AMA

American Motorcyclist Association salutes the U.S. military on Veterans Day

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association offers a salute of respect and gratitude this Veterans Day to the legions of U.S. veterans who have served this country in times of peace, in times of strife and in times of war. "As the busy end-of-year holiday season quickly approaches, it is appropriate to set aside a day to reflect on the great service and sacrifice our military veterans have made on behalf of our nation," said Rob Dingman, AMA president and CEO. "We at the AMA extend our heartfelt gratitude to those who so bravely served our country and to…
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HARLEY WRECKING CREW RIDER MEES THIRD AT SPRINGFIELD MILE

Baker is Ninth on Factory Harley in an AMA Pro Grand National Classic   SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Sept. 1, 2014)– Harley-Davidson Wrecking Crew rider Jared Mees finished third in a classic Springfield Mile battle of AMA Pro Grand National Twins that saw a lead pack of up to 10 riders racing motorcycles elbow-to-elbow at 140 mph on the dirt oval at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.   Mees raced his Rogers Racing/Las Vegas H-D/Blue Springs H-D Harley-Davidson® XR750 motorcycle at the front for the entire race, which was won on a last-corner pass by Zanotti Racing/Moroneys H-D rider Kenny Coolbeth Jr., also…
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BAKER BRINGS FACTORY HARLEY HOME FOURTH AT VIRGINIA MEGA-MILE

Harley Wrecking Crew Rider Jared Mees is Fifth, Drops to Second in Season Points Battle   NEW KENT, Va. (August 24, 2014) – Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® Factory Team rider Brad Baker finished fourth after leading early laps in the AMA Pro Grand National Twins main on the Virginia Mega-Mile at Colonial Downs. The race was won by Bryan Smith on the Crosley Radios/Villa-Esparza Kawasaki.   Harley-Davidson® Wrecking Crew rider Jared Mees started the race from the fourth row and finished fifth on the Rogers Racing/Las Vegas H-D/Blue Springs H-D Harley-Davidson® XR750 motorcycle.   Baker, riding the Factory Harley-Davidson XR750 motorcycle,…
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McWilliams & Rapp Win AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Races at Indianapolis

Eslick Holds 16-Point Lead over Carlson with One Race Remaining Milwaukee (August 11, 2014) – In two thrilling races set on the brick-paved stage of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, veteran riders Jeremy McWilliams and Steve Rapp split the AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson series double-header during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP round of the FIM MotoGP World Championship. In Saturday’s Race 1, Northern Ireland’s McWilliams (H-D of Bloomington Indiana/Warr’s H-D), who also won the first race of the Indy doubleheader in 2013, qualified on pole and took a hard-fought victory in the first of the weekend’s races by a narrow…
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AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST ASSOCIATION PETITION CALLS FOR RETURN OF LANE-SPLITTING GUIDELINES TO CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT WEBSITES, OFFICES

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association initiated a petition drive today to convince the California Office of Administrative Law to allow state agencies to once again disseminate important information on safely and responsibly executing the motorcycling technique called lane splitting. The online petition can be found here: https://cqrcengage.com/amacycle/app/sign-petition?1&engagementId=55066. A recent Office of Administrative Law order resulted in the California Highway Patrol, the Department of Motor Vehicles and other agencies removing CHP lane-splitting guidelines from their websites and ridding their offices of pamphlets, fliers and other documents that contained the safety information. "Removal of the DMV brochures is a big…
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LONE COMPLAINT FORCES CHP TO REMOVE LANE-SPLITTING GUIDELINES FROM WEBSITE

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- A single complaint from a Sacramento man has forced the California Highway Patrol and other state government agencies to remove information from their websites that was intended to help motorcyclists safely execute the allowed lane-splitting maneuver. Kenneth Mandler, a longtime state employee who now conducts training sessions on how to get a state job, petitioned the California Office of Administrative Law in 2013, claiming the CHP created an "underground regulation" by formulating and distributing guidelines for safe lane splitting. Lane splitting, also called lane filtering, is the practice of riding a motorcycle or scooter between lanes of…
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ARIZONA OFF-ROADERS, OFFICIALS FIND DANGEROUS REBAR SPIKES IN TRAILS

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Federal authorities in Arizona are warning off-highway-vehicle riders to be wary of trails in the Coconino National Forest near Happy Jack, Ariz., the American Motorcyclist Association reports. This past weekend, trail riders reported the tires of their all-terrain vehicles and off-road motorcycles were punctured by rebar spikes, sharpened and partially buried in trails heavily used by responsible enthusiasts and their families. No injuries were reported. But the sabotage endangers riders, hikers and even animals. "The end of the rebar has been flattened and sharpened to a point, and the exposed point has been painted to blend in…
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FAULTY COMPARISONS PLAGUE CDC TASK FORCE PUSH FOR UNIVERSAL HELMET LAWS

