Rider Files

(NEWS RELEASE)

Lodi – 29 Jul 2011
The last time I raced this double-header weekend was in 2003. The only thing different is that then it was a Formula USA race and for the mile we rode 450s, not the Harleys.

On the night before the Lodi race, the Lodi Motorcycle Club puts together a nice purse for their Short Track event. Growing up I had heard a lot of things about this track. So this year I decided to bring out my old Rotax. I have owned this bike since I was 12 years old, changing only its front end. Any chance I can run this bike I love doing it as it brings back many good, old memories.

At Lodi’s first practice on the Rotax I was lost. I changed a lot of things. It still had the original suspension, so I needed to stiffen the whole bike. When I went out for qualifying it felt 100 times better. They did old-school time trials and I fast-qualified it. The way it was being run, was that you had to win your Heat in order to get in the Main, everyone else had to go to a Semi. I was in the 1st Heat and won it. In the Dash for Cash I did not get a great start and ended up 3rd.

In the Main Event I got off 2nd but got by Jethro Halbert quickly. I then ran some hard laps but heard someone behind me. It was Mikey Martin. From about half-way to the checkered, he was breathing down my neck. I held him off until the end and won it. It felt so good to win on the Ole Rotax again!

Sacramento – 30 July 2011
I did not remember this race track well. All I remembered was what everyone kept saying—“it will get a groove around the bottom and you will have to follow the groove.” Practice was kind of “wide open skitter around the bottom.” I qualified 3rd overall and was in the 3rd Heat with Jake Johnson, Chris Carr, Kenny Coolbeth, Willie McCoy, Matt Weidman, Shawn Baer, JR Schnabel, Raun Wood and Doug Lawrence. Talk about a loaded Heat!! I got a good jump and was dicing it up with Carr and Coolbeth. Then Johnson came up and took the lead. I was running 3rd and almost got past Carr in the last lap but it was too late. Carr’s bike was running strong.

For the Main Event we made a couple of changes. I got off to a decent start but was stuck behind Luke Gough for a few laps. It was tough to pass him. I finally got by Luke and started to work on Sammy Halbert and Coolbeth. I got by Coolbeth and then got by Halbert but he came back by. I finally got by him once and for all and started after the three leaders: Jake Johnson, Bryan Smith, and Carr. I was running a very lonely 4th most of the race, maybe gaining a little each lap, but made some small mistakes from pushing so hard, keeping me from reeling them in fast enough. I had started from the 2nd row and had needed a good jump to make something happen.

So I ended up in 4th place. It was one of those not so great nights. At least I ended up losing only 1 point in the Championship chase, but Jake made up some ground so he and I are now tied for 2nd. However, we still have a lot of racing left in the season and, as we well know, anything can happen.

This week I am hanging out in San Jose CA at the home of my team owner, Craig Rogers. We leave at the end of the week for Castle Rock WA. I Look forward to seeing you all there. With a big “thank you” to all my supporters, Jammin’

Jared Mees # 9
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(NEWS RELEASE)

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Success in professional racing not only requires speed and consistency on the track, but maturity and respect off it. At the 2011 AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships, which took place July 25-31 in Du Quoin, Ill., KTM support rider Daniel Bromley displayed all those qualities to earn the 2011 AMA Racing Dirt Track Horizon Award from the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA).

At Du Quoin, Ill., KTM support rider Daniel Bromley displayed all those qualities to earn the 2011 AMA Racing Dirt Track Horizon Award from the American Motorcyclist Association.

AMA Racing Horizon Awards are presented annually in dirt track, motocross and roadracing to the rider showing the most promise for success in the pro ranks. The dirt-track award recipient is traditionally selected based on performance at the AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships, promoted this year by North American Action Sports (NAAS).

“Although the competition at the AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships features a number of extremely talented riders, some years one rider’s performance makes him a clear choice for the AMA Racing Dirt Track Horizon Award,” said AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant. “No other Horizon Award contender matched Daniel’s five individual championships and two Grand Championships. In the minds of the selection committee, this made Daniel a clear choice for this prestigious award.”

At the AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships, Bromley stood out among Horizon Award contenders with five championships in individual disciplines and two overall Grand Championships. Grand Championships reflect performance across all four types of dirt-track competition in a specific class.

The 16-year-old Bromley won Grand Championships in the 250cc Modified Two-stroke class and in the 250cc DTX class. His individual discipline titles were in 250cc DTX short-track and TT, 250cc Modified Two-stroke short-track and TT, and 251cc-500cc DTX TT. Bromley also raced in select 450cc Modified events.

“Ever since I was little, I would watch people I knew win the Horizon Award, and I would dream of winning it myself,” Bromley said. “It is really special to get it. It feels really good to see all of our hard work pay off.”

Bromley added that a key to his success has been the support of his family, especially his brother Joseph.

“Having a teammate is really important because you have someone you can always look to for help and advice,” Bromley said. “You can race together. You can workout together. You can work on the bikes together. Having the support of my family, including my mom and dad, has been so important, and without them I wouldn’t be able to do this.”

Bromley, whose 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame belies the typical dirt-tracker physique, says his initial professional plans include TT and short-track races, although he hopes to see the track at next year’s Hagerstown, Md., half-mile AMA Pro Racing event.

“I want to get my Pro Singles license and go pro in 2012 at the Daytona short track,” he said. “I will probably do mostly TTs and short-track races next year. My size can put me at a disadvantage on the half-mile and mile, but it really helps me on the TT and short-tracks where I can manhandle the bike a little more. I do want to do the Hagerstown half-mile next year because it’s close to my house.”

Although the AMA Horizon Award is the highest-profile special award at the AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships, additional honors recognize other competitors for standout performances.

