AMA Pro Flat Track will conduct a milestone event this weekend with the AMA Pro K&N Filters Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com Hub City Classic at Hagerstown Speedway in Hagerstown, MD.  This will be the 1,100th Grand National event conducted by AMA Pro Racing.

Of the many different types of motorcycle racing disciplines sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the oldest and most traditional is the Grand National Championship.  This is a uniquely American style of motorcycle racing that competes on four types of tracks: quarter-mile, half-mile and one-mile specially prepared dirt oval tracks as well as TT events that use a track configuration with right and left turns along with a jump.

Latus Motors Ducati's Joe Kopp holds a six-point lead heading to Hagerstown

Prior to 1954, the fast and smooth Springfield Mile determined the winner of the coveted AMA Pro National Dirt Track Championship.  In 1954, the 18 points-paying race season was introduced.  The series was made up of flat track and a number of road race nationals to showcase the versatility of the machines and their riders.  As the two disciplines grew, they were eventually split into two distinctly different series.

Leading this year’s AMA Pro K&N Filters GNC Twins Championship coming into the historic Hagerstown event is Ducati rider Joe Kopp, the 2000 AMA Pro Grand National Champion followed by 2006 and 2008 Grand National Singles Champion Jake Johnson and 2009 Grand National Champion Sammy Halbert.

Due to new ownership at Beulah Park, the AMA Pro K&N Filters Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com mile motorcycle race scheduled for August 14th to be held at Beulah Park in Grove City, OH has officially been canceled.

“Beulah Park has been sold and new ownership officially took over on July 1st. Due to the timing of the acquisition and the event, I am sorry to say that we have had to cancel this year’s race,” said Michael Weiss, Executive V.P. of Beulah Park.  “My sincere apologies to all; however, I truly hope this great race can be back on next year’s schedule.”

The AMA Pro K&N Filters Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-superstore.com now moves west with Calistoga, CA the destination on July 31.

The AMA Pro Flat Track K&N Filters Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com switched from a Singles Short Track to a Twins Half Mile this past weekend, but Henry Wiles never missed a beat. Wiles just devastated the Allen County Fairgrounds Half Mile in Lima, OH, leading the 25-lap National from start to finish. The dominating performance gave Wiles 50 consecutive laps led as he pushed his # 17 KK Motorcycle Supply/Mike & Eddie Adkins backed Harley-Davidson XR750 to a six-and-a-half second win over Sammy Halbert and his # 7 Kings Kustoms/KK Motorcycle Supply backed Harley-Davidson.

“I love this place. This is my kind of track, and the fans really get into it. I can see them hanging on the fence all the way around,” said Wiles. “I just tried to get away in the National. It seemed like I was in lapped traffic real soon. It was like, this isn’t the heat race, these are the best of the best. This is really just great, now we’ve got to get it together for the groove tracks coming up.”

Wiles couldn’t have been better as he set the fast qualifying time, won the fastest heat, captures the five points and $2,000 in the dash and then dominated the National. The George Roeder Memorial Dash featured double the normal purse for the four-lap race. Wiles led the group into turn one when the green light flashed on the eighteen-rider grid. Joe Kopp, Sammy Halbert, Jake Johnson and Defending Twins Series Champion Jared Mees were bunched right behind.

Wiles quickly pulled away as Halbert also separated himself from the pack. Wiles’ and Halbert’s race looked to be settled and both were into serious lapped traffic by lap 15. Two years ago Wiles lost this race when a lapped rider opened the door for Joe Kopp to nip him at the line. No chance of that this year as Wiles sliced and diced his way through the field, lapping all the way up to eighth place. Ironically Kopp was the last rider he lapped right at the finish line.  The race was now for third as Johnson, Bryan Smith, Mees and Matt Weidman battled away.

Smith was looking to put his Kawasaki on the podium for the second straight time as he and Johnson exchanged the position all around the track, but it was the youngster from New York, Weidman, who prevailed earning his first ever Grand National podium finish. Smith finished a couple of seconds back in fourth, followed by Johnson and Mees. Dustin Crow was a solid seventh with Chris Carr, Kopp and Steve Bonsey filling out the top ten.

After winning three of the last four races Henry Wiles has moved into a points tie for the Grand National Championship with Joe Kopp at 129 points.  Jake Johnson is just eight points back with Sammy Halbert and Jared Mees another five and six points back. Three-time Grand National Champion Kenny Coolbeth is lurking 31 points off the pace, but with some strong races for him coming up.

