Big Blue Goes PINK For Breast Cancer Research As Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha “Gears” Up For NOLA

Cypress, CA October 3, 2012 In support of breast cancer research, Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha has teamed up with its sprocket supplier, Vortex Racing, for the Vortex PINK Campaign that runs through the end of October.

The Yamaha YZF-R1 SuperBikes ridden by three-time AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Champion Josh Hayes and his teammate Josh Herrin will be running special pink-anodized Vortex CAT 5 Sprockets at the final round of the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing season, which is next weekend at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, LA.

All this month, Vortex is donating 25% of the net proceeds of all sales of its special, limited-edition Pink Cat 5 rear sprockets to the American Cancer Society and breast cancer research. The announcement was made by Matt Griffin, president of Vortex. According to Matt, “Breast cancer has affected so many women and their families, and we wanted to do our part to help raise awareness, as well as contributing financially to helping fight the disease. We’re thrilled to be able to team up with the Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha team on this charitable cause.”

Josh Hayes is especially motivated to race with the pink Vortex sprocket on his #1 R1, since breast cancer is a disease that has hit so close to home for him. “My long-time manager Gina Nadeau has been battling breast cancer for the past few years,” he said, “so, anything we can do to support more research for beating that terrible disease is awesome. ‘Boss’ has helped me throughout my career, and if I can help her and other cancer victims by running a pink Vortex sprocket on my R1, I’m very excited and proud to do so.”

Look for the pink Vortex sprockets on the #1 and #2 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha R1s during the weekend of October 5th through 7th at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, LA.

For news, results, and other team info, be sure to check out Yamaha’s Facebook page.

More, from a press release issued by MOB Racing:

Eric Haugo returns to close out the season with MOB Racing at NOLA Motorsports Park this coming weekend, after posting a very respectable 10th place in his first-ever outing in the Vance & Hines XR1200 series at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

This brings MOB Racing to three riders entered in the most competitive class of the year. #46 Shane Narbonne, #59 Jake Holden and #19 Eric Haugo look to end the year on a high note as both the team and the AMA visit NOLA for the first time!

“Eric was great to work with at Homestead especially under the crazy weather conditions everyone had to deal with. Jake and Shane have some unfinished business after the unfortunate mechanical’s suffered last round”¦rest assured those bikes will be ready to do battle this week! I feel this will be the race of the year to watch, so much is on the line for so many riders and teams, we can’t wait! I gotta say I’m pullin for the ‘old timer’ Mike Barnes in the Chase, but you know Tyler O’Hara is gonna throw down for sure!” says team co-owner Dennis Espinosa.

MOB Racing is sponsored by: Newsholme Financial Center, Teterboro RAMS LLC, Designstar3.com, Motion-Pro, Saddlemen, Get-in-Gear, Markbilt, Trebour Motorcycles, Penske, K Tech, TPM, Orient Express, KK, Vanted Solutions, Precision Heavy Equipment, Woodcraft and Armour Bodies.

More, from a press release issued by Geiger Media on behalf of KLR Group:

AMA points leader Barnes ready to close the deal for KLR Group

NEW ORLEANS (Oct. 3) — The most dramatic race of this weekend’s season-ending Triumph Big Kahuna New Orleans is sure to be the championship battle between KLR Group rider and current points leader Michael Barnes and friendly rival Tyler O’Hara.

With the 2012 titles already decided in Superbike and SportsBike, all eyes will be on Barnes and O’Hara, who are currently separated by just two points in the XR Showdown standings. The two have combined to win more than half of this year’s 11 races, with O’Hara taking four trophies and Barnes two, but Barnes seemingly has the momentum as he passed O’Hara on the last lap to win two weeks ago in Miami.

“The points are so close and we know everyone will be looking to do whatever they have to do to get the race win and of course wrap up the championship,” Barnes said. “The race in Miami was crazy with so many lead changes and shifts in momentum. It was one of the most exciting events I’ve ever been a part of. I don’t expect anything different this weekend. It will probably go down to the last turn on the last lap. That’s how this class has been all year. It’s awesome.”

Barring something extraordinary happening, the title will most likely be claimed by one of three riders — Barnes, O’Hara or Benjamin Carlson, who is eight points back in third. The wildcard in the equation could be NOLA Motorsports Park itself, the 2.75-mile, 16-turn circuit just south of downtown New Orleans that is hosting its first GEICO Motorcycle AMA Road Racing event. Aside from a quick test earlier this year, most riders have very little time on the track.

Barnes says his lack of familiarity with NOLA doesn’t matter, and just as he has since the start of the five-race XR Showdown, he refuses to put any extra pressure on himself.

