Jared Mees Wins Wild AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Expert Main Event at Inaugural Virginia Mega Mile

Courtesy of AMA PRO Racing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo courtesy of AMA Pro Racing/Dave Hoenig

NEW KENT, Va. (August 24, 2013) – Jared Mees (Rogers Racing/Harley-Davidson) took home his first victory in 2013 to close out Saturday’s Virginia Mega Mile, Round 9 of the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles season. The inaugural event on Colonial Downs’ supersized 1.25-mile circuit in New Kent, Va. proved to be a wild one. For the first half of the race, Bryan Smith (Crosley Radio/Kawasaki) looked to be well on his way to a third 2013 victory until he suffered a bike malfunction on lap eight, opening up the flood gates for his competitors. Defending Grand National Champion Mees took full advantage of Smith’s mishap, taking the lead and never relinquishing it for the remainder of the 18-lap main event.   “I got a decent start and thought I would just dice it out with Henry (Wiles) and Brad (Baker) for second after seeing Bryan (Smith) get out to such a commanding lead early on,” said Mees. “As soon as Bryan’s bike broke and Brad dropped out, I kept making my marks and just brought her home. I’ve been up and down all season and to get this win here is huge. This track is really big and my Harley-Davidson brought me home. I know 90% percent of the fans here are Harley-Davidson fanatics, so rock on!”   Mees’ Virginia Mega Mile win marks his fourth top five finish out of his last five main events. He currently sits fourth in the points, just 28 markers behind current GNC points leader Brad Baker (Dodge Bros Racing/Harley-Davidson). The Clio, Mich. product is getting hot at the right time, as there are just four critical races remaining on the 2013 schedule.   Henry Wiles (Lloyd Brothers Motorsports/Ducati) posted a solid second-place result which may have been the most impressive feat of the day, considering the Winn, Mich. product was forced to start on the fourth row in the main event. Wiles got an excellent start and within laps placed himself in the front group of riders, ultimately finishing 1.885 seconds behind Mees.   Oxford, Penn. native Brandon Robinson (TJ Burnett Farms/Kawasaki) backed up last weekend’s impressive second-place finish at Indy with another podium finish at Colonial Downs. Robinson now sits fifth in the overall Grand National Championship standings after a shaky mid-season string of rough finishes for the young star.   Salinas, California’s Briar Bauman (Monster Energy Kawasaki/Kawasaki) and Morris, Connecticut’s Kenny Coolbeth Jr. (Harley-Davidson Motor Company/Harley-Davidson) rounded out the top five, respectively.   Current series points leader Baker had his championship points lead slashed by mechanical gremlins in Virginia. Starting from 13th on the grid, the Eatonville, Wash. native quickly worked his way up into the front group and was poised to challenge for the lead before his bike came up lame around the halfway point. His uncharacteristic 19th place performance is his only main event finish outside of the top 10 this season. The 20-year-old suddenly finds himself with a less comfortable lead in the overall Grand National Championship points chase, leading Wiles by just 17 points, 156-139. Smith sits just 5 points back at 134, with defending champ Mees another 6 back at 128.   AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles   The AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles main event was a 10-lap shootout for the checkered flag and it was Cody Johncox (Sunnyside Cycle/Yamaha), starting from second position on the grid, who came away with the win in what proved to be the closest finish in J&P Cycles Pro Singles competition this year.   The race was an all-out scramble, with several riders fighting for position from flag to flag. Johncox took the lead on lap seven and was able to hold off the five-rider lead pack, just edging out his competition on the final circuit. Willow Street, Penn.’s Shayna Texter (Crosley Radio/Honda) skillfully maneuvered her way around a slew of competitors to finish second in the race by a scant .008 seconds.   “To be honest, I was just hoping I wasn’t going to have the lead coming off the last turn,” said Johncox. “It turns out I did and I was able to barely hold onto it and it paid off. I saw Shayna (Texter) coming up behind me and couldn’t figure out how she had made up so much ground starting from the second row. I’d like to thank my family and all of my sponsors that allowed me to be here today.”   Defending J&P Cycles Pro Singles Champion Stephen Vanderkuur (Parkinson Brothers Racing/Honda) got out to an early lead and at one point looked as if he’d finally record his first victory of the season. However, Vanderkuur’s early lead would quickly turn in to a fierce five-way battle between himself, Johncox, Texter, Jeff Lowery (Englehart Racing/Honda) and current J&P Cycles Pro Singles points leader Wyatt Maguire (Kirkland Racing/Yamaha).   Vanderkuur would go on to close out the podium with a third-place finish as Lowery and Maguire would round out the top five, respectively, with all five riders finishing within half of a second.   Next Up   AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles heads to Springfield, Ill. for Rounds 10 and 11. The doubleheader Labor Day weekend will feature the stars of the sport competing on the legendary Springfield Mile for the first time this year on Saturday, August 31, 2013 and again the following day on Sunday, September 1, 2013.   AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles is a national motorcycle racing series in North America. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the Series is one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing and is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track racing in the world. The 2013 schedule consists of rounds on the country’s finest dirt track courses. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft.

