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.

Steve Nace Racing Promotions, which has produced premier pro and amateur motorcycle, ATV and go-kart races throughout the US since 1995, has announced the formation of the American All Star National Flattrack Series, a nationwide series showcasing the current & upcoming stars of the American-made sport of motorcycle flat track racing. Expert and Pro classes will headline this series with both classes riding Twins and Singles on the half miles. Supporting the professional racers at selected events will be three classes of amateur riders: 250 Amateur, Open Amateur and Open Vintage

The aggressive inaugural season schedule will kick off during Bike Week 2010 as the first race will be run on Feb 27 at the ½ mile of Oglethorpe Speedway in Savannah, GA, with round two scheduled for the next day at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, FL. After a one-day break, three classes of vintage motorcycles will join the series at Volusio on March 1.  Additional events will be posted as they’re announced.

Lancaster Harley Davidson will be the fuel and tire supplier for the American All Star National Flattrack Series.

Flattrack, Road Racing and Land Speed records, oh my!
by James “the Rocket” Rispoli

Most 18 year olds would be content riding and racing one discipline just for fun let alone at the pro-level in three very different and diverse ones! Not me!

Hi, my name is James Rispoli and they have been calling me “the Rocket” since I was on a Suzuki JR 50cc motorcycle and 6 years old. I’m now 18 years old and a multi-discipline racer who loves Flattrack, Road Racing and now Land-Speed record chasing. I have been fortunate to have had an opportunity to sample so many types of racing at such a young age and in 2009 finally moved up to the AMA pro ranks and challenged the best in the nation and in some cases the world in some of those disciplines.  This year was really unique for me, especially during such a turbulent financial crisis in the world and more importantly what the motorcycle business was going through.  It was tough on sponsors and even tougher on racers especially us new up and coming ones.  But I had great support of my family, friends and long time sponsors that followed me all through my amateur career and we were able to get by and do more with less than ever before.  It was pretty cool and I was blessed to have all that support to say the least.

The 2009 season was awesome as I rode the AMA GNC pro-singles Flattrack class and finished second overall in the championship.  I also sampled three AMA Supersport class races and in my debut race at road America I finished 4^th overall against 26 of the fastest 16-21 year olds in the nation.  That performance got me a one time ride on the Roadracingworld.com/M4 Suzuki at Laguna Seca, the same weekend the MotoGP was in town. This time I challenged all race for the last spot on the podium only to make a mistake and ended up 4^th again, less than one second off the box. It was awesome.  But the most awesome thing that happened was that I was given a call from a long time sponsor Charlie Benton of North Carolina.  Charlie is a master craftsman who builds super fast and meticulous motors and motorcycles.  When I was 16 years old he invited me to be a race driver on his MotoGT team driving one of his Kawasaki twins at the Daytona 300. We went out and won that race against veteran flattrackers and road racers Jay Springsteen and Jimmy Felice who won it the year before.  It was too cool.  Now, Charlie called me up because he wanted to modify one of the Kawasaki 650 twins and go after a land speed record and he wanted me to pilot the vehicle into the record books.

Read more…

On December 27, Speedway Star Edward Kennett took the top step on the podium to become the first ever winner of an indoor Shorttrack meeting at the Braintree Bonanza at Towerlands Arena. With the arena full to capacity and the fantastic field of 28 riders all lined up on parade, it was one of UK shorttrack’s finest moments so far. The heat races featured some of the toughest racing ever seen in the UK, with many tough passing maneuvers being made, riders banging elbows and bouncing off the fence. Ade Collins on the BVS Honda was looking the master of the Towerlands track with three straight wins including passing works CCM rider Tom Woolley in heat 8 on the last lap. Edward Kennett was also looking good with two wins and a 4th. The heat races were so competitive that shorttrack. The heat races proved brutally competitive, as main event regulars Pete Boast, Tim Greig, Geoff Baldock and Victor Bull were all eliminated.

Eddy Kennett opens the throttle out of Turn 4

Semi 1 was stopped after lap 1 when Paul Hurry had a massive high side in turn three.  Henry shook of the crash and was able to make the restart. Ade Collins made the hole shot followed by Glyn Pocklington. As the laps wound down, riders traded places in mid pack, but Collins was away with Pockington and Derek Brindley battling for second. It was Collins who took the win from Pocklington and Brindley, both of whom transferred to the final. Rusty Hodgson, finishing 4^th, was forced to take the last chance route to the final.

Semi 2 saw Eddy Kennett lead from start to finish for the win. It was the battle for second where the action was with Marco Belli on his first outing on the new Zaeta and Paul Cooper riding the FT Experience 450 CCM. Cooper held off Belli for four laps but the three-time UK Champ made his move and took second spot from Cooper who held on to take his transfer spot to the final.

The LCQ race was a six-lap dash with eight riders and only two places left for the final. It was Dynomax rider Rusty Hodgeson who took the win, with a fantastic ride from road racer Gary Johnson taking second place, and just missing out on the final in third was TT superstar Steve Plater.

Collins (90), Pocklington (71) and Kennett (8) battle for victory in the Grand Final

The 12-lap Grand Final had Collins on pole, with Kennett and Pocklington completing the front row. At the lights, Kennett made an electric start with Pocklington trying to pass him on the outside. Through lap 1 it was Kennett, Pocklington, Collins and Belli. On lap 3, Collins wheelied out of turn four and managed to hold it together to pass Pocklington. Meanwhile, Marco Belli was coming under pressure from Paul Cooper. By lap 7 Collins looked like he was closing the gap on Kennett, but by lap 10 Kennett had pulled away from him. Pockington was now getting some pressure from Belli and Cooper, but the England Speedway star had it all under control and took his first Shorttrack Grand final win from Collins and Pocklington.

For more information, visit www.shorttrackuk.com.

AMA Pro Racing has released a revised schedule for the 2010 Flat Track Grand National Championship season. The 2010 season will offer $850,000 in purse money, and the calendar will include 21 events. The TT, originally scheduled at the opening round on March 3 – part of Daytona 200 Week by Honda – is being replaced with a  Short Track National on Daytona’s brand-new 1/4-mile lime-rock short track.  Construction on the new 1/4-mile track is scheduled to be completed by the new year. The track, located outside NASCAR turns 1 & 2 at  Daytona International Speedway, will have seating for more than 5,000 spectators.

Construction continues on the 1/4-mile Daytona flat track

Two events back on the schedule for 2010 are a TT on July 25th at the Castle Rock Fairgrounds in Castle Rock, WA and a Half Mile on September 18th at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, IA.

Castle Rock has a long history of AMA Pro TT National Championship events dating back to 1965 with events on and off the schedule since the Mount St. Helens catastrophic volcano eruption in 1980. National champions who have won the Castle Rock TT include Mert Lawwill, Gary Scott, Dick Mann, Jay Springsteen, Chris Carr and Jake Johnson. The last TT National was held at the circuit in 2007 and was won by Sammy Halbert.

Knoxville Raceway is known as the sprint car capital of the world, which has earned the track a solid reputation as the fastest half-mile dirt track in the nation. The last AMA Pro Half Mile National Championship was held in 1996 and won by Nine-Time Grand National Champion Scott Parker.

“Since we released the first 2010 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship schedule, we’ve received even more interest to be part of our growing series,” said Mike Kidd, Director of AMA Pro Flat Track. “The addition of Castle Rock helps our mid-season west-coast swing, and including Knoxville is certainly going to enhance the series.”

2010 Confirmed Events

Upcoming motorcycle racing events, brought to you by Motourage