Motourage

After a 13-year hiatus, the AMA Pro K&N Filters Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com Series returned to Canterbury Park for the Minnesota Mile. While the track was not perfect, it was much better than the last time the “Rolling Thunder Show” visited Minnesota and it was very good to Harley-Davidson Motor Company’s #2 Kenny Coolbeth.

Pursuing his first Grand National win since Indianapolis of 2009, Coolbeth came from deep in the 18-rider field to capture the 25-lap main by slightly more than three seconds. “We really needed this, we’ve been so close,” said Coolbeth. “When I passed Jared (Mees), I signaled him to get in line so we could run down the leaders, but it didn’t work out. The next thing I knew I was passed (Matt) Weidman and closing on Jake (Johnson). I was following Jake and he started to use my line and I almost hit him, but then I was able to get by and then it was just clear sailing, just stay consistent,” said Coolbeth. “t was hard to see that outside berm and you had to be real careful not to get in too hot.”

At the start, Jake Johnson got the hole shot, and the race looked like it was going to be a two-rider battle as Johnson and Matt Weidman quickly separated themselves from the rest of the field. Weidman was all over Johnson, taking the lead several times, but unable to lead at the finish line.

Coolbeth was reeling in the lead duo and was able to wedge himself into second on lap eleven. Once into second he wasted little time taking the lead and pulling to his first win of the year.

Weidman’s next problem was Rogers Jared Mees, and Mees took third on lap 13. Weidman had Bryan Smith and Chris Carr challenging him after Mees got by.

Henry Wiles was the rider on the move as mechanical problems had knocked him out of a sure heat win and forced him to win the semi to get a third-row start in the main. Wiles was cutting through the field, working his way up from 10th to fourth by lap 22.

Weidman held on for fifth after his brilliant start. Bryan Smith and Chris Carr battled over sixth with Smith edging the seven time Grand National Champion out.

Series points leader Joe Kopp was in the lead pack early, but scraped off his brake pedal on lap two and was forced to ride the tricky race track with no brake. Kopp was leading a huge pack in the battle over eighth place until lap 20 when he broke his chain going into turn one, ending his night.

Johnny Lewis was able to take his Kawasaki to the eighth place finish ahead of Shawn Baer and Jethro Halbert.

Earlier in the night the rejuvenated Chris Carr captured the four-lap Dash for Cash. Carr only led the last few inches of the race as he drafted Jake Johnson at the line.

Johnson’s four points from the Dash moved him to within six points of Joe Kopp and the Grand National points lead.

Johnson’s strong race and then Kopp’s sudden misfortune give Johnson a ten point lead with two races to go. Mees (-19), Wiles (-26), Coolbeth (-34) and Sammy Halbert (-37) all still have a mathematical chance at the title.

Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Grand National Championship points Jeffery Carver came away with win number five on the season and now holds a 27-point lead over third place finisher and last year’s class champion Brad Baker.

Mike Avila finish second, just one second off the lead. Chaz Springsteen and Corey Crawford filled out the top five.

Canterbury Park, Shakopee, MN
RESULTS: September 11, 2010

AMA PRO MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM PRO SINGLES MAIN (12 laps; 18 riders): 1. Jeffery Carver (Yam); 2. Mike Martin (Hon); 3. Brad Baker (Hon); 4. Chaz Springsteen (Kaw); 5. Corey Crawford (Hon); 6. Conner Anderson (Hon); 7. Gerit Callies (Hon); 8. Michael Toon (Hon); 9. William Cato (Hon); 10. Jake Cunningham (Suz); 11. Wyatt Maguire (Yam); 12. Kurtis Lee (Hon); 13. Justin Minnaert (Kaw); 14. Kevin Walter (KTM); 15. Adam Bushman (Hon); 16. Scott Barrett (Hon); 17. Nicholas Mataya (Yam); 18. Mike Martin (Hon).
Time: 8:30.341

AMA PRO MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM PRO SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 15 of 17 rounds): 1. Jeffery carver (278 pts / 5 wins); 2. Brad Baker (251 / 4 wins); 3. Mike Avila (182); 4. James Rispoli (160); 5. (TIE) JD Beach (4 wins) / Mike Martin (118); 7. (TIE) Chas Springsteen / Mike LaBelle (116); 9. Michael Toon (91 / 2 wins); 10. Jake Shoemaker (90); 11. William Cato (79); 12. Gerit Callies (67); 13. Zakk Palmer (66); 14. Jeremy Hamilton (59); 15. (TIE) Corey Crawford / Shayna Texter (57); 17. Wyatt Maguire (55); 18. Tyler O’Hara (47); 19. Kurtis Lee (38); 20. Brandon Laursen (35).