Defending Pro Singles Champion Brad Baker was just about as dominant as Wiles in the 12-lap Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Grand National Championship Main. Baker had his #1 Honda well in front of a great race for second. James Rispoli looked to have second nailed down, but Chaz Springsteen pushed his Kawasaki into second on lap eleven with Mike LaBelle also getting by on his Honda.

Series points leader Jeffery Carver had an off night finishing seventh. Carver still holds 24 point lead over Baker with Rispoli seven points back in third.

After taking the Fourth of July weekend off, the AMA Pro K&N Filters Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com Championship moves to the I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, MI.

The heavy rains that have plagued Middle America this spring claimed another victim Saturday night. AMA Pro Racing & Gas City I69 Speedway officials were forced to pull the plug on round six of the AMA Pro K&N Filters Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-superstore.com.

After dodging several severe storms overnight, heavy rains flooded the track around 1 p.m. Once track personnel were able to asses the damage, it was clear the amount of time needed to make the track ready for race action, along with the 70% chance of more strong thunderstorms left them with little choice but to cancel for the day.

Rescheduling is still a possibility if dates can be worked out around I69’s regular schedule. The next race in the K&N Filters Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-superstore.com is the Lima, OH half mile on June 26th.

AMA Pro Racing released today a revised 2010 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship schedule, reflecting the unfortunate deletion of two events.  The two races, Lexington, KY scheduled for June 19th and Castle Rock, WA scheduled for July 25th, have been deleted from the schedule due to scheduling and contractual issues that could not be resolved and therefore prevented both of these events from proceeding.

Discussions for the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship race at The Red Mile in Lexington, KY could not resolve certain issues and unfortunately caused the cancellation of the event.

The Mt. St. Helens Motorcycle Club elected not to have their Castle Rock race compete against another event in the same marketplace also scheduled on July 25th and decided to not conduct the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National race for 2010.

AMA Pro Racing is working now to secure additional events for the 2010 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship calendar.

2010 AMA Pro Flat Track Schedule*

May 1
Yavapai Downs (Prescott, Arizona)
Mile

May 29
Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield, Illinois)
TT

May 30
Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield, Illinois)
Mile

June 5
Gas City I-69 Speedway (Gas City, Indiana)
Short Track

June 26
Allen County Fairgrounds (Lima, Ohio)
Half-Mile

July 10
I-96 Speedway (Lake Odessa, Michigan)
Half-Mile

July 31
Calistoga Fairgrounds (Calistoga, California)
Half-Mile

August 7
Hagerstown Speedway (Hagerstown, Maryland)
Half-Mile

August 14
Beulah Park (Grove City, Ohio)
Mile

August 22
Peoria Race Park (Peoria, Illinois)
TT

August 28
Indiana State Fairgrounds (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Mile

September 4
Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield, Illinois)
Short Track

September 5
Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield, Illinois)
Mile

September 11
Canterbury Park (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Mile

September 18
Knoxville Speedway (Knoxville, IA)
Half-Mile

October 9
Yavapai Downs (Prescott, Arizona)
Short Track

October 10
Yavapai Downs (Prescott, Arizona)
Mile

*Schedule subject to change

Another packed house turned out on another cold night for Round Two of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship.  The new DAYTONA Flat Track presented the riders with a whole different race track from the Series opener. Despite being much smoother and faster the slick surface proved to be a major challenge all night.

Jake Johnson is sporting a new number on a new team, but the Zanotti Racing backed veteran ended the night with his fifth Daytona National win on his number 5 Zanotti Racing / Leo Vince backed Honda. “I knew I had to get out front and stay smooth,” said Johnson. “I could hear someone back there and with about four laps left I peeked. I saw that big number two and thought, ‘Oh oh here comes Coolbeth.’ I knew I had to keep my concentration and stay on my lines.”

Johnson had obviously been fast all night, but last night’s winner Sammy Halbert had been fast qualifier on his # 7 Woody Kyle Racing / Fredericktown Yamaha / Kings Kustoms backed Yamaha, picking up the $250 Arai fast qualifier check.

Johnson’s win in the second qualifying heat would put him on the pole for the National as the other two heats were red flagged at some point, ending any chance for fast time.

In the GNC Dash Sammy Halbert showed the same speed and determination as he had with last night’s win. Halbert stayed glued to the bottom while Joe Kopp had his # 3 American Agip / Latus Harley-Davidson backed Honda riding the rim.

Kopp came up just inches short at the line as the two Washington riders charged out of turn four. Johnson was just a tick back in third.

The start of the twenty five lap National saw Johnson on the point with Sammy Halbert right on his heels. As Halbert tried to shoot under Johnson exiting turn two he hit a slick spot starting and started a slow spin right in front of the entire field. Somehow everyone missed him and with the engine still running Halbert rejoined the chase.

Johnson had been presented a gift of a little space on the field as the avoided the # 7 bike and he made the most of it. Kopp was back up at the top of the track in second with Johnny Lewis and his # 10 Scott Powersports / Pit Posse / Monster Energy backed Honda in third.

Defending GNC Singles Champion Henry Wiles was also on the high line with his Kawasaki USA / Don’s Kawasaki / Shift Racing / Jones Brothers Racing backed # 1 Kawasaki, but that high line would go away and both Kopp and Wiles would fade into the pack.

While Johnson was cruising, the large crowds attention was riveted on the # 7 as Halbert caught the back of the pack by lap night and started working his way to the front, by lap fourteen he was in tenth place and still working forward. That was where the fairytale ended however as his Yamaha gave up and Sammy’s night was over too soon.

Almost unnoticed, Jared Mees had been working his Pro Honda Oils / Montgomeryville Cycle Center / Rogers Lake Racing backed # 21 Honda into second, but that was short lived as Kenny Coolbeth was coming from even farther back on his # 2 Bettencourt’s Honda / Jason Perry backed Honda.

Coolbeth was able to come from ninth to second by lap twelve, but that is where is drive stalled. Coolbeth cut into Johnson’s lead, but never challenged.

Johnny Lewis capped off a fine couple of days on his # 10 Scott Powersports / Pit Posse / Monster Energy backed Honda with a fourth place finish. Jethro Halbert kept Halbert Family racing in the mix as he rode a steady race to fifth on his # 69 Woddy Kyle Racing / Fredericktown Yamaha / Kings Kustom backed Yamaha.

In the Pro Singles class JD Beach had been road racing at the neighboring speedway all day and missed practice, but was allowed to ride one four lap qualifying session. He was able to turn sixth fast time his # 95C Alpinestars / Arai / Oakley / Team 95 backed Honda.

In the Pro Singles Main, defending Pro Singles Champion Brad Baker got the hole shot on his # 1 Mike Velasco Racing / Brothers Power Sports / Rod Lake backed Honda, but he had a whole horde of riders right behind.

On lap four Beach wedged himself under Baker as they exited turn two and took command for the remaining twelve laps. Stephen Vanderkuur pushed the # 10J Dallas Fort Worth Honda / D&D Exhaust backed Honda to the front of a three way battle over second.

As Beach cruised, the podium appeared to be set, but a last lap shake-up saw last nights winner, Jeff Carver slip his # 24P Van`s Yamaha / Yamaha Motor Co / GYTR / Carver`s BBQ backed Yamaha into second. Baker held on for third.

RESULTS:

Grand National Championship: 1. Jake Johnson (Hon); 2. Kenny Coolbeth (Hon); 3. Jared Mees (Hon); 4. Johnny Lewis (Hon); 5. Jethro Halbert (Yam); 6. Bryan Smith (Kaw); 7. Joe Kopp (Hon); 8. Henry Wiles (Kaw); 9. JR Schnabel (Yam); 10. Don Mullen (Hon); 11. Brandan Bergen (Hon); 12. Rob Pearson (Yam); 13. Mick Kirkness (Suz); 14. Raun Wood (Hon); 15. Chris Carr (Hon); 16. Gary Conklin (Hon); 17. Sammy Halbert (Yam); DQ. Matt Weidman (Hon).

Pro Singles: 1. JD Beach (Hon); 2. Jeffery Carver (Yam); 3. Brad Baker (Hon); 4. Stephen Vanderkuur (Hon); 5. Mikey Avila (Hon); 6. James Rispoli (Hon); 7. Cory Strickler (Yam); 8. Shane Narbonne (Hon); 9. Mikey Martin (Hon); 10. Rob McClendon (KTM); 11. Mickey Fay (Hon); 12. John Long (Suz); 13. Mike LaBelle (Hon); 14. Wyatt Maguire (Yam); 15. Andrew Smith (Hon); 16. Adam Cobb (Yam); 17. William Cato (Hon); 18. Jacob Constantine (Hon).

GRAND NATIONAL POINT STANDINGS: 1. Jake Johnson (42 pts / 1 win); 2. (TIE) Henry Wiles / Joe Kopp / Johnny Lewis (34); 5. Sammy Halbert (33 / 1 win); 6. Kenny Coolbeth (32); 7. Jethro Halbert (29); 8. Jared Mees (25); 9. Bryan Smith (18); 10. Don Mullen (17).

