KLR Group signs rising AMA Road Racing star Wyman HOUSTON (April 17) — Fresh off his breathtaking victory at the prestigious Daytona 200, KLR Group has signed a title sponsorship agreement with points leader Kyle Wyman for the remainder of the 2012 AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 series. “We’re thrilled to add Kyle to the KLR Group family,” Managing Partner Ed Kovalik said. “This is our initial foray into AMA Road Racing, so we’re interested in tracking our first race with Kyle and his team this weekend at Road Atlanta. Hopefully, he’ll score another podium finish and keep his fast start going. “Our thanks to Rob Geiger and his team at geiger media llc., for introducing us to Kyle and putting us together with one of the top championship contenders on the circuit. Rob also sold us on the upward trending of AMA Road Racing and its ever-growing fan base and we’re happy to join with them this year as well.” KLR Group is a full service investment bank focused on the natural resources sector, including oil and gas, metals and mining, and agriculture. KLR Group clients include exploration and production companies, service providers, and midstream/infrastructure carriers and processors. The KLR Group, through GK Motorsports, also sponsors NHRA drag racers Erica Enders and Dave Connolly. “Words cannot adequately describe the way I feel right now,” the 22-year-old Wyman said. “I am so pumped up to join the KLR Group race team and I’m honored they have the faith in me and this program to fund what we’re doing. I always want to win but that feeling has never been greater than it is right now. I want to blow everyone away.” In just his second year in the class, Wyman started the 2012 season in grand style, nailing down the Daytona pole and scoring his second win in a row at the event with a dramatic come-from-behind slingshot pass around two other riders just before the finish line. A native of Rochester, N.Y., Wyman has been racing motorcycles since he was 8 years old. He ascended through the ranks in the world of flat track racing before switching to road racing in 2008. The transition was seamless and he soon found success in the developmental AMA Supersport class aboard a 600cc machine. Wyman quickly graduated to a Daytona SportBike and then threw his leg over a Harley-Davidson XR1200 when the class was formed by Terry Vance. In 2011, Wyman reached the podium three times, winning Daytona and finishing third at Mid-Ohio and New Jersey Motorsports Park. Overall, he finished fifth in the AMA points. “I learned a lot last year and I think we showed we’re serious at this year’s Daytona race,” said Wyman, who relies on his father Bob and his uncle Bill to prepare his bike. “We’ve got 11 races left so we’re just getting started. Winning Daytona was great but our focus is squarely on Road Atlanta. Having the KLR Group and GK Motorsports on board makes this the biggest race of my career.” As part of his commitment with the KLR Group, Wyman will help raise awareness for the Progeria Research Foundation (PRF), the favored charity of the organization. Progeria is a rare, fatal, “rapid aging” disease that afflicts children, who usually die of heart disease by the age of 13. “Every time I get the chance, I want to educate people on this disease,” Wyman said. “We hope to have some Progeria kids out this year to show them the excitement of AMA Road Racing and to let our fans know they can help fight this thing. It’s something I’m already very passionate about.” The PRF, a 501c3 non-profit entity, was founded in 1999 in response to the complete lack of progress being made to help children afflicted with the disease. PRF is the only organization dedicated to finding treatments and a cure for Progeria. In just 11 years, PRF has made remarkable scientific progress; from the Progeria gene discovery in 2003 to first-ever clinical drug trials initiated in 2007. Discovering a cure for Progeria will not only save the lives of children but could also open doors to treating many aging-related illnesses, particularly heart disease, the leading cause of death in the USA. To learn more about Progeria, visit www.progeriaresearch.org.