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

AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Riders Gear Up For Indy Mile

Courtesy of AMA PRO Racing

Photo courtesy of  AMA Pro Racing/Dave Hoenig

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (August 15, 2013) – The stars of AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles roll into Indianapolis right in the midst of a motorcycle melee as GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing is set to pair up with the MotoGP this weekend in the “Racing Capital of the World.” The Indy Mile will mark Round 8 on the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles 2013 schedule and has provided nothing short of first-class racing dating all the way back to the early 1950’s.   After recently wrapping up the Grand National Expert Singles championship at the Peoria TT last weekend, Eatonville, Washington’s Brad Baker has his sights set on a clean sweep of the Grand National Expert Twins title, as well as the coveted overall Grand National Championship as he currently holds a lead in both respective categories. Baker has been on the attack right from the get-go this season and the 20-year-old seemingly has no ceiling in regards to his pure talent and ability. The former Saddlemen Rookie of the Year Award winner will be looking to add to his already impressive stat sheet this weekend when he rolls out his Dodge Bros Racing Harley-Davidson.   Graham, Washington product and last year’s Indy Mile winner Sammy Halbert (Southeast Harley-Davidson/Harley-Davidson) hasn’t had the kind of season he’s envisioned so far in 2013. Halbert came off a knee injury just in time to win Round 3 at the Stockton Half-Mile and it looked like he had hit his stride perfectly. Unfortunately for Halbert, he has yet to find the podium since that win and he’s coming off of a very troubling weekend at Peoria where he crashed in the evening’s first qualifier and was unable to continue racing. Halbert currently sits eighth in the overall Grand National Championship point standings and will look to get back on track this weekend.   Any mention of a mile-long dirt track race involving motorcycles wouldn’t be relevant if Flint, Michigan’s Bryan Smith’s (Crosley Radio/Kawasaki) named wasn’t involved in discussions regarding possible candidates to claim victory. Smith has been the most consistent rider on mile-long circuits in recent AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles history and is currently one-for-one this year as he earned a main event win at the Sacramento Mile. Smith looked to be on his way to another dominating victory at the Indy Mile last year but a bike malfunction late in the race prevented him from doing so. Look for Smith to be searching for redemption this weekend as he tries to better his current third position in the overall Grand National Championship point standings.   AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles   Mead, Washington’s Wyatt Maguire (Kirkland Racing/Yamaha) and Albion, New York’s Ryan Wells (Waters Auto Body/Honda) are currently dead even in the points. Both riders are locked in at 93 points and the two have seen better days than their last visit to the Indiana State Fairgrounds, both finishing outside the top five here a year ago.   Undoubtedly the hottest AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles rider coming into Round 8 is San Martin, California native and last weekend’s Peoria TT winner Rodney Spencer Jr. (Mack Daddy Racing/Honda). Spencer’s huge win lifted him to third in the point standings and is primed to make a title run.   Davison, Michigan rider and defending AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles champion Stephen Vanderkuur (Parkinson Brothers Racing/Honda) comes into the weekend as last year’s Indy Mile victor and will need another similar performance this time around if he plans on keeping his 2013 title hopes alive. Vanderkuur currently sits fifth in the points and is running out of events to make up the ground needed if he plans on repeating with another championship.   Willow Street, Pennsylvania’s Shayna Texter (Crosley Radio/Honda) enters the weekend seventh in the points but, like her teammate Bryan Smith, has been known to excel on mile-long tracks as she also won the Sacramento Mile in AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles competition this year. Look for Texter to put in a solid performance this weekend.   How to Catch the Action Round 8 of AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles at the Indiana State Fairgrounds is set to commence this Saturday, August 17, 2013 with practice and qualifying beginning at 3:00 local time. For tickets and more information regarding the event, please visit http://www.familyevents.com/event/264.   AMA Pro Racing will be live streaming multiple channels of behind-the-scenes video of the weekend’s activities alongside Live Timing & Scoring on the AMA Pro Live streaming video website (http://www.amaprolive.com/ft/). AMA Pro Live puts fans in the director’s chair, allowing them to choose from a variety of viewpoints.  About AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles  AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles is a national motorcycle racing series in North America and is considered one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the Series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track racing in the world. The 2013 schedule consists of rounds on the country’s finest flat track courses. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft.

