#DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 10, 2014) - AMA Pro Hillclimbers ascended to Wilkes-Barre, