Rider Files

Riders take their grid position for the start of the 1957 Springfield (Ill.) Mile. Springfield is perhaps the most iconic race on the AMA Grand National calendar and when you consider the history of the race it’s easy to understand why. You can see that even 56 years ago the race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds packed them in. On the front row you can clearly see bike No. 1 Joe Leonard, who went on to win the race on his Harley-Davidson in a typical close race that came down to Leonard, Everett Brashear (No. 25) and Dick Klamfoth (No. 2). Joining Leonard, Brashear and Klamfoth on the front row are Al Gunter (No. 54) and Wayne Bias (No. 79). On the second row are Dick Mann (No. 64), Lowell Rettinger (No. 45), Tom Cates (No. 32), Jack Gholson (No. 67) and Jack Enderson (No. 50). On the third row is Bobby Hill (No. 71), Ernie Beckman (No. 55) and John Gibson (No. 5). On the fourth row is Bob Young (No. 22), John Gibson (No. 5) and a few others you can’t make out their numbers.

Riders take their grid position for the start of the 1957 Springfield (Ill.) Mile. Springfield is perhaps the most iconic race on the AMA Grand National calendar and when you consider the history of the race it’s easy to understand why. You can see that even 56 years ago the race at the Illinois State Fairgrounds packed them in.

(NEWS RELEASE)

The countdown has begun for the inaugural Stockton Half-Mile, Round 3 of the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, May 11th.

Daytona Beach, Fla…The countdown has begun for the inaugural Stockton Half-Mile, Round 3 of the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, May 11th.

Boasting a full field of AMA Pro Grand National Experts and a full field of Pro Single competitors, this all new event promises to be one of the most exciting of the season. Every rider wants to earn the distinction of being the one to take first time honors and each rider is ready to battle his or her way to the finish in hopes of landing on the podium.

Prepping the track for this event, promoter Tony Noceti has hired Circle Bell Motorsports track builder Dennis Pearson to work his magic.

“Stockton is a little different than most half-miles,” says Pearson. “It features a semi high bank and is a paper clip shape with long straights and shorter corners. Some of the riders came out to a special test session a few weeks ago, but the track they will race on this Saturday will be different. My goal is to make sure that the riders have a safe track to race on and one that will give the fans a spectacular show from start to finish.”

With just two races down, the points are incredibly close and the entire field hopes to increase their position early in the game. Leading the chase in GNC is Brandon Robinson of Oxford, Pa. With 42 points Robinson holds a 5 point lead over Hollister, California resident Mike Rush. In third is Jake Johnson, from Coatesville, Pa., with 30 points. Back two points is Henry Wiles of Winn, Mich., and holding down fifth is Brad Baker of Eatonville, Wash., with 26 points.

In the Pro Singles chase the points are even closer with Jake Constantine of Selkirk, NY holding down the lead with 34 points. In second, with 33 points is Mike Poe of Tomonium, Md. Tied for third is Kyle Johnson of Twin Lakes, Mich., and Ryan Wells of Albion, NY with 32 points each and in fifth place with 27 points is Jason Isennock of Towson, Md. And that is just a start.

Hitting speeds up to 130 mph and racing handlebar-to-handlebar, flat track racing is indeed the most exciting form of two-wheel racing in America today. There is no time to coast, no time to try and figure out strategy. It is sheer go-for-it from beginning to end.

Gates for this inaugural AMA Pro Stockton Half-Mile will open at Noon. Grandstands will open at 2:00pm and timed practice will start at 3:30pm. A rider autograph session will be held from 5:45pm to 6:45pm and Opening Ceremonies will begin at 7:00pm immediately followed by racing.

Tickets are on sale now at http://stockton99.showclix.com. Ticket prices are $45 reserved, $30 General Admission, $500 for a box for 6, including a pit pass and $600 for a box for 8 including lude a pit pass. Children 10 and under are free.

About AMA Pro Racing 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/.

About AMA Pro Racing:
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.

Johnny Lewis- AMA Pro Flat Track national number 10 is proud to announce the signing of his 2013 personal title sponsor- Keares Renewable Energy / Keares Electrical Contracting, INC / http://www.keareselectric.com/

This partnership between Johnny Lewis and Keares is a perfect fit. Keares headquarters is located 2 miles from the soon to be Latus Motors Racing Triumph/ Solid Performance race shop in Downingtown PA, allowing for an unique relationship that is already cross promoting Solar Power/ Renewable Energy, professional racing and Johnny Lewis.

A local project being developed by Keares Renewable Energy located 1 mile from Johnny’s home in Coatesville PA has opened opportunities for him to draw more awareness to his program with Triumph Motorcycles and AMA Pro Flat Track Racing within his community. The project can be viewed at www.gogreencsi.com

More information to come, give KEARES a “LIKE” on Facebook for future projects with Solar and Johnny Lewis! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Keares/48999071844?ref=ts&fref=ts

After tearing his left ACL for the second time back in February of this year, Sammy Halbert (Graham, Wash.) was forced to miss the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles opening round action at the DAYTONA Flat Track in March. However, Halbert insists that he has fully recovered and will be all set for racing come May 11, 2013 when the series heads out west for the Stockton Half-Mile located at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds. Read more.

With the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Championship season in the foreground, Dan worked feverishly to hook-up with a team that was capable of fielding a rider of his aged, yet still young-at-heart-and-abilities talent in order to compete in all 11 of the Twins Series events for the year. And in the newly renamed Brush/Eaken Racing team, Ingram found the team that could help him, again, return to the track and the sport he truly loved. Read more.