PRO SINGLES POINT STANDINGS: 1. Jeffery Carver (42 pts / 1 win); 2. JD Beach (35 / 1 win); 3. James Rispoli (32); 4. Stephen Vanderkuur (31); 5. Brad Baker (30); 6. Mikey Avila (29); 7. Mikey Martin (19); 8. John Long (14); 9. (TIE) Cory Strickler / Mike Poe (13).

 AMA Pro Racing kicked off the 2010 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship before a standing room only crowd at the “World Center of Racing” on the brand new DAYTONA Flat Track.

The large crowd that braved the cold temperatures were treated to some very hot racing all night. Woody Kyle Racing / Fredericktown Yamaha / Kings Kustoms backed Sammy Halbert blasted around early leader Joe Kopp (American AGIP / Latus Harley-Davidson / Moto Concepts) on lap eight and pulled to over a two second lead by the end of the 25 lap National.

“I just found my line on the track and was able to get out to a good lead,” said Halbert. “I looked back late in the race and had a good lead. I yelled a few times in my helmet, I was pretty sure I had it won. It’s really special to be the first winner at this new facility.”

Kopp had gotten the hole shot and was settling into a lead over Bettencourt Honda’s Kenny Coolbeth when Halbert came knocking on Coolbeth’s door on lap three. Halbert wasted no time in his charge to the front and by lap ten he had pretty much locked the win away.

Kopp and Coolbeth then had to fend off defending Singles National Champion, Henry Wiles (Kawasaki USA / Don’s Kawasaki / Shift Racing / Jones Brothers Racing). Wiles was finally able to get by the two former Grand National Champions on lap fourteen and slide into a comfortable second.

A major war developed over the final podium spot as Kopp and Coolbeth were joined by future brothers in laws, Johnny Lewis (Scott Powersports / Pit Posse / Monster Energy) and Jake Johnson (Zanotti Racing / Leo Vince / Arai / Tucker Rocky).

Johnson came out on top of there and Woddy Kyle Racing / Fredericktown Yamaha / Kings Kustom’s Jethro Halbert made a last lap pass of Kopp for fourth.

Earlier in the night Johnny Lewis had captured the four-lap Expert Dash and the all important five bonus points that go with the $1,000 check. Kopp, Sammy Halbert, Wiles, Coolbeth and Matt Weidman (Mack Daddy Racing / Matt’s Racing) were right behind.

The sixteen lap Pro Singles National got off to a rough start when Alpinestars / Arai / Oakley / Team 95 backed JD Beach hit the ground on the first lap in turn three. Beach also gathered up defending class Champion, Brad Baker (Brothers Power Sports / Mike Velasco / Micah Racing) and several others.

The restart saw ,s James Rispoli off first but, Van`s Yamaha / Yamaha Motor Co / GYTR / Carver`s BBQ’s Jeffery Carver sliced his way into the lead on lap four and was never headed. Rispoli pressured in second while Stephen Vanderkuur grabbed the last podium position. Mikey Avila made his Pro debut a success with a fourth place finish.

Brad Baker worked his way all the way from dead last on lap one to fifth at the checkered flag, over fast qualifier Mike Poe and JD Beach.

Arai Helmets added money to the night’s program for a Pro Singles Dash and JD Beach came away with the cash.

RESULTS:

GNC SINGLES: 1. Sammy Halbert (Yam); 2. Henry Wiles (Kaw); 3. Jake Johnson (Hon); 4. Jethro Halbert (Yam); 5. Joe Kopp (Hon); 6. Johnny Lewis (Hon); 7. Kenny Coolbeth (Hon); 8. Matt Weidman (Hon); 9. Raun Wood (Hon); 10. Jared Mees (Hon); 11. Don Mullen (Hon); 12. Chris Carr (Hon); 13. JR Schnabel (Yam); 14. Bryan Smith (Kaw); 15. Brandan Bergen (Hon); 16. AJ Eslick (Hon); 17. Luke Gough (Hon).

PRO SINGLES: 1. Jeffery Carver (Yam); 2. James Rispoli (Hon); 3. Stephen Vanderkuur (Hon); 4. Mikey Avila (Hon); 5. Brad Baker (Hon); 6. Mike Poe (Kaw); 7. JD Beach (Hon); 8. Kenny Malaguarnero (Hon); 9. Gerit Callies (Hon); 10. Mikey Martin (Hon); 11. Jake Shoemaker (Suz); 12. John Long (Suz); 13. Chad Kenyon (Kaw); 14. Adam Cobb (Yam); 15. Dalton Winkler (Yam); 16. Rob McClendon (KTM); 17. William Cato (Hon); 18. Cory Strickler (Yam).