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

Henry Wiles Makes it Nine Straight at Peoria, Brad Baker Earns AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Expert Singles Championship

Courtesy of AMA PRO Racing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo courtesy of AMA Pro Racing/Dave Hoenig

Rodney Spencer Jr. Earns First AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Victory   PEORIA, Ill. (August 11, 2013) – It was inevitable. Winn, Michigan’s Henry Wiles (Don’s Kawasaki/Honda) came all the way back from the third row (13th position) to come away with his ninth consecutive Peoria TT victory in Round 7 of AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles.  Wiles, who suffered a bike malfunction in his heat race, had to do it the hard way as he was forced to contend in a semifinal, which he would go onto win, in order to qualify for the main event. However, terrible starting position proved not to be an issue at all for Wiles, as he quickly began passing riders with ease right from the get-go.    By lap six, Wiles had already managed to climb to third position and looked like a heat-seeking missile locked on to the top spot. Though it had already been unanimously predetermined, the forgone conclusion of Wiles making the pass for first was made official on lap nine when he ripped the lead from Eatonville, Washington’s Brad Baker (Specialty Fabrication Incorporation/KTM) and went on to increase his lead for the remainder of the race until eventually claiming victory by 3.317 seconds over Baker. “This is my track, at least for another year,” said Wiles following the win. “These guys are awesome to compete against and I knew it was going to be a good show. I knew I wasn’t done after having to start from the back. Ultimately I have to thank the Lord. The only thing I wanted to do today was ride like a champion. I did all I could do. I’m so thankful and I’m so appreciative of my friends and family that came out here to support me.  I’m glad I could just come out here and show my friends and sponsors what I’ve been doing all summer. All the time and effort I put into this sport couldn’t be more worth it. I wanted everyone to see how much I love this sport.” Wiles’ near decade-long domination of PMC Race Park is undeniably one of the more significant feats in the history of the sport. Baker continued to remain the most consistent rider on the circuit thus far in 2013 with a strong second place finish. Philpot, Kentucky native and typical GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing competitor JD Beach (Burnett Farms Racing/Honda) made his way to the dirt this weekend and earned an impressive third place finish in the Grand National Expert Singles main event. San Jose, California’s Shaun Russell and Salinas, California’s Briar Bauman (Rod Lake Racing/Honda) rounded out the top five, respectively.   2013 AMA Pro Grand National Expert Singles Champion – Brad Baker Though he didn’t claim victory at PMC Race Park this weekend, Brad Baker’s second place finish was all he needed to claim the coveted 2013 AMA Pro Grand National Expert Singles Championship as this was the final Expert Singles event listed on the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles schedule. Baker’s season on his 450cc machine consisted of three second-place finishes and one fifth place finish. Baker topped Wiles by a mere two points to earn the title.   AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles In a very intense AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles main event that consisted of a couple very impressive come-from-behind efforts, Salinas, California’s Rodney Spencer Jr. (Mack Daddy Racing/Honda) started from fourth position and came away with the win in his first ever AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles victory. “The bike was working great all day going into the main event,” said Spencer. “Once I got out front, I knew I had to make some moves to maintain the lead and I was just ready for that checkered flag to come out. I have to give a huge thanks to George Mack, if it wasn’t for him, none of this would be possible. I also have to thank all of my family, my girlfriend for supporting me so much while I’m on the road, and my sponsors. Those are the people who make all of this possible for me. I have to thank everyone for coming out too, this has been a great crowd all day.” Spencer took advantage of Warrington, Pennsylvania’s Dan Bromley’s (Bromley Brothers/KTM) colossal mistake on lap four that led to Bromley surrendering his short-lived lead after crashing while going over the jump. It looked as if Bromley would be unable to continue racing until he got back up and returned to the tail end of the staggered restart.  With hopes of just staying competitive in the race, Bromley did more than that, as he would go on to finish second and give Spencer a run for his money on the final lap. Though Bromley’s unforeseeable comeback to finish second mounted on a KTM in the Honda-dominated field may have gotten the most attention, Spencer’s stellar victory shouldn’t be overlooked. Spencer, who boosted himself to third in the current AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles point standings after the win, earned the coveted checkered flag in a match that consisted of several prominent young riders. Young gun Justin Jones (RLJ Racing/Honda) closed out the podium with a very impressive third place finish as Snohomish, Washington’s Jacob Lehmann (Vince & Dinise/Honda) and Bonney Lake, Michigan’s Hunter Taylor (Hunter MFG/Honda)  rounded out the top five, respectively.   Next Up   AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles heads to the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Ind. for Round 8. For tickets and information regarding the Indy Mile, please visit http://www.familyevents.com/event/264.   About AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles   AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles is a national motorcycle racing series in North America and is considered one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the Series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track racing in the world. The 2013 schedule consists of rounds on the country’s finest flat track courses. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft.

