AMA FORD QUALITY CHECKED FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP SWITCHES TO TRANSPONDER SCORING PICKERINGTON, Ohio (February 2, 2006) The AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship will take a step forward in 2006 with the addition of transponder-based scoring at all rounds. Until now transponders were used at only select AMA Grand National races with most events scored manually. “This is a great advancement for race operations,” said AMA Flat Track Series Manager Bruce Bober. “It will enable us to run our events more efficiently by relying on timed qualifying instead of scratch heats. Fewer races on the track will not only streamline the day, but also help us preserve the track for the finals. Flat track racing will benefit from this type of scoring system.” Transponder-based scoring systems have been proven in the AMA Superbike Championship for over a decade and in AMA Motocross and Supercross for several years. Computer scoring provides a higher degree of accuracy in timing heats, semis and main events and can make for a more efficient race program. Bober added that Harley-Davidson and Suzuki have helped defray some of the costs associated with the use of the high-tech transponder scoring system. Ken Rogers, AMA Pro Racing Director of Timing & Scoring, sees many potential uses of transponder scoring in the future. “We’ll start off with a fairly lean use of the system at first,” Rogers said. “As we progress we have the capability of sending live scoring to the fans in the grandstands, to the teams in the paddock, to the technical officials and even to fans worldwide via the Internet.” The 2006 AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship kicks off in Daytona Beach, Fla., in March.