“We finished on the box (podium) at every race of the regular season and then we get to Indy for the start of Showdown and I get a fourth and a fifth,” Barnes said. “Looking at the points back then, I just said to myself that there was no more pressure. I just needed to go out and ride, have fun and try to win every race. Well since then I’ve got a win and a runner-up, so why should I change my mindset now?

“I’m still not thinking about the championship. My focus is on turning fast laps and see where the chips fall. I’m having so much fun right now with this KLR Group/Spyke’s Harley-Davidson team. It’s becoming a second family and I just can’t thank (team owner/rider) Kyle Wyman enough for setting me up with this ride. We’re going to miss Kyle on the track this weekend but we’ll do everything we can to put him on the box Sunday afternoon.”

Wyman, who has four victories this year and led the points as recently as Indy, suffered two concussions in the last two races and will not race this weekend.

More, from a press release issued by Geiger Media on behalf of GEICO:

New champ Cardenas will hold nothing back at season finale

NEW ORLEANS (Oct. 3) — Clinching the 2012 AMA GoPro Daytona SportBike title with room to spare has given two-time class champion Martin Cardenas plenty of reasons to look forward to this weekend’s season-ending Triumph Big Kahuna New Orleans at NOLA Motorsports Park.

“I can come to NOLA and just ride my GEICO Suzuki without any pressure,” said the 29-year-old Colombian rider, who donned the ’12 crown two weeks ago in Miami. “It will be just like riding when you are young and all you think about is trying to get on the podium. There are no expectations. We can just have some fun with the team and celebrate what we’ve accomplished this year.”

Cardenas and his Frank Aragaki-led crew will be looking to add to their stellar 2012 resume that already features seven victories, four runner-up results and one third-place finish in 17 races. The group has helped Cardenas start from the pole position seven times and lead the most laps in a race on nine occasions.

“The team has been exceptional,” said Cardenas, who also won the 2010 Daytona SportBike championship. “From John and Chris Ulrich, to Frank and the crew, Aaron Henry, Nathan Raptis, Rick Kress, Tim Anderson, Scott Crawford and James Siddall, everyone has contributed to this championship.”

NOLA Motorsports Park, a 2.75-mile, 16-turn track south of downtown New Orleans, is hosting its first GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing event, although riders got a chance to test at the facility in late June.

“It’s a very nice racetrack, lots of turns and areas for passing,” Cardenas said. “We ran pretty well there in the test but of course it will be different this time as the weather will be a bit cooler maybe and the track will have a few more months of seasoning.

“There are two races left and they both happen this weekend so we’re going to do all we can to win. As I said, we have no pressure, no need to protect our position or anything like that, so we can be aggressive and ride to win.”

Racing starts with a practice session at noon, Friday, followed by the first qualifying session at 3 p.m. Qualifying resumes with a second and final session at 8:50 a.m., Saturday, which will set the field for both races. Race 1 takes place at 2 p.m., Saturday, with Race 2 slated for 2:15 p.m., Sunday. SPEED TV will carry all the action.

More, from a press release issued by HSBK Racing:

Travis Ohge To Ride HSBK Racing Entry On Ducati 848 in AMA Pro SuperSport Event at NOLA Motorsport Park

(Houston, TX) HSBK Racing is proud to announce that rider Travis Ohge will pilot the Houston Superbikes prepped Ducati 848 in the SuperSport Class. He will race the final AMA Pro RoadRacing round at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, Louisiana October 6-7. Currently, Ohge is 8th in the West point’s standing.

“We have had a great season with Derek Wagnon and are pleased to add Travis to our roster. Having such talented young riders is a privilege that we couldn’t have imagined for our first year,” commented Team Proprietor, Bobby Shek.

This season at Miller Motorsports Park, Travis Ohge rode on a mildly modified 848EVO and had the fastest time in the rain qualifying session. He finished last year 4th in the point standings in AMA Pro SuperSport West. He had a season best finish of 3rd at both Infineon and Miller. In 2010, Ohge finished his rookie season eighth in the point standings with five top 10 finishes.

Travis commented, “I’m really grateful the HSBK Racing team has given me the opportunity to complete the season with them. The support they showed at Miller and the dedication to getting me comfortable on the HSBK848 for this race has been incredible.”

Houston Superbikes

Established in 2005, Houston Superbikes (HSBK) caters to motorcycle enthusiasts with its diverse line of high performance bikes, parts and apparel. HSBK is proud to offer their own line of carbon fiber and billet accessories for racing and street applications. Offering dyno tuning, engine building services and suspension setup, HSBK is an industry leader in building Ducati and Aprilia race machines. For more information regarding HSBK, or to find out what HSBK can do for you, please visit www.houstonsuperbikes.com.

