Flat Track Returns This Weekend
Cycle News Staff | May 21, 2012
Are you ready for some flat-track racing? After almost three months without a race, the flat trackers get back to action this weekend for the annual Memorial Day weekend in Springfield for rounds three and four of the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Grand National Championship.
The weekend kicks off on Saturday with the Springfield TT with the legendary Springfield Mile taking center stage the following day.
Although this is the 12th TT as the fairgrounds facility, only three of the current crop of stars has won the race – Henry Wiles (three times), JR Schnabel (three times) and Jake Johnson (twice)
Meanwhile, current points leader Matt Weidman has not had the best of luck on the TT, scoring a seventh in his one main appearance. Jared Mees sits second in points after coming within a quarter of a lap of winning the second Daytona race, but he also has two podium finishes at the Springfield TT. Johnny Lewis is third in the points and is looking to improve upon his best finish of seventh in the TT.
Sunday’s Springfield Mile marks the first time the big twins come out of the trailer in 2012. With Chris Carr retired (50 starts), former Grand National Champion Kenny Coolbeth is the active rider with the most starts at 31 and three wins. Second on the starts list is Willie McCoy. McCoy was the sentimental winner of last year’s fall race in his 29th start.
The Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles class will also be competing both days, but current points leader Hayden Gillim will be in Utah plying his skills with AMA Pro Road Racing. That leaves Gerit Callies, Hunter Taylor and Ryan Wells who are tied for second, to try and take advantage of the absent Gillim.
