Stu's Shots R Us

AMA Pro Road Racing Sets Test Dates for New Orleans and Return to Homestead-Miami Speedway for 2012 Season

2012-01-25T16:00:00.001-05:00

Ben Bostrom on the #11 Zero Gravity/Dunlop/AGV/Kerker-sponsored Honda CBR600F3 is shown during a practice session of the AMA Pro Road Racing 600 Supersport Series at the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in July '97. The Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire event saw BBoz back on the Zero Gravity Honda team for the second year in the 600 class, and doing double duty in the AMA Superbike Championship Series on the team's RC45.

Bostrom would go on to become the '98 AMA Superbike Champion after moving up to the American Honda factory team for the '98 season as a team mate to Miguel Duhamel, and he would win the '08 AMA Supersport Championship and the '09 Daytona 200 while riding for the Graves Yamaha team.

Bostrom will be back with the Michael Jordan Motorsports team for the 2012 season in his second season riding for the team, and will be aboard the Jordan Brand's iconic #23 machine in the AMA Superbike Championship. As best as I can recall, the elder of the Boz Bros will be the only rider racing in the AMA Pro Road Racing Series that raced on the Homestead-Miami course when the series last visited the speedway in south Florida during the '96 season. AMA Pro Road Racing has set their tests dates for the upcoming 2012 return to Homestead and the newly-added and brand new facility in New Orleans, LA.

You can read the full press release below.
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AMA Pro Racing Announces Dates for Official AMA Pro Road Racing Tests at Homestead-Miami Speedway and NOLA Motorsports Park

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 24, 2012) - AMA Pro Racing officials announced today the dates for the official AMA Pro Road Racing tests at Homestead-Miami Speedway and NOLA Motorsports Park. In advance of the Big Kahuna Miami (September 21 - 23, 2012), the Series' first return to Homestead Fla.'s Homestead-Miami Speedway since 1996, AMA Pro Road Racing riders will get a chance to shake down their machines on March 20 and 21, 2012.

Avondale, La.'s NOLA Motorsports Park is America's newest racetrack, and before heading there for the Big Kahuna New Orleans (October 5 - 7, 2012) AMA Pro Road Racing will get the chance to put down some of the first rubber on the road course at the official series test, scheduled for June 26 and 27, 2012.

The two-day tests will include track time from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with a 60-minute lunch break, media availability and will be staffed by AMA Pro Racing competition and timing & scoring personnel. In an effort to keep travel and transportation expenses to a minimum, each test has been scheduled for the Tuesday and Wednesday following an AMA Pro Road Racing event in the same region.

The test at Homestead-Miami Speedway will take place just after the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway, which will be held on March 15 - 17, 2012 as part of the historic Daytona 200 Week. Testing at NOLA Motorsports Park is scheduled following the June 22 - 24, 2012 event at Barber Motorsports Park, which is located roughly 400 miles away in Birmingham, Ala. Additional details about the NOLA Motorsports Park test will be released via competition bulletins in the coming months.

In order to participate in either test, riders must have a valid 2012 AMA Pro Road Racing competition license and be pre-entered in the 2012 race event scheduled at the respective track. Entry forms and competition bulletins detailing each test will be available in the competition section of AMA Pro Racing's website.

Tickets for the Big Kahuna Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway and the Big Kahuna New Orleans at NOLA Motorsports Park can be purchased at http://www.m1powersports.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

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AMA Pro Road Racing Resigns Motorcycle-Superstore.com for Title Sponsorship for '12 AMA SuperSport Series

2012-01-25T15:10:00.000-05:00

Motorcycle-Superstore.com Returns as Title Sponsor of AMA Pro Road Racing's SuperSport Class Renewing the $25,000 Year-End Points Fund

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 24, 2012) - Motorcycle-Superstore.com and AMA Pro Racing announced today an extension of their existing partnership, which names Motorcycle-Superstore.com as the Official Motorcycle Online Retail Store of AMA Pro Road Racing and title sponsor of the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport division. As part of the agreement, AMA Pro Racing will once again distribute more than $25,000 to riders in the form of a year-end points fund due to the gracious support of Motorcycle-Superstore.com.

"For the past two years, our relationship with Motorcycle-Superstore.com has been invaluable to AMA Pro Racing and we are extremely pleased to be extending our partnership with them," said David Atlas, Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing. "Our dedicated and loyal fan base recognizes the exceptional value and personal attention given to them when they shop with Motorcycle-Superstore.com, and we are very thankful for the support and dedication the company has likewise shown to the AMA Pro Racing athletes through the Motorcycle-Superstore.com Year-End Points Funds."

As part of the agreement, Motorcycle-Superstore.com will have an expanded online presence in AMA Pro Racing's website content and social media initiatives. Several lucky fans have already received Motorcycle-Superstore.com gift cards for winning sweepstakes held on AMA Pro Road Racing's official Facebook page, and the two companies will be working together throughout the year to find new and creative ways to give back to fans.

"If you were at the final round of the 2011 season in New Jersey, then you already know that road racing is back bigger and better than ever," said Tim Clark, Director of Sports Marketing for Motorcycle-Superstore.com. "The SuperSport class is the breeding ground for future road race champions. We're excited to support the AMA Pro Racing program and help contribute to the riders through the year-end points fund."

The $25,000 Motorcycle-Superstore.com Year-End Points Fund for AMA Pro Road Racing's Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport class will be split between the East and West divisions, with additional bonus money paid to the overall national champion and Young Gun award recipient. The payout will be structured as follows:

East Coast: 1st place, $5,000; 2nd place, $3,000; 3rd place, $2,000

West Coast: 1st place, $5,000; 2nd place, $3,000; 3rd place, $2,000

Young Gun: $2,500

Overall Champion: $2,500

The 2012 AMA Pro Road Racing season will kick off at the historic Daytona 200 Week, scheduled for March 15 - 17, 2012 at Daytona International Speedway. For tickets, please visit http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

About Motorcycle-Superstore.com:

Motorcycle-Superstore.com is the #1 online retailer of motorcycle and powersports gear, accessories, parts and apparel in the United States. With well over a decade of experience serving the needs of riders of every style, Motorcycle-Superstore.com is constantly improving the shopping experience by providing the largest selection of motorcycle and powersports equipment from the most trusted brands in the industry, at the guaranteed lowest prices. Whether you ride street, dirt, dual-sport, ATVs, scooters, watercraft or snowmobiles, when you think gear, think Motorcycle-Superstore.com

For additional information contact:

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

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Jared Mees Goes 4-For-4 in Winning 2012 ICE Speedway Series Round at Bloomington, IL on January 21

2012-01-24T18:09:00.000-05:00

Jared Mees talks with the ICE Speedway Series announcer after winning his fourth main event of the 2012 season at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington, IL. on Saturday, January 21. The 3-Time and defending ICE Series Champ took his #1 Honda to the win in front of an enthusiastic crowd at round 4 of the ICE Speedway Series season in the Manufacturers Cup Bike class ahead of runner-up Kevin Anderson #11 on his Honda and 3rd place finisher Jake Mataya #29 on his Kawasaki.

The Jammer won both of his heat races to go along with his main event win in a field filled with several AMA Pro Flat Track regulars, including Rob Pearson, Justin Hittle and Brandon Robinson, to further his grip on the 2012 Manufacturers Cup Championship. Anderson, the '09 ICE Series Champion, had a good night as well in winning his first heat and coming in second to fellow-Minnesota resident Mataya in his other heat. Mataya also won both of his heats on the evening.

Eighteen riders showed up at the downtown Bloomington arena to take in the action on the ice in front of a crowd estimated at 3500 in attendance. In a tightly run program and an exciting show, ICE President Brent Densford and his wife Tiffany helped to put together a great night for everyone to enjoy, and few delays were seen throughout the evening. This is one show that doesn't give you much time to lounge around or take a break, as other then an occassional Zamboni break to work on the ice, would see racing run back-to-back throughout the evening's event.
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One of the heat races on the evening shows eventual main event runner-up Kevin Anderson #11 leading Kirk Cheney #15, with AMA Flat Track regular Justin Hittle #81 and former AMA Grand National competitor and Clermont, IN.'s Dan Ingram #22 trying to keep them honest. Ingram made the trip over with his father, Sam, also a former flat track competitor from back in the '70s.

Ingram is in the process of trying to gain enough points in the AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Series and also in Steve Nace's DuQuoin indoor series to get his Expert license again. He's hoping to be able to hit the track at the first Expert Twins Series event of the season at the Memorial Day Weekend Springfield Mile.

Dan had a rough go of it in Bloomington, though. Finishing 4th in his first heat, he was forced to borrow a competitor's bike to run his second heat when his mount wouldn't fire. He ended up 4th in that second heat and failed to make the main event.

Believe it or not tidbit for the night--Ingram is still wearing the same leathers he wore when competing in the AMA Grand National Championship Series in the early '90s when he was injured at the Springfield Mile.
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Another one of the evening's exciting heat races has Brandon Robinson #44 battling with Tom McGrane #99, Jay Maloney #21 and Austin Greenland #31. BRobb44 had a night he would just as soon forget, falling behind to 4th in this and his other heat, failing to make the main. Hopefully luck will turn around for the personable Pennsylvania resident and '08 AMA Pro Expert Twins Champ when the series hits his home state on February 4 for the final round of the season at Johnstown, PA.
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Bryan McKenna #19 leads Jake Mataya #29, Mark Cheza #16 and another AMA Pro Flat Track regular, Brandan Bergen #26 during this heat race.
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Morton, IL. resident Rob 'Bugs' Pearson #27 made the short jaunt from his home to take in some of the night's racing at Bloomington. Here he tried to get the jump on eventual winner Mees #1 in their heat race, with Derek Hersh #18 keeping them in sight. The new Memphis Shades-signee for the 2012 GN season carded a 3rd and a 2nd place in his heat races, and went on to make the main with a 3rd place finish in the LCQ race. He eventually finished 5th in the main event for the Manufacturers Cup Bikes.
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The atmosphere is much more casual in the pit area of the ICE Series races then what you would see at an AMA Grand National race. Here Mark Cheza, Jared Mees and Tom McGrane wait for their next race to get some more sliding in on the ice. The #15 machine of Kirk Cheney sits on the far left side of the shot.
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The eight-man LCQ race looked pretty wild as the riders entered turn one for their last chance to make the final. Rob Pearson #27 takes the outside line around a field that included Austin Greenland #31 (LCQ winner), Jay Maloney #21 (LCQ runner-up), Tom McGrane #99, Bryan McKenna #19, Sammy Wiggins #56, Derek Hersh #18 and Jason Mott #75.
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Saturday 1/21/12

Results compiled by: Dustin Speed

US Cellular Coliseum – Bloomington, IL

Round 4 - 36^th Annual World Championship ICE Racing Series Results

Manufacturers Cup Bikes:

Heat 1:

1-Tom McGrane #99

2-Austin Greenland #31

3-Jay Maloney #21

4-Brandon Robinson #44

Heat 2:

1-Kevin Anderson #11

2-Kirk Cheney #15

3-Justin Hittle #81

4-Dan Ingram #22

Heat 3:

1-Jake Mataya #29

2-Bryan McKenna #19

3-Mark Cheza #16

4-Brandon Bergen #44

Heat 4:

1-Sammy Wiggins #56

2-Jason Mott #75

3-Ben Knight #85

Heat 5:

1-Jared Mees #1

2-Derek Hersh #18

3-Rob Pearson #27

Heat 6:

1-Jay Maloney #21

2-Jason Mott #75

3-Justin Hittle #81

4-Mark Cheza #16

Heat 7:

1-Austin Greenland #31

2-Sammy Wiggins #56

3-Tom McGrane #99

4-Ben Knight #85

Heat 8:

1-Jake Mataya #29

2-Kevin Anderson #11

3-Bryan McKenna #19

4-Brandon Robinson #44

Heat 9:

1-Kirk Cheney #15

2-Rob Pearson #27

3-Derek Hersh #18

Heat 10:

1-Jared Mees #1

2-Brandon Bergen #44

3-Dan Ingram #22 (ran #16 due to bike non-start)

LCQ:

1-Austin Greenland #31

2-Jay Maloney #21

3-Rob Pearson #27

4-Tom McGrane #99

5-Bryan McKenna #19

6-Sammy Wiggins #56

7-Derek Hersh #18

8-Jason Mott #75

Main Event:

1-Jared Mees #1

2-Kevin Anderson #11

3-Jake Mataya #29

4-Tom McGrane #99

5-Rob Pearson #27

6-Jay Maloney #21

7-Kirk Cheney #15

8-Austin Greenland #31

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In the final event of the evening, eight riders jet off the line at the drop of the flag in the Manufacturers Cup Bike main event. Austin Greenland #31, Jake Mataya #29 and Kirk Cheney #15 get the jump on eventual winner Jared Mees #1 as Rob Pearson #27, Tom McGrane #99, Jay Maloney #21 and Kevin Anderson #11 launch off of the second row.
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Jared Mees #1 gets the inside line going into turn one with Kirk Cheney #15 and Austin Greenland #31 spreading out and leading the rest of the pack in the Manufacturers Cup Bike final.
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By the time the pack is coming out of turn two, Mees has the edge on the rest of the field and went on to sail to the victory. Racing is much tighter on the indoor track then what it appears from the shot and the adrenaline level is high with not only the racers, but the crowd on hand as well.
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Later this week we will be doing another story on our trip over to Bloomington that will include some of the action in the Outlaw Quads class featured in the ICE Series. Stay tuned, but in the meantime you can check out some other info on the ICE Speedway Series. I highly recommend putting one of these events on your calendar, you will NOT be disappointed!