HSBK Racing

Founded in 2011, HSBK Racing is a division of Houston Superbikes showcasing its race parts and experienced technicians. Known for its bold and distinguishable red and black livery, HSBK Racing prides itself on showcasing up-and-coming riders from the U.S. and abroad.

More, from a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing to Wrap Up 2012 Season at NOLA Motorsports Park with the Triumph Big Kahuna New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, La. (October 3, 2012) – The 2012 GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing season concludes this weekend in New Orleans with the Triumph Big Kahuna New Orleans presented by Dunlop Tire and LeoVince. The series will conclude the season at a new track that the riders gave positive reviews after a test at the facility this summer. The finale, October 5-7, promises to be a thrilling conclusion to a hard fought season, one in which two champions have already been crowned but two more remain up for grabs.

This event, the third in the M1 PowerSports Triumph Big Kahuna Triple Crown, will have plenty of fun features for fans besides the racing. The weekend shifts into high gear on Thursday with the inaugural M1 PowerSports SuperKart Challenge, a team kart racing challenge that pits media, fans, military members and AMA Pro riders against one another in a winner-take-all battle at the country’s newest Motorsports facility. Immediately following the SuperKart Challenge from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., fans are invited to join GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing teams and athletes at Mardi Gras World’s beautiful downtown showroom for a Bike Night Kickoff Party.

The 2.75-mile, 16-turn NOLA Motorsports Park track will see AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike, AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike and AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport featured in the standard doubleheader format, with races for each class going off on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, while the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series riders will take on the track in a winner-take-all final on Sunday afternoon.

SPEED will air the National Guard SuperBike and GoPro Daytona SportBike races in a set of back-to-back broadcasts. Saturday’s race finals will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT on Sunday, October 7 and Sunday’s races will be broadcast beginning at 12:00 midnight ET/9:00 p.m. PT late Sunday night. SPEED2 will stream the Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport and Vance & Hines XR1200 Series races live, fans can watch by logging onto http://www.speed2.com. SPEED2 is a broadband service available to customers of Time Warner, Bright House Networks, Cablevision, DISH and Cox. For more information and instructions on gaining access to all of this season’s AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport and AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series races, please review the SPEED2 FAQ located at http://www.speed2.com/faq.

AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike

Josh Hayes (No. 1 Monster Energy Graves Yamaha R1) wrapped up the championship in Miami, so the third-time Champ returns to his home region as a conquering hero. Hayes, from Gulfport, Miss., has dominated the 2012 AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike season but saw his consecutive race win streak broken in Race 1 at Homestead-Miami Speedway last month. He responded by winning his 14th race of the year on Sunday. It has been a record-breaking season for Hayes, who has now claimed 30 National Guard SuperBike wins since 2009.

With the championship decided, Hayes can go for broke in New Orleans without concerns for managing a points lead. Yamaha’s leading man was also fastest at the NOLA test, laying down a time of 1:39.282.

Blake Young (No. 79 Yoshimua Suzuki GSX-R1000) has won three races this year and finished on the podium numerous times and has nearly 100 points on the third place man in the championship, but the Wisconsin native is disappointed not to have beaten Hayes more this season after winning more races than his rival in 2011. Young will have two more chances to top Hayes this year in New Orleans and will no doubt be pushing very hard; he was second quickest at the NOLA test.

Josh Herrin’s races in New Orleans are in doubt after the young rider injured himself in a training accident over the weekend. Herrin (No. 2 Monster Energy Graves Yamaha R1) hurt his shoulder and could miss the races, although there is no doubt he will want to ride to secure third place points for the year in his rookie SuperBike season.

Roger Hayden (No. 54 National Guard Suzuki GSXR-1000) won in Miami for National Guard Jordan Suzuki, marking a significant triumph for a rider who has been trying for years to break onto the SuperBike winner’s list. Hayden’s Saturday win was the first for the Michael Jordan Motorsports team in 2012. The former AMA Pro champ will no doubt be looking to capitalize on his momentum in Louisiana. The Kentuckian joined Hayes and Young as the only riders able to break the 1:40 barrier at the test here earlier this year.

One rider looking to put the bookend on a solid season is Team Amsoil/Hero’s Geoff May. Riding the trick American-made EBR, May (No.99 Amsoil/Hero EBR 1190RS) is fifth in points and led in tough conditions in Miami. The Georgia-native earned a podium finish in Sonoma and will no doubt be looking to repeat that feat in New Orleans. A new father, May has confirmed that he will return to the EBR squad next season.

It has been a season of ups and downs for Ben Bostrom. Bostrom (No. 23 Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000) has ridden hard this year, but the results haven’t always gone his way. He’s earned the podium at each of the last two events, however, and the former series champ has shown signs of breaking through.