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

AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Visits Castle Rock Race Park for Round 6

Courtesy of AMA PRO Racing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo courtesy of  AMA Pro Racing/Dave Hoenig 

CASTLE ROCK, Wash. (August 2, 2013) – Last weekend, the Sacramento Mile marked the beginning of a six-week stretch of seven AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles races. This weekend, the series jumps to the Pacific Northwest to Castle Rock, Wash. for the Castle Rock TT at Castle Rock Race Park on August 3, 2013. The event will demand a complete reversal of strategy for the Grand National Experts as they will put their two-cylinder motorcycles on the shelf and pull out their smaller, more dynamic 450cc machines.   As the season closes in on its midpoint, the AMA Pro Grand National Expert points race is led by Eatonville, Washington’s Brad Baker (Dodge Bros Racing) as his three consecutive second-place finishes to begin the year followed by his first victory at the Grand National Expert level at Hagerstown and his fourth-place effort at Sacramento last weekend has placed him comfortably ahead of the field with 92 points to his credit. The 2011 Rookie of the Year will look to extend his lead in the points on his Honda CRF450R this weekend.   After a lackluster 17th place effort at Hagerstown in Round 4, Oxford, Pennsylvania’s Brandon Robinson (TJ Burnett Farms) rebounded quite nicely last weekend with a third-place finish at the Sacramento Mile to help him maintain his second-place position in the points. Robinson will be happy to get back on his Kawasaki KX450F as his only win in 2013 came on the 450cc back in Round 2 at Daytona.   Flint, Michigan product Bryan Smith (Crosley Radio) was able to blow by the elite competitors of the sport on the long front and back stretches last weekend to claim his first win in 2013 but the 30-year-old won’t have that kind of luxury this weekend on the much shorter circuit. Smith’s ability to be creative and find a different way to the front of the pack and maintain a competitive position will be tested this weekend on the .6 mile, six-turn dirt track.   Graham, Washington’s Sammy Halbert (Fredericktown Yamaha) was last season’s winner and has looked solid in all three races back since returning from injury. Halbert has climbed his way back to sixth in the Grand National Expert point standings after a win and two top-five finishes and will look to improve on that in front of his hometown crowd this weekend.   Clio, Michigan product and defending Grand National Champion Jared Mees (Montgomeryville Cycle) finally returned back to typical form last weekend with a second-place finish at Sacramento after injuries and bike malfunctions have dampened his season thus far. Mounted on his Honda CRF450R, Mees will look to roll that momentum over to this weekend as he looks to improve on his current eighth-place position in the points.   AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles   Much like the Grand National Experts, there are several J&P Cycles Pro Single riders who hail from the Northwest, but spend their summers chasing the national scene. Current points leader and Mead, Washington native Wyatt Maguire will be looking to strengthen his lead in the standings on his Yamaha YZ 450F. Maguire will be looking to bounce back after a rough 2012 appearance at Castle Rock Race Park as he finished almost dead last in the night’s main event, coming in 17th.   Last season, Snohomish, Washington’s Jacob Lehmann (Ride Motorsports) claimed his first career victory as a professional. This will be Lehmann’s first race of 2013 and he will certainly be looking to repeat on his Honda CRF450R.   Coming fresh off of her first victory of 2013 at Sacramento, Willow Street, Pennsylvania’s Shayna Texter (Crosley Radio) is always a threat to win and will be on the attack at Castle Rock this weekend. Texter has been a wildcard all season long, finishing outside the top ten in three of the five races yet claiming victory last weekend and a second place effort at the Stockton Half-Mile earlier in the year has helped her solidify a fourth place position in the current point standings heading into the match this weekend.   How to Catch the Action   Tickets are still available for this weekend’s AMA Pro Flat Track event at Castle Rock Race Park in Castle Rock, Wash. For more information, please visit http://www.showclix.com/event/mshmc. Fans that are unable to attend the Castle Rock TT are encouraged to tune into AMA Pro Live. The live streaming devices will put fans in the director’s chair, allowing for complete viewing of the event. From the first practice all the way up until the final checkered flag is dropped, tune in to AMA Pro Live to catch all of the action.   About AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles America and is considered one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the Series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track racing in the world. The 2013 schedule consists of rounds on the country’s finest flat track courses. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles, please visit http://www.amaproracing.com/ft/.