And a tip of the helmet and a big thanks go out to Brent and Tiffany Densford for putting on a super show in Bloomington and for letting Stu's Shots be a part of a great night!

You can keep up with ICE Speedway events here via their official site below. Round 5 of the season wraps up the shortened 2012 schedule on February 4 at the Cambria War Memorial Arena in Johnstown, PA. at 7:30 P.M. EST.

http://icespeedway.com/cgi-bin/newsv/eventsv.cgi

Follow ICE Speedway via Twitter:

http://twitter.com/icespeedway

And check out some past video action from ICE Speedway at the U.S. Cellular Arena in Bloomington, IL. here thanks to MXPTV.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQY4yW7Zl20
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AMA Flat Track: Chad Cose Set to Start Own Team for '12 Grand National Championship Series Season

2012-01-23T18:29:00.000-05:00

Chad Cose on the #49 M.E.H.Corp/Arlen Ness/Bell/Waters Auto Body-sponsored Honda CRF450R rolls it on out of turn 5 heading onto the main straight during practice for round 14 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series stop at the Peoria TT on August 21. The California rider qualified in the 14th spot out of the 39 riders that took a qualifying time, just over .5 second behind fast man Henry Wiles. Chad went on to finish 6th in his heat, and had to race his way into the main event via the semi race, which he won over P.J. Jacobsen and Jeffrey Carver, punching his ticket to the National main event, where he finished a disappointing 18th.

Cose has shown he has the stones to run up front in The Rolling Thunder Show, setting fast time at the 2010 Gas City Short Track round, and qualifying 2nd at both the '10 & '11 Springfield Short Track rounds. Finishing the 2011 season ranked in the 18th overall spot, his best finish of the year came at the Daytona Short Track II round (8th place) with finishes of 10th at the Springfield TT and 11th at the DuQuoin Indoor Short Track rounds, while qualifying for 9 of the series' 20 events for the year.

For the 2012 season, Cose will be going it alone after running for the Waters Auto Body team the last couple of seasons, riding their KTM machines in the Twins Series. One big step in place for the West Coast rider is he has purchased Jimmy Wood's 2011 Kawasaki 650R-based twin for the Twins Series (and you can read more of that at Tyler Porter's Fight For Dirt Track with link below in press release.) C.R.C. Racing will kick off in Daytona on March 15 & 16 for the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Series with hopes of moving up in the standings from the previous season.

We wish Chad all the best of luck for the upcoming season and you can check out his full press release below.
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Press release courtesy of Chad Cose Racing

January 23, 2012

AMA Grand National Championship racer Chad Cose has taken on the task to field his own team for the 2012 AMA Grand National Flat Track race season. The official team name will be C.R.C Racing and will compete in both the Twins and Singles classes.

This will be Cose's 4th season as a Grand National rider and is currently ranked 18th in the country among the top riders in the sport. When asked about opting to field a new team Cose had this to say, " I am very excited about doing my own deal this year. With the way the economy has been the last few years there isn't much money out there and that means teams have little to no budget to go racing.

"Teams are cutting back and most guys out there are paying to get on a bike. I felt it would be beneficial to myself as well my sponsors to start C.R.C Racing and build it for years to come. I have had many great supporters through the years and plan to bring all my resources together to make it happen".

Bringing in 6 AMA amateur national titles, a pro sport AMA national title and a second place AMA basic expert twins national title, he has come off his best season to date finishing 18th overall in the AMA championship standings but coming up short of the results he set out to accomplish.

"I didn't have the best season in 2011 but I'm taking the highs and lows to gain knowledge to put forth to the 2012 season. Starting my own team will allow me to have a lot more input in the way I want my bikes and actually what bikes I'll be on in general. I will be running Honda 450s in the Singles class and Kawasaki 650s in the Twins class.

"Having a team also allows me to understand the business and marketing standpoint of racing better which will only help my career".

The AMA Grand National Flat Track schedule consists of 19 races covering each coast of the country and many places in between. The season kicks off in Daytona Beach, Florida for it's traditional double header March 15th & March 16th. The conclusion of the series will be in Pomona, California October 13th.

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

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

ChadCose.com

Follow Chad Cose on Twitter

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

2012 Sponsors:

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

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Bill Werner Supplying Kawasaki KX450Fs for Brad Baker to Race 2012 Steel Shoe Fund Ice Race on January 22, Baker's First-Ever Ice Race

2012-01-20T17:45:00.000-05:00

Team owners Bill Werner and Jay Springsteen talk with rider Shaun Russell during a break in the on-track action at the Peoria TT on August 21 during round 14 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series. Russell had a trio of Werner Springsteen/Monster Energy Kawasaki/Wossner Pistons/Motion Pro-sponsored KX450Fs to choose from for the day, and made the best of what the 13-time AMA Grand National Championship winning tuner had to offer by qualifying 23rd out of the 39 riders that showed up to race at the iconic facility.

Russell would go on to finish 5th in his heat, making him have to race his way into the National main out of the semi, where he finished a very close 3rd behind winner Aaron King and runner-up Brad Baker, and would end the day with a hard fought 11th place finish in the final event of the day at the Peoria Motorcycle Club-sponsored race.

2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Saddlemen Rookie of the Year Baker reported early today that he was flying out of Portland heading to Wisconsin to contend Sunday's 3 Hour Steel Shoe Fund Ice Race aboard Werner-prepared Kawasakis for the Wisconsin event.

And in what is being reported as the worst-kept secret in AMA Pro Flat Track, Baker's tuner for the 2012 season, Kenny Tolbert, will be on-hand to take in the event as well. So, does this mean the rumors have been true, that Baker will race Kawasakis for Tolbert in the 2012 season? This is big news if that is the case, so stay tuned as the 2012 flat track season begins to unwind and The Bullet hits the track this weekend for his first time racing on ice.

You can check out the event particulars below.
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2012 3 Hour Steel Shoe Fund Ice Race flyer courtesy of Steel Shoe Fund.org
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You can find out more about this Sunday's 3 Hour Steel Shoe Fund Ice Race in Campbellsport, WI. here via their official site:

http://www.steelshoefund.org/home.html
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AMA Flat Track: Cory Texter & RLT Racing Set for Full Schedule in 2012 Season

2012-01-20T16:15:00.000-05:00

Cory Texter gets ready to roll out for his first practice session of the day at round 11 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series at the I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, MI. on July 23 as the first practice session ends for another group of riders.

After both practice and qualifying sessions were over, C-Tex had qualified his #65 Lancaster H-D/Screamin Eagle/Herrs/Invisible Glass-sponsored XR750 with a time of 23.087, good enough for 36th overall out of the 48 riders who made the cut of the 51 who took a qualifying shot for the day. Like finishes of 12th in both his heat and semi races kept him out of the 18 rider National main event at the 4th half-mile event of the season.

Running a limited schedule in the '11 season, Cory scored a 16th place finish at round 8 in Hartford, MI. for his only National main appearance of the year, but not for want of trying. This young man has the talent and the ability to mix it up, and with his plans for 2012 released the other day to include running the full schedule for the season should help him along to be better poised to make some more main events for the upcoming year.

You can read his and RLT Racing's official press release below.
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Press release courtesy of Cory Texter and RLT Racing

Cory Texter/RLT Racing Ready for 2012 Season

January 18, 2012

Cory Texter and the RLT Racing team are excited for the 2012 season to start. After doing a limited schedule last year, Texter will be competing in the entire AMA Grand National Series this year. Texter had a very up and down 2011. He seems to think the inexperience in running his own program for this first time had a lot to do with it. “It was the first year we did everything by ourselves and the first year racing since our Dad passed away. We had some good days, but I got worn out really quick and I wasn’t having as much fun as I had hoped to. The budget got tight but we kept digging, and as a team, we finished out the season strong.”

This season, Texter is backed in both the singles and twins series. Englehart R&T will be backing Cory in the singles series for the 2012 season. Tom Englehart has a lot of knowledge and experience in dirttrack racing. He is supplying Cory with a stable of motorcycles and has been giving a lot of mental support to him as well. “I rode for Tom at a pro-am deal in Ohio this year and we worked very well together and had a lot of fun. He is one of the smartest guys I have ever met and for him to be helping me out means so much. We just started testing the bikes, but they have a lot of potential and having Tom there to work on them is just awesome.” Texter will also have the option of riding his own RLT Racing Honda as well.

Tom Englehart had this to say, “Englehart R&T is very proud to be supporting Cory and RLT Racing this season. Cory has a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and passion for life, and this comes through in his racing. Cory and I had some instant success this past fall, so it was an easy decision to provide support for his 2012 program. This season we are not going to be boxed in with any constraints, we are going to do what works and that means what works best for Cory. I am looking forward to building a very strong program with RLT Racing for the 2012 season.”

For the twins series, Texter is getting support from Dave Miller at Mad Hog Cycle in Pine Bluff, AR. Cory will ride the Mad Hog Cycle XR750 at select races and Dave will be housing the RLT Racing XR 750′s and fine tuning them throughout the season. Cory stated, “I rode for Dave at the Savannah race last month and I didn’t know what to expect. The bike was really fast and we just clicked. Dave has a lot of confidence in me and my abilities and we have set some goals for this season that I would have never thought were reachable until we started working together. He has already made the RLT Racing XR 750′s a lot better than they have been for a few years now and he has taken a lot of pressure off me by allowing me to just focus on racing.”

Dave Miller commented on being part of Cory’s program. “I am very pleased to be part of the team; Cory has shown himself to be a very dedicated professional with a deep passion for our sport. I will be doing everything I can to ensure he has a fast, reliable bike for the season. Cory will ride the Mad Hog Cycle XR 750 at all of the cushion tack events and I will prepare the RLT XR 750’s for the hard surface tracks. Cory has impressed me with his dedication to winning and we have been having fun preparing for the 2012 season.”

The team is again being sponsored by Herr Foods, Invisible Glass, Alpinestars, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Metro Racing, Lancaster Honda, Arai, Spectro, Muscle Milk, Wiseco, Motion Pro, All Balls Racing, Scott USA, Fluidyne, Hinson, Saddlemen, Wurth USA, G2 Ergo, EBC Brakes, PMP Sprockets, K&N, Matrix Racing Concepts, ISC Racer’s Tape, Works Connection, with new sponsors to the team Kunzler Foods, Two Brothers Racing, Amped Apparel, West Coast Hot Shoes & Falicon.

Shayna Texter will be contending the 2012 pro singles series. Her plans are still being sorted out, but RLT Racing will be there all season to help her achieve her goal of winning the 2012 Pro Singles Championship in any way they can. She finished off the 2011 year strong becoming the first female to win at the grand national stage in AMA history, and also backed it up with a 2nd place at the Calistoga round. Stay tuned for more information on Shayna and her new sponsors in coming weeks.

About RLT Racing:

RLT Racing was started in 2010 by Cory & Shayna Texter. It is named after their father and biggest fan, Randy Lee Texter. He passed away in August, 2010. Randy was a past AMA Professional Dirttrack and Road Racer and was named the AMA Sportsman of the Year in 2010. The team is owned and operated by the brother/sister duo.

Cory is a multi-time amateur national champion and races with the #65 in the AMA Grand National Expert class. Shayna is a past AMA Female Athlete of the Year and in 2011, she was the first female to win an AMA Grand National event. She contends in the AMA Pro Singles class with the #25a.

About Englehart R&T:

Englehart Research and Technology is located in Zanesville, Ohio. All motorcycles are Honda powered and exclusively use Durelle and J&M Racing Products along with RHC components.

About Mad Hog Cycle Racing:

Mad Hog Cycle Racing is run by Dave Miller from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. In addition to Dave, the team receives insight from AMA Flattrack Hall of Fame member, Sammy Tanner. It is also supported by Jerry & John Kocinski and Steve & Robbie England.
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You can keep up with Cory Texter and RLT Racing here via these sites.

