Saturday Cinema Matinee from AMA Pro Flat Track Brings You the Final National Main from the 2012 Springfield TT

Round 3 of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season saw the cast and crew of The Rolling Thunder Show head to the Illinois State Fairgrounds for what would be the final National event held at the Multipurpose Arena for the foreseeable future. 

With the still-varying economy and so many other events being held over the course of the Memorial Day Weekend, crowd turnout at the 'little track that could' just wouldn't hold-up or make a National event feasible for the IMDA to continue to operate without massive losses to their already slim budget.  Of note, the Saturday night races before both of the Springfield Mile I (May 26) and the Springfield Mile II (September 1) will still be running races this year, but now will be promoted by the fine group of folks out of Paducah, KY. also known as Steve Nace Racing Promotions.

The SNR folks will be visiting Springfield on both weekends with TT and Short Track rounds of the 2013 Steve Nace Racing All-Star AMA National Flat Track Series presented by Golden Tyre, and those events are all but guaranteed to be what I like to call 'mini Nationals,' or races that are attended by a majority of the Grand National regulars looking to supplement their weekends at top-tiered races hosted at or near where there is a scheduled National event close by. 

For your enjoyment on this fine spring weekend, and thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track's YouTube page, today we bring you last year's final National main event from the Springfield TT, as produced from the great folks at the Lucas Oil Motorsports Hour crew.  In it's entirety as seen on MavTV and NBC Sports Network, all 49+ minutes of viewing pleasure have been uploaded to the AMA Pro Vids page, and it's worth taking the time to kick back on a lazy spring afternoon with a cool beverage of your choice to check this one out and relive the excitement of one of the best venues in the business.

In the shot above from heat 3 of the 2012 Springfield TT from May 26, the stars of the greatest racing series on two wheels in the world take off for their 10-lap qualifying heat to determine the 18-rider grid in the 25-lap main event.

(L-R); Cory Texter on the #65 RLT Racing Honda CRF450R, Brad Baker on the #12 Kenny Tolbert Racing Kawasaki KX450F, Matt Weidman on the #20 DFW Honda Racing CRF450, Mick Kirkness on the #87 Yeagers Cycle Suzuki RMZ450, Briar Bauman on the #10Z USC Kawasaki, and eventual heat, Dash and National main winner Henry Wiles on the #17 Don's Kawasaki blast off the line in unison.

Also seen in this shot are Dustin Crow on the #61 Greg Crow Racing Honda (2nd row, between Kirkness and Bauman), Sammy Halbert on the #7 Fredericktown Yamaha YZ450F (just over Wiles' left shoulder on row 2), and Lucas Scherb on the #22 DFW Honda (just behind Wiles on row 2.)

So kick back and enjoy the action, and get ready for the rest of the season ahead in the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship!


AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship round 3 of the 2012 season, the Springfield TT

You can use this as a study guide to help you relive the action at the Springfield TT with the results from AMA Pro Flat Track.

AMA Pro Flat Track Regular Mick Kirkness Steals the Win at Inaugural Troy Bayliss Classic in Aussie Homeland

Mick Kirkness floats the front wheel on the #87 Yeager Cycles/Clipper Industries/Arai/Memphis Shades-backed Honda CRF450R during the final round of qualifying at round 14 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com season at the Peoria TT.  The popular Australian, who has been a regular fixture on The Rolling Thunder Show tour for the last five seasons, qualified with a strong showing of 16th-place out of the 39 riders on-hand to take a timed lap.

However, as the day wore on Kirkness' luck wore out at the track where he has had some strong finishes in his short Grand National career, missing the direct transfer to the National main in his heat by just under .7 second, and by just over a second in his semi.

Mick didn't miss a beat at the Inaugural Troy Bayliss Classic held in his home country this past weekend, though.  Coming in as a wild card entry alongside such luminaries of the sport as multi-time World Superbike Champion Bayliss, fellow Australians Josh Waters and Jamie Stauffer, and a host of other top-notch riders and racers, Mick took them all to school while making the early pass in the SuperMoto-style final to take the win in front of 5000 spectators on-hand for the Bayliss-promoted event.

Check out more below as we look forward to seeing National #87 back in the States in lucky '13 to bring his great blend of savvy, charisma and racing ability to The Rolling Thunder Show.  Way to go Mick, congrats man!


 Thanks to MC News.com for this race and photo report from the Troy Bayliss Classic over the weekend.

Check out the video from over the weekend from the inaugural Troy Bayliss Classic.  Watch right around the 1:45 mark as Manic Mick makes the pass that will take him to the win from this last Saturday in the Land Down Under.  Great move mate!

Check out more on the Troy Bayliss Classic here on their Facebook page.

Mick, a regular contender for the last several seasons in the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship, talked with Just 2 Wheelz TV in his homeland Australia just several days before competing in this last weekend's event, where he went in as a wild card and stole the show from a list of motorcycling greats such as Broc Parkes, Josh Waters, Jamie Stauffer and Troy Bayliss, just to name a few.  Way to put it to them Mick-O!  

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!