(NEWS RELEASE)

AMA Pro Racing is pleased to announce that the AMA Pro Live streaming video system will be broadcasting at all AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles events in 2013. (Photo by Dave Hoenig/AMA Pro Racing)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 8, 2013) – AMA Pro Racing is pleased to announce that the AMA Pro Live streaming video system will be broadcasting at all AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles events in 2013. AMA Pro Live is a multi-channel streaming video system that puts the fan in the director’s chair, allowing them to select from a variety of cameras located around the racetrack while monitoring live timing and scoring data and social media feeds. The online system can be accessed through a web browser from any computer, tablet or mobile device by navigating to http://www.amaprolive.com.

“This is an exciting step for our sport,” said Michael Gentry, Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing. “The ability to live stream our events will help us reach a crucial demographic and provide coverage of the sport globally. Our staff has worked long and hard on this system and we are proud to be able to provide live streaming for the fans this season.”

Initially, AMA Pro Live’s implementation at AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles events will consist of two video channels alongside live timing and scoring and social media feeds, providing complete coverage from the first practice until the final checkered flag. The first channel will feature a camera mounted in the P.A. booth overlooking all of the action, and will include an audio feed of Scottie Deubler and Barry Boone providing play-by-play analysis of the racing. The second camera will be located trackside near the start-finish line, giving fans a close-up view of the day’s racing activity and allowing them to hear the thunder of the motorcycles as they roar around the track. Additional channels are planned for future events, including a roaming camera in the pits and on-board cameras mounted on the motorcycles.

AMA Pro Live will be live streaming content from all rounds on the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles schedule. For those that can’t make it to the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, Calif. for this weekend’s Stockton Half-Mile, this link – http://www.amaprolive.com – will grant them direct access to AMA Pro Live and allow them to follow along as the event unfolds. Live streaming of practice and qualifying is set to begin Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 3:30 p.m. EST (12:30 p.m. PST), with opening ceremonies for the main event set to begin at 10:00 p.m. EST (7:00 p.m. PST).

It’s just a matter of days until the stars of AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles roll out their twin-cylinder machines for the first time this season. For tickets and more information on the Stockton Half-Mile, please visit http://www.showclix.com/events/17007.

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/.

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.

The AMA Pro Grand National Series fires back up this Saturday in Stockton, Calif. This is the opening round for the Twins. Brandon Robinson finds himself leading the series for the first time. Read about it here.

Brandon Robinson leads the AMA Pro Grand National Series coming into the Stockton Half-Mile this Saturday. (Larry Lawrence photo)

(NEWS RELEASE)

Circle Bell Motorsports is pleased to announce that they have once again signed an agreement with the Red Lion Hotel Woodlake Conference Center (formerly the Woodlake) to serve as Race Headquarters for the upcoming AMA Pro Sacramento Mile, July 27th at the Cal Expo Fairgrounds.

Conveniently located at 500 Leisure Lane, just minutes from Cal Expo, the State Capitol and Old Sacramento, the Red Lion Hotel Woodlake Conference Center is offering riders and fans who make their reservations before 5pm on July 11th a special room rate of $74 for a double room, $89 for a triple room and $99 for a Quad. Pets are welcome for a fee of $15 per stay.

Featuring 306 first class guest rooms and spacious free parking, the Red Lion Hotel amenities include free High-Speed Internet access, 37” HD Flat screen televisions, cable TV with Pay-Per View movies, in-room coffee makers and a complimentary breakfast.

“We are really pleased to be able to secure our Sacramento Mile riders and fans this special rate,” says Bob Bellino, president of Circle Bell Motorsports. “The Red Lion Hotel Woodlake Conference Center is an outstanding property and it is a pleasure to be able to work with them again this year.”

In addition to their comfortable rooms and outstanding service, the Red Lion Hotel’s Lakeside Bar and Grill offers excellent Mediterranean and California Fresh cuisine and a full bar for your pleasure. In the evening be sure and check out their unique “lakefront” nightspot, Crocodiles, with the latest in high-tech visual and sound equipment. Or join the crowd and enjoy the warm summer evenings while enjoying your favorite drink on the new Palm Terrace just adjacent to Crocodiles.

Make your reservations today by calling 916-922-2020, through their toll free number at 1-800-RED LION (1-800-733-5466) or by going to www.redlion.com and be sure and mention AMA The Sacramento Mile to get the special race rate.

Billy Huber gets a congratulatory handshake from 1930s racing star Joe Petrali after Huber won the 1950 Langhorne (Pa.) 100 Mile National Championship race. Also on hand for the trophy presentation were famed hillclimb champion Orie Steele (center) and Jim Davis (right), the star Class A racer of the 1910s and ‘20s. Langhorne was one of the premier national races of that era and was known as the toughest race of the year.

To read more about Huber click here.

Here is the very definition of bar-to-bar racing action. This is Jimmy Wood on his No. 37 Kawasaki running side by side with Raun Wood on the No. 88 Baer Racing/Scott Powersports Kawasaki during timed qualifying at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Michigan in July of 2011.

Jimmy Wood on his No. 37 Kawasaki and Raun Wood on the No. 88 Baer Racing/Scott Powersports Kawasaki race bar to bar (literally) around turn one at I-96 Speedway during qualifying for the AMA Grand National in July of 2011. (Larry Lawrence photo)