Cory Texter official:

http://corytexter.com/wordpress/

RLT Racing/Lancaster H-D:

http://lancasterhd.com/

RLT Racing on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/RLT-Racing/211216595632058

And here is Cory's profile thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track:

http://amaproracing.com/ft/riders/rider.cfm?did=3399
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Kolkman & Bonsey Take Wins in Round 1&2 of Gene Romero's West Coast Flat Track Series in Vegas

2012-01-16T17:30:00.001-05:00

Kayl Kolkman muscles his #42E Kawasaki Simi Valley/MEH Corp/Troy Lee Designs/Barnett-sponsored KX450F during practice for round 14 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series at the Peoria TT on August 21. The California resident missed the cut for the National main after qualifying 34th out of the 39 riders on hand, and 10th place finishes in his heat and semi race that kept him out of the 19 rider main event. He did however qualify for both the Salinas TT and the Springfield Short Track to earn himself a full National number for the upcoming 2012 season, so he will be able to drop the 'E' from his number plate.

Kolkman started the 2012 season off strong by winning his heat and the Open Class 'A' Main over the weekend at the South Point Casino rounds of Gene Romero's West Coast Flat Track Series, taking home the win in round 1 on Friday the 13th over a field that consisted of both Halbert Brothers and Brad Baker out of Washington State, Mikey Rush, Brandan Bergen and '10 AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles Champion Jeff Carver.

You can check out some video action below of Kayl taking home a heat race win over the weekend at the South Point rounds thanks to Miriam Deitcher and her Flat Track Live from Facebook and YouTube.
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Steve Bonsey on the George Mack-prepped #80 MDR Racing/Alpinestars/Arai/Rod Lake-sponsored Honda CRF450R starts to clear out in front of a pack of riders during the National main event of round 7 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series at the Springfield TT in late May. Bonsey sailed home to a 4th place finish on the day in only one of six National main appearances on the season while running a limited schedule. Trying to keep the former AMA Pro Flat Track Rookie of the Year in sight are #49 Chad Cose, #28 Shaun Russell, #39 Matt Burton and #20 Matt Weidman.

Bonsey was another National number holder who made the trip to Las Vegas over the weekend to take part in the WCFTS rounds at the South Point Casino. Riding a Dave Zanotti-prepped Zanotti Racing Honda CRF450R, Bonsey missed the main on Friday night after coming home 3rd in the Trophy Dash behind Sammy Halbert and Friday's 'A' main winner, Kayl Kolkman.

But he turned it around with a win in the 'A' main on Saturday, besting Kolkman, Mikey Rush, Jethro Halbert and Brad Baker. Congrats to the Salinas, CA. resident for turning it around on Saturday night!
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Brad Baker is shown just before rider intros at round 7 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series at the Springfield TT on May 30, as former National #23 Kevin Atherton rolls the soon-to-be Rookie of the Year's #12 EBC Brakes/Arai/CP Carillo-sponsored Honda CRF450R out to the starting line. Baker would go on to bring home a 9th place finish on the day after a third row start.

The Bullet made the trip to Las Vegas for the first two rounds of Gene Romero's West Coast Flat Track Series at the South Point Casino, and came away with a 2nd place finish on Friday the 13th and a 5th place finish on Saturday night. His bike broke in the heat race on Saturday, so Baker was forced to qualify for the 'A' main by racing the semi, LCQ and 'B' main in order to make the field.
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Round 1/Friday January, 13-Open Class 'A' Main results

1. Kayl Kolkman, Ventura, CA
2. Brad Baker, Chehalis, WA
3. Mike Rush, Gilroy, CA
4. Sam Halbert, Graham, WA
5. Jake Mataya, Blaine, MN
6. Jethro Halbert, Graham, WA
7. Jimmy Monaco, Modesto, CA
8. Brandan Bergen, Caruthers, CA
9. Smokin Joe Winston, Laguna Hills, CA
10. Ryan Foster, Sunnyvale, CA
11. Brady Mueller, Port Orchard, WA
12. Bailey Fox, Graham, WA
13. Kris Bunch, Fresno, CA
14. Jeff Carver, Alton, IL
15. Eric Rickman, Orting, WA

Round 2/Saturday, January 14-Open Class 'A' Main results

1. Stevie Bonsey Salinas, CA
2. Kayl Kolkman Ventura, CA
3. Mike Rush Gilroy, CA
4. Jethro Halbert Graham,
5. Brad Baker Chehalis, WA
6. Brady Mueller Port Orchard, WA
7. Bailey Fox Graham, WA
8. Sam Halbert Graham, WA
9. Jimmy Wood Redlands, CA
10. Brandan Bergen Caruthers, CA
11. Shawn Raggio Stockton, CA
12. Jeff Carver Alton, IL
13. Scott Baker Eatonville, WA
14. Jake Mataya Blaine, MN
15. Ryan Foster Sunnyvale, CA

Vintage Flat Tracker (VFT.org) posted some pictures from Friday and Saturday's rounds 1&2 at the South Point Casino in Las Vegas. As of this posting on 1/16/12 they were right at the top of the page. You may have to scroll down as time goes on to get to them, but they are marked clearly for this first round of events for the WCFTS 2012 season:

http://www.vft.org/

Miriam Deitcher who runs the Facebook Flat Track Live page, posted a few videos from the weekend's festivities at South Point in Vegas. Check them out below on YouTube!

Steve Bonsey's 'A' main win for round 1 of Gene Romero's West Coast Flat Track Series from Saturday, January 14:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EixKhzhO_4

Kayl Kolkman's heat race win at South Point in Vegas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXqayhmWmtM&context=C36e5742ADOEgsToPDskKc8swkXGJ5TqOFF-8OH7VI

(Note-there are a few other videos that Miriam has posted from Vegas on YouTube that you can check out along the right side column.)

And you can keep up with what is going on in the world of flat track racing here via Miriam's Flat Track Live on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/FlatTrackLive

And here is Gene's official site for the WCFTS:

http://wcfts.com/
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'93 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz to be Featured Guest at Daytona AMA Hall of Fame Fundraising Breakfast

2012-01-14T12:59:00.001-05:00

'93 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz' Lucky Strike Suzuki RGV500 sits on display inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum in December 2009 on loan from the Texas resident. The machine had been in storage in the champion's home state until before the 2nd Annual Indianapolis RedBull MotoGP round in August 2009, when Schwantz reportedly pulled it out of mothballs to have it restored to riding condition.

The former champ and current Schwantz Schools head man then had it on hand for the weekend's festivities at Indy in order to please the crowd with some 'demo' laps at the historic World Capital of Racing. After turning several laps on one of the greatest 2-stroke machines in World Championship history, the machine was cleaned up and put on display at the IMS Museum for several months in their motorcycle racing area display.

Schwantz will be hosting another weekend of his Schwantz Schools at Indy in August 2012, but several months before that he will be the guest of honor at Daytona in March '12 for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame's fundraising breakfast.

You can read the full press release below.
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Press release courtesy of the American Motorcyclist Association & the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame

24th Annual AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Fundraising Breakfast at Daytona International Speedway

With Special Guest, '93 World Champion Kevin Schwantz

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is pleased to announce that 1993 World Roadracing Champion Kevin Schwantz will be the featured guest at its annual Breakfast at Daytona fundraiser, set for the Friday of Bike Week, March 16, at the Daytona 500 Club in the infield of Daytona International Speedway.

Tickets are available for $75, with all proceeds supporting the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. For more information or to register, please call (614) 856-2222, ext. 1234, or click here:

http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=vw9ldxbab&oeidk=a07e5hlf82pad25d678.

Native Texan Schwantz, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999, rocketed to prominence as one of America’s best roadracers during the mid-1980s. By the end of the decade, Schwantz had moved to international competition in the 500cc Grand Prix World Championships.

He was a perennial top rider in that series and won the world championship in 1993. During his Grand Prix racing career, Schwantz racked up 25 500cc GP victories, putting him second all-time among American riders.

“Kevin Schwantz stands among America’s greatest motorcycle racers, and holds a special place in the hearts and memories of a generation of racing fans,” said Jeff Heininger, chairman of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, which raises funds for the Hall of Fame.

“We’re honored that one of the Hall of Fame’s most decorated members is joining us at our annual Breakfast at Daytona fundraiser and will provide a first-hand perspective on his world-championship career, and the people and companies that he worked with along the way.”

Schwantz, who today runs the Schwantz School for performance motorcycle rider training at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Road Atlanta, said he’s excited to share stories of his successful career — and take audience questions — at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Breakfast at Daytona.

“While today my focus is on creating better, safer riders through the Schwantz School, my passion has always been competition at the highest level,” Schwantz said. “The Motorcycle Hall of Fame is a great institution, and it will be great to revisit stories from the past with true enthusiasts at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Breakfast at Daytona on the infield of one of the world’s most famous racetracks.”

The Breakfast at Daytona also includes a silent auction of unique items related to the Hall of Fame, and an autograph session with Schwantz and other Motorcycle Hall of Famers.

About the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation:

Founded in 1990 by the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, the goal of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is to tell the stories and preserve the history of motorcycling. Located on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio, the Museum’s three major exhibition halls feature the machines and memorabilia of those who have contributed notably to the sport. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to motorcycling, including those known for their contributions to road riding, off-road riding and all categories of racing, as well as those who have excelled in business, history, design and engineering. More information can be found at MotorcycleMuseum.org.
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AMA Road Racing: Tickets Now On Sale for M1 Promoted Events at Road Atlanta, Homestead & New Orleans

2012-01-10T16:23:00.000-05:00

Tickets for all Three 2012 Big Kahuna AMA Pro Road Racing Events are Now Available at M1 PowerSports' Online Store

A press release issued by M1 Powersports, promoters of the AMA Pro Road Racing Big Kahuna Events:

DENVER, Colo. (January 10, 2012) - M1 PowerSports is excited to announce that ticket packages, hospitality offerings and camping rates have been posted to all-new event pages on the M1 PowerSports website for the 2012 Big Kahuna Triple Crown. Each event page also includes information on military, college and group discount offers that are available for each of next season's Big Kahuna-themed AMA Pro Road Racing events, which will be held at Road Atlanta (April 20 - 22, 2012), Homestead-Miami Speedway (September 21 - 23, 2012) and NOLA Motorsports Park (October 5 - 7, 2012). Tickets start as low as $20, and every ticket includes free paddock access and car or motorcycle parking.

In addition to the previously announced single, 2-day and 3-day ticket packages that were available as part of the M1 PowerSports' Sweet Elf'n Deal, fans can now purchase the Big Kahuna Triple Crown Pass, which includes admission to all three 2012 Big Kahuna events, plus VIP parking, official event programs and a special Big Kahuna souvenir from each event.

Fans that want to get in on the action can pick up parade lap passes or lock in tent and RV camping spots, and for those that want to get the absolute most out of their at-track experience, several exclusive hospitality experiences are available. The high-end Big Kahuna Pit Box Suites and Big Kahuna Event Center Suites will be offered exclusively at Homestead-Miami Speedway and NOLA Motorsports Park, respectively, while the Big Kahuna Cabana Pass - an all-new cost-effective ticket and hospitality package - will be available at each event.

The Big Kahuna Cabana Pass includes admission for all three days of on-track activity, free paddock access, VIP parking (where available) and a copy of the official event program. In a special hospitality area reserved exclusively for Big Kahuna Cabana Pass holders, fans can catch every second of racing action on closed-circuit televisions while enjoying snacks and appetizers. Complimentary beverages, including bottled water, lemonade, iced tea and energy drinks, will be offered alongside a cash bar serving beer, wine and soda. The family-friendly environment is something the entire family will enjoy, and reduced Cabana Pass prices are available for Little Kahunas (children aged 5 - 12). There are only a limited number of Cabana Pass tickets available for each round, so act fast to reserve your spot by heading to www.m1powersports.com today.

For tickets and information about the Big Kahuna Atlanta, scheduled for April 20 - 22, 2012 at Braselton, Ga.'s Road Atlanta, visit http://www.m1powersports.com/big-kahuna-atlanta.

For tickets and information about the Big Kahuna Miami, scheduled for September 21 - 23, 2012 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla., visit http://www.m1powersports.com/big-kahuna-miami.

For tickets and information about the Big Kahuna New Orleans, scheduled for October 5 - 7, 2012 as the first professional motorsports event at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, La., visit http://www.m1powersports.com/big-kahuna-new-orleans.

About M1 PowerSports, formerly M1 Entertainment:

A Denver-based company, M1 PowerSports has been working in motorsports for over 16 years. Originally spawned from Daniels Corporation under the name FAST, the fledgling company was heavily involved in television production for car and motorcycle racing. With the birth of Speedvision, FAST morphed into Race Promotion Management (RPM) and is now operating as M1 PowerSports with many of the same staff still in place. We still sell advertising for Speed, sell merchandise under the brand Moto 1 and promote our own events, keeping us busy year-round! For more information, please call 303-377-3278 or email info@m1powersports.com.

For additional information contact:

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

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AMA Flat Track: 2012 AMA Grand National Championship Schedule Adds USA Raceway in Tucson for October 6

2012-01-09T17:30:00.002-05:00

Riders get ready to roll out for the 2nd practice session at round 11 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series at the I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, MI. in preparation for the day's upcoming 25 lap National main event. The unofficial start to the second half of the season would see 51 riders take a qualifying time, with 48 of those qualifying within less than 1.5 seconds of fast man-on the day, Brad Baker on the #12 Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Ducati. At the end of the day, Jared Mees, Bryan Smith and Jake Johnson would celebrate on the podium before the series would make it's 2nd of 3 west coast swings for the year.