GNT DASH FOR CASH (4 laps; 6 riders): 1. Chris Carr (H-D); 2. Jake Johnson (H-D); 3. Matt Weidman (H-D); 4. Jared Mees (H-D); 5. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D); 6. Rob Pearson (H-D).
Time: 2:45.440

AMA PRO K&N GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED by MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM MAIN (25 laps; 18 riders): 1. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D); 2. Jake Johnson (H-D); 3. Jared Mees (H-D); 4. Henry Wiles (H-D); 5. Matt Weidman (H-D); 6. Bryan Smith (Kaw); 7. Chris Carr (H-D); 8. Johnny Lewis (Kaw); 9. Shawn Baer (Tri); 10. Jethro Halbert (H-D); 11. Luke Gough (H-D); 12. Jeremy Higgins (KTM); 13. Nichole Cheza (H-D); 14. Mick Kirkness (Suz); 15. Dustin Crow (H-D); 16. Joe Kopp (Duc); 17. Rob Pearson (H-D); 18. Chad Cose (Suz).
Time: 16:57.197

AMA PRO K&N GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED by MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM POINT STANDINGS (After 15 of 17rounds): 1. Jake Johnson (265 pts / 2 wins); 2. Joe Kopp (255 / 3 wins); 3. Jared Mees (246); 4. Henry Wiles (239 / 5 wins); 5. Kenny Coolbeth (231 / 1 win); 6. Sammy Halbert (228 / 1 win); 7. Chris Carr (190); 8. Bryan Smith (177 / 2 wins); 9. Matt Weidman (108); 10. Johnny Lewis (103); 11. Rob Pearson (90); 12. Mick Kirkness (79); 13. Jethro Halbert (77); 14. Stevie Bonsey (69 / 1 win); 15. Luke Gough (46); 16. Brandon Robinson (42); 17. JR Schnabel (41); 18. Shaun Russell (39); 19. Willie McCoy (35); 20. PJ Jacobsen (31).

AMA PRO K&N GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED by MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM TWINS POINT STANDINGS (After 9 of 11 rounds): 1. Jake Johnson (167 pts / 1 win); 2. Kenny Coolbeth (153 / 1 win); 3. Sammy Halbert (147); 4. Jared Mees (146); 5. Joe Kopp (144 / 2 wins); 6. Chris Carr (140); 7. Bryan Smith (125 / 2 wins); 8. Henry Wiles (98 / 1 win); 9. Matt Weidman (73); 10. Rob Pearson (57); 11. Stevie Bonsey (55 / 1 win); 12. (TIE) Mick Kirkness / Luke Gough (39); 14. Johnny Lewis (35); 15. Willie McCoy (33); 16. PJ Jacobsen (31); 17. Jethro Halbert (29); 18. Brandon Robinson (24); 19. JR Schnabel (22); 20. Larry Pegram (17).

This Saturday night the AMA Pro Flat Track K&N Filters Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com heads to the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio for the 2010 edition of the Ohio National Championship.

Last year’s Lima winner Bryan Smith, who rode a Harley-Davidson to his victory at the Fairgrounds, will be switching to the Monster Energy/Werner-Springsteen Racing Kawasaki.  Smith came in second at this year’s Springfield Mile on May 30th, and is still seeking his first win of the 2010 season, currently seventh in the Expert rider point standings.

Can Joe Kopp and his Latus Motors Ducati break Harley's 15-year hold on Lima, Ohio?

2008 Ohio National Championship winner Joe Kopp, who also won aboard a Harley-Davidson last year, will be switching to the Latus Motors/ENI USA R&M/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Team Ducati.  Kopp won the Arizona Mile at Yavapai Downs earlier this year aboard the team’s Ducati and comes into Lima with 118 points, leading the Expert riders in the Grand National Championship points chase.  Jeff Carver has 118 points in Pro Singles Grand National Championship standings and leads that division.

