AMA PRO SACRAMENTO MILE BACK INTO ACTION SATURDAY, JULY 28
When the Sacramento Mile, Round 7 of the 2012 AMA Pro Grand National Championship thunders into the Cal Expo Center, Saturday July 28th, race fans will be treated to an unmatched spectacle as riders fly down the Sacramento Mile, pitch their bikes sideways and slide through the turns. There is no such thing as pacing or figuring out strategy in this type of competition. It is all or nothing…with only one rider emerging victorious.
Not only will this race pit rider against rider, but it will also pit machine against machine. With six races complete, the points are already tight. Jared Mees (Harley-Davidson) currently sits in first with 121 points. Running in second is reigning champion Jake Johnson (Harley-Davidson) with 106 points and right behind is Johnny Lewis (Kawasaki) with 97. In fourth is Sammy Halbert (Harley-Davidson) with 94. In fifth is last year’s Sacramento Mile winner Bryan Smith (Harley-Davidson) with 73 points. Tied for sixth are Matt Weidman (Harley-Davidson) and Henry Wiles (Ducati) both with 64. Holding down eighth place with 59 points is Brad Baker (Kawasaki), followed by Jeffrey Carver, Jr. (Harley-Davidson) with 58. Rounding out the top ten is Kenny Coolbeth, Jr., who has 57 points.
With six races down this year, there have been six different winners…Johnny Lewis, Matt Weidman, Henry Wiles, Sammy Halbert, Jared Mees and Willy McCoy.
Last year’s star-studded AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track field marked the return of the Sacramento Mile after an absence of over a decade. A sold out crowd watched in awe as Bryan Smith deftly piloted his Harley-Davidson to victory, taking the Checkered by a margin of just .042 seconds over local hero Chris Carr.
In the Motorcycle Superstore.com Pro Singles, the action was equally spectacular as California’s Mikey Avila (SDI Insulation) and Mike Martin waged war over Pro Singles honors. Dicing back and forth, the Checkered gave Martin the victory with Avila in second. This year, both Avila and Martin have moved up into the Twins class and will be looking to show California fans just how good they are.
However, top riders like 2009 champion Jared Mees, reigning two-time champion (2010 and 2011) Jake Johnson, three time champion Kenny Coolbeth, Jr., (2006, 2007, 2008) Henry Wiles, Sammy Halbert, Brad Baker, Bryan Smith, Johnny Lewis, Matt Weidman and a host of others have different ideas. Each one is intent on bringing home the victory at the famed Sacramento Mile.
Gates open at 1:30 pm. Riders will run practice in the afternoon with open ceremonies taking place at 6:15 pm. Racing begins at 6:45 pm. A special autograph session will be held immediately following the last practice. Fans can meet their favorite riders, take pictures and get autographs.
Tickets are available on line at www.sacramentomile.com, through the Cal Expo at www.boxoffice@calexpo.com and through Circle Bell Motorsports at 707-703-3633.
Advance ticket prices are $85 for the Turf Club, $75 for the Legends Club House, $65 for Box Seats, $50 for Reserved Grandstands, $40 for Bleachers and $30 for Standing Room. All tickets are $10 more at the gate. All tickets also include same day admission to the Fair.