Pictured (L-R) are: Jared Mees on the #9 Rogers Lake Racing/Blue Springs H-D/Lucas Oil/Saddlemen-sponsored H-D XR750, Kenny Coolbeth on the #2 Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Screamin' Eagle/Spectro Oils/Fox-backed factory XR750, Sammy Halbert on his #7 Kings Kustoms/White's H-D/LZ Racing/KK Supply-sponsored XR, Bryan Smith on his #42 Moroney's FastHOG.com/American H-D/Boughner Racing/RHC-sponsored XR, Jake Johnson on the #1 Zanotti Racing/Schaeffer's H-D/Boughner Racing/Motion Pro-backed XR, Johnny Lewis on the #10 Scott Powersports/Dubach Racing Developments/Saddlemen/Triple J Racing-sponsored and Kawasaki 650R-based mount, and Matt Weidman on the #20 White's Harley-Davidson/SNIP/Shoei/Silkolene-backed XR750. On the back row can also be spotted Jeffrey Carver, Jr. on the #23 Eddie Adkins/Van's Yamaha/Woody Kyle Racing/Yamaha Motor Corp-sponsored XR750.

The half-mile event scheduled for June 30, 2012 will see the stars of The Rolling Thunder Show return to the track that has hosted the AMA Pro Flat Track Series for several years now. The mid-summer event signaled the start of the second half of the season in 2011 that would see Jared Mees continue his winning streak in the Twins Series, propelling him into the championship series lead before falling behind to eventual repeat champion Jake Johnson's charge at the end of the year.

With AMA Pro Flat Track's 2012 schedule announcement just less than three weeks ago, one of the three open 'TBA' dates has now been made official today with the signing of USA Raceway in Tucson, AZ. to host a round of the series on October 6, 2012 making it the penultimate round for the upcoming season. As of today that leaves the two open date of June 9 and September 15 to complete the full line-up for the coming year.

You can read the full press release from AMA Pro Flat Track and view the updated schedule below.
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AMA Pro Racing Adds USA Raceway to 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Schedule

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 9, 2012) - AMA Pro Racing is excited to add USA Raceway in Tucson, Ariz. to the 2012 AMA Pro Racing Flat Track Schedule. The event will fill the October 6, 2012 TBA date on the previously-announced 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com schedule.

Arizona's premier 3/8-mile dirt track, USA Raceway is a relatively new track. The modern facility, which opened in 2005, normally hosts Late Model Stock Cars and Sprints Cars, but the AMA Pro Grand National Championship has visited Tucson before. In 2007, there were actually two Nationals in one weekend there.

The Raceway hosted both GNC Singles and GNC Twins rounds in what would be the last races of the year. Jake Johnson, aboard a factory-backed Suzuki, won the first night over teammate JR Schnabel and Bryan Smith on a Honda. The next night, Kenny Coolbeth locked up the number one plate with a second-place finish behind Joe Kopp, with Rich King taking third to make it an all Harley-Davidson podium.

The AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com and the AMA Pro Flat Track Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles will conclude the 2012 season on the west coast, the October 6 date placing the Tucson, Ariz. event on the weekend between California races in Santa Rosa and the finale at Pomona.

Complete 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Schedule:

March 15, 2012

Daytona Flat Track I
Daytona Flat Track, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Short Track

March 16, 2012

Daytona Flat Track II
Daytona Flat Track, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Short Track

May 26, 2012

Springfield TT
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill.
TT

May 27, 2012

Springfield Mile
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill.
Mile

June 9, 2012
TBA

June 30, 2012

Lima Half-Mile
Allen County Fairgrounds, Lima, Ohio
Half Mile

July 7, 2012

Hagerstown, Half-Mile
Hagerstown Speedway, Md.
Half Mile

July 14, 2012

I-96 Half-Mile
I-96 Speedway, Lake Odessa, Mich.
Half Mile

July 28, 2012

Sacramento Mile
Cal Expo, Sacramento, Cailf.
Mile

August 4, 2012

Castle Rock TT
Castle Rock Race Park, Castle Rock, Wash.
TT

August 12, 2012

Peoria TT
PMC Race Park, Peoria, Ill.
TT

August 18, 2012

Indy Mile
Indiana State Fairground, Indianapolis, Ind.
Mile

September 1, 2012

Springfield Short Track
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill.
Short Track

September 2, 2012

Springfield Mile II
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill.
Mile

September 8, 2012

Knoxville Half-Mile
Knoxville Raceway,Knoxville, Iowa
Half Mile

September 15, 2012
TBA

September 30, 2012

Santa Rosa Mile
Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa, Calif.
Mile

October 6, 2012

USA Raceway
USA Raceway, Tucson, Ariz.
Half Mile

October 13, 2012

Flat Track Finale
LA County Fairplex, Pomona, Calif.
Half Mile

For additional information contact:

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

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AMA Releases 2012 Daytona Bike Week Amateur Dirt Track Schedule

2012-01-09T16:00:00.001-05:00

Press Release courtesy of the American Motorcyclist Association

AMA amateur dirt-track events scheduled for Daytona Bike Week

January 9, 2012

AMA amateur dirt-trackers will compete at half-mile and short-track venues, including the Daytona Flat Track Stadium's limestone oval, this March 10-13 in Georgia and Florida.

Youth, vet/senior, the next generation's stars and vintage racers will all line up to battle at the featured series. In addition, three of the Daytona Bike Week events will pay AMA Dirt Track Grand Championship Holeshot Series bonus points.

"There is no question, every March in Daytona Beach is dirt-track central, and this year will be no different with premier AMA amateur competition in classes for all levels of rider," said AMA Director of Racing Joe Bromley. "We're looking forward to getting the 2012 season started right at one of the country's most historic locations for motorcycle racing."

Promoters Steve Nace of Steve Nace Racing and Dave Joiner of Fast Fridays are working with the AMA to ensure the AMA amateur dirt-track events are run smoothly and provide all the excitement of a national-level event, from pre-entry to the podium celebration.

In addition to the modern classes, all four days of racing will feature racing on historic vintage motorcycles. The vintage classes will serve as the first four rounds of the AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series.

The full schedule for the AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series will be announced soon.

The details of AMA amateur dirt track competition during 2012 Daytona Bike Week, along with round-by-round contact information, is below. To contact the AMA about these events, see AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Racing or call (614) 856-1900.

Daytona Bike Week 2012 Amateur Dirt Track Schedule

March 10: Half mile

Oglethorpe Speedway, Savannah, Ga.
Holeshot series points
Steve Nace Racing
Steve Nace
(270) 442-7532
snace@apex.net
www.stevenaceracing.com

March 11: Short Track

Daytona Flat Track, Daytona, Fla.
Fast Fridays
Dave Joiner
(530) 878-7223
fastfridays@aol.com
www.fastfridays.com

March 12: Half mile

Volusia County Speedway, Barberville, Fla.
Holeshot series points
Steve Nace Racing
Steve Nace
(270) 442-7532
snace@apex.net
www.stevenaceracing.com

March 13: Short Track

Volusia County Speedway, Barberville, Fla.
Holeshot series points
Steve Nace Racing
Steve Nace
(270) 442-7532
snace@apex.net
www.stevenaceracing.com

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists' interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion.

Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through its support of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
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AMA Flat Track: IMDA Now Has Tickets On Sale for Both 2012 Springfield Rounds

2012-01-05T16:33:00.001-05:00

After a thrilling 15 1/2 minutes and 25 laps of bar-to-bar racing, round 6 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series at the Springfield Mile I would come down to the three men who would control the championship throughout the year ahead and provide fans with a battle for the ages. And it would provide a glimpse of what the chase for the championship would bring through the next 14 rounds of the long season ahead.

As winner Jared Mees' crew steadies his #9 Rogers Lake Racing/Blue Springs H-D/Lucas Oil/Saddlemen-sponsored XR-750, Jammin' Jared adjusts his series sponsor hat and possibly reflects on winning his first-ever Springfield Mile National main event. AMA Pro Flat Track announcer Barry Boone discusses the day's events with 3rd place finisher Jake Johnson, and runner-up Sammy Halbert looks to be thinking what the season ahead could bring.

Mees won by a margin of .016 seconds over Halbert, with Johnson just a scant .052 seconds adrift of Slammin' Sammy. The margin of victory and the three men that shared the podium that day all-but set the stage for a championship chase that would go down to the final round of the season at Pomona in October, some 18 weeks away, in a battle to the end with three of the finest, fastest and smoothest that the sport has to offer.

In the end, Jersey Jake would triumph again, garnering a repeat AMA Grand National Championship for the '11 season to go along with the '10 AMA Grand National Championship that he won with the Zanotti Racing team in his first year with them. Mees would finish in the runner-up spot (386-370 points) after mounting a charge in the mid-section of the season that would see him eventually win 5 National mains on the year. And Halbert would slide home in the 3rd spot in the championship battle on his Kings Kustoms machines after holding claim to the title for the better part of the year, and equaling Johnson's four wins on the season (369 points.)

As mentioned in an earlier story from this morning, after the 2012 season the Springfield TT and Short Track rounds that have made for a super double-weekend of racing since the '00 season will be going by the wayside, thanks mainly to a still-lousy economy and essentially not being able to put and keep paying butts in the seats.

Of course, there are many who come to Springfield only for the 135 MPH+ battles on the Illinois State Fairgrounds mile oval. But for many truly-diehard fans who have lived for the doubleheader rounds that the Multipurpose/Rodeo Arena offered in conjunction with the most famous race in the flat tracking nation, the TT and Short Track offerings have been like a gift from above. And they will be sorely missed.

You can get your tickets now for both doubleheader rounds over the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends for the '12 and final season of double-fun. And maybe with any luck, the increased crowds this year will help to re-justify to the IMDA that the Singles Series rounds need to be put back on the schedule after all.

So come one and come all for some of the best racing that The Rolling Thunder Show has to offer in the greatest sport on wheels in the world!

You can read the official press release below courtesy of AMA Pro Flat Track and the IMDA.
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Tickets On Sale Now For All Four 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Springfield Races

A press release issued by the IMDA, promoters of the Springfield Nationals

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (January 5, 2012) -The Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, has hosted more AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship races than any other venue in the history of the sport. 112 Nationals have been held at the prestigious Fairgrounds. Not only does it offer a rich tradition in dirt track racing but Springfield has also hosted a variety of racing disciplines.

With 88 mile races, 13 short tracks and 11 TT races, it's no wonder Springfield is known as the flat track fraternities racing capitol. The second race on the AMA Pro Flat Track schedule with more history then all the other tracks is Peoria, Illinois with 82 Grand National races. It becomes very clear, if you want to see the best racing there is, you need to get to Illinois.

This year it is more important than ever to attend the Springfield races. Because of the difficult economic times and the high cost of holding these races, this will be the last year for the Short Track and TT races. Perhaps in the future when times get better and there is more demand to see the singles races, they can return but for 2013 they will not be on the schedule. This has been a very difficult decision for the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association (IMDA) who started the extra events in 2000 when the new Multi-Purpose facility was built at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Jay Hall, president of the IMDA said, "We regret that we have been forced to make this decision but in order to keep our association going we have to do this, at least for now. We take great pride in what we have been able to do for this sport but for 2013 we will focus on mile races which is the most historic and why Springfield is so well known."

Tickets for all four IMDA promoted Grand Nationals at Springfield are now on sale. If you have always wanted to attend the Saturday night TT and/or Short Track races, 2012 is your last chance.

You can order tickets by calling the IMDA office at 217-753-8866 or 888-468-1622. You can also stop at your local motorcycle dealer. If they don't already sell Springfield tickets, let them know you want them to. Any motorcycle dealer is eligible to become a ticket outlet.

About the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association:

Since 1971, the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association has represented dealers of all brands of motorcycles and has been providing assistance to motorcycle dealers, enthusiasts and Illinois Legislators. The I.M.D.A. has experienced phenomenal growth over the years, especially showing great success in the following areas:

Legislation regarding franchise bills, and helmet laws
Assistance to State and Federal agencies
Garage liability and worker's compensation
Assisted in establishing Illinois' Motorcycle Safety Training Program
Assisted in providing funding protection for the Motorcycle Safety Training Program
Returned AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship motorcycle races to the historic "Springfield Mile"

For additional information contact:

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

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AMA Flat Track: IMDA Announces No More Springfield Short Track or TT After 2012 Season

2012-01-05T00:01:00.092-05:00

Jake Johnson on the #1 Zanotti Racing/Schaeffer's H-D/Boughner Racing/Motion Pro-sponsored Honda CRF450R leads Chris Carr on his #4 American Motorcyclist Assoc/DFW Honda/Classic H-D/Arai-backed Honda during their intense heat race 1 battle at the Springfield Short Track on September 3, round 15 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championshipship Series. Johnson would hold off Carr for the 2nd spot in their heat, behind eventual event winner Henry Wiles. Wiles won by .338 seconds over Johnson, with Carr just another .351 seconds back.