Top riders from across the country call this race one of the most demanding, fun and exciting races on the series.  The Harley-Davidson XR750 has won 23 of 25 Nationals on the limestone half-mile dirt track, winning 15 consecutive races since 1994.

The Ohio National Championship will mark the seventh event on the 19-race 2010 calendar. Smith will headline a field of former Lima winners including Kopp (’03, ’04), Jared Mees (’05, ’07) and AMA Pro legend Chris Carr (’91, ’99, ’00, ’01). Although Kopp is the current points leader, he is being chased by winners of the last two GNC nationals, Jake Johnson and Henry Wiles, who each have two wins of their own this season.  All of these leading competitors, in addition to three-time Grand National Champion Kenny Coolbeth and Nichole Cheza, are among the top riders coming to Lima.

The series competed most recently at Gas City I-69 Speedway in Gas City, IN on June 19.  “Hammerin” Hank Wiles nipped Mees by .624 seconds at the line, with Kopp finishing third.

Fairground gates open at 3 p.m. local time on June 26. There will be a number of vendor displays on the grounds including Budweiser, Lima Ford, Lima Harley-Davidson, K&N Filters and Memphis Shades.

Timed practice is slated for 3 p.m. with a rider autograph session and open paddock area set for 5:30 p.m. Opening ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. with the official racing program kicking off at 7:30 p.m. local time.  Pro Singles and Expert Singles will battle through nine qualifying races, culminating with the Pro Singles Main, a 12-lap feature, and the Expert Singles Main, a 25-lap showdown, wrapping up the evening of racing.

It has been several years coming, but Joe Kopp gave the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Team their first AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship victory at the Budweiser Arizona Mile.

The first-time event was full of firsts. The first win for Ducati, the first BMW in a Flat Track National since 1954 and the first Kawasaki since 1975 to make a National Main.

All day long it appeared that Halbert Family/Kings Kustom’s Sammy Halbert was going to pick up where he left off in Daytona as he set fast time in qualifying, won the fastest heat and the five-point, $1,000 Dash for Cash on his Harley-Davidson.

While Kopp had been fast all day, he didn’t give Halbert too much trouble in their heat as he finished second on his Latus Harley-Davidson/ENI R&M-backed Ducati well behind Halbert.

When the National started, Kopp roared to the front as Halbert suddenly looked to be off his game, dropping to third behind Zanotti Racing’s Jake Johnson.

On lap seven Johnson’s race started to unravel as he was passed by Halbert and Lancaster Harley-Davidson/Dallas-Fort Worth Honda’s Chris Carr.

“I realized I had to pick up the pace, I was afraid Joe was going to get away,” said Halbert.

One more lap and Halbert was back in the lead and cruising. Kopp settled into second with Carr in third, but by lap thirteen Carr was under attack as Defending Grand National Twins Champion Jared Mees had his Rogers Lake Racing/Blue Springs Harley-Davidson backed Harley in contention for the last podium spot, taking third on lap fifteen.

Just as suddenly on lap seventeen Kenny Coolbeth pushed his Harley-Davidson Motor Company backed XR-750 around both Carr and Mees, dropping Mees to fifth. Mees was able to regroup, re-pass Carr and just miss making a last-lap pass for third.

While this was a good race the race for the win suddenly heated up. “It looked like Sammy was having some brake problems, but he said not,” said Kopp. “With a couple of laps to go I realized I had a shot. On the last lap I caught him down the back straight, but I thought I better wait for the front straight to pass him. I was just barely able to draft past at the finish line.”

“I let this one get away, it’s a learning experience for me I’ll not let that happen again,” said Halbert. “I should have won this.”

Earlier in the day Rod Lake/Mike Velasco/Brothers Powersport’s Brad Baker had captured the Pro Singles Main as he led the twelve lap race wire to wire.

Yamaha Corp/GTYR/Van’s Yamaha’s Jeffery Carver fought his way into second, but finished four seconds behind Baker.

The race for third was a dandy as Monster Energy/Kawasaki/Werner-Springsteen Racing’s Chaz Springsteen and Priestley Racing/Vadnais Machine’s Corey Crawford ducked it out. Fast Qualifier Crawford was able to come out on top.

