AMA Pro Flat Track
Monster Energy’s Johnny Lewis headed into the 2010 AMA Pro K&N Filters Grand National Championship Flat Track (GNC) motorcycle racing expecting to focus on the AMA Pro Flat Track Singles only.
This all changed when Scott Powersports built a custom Kawasaki Ninja 650 flat tracker to compete in the Twins races. As a result, Lewis earned tenth in the coveted AMA Pro GNC by competing in both classes.
The AMA Pro GNC combines points from half mile and mile oval races on twin engine-based flat track bikes (Twins) and short track and TT events on 450cc-based motocross bikes (Singles). The championship included 17 rounds across the country.
Lewis competed in his ONE Industries gear in the AMA Pro Flat Track Singles races on a Scott Powersports/DR.D/Pit Posse Honda CRF450R. He finished seventh overall in the Singles-only championship points.
Lewis’ best finish was a fourth at round two at the new Daytona Short Track on the grounds of the Daytona International Speedway. Lewis had four top ten finishes in the Singles races.
Racing on a flat track motocross-based bike is not new to Lewis who has competed in these types of events since he was a teenager.
All new to Lewis this season was competing in the AMA Pro Flat Track Twins races. Scott Powersports built a custom Twins racer from a Kawasaki Ninja 650 street bike. The frame and motor work was done completely in-house.
DR.D provided the custom exhaust, Saddleman the seat, Pit Posse numerous hardware, and Custom Axis Racing Shocks/Penske Racing Shocks the custom suspension.
The team experienced bike development pains, including two DNFs, and learned some tricks to make the bike more reliable for the high-speed dirt ovals.
heir hard work paid off when Lewis, riding in Alpinestars leathers, earned a seventh place at round eight at I-96 Speedway in Michigan.
He earned a total of three top ten finishes during the season at the AMA Pro Flat Track Twins races.
Johnny Lewis says: “Coming into this season I didn’t expect to race this much and was going to focus on the Singles races,” explains Lewis who races with national number 10, coincidentally.
“The original plan was to race my Honda CRF450R in the short track and TT events with a goal to finish in the top ten. Suddenly Mike Scott at Scott Powersports came to me and said they’ll build me a Twins bike.”
“We were only going to use this year to develop the Kawasaki flat tracker at a couple races. Once we started finishing in the top ten, we decided to keep racing the Twins events since we were in the AMA Pro GNC points.”
“We documented everything that we can use for next year and I’m getting ready for new season already. I’m beyond happy finishing tenth in the oldest form of motorcycle racing!”
As of this moment, Lewis plans to compete on the Scott Powersports Kawasaki 650 flat tracker with some adjustments based on this season’s learnings. His Singles 450cc brand is undecided and will be based on sponsorship and/or his personal preference.
Lewis is in the process of putting together his 2011 motorcycle racing program. He plans to compete in the entire AMA Pro K&N Filters Grand National Championship.