Foremost Insurance/Pegram Racing’s Larry Pegram is just two points behind Bostrom in the standings. Pegram will no doubt be trying to take the spot from his longtime rival in New Orleans. Pegram (No. 72 Foremost Insurance/Pegram Racing BMW S1000RR) is the top BMW-mounted rider in the series and has scored points in every contest this year.

Danny Eslick scored second place in the Saturday race at Homestead, providing EBR 1190RS’s best finish yet in AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike. The EBR team has three podiums this season, with the Oklahoman — and two-time AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike champ — Eslick (No. 69 Team Hero EBR1190RS) earning two of them on the American-made SuperBike.

Another rider with momentum is Steve Rapp of the Attack Performance team. Rapp charged through the field in Sunday’s difficult conditions at Homestead-Miami Speedway to earn second place. It was a high point in a season that has seen Rapp (No.15 Attack Performance Kawasaki ZX10) race in AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike as well as compete as a wild card in the American MotoGP rounds on a machine built by Attack Performance.

Chris Clark has put in a solid season in his first year with his team. Clark (No. 6 Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000) has seen his lap times improve as the young rider continues to learn the ropes on the large bore machines. He was ill at the last two races, missing both Homestead finals due to a lung infection he developed while battling bronchitis in New Jersey. Clark hopes to compete in Louisiana.

The Triumph Big Kahuna New Orleans presented by Dunlop Tire and LeoVince will take place this weekend, October 5-7, 2012. The AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike class will take to the track for their first practice session on Friday, October 5 at 11:00 a.m. and will be featured in a set of 18-lap sprint races on Saturday, October 6 at 3:15 p.m. and Sunday, October 6 at 3:30 p.m. local time. GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing’s National Guard SuperBike and GoPro Daytona SportBike divisions will be featured on SPEED in a set of back-to-back broadcasts, scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT on Sunday, October 7 and 12:00 midnight ET/9:00 p.m. PT late Sunday night.

AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Point Standings (After Round 10): 1. Josh Hayes (Gulfport, MS) – 517; 2. Blake Young (Waunakee, WI) – 401; 3. Josh Herrin (Glendale, CA) – 307; 4. Roger Hayden (Owensboro, KY) – 293; 5. Geoff May (Gainesville, GA) – 259; 6. Ben Bostrom (Malibu, CA) – 240; 7. Larry Pegram (Hebron, OH) – 238; 8. Danny Eslick (Broken Arrow, OK) – 212; 9. Steve Rapp (Hawthorne, CA) – 191 10. Chris Clark (Las Vegas, NV) – 167.

AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike

Martin Cardenas (No. 36 GEICO Suzuki GSX-R600) secured his second-career AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike crown last time out at Homestead-Miami Speedway. As a result — while there is still some championship jockeying to be done through the top ten — the New Orleans season finale is primarily about pride.

Colombian Cardenas worked up a mammoth lead early in the season on the strength of six victories in the year’s opening eight races. However, he’s only won a single race since as he carefully managed his championship lead. While thrilled to have accomplished his goal for 2012, Cardenas has expressed some degree of frustration at now being able to let loose and push for victory in his typical, trademark fashion. With the title already taken care of, look for Cardenas to race at the maximum in pursuit of the checkered flags this weekend.

Dane Westby (No. 5 M4 Suzuki GSX-R600), meanwhile, may be looking over his shoulder just a bit. Currently ranked second in the points and aiming to secure a final runner-up ranking in the season’s tally, Cameron Beaubier (No. 6 Y.E.S. Graves Yamaha YZF-R6) has been coming on fast. Westby has a fairly comfortable 22-point advantage for the position heading into NOLA Motorsports Park, but Beaubier’s stunning form over the season’s second half makes that padding feel somewhat less comfortable than it otherwise might. The youngster has been the revelation of 2012, powering to six victories in the last nine races. If Beaubier manages to double again this weekend, he’ll steal the honor of claiming the most wins in the class this season away from Cardenas.

While Beaubier’s championship challenge effectively ended early in the season when he was forced to sit on the sidelines following an off-track injury, his teammate, Tommy Hayden (No. 8 Y.E.S. Graves Yamaha YZF-R6), has been on the shelf more recently. The decorated ace is still on the mend after suffering a concussion and injuring his shoulder in a dramatic early-race crash at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

Jason DiSalvo (No. 40 Latus Motors Racing Triumph Daytona 675) would like to end an uneven season on a high note. After making a stirring charge to the podium in the season opener at Daytona and scoring a head-turning win in Sonoma, DiSalvo would like to go into the offseason by serving the paddock a reminder of the vast potential of both himself and his 675cc triple.

