Seems like it was just last week that the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season was wrapping up in Pomona, California. Jared Mees won back the number-one plate from Brad Baker, and Kyle Johnson claimed the GNC 2 title by the narrowest of margins over Davis Fisher. But that was then, and this is now. All of the riders will get a fresh start March 12-13 when the series kicks off with rounds one and two at the Daytona short track. A lot has changed as we head into the new season. First, let’s look at what took place behind the scenes at AMA Pro Racing. Former national number 16 Ronnie Jones was brought in as senior director of AMA Pro Flat Track. Over the course of his career, Jones raced in multiple eras and has a lot of knowledge and experience to do his job effectively. As Chris Carr said last week on Flat Track Weekly Radio, “Ronnie is very level-headed. He’s not a pushover from a political standpoint, and now the riders have someone running the business of flat track who is one of their own.” 
Speaking of Carr, his remarkable talents and knowledge of the sport will be put to excellent use this year, as he will be calling the shots alongside Scottie Deubler on FansChoice.TV . I have been saying for years now that we have to find a way to get Carr involved in the growth of flat track, and my prayers have finally been answered. This is great news and the fans are in for a real treat listening to Carr and “Hollywood” call the action with Dani Medin joining the team as pit reporter. Now let’s talk about the riders. I am not sure who came up with the term, “silly season,” but it was strong this past off-season. Several riders have switched brands, and a lot of riders have changed teams. Jake Johnson has joined Hart Racing alongside fast young gun Briar Bauman. Both of these riders will fight for podiums throughout the season on the proven Hart Racing Kawasaki singles and twins. Sammy Halbert made a big splash by announcing his new ride with Briggs Auto on Johnny Goad-tuned Kawasakis. I expect this team will have one or two Harley-Davidson XR750s, as well, but that hasn’t been confirmed. Halbert is always a strong contender, and this year he is showing up with guns loaded to make an even more serious run at the title. 
Henry Wiles is another championship hopeful. Wiles will be riding for Zanotti Racing this season. If there were ever a time for Wiles to win the title, that time is now. Jeffrey Carver Jr. is replacing Wiles on the Don’s Kawasaki team. With a proper team behind him, Carver should perform well and contend for the top 10 in overall points. Latus Motors Triumph has experienced its share of growing pains the past couple seasons. The signing of Brandon Robinson for 2015 intrigues me. I grew up racing with Brandon, and he is a tall, very smooth, and calculating rider. I think he will have some good races on that motorcycle. Speaking of British twins, 2013 Rookie of the Year Jake Shoemaker is replacing Mikey Martin on the Bonneville Triumph. Shoemaker was quite successful on a Kawasaki twin during the past couple of seasons, and it will be interesting to see how he fares on a completely different motorcycle. Martin will be riding for Weirbach Racing. He won the Pro Singles championship in 2011 with that team and will be Kawasaki-mounted in the twins series and ride a Honda in singles events. 
Former Triumph riders Johnny Lewis and my sister, Shayna, will be racing in 2015, but their plans aren’t known yet. Lewis has yet to announce a twins ride. Texter will be racing a Kawasaki, but she may also compete in select races on a different brand of motorcycle. Lewis and Texter are pre-entered for the Daytona short-track on a KTM and a Honda , respectively. Schoolteacher Nichole Mees recently announced that this will be her last full season of competition. Mees is one of the most decorated riders in the sport and always a strong main-event contender on a twin-cylinder motorcycle. Maybe she will continue to race select events in the future, but this is not clear, but her reigning champion husband, Jared is continuing full time. Dan Ingram recently posted on his Facebook page that he is retiring from flat track. He said it was a tough call, but he got a new promotion at his job so he had to make a decision. Ingram proved he still has the speed to hang with us younger riders over the past couple years, and he will be missed. I wouldn’t be surprised, however, to see him find a ride for the Indy Mile. 
There are a handful of riders from the 2014 GNC 2 class that will be making the move to the GNC 1 class this season. Some of the front-runners for the 2015 Rookie of the Year Award include 2014 GNC 2 Champion Kyle Johnson and Jarod Vanderkooi. That is a lot to take in, and I’ve just scratched the surface. What about national number 65, you ask? I bought a Honda CRF450R so I could compete at Daytona. Otherwise, I am still on the market for a twins ride. Hopefully something will come together before the Springfield Mile in May because I still have the drive to compete against all the riders mentioned above, and I know I can be competitive. Who am I picking to win the GNC 1 and GNC 2 championships this season? For GNC 2, I feel this is Davis Fisher’s championship to lose. He has the speed to win and has the experienced Parkinson Brothers team behind him. Dan Bromley, Dalton Gauthier, Ryan Wells, and Bronson Bauman will be contenders, as well. 
In GNC 1, I can’t go against Jared Mees. I feel he is the only rider out there with a complete package. He can win on a single, and he can win on a twin. He has one of the best teams with Kenny Tolbert and Sammy Sweet, and his training program is at a very high level. I don’t expect Bryan Smith to go down without a fight, though. There are lots of miles on the schedule, and I know the Crosley Radio Kawasaki is fast. I think those two will take the title down to the wire once again. Jake Johnson, Kenny Coolbeth, and Sammy Halbert round out my top five, but I am not sure about final order. Brad Baker should be in there somewhere, too, but he is dealing with an injury that will force him to miss Daytona. Baker is a class act and a great representative for our sport. He’ll be back. Enough of this cold weather and snow in the Northeast. I’m headed to Florida. See you in Daytona! 
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