The upcoming 2012 season will be the 13th season that the IMDA has hosted events at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Multi Purpose/Rodeo Arena, as part of the long running events on the Springfield Mile held over the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. With either (or both) a short track and TT round held at the little bull ring since the 2000 season, the events have been a great addition to the racing program at the legendary facility.

Although not able to bring in the big crowds that the mile events are known for, the arena facility has been a very nice venue and track over the years, and riders like Jake Johnson, JR Schnabel, Jr., Chris Carr, Nicky Hayden, and Henry Wiles have laid their claim to fame and fortune on the little short track and TT events.

However, due to the strains of the still-lousy economy, this will be the last year of doubleheader rounds at Springfield, taking two events away from the schedule in the 2013 season and beyond. The IMDA made the announcement while also saying that the possibility of bringing them back sometime in the future was 'possible.'
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Riders line up and photographers take their positions as racing is about to begin at the Springfield Short Track round of the 2005 AMA Pro Flat Track Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship Series on September 3. The Multipurpose/Rodeo Arena at the Illinois State Fairgrounds is a beautiful facility that has hosted rounds of the AMA Grand National Series since the 2000 season.

With reserved seating available under the main awning, the opposite hillside offers an amphitheatre-style seating where fans can bring out their blankets and spread out for a great view of the entire track layout. Between the IMDA and the people at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, the grounds and facilities throughout are always spotless and very family-friendly.

One of the allures of both rounds at Springfield has most always been that the doubleheader round has pretty much been not only the kick-off for the season (after what has been usually a 2 month break from Daytona), but also in it's own right a little bittersweet in that it also hosts what has been close to the last rounds of racing on the year (at least in the Midwest), thusly bookending the season of racing in the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Series.

What's even more bittersweet is we are not only losing another two rounds of action on the schedule, but a great place to see some killer racing as well! Although it may be too late for the 2013 season, you owe it to yourself to spend a weekend at one (or both) of the 2012 Springfield rounds to take in what this special place has to offer in the way of high-powered racing. You won't be dissapointed!

You can read the official release from the IMDA below.
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IMDA Announcement courtesy of the IMDA and the FlatTrack.com Forum on the Loss of the Springfield Short Track & TT rounds after the 2012 season.

1/3/2012

The Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, has hosted more AMA Pro Racing Grand National Championship races than any other venue in the history of the sport. 112 Nationals have been held at the prestigious Fairgrounds. Not only does it offer a rich tradition in dirt track racing but Springfield has also hosted a variety of racing disciplines.

With 88 mile races, 13 short tracks and 11 TT races, it’s no wonder Springfield is known as the flat track fraternities racing capitol. The second race on the AMA Pro Racing schedule with more history then all the other tracks is Peoria, Illinois with 82 Grand National races. It becomes very clear, if you want to see the best racing there is, you need to get to Illinois.

This year it is more important than ever to attend the Springfield races. Because of the difficult economic times and the high cost of holding these races, this will be the last year for the Short Track and TT races. Perhaps in the future when times get better and there is more demand to see the singles races, they can return but for 2013 they will not be on the schedule.

This has been a very difficult decision for the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association (IMDA) who started the extra events in 2000 when the new Multi-Purpose facility was built at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Jay Hall, president of the IMDA said, “We regret that we have been forced to make this decision but in order to keep our association going we have to do this, at least for now. We take great pride in what we have been able to do for this sport but for 2013 we will focus on mile races which is the most historic and why Springfield is so well known.”

Tickets for all four IMDA promoted Grand Nationals at Springfield are now on sale. If you have always wanted to attend the Saturday night TT and/or Short Track races, 2012 is your last chance.

You can order tickets by calling the IMDA office at 217-753-8866 or 888-468-1622. You can also stop at your local motorcycle dealer. If they don’t already sell Springfield tickets, let them know you want them to. Any motorcycle dealer is eligible to become a ticket outlet.
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You can check out the official dates for all events that will promoted by the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Assoc. (IMDA) for the 2012 season here:

http://www.illinoismda.com/html/race_schedule_.html
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ICE Speedway 2012 Ice Racing Series Kicks Off This Weekend in Reading, PA

2012-01-04T16:30:00.000-05:00

Jared Mees waits on the red flag delay during his heat race inside the Southern Illinois Center at DuQuoin, IL. at round 3 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series on April 16. Jammin' Jared took his #9 Montgomeryville Cycle Center/Lucas Oil/Rogers Lake Racing/Saddlemen-sponsored Honda CRF450R to the win in heat 3 on the day over Jesse Janisch and Johnny Lewis, and went on to finish 4th in the Dash for Cash event and in the National main event at the Steve Nace Racing-promoted event.

Mees, a 3-Time and defending 2-Time ICE Speedway Series Champion, is planning on contending the ICE Series again this season and will be on-hand at the season-opening round this Friday, January 6 at the Sovereign Center in Reading, PA. Mees made the announcement this week on his Facebook page, Jared Mees Fan Page.

You can read the full press release below on the kick-off to the 6-race 2012 season below.
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2012 World Championship ICE Racing Series

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1/4/12

36TH ANNUAL ICE RACING SERIES ROARS

INTO ACTION THIS WEEKEND!!

The indoor ice racing season goes WFO in a big way Friday night kicking off a double-header weekend. Round-1 of the 36th Annual World Championship ICE Racing Series is being held at the Sovereign Center Arena in Reading, PA. Saturday night the best in ice racing will mount back up for Round-2 at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, VA. The action in this winter's World Championship chase will definitely be fast and furious as it will be contested over just 5 consecutive weekends in 6 different cities.

The ICE/Int'l Championship Events produced & sanctioned series attracts some of the biggest names in flat track racing as witnessed by its recent World Champions roster in the Manufacturers World Cup Motorcycle Division. Represented on this list are none other than "Showtime" Johnny Murphree, "Smokin" Joe Kopp, Kevin "The Viking" Anderson and 3-time Champion, including the past two seasons, "Jammin" Jared Mees. Check out the action when the big boys battle it out on the tight short tracks of the ICE WC Series. The speeds aren't as high as the mile tracks but the bump'n & bang'n factor is way up there!

The second professional racing division featured on the World Championship Tour are the ICE Unlimited Outlaw Quads. The stellar field of 4-wheel competitors will be headed up by The First Lady of ICE Racing, 4-time World Champion Mandy Brodil Cervantes racing out of North Carolina. All eyes will be on the "Wild Child" as she tries to "Arrive At 5" by the season's conclusion in this rough and tumble previously male dominated sport.

No other racer has been upside down, banged up and bruised on the ice more than Brodil. Somehow she just keeps coming back and winnings races. Other top pros hoping to win their first World Title are "Sideways" Sammy Wiggins on the Major Event winning Harley-Davidson powered "Thunder Quad", Chuck Calvert on his one-of-a-kind "Honduki" Quad, "Time Bomb" Dusty Crouch, Team Kansas Tornados just to name a few.

No holds barred, anything goes open quad racing for lots of cash and a coveted Big Stud Trophy, all on ice - definitely a must see event!

Select amateur classes are also open to local riders wishing to give it a go on the ice in front of their hometown fans. Classes offered include everything from Amateur Quads to Studless Scooters with a passenger. Visit www.icespeedway.com for details about classes and competing.

36TH ANNUAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ICE RACING SERIES SCHEDULE:

Fri-Jan 6th 7:30 PM - Sovereign Center - Reading, PA

Sat-Jan 7th 7:30PM - Hampton Coliseum - Hampton, VA

Fri-Jan 13th 7:30PM - Budweiser Events Center - Loveland, CO

Sat-Jan 21st 7:30PM - US Cellular Coliseum - Bloomington, IL

Sat-Jan 28th 7:30PM - Glens Falls Civic Center - Glens Falls, NY

Sat-Feb 4th 7:30PM - Cambria War Memorial Arena - Johnstown, PA

I.C.E. World Headquarters, P.O. Box 8648, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578

P: (843) 750-0741; E:info@icespeedway.com ; www.icespeedway.com

THE GREATEST SPECTACLE ON ICE!TM

-Celebrating 35 years of arena motorsports entertainment excellence-

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AMA Pro Flat Track Spotlight on Riders Henry Wiles, Johnny Lewis & Jimmy Wood

2011-12-30T17:51:00.001-05:00

Henry Wiles spins it up on the #17 Monster Energy Kawasaki/Jones Bros/Don's Kawasaki/Arai-sponsored KX450F and sets fast time in his return to the track he has owned since the 2004 season during qualifying for the Peoria TT on August 21. Round 14 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series saw the reigning 2-Time Singles Series Champion return to win his 7th National main event in a row, after suffering injuries earlier in the year at the DuQuoin indoor round that would see him have to sit out almost a third of the season.

Adding to his roster of wins this season, Hammerin' Hank also managed to pull off the win at the Salinas Short Track round in late April, before going under the knife in California to have his knee repaired from the damages incurred the previous weekend inside the confines of the Southern Illinois Center on the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. Wiles was able to speed up his rehab, and returned to the track less than three months later at the Lake Odessa, MI. round, and was able to wrestle his GCR XR home to a safe 12th place finish.

Skipping the Sacramento round in late July, Wiles was able to card a strong 4th place finish at the Castle Rock TT before heading to the track that he has owned in central Illinois. When the series next hit the Springfield Short Track over Labor Day weekend, he again did the near-impossible by winning his 5th National main in a row on the rodeo/multipurpose arena track located at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, further adding to his legend as a Grand National Championship Series contender.

Although Henry wasn't able to defend his two Single Series Championships due to missing part of the year, he still finished the season in the top 10 in points, 10th overall. Not bad for a guy who didn't even make it to six rounds and missed qualifying for another two rounds.

Look for The Hammer to be back strong as ever for the 2012 season and completely healed up. By the time Daytona rolls around in mid-March, Wiles will be ready to go again!

You can read his AMA Pro Flat Track rider spotlight below.
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Former AMA Supermoto Champion Johnny Lewis maneuvers through turn 2 at the Peoria TT during his heat race at round 14 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series. The #10 Scott Powersports/Dubach Racing Developments/Saddlemen/Triple J Racing-sponsored and Honda CRF450R-mounted JL10 would go on to finish 3rd in his heat behind winner Henry Wiles and runner-up Rob Pearson, and would end the day in the 10th spot in the National main event at the oldest track on the AMA Pro Flat Track Series schedule.

Lewis turned even more heads during the 2011 season on the Scott-developed Kawasaki 650R-based Twins Series mount, in carding a 2nd place finish at Hagerstown (for a series' and personal best finish in the Twins class) and for leading several laps at the Springfield Mile II round over Labor Day weekend. He also brought home two 2nd place finishes on the year at the season-opening rounds in Daytona.

Johnny ended the season ranked as the 7th place rider in the overall standings, even after not
qualifying for three rounds on the year (Salinas ST, Sacramento, Springfield ST.) After improving from a 10th place finish in the 2010 season, look for JL10 to move up during the 2012 year.

You can read Johnny Lewis' AMA Pro Flat Track rider spotlight below.
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Jimmy Wood puts his #37 A&J/Southland Racing/M.E.H. Corp/Race Tech-sponsored Honda CRF450R through it's paces during qualifying for round 14 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series at the Peoria TT on August 21. Qualifying in the 27th spot for the National main, the West Coast hotshoe was involved in a massive pile-up in turn one of heat 3 that saw him suffer extensive damage to his left wrist, causing him to miss several rounds of the series.

With a new Twins Series program to work with for the 2011 season on his A&J Racing Kawasaki 650R-based mount, Wood was able to still finish the season ranked as the 13th overall rider for the year. His season-best effort came at the Salinas Short Track early in the season where he finished 2nd behind winner Henry Wiles.

For a man who didn't even have his full effort for the year planned out until late winter, Wood did a remarkable job for the year, and plans to contend the full season for the second year in a row during the upcoming 2012 race season. We wish him the very best of luck!

You can read Jimmy Wood's AMA Pro Flat Track rider spotlight below.
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Thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track for the links to these rider spotlights for the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series!

Henry Wiles #17:

http://amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=51647

Johnny Lewis #10:

http://amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=51621

Jimmy Wood #37:

http://amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=51599
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Steve Nace Racing's 2012 AMA Indoor Dirt Track National Championship Series Round 4-New Year's Eve at DuQuoin

2011-12-27T17:27:00.000-05:00

JD Beach on the #95 USC Kawasaki works his way into turn 5 at the Peoria Motorcycle Club's annual gathering during qualifying for round 14 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series on August 21. The Peoria TT is the oldest venue on the AMA Pro Flat Track Series schedule and has been hosting Grand National events for over 60 years.

