Johnson First Two-Time Winner of 2010 AMA Pro K&N Grand National Championship with Springfield Mile Victory

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Round Five of the AMA Pro K&N Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com came to the Springfield Mile as the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association wrapped up their Memorial Day Weekend doubleheader. Clear skies and summer-like temperatures greeted the near capacity crowd and a large turn out of racers.

The obvious king of the hill was Zanotti Racing’s # 5 Jake Johnson as he dominated all day long. Johnson was the Fast Qualifier, Heat winner, Dash for Cash winner and led every lap of the 25 lap Grand National Main. “It’s scary when things go that well,” said Johnson. “You keep waiting for something to go wrong.”

Five races into the 2010 season, Johnson becomes the first two-time winner. Had it not been for Johnson’s perfection, the much talked about Werner Springsteen Racing / Kawasaki / Monster Energy Drink backed Kawasaki of # 42 Bryan Smith would have been the big story. On the heels of Joe Kopp giving Ducati their first Grand National win, Smith desperately wanted to do the same for Kawasaki, he had to “settle” for a well earned second, which is Kawasaki’s best finish ever in a GNC Twins race.

In a very non-typical Springfield Mile, Johnson kept a steady two-second lead all the way. Smith, who was riding a higher line than most, got close once, but that was short lived. “My line went away. I was chasing the moisture,” said Smith. “After that went away I was just trying to hang on.”

Smith fell back into a great battle over third as there were seven or eight riders keeping the Springfield tradition alive. Defending GNC Twins Champion # 1 Jared Mees had his Rogers Lake Racing / Blue Springs Harley-Davidson-backed Harley in the mix along with Moroney’s Harley-Davidson / 1800 Fasthog’s # 99B PJ Jacobsen, Harley-Davidson Motor Company / Screamin’ Eagle’s # 2 Kenny Coolbeth and ENI / Latus Harley-Davidson / Lloyd Brothers Motorsports’ # 3 Joe Kopp kept the large crowd entertained while Johnson cruised.

Jacobsen, who was making his first start in a K&N Grand National Twins race looked like a polished veteran all day until the last lap of the race. Jacobsen took the white flag in second place, but was then a sitting duck for the horde that was on his heels. Smith regained his second place, that he held most of the race, with Coolbeth, Mees and Kopp all charging through, dropping Jacobsen all the way back to a sixth place finish 2.450 seconds behind Johnson, but less than half of a second behind Smith for second.

The Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles race was amazing. Eighteen 450cc single-cylinder rockets took off an a 12 lap adventure and when the checkered flag fell, no less than eleven riders were separated by less than one second.

Just as he had done last year, Price Truck Line / Kennedy Tires / Woody Kyle Racing’s # 22L Michael Toon came out of the pack on the last lap and drafted to the win. Toon had been in sixth position on lap eleven, but worked his way through the cluster to the front.

Cycle Dynamics / NPS Racing Engines’ # 71B James Rispoli was only six hundredths of a second behind. Weirbach Racing / General Engineering’s # 20T Mike LaBelle filled out the podium. Despite being the fast heat winner and leading the most laps in the main, Vans Yamaha / GYTR / Carver’s BBQ’s # 24P Jeffery Carver finished up fourth.

Red Bull / Top 1 Oil’s # 95C JD Beach and defending class Champion # 1 Brad Baker (Rod Lake / Mike Velasco / Brothers Powersports), Monster Energy Drink / Kawasaki / Werner Springsteen Racing’s # 29J Chaz Springsteen, Sunnyside Cycle Sales’ # 96B Cody Johncox, Lancaster Harley-Davidson’s # 25A Shayna Texter, Browns Cycle / Arlen Ness’s # 33E Mike Avila and TLC Racing’s # 81C Zakk Palmer were all under the proverbial blanket across the finish line.

The K&N Grand National Championship points race is really taking shape as Jake Johnson and Joe Kopp sit atop the leader board tied with 98 points. Kenny Coolbeth is sixteen back with Sammy Halbert and Jared Mees tied with 79 points.

Jeffery Carver’s fourth place finish was enough to keep him atop the Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles points race. Carver has a 14 point lead over defending series champion Brad Baker with JD Beach 23 points down to the leader.

The AMA Pro K&N Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com Series moves to Gas City, IN next week June 5 for a short track.

