Harleys to race in August at IMS during Indianapolis GP

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The thunder of Harley-Davidson V-Twin engines will roar around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this summer as the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 division will compete at the fourth annual Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Aug. 26-28.

It will be the Brickyard debut for AMA Pro Racing's newest class, which features intense competition on nearly identical Harley-Davidson XR1200 motorcycles. This is the second season for the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 division, which features handlebar-to-handlebar action that puts a premium on rider skill and strategy due to spec-based machinery.

"We're thrilled to welcome AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 racing to the Red Bull Indianapolis GP," said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president and chief executive officer. "The distinctive rumble of Harley-Davidson thunder and close competition will provide even more on-track entertainment for our loyal fans and enhance what will be the motorcycle event of the year in the United States."

The AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 division adds a fourth class of racing to the Red Bull Indianapolis GP weekend, as it joins the three World Championship classes - MotoGP, Moto2 and 125cc - competing on the 16-turn, 2.621-mile circuit that combines part of the famed IMS oval with an infield section.

"This is an extremely important development for AMA Pro Racing, and we're very proud to have been invited to race on the world stage as a companion to MotoGP," said David Atlas, AMA Pro Racing chief operating officer and managing member. "We're excited to be able to showcase our series on such a platform and honored to have a relationship with a venue of IMS' stature. We're looking forward to a fantastic event."

The AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 class is open to Harley-Davidson XR1200X motorcycles modified with a Vance & Hines kit that includes items such as exhaust system, belly fan, front fender, front wheel and seat assembly. Additional modifications are limited to racing suspension, hand and foot controls, brake components and instrumentation. Like all other AMA Pro Road Racing classes, the Vance & Hines XR1200 class uses Dunlop spec tires and Sunoco spec fuel.
"The sound of Harley-Davidson motorcycles resonates with riders across the globe, and we are excited about this opportunity to bring the thunder of XR1200 racing to a worldwide audience at one of the greatest racing venues in the world," said Steve Piehl, Harley-Davidson director of customer experience.

The Indianapolis double-header will be the eighth of nine rounds in the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 series this season, setting up a decisive weekend of racing at IMS. A test for the series Thursday, Aug. 18 and Friday, Aug. 19 at IMS will precede the race weekend.

Chris Fillmore, from Oxford, Mich., is the series points leader after three races in 2011, with Steve Rapp second and Kyle Wyman third. Joe Kopp, a veteran of AMA Flat Track competition at the Indy Mile, is fourth. Danny Eslick is the reigning series champion.

AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 racing also features an Indiana rider, Mike Morgan of Goshen, among its regular competitors.

The Red Bull Indianapolis GP will be the final stop on the exciting Hole Shot Tour Aug. 24-28 for Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) members. The Hole Shot Tour includes VIP perks at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee followed by a ride to Indianapolis, where participants can watch the Red Bull Indianapolis GP, ride a victory lap around the IMS track and watch Harleys in action at the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track Championship event at the legendary Indy Mile at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.