With the AMA Pro Road Racing Series having the weekend off, Beach was one of 39 Expert riders that showed up to do battle at the legendary track. With practice times that put him in the top 20, he went on to qualify 17th, .731 seconds behind fast-man and eventual event winner, Henry Wiles.

With a 3rd place finish in his heat behind winner Jared Mees and runner-up Sammy Halbert, JD put on a good show while racing the National main with Brad Baker, Aaron King and Jeffrey Carver, Jr, and went home with a hard-earned 13th place finish on the Universal City Kawasaki Motorsports/Morlandt Electric/Alpinestars/Arai-sponsored KX450F.

The Philpot, KY. resident has been spending his 'off-season' racing the Steve Nace Racing 2012 AMA Racing Indoor Dirt Track National Championship Series at DuQuoin, IL. In the first three rounds of the series, Beach has been running the Open Pro Am, 450 Pro and Open Pro classes in the short track events, as well as the Open Pro Am in the TT events, and has pulled out wins in 8 of the 12 races he has run, while racing with talent like 2010 AMA Pro Singles Champ Jeffrey Carver, Jr, former 2-Time AMA Flat Track Singles Champ Henry Wiles and AMA Pro Singles rider Hayden Gillim, just to name a few.

In the other four rounds he has raced, he's finished either 2nd or 3rd. Not too bad for someone who spent more time road racing during the 2011 season!

JD, Henry and Hayden are all expected to be on-hand for round 4 this coming weekend. Tyler Porter mentioned on his FightForDirtTrack.com's InSlide Line column last week that Jared Mees, Cory Texter, Chad Cose and Rob Pearson could all be on-hand to race the New Year's Eve event and take part in the Ethan Gillim Memorial race event.

If you haven't made plans yet, DuQuoin's Southern Illinois Center will be rockin' and rollin' as the Steve Nace Racing crew of Steve, Kelly Bell, Kevin Snyder and company put on one heckuva great show for the fans!
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Round 4 of the 2012 AMA Racing Indoor Dirt Track National Championship Series, the Ethan Gillim Memorial Race will be held this Saturday, December 31 at the Southern Illinois Center on the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds. Event flyer courtesy of Steve Nace Racing Promotions.
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You can keep up with the events of this weekend as well as the whole Steve Nace Racing indoor series here via their official website:

http://www.stevenaceracing.com/mcatv.html
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Check out round 3 action at the Southern Illinois Center of the Steve Nace Racing indoor series here, thanks to this neat video put up by Mia Moore and Chew Larcom, the Fans in the Stands from FlatTrack.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdw6b9KyDOs
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Need to find your way to the Southern Illinois Center in DuQuoin, IL.?:

http://www.agr.state.il.us/dq/index.php?pg=125
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AMA Flat Track: From a Dream, to the Desktop to the Dirt-The Eaken Racing/Luke Gough & Rick Howerton-Built Kawasaki Twins Series Machine, Part 3

2011-12-25T07:00:00.028-05:00

Eaken Racing's Luke Gough rolls out for practice at the rain delayed Springfield Mile I round of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series on May 29 on the team's new #62 Kawasaki 650R-based mount, built by Rick Howerton of Howerton Products in Indianapolis, IN. The Digger/Dick Ford/KK Cycle/Eaken Racing/Sakaida Trucking/Howerton-sponsored machine was making it's debut in the Twins Series after Howerton had started the build back in late summer 2010. Gough just did miss the revamped program, coming up just .110 seconds out of the 6th and final qualifying spot on the day in the bike's first real test under real racing conditions. By the end of the 2011 season, things were starting to look almost as bright for the new Kawasaki and rider as it's dayglo paint job.
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Former AMA Grand National Championship Series competitor and National #31 Dan Ingram, talks with Cycle News.com's Larry Lawrence at round 6 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series on May 29 at the Springfield Mile I. The Clermont, IN. resident and former AMA Grand National Championship race winner did some testing with the team in preparing the Eaken Racing Kawasaki, along with current National #13 Dan Gedeon when they tested at the Circleville, OH. half-mile in early May. Lloyd Brothers Motorsports was also on hand for the test, and then-rider and eventual 2011 Saddlemen AMA Flat Track Rookie of the Year Brad Baker also did some laps on the parallel twin for the team.

Ingram was within reach of the track record almost immediately after having not ridden in Expert competition since the early '90s accident he suffered racing. Originally hoping to make his comeback at the Lucas Oil Indy Mile in August, Ingram is now racing some of the Steve Nace Racing indoor events at DuQuoin on an AMA Pro Singles license, and once he has amassed 100 points can move back to an Expert license per AMA Flat Track. He's already gotten over 40 of those and could be back on a Twin by late spring 2012 according to Howerton Products' Rick Howerton.
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As rider Luke Gough and team owner Skip Eaken discuss strategy the rest of the team gets the #62 Eaken Racing XR750 and Kawasaki 650R ready for the former Australian flat track champ at round 11 of the series at Lake Odessa, MI. on July 23, 2011. Unfortunately, Gough missed the cut at I-96, but by the next weekend things had turned around for them at the renewed Sacramento Mile. Gough won his heat to nab a front row start for round 12 at the Cal Expo Fairgrounds, and went on to bring the new machine home in the 9th spot. Things were really starting to look up. Expert rider Dan Gedeon from Ohio also tried to qualify the machine for the Lima race between Springfield I and Lake Odessa, but finishes of 7th in his heat and 6th in his semi kept him and the Kawasaki on the sidelines again.
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At the next Twins Series round at the Springfield Mile II on September 4, Gough put the Rick Howerton-built machine into it's second-straight final. Practicing in the top 17, he went on to qualify 9th on the Kaw, just .306 seconds adrift of fast man Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. on the #2 Harley-Davidson Motor Co. factory XR. He then went on to finish 3rd in his heat behind winner Sammy Halbert and runner-up Bryan Smith, just .247 seconds behind what was virtually a dead heat between the top 2 for what was a very strong run.

On the warm up lap, eventual event winner Willie McCoy rolls off the line as Gough, Matt Weidman #20, Rob Pearson #27 and Jake Johnson #1 get the signal to roll from AMA Pro Flat Track official Kelly Bell.

Getting a rough start in the National main, Gough worked his way to the rear of the lead pack and was running in the lead draft of seven other riders when........
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........the crank let go on the Kawasaki 650R-based mount with just 5 laps to go. The season ended on a very bright note, however, when Gough took the bike home to a career-best 4th-place finish at the season's penultimate round at the Calistoga Half-Mile.
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Rider Luke Gough, team owner and long time tuner to the stars Skip Eaken, and Rick Howerton, the builder extraordinaire of the Eaken Racing Kawasaki, pose for a team shot for Cycle News.com's Larry Lawrence during the debut of the machine at round 6 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series at the Springfield Mile on May 29.

After over 1700 hours of thought, work and sweat in getting the machine ready to race at Springfield, the team rolled out what is one of the finest specimens of current flat track technology out there. With the advent of the Werner/Springsteen Kawasaki and the Scott Powersports Kawasaki of Johnny Lewis during the 2010 season, the Eaken Racing team also dipped their toe into the rule book to come up with a dry weight of around 285 lbs. for the parallel twin machine. With vinyl graphics that reach out a grab you, the machine is a work of art, and is steadily gathering steam to be regularly competitive in the AMA Flat Track Twins Series for the upcoming new season.

Rick Howerton told me on my visit to his shop last week that the team is working strongly to try and be a top-5 competitor with the Kawasaki. And when talking with Gough at the Springfield Mile II just before he made the main, he was slowly but surely coming to grips with the power and handling of the bike. It seems the high-spinning bike has plenty of power ('well over 85-90 HP' per builder Howerton), it's just harnessing that power to the ground that they are working on now.

With the release of the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series schedule the other day, we all will now have to wait until the first Twins Series event at the Springfield Mile round in May '12 to see if that work has paid off. With this great team of people involved it should be fun to see the results, and if and when it happens, it couldn't happen to a nicer and hard-working group of folks!
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Merry Christmas to everyone from Stu's Shots, and we thank you for making us a part of your virtual visits throughout the season!
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AMA Flat Track: From a Dream, to the Desktop to the Dirt-The Eaken Racing/Luke Gough & Rick Howerton-Built Kawasaki Twins Series Machine, Part 2

2011-12-24T04:00:00.086-05:00

Luke Gough's #62 Digger/Dick Ford/KK Cycle/Eaken Racing/Sakaida Trucking/Howerton-sponsored Kawasaki 650R-based mount sits ready to make it's debut at the Springfield Mile I round of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series on May 29. Team members are pretty laid back discussing the machine with fellow racers during the rain delayed event over the Memorial Day Weekend. After testing the machine earlier in the month at the Circleville, OH. half-mile, the bike was ready for it's first true racing test.
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During the street tracker's build, the seat, tail section and rear suspension details can be enjoyed. Photo courtesy of Rick Howerton/Howerton Products.
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The rolling chassis for the street tracker sits outside the Howerton facility in Indy. Photo courtesy of Rick Howerton/Howerton Products.
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Three sets of exhausts sit ready to roll out the door to one of Howerton Products customers just less than 10 miles west of the shop. John Force Racing in Brownsburg will no doubt be happy with these finished pieces.

Underneath the tarp is one of Rick's pride and joys-a former Team Honda bike ridden at one time by none other than.......
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.....former National #3 Ricky Graham to a win at the Houston Astrodome TT event in the mid '80s. The bike is a Honda RS600, which Rick hopes to completely restore sometime in the future.
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One of the frequent visitors to the westside Indy shop is former motocross champion Roger DeCoster, who was in town last spring for the AMA Supercross event at the Lucas Oil Stadium. Here he checks out the race version of Rick's Eaken Racing/Howerton Kawasaki. Photo courtesy of Rick Howerton/Howerton Products.
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The left side of the street tracker sits on stands in the shop awaiting the return of the front end.
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One of the signs in the shop shows some of the handiwork that Howerton Products can put together for you. Their list of clients and series in which they supply parts for is diversified.
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This was one of the exhaust manifolds that Rick and his team were working on when I visited the shop on Gasoline Alley in Indy. This sweet unit is for one of the new IndyCar motors for the 2012 season.
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Looking down the Kawasaki 650R's exhaust pipes.
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During my visit to the shop, the front forks for the street tracker had been sent out for revalving. Rick got his first motor off of eBay for about $1K (and probably one of the least expensive items purchased for the bike at that!)
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The completed street tracker sits outside the Howerton Products race shop along Gasoline Alley on the westside of Indy. Rick mentioned that him and the team discussed riding the tracker version over to Springfield for it's May 2011 debut and removing the lights and front brake and going racing, just like a lot of the Class C flat trackers would do back in the old days. Photo courtesy of Rick Howerton/Howerton Products.
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Builder Rick Howerton, team owner and legendary AMA Grand National Championship tuner Skip Eaken, and 5-Time Australian Flat Track Champ and AMA Grand National Championship Series #62 Luke Gough pose for a shot before the bike heads out for it's first test in spring 2010. Alongside sits the rolling chassis for the street tracker version. Photo courtesy of Rick Howerton/Howerton Products.
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We'll have more on the Eaken Racing/Luke Gough and Rick Howerton-built Eaken Racing Kawasaki 650R, so check back to see what else is coming up!

Merry Christmas to everyone the world over from Stu's Shots!
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AMA Flat Track: From a Dream, to the Desktop to the Dirt-The Eaken Racing/Luke Gough & Rick Howerton-Built Kawasaki Twins Series Machine

2011-12-23T14:08:00.000-05:00

Rick Howerton and Luke Gough talk during the rain delay at the Springfield Mile I round of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series on May 29, with the #62 Digger/Dick Ford/KK Cycle/Eaken Racing/Sakaida Trucking/Howerton-sponsored Kawasaki 650R-based mount at the ready. The 5-Time Australian Flat Track Champion was tasked with debuting the team's new Twins machine at the first round of the season in round 6 of the series and just missed making the National main in the bike's first true racing tryout by just .110 seconds.

Howerton, a long time fan of the AMA Flat Track Grand National Championship Series, decided he wanted to give back to the sport he loved and built the 650R-based Twins Series machine starting in late summer 2010. Working from his original dream, Rick started putting everything together for the build on his work pc, and came up with a splendid design and working concept that in it's original outing on the track at Circleville, OH. was lapping within reach of the track record.

The pictures and stories that follow are about Rick Howerton's vision in bringing a challenge to the track in today's AMA Pro Flat Track Series.
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The man behind the Eaken Racing Kawasaki, as ridden by Luke Gough in the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Twins Series. Rick Howerton has been around racing all of his life (his father Jackie is a former USAC Silver Crown driver/owner) and has been a major flat track racing fan since the early-mid '80s when Team Honda had their shop just two doors down from the Howerton facility.

Rick told me when he was 14 years old back in those days he used to ride his BMX bike around the shop and down the street to the Team Honda facilities and became good friends with Skip Eaken, Sparky Edmondson, Gene Romero, Doug Chandler, Bubba Shobert and Ricky Graham from the Team Honda superteam.