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

AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport Preview

Courtesy of AMA PRO Racing

 
Photo courtesy of AMA Pro Racing/Brian J. Nelson

TOOELE, Utah (July 31, 2013) – This weekend’s AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport doubleheader at Miller Motorsports Park should be another exciting affair. Coming off a terrific three-way fight for the win at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca two weeks ago, the series for up-and-coming racers and fast club aces has built momentum all season long with five different winners in 2013. The wide-open circuit in Tooele, Utah should make for a close weekend of competition.  Joe Roberts (No. 2 California Superbike School Roadracingworld.com Honda CBR600RR) returns for another AMA Pro event in Utah. The 16-year old has been perfect in his three races, but it wasn’t easy in California. Roberts was able to get his third straight win to start his AMA Pro career but it took a last-lap pass to get it done. Roberts was able to earn a gap at Barber Motorsports Park in his debut AMA Pro event, but the contest at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca showed his rivals were ready for him this time out. Unlike Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Roberts has ridden at Miller Motorsports Park before.   For Roberts, a Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup participant, the Miller round will be the last time he gets to race with AMA Pro this season. He has a chance to continue his unprecedented GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing debut streak and build momentum towards the next step in what will surely be a long and illustrious career.   West points leader Tomas Puerta (No. 12 Roadrace Factory Yamaha YZF-R6) was the rider who came up just short in challenging Roberts for the win at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix. Puerta made a move in the last corner and showed aggression on the last lap, but came up just 0.177 short of the win. Still, it was a big weekend for Puerta who pulled further away in the points. He now leads by 45 and is in fine shape to take his first AMA Pro title with two events to go.   Puerta is a veteran of the series and the Colombian has often shown flashes of brilliance since the class began in 2009, but this season has seen a steep rise in his competitiveness. Even when he hasn’t been the victor, he’s been a factor at the front in every race. In the West contests, Puerta has finished fifth or better in every race, with three podiums in five finals. Add in a win at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and two podiums at Barber Motorsports Park and it makes for a fine season for the Colombian. Puerta could the clinch the Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport West Championship this weekend should everything fall his way.   His counterpart Corey Alexander (No. 5 National Guard Celtic Racing Suzuki GSX-R600) leads the East division. Alexander was in fine form at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, fighting for the win with Roberts and Puerta and finishing just 0.294 short of the win. Alexander has bounced back from some struggles after his blockbuster Road America double victory. His five podium results are proof that he has improved dramatically in 2013 and it appears he’s fast and focused. Alexander also has a win in Utah to his credit, having won in 2011.   Alexander is also at the top of the Roadracing World Young Gun of the Year Award standings with 191 points over Stefano Mesa‘s 168 tallies. The newly-named award will provide a $2,500 cash bonus to the top young, rising star in GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing. To be eligible for the award, riders must have been no older than 18 at the start of the 2013 GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing season. The award will go to the eligible rider with the most overall points in either the Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport or GoPro Daytona SportBike classes and a check will be presented during the 2013 GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Awards Banquet.   Hayden Gillim (No. 69 Team 95 Yamaha YZF-R6) also has a win at Miller Motorsports Park, and he’s one of the men challenging Alexander for the East points lead. The Kentuckian found his form of late. Gillim won his last race at Mid-Ohio and finished second twice before that, setting up a showdown at New Jersey Motorsports Park with Alexander and Mesa. Last year, Gillim showed fantastic form in his runaway win in Utah and this weekend will provide him with another shot at young hotshot Roberts.   Stefano Mesa (No. 37 Motosport.com RSRacecraft Yamaha YZF-R6) has a chance at the title but the fast Colombian needs to reverse a few trends of late. After winning at the season opener in Daytona, Mesa has not only been shut out of the win column, he hasn’t made his normal runs at the front in the last few races. Since this weekend won’t count for him in the points, it’s a good one to fine-tune his game for New Jersey and really go for it.   Miles Thornton (No. 72 CTR Racing Yamaha YZF-R6) is a rider who has that momentum. Thornton won pole at Mid-Ohio and followed up a front row start and two fifth-place results at Barber Motorsport Park, with twin third places at Mid-Ohio. Thornton is yet to win in Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport but looks to be getting closer with each race.   Jeffrey Tigert (No. 91 Baby Appleseed CM Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R6) is second in West points and the veteran has notched a strong campaign in 2013. After problems in Race 1 at Daytona International Speedway, Tigert has finished in the top five in each West round since.   