RESULTS:

AMA Pro Racing GNC Twins National:
1. Joe Kopp (Duc); 2. Sammy Halbert (H-D); 3. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D); 4. Jared Mees (H-D); 5. Chris Carr (H-D); 6. Jake Johnson (H-D); 7. JR Schnabel (H-D); 8. Rob Pearson (H-D); 9. Don Taylor (H-D); 10. Luke Gough (Suz); 11. Henry Wiles (H-D); 12. Aaron King (Rot); 13. Brandon Robinson (H-D); 14. Mick Kirkness (H-D); 15. Chad Cose (Suz); 16. Nichole Cheza (H-D); 17. Bryan Smith (Kaw); 18. Matt Wait (BMW).

AMA Pro Singles Main:
1. Brad Baker (Hon); 2. Jeffery Carver (Yam); 3. Corey Crawford (Hon); 4. Chaz Springsteen (Kaw); 5. Mike Avila (Hon); 6. Jeremy Hamilton (Hon); 7. Mike LaBelle (Hon); 8. Wyatt Maguire (Yam); 9. Tony Davila (Hon); 10. Jake Cunningham (Suz); 11. Russ Wikle (Hon); 12. Harley Dunn (Hon); 13. Shayna Texter (Hon); 14. Michael Toon (Hon); 15. Mike Martin (Hon); 16. Chris Ponderous (Hon); 17. Kenny Malaguarnero (Hon); 18. Colt Chebultz (Hon).

After a seven-week hiatus, the AMA Pro Grand National Twins Championship wrapped up the 2009 season before a packed house at the LA County Fairgrounds. With the points title still up for grabs, Jared Mees unloaded his No. 21 Blue Springs Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson/Rogers Lake Racing-backed XR-750 with a 15-point lead over defending three-time Grand National Champion Kenny Coolbeth and his No. 1 Harley-Davidson Factory mount.

No. 42 Bryan Smith (Screamin’ Eagle/Moroney’s Harley-Davidson), No. 43 Sammy Halbert (Halbert Family/King’s Customs/Glassman), No. 4 Chris Carr (Chris Carr Racing/Lancaster Harley-Davidson) and No. 14 Jake Johnson (SuperTrapp/F&S Harley-Davidson/Saddlemen) all were mathematically still in the hunt.

The 5/8-mile Fairplex oval proved to be just as challenging as it was in 1996, the last time the Grand National circus came to town. Even though Mees was fast early in the day, posting the fourth quick time in qualifying, he was playing it safe in his heat and could only muster a fifth place finish in the third heat. The points leader would have to come through a semi and start from the back row in the 25-lap National.

No. 17 Henry Wiles (KK Motorcycle Supply/Mike Adkins) had wrapped up the Grand National Singles Championship in the last race at the Springfield Short Track and was looking to pull off his first Twins National victory when he got the hole shot in the 18 rider main.

Bryan Smith, No. 3 Joe Kopp (Latus Harley-Davidson/Screamin’ Eagle) and No. 80Y Stevie Bonsey (Top 1 Oil/Alpinestar) were in hot pursuit. On the fourth lap Bonsey fell in Turn 3 and collected Halbert, bringing a red flag. Halbert would make the restart, but Bonsey’s night was over.

Smith used the restart to full advantage grabbing a small lead over Wiles and a resurgent Coolbeth. No. 20 Matt Weidman (Chris Carr Racing/Matt’s Racing) and Chris Carr were working their way into the mix ahead of Mees and Johnson.

Smith looked to be on his way to repeating his Lima victory when on Lap 11 he coasted to a stop in Turn 2. The dejected Smith was forced to leave his Harley sitting in the hay bales, ending his night.
Wiles was now in charge with Coolbeth and Weidman not far behind. As Weidman made his bid for the lead the rough surface almost bit him allowing Mees to slip into the podium position on Lap 15.

While the leaders were involved with their problems, Halbert had carved his way into contention and he took over third on Lap 18. Kopp also dropped Mees a spot as he passed on Lap 21. The podium was set with Wiles holding nearly a three second lead over Coolbeth at the end of 25 laps. Halbert was another three seconds back.

The fifth place finish for Mees was enough for the 23-year-old to wrap up his first Grand National title. Mees made the move over to the Rogers Lake Racing Team this year, bringing his Blue Springs Screamin’ Eagle sponsor along and it paid off big time. “I’ve been chasing this for 19 years and a million miles,” said team owner Craig Rogers. “This is what it’s all about.”