Outside of the usual suspects of Cardenas, Westby, and Beaubier, the most impressive GoPro Daytona SportBike rider over the campaign’s season half might just be Bobby Fong (No. 50 Meen Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R6). After a year away from the sport, Fong is now back up to speed, harassing the established frontrunners on a regular basis while notching up three podium finishes in the most recent six races.

JD Beach (No. 95 RoadRace Factory/Red Bull Yamaha YZF-R6) and Jake Zemke (No. 98 Ducshop Ducati 848) may be on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of career GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing experience, but they find themselves in virtually identical positions this weekend. Ranked seventh and eighth, respectively, and separated by just two points, both riders have a realistic shot of fighting their way into the 2012 class top-five with a particularly strong weekend in New Orleans.

Rounding out the top ten heading into the season finale are Joey Pascarella (No. 52 Riders Discount Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R600) and Cory West (No. 57 Riders Discount Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R600). Pascarella will look to bookend his 2012 season with another highlight to pair with his incredible DAYTONA 200® victory, while West will look to regain the form he regularly demonstrated in 2011 in order to build momentum with an eye on 2013.

The AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike riders will take to the track for their first practice session on Friday, October 5 at 12:00 p.m. and will be featured in a set of 18-lap sprint races on Saturday, October 6 at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 7 at 2:15 p.m. local time. GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing’s National Guard SuperBike and GoPro Daytona SportBike divisions will be featured on SPEED in a set of back-to-back broadcasts, scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT on Sunday, October 7 and 12:00 midnight ET/9:00 p.m. PT late Sunday night.

AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Point Standings (After Round 10): 1. Martin Cardenas (Medellin, Colombia) – 415; 2. Dane Westby (Tulsa, OK) – 339; 3. Cameron Beaubier (Roseville, CA) – 317; 4. Tommy Hayden (Owensboro, KY) – 250; 5. Jason DiSalvo (Batavia, NY) – 225; 6. Bobby Fong (Stockton, CA) – 222; 7. JD Beach (Philpot, KY) – 215; 8. Jake Zemke (Paso Robles, CA) – 213; 9. Joey Pascarella (Vacaville, CA) – 189; 10. Cory West (Eureka Springs, AR) – 181.

AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport

The AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport races in New Orleans will determine three different tiles – the Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport West and East division winners, and the overall Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport Champion, will be crowned here this weekend. The races are a combined event, meaning riders in both divisions will score points. The National Champ will be the divisional rider with the highest point total at the end of the weekend.

James Rispoli (No. 1 Orient Express/Celtic Racing Suzuki GSX-R600) is knocking on the door of his second overall crown. Rispoli leads by 60 over Hayden Gillim (No. 69 RoadRace Factory/Red Bull Yamaha YZF-R6) and needs just three points to clinch the West crown. The New Yorker will likely clinch on Saturday, as he has a 50-point lead over closest East division rival Dustin Dominguez (No. 68 Latus Motors Racing Triumph 675R).

Third place Elena Myers (No. 21 Suzuki SportBikeTrackGear.com), Ryan Matter (No. 121 Gearzy Yamaha YZF-R6) and Tyler Linders (No. 48 Rotobox Yamaha YZF-R6) are all inside the top five in West points headed into the finale.

Things are much more certain in the East. Dominguez leads Jake Lewis (No. 85 Riders Discount Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R600) by eight points with the two races in New Orleans to go. Lewis led the way early, but Dominguez found more speed and consistency as the summer heated up. The East title would be a big accomplishment for either up-and-coming racer.

Stefano Mesa (No. 37 Kneedraggers.com Yamaha YZF-R6) has scored victory once this season and is third in points. He’s coming off a strong charge in Miami – second place on Saturday without the luxury of a face shield for several laps. Tomas Puerta (No. 12 RoadRace Factory/Red Bull Yamaha YZF-R6) earned the podium both times out in Miami. Corey Alexander (No. 5 National Guard Fairhills Group Celtic Racing GSX-R600) will miss the race after a training injury.

Saturday’s 15-lap final for the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport division will be the first race of the weekend, set to go green at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 6, followed by Race 2 on Sunday, October 7 at 1:15 p.m. Both races will be streamed live on SPEED2, for more information, please visit ~http://www.speed2.com/~.

AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport East Division Point Standings: 1. Dustin Dominguez (Newalla, OK) – 229; 2. Jake Lewis (Princeton, KY) – 221; 3. Stefano Mesa (Boca Raton, FL) – 212; 4. Tomas Puerta (Medellin, Colombia) – 192; 5. Corey Alexander (Carmel, NY) – 161.

AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport West Division Point Standings: 1. James Rispoli (Attica, NY) – 279; 2. Hayden Gillim (Owensboro, KY) – 219; 3. Elena Myers (Discovery Bay, CA) – 169; 4. Ryan Matter (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) – 104; 5. Tyler Linders (Mission Viejo, CA) – 93.

AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series

The AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series championship comes down to one final shootout, and if the season-long lead-up to this weekend has provided any indication, the title will likely still be in question as a group of riders battle out of the final corner and make their last lunge to the checkered flag in 2012.

Just two points separate the top two in the XR Showdown with third only another six points back.

Michael Barnes (No. 34 KLR Group/Spyke’s Harley-Davidson) made his move at his home race last time out, scoring a dramatic, last-lap victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The clutch win allowed ‘Barney’ to leapfrog from fourth in the standings to first with just the finale to be waged.

Tyler O’Hara (No. 29 Bartel’s Harley-Davidson) is a close second. In fact, the title race between the two is so close the difference might as well be considered nonexistent; if either man wins this weekend’s finale, he will be named the champion no matter where the other finishes or how the bonus points shake down.

Benjamin Carlson (No. 45 Suburban Harley-Davidson) has made a big push for the title since the opening of the XR Showdown at Indianapolis and is still in with a real shot heading into New Orleans. Eight points out of first, the former AMA Supermoto national champion need just a bit of help to secure the title. But in this unpredictable class, it wouldn’t take too much of an upset for Carlson to sneak in and steal the crown away from Barnes and O’Hara.

Michael Corbino (No. 15 Rossiter’s Harley-Davidson of Sarasota) is the final competitor who still has a mathematical possibility of walking away with the XR Showdown triumph although the odds are stacked heavily against him. The weekend may be more about consolidating fourth place for Corbino with Travis Wyman (No. 24 Harv’s Harley-Davidson) breathing down his neck, only two points back.

Wyman raced to his first podium of the year at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the absence of his brother, Kyle Wyman (No. 33 KLR Group/Spyke’s Harley-Davidson). Kyle was one of the class’ stars all year long, matching O’Hara for most wins to date at four and leading the XR Showdown at one point before a pair of concussions put an early end to his promising campaign.

The AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series riders take to the track for their 9-lap season finale on Sunday, October 7 at 12:30 p.m. local time. The race will be streamed live on SPEED2, for more information, please visit ~http://www.speed2.com/~.

AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series Point Standings (After Round 9): 1. Michael Barnes (Boca Raton, FL) – 1090; 2. Tyler OHara (Petaluma, CA) – 1088; 3. Benjamin Carlson (West Bend, WI) – 1082; 4. Michael Corbino (Sarasota, FL) – 1064; 5. Kyle Wyman (Macedon, NY) – 1062; 6. Travis Wyman (Macedon, NY) – 1062; 7. David Estok (Daytona Beach, FL) – 1049; 8. Josh Chisum (Bakersfield, CA) – 1042; 9. Gerry Signorelli (Colorado Springs, CO) – 1018; 10. Darren James (Deep Cove, Canada) – 1000.

AMA Pro Live Streaming Video Experience, Live Timing & Scoring and Social Media Channels AMA Pro Live, the online streaming video experience launched earlier this season, will be broadcasting views from around the track this weekend. Tune in at ~http://www.amaprolive.com~.

GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Live Timing & Scoring presented by Cortech offers fans real-time access to results from on-track sessions at ~http://live.amaproracing.com/rr/~. Between the races, stay connected with GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing at www.twitter.com/AMAProSBK and www.facebook.com/AMAProRoadRacing.

Event Features

In addition to the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing action, there will be family-friendly entertainment located in every turn. Event promoter M1 PowerSports will be bringing motorcycle stunt rider Jason Britton, a variety of New Orleans culinary concoctions, a 4×4 Monster Ride Truck, the always-popular Big Kahuna Bikini Girls, a kid’s corral full of fun for the Little Kahunas and dozens of vendors. Motorcycle parking is free and tickets start at just $20 for Friday admission. Tickets for this fall’s Big Kahuna Miami, scheduled for September 21 – 23, 2012 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, can be purchased at ~http://www.m1powersports.com/big-kahuna-miami/~.

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.

More, from a press release issued by Arai Americas:

ARAI HELMETS DOMINATE AMA PRO ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS AGAIN – AND THE SEASON’S NOT OVER

Arai claims four of the top five positions in both Superbike and Daytona SportBike and eight of the top ten in XR1200

(Allentown, PA) There’s dominance, and then there’s dominance. Once again, Arai helmets have dominated the AMA Pro Road Racing championship-and it’s not over yet, with one round remaining this weekend in New Orleans.

At the Homestead round, Arai’s Josh Hayes and his Monster Energy Graves Yamaha R1 clinched his third straight AMA National Guard Superbike championship in a row. (Congratulations, Josh!) And no matter what happens at the final round, Arai riders will claim four of the top five championships positions with Hayes, Yoshimura Suzuki’s Blake Young, National Guard/Jordan Motorsports’ Roger Lee Hayden (who won his first AMA Superbike race at Homestead!) and Team Hero’s Geoff May.