Some other young riders will be in action in Utah, including Conner Blevins (No. 33 Akax Kawasaki ZX-6R), Wyatt Farris (No. 9 Meen Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R6), CJ Weaver (No. 13 BP Racing Yamaha YZF-R6), and Ryan Matter (No. 122 Gearzy Yamaha YZF-R6).   In total, 42 riders have pre-entered for the event and it is shaping up to be another good one. With five different winners in 2012, what happens next is anyone’s guess.   The AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport races from Miller Motorsports Park will be streamed live on AMA Pro Live at http://www.amaprolive.com.   For tickets to this weekend’s event at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah, please visit http://www.millermotorsportspark.com/events/ama-pro-road-racing-race.html.    Live Streaming on AMA Pro Live   Live streaming of both of this weekend’s AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport races from Miller Motorsports Park will be available on AMA Pro Live. AMA Pro Live puts fans in the director’s chair, allowing them to choose from a variety of viewpoints including track cameras, paddock cameras and a press conference channel.   Located at http://www.amaprolive.com/, AMA Pro Live provides fans with multiple channels of behind-the-scenes video feeds and, for select sessions each weekend, a fully produced, high definition live video stream is also available for fans to enjoy. Thanks to support from Gearzy, the fully produced, high definition feeds for a number of Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport races will be streamed live for fans to watch at no cost in 2013.   Live streaming will begin with coverage of the weekend’s practice and qualifying sessions on Friday, August 2 at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT. Coverage of Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport Race 1 will begin on Saturday, August 3, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT, with Race 2 scheduled to conclude the weekend’s racing activities on Sunday, August 4, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT. Log on and tune in at http://www.amaprolive.com/.   Television Broadcasts on CBS Sports Network Leading into coverage of GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Round 6 at Miller Motorsports Park, CBS Sports Network will broadcast the AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike and AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike races from the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca as part of the CBS Sports Spectacular in a primetime special on CBS Sports Network beginning Friday, August 2 at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT.  Following the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca broadcasts, a primetime airing of the weekend preview show for the Miller Motorsports Park event will begin on Friday, August 2 at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT.  This weekend’s racing coverage will include three hours of LIVE broadcasts from Utah. AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Race 1 will air LIVE on Saturday, August 3 at 5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT and will be followed by a same-day delayed broadcast of AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Race 1 slotted for 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT.  Sunday’s coverage will include a two-hour block of LIVE coverage, beginning with GoPro Daytona SportBike Race 2 on Sunday, August 4 at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 noon PT followed by National Guard SuperBike Race 2 at 4:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT.      For an up-to-date list of the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing broadcasts scheduled on CBS Sports Network, please visit http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/events/tvlistings.cfm?year=2013. To locate CBS Sports Network on your cable or satellite provider, please visit the Channel Finder at http://www.cbssportsnetwork.com/channel-finder.  International Pay-Per-View Fully produced, high definition broadcasts of this weekend’s races from Miller Motorsports Park will be available to audiences outside of the United States and Canada through AMA Pro Live, AMA Pro Racing’s live streaming video website. At the low introductory cost of $0.99 USD per race, international fans can follow along with their favorite GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing stars this weekend by logging on at http://www.amaprolive.com/rr/.   The international pay-per-view channel will be available for the following races:  GoPro Daytona SportBike Race 1 (Saturday, July 13 at 1:00 p.m. ET) National Guard SuperBike Race 1 (Saturday, July 13 at 3:00 p.m. ET) GoPro Daytona SportBike Race 2 (Sunday, July 14 at 1:00 p.m. ET) National Guard SuperBike Race 2 (Sunday, July 14 at 2:00 p.m. ET) Social Media Stay connected with GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing on social media at http://twitter.com/AMAProSBK and http://www.facebook.com/AMAProRoadRacing.   About GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing: GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing is the premier motorcycle road racing series in North America and is universally regarded as one of the most competitive road racing organizations in the world. The 2013 schedule consists of nine rounds of competition on the country’s finest road courses. The Series is comprised of four production-based classes: AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike, AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike, AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport and the AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series. Learn more about GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing at www.amaproracing.com/rr/.

