Buell to Supply Pace Bikes for AMA

Motorcycle.com Staff
by Motorcycle.com Staff

Buell to supply pace bikes for AMA

Motorcycles to replace pace car
By Motorcycle.Com Staff, Jun. 02, 2009
Buell will provide official pace and safety bikes for AMA Pro Road Racing, replacing the pace car introduced at the start of the 2009 racing season.

Starting with the July 17-19 round at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, Buell will supply specially outfitted Ulysses XB12XP police edition motorcycles to lead pre-race warm-up laps and caution periods.

A pair of Buell 1125R sportbikes will serve as chase vehicles to escort race leaders to the pace bike and organize the grid during stoppages.

We are excited that the opportunity was available to support AMA Pro Road Racing by bringing pace and safety motorcycles into the series, says Erik Buell, chairman and chief technical officer of Buell Motorcycle Company. AMA Pro Road Racing has been great to work with, and we were pleased to see how much they wanted to respond to the riders needs with a program that would further enhance the quality of AMA racing events.

Buell will transport and prepare the motorcycles for use while AMA Pro Road Racing will select their riders.

This new partnership with AMA Pro Road Racing just puts the official stamp on what has already been a great relationship between Buell and our organization in Daytona Beach, says Roger Edmondson, AMA Pro Racing president. Buell has made motorcycle racing history in AMA Pro competition the last few seasons and now we will see this same passion and commitment to excellence extend into the promotional arena. We welcome Buell to the AMA Pro Road Racing family of partners.

AMA Pro Road Racing is still finalizing on-track procedures for the new pace and safety bikes. The final details will be announced during the June 5-7 round at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.

Roger Edmondson introduces the Buell pace bikes.
It is important to Buell and AMA Pro Road Racing that we take the time to work with our competitors in developing a full understanding of this new program, says Ollie Dean, AMA Pro Racing vice president of marketing and communications. The pace and safety bike initiatives are designed to provide a better competition experience for the teams, riders and, of course, the fans. We will spend the coming weeks in advance of the Mid-Ohio race educating all involved on these programs and the end result will be a better event experience for everyone.

The use of a pace car was introduced this season to help control the racing field and allow racing to resume easier. The pace car, a Honda Accord, was immediately put to use after a crash in the season opening Daytona 200. As the racers tried to slow behind the safety car, Graves Yamaha rider Tommy Aquino was hit from behind by another rider.

Related Reading
2009 Daytona 200 results

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