ILLINOIS STATE FAIRFROUNDS

SPRINGFIELD, IL

RESULTS: May 30, 2010

GNC DASH FOR CASH (4 laps; 6 riders): 1. Jake Johnson (H-D); 2. Joe Kopp (Duc); 3. Bryan Smith (Kaw); 4. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D); 5. Stevie Bonsey (H-D); 6. PJ Jacobsen (H-D).

AMA PRO MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM PRO SINGLES MAIN (12 laps; 18 riders): 1. Michael Toon (Hon); 2. James Rispoli (Hon); 3. Mike LaBelle (Hon); 4. Jeffery Carver (Yam); 5. JD Beach (Hon); 6. Brad Baker (Hon); 7. Chaz Springsteen (Kaw); 8. Cody Johncox (Yam); 9. Shayna Texter (Hon); 10. Mike Avila (Hon); 11. Zakk Palmer (Hon); 12. Kurtis Lee (Hon); 13. Michael Bickerton (Hon); 14. Jake Shoemaker (Suz); 15. Brandon Laursen (Hon); 16. Jeremy Hamilton (Hon); 17. Tyler O’Hara (Hon); 18. Mike Martin (Hon).

AMA PRO MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM PRO SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 3 0f 19 rounds): 1. Jeffery Carver (95 pts / 1 win); 2. Brad Baker (81 / 1 win); 3. JD Beach (72 / 2 wins); 4. James Rispoli (65); 5. Mike Avila (52); 6. (TIE) Mike LaBelle / Mike Martin (40); 8. Stephen Vanderburgh (31); 9. Michael Toon (28 / 1 win); 10. Chaz Springsteen (27).

AMA PRO K&N GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED by MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM MAIN (25 laps; 19 riders): 1. Jake Johnson (H-D); 2. Bryan Smith (Kaw); 3. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D); 4. Jared Mees (H-D); 5. Joe Kopp (Duc); 6. PJ Jacobsen (H-D); 7. Sammy Halbert (H-D); 8. Chris Carr (H-D); 9. Larry Pegram (Duc); 10. Stevie Bonsey (H-D); 11. Willie McCoy (H-D); 12. Henry Wiles (H-D); 13. AJ Eslick (H-D); 14. Matt Weidman (H-D); 15. Rob Pearson (H-D); 16. Logan Myers (H-D); 17. Mick Kirkness (Suz); 18. Steve Murray (H-D); 19. Shawn Baer (Tri).

AMA PRO K&N GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED by MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM POINT STANDINGS (After 5 of 19 rounds): 1. (TIE) Jake Johnson (2 wins) / Joe Kopp (1 win) (98 pts); 3. Kenny Coolbeth (82); 4. (TIE) Sammy Halbert (1 win) / Jared Mees (79); 6. Henry Wiles (73 / 1 win); 7. Bryan Smith (57); 8. Johnny Lewis (45); 9. Chris Carr (43); 10. Jethro Halbert (29).

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 P.J. Jacobsen’s publicist:

Winter Garden, Florida ( May 31, 2010)– A weekend off for Road Racer, PJ Jacobsen allowed his entry back to the dirt for the AMA Pro Racing’s Springfield, Illinois two-day championship events.

No stranger to flat track racing, Jacobsen competed in well over thirty championships under the AMA Sports youth banner. At the age of twelve, he opted to switch to Road Racing where his career continued to thrive.

At the TT course Saturday night, Jacobsen took his Moroney’s 1-800 fast hog powered Honda CRF450 to the freshly prepared course. He qualified nineteenth out of sixty-nine riders. Sailed into a loaded heat race with seasoned riders and the current singles champion, Henry Wiles; got a bad start, then worked him up to 7th place; which forced him into a semi. On the line with Kenny Coolbeth and Willie McCoy; Jacobsen had some work to do. A great battle took place and the crowd was on their feet, as the laps were winding down an aggressive attack for position took Jacobsen by surprise. By the next lap, Jacobsen’s rush to get back to the transfer spot resulted in a stall after bumping into the same rider that hit him the lap before. Jacobsen’s night was over.

Sunday, the historic Springfield Mile is certainly a high for both riders and fans. It not only marked Jacobsen’s debut as an AMA Pro Racing Expert, it also showcased his talent as a professional amidst those that wondered if Jacobsen could make the grade. Right out of the gate, Jacobsen was fast. He qualified 3rd and was ready for the heat. Carrying the momentum from qualifying, Jacobsen had a great start in his heat and laid down his mark with a win. This win gave him a ticket to the main event and the Dash for Cash.

