AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series

The AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series is an exciting and unique division of AMA Pro Road Racing featuring Harley-Davidson XR1200s modified with a special parts and accessories kit provided by famed tuner Vance & Hines. With two AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series races completed in the 2012 season, three dominant riders have taken each of the podium spots in hotly-contested and highly-competitive battles.

Tyler O'Hara (No. 29 Bartel's Harley-Davidson Harley-Davidson XR1200) has made it known that he is a force to be reckoned with. He backed up his breakthrough victory in AMA Pro Road Racing's inaugural event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last year with a solid performance in this year's season-opener at Daytona International Speedway and an impressive point sweep at Road Atlanta. The 25-year-old, who hails from Petaluma, Calif., took his first AMA Pro Road Racing pole position, led the most laps and grabbed the race victory in Braselton, Ga., taking the points lead in the process. O'Hara's last race at Infineon resulted in a fourth-place finish.

Defending Vance & Hines XR1200 Series Champion Kyle Wyman (No. 33 KWR/ Vesrah/ Kuryakyn Harley-Davidson XR1200) took an early lead with another impressive victory at Daytona International Speedway in March. Despite a Road Atlanta crash in the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike division that resulted in a broken heal, the New Yorker persevered and gridded up for the Vance & Hines XR1200 Series final. Heading into Turn 10a at Road Atlanta on the sighting lap, Wyman's Harley-Davidson hit fluid dropped by another competitor which sent him crashing to the ground yet again. Unable to continue on his primary machine, he switched to a back-up bike and started the 10-lap race from the back of the field. In a dedicated march reminiscent of Blake Young's dramatic come-back in AMA Pro National Guard Superbike Race 1 at Road Atlanta the day before, Wyman picked off competitors lap after lap to finish third and maintain second in the point standings.

O'Hara's teammate is longtime AMA Pro veteran Michael Barnes (No. 34 Bartel's Harley-Davidson Harley-Davidson XR1200), who currently sits third in the standings with a season-best finish of second at Road Atlanta. Still looking for his first AMA Pro Vance & Hines Series victory, Barnes has collected four podiums in the class since 2010 including a second-place finish in last year's race at Infineon Raceway.

Kyle Wyman's younger brother Travis Wyman (No. 24 Harv's Harley-Davidson XR1200) is fourth in the Vance & Hines XR1200 Series points heading into the third race weekend of 2012, followed by veteran David Estok (No. 123 Trev Deeley/Ruthless Racing Harley-Davidson XR1200).

Michael Corbino (No. 15 XP Motorsports Harley-Davidson XR1200), Darren James (No. 229 Ruthless/Deeley Racing Harley-Davidson XR1200), Gerry Signorelli (No. 88 Kuryakyn/Racing for a Wish Harley-Davidson XR1200), Bennie Carlson (No. 45 Suburban Harley Davidson ·Bell Harley-Davidson XR1200) and Josh Chisum (No. 10 Bartel's Harley-Davidson XR1200) hold positions six through 10 in the point standings, respectively, and all but Carlson are entered in this weekend's event. Chisum is another rider with local ties, hailing from Bakersfield, Calif.

Post-entries for the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series are accepted until Saturday morning. The first practice for the class will begin on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and a 45-minute qualifying session starting at 4:15 p.m. will set the XR1200 Series grid and close out the day's on-track AMA Pro Road Racing activity. The big twins will begin their 11-lap battle at 12:30 p.m. local time on Sunday afternoon.