Same thing over in the Daytona SportBike championship, with Arai racers again claiming four of the top five championship spots. GEICO Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas won his second Daytona Sportbike championship, with M4 Suzuki’s Dane Westby, Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha’s Tommy Hayden, and Latus Motors Racing Triumph’s Jason DiSalvo also in the top five.

The H-D XR1200 class is still up for grabs coming into this weekend’s final round in New Orleans. But with Arai racers holding an astounding eight of the top ten championship spots, it looks pretty good for Michael Barnes, Tyler O’Hara, Michael Corbino, or Kyle Wyman, with Travis Wyman, David Estok, Josh Chisum and Darren James winding up the Arai top eight.

Over in the Supersport class, Latus Motors Racing Triumph’s Arai’s Dustin Dominguez has already won the Supersport East championship. The overall championship, combining the East and West series, will also be determined this weekend.

All in all, if there was ever a doubt about which helmet more top AMA road racers choose, that answer seems pretty clear: Arai helmets.

More, from a press release issued by Celtic Racing/Orient Express:

Celtic Orient Express Racing’s Rispoli Carries SuperSport Lead To Final Round At New Orleans

Celtic Racing approaches the final round of the 2012 AMA Pro Road Racing SuperSport season with James Rispoli on the #1 Celtic Orient Express Racing Suzuki GSX-R 600 holding the lead in the SuperSport West Championship and the overall 2012 SuperSport points lead. The final round of the season at the new NOLA Motorsports Park circuit begins Friday, October 5th, and culminates on Sunday the 7th, with points paid to both East and West Championships. James Rispoli carries a 60 point lead over the field in SuperSport West, and a 50 point lead in the overall season Championship. Corey Alexander will be unable to compete at New Orleans aboard the #5 National Guard Fairhills Group Suzuki GSX-R 600 after suffering a season ending injury during training this past weekend. Corey Alexander has returned home from the hospital after breaking his right leg in a training accident while riding motocross close to home. Doctors inserted a rod into his leg to stabilize the injury and promote strong and quick healing. Corey will not travel to New Orleans, and will miss the final round as a result of his injuries. Speed2 will be broadcasting both SuperSport races from New Orleans through their website. Please visit http://www.speed2.com for viewing details.

As the season winds down, Rispoli’s excitement and enthusiasm have remained strong, and he stated “I am really excited to be going to New Orleans with a healthy points lead. I am so happy for the whole Celtic Racing team this year and I hope to keep up the hard work until the checkered flag on Sunday. I have brought my fitness back up to a level that I had at the beginning of the year recently. We are going into this race with a very healthy points lead and I still don’t have any pressure but to try and win races. We will race to win in the final two races of the year so all the hard work and dedication will pay off. I also hope for a quick and speedy recovery for my teammate Corey “two step” Alexander after his injury.” James Rispoli would like to thank all of his personal sponsors who have contributed to his success this season, including AGV Helmets, Dainese Leathers, Monster Energy, Techmount, and DAO Defy All Odds Apparel.

Corey Alexander is disappointed to miss the last round of the season and stated “I’m bummed that this injury happened so close to NOLA not only because I can’t ride but also because I’m missing the last race and what I hoped would be one of the best events of the year. Unfortunately it’s part of racing, I’m going to work through this injury, and I hope to come back even stronger next season. I have to give a huge thanks to my crew for sticking it out this year, and to the National Guard, Fairhills Group, and Celtic Racing for all of their support. I will be at home watching and rooting for my teammate! See you all soon.” Corey would like to thank all of his personal sponsors including Fairhills Group, Hudson Valley Motorcycles, Spidi Leathers, XPD Boots, and Arai Helmets who have helped make this season possible for him. To keep up with Corey’s recovery, please follow him on Twitter via @Corey5Alexander, like his Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/corey5alexander, visit his website at http://www.corey23.com, or like the Celtic Racing Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/CelticRacing. Everyone at Celtic Racing wishes Corey a strong and speedy recovery, and his presence at New Orleans will be missed.

Both Celtic Racing Suzuki GSX-R 600’s showcase the best in road racing technology. Product support for both machines comes from: Michael Jordan Motorsports, American Suzuki, Armor Bodies, Chicken Hawk Racing, DesignStar3, Dynojet, FMF Racing, Full Spectrum Power, Hudson Valley Racing, Galfer Brakes, GB Racing, K-Tech Suspension, Maxima Oils, Motion Pro, Pit Bull, Riviera Country Club, Saddlemen, Star Motorcycle School, Vortex Racing, and Zero Gravity.