At the line for the main, PJ was more than ready. He could picture a podium finish and knew he had a fast Harley-Davidson XR750 that would compliment his riding style. Off the line and on the gas, Jacobsen was in 5th and gaining on Bryan Smith for the second position. As the leader, Jake Johnson pushed out his lead the battle behind was in full throttle. Back and forth and four wide in the corners , Jacobsen was in the mix with Joe Kopp, Kenny Coolbeth, Jared Mees and Bryan Smith. In true Springfield fashion, it would come down to the last lap. Jacobsen in second with a slue of riders gunning for podium finishes, he sets up in turn two only to get pinched by Joe Kopp’s experience that forced Jacobsen to get back up to pace down the back straightaway. With this small mistake based on experience, Jacobsen crossed the checkered flag with a sixth place finish.

“This was the best race and the most fun of my life,” adds Jacobsen

“PJ was impressive all day; he turned a lot of heads. I think he should now go back to road racing,” laughs Kenny Coolbeth

With the flat track racing schedule now up to full speed, Jacobsen plans on racing a few more events this season, in between his road racing series. Those events have yet to be determined.

The following sponsors have made this past weekend a success: Moroney’s 1-800fasthog, Celtic Racing, Orient Express, Shoei, Alpinestars, Precision Detailing, Pit Bull, She Loves Racing, Motion Pro, Weiss Racing, OGIO, Rowley Racing, ESJ, Chicken Hawk, Tagger, OVRP, Lounsbury Builders and Erectors, Irish Bike Magazine, Ktec, LeoVince, Cross Training, ABS, and MOTOREX. Special thanks to Mike Hacker, Pat Moroney, Bob Weiss and Rich Hanson.

More, from a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:

COOLBETH IS THIRD ON FACTORY HARLEY AT SPRINGFIELD

Last-Lap Passes Result in Podium Finish; Coolbeth Third in Season Points

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (May 30, 2010) Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory rider Kenny Coolbeth finished third after a furious finish at the AMA Pro K&N Grand National Twins series race on the Springfield Mile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The race was won by Zanotti Racing rider Jake Johnson on a Harley-Davidson XR-750 motorcycle.

Johnson, who was also fastest qualifier for the event and won the five-lap Dash for Cash bonus race, led the 25-lap main from the start. His only challenge came from Monster Kawasaki rider Bryan Smith, who raced with Johnson early but then faded as the dirt-track surface dried. A pack of riders that included Coolbeth, Blue Springs Harley-Davidson rider Jared Mees, American Agip/Lloyd Brothers Ducati Joe Kopp, and Moroney’s Harley-Davidson rider Patrick “PJ” Jacobsen, reeled in Smith by the closing laps of the main.

On the final lap, Coolbeth had shuffled back to sixth place as the pack of drafting riders jockeyed for position heading to the finish. Coolbeth used the draft on the back straight to get back to third and was bearing down on Smith but could not make the pass for second place. Smith finished just 0.052 seconds ahead of Coolbeth, who in turn beat Mees to the line by just 0.009 seconds to claim the final spot on the podium. Kopp was fourth, followed by Jacobson.

“For a long time I was by myself in third place,” said Coolbeth. “So I was thinking I’d set Smith up for a pass on the last lap, but then I found myself surrounded when the pack caught me with about five laps to go and I had to change my strategy at the end. I got a great run on the last lap but just didn’t have enough to catch Bryan. It was a good night for the Harley team, and we are good in points. Now we need a win or two to get a little cushion.”

With the win, Johnson moves into a tie with Kopp for the season points lead in the 2010 Grand National Championship. Each rider has 98 points. Coolbeth is third with 82 points. The AMA Grand National Twins will next race on June 26 at the Allen County Fairgrounds half-mile in Lima, Ohio.

Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts are inspired by and built in the spirit of the raw adrenaline and power of motorcycle racing. Screamin’ Eagle Pro parts are specifically designed for race-use applications, while Screamin’ Eagle parts offer street-use performance options for the Harley-Davidson motorcycle owner. Visit www.harley-davidson.com for more information. The Screamin’ Eagle Flat Track team is sponsored by Matco Tools.