Superprestigio of the Americas

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Superprestigio of the Americas is an invitation-only flat track motorcycle race that pits motorcycle racers from various racing disciplines (Road racing, Freestyle, Hillclimb, and Flat Track) against many of the best racers from the AMA Pro Racing Flat Track Championship series. [1]

Contents

The inaugural Superprestigio of the Americas was held on 21 November 2015 on a specially-designed indoor short track at the Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The race was broadcast live on fanschoice.tv [2] and was produced for national broadcast on NBC Sports Network the following Sunday, 29 November. [3] [4]

Competitors

AMA pro-racing flat-track invitations

Selected for their points standings or specific race accomplishments in the AMA Pro Racing Flat Track Championship were Brad Baker, Briar Bauman, Dan Bromley, Stevie Bonsey, Kenny Coolbeth, Davis Fisher, Sammy Halbert, Jesse Janisch, Jake Johnson, Justin Jones, Doug Lawrence, Andrew Luker, Jared Mees, Bryan Smith, Jarod Vanderkooi and Henry Wiles

All-star invitations

Selected from various motorcycle disciplines were:
Oliver Brindley, DTRA Dirt Track
Aaron Colton, XDL Sportbike Freestyle Championship
Toni Elias, MotoGP
Jake Gagne, AMA Superbike Championship
Roger Hayden, AMA Superbike Championship
Josh Hayes, AMA Superbike Championship
Taylor Knapp, AMA Superbike Championship
Phil Libhart, AMA Pro Hillclimb
Gage McAllister, AMA Superbike Championship
Larry Pegram, AMA Superbike Championship
Dani Ribalta, Endurance FIM World Championship
Joe Roberts, AMA Superbike Championship
Franc Serra, FIM Flat Track Cup
Anthony West, MotoGP
Blake Young, AMA Superbike Championship

Competitors ranged in age from 17-year-old Oliver Brindley to 43-year-old Phil Libhart.

Sanction, rules and construction

Superprestigio of the Americas was sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing and overseen by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme by Stuart Higgs as race director.

Motorcycle equipment rules were as per AMA Pro Flat Track GNC1 Singles, except that all machines were ha 19" Mitas tires.

The track was designed by the 7-times AMA Grand National Championship winner, Chris Carr [5] who designated that the track have an American football-shape infield in order to produce multiple racing lines and therefore more competition. The track was built in two layers with a base of clay/rock mix as a foundation with decomposed granite for the racing surface. Track construction was done by the renowned track builder Dennis Pearson. A motocross-style starting gate (rather uncommon for flat track racing) was used. [6]

Competition

A points system was used to award finishers in the heat races the opportunity to choose their starting positions for the semifinals. Points were awarded as follows: 10 points for 1st place, 7 for 2nd, 5 for 3rd, 3 for 4th, 2 for 5th and 1 for 6th.

Finishing positions in semifinals and Last Chance Qualifiers determined eligibility and starting positions for Finals.

Roland Sands Designs and Indian Motorcycles brought the Super Hooligans as a supporting class. [7]

In a format designed to intensify the action, there were 31 races run during the program. [8]

Road racing World Champion Kevin Schwantz, a former amateur flat tracker himself, was the Grand Marshal for the event. [9]

The winner of the Superprestigio of the Americas, Jared Mees, was awarded a custom gold and diamond ring from Thom Duma Fine Jewelers. [10] The podium finishers, Mees, Brad Baker and Kenny Coolbeth, are all former GNC Championship winners. [4]

Results

All-stars final

PosNo.RiderManufacturer
172United States Larry Pegram Honda
295United States Roger Hayden Suzuki
327EUnited States Joe Roberts Yamaha
424IUnited Kingdom Oliver Brindley Kawasaki
518Spain Franc Serra KTM
613Australia Anthony West Suzuki
715Spain Dani Ribalta KTM
893United States Aaron Colton Honda

Flat Track Final

PosNo.RiderManufacturer
16United States Brad Baker Honda
21United States Jared Mees Honda
32United States Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. Honda]
442United States Bryan Smith Kawasaki
514United States Briar Bauman Honda
667MUnited States Davis Fisher Honda
780United States Stevie Bonsey Suzuki
893United States Dan Bromley Honda

Superprestigio of the Americas

PosNo.RiderManufacturer
11United States Jared Mees Honda
26United States Brad Baker Honda
32United States Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. Honda
472United States Larry Pegram Honda
527EUnited States Joe Roberts Yamaha
624IUnited Kingdom Oliver Brindley Kawasaki
795United States Roger Hayden KTM
842United States Bryan Smith Kawasaki

Super Hooligans Final

PosNo.RiderManufacturer
114United States Thor Drake Harley-Davidson
29United States Chris Wiggins Harley-Davidson
310United States Roland Sands Indian
418United States Hunter Klee Harley-Davidson
531United States Drake McElroy Indian
647United States Travis Newbold Indian
756United States Ben Giese Yamaha
823United States Brendon Lutes Indian
966United States Shaun Guardado Harley-Davidson
1074United States Helder Alvernaz Harley-Davidson

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References

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    - Sean MacDonald (16 December 2015). "Behold The Controlled Chaos That Is Flat Track Motorcycle Racing". Jalopnik. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
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  2. "AMA Pro". Fanschoice.tv. Archived from the original on 14 May 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  3. "NBC Sports Network Tune-In Alert: Superprestigio of the Americas to be broadcast on Sunday, Nov. 29 on NBC Sports Network". Cycle World. 28 November 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  4. 1 2 "NBCSN PRESENTS FORMULA ONE SEASON FINALE THIS SUNDAY AT 7:30 A.M. ET WITH LIVE COVERAGE OF ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX". NBC Sports Pressbox. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  5. Jensen Beeler (8 June 2015). "Superprestigio of the Americas Announced". Asphalt & Rubber. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  6. "Road racers enjoy Superprestigio of the Americas Warm Up in Vegas". CSBK. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  7. Ed Subias (3 December 2015). "Super Hooligan Flat Track Race". Hot Bike. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
    - Colin Fraser (21 November 2015). "Lawrence Fights for Final at Superprestigio in Vegas". Inside Motorcycles. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  8. "Superprestigio of the Americas Results 2015". Motorcycle USA. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  9. "Kevin Schwantz Named Grand Marshal for Superprestigio of the Americas". MotoAmerica. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  10. "Special Superprestigio of the Americas ring will be awarded to event winner". AMA Pro Racing. 5 October 2015. Archived from the original on 8 October 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2016.