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.

AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Round 5 Recap – Sacramento Mile

Courtesy of AMA PRO Racing

Photo courtesy of  AMA Pro Racing/Dave Hoenig

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (July 31, 2013) – Since the Sacramento Mile’s return to AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles annual calendar in 2011, two things have remained consistent – the intensity that the Northern California crowd brings to every race and the pure domination of the mile-long track by Flint, Michigan’s Bryan Smith (Crosley Radio/Kawasaki EX650) as he has claimed victory in each of the three races held at the Cal Expo.   “Everything went great for me all day,” said Smith following his third consecutive Sacramento Mile main event victory. “I really wanted to get away from the pack and win this thing by a long way. I had it going my way early on but my tire got hot and I started to fade back and eventually got pushed off the groove and found myself in a battle. Baker and the rest of the guys really gave me a good run and I knew it would be hard getting around those Harley’s but luckily my Crosley Kawasaki was good on the straightaways and I was able to get by them one final time.”   In 2011, AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles returned to Sacramento after a 12-year absence from the venue. Before last weekend, Scott Parker, a nine-time Grand National Champion and AMA Pro Hall of Famer, was the only rider in the history of the sport to win three straight Grand National Expert main events at the Cal Expo in its long history with the series dating all the way back to 1959. Parker’s string of three straight wins came between the years of 1996-1998 en route to a 94-win career.   Already one of the most prestigious events on the schedule for AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles every year, the stakes were higher on this go around as a number of flat track enthusiasts and industry supporters chipped in to offer an additional $13,500 in bonus payouts to the riders for their efforts, bringing the total to $67,000.   Though Smith is the reigning triple champ at the Sacramento Mile, those victories didn’t come easy. In 2011 he won by a mere .042 seconds. Last year, No. 42 claimed victory by an even smaller margin at .037 seconds. This time around, Smith managed to cross the line .083 seconds over second-place finisher and defending Grand National Champion Jared Mees. Don’t let the added breathing room for Smith fool you as the racing was as intense as ever all the way down to the final lap.   Smith got off to a fast start. He won his heat race and the Dash for Cash and the 30-year-old looked to be on his way to another victory after getting the holeshot off the pole in Saturday night’s main event. Everything was going great for Smith until lap 14 when he slid off the groove on turn two and found himself in a dogfight the rest of the way to the checkered flag.   Once Smith slipped, it was like blood in the water for several of the premier riders of the sport as they all seemed to pounce on the opportunity and within less than a lap there were five riders under a second off the lead.   Eatonville, Washington’s Brad Baker (Dodge Bros Racing/Harley-Davidson) was the first to capitalize on Smith’s mistake as he quickly stole the lead but forfeited it almost immediately to Jared Mees (Rogers Racing/Harley-Davidson) on the very next lap. Mees went on to lead several laps but the distance separating the Honey Brook, Pennsylvania native and the rest of the pack was so slight that it hardly made a difference who was in first.   With the race hanging in the balance and Smith’s impressive streak at Sacramento on the line, he slammed the throttle on the final back stretch just a little harder than his opponents and held on for the victory. The win was Smith’s first of the year and propelled him into third in the overall Grand National Championship point standings.   There were four other riders who were all within less than a second of Smith as he crossed the finish line for the final time; Mees, Oxford, Pennsylvania’s Brandon Robinson (TJ Burnett Farms/Kawasaki) who closed out the podium with a third-place finish, Brad Baker, and Graham, Washington’s Sammy Halbert (Flat Tack Live/Harley-Davidson) who rounded out the top five, respectively.   Sacramento Mile Expert Twins Results Top 10   1)     Bryan Smith 2)     Jared Mees 3)     Brandon Robinson 4)     Brad Baker 5)     Sammy Halbert 6)     Jake Johnson 7)     Kenny Coolbeth Jr. 8)     Robert Pearson 9)     Henry Wiles 10)  Willie McCoy   Grand National Championship Combined Point Standings Top 10   1)     Brad Baker (92) 2)     Brandon Robinson (77) 3)     Bryan Smith (71) 4)     Jake Johnson (70) 5)     Henry Wiles (67) 6)     Sammy Halbert (60) 7)     Kenny Coolbeth Jr. (59) 8)     Jared Mees (55) 9)     Robert Pearson (52) 10)  Jeffrey Carver Jr. (39)      AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles   As pressure packed as the Expert Twins race was to cap off a stellar night of racing, the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles race set the tone with an even bigger nail biting finish. Shayna Texter (Crosley Radio/Honda) defended her 2012 Sacramento Mile victory with a win in dramatic fashion, taking her first 2013 win. The Willow Street, Pennsylvania native was neck-and-neck with Lodi, California’s Nate Wait (Stockton Honda-Yamaha/Honda) for the majority of the race. Wait actually took the lead on a few occasions and looked as if he might pull off the upset. In the end, it was Texter who pushed back on turn four of the final lap to seal the victory and raise herself to fourth in the point standings.   “It was a great race,” said Texter. “I was definitely forced to work a whole lot harder this year than I did last year that’s for sure. Coming from behind is always tough but it was a good clean race and I’m just so happy right now. I have to thank the fans for supporting me, these west coast fans are one of a kind. I always have to thank my family back home on the east coast, I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. I also have to thank my team and my sponsors for allowing me this opportunity.”   The win marked Texter’s second in as many years at the Sacramento Mile and her fifth career victory as a professional. Texter notched three wins in 2012 and looks poised to compete with even more impressive results this year.   Davison, Michigan’s Stephen Vanderkuur (Parkinson Brothers Racing/Honda) put together his most impressive performance of the season, finishing third. Vanderkuur, the defending J&P Cycles Pro Singles champion has struggled at times in 2013 and hopes that his podium finish will be the boost he needs to get back to his championship-caliber self.   Sacramento Mile AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Results Top 10   1)     Shayna Texter 2)     Nate Wait 3)     Stephen Vanderkuur 4)     Ryan Wells 5)     Bronson Bauman 6)     Wyatt Maguire 7)     Gerit Callies 8)     Wyatt Anderson 9)     Nick Armstrong 10)  Ryan Kearns   AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles Point Standings Top 10   1)     Wyatt Maguire (80) 2)     Ryan Wells (72) 3)     Kyle Johnson (66) 4)     Shayna Texter (55) 5)     Stephen Vanderkuur (55) 6)     Jason Isennock (51) 7)     Mike Poe (42) 8)     Rodney Spencer Jr. (42) 9)     Dominic Colindres (37) 10)  Hunter Taylor (36)   Video On Demand (V.O.D.) Race Broadcasts   AMA Pro Racing, working in conjunction with Circle Bell Motorsports, live streamed a produced feed of the Sacramento Mile on AMA Pro Live (http://www.amaprolive.com/). An international audience logged on and enjoyed a four-hour broadcast of the night’s racing activities, from opening ceremonies through the final checkered flag. Video On Demand (V.O.D.) streams of the night’s racing activities can be purchased on the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles channel on Ustream at www.ustream.tv/channel/ama-pro-flat-track.   About AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles:AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles is a national motorcycle racing series in North America and is considered one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the Series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track racing in the world. The 2013 schedule consists of rounds on the country’s finest flat track courses. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles, please visit http://www.amaproracing.com/ft/.