The AMA Racing Fast Brain Award, sponsored for the second year running by dirt-track tuning legend and Motorcycle Hall of Famer Bill Werner and AMA Board of Directors Chairman Stan Simpson, recognizes a rider whose speed on the track is matched by stellar grades in the classroom. The 2011 Fast Brain award was presented to Hunter Goodwin from Keenesburg, Colo.

This year marked a “first” for the AMA Racing Youth Dirt Track Rider of the Year award when it was given to two riders. Kevin Stollings won Grand Championships in 85cc DTX (9-13) and 85cc Modified (7-11), and Tyler Scott, with titles in 50cc DTX PW Shaft (4-8) and 50cc DTX PW (4-8) classes, shared the award for 2011.

Stollings said his favorite part of the week was “winning the short tracks and having to come back on the half-mile after I placed fourth and seventh on the TT.” Stollings sent out a big thank you to “my mom, my dad, my grandma, my little brother and my friend Alex.”

Scott, who will be starting kindergarten this year, said he enjoyed the week.

“My favorite thing was racing and it was very fun all week,” he said, adding that those who helped him were “just mom and dad and my dog.”

The Vet/Senior Rider of the year was awarded to Mount Pleasant, Iowa’s Tony Watkins, who won the Vet 30+ class and the Senior 40+ class.

“I came into this week wanting and hoping that I would get this Vet/Senior award,” Watkins said. “I’m on a bike every day, and I just enjoy motorcycle racing. I rode when I was younger and turned pro back in ‘78. I rode for a year to year-and-a-half and then I quit racing, and didn’t pick up a motorcycle again for about 20 years. I just love this thing. I hope to keep doing it for a few more years and get the rest of the kid out of me!”

The AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships crown Grand National champions based on their accumulated points in all four dirt-track disciplines: short-track, TT, half-mile and mile racing. The top riders compete for the AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award, which honors the amateur racer poised for success on the pro level. Racers field traditional dirt-trackers, all-terrain vehicles and the latest DTX-machinery. DTX bikes are a fast-growing segment of dirt-track racing. They begin as showroom-fresh motocross bikes that are then fitted with dirt-track tires, suspension and other modifications.

For more information on all the disciplines sanctioned by the AMA, see AMARacing.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 AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Tommy Hayden was on track Wednesday for a two-day Dunlop tire test in advance of the 2012 racing season. (Courtesy DIS)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – As the AMA Pro Road Racing season comes to a conclusion in early September, a couple of teams made a visit to historic Daytona International Speedway on Tuesday and Wednesday for a two-day Dunlop tire test in advance of the 2012 racing season.

Among the riders in attendance included Monster Energy Graves Yamaha’s Josh Hayes and Josh Herrin, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Blake Young and Tommy Hayden and Team M4 Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas, Chris Ulrich and Dane Westby. Both the 3.51-mile road course and the 2.9-mile road course were used during the test.

“We really didn’t get to test a whole lot with the (bikes),” Hayes said. “We’re primarily here to (test) the tires. We did a few laps, made a few setting changes early on, and from that point we had limited track time and a lot of tires to run through. We came here to do our work and earn our keep. I can’t think of a better job.”

Hayes is locked in a tight championship battle as the AMA Pro Road Racing concludes its season at New Jersey Motorsports Park on Sept. 2-4.

The defending AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike champion trails Young by five points entering the final race weekend.

“New Jersey has been a good track to me,” Hayes said. “I’ve won all four SuperBike races they have ever run there. If I can go there and play it smart, maybe I can still pull this off. It’s a really close championship. Blake is leading right now. I’ve done a lot of good work this year and will try to put together one more weekend.”

The historic 71st Daytona 200 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike motorcycle classic will once again serve as the finale for 2012 Daytona 200 Week on Saturday afternoon, March 17. The Daytona 200, America’s most historic motorcycle race, is a grueling and demanding 200-mile race staged on the twists and turns of Daytona International’s Speedway’s road course. Daytona 200 Week motorcycle racing will begin on Saturday night, March 10 with the prestigious Daytona Supercross – the only AMA Supercross event in Florida in 2012.

Tickets for the Daytona 200 and Daytona Supercross are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or visiting online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter (www.twitter.com/disupdates) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway)

The Australian rider of the Repsol Honda Team leads the overall standings with an advantage of 20 points after the halfway point of the 2011 season. Read more here.

In the late 1980s WERA races at Grattan Raceway hosted a special series called the Michigan Grand Prix. This photo shows some of the top riders of that series. Phil Pummell leads on his Honda VFR750 Superbike. He’s followed by Randy Gaddey, on what I think was a Suzuki GSXR1100, Kurt Hall, on a Dave Zupan-tuned Human Race Team Yamaha FZR1000 and Marty Miller on another Suzuki (sometimes Miller raced a RG500). During this period Pummell, Gaddey and Miller were Grattan regulars. Hall was racing nationally in the WERA Pro Formula USA Series and the WERA National Endurance Series. Hall moved through the field of regulars to win the race. Later in the day, during a Formula USA round, Hall set a new motorcycle track record at Grattan turning a 1:25.32 beating Scott Russell’s previous record was 1:26.83.

Phil Pummell leads a Michigan Grand Prix race at Grattan Raceway on his Honda VFR750 Superbike. He’s followed by Randy Gaddey, on what I think was a Suzuki GSXR1100, Kurt Hall, on a Dave Zupan-tuned Human Race Team Yamaha FZR1000 and Marty Miller on another Suzuki. (Larry Lawrence photo)

The Repsol rider takes advantage of the summer break to recover physically and confront the last eight Grands Prix of the season in the best possible form. Read more here.