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.

Well, I guess we can’t complain. The nice racing fans (?) over at SPEED have found it in their hearts to postpone the 35th re-runs of Pinks All-Out and Pimp My Ride to bring us some coverage of the AMA Pro Road Racing Series round 1 from Daytona.  The – um – excitement kicks off on Friday, March 5 with live coverage of the Daytona 200, which – as Ralph Shaheen will tell you – is “the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world.” And, although it will be dark outside and this will be live coverage, listen for Ralph to remind you about 100 times that this race is taking place “under the lights.”

On Saturday evening, set your DVRs to record the Supercross event and Superbike race 1 and 2 (which will be on a two-day delay). Finally, the weekend winds down with AMA Flat Track action from the new 1/4 mile Daytona short Track. It’s great for flat track fans to actually be able to see a race on TV, but don’t get used to the coverage, as AMA Flat Track will only be available on MavTV for the remainder of the season.

The ongoing coverage failure by SPEED makes one wonder if they’re in cahoots with the folks over at DMG to completely kill American road racing…

Daytona Bike Week broadcast schedule (subject to change):

March 5
· Daytona Sportbike Daytona 200, 9 p.m. ET

March 6
· Daytona Supercross, 8 p.m. ET
· American Superbike Race 1, 10:30 p.m. ET
· American Superbike Race 2, 11:30 p.m. ET

March 7
· AMA Grand National Flat Track, 6 p.m. ET

[SPEED Press Release]

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (February 19, 2010) – AMA Pro Racing and Daytona International Speedway are pleased to announce the Daytona Short Track National will air in high-definition Sunday, March 7th on SPEED at 6 p.m. ET.

Back-to-back Daytona Short Track Nationals will kick off the 2010 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship at the new DAYTONA® Flat Track on March 3rd and 4th. After traditionally being staged at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium, the events now have a new home on a quarter-mile lime rock dirt track located in the West Lot outside NASCAR Turns 1 and 2.

The one hour show will feature highlights from March 3rd with coverage of the March 4th race.  The Daytona Short Track Nationals have a tradition as two of the most difficult nationals of the year just to make the main events, as over 300 entries are expected over the two days. Speed will capture the excitement and thrills of handle bar to handle bar action on the ultra fast quarter-mile track.

Henry Wiles will make his first appearance of the year carrying the No. 1 plate on his Kawasaki 450 after winning the 2009 AMA Pro Grand National Expert Singles division. Defending Pro Singles National Champion Brad Baker will make his debut on a Honda 450 carrying the No. 1 in the Pro Singles National.

“We are thrilled that our season opener on the new DAYTONA® Flat Track will be on SPEED,” AMA Pro Racing Director of Flat Track, Mike Kidd said. “This is a great opportunity for our fans, riders, teams and sponsors to showcase one of the most exciting forms of motorcycle racing in the country.”

SPEED™ is the nation’s first and foremost cable television network dedicated to motor sports and the passion for everything automotive. From racing to restoration, motorcycles to movies, SPEED delivers quality programming from the track to the garage. Now available in more than 79 million homes in North America, SPEED is among the fastest-growing sports cable networks in the country and, the home to NASCAR on SPEED and an industry leader in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services. For more information, please visit SPEEDtv.com, the online motor sports authority.

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 Racing has announced the hiring of Steve Morehead as AMA Pro Flat Track Operations Manager.

During a successful racing career, Morehead was known as the “Findlay Flyer,” and was one of the leading AMA Pro Grand National Championship racers from the mid-1970s through the 1990s. In all, Morehead won a total of 23 AMA Nationals during his 26-year professional racing career. He finished ranked in the top-10 17 times. Morehead was a fan favorite and was one of the oldest riders on the AMA Pro circuit when he retired.

At the beginning of the 2000 season, Morehead accepted a position as Professional Flat Track Operations Manager for the American Motorcycle Association.  Morehead’s expertise on and off the race track has helped bring dirt-track racing to an even higher level. During the 2009 season, Morehead worked part time as the AMA Pro Racing Flat Track referee.

“Steve’s full-time employment and his 35 years of flat track experience will be a huge asset in the continued growth and development of AMA Pro Flat Track,” said Mike Kidd, AMA Pro Racing Director of Flat Track.

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.