That relationship with Skip Eaken has stood since and his pairing with the man that took Bubba Shobert to three straight AMA Grand National Championships in the mid-late '80s is now hoping to put a dent in the H-D XR750-dominated world of AMA Flat Track.
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This is the computer model of the Eaken Racing/Howerton Products Kawasaki 650R-based machine as put together by Rick Howerton at Howerton Products in Indianapolis. Starting from what he had working in his head, Rick took to the task of generating a computer model to actually do the build off of, and from there the build got into full swing.

Rick has what to many would be the IMAX of computer screens in his office in a 31" unit with wonderful graphics. The shop is located just 8 blocks from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Gasoline Alley, amongst a plethora of other racing shops set-up in the area on the westside of Indy.
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Everything built in the Howerton Products shop starts as raw product in the form of sheeting, in various sizes and dimensions. Some of Howerton's many clients include John Force Racing in NHRA and Michael Waltrip Racing in NASCAR, along with many of the IndyCar teams located close to the shop on the westside of Indy.
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Various frame and swingarm pieces in mid-build sit on the shop bench ready for the next step in the building process. Most of the pieces in the build are 1/1000th of an inch thick. Photo courtesy of Rick Howerton/Howerton Products.
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Completed swingarm assemblies sit on the shop bench after final prep. Photo courtesy of Rick Howerton/Howerton Products.
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The roughly 2.5 gallon gas tank has over 30 hours of labor alone in it between the stamping and rolling, from what started as flat sheet metal. Photo courtesy of Rick Howerton/Howerton Products.
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The frame assembly awaits further pieces to become a true rolling chassis. Photo courtesy of Rick Howerton/Howerton Products.
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Axles, swingarm pivot and head neck assembly are ready for installation. Photo courtesy of Rick Howerton/Howerton Products.
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Triple clamp assemblies are ready to be put together. All of the aluminum parts are made from 7075 aluminum, while all of the stainless pieces are made from 17-4 stainless. Very light, very strong and VERY expensive. Photo courtesy of Rick Howerton/Howerton Products.
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The seat and tail section on the street build are the same as found on the AMA Grand National Twins Series version. The wire assembly hanging from the rear of the tail section is for the LED brake and tail light assembly. The dzus fasteners alone cost around $100 apiece, as shown in front of the 'HRP' logo.
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Tune in tomorrow for part 2 of our look at the Eaken Racing/Luke Gough/Rick Howerton Kawasaki 650R-based AMA Flat Track Twins Series machine, and we'll also look more at the street tracker version of this great build project, which is a mirror copy of the full-race version.
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AMA Flat Track: Motorcycle-Superstore.com Posts $50K in Contingency Funds for 2012 Pro Singles Series

2011-12-22T21:34:00.000-05:00

Round 15 of the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Championship Series gets off to a wild and crazy start in heat one at the Peoria TT on August 21 with riders blazing out of turn 2 heading towards the jump. In a battle that would see all six riders shown head to the LCQ race, it sure wasn't for lack of trying that this group wasn't at the front instead of in the middle of the pack.

Leading this group on the #40L TNT Honda.com/Lightshoe-sponsored Honda CRF450 is Philip Smith, followed closely by Richard Ivey III on the #59P Espy Suspension/Shade Tree Cycle-backed Yamaha YZ450F, Kinji Eto on his #88 GCR/Baroque Works-backed Honda, Wyatt Maguire on the #18M Pro1Racinghead.com/Shortblock Charlies-sponsored Yamaha, Jeremy Hamilton on the #36N Al Lamb's Dallas Honda/Woody Kyle Racing-backed Honda, with Michael Bickerton bringing up the rear on his #28P Hogwrench Racing/DCT Precision-sponsored Honda.

Of the bunch, Hamilton and Bickerton would card 3-2 finishes in the LCQ race to go on to race the Pro Singles final at the oldest track on the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Series calendar. Hamilton would finish the day in 11th in the Pro Singles main, with Bickerton bringing it home in the lucky 13th slot.

Motorcycle-Superstore.com will return again for it's third year as title sponsor for the Pro Singles Championship and the presenting sponsor for the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series. They have also upped the ante for the new season with extra incentives and contingencies for the Pro Singles riders.

You can read the full press release below, and we thank and welcome the return of a great sponsor to the AMA Pro Flat Track Rolling Thunder Show in seeing Motorcycle-Superstore.com back onboard!
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$50,000 in New Contingency for AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Available from Motorcycle-Superstore.com in 2012

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 22, 2011) - Motorcycle-Superstore.com, the nation's leading online motorcycle gear, parts and accessories retailer and title sponsor of the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles division of AMA Pro Flat Track is proud to announce a $50,000 contingency program for Pro Singles riders that wear a Motorcycle-Superstore.com-branded Bell helmet during the 2012 season. This special helmet will only be available through Motorcycle-Superstore.com and riders must also register at www.motorcycle-superstore.com/rider-support to be eligible for the awards.

"Flat track represents the grass roots of motorcycle racing - one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing there is - and one of the most exciting! That's why we feel so strongly about supporting the series with a $25,000 rider's points fund and now, a $50,000 contingency program for those athletes that fly our colors," claims Erick Barney, VP Marketing for Motorcycle-Superstore.com. "This program provides the racers with another opportunity to earn some money to offset their race expenses."

The contingency program's payout schedule for each race will pay down to 8th place as follows:

1st - $600. 2nd - $500. 3rd - $400. 4th - $300. 5th - $250. 6th - $200. 7th - $150. 8th - $100.

Between all successful sponsored riders, a total payout of $50,000 is possible for the season. With a 20 race season held at tracks scattered across the country, this $50,000 Rider Support Program helps put some money back into the racer's pockets.

It is easy to apply for this program - simply complete the application available through the link provided below, and our sports marketing representative will be in touch with you. The opening rounds at the DAYTONA Flat Track will be here before we know it, so... let's go racing! Apply online at: www.motorcycle-superstore.com/rider-support.

About Motorcycle-Superstore.com:

Motorcycle-Superstore.com is the leading online retailer in the motorcycle and powersports industry. Serving motorcycle riders for over 12 years, Motorcycle-Superstore.com specializes in selling motorcycle and powersports helmets, riding apparel, accessories and parts at the lowest prices possible. Internet Retailer magazine has ranked Motorcycle Superstore in the top 10 of all sporting goods sites and in the top 200 of all e-commerce sites. Powered by a dedicated staff of motorcycle enthusiasts, Motorcycle-Superstore.com continues to impress customers by constantly raising its online shopping standards. Visit www.motorcycle-superstore.com.

For additional information contact:

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

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AMA Road Racing: Motorcycle-Superstore.com Posts $50K Contingency Sponsorship for 2012 SuperSport Series

2011-12-22T20:38:00.000-05:00

Motorcycle-Superstore.com to Post $50,000 in Contingency for AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport in 2012

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 22, 2011) - Motorcycle-Superstore.com, the nation's leading online motorcycle gear, parts and accessories retailer and title sponsor of the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport division of AMA Pro Road Racing is proud to announce a $50,000 contingency program for AMA Pro SuperSport riders that wear a Motorcycle-Superstore.com-branded Bell helmet during the 2012 season. This special helmet will only be available through Motorcycle-Superstore.com and riders must also register at www.motorcycle-superstore.com/rider-support to be eligible for the awards.

"With our current title sponsorship of the SuperSport class, along with our funding of the $25,000 points fund, this new Rider Support Program simply provides an additional way for Motorcycle-Superstore.com to give back to the competitors," explained Erick Barney, VP Marketing for Motorcycle-Superstore.com. "We are equally excited to be co-sponsoring this program with Bell Helmets, as we know Bell shares our same enthusiasm towards supporting the racers."

The payout schedule for each race will pay down to eighth place as follows:

1st - $600. 2nd - $500. 3rd - $400. 4th - $300. 5th - $250. 6th - $200. 7th - $150. 8th - $100.

A total payout of $50,000 for the season is possible for participating entries. With a 20 race schedule there is now plenty of opportunity for Motorcyce-Superstore.com racers to find the help they need cover those racing expenses.

It is easy to apply for this program - simply complete the application available through the link provided below, and our sports marketing representative will be in touch with you. Round one at Daytona International Speedway will be here before we know it, so... let's go racing! Apply online at: www.motorcycle-superstore.com/rider-support.

About Motorcycle-Superstore.com:

For additional information contact:

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

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AMA Pro Road Racing Signs GoPro for Multiyear Title Sponsorship for Daytona SportBike Series

2011-12-22T20:28:00.001-05:00

GoPro Named Official Camera of AMA Pro Road Racing and Daytona SportBike Title Sponsor in Multiyear Agreement with AMA Pro Racing

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 21, 2011) - Officials from AMA Pro Racing and GoPro® have announced an exclusive multi-year partnership naming GoPro as the Official Camera of AMA Pro Road Racing and the title sponsor of the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike class. In addition, AMA Pro Racing will name a special year-end points fund after GoPro for the athletic heroes that race in the Daytona SportBike division.

GoPro is the world's leading activity image capture company, producing lightweight, wearable and gear-mounted cameras designed to capture adventure and action sports in high definition and from previously impossible viewpoints. The extreme racing action and engaging personalities of the AMA Pro Road Racing athletes lend themselves perfectly to creating feature content out of the captivating video produced by all-new GoPro HD HERO2® cameras. Teams will now have the opportunity to utilize this footage in their marketing initiatives to increase sponsorship value while also exposing to the world just how intense the gripping, non-stop action really is from the rider's perspective.

"We are very excited about this new partnership with GoPro and their very unique HD HERO product line of video cameras and accessories," said David Atlas, Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing. "This is especially important to AMA Pro in that it will open up a new dimension of video content for fans and will significantly elevate our ability to display to the public the very exciting and close racing which our special athletes perform with such exciting regularity."

The agreement calls for several at-track, in-market and cross-promotional marketing opportunities aimed at expanding each brand, including geo-targeted email campaigns, website promotions about upcoming AMA Pro Road Racing events and promotional sweepstakes for GoPro products. Full details about these exciting programs will be released in the coming months.

The 2012 AMA Pro Road Racing season will kick off with the historic Daytona 200 Week, scheduled for March 15-17, 2012 at Daytona International Speedway. Please visit GoPro.com for more information on GoPro and the award winning HERO product line.

For additional information contact:

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

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AMA Pro Flat Track Releases 2012 Schedule

2011-12-21T17:53:00.000-05:00

Round 16 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series at the Springfield Mile II comes down to the National main event on September 4 as the front row gets ready to roll out for their warm-up lap.

Chris Carr on his #4 American Motorcyclist Assoc/Classic H-D/DFW Honda/Arai-sponsored XR, Johnny Lewis on the #10 Scott Powersports/Dubach Racing Developments/Saddlemen/Triple J Racing-backed Kawasaki 650R-based mount and Bryan Smith on his #42 Moroney's FastHOG.com/American H-D/Rockyonline.com/Boughner Racing-sponsored XR take up the the first spots from the wall.

Sammy Halbert on his #7 Kings Kustoms/White's H-D/LZ Racing/KK Supply-sponsored XR, Jared Mees on the #9 Rogers Lake Racing/Blue Springs H-D/Screamin' Eagle/Lucas Oil-backed XR and Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. on the #2 Harley Davidson Motor Co/Screamin' Eagle/Spectro Oils/Fox-sponsored factory H-D XR750 round out the final (and fastest on the day) spots at the front.

AMA Pro Racing announced their 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track schedule today that includes 16
confirmed rounds and 3 as yet-to-be named facilities for the new season ahead. With the usual suspects back on the schedule in returns to Springfield, Lima and Lake Odessa (among several others), the series will also return to the Indy Mile in August after the cancelation of the 2011 event due to the tragedies suffered from the rigging collapse at the Sugarland concert in early August '11. And as usual, Daytona will kick off the new season with a doubleheader round on March 15-16, 2012.

You can read the full press release below and get your calendars set for the 2012 season!
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AMA Pro Racing Announces 2012 Schedule for AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship

Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles to Appear at All 19 Rounds

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 21, 2011) - AMA Pro Racing is pleased to announce the 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track schedule. The 19-round 2012 AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com schedule has 16 confirmed dates and three additional events in final negotiations.

Of the 16 confirmed events, the fire-breathing Grand National Twins will appear 10 times, which includes five half-mile and five mile tracks, and the 450cc Grand National Singles will be featured in three TT and three short track events. Every event on the 2012 calendar will also feature the Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles class, which debuted in 2009 and showcases the future stars of AMA Pro Flat Track piloting 450cc single-cylinder machines.

Once again the season will kick off with the traditional Bike Week doubleheader on March 15th and 16th, 2012 at the DAYTONA Flat Track, which is located just outside of Turns 1 and 2 at the mighty Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. In the 2011 contest, Grand National Championship title contender Sammy Halbert swept the mid-week openers in dramatic fashion.