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- A new recommendation for universal motorcycle helmet laws by a task force of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is based on faulty reasoning, the American Motorcyclist Association reports. The Community Preventive Services Task Force asserts that universal motorcycle helmet laws will reduce the rate of motorcyclists killed in traffic crashes. The recommendation is based on studies of U.S. states and foreign countries that require all riders to wear helmets, those that require only minors to wear helmets and those that have no helmet requirement. "Researchers examined evidence from the United States and other high-income…
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HERTZ PROVIDES RENTAL CAR DISCOUNTS TO AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST ASSOCIATION MEMBERS

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Now, for those times when two wheels aren't enough, American Motorcyclist Association members can save on Hertz vehicle rentals, thanks to a new member-benefit package. "Whether it's a business trip, a need to accommodate several passengers or just those times the cargo capacity of a bike won't do, a car or SUV can come in handy," said AMA Vice President of Operations Jeff Massey. "Now, thanks to a new benefit package we've negotiated with Hertz, AMA members can get short- or long-term rentals for less." The AMA member discount program offers year-round savings of up to 25…
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AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS NATIONAL RIDE TO WORK DAY

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association is encouraging all motorcyclists to participate in the 23rd Annual International Motorcycle and Scooter Ride to Work Day on June 16 to demonstrate that motorcycles are fun and affordable, easy to maneuver in traffic and park, fuel efficient and better for the environment than cars and trucks. "Motorcyclists understand the practical benefits of riding, in addition to the sheer joy of it," said Rob Dingman, AMA president and CEO. "Ride To Work Day provides motorcycle enthusiasts an opportunity to share their love of riding with co-workers and others they meet during the course…
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REMEMBER MOTORCYCLING THIS FATHER’S DAY

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Father's Day shopping in motorcycling families is an exciting time, as children peruse the wide array of gift choices for one special rider. This year, Father's Day is June 15. Whether Dad likes chrome or leathers or the latest technology, dozens of options are available for motorcyclists today. And motorcycling fathers are pretty easy to please. If it's moto-related, it's hard to go wrong. "One great option for the true motorcycling father is a membership in the American Motorcyclist Association," said Rob Dingman, AMA president and CEO. "It makes dads a part of a national team dedicated…
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FIFTY-FIVE U.S. LAWMAKERS SIGN ON TO END MOTORCYCLE-ONLY CHECKPOINTS

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Fifty congressmen and five senators have signed on to sponsor or cosponsor bills that would end federal funding for motorcycle-only checkpoints, the American Motorcyclist Association reports. During the past two years, federal, state and local governments spent more than a half million dollars on motorcycle-only checkpoints. The AMA believes that money could have been better spent on programs to curb distracted driving or expand rider education programs. "The AMA is grateful for these legislators, who understand that the rights of motorcyclists are the same as the rights of every other U.S. citizen," said Wayne Allard, AMA vice…
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MAJORITY IN U.S. HOUSE AGREE ETHANOL MANDATE HAS PROBLEMS

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The Renewable Fuel Standard has a "serious problem" and must be reformed, according to a bipartisan group of congressmen who say 218 House members agree, the American Motorcyclist Association reports.   The AMA position The AMA supports the efforts of House members who want to revisit and revamp the Renewable Fuel Standard. "The federal government's Renewable Fuel Standard is a failed strategy that must be completely reconsidered and restructured," said Wayne Allard, vice president of government relations for the American Motorcyclist Association. "The RFS is not working for America or for Americans." The AMA opposes E15 fuel…
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AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST ASSOCIATION HONORS THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR COUNTRY

Safe driving urged for holiday weekend PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association joins all Americans this Memorial Day, May 26, in expressing deep gratitude to the families and friends of those who gave their lives in service to the United States and in honoring their memories. "The freedoms that we enjoy, as motorcyclists and as Americans, came at great personal cost and sacrifice and are defended daily by military personnel dedicated to protecting our principles," said Rob Dingman, AMA president and CEO. "It is important to pause and reflect on Memorial Day, remembering those who helped make possible the…
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LACONIA MOTORCYCLE WEEK: GETS REVVED UP OVER AWARD FROM AMA

  (Laconia, NH) -The American Motorcycle Association  (AMA) named Laconia Motorcycle Week® as the Recreational Road Riding Organizer of the Year. Laconia Motorcycle Week, at 91 years, the Oldest Motorcycle event in the country, was up against tough competition for this honor, the Iron Butt Rally and New York's Americade, but the AMA committee voters decided that Laconia deserved the award.  AMA Director of Racing Bill Cumbow said, "Laconia's organizers always do a good job of advancing the core values of the AMA. Laconia Motorcycle Week promotes the motorcycle lifestyle in a safe, fun and responsible way, and we're looking…
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AMA CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL 2014 AMA SUPERCROSS SEASON

  PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association congratulates the three riders who claimed AMA No. 1 plates during the 2014 AMA Supercross season -- Ryan Villopoto, 450SX champion; Justin Bogle, 250SX East champion; and Jason Anderson, 250SX West champion -- and thanks its partners for another successful year.   "The 2014 season demonstrated yet again why AMA Supercross is one of the most exciting sports on two wheels," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "Some of the most thrilling main events in recent memory took place this year, and we congratulate Ryan Villopoto, Justin Bogle and Jason Anderson…
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