Celtic Racing was established in 2001 by Barry Gilsenan, and over the past 11 seasons has established itself as a premier privateer racing team. Development of riding talent began with two-stroke 125cc, and 250cc machines competing in professional and regional championship events. More recent Celtic Racing efforts have focused on AMA Pro Road Racing in the Daytona SportBike and SuperSport classes with Ducati, Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha four stroke motorcycles. Gilsenan’s talent for coaching racers of all ages and abilities has brought Celtic Racing worldwide attention and recognition, with many former Celtic Racing riders now competing on World Championship levels. Please join Celtic Racing on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CelticRacing.

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

The National Guard is the oldest military branch. Today, Citizen-Soldiers hold civilian jobs or attend college while training part time, staying ready to defend America in the event of an emergency. The National Guard serves both state and federal governments. During local emergencies, Guard units assist residents endangered by storms, floods, fires and other disasters. Guard companies deployed overseas may see combat, but are often found building schools and hospitals, training local peacekeepers or teaching local farmers more efficient techniques and better uses of their land. Please visit http://www.nationalguard.com to find out more.

ORIENT EXPRESS

Established in 1973, Orient Express is a high performance motorcycle parts and accessories warehouse distributor; offering dyno tuning, engine building services and precision machine work. Orient Express has an extensive history of racing, including support of both professional and amateur race series and individuals. For more information regarding Orient Express, or to find out what Orient Express can do for your racing success, please call 800.645.6521 or 631.231.9552 (NY/International), visit http://www.orientexpress.com or join them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/OrientExpressRacing.

FAIRHILLS GROUP

Fairhills Group is a New York based alternative investment management firm that manages capital for the Bronson family and other high net worth individuals and wealthy families. Fairhills was established in 2002 for the purpose of providing public companies with alternative forms of financing, eventually becoming one of the most active investors in structured equity transactions. Fairhills has since grown to provide financing solutions to companies globally and recently has opened its doors for the first time to external investors, with a full range of alternative investment fund offerings. For more information on Fairhills, please visit http://www.fairhills.com.

More, from a press release issued by Lucky Management:

The Jon Block Group and Team Rotobox/Nexx are proud to announce Cameron Gish’s return to AMA Pro Road Racing. This weekend, Oct. 6th & 7th, Cameron will be racing Rocco Horvath’s Team Rotobox/Nexx Yamaha YZF-R6 in the Motorcycle-Superstore.com Supersport class at NOLA Motorsports Park.

Cameron suffered a serious injury to his pelvis in a racing incident at the 3rd round of AMA Pro Road Racing at Sonoma Raceway this past May. After being cleared by his doctor, Cameron has been training hard and came back strong in testing during a recent AFM race weekend. The team feels Gish will be a great addition during the final AMA Road Racing weekend in New Orleans and are confident of his fitness.

Cameron: “I’m really looking forward to racing this weekend. It has been a really rough season for me and I just want to finish it off as strong as I can. I can’t thank Rocco enough for letting me race his bike and the whole Rotobox/Nexx team for supporting me for the weekend. I also want to give a special thank you to The Jon Block Group and all my other personal sponsors for their support this season.”

Another big surprise is Rocco and his family are flying out to attend the races and AMA banquet as his first event since his paralyzing accident in June of this year. Clearly determined to give 110% toward his rehabilitation and recovery effort, Rocco shines as a model of strength and perseverance. The Jon Block Group have been working rigorously to scour the medical community for potential clinical trials that may be advantageous for Rocco’s rehab. Look for both Cameron and Rocco on the Supersport grid this weekend running Rocco’s old #14 number plate.

Rocco: “I may have suffered a setback earlier this year, but I am remaining dedicated to being successful in everything I do in life. I truly appreciate everything The Jon Block Group has done to help find resources and also my friend and sponsor, Jay Schroeder, whose Arp Wave machine and Evo Ultrafit gym have kept me working toward potential recovery and immediate improvement in my quality of life.

It was great to see Travis Ohge back in action at Laguna aboard my bike. Now I’ll get to see Cameron Gish battle up front in person with my bike. It is a great feeling knowing I can help others with these opportunities and I hope someday I can compete again alongside all of my friends.”

www.facebook.com/CameronGishRacing www.facebook.com/RoccoRacingAMA www.JonBlockGroup.com www.facebook.com/TeamRotoboxNexx

Cameron would like to thank his sponsors: Z2 Racing, Z2 Trackdays, CT Racing, The Jon Block Group, Stockton Optometry, Leo Vince, BBJK, Motion Pro, Mike Canfield Technologies, NK Components, GPR, Corse Dynamics, Race Image, Yamalube, ACT, Cortech, Champion Powder Coating, and Zero Gravity.