Sacramento Mile Three In A Row For Bryan Smith – 2013 Sacramento Mile – AMA Pro Flat Track Jared Mees Second Place Finish at 2013 Sacramento Mile – AMA Pro Flat Track Shayna Texter Wins 2013 Sacramento Mile – AMA Pro Flat Track Brandon Robinson Podiums at 2013 Sacramento Mile – AMA Pro Flat Track Full Race Broadcast – Grand National Expert Main Event (PPV) Full Race Broadcast – Pro Singles Main Event (PPV)

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.

Complete CBS Sports Network Race Broadcasts from Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Now Available on AMA Pro Live’s Online DVR

Courtesy of AMA PRO Racing

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 31, 2013) – With a few days remaining until GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing competitors take to Miller Motorsports Park, AMA Pro Racing racing has made available all five CBS Sports Network broacasts from the Buckeye SuperBike Weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on the all-new AMA Pro Live Online DVR. This free service is available to anyone with an internet connection and the race broadcasts can be viewed from any computer, mobile phone or tablet. The AMA Pro Online DVR can be accessed at http://amaprolive.com/rr/dvr. Click the links below to begin watching each broadcast in high definition, full length and without commercial breaks.    Buckeye SuperBike Weekend Pre-Race-Show: See the stars of GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing with their helmets off and hear what they have to say before engines ignite and the tire warmers come off at the Buckeye SuperBike Weekend.. National Guard SuperBike Race 1: When AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike competitors unloaded their race bikes at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, defending champion Josh Hayes had the mission to keep up his streak of winning. To the rest of the field, it was to beat Josh and establish themselves as the new alpha male.  GoPro Daytona SportBike Race 1: Cameron Beaubier looks to Mid-Ohio’s Buckeye SuperBike Weekend with GoPro Daytona SportBike Championship intentions. As he looks to win, other AMA Pro riders look to stop him in his tracks within the 15-turn racetrack.  National Guard SuperBike Race 2: .122 makes all the difference in the world in AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Race 2 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car course for the Buckeye SuperBike Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire. Josh Hayes, Josh Herrin, Martin Cardenas and many other AMA Pros put on impressive race performances. Watch now!  GoPro Daytona SportBike Race 2: The GoPro Daytona SportBike Race 2 from Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course saw even better performances by multiple young, yet incredibly skilled GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing competitors. JD Beach and his RoadRace Factory YZF-R6 put up an impressive performance for the race with points leader Cameron Beaubier.     All weekend long, stay connected with GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing on social media at http://twitter.com/AMAProSBK, http://instagram.com/AMAProSBK and  http://www.facebook.com/AMAProRoadRacing.   About GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing:   GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing is the premier motorcycle road racing series in North America and is universally regarded as one of the most competitive road racing organizations in the world. The 2013 schedule consists of nine rounds of competition on the country’s finest road courses. The Series is comprised of four production-based classes: AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike, AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike, AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport and the AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series. Learn more about GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing at www.amaproracing.com/rr/.

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.

CBS Sports Network Broadcasts of GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to be Aired Friday, August 2

Courtesy of AMA PRO Racing

Photo by Brian J Nelson

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 26, 2013) – CBS Sports Network has scheduled a SuperBike weekend for August 2 – 4, 2013. The AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike and AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike races from last weekend’s Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will be featured as part of the CBS Sports Spectacular in a three-hour primetime special on CBS Sports Network beginning Friday, August 2 at 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT).

The back-to-back GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing broadcasts will kick off with GoPro Daytona SportBike at 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT), followed by National Guard SuperBike at 8:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. PT) and will conclude with a sneak preview of the weekend’s racing to come. The weekend preview show for the Miller Motorsports Park round will be aired for the first time in primetime on Friday, August 2 at 9:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. PT).

Encore broadcasts of all three shows will be aired prior to the GoPro Daytona SportBike and National Guard SuperBike races from Miller Motorsports Park on August 3 beginning at 12:00 noon ET (9:00 a.m. PT).

For an up-to-date list of the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing broadcasts scheduled on CBS Sports Network, please visit http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/events/tvlistings.cfm?year=2013. To locate CBS Sports Network on your cable or satellite provider, please visit the Channel Finder at http://www.cbssportsnetwork.com/channel-finder.

About GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing:
GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing is the premier motorcycle road racing series in North America and is universally regarded as one of the most competitive road racing organizations in the world. The 2013 schedule consists of nine rounds of competition on the country’s finest road courses. The Series is comprised of four production-based classes: AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike, AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike, AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport and the AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series. Learn more about GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing at www.amaproracing.com/rr/.