongest pro flat track season so far,” said Johnny Lewis who wears national number ten. “We have a consistent program with many of the same sponsors over the past three years. This year, Scott Powersports and Saddlemen have stepped up their support. We’re in our third year on our custom-built Kawasaki Ninja 650 flat tracker. Mike Scott and Tom Draina have been pivotal in making this a top five bike that can win. I also want to thank AXO and Dubach Racing Development (DRC) for supporting me for many years and making custom products for my race program.”  Lewis continued, “The Lima and Hagerstown half-mile races were fun and a challenge. I am more consistently leading laps and battling for podiums. The racing goals now are for continued improvement on the Kawasaki flat tracker, race line choice and to win an AMA Pro GNC Twins race.”

During the Lima Half-Mile on Saturday, June 30, Scott Powersports/Saddlemen’s Lewis rolled out his Kawasaki 650 to the line for the heat race. Lima is a cushion, pea gravel oval. In the first heat race, Lewis won away recording the quickest time of all three heat races. In the Dash for Cash, Lewis battled for the lead and at the checkers finished second.

In the 25-lap main event sitting on pole, Lewis in his custom AXO leathers and Arai helmet slingshot his Scott Powersports’ Kawasaki into the lead and continued to charge through the Lima track for the first five laps. In a turn, Lewis went low and got a little sideways in the thick pea gravel which allowed four riders to pass him immediately. He recovered and remained in the lead pack, within less than a second of the leader. Lewis continued to ride his fluid style and remain in the lead pack to the checkers, earning fifth.

During the Hagerstown Half-Mile on Saturday, July 7, Lewis on his Pit Posse and Penske Racing Shocks supported Kawasaki 650 he earned second in his heat race qualifying directly for the main event. Lewis went into the Dash for Cash determined to get more track time in preparation for the main event. He finished fifth in the Dash.

In the 25-lap Hagerstown Half-Mile, Lewis on his Silkolene-supported Kawasaki was among the lead top ten from the start. Realizing that he was not moving up an inch to gain on the lead pack, he changed lines to gain more speed. That allowed Lewis to win a three-way battle and move into fourth place at the finish line.

With six rounds of the 19-round AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com in the books, Lewis sits in third place with 97 points.

“I appreciate all the support of my sponsors. Unfortunately it’s still tough to make all the races. I won’t be heading to the next two rounds on the West Coast due to travel cost. I have some racing plans closer to home that will be announced early next week.”

The AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com has a short break before the next round, the Sacramento Mile on July 28. Lewis will not be traveling to Sacramento and the following race in Washington due to a limited race budget. Lewis and his Scott Powersports/DRD Honda CRF450R will make a return to flat track racing for round nine, the famed Peoria TT at PMC Race Park in Peoria, Illinois on Sunday, August 12. Keep up with Lewis on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lewis10 and his website at www.lewis10.com.

About Johnny Lewis

Professional athlete Johnny Lewis of Coatesville, Pennsylvania has been competing in the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship (GNC) for the past three seasons, earning eighth during the 2011 season with three podiums and a race lead. Prior to flat track, Lewis raced in the AMA Pro Supermoto Championship for three full seasons, two as a factory rider, where he was the youngest to ever win in the Unlimited Class. He won many championships, accolades and races as an amateur dirt track competitor.

In 2012, the 22 year-old Lewis will race the #10 Scott Powersports/DRD/Pit Posse Honda CRF450F in AMA Pro Flat Track Singles events and the #10 Scott Powersports/Saddlemen Kawasaki Ninja 650 custom flat tracker in AMA Pro Flat Track Twins races.

Lewis is thankful for his sponsors that make the 2012 season possible: Scott Powersports, Saddlemen, Dubach Racing Development (DRD), AXO, Arai, Simply Hart, Pit Posse, Silkolene, Matrix Concepts, 1.7 Cleaning Solutions, Penske Racing Shocks, G2 Ergonomics, Triple J Racing, Wallace Trucking, Ringer Gloves, K&N Filters, ALL Balls and Metro Racing.

Visit www.lewis10.com to follow Johnny Lewis’ season.

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