AMA Pro Flat Track riders set to compete in historic Peoria TT

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 12, 2016) - After a thriller at the Black Hills Half Mile in Rapid City, S.D., AMA Pro Flat Track heads to Peoria, Ill. for the 68th running of the historic Peoria TT on Sunday, August 14. Hosted by the Peoria Motorcycle Club, the venue is a hidden gem for any motorcycle or racing enthusiast. Fans are expected to pack the hillsides that surround the 0.6-mile, six-turn track, to try and get the best view possible of the famous jump on the back half of the track that sends riders flying more than 140 feet.

The event dates back to 1947 and boasts some of the most exciting and unpredictable AMA Pro Flat Track action of the season. There is one man in the modern era, however, that has owned Peoria - Henry Wiles. In 2015, Wiles took the checkered flag for an impressive 11th-straight year, stamping his name in the record books with 16 TT wins, the most by any rider to ever compete in the Grand National Championship. Wiles will look to keep his streak alive at the iconic Midwest venue on Sunday when he takes to the track aboard the No. 17 USC Racing Kawasaki.

Although all eyes will be on Wiles to see if he can go for 12-straight wins at Peoria, there is more at stake going into Round 11 of the Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines Championship. Bryan Smith and Jared Mees are once again locked in a heated battle for the crown, with Smith leading Mees by a mere two points with just four rounds to go.

Smith reclaimed the points lead on Tuesday night with an impressive victory at the Black Hills Half-Mile, putting himself in position to claim his career-first GNC1 championship. The Mile specialist finds himself in a familiar position, battling with Mees for the GNC1 Championship all the way down to the wire. Smith is tired of finishing second in the title chase and will look to keep advancing his points lead aboard the No. 42 Crosley/Howerton Kawasaki at Peoria.

At the same time, his rival Mees has a crown to defend and will look to place well at Peoria to reclaim that GNC1 points lead aboard the No. 1 Montgomeryville Cycle Center Honda. The next two rounds - this weekend's Peoria TT and the New York Half-Mile - are critical for Mees as the final two rounds are Mile races at Springfield and Santa Rosa. Smith is a tough man to beat on a Mile, so these two events are Mees' best shot to gain some valuable points. The defending GNC1 champ has finished second or better in each of the last five races, and he looks poised to finish out the 2016 season stronger than ever.

Brandon Robinson continues his resurgence, finishing fourth aboard his Harley-Davidson XR750 in Rapid City. The the Oxford, Pa., native will look to keep that momentum rolling on the No. 44 Kennedy Racing Honda this Sunday in Peoria.

Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. has put together a pair of podium finishes in his last two outings, scoring a pair of third-place finishes at Charlotte and Rapid City. The No. 2 Zanotti Racing pilot sits sixth in the point standings and he is always a threat on   short tracks.

Coolbeth's teammate, Jake Johnson, sits fifth in the GNC1 point standings and will campaign the No. 5 Zanotti Racing Honda in Peoria.

GNC2
No. 94B Ryan Wells took another dominate win at Rapid City, his third this season. Wells heads into Peoria with a healthy 45-point lead in the GNC2 standings.

No. 14A Dalton Gauthier sits second in the point standings and heads into Peoria with three-straight podium appearances. Rounding out the top five in the GNC2 points race is No. 27U Jamison Minor, No. 36B Kolby Carlile and No. 99J Kevin Stollings, respectively.

The 68th running of the Peoria TT is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. CT and will be broadcast live on FansChoice.tv at www.fanschoice.tv/watch-live/ama/flat-track. For tickets and additional information regarding the event, fans are encouraged to visit http://www.peoriamotorcycleclub.net/.​

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