Vance & Hines Racing sponsors the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series for Harley-Davidson XR1200s and series rules require all entrants to run a $3500 racing kit available only from Vance & Hines. Vance & Hines is also currently looking at producing and selling billet aluminum-alloy swingarm bushing inserts designed to reduce high-speed wobbles. The swingarm bushings are copies of parts developed in 2010 by a private team–which couldn’t use or sell them because only official Vance & Hines parts are allowed. The company has been involved in developing technical regulations for the class, sending veteran crew chief Jim Leonard to all the XR1200 races last season. Now Vance & Hines is going a step further and will run a four-rider team out of its race shop in Indianapolis, fielding Michael Barnes, Michael Beck, Steve Rapp and Mike Morgan. Based on typical entries for the class in 2010, that alone could increase grid sizes by a third. The team has obtained sponsorship for its XR1200 program from Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties. At post time, Vance & Hines’ Jim Leonard had not returned a phone message seeking comment on the new program. More, from a press release issued by Vance & Hines: PARTS UNLIMITED, DRAG SPECIALTIES DEBUT THREE-RIDER TEAM FOR 2011 AMA PRO VANCE & HINES XR1200 SERIES Janesville, Wisconsin Aftermarket motorcycle parts distributors, Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties are pleased to announce the formation of a three-rider team for the 2011 AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series. With both brands each sponsoring an entry, a third bike will be sponsored by Drag Specialties exhaust brand, Python Performance. Riding the Parts Unlimited sponsored Harley-Davidson Sportster XR1200 will be 2007 Daytona 200 winner, Steve Rapp. Finishing on the podium seven times in 2010 while competing in the Daytona Sportbike Championship, Rapp will be bringing 15 years of race experience in AMA Pro to bear on the 2011 season in the XR1200 class. After getting his first taste of the XR1200 in the final round of the 2010 AMA Pro XR1200 Series with a second place finish at Barber Motorsports Park, Michael Barnes will be piloting the Drag Specialties sponsored XR1200. Having set the quickest time during the recent Dunlop tire test at Daytona on the XR, Barnes also has the special distinction of having raced Sportsters the last time they were run in road racing competition back in the original Super Twins class. Also making his debut on the XR1200 will be AMA Pro veteran Mike Morgan, on board the Python Performance sponsored entry. Most recently, Morgan competed in the Daytona Sportbike Championship. “We couldn’t be more excited to bring both our Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties brands together for the first time, along with the Python brand in a single series,” said company Vice-president, Greg Blackwell. “The XR1200s are going to bring back a thundering roar to the high banks of Daytona International Speedway we haven’t heard since the days of the Battle of the Twins back in the 90s.” Widely known by its trademark “We Support the Sport”, Parts Unlimited along with Drag Specialties are the foremost distributors of aftermarket parts and accessories for the powersports industry in the United States and abroad. The AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series kicks off the 2011 season during Bike Week at Daytona International Speedway, March 10-12. More, from another press release issued by Vance & Hines: J&P CYCLES TO FIELD ENTRY FOR AMA PRO VANCE & HINES XR1200 SERIES Anamosa, Iowa Known for its motto “Keeping the World on 2 Wheels”, the world’s largest aftermarket motorcycle parts and accessories superstore, J&P Cycles will be putting two wheels on the race track this year in the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series with AMA Pro rider Michael Beck. Having competed most recently in the Daytona Sportbike Championship with five top-ten finishes to his credit in 2010, the up-and-coming 23-year-old California native is eager and ready to put his skills to the test on the Harley-Davidson Sportster XR1200. “We are huge enthusiasts of motorcycling, but are especially thrilled to be bringing the J&P name to road racing on an American bike like the Harley-Davidson XR1200,” said J&P founder and President, John Parham. “With our retail superstore located just down the road from Daytona International Speedway, we’ll all be out there for Bike Week to cheer on the team at the season opener.” Based in Anamosa, Iowa, J&P Cycles has produced one of the largest mail-order catalogs for aftermarket motorcycle parts and accessories in the world for over thirty years. The first round of the 2011 season for the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series will take place at Daytona International Speedway, March 10-12.