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AMA Pro Superbike
AMA XR1200: This Barney’s No Dinosaur
Michael Barnes earned the first individual AMA Pro title of his career in 2012 after more than two decades of trying.
2012 AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Champion Michael Barnes (Photo: Evan Williams)
One of the most entertaining championships during the 2012 racing season was the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 class. Popular veteran Michael Barnes came out on top of a season-long, three-way battle for the title that held plenty of drama until after the checkered flag flew in New Orleans.
'Barney' has always gritted his teeth and pushed to the maximum but nothing has come easy for the Floridian. He’s always had to work extra hard to overcome some bad luck and this season was no different. Perhaps it was even harder. Barnes rode for three teams in 2012, faced a new challenge with the Shootout format that made it more difficult for him, and oh yeah… a final lap, final turn arm bar move that had to make him think, “Not again.”
Barnes won the last two races to stamp his boot print on the season. His two toughest competitors in 2012 were Kyle Wyman and Tyler O’Hara. Barnes spent the early season as O’Hara’s teammate but finished as Wyman’s. And to be honest, it looked like both of Barnes' rivals had the better shot at winning the title along the way.
Wyman won Daytona, Road America, and Barber before the top ten was reset before Indy. O’Hara won Road Atlanta, Miller, and Mid-Ohio. Barnes had been on the podium each race before the Shootout began, but his lone win came at Sonoma.
These three riders battled at the front and showed they had the command of how to ride the XR1200s around the circuits. These bikes don’t have the power of a Superbike or the nimble handling of a DSB machine, but that doesn’t mean they are easy to ride fast. Barnes, Wyman, and O’Hara all know when to let the steed play the bucking bronco and when to manhandle it.
Indy was a wild event and Wyman and O’Hara ended up splitting the wins. Barnes finished off the box for the first time with fourth and fifth place results, and fortunately for him it was the only time all year.
After finishing second to Shane Narbonne in Jersey, Barney entered Homestead in fourth place, but the Boca Raton resident won his home race. Wyman was done, out after suffering two late-season concussions. That left a winner-take-all race in New Orleans between O’Hara and Barnes.
After an dramatic duel, Barnes was on top through the last lap and led exiting the final corner -- but O’Hara grabbed his arm coming down the straight as they sprinted to the checkered flag. No one watching it could have possibly even considered AMA Pro would let that move stand, but Barnes shook his head and pointed as O’Hara came past him. They were both upset after the race as the sanctioning body made it known Barnes was the winner.
Quite a few of his racer friends came over to celebrate the moment with Barnes and it was also nice to see him be recognized at the AMA Pro banquet the next evening. He’s truly a deserving champ.
'Barney' has always gritted his teeth and pushed to the maximum but nothing has come easy for the Floridian. He’s always had to work extra hard to overcome some bad luck and this season was no different. Perhaps it was even harder. Barnes rode for three teams in 2012, faced a new challenge with the Shootout format that made it more difficult for him, and oh yeah… a final lap, final turn arm bar move that had to make him think, “Not again.”
Barnes won the last two races to stamp his boot print on the season. His two toughest competitors in 2012 were Kyle Wyman and Tyler O’Hara. Barnes spent the early season as O’Hara’s teammate but finished as Wyman’s. And to be honest, it looked like both of Barnes' rivals had the better shot at winning the title along the way.
Wyman won Daytona, Road America, and Barber before the top ten was reset before Indy. O’Hara won Road Atlanta, Miller, and Mid-Ohio. Barnes had been on the podium each race before the Shootout began, but his lone win came at Sonoma.
These three riders battled at the front and showed they had the command of how to ride the XR1200s around the circuits. These bikes don’t have the power of a Superbike or the nimble handling of a DSB machine, but that doesn’t mean they are easy to ride fast. Barnes, Wyman, and O’Hara all know when to let the steed play the bucking bronco and when to manhandle it.
Indy was a wild event and Wyman and O’Hara ended up splitting the wins. Barnes finished off the box for the first time with fourth and fifth place results, and fortunately for him it was the only time all year.
After finishing second to Shane Narbonne in Jersey, Barney entered Homestead in fourth place, but the Boca Raton resident won his home race. Wyman was done, out after suffering two late-season concussions. That left a winner-take-all race in New Orleans between O’Hara and Barnes.
After an dramatic duel, Barnes was on top through the last lap and led exiting the final corner -- but O’Hara grabbed his arm coming down the straight as they sprinted to the checkered flag. No one watching it could have possibly even considered AMA Pro would let that move stand, but Barnes shook his head and pointed as O’Hara came past him. They were both upset after the race as the sanctioning body made it known Barnes was the winner.
Quite a few of his racer friends came over to celebrate the moment with Barnes and it was also nice to see him be recognized at the AMA Pro banquet the next evening. He’s truly a deserving champ.
AMA SBK Homestead-Miami
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