In the world of flat track racing, Memorial Day Weekend and the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. go hand in hand. May 26th, 2012 finds the Series at the Rodeo Arena for a TT race that serves to whet the appetite for the first "big bike" race of 2012, scheduled for the next day, May 27th, 2012. The Springfield Mile is one of the most coveted wins on the circuit and is one of the most highly-contested races each year.

Next up for the Series is a to-be-announced event scheduled for June 9th, 2012, with the series moving on to the first "cushion" race at the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio three weeks later on June 30th, 2012. The 2011 season saw the return of pea gravel to the Lima half-mile oval and the return of the sideways, rooster-tail shooting action.

The Series heads farther East on July 7th as Hagerstown, Md.'s Hagerstown Speedway hosts the only round on the east coast that features what is typically a very smooth, and very fast, half-mile track. Many consider this venue the "home track" for defending Grand National Champion Jake Johnson, and the New Jersey native will surely be looking to repeat his 2009 victory.

I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Mich. returns to the series calendar on July 14th, 2012 with its always action-packed half-mile circuit, before the Series moves to the west coast on July 28th, 2012 for the Sacramento Mile at Cal-Expo in Sacramento, Calif., the highly-successful Bob Bellino-promoted event run alongside the California State Fair.

A drive up the coast will find the AMA Pro Flat Track stars back on their 450cc singles at the Castle Rock Race Park TT in Castle Rock, Wash. on August 4th, 2012. Next up is another TT, and the granddaddy of them all, scheduled for one week later at Peoria Race Park in Peoria, Ill. on August 12th, 2012. The Peoria TT has been a staple on the Grand National circuit since 1947 and still packs the hillsides with spectators eager to watch the high-flying singles take to the track.

The Indy Mile at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Ind., returns to the 2012 schedule on August 18th, 2012 and the event will once again coincide with both the Indiana State Fair and MotoGP's state-side return for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Labor Day Weekend means a return to the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. for a Short Track and another Mile, scheduled for September 1st and 2nd, 2012, respectively.

September 8th, 2012 will mark the return of the Series to Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa. The 2011 event saw one of the closest finishes in the AMA Pro Flat Track's long and storied history and all signs indicate that next year's race will be just as close.

Details about an event scheduled for September 15th, 2012 will be released soon; following that race the Series will head to the Santa Rosa Mile at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, Calif. on September 30th, 2012. The last time a Grand National was held at the beautiful fairgrounds was in 1970, which saw Jim Rice win the contest on a BSA.

The last to-be-announced event on the schedule is will be held on October 6th, 2012 before the 2012 AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com schedule comes to a close on October 13th, 2012 on the half-mile track at the LA County Fairplex in Pomona, Calif.

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Complete 2012 AMA Pro Flat Track Schedule:

March 15, 2012
Daytona Flat Track I
Daytona Flat Track, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Short Track

March 16, 2012
Daytona Flat Track II
Daytona Flat Track, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Short Track

May 26, 2012
Springfield TT
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill.
TT

May 27, 2012
Springfield Mile I
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill.
Mile

June 9, 2012
TBA

June 30, 2012
Lima Half-Mile
Allen County Fairgrounds, Lima, Ohio
Half Mile

July 7, 2012
Hagerstown, Half-Mile
Hagerstown Speedway, Md.
Half Mile

July 14, 2012
I-96 Half-Mile
I-96 Speedway, Lake Odessa, Mich.
Half Mile

July 28, 2012
Sacramento Mile
Cal Expo, Sacramento, Cailf.
Mile

August 4, 2012
Castle Rock TT
Castle Rock Race Park, Castle Rock, Wash.
TT

August 12, 2012
Peoria TT
PMC Race Park, Peoria, Ill.
TT

August 18, 2012
Indy Mile
Indiana State Fairground, Indianapolis, Ind.
Mile

September 1, 2012
Springfield Short Track
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill.
Short Track

September 2, 2012
Springfield Mile II
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill.
Mile

September 8, 2012
Knoxville Half-Mile
Knoxville Raceway,Knoxville, Iowa
Half Mile

September 15, 2012
TBA

September 30, 2012
Santa Rosa Mile
Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa, Calif.
Mile

October 6, 2012
TBA

October 13, 2012
Flat Track Finale
LA County Fairplex, Pomona, Calif.
Half Mile

For additional information contact:

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

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Happy Birthday to Freddie Spencer, 3-Time World Champion

2011-12-20T15:52:00.001-05:00

Crew chief Mike Velasco looks on as his rider, Freddie Spencer gets ready to roll out to the grid on the #19 Two Brothers Racing/Honda Motor Co/D.I.D./Ohlins-sponsored Honda RC30 at the Mid Ohio round of the AMA Superbike Championship Series in August 1992. Despite a row 2, 5th-place starting spot on the grid, 'Fast Freddie's was slowed in the Wiseco Superbike 100 race as part of the Camel Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop event, and went on to finish in the 23rd spot.

One of the all-time motorcycle racing greats, Spencer burst onto the AMA scene during the '79 season winning his first AMA National event at Loudon in the 250 GP/Lightweight class, and went on to win the championship that year. The Louisiana-born rider also won his first AMA Superbike race while riding for Kawasaki in '79, before signing with American Honda for the 1980 season.

After splitting time in the AMA series and in Europe while riding for Honda Japan, Spencer headed overseas full-time for the 1983 season, where he captured his first of two 500CC World Championships in a battle that went down to the wire with rival Kenny Roberts. Spencer lost the title to sophomore GP and Yamaha teamster Eddie Lawson in the '84 season, but came back to do the impossible in winning both the 500CC and 250CC World Championships in the '85 season.

Spencer rode for the Two Brothers Racing Honda team and the Fast By Ferracci Ducati team in his return to U.S. racing in the early-mid '90s, where he won three more AMA Superbike Championship Series events. Two of those wins came on the TBR Honda RC30 at the Miami street race in late '91 and on the FBF Ducati at Laguna Seca in '95, and he is also the only man to have ever won all three premier events at Daytona, which he accomplished in '85 by winning the 250/Lightweight, Superbike 100 and Formula One 200 by Arai.

We would like to take the time to thank Freddie for all of the great years of racing and wonderful memories, and wish him a Very Happy 50th Birthday today. Thanks man, and please take a bow!
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'Fast Freddie' Spencer was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999, and you can read his bio here:

http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=275&lpos=-1025px&letter=S&txtFname=&rblFname=S&txtLname=&rblLname=S&discipline=0
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Back in the early '80s and the days of the inline-4 1025cc motors in the AMA Superbike Championship, tires and suspensions had not yet come close to being able to handle the amount of power that the big roaring motors put to the ground.

Honda and Peter Starr Films put together some promo films back in those days, and this first part of one of those about Freddie Spencer and the iconic Honda CB750F, from the '81 season is worth the time to check out. Freddie on the banking at Daytona on what is still considered by many to be the all-time best sounding superbikes of all-time will bring chills up and down your spine. If not, better check that pulse.

Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZo7-NyBvqk
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AMA Flat Track: Waters Auto Body/Project K Team to Develop KTM Further in 2012 Twins Series Season

2011-12-19T15:35:00.000-05:00

The Waters Auto Body Racing team's mounts of #49 Chad Cose and #82 Jeremy Higgins sit in the team's pit area during round 16 of the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship Series at the Springfield Mile II on September 4. Cose's Suzuki SV650-based mount sits alongside the KTM 950/990 LC8-based mount, as do Higgins' #82 machines in the back of the shot. Team owner Dave Waters can be seen overlooking his machinery in the rear of the shot.

Cose was able to put the Suzuki in the main earlier in the season at Lima, carding a 16th place finish, while fill-in rider Gerit Callies was able to take the KTM-based Twins effort to a like-result at the season-ending round at Pomona for one of his provisional rides in the Twins Series after campaigning the Pro Singles Series this season.

The team has decided to put the Suzukis on the back-burner for the upcoming 2012 season, concentrating solely on the KTMs, along with retained rider Higgins and new signee Steve Murray #51, and also hooking up with Boughner Racing to help with their suspension needs The full press release can be read below.

With the rules in AMA Pro Flat Track being said to hold true into the 2012 season, the team has a good base to work with on the KTMs going forward. Having some of the nicest looking equipment in the pit area coupled with getting some more development work done with the KTM should help them get over the hump in getting the big Twin into National mains on a regular basis and being able to get the power to the ground that the big orange-and-black machines produce.

We wish them all of the best and will be glad to see the WAB KTM team back at it in the AMA Grand National Championship for the 2012 season ahead!
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Waters Autobody/Project K Racing Changing it up in 2012

From a Press Release Issued by Waters Autobody/Project K Racing:

ALBION, N.Y. (December 19, 2011) - Coming off of 2010 with some great finishes and strong showings, we thought we had turned the corner and momentum was on our side. However, 2011 did not turn out to be the year the Project K Racing/Waters Autobody Racing team had hoped to have. Many things contributed to a less than stellar season and it was time for the team owners, Dave & Rhonda Waters, to reevaluate where things were going and what changes needed to happen to go forward into 2012.

One thing that was agreed upon after the final race in Pomona was to park the Suzuki’s. The Suzuki's had become a distraction and had taken away the focus from our original goal. That goal being, to put another brand on the box of the highly dominated Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship class and our weapon of choice was the KTM 950/990’s with their dependable and reputable LC8 power plants. The final California race was less than kind to our riders and equipment and it was time to get back on track.

Many other dynamics played into the decisions but one thing had been plaguing the team since the start. The LC8 motors had more than enough power but getting it to the ground and through the corners was always a huge issue. The bikes loved cushion tracks and hauled on big miles, but on hard packed half-miles, the handling flaws became more prevalent. Back to square one, get some fresh ideas and start over with the basics.

Many great builders had tried to help but one in particular stood out. While in Sacramento, Marty Lewis from Lazer Racing struck up a conversation with Dave regarding the problems that the riders had been experiencing. Numerous conversations later, it was determined that a new chassis would be built by Lewis from San Leandro, California.

We have a great crew and some even better sponsors but we struggled with set up and needed to make some serious changes. We needed a person willing to do the homework necessary to work with the new chassis design and power plant combination.

One name kept coming back into the conversation, and after discussing at length our mission, it was decided to that Mike Boughner of Boughner Racing, located in Tawas City, Michigan would be our guy for suspension.

Boughner had this to say regarding the collaboration on the team, “I’m sure I can be an asset to your program and would look forward to the challenges of working with your KTM's.”

But certainly the most exciting change has to do with the core of the team. We are extremely proud to have Steve Murray joining us to be Jeremy Higgins teammate in 2012. “Murrdizzle” as he is affectionately known on the circuit, has the experience needed to give the Waters Autobody Racing team important feedback required to make things happen. Steve, like his teammate Jeremy, is very 'hands on' and both riders opinions will be paramount to take us to the next level of competition.

Murray 26, originally from Grand Blanc, Michigan, was a regular on the circuit with the renowned Michigan Mafia crew. He currently resides in Kansas City, Missouri and has an Associates Degree in Website Design from ITT Tech & a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Cleary University. Steve has fielded his own race program with success but Waters Autobody Racing feels we can give both riders the support and opportunities to achieve the results they desire with this team and with the addition of our new sponsors.

Steve Murray: "I'm really excited to be joining the Waters Auto Body Racing team for the 2012 Season and riding their KTM Twins and having Jeremy Higgins as my teammate. I'd like to thank Dave and Rhonda Waters and all of the team’s sponsors for the opportunity. Developing the KTM's will be a task but I'm confident that Jeremy and I can get Dave and crew the appropriate feedback to be contending for podium positions."

We are pleased to have Steve Murray and both Lazer Racing & Boughner Racing on board for 2012 and are excited about the possibilities that they both have to offer.

We would also like to thank our existing sponsors that are back on board for the 2012 season:

Bell Helmets, Arlen Ness, Motion Pro, Saddlemen, Silkolene Oils, Vortex, K&N Filters, Durelle Racing Wheels, Rekluse Clutches, Spider Grips, RLJ Race Engines, RK Excel, Leo Vince Pipes, D&D Power Sports, Matto Cycle, Power Sports Institute & Hollink Honda.

A special thank you to the following individuals for the support over the past seasons, Jack & Michelle Higgins, Chad & Norm Cose, Steve Fortunato, RJ Overholt, Guy Ruger, Brian Schultz, Yve & Will, Mike Owen, Staci & Jenna Waters, Mia & Chew, the AMA Pro Flat Track crew, KaTeM and various other families and riders of the Western New York race circuit.

In the spirit of the upcoming holiday and race season, we feel truly blessed to have such a wonderful program and many exceptional people contributing and are looking forward to a great 2012.

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You can check out more about Waters Auto Body Racing's Project K racing team here via their official site:

http://www.projectkracing.com/aboutus.html

And you can take a look at Waters Auto Body's facilities in Albion, NY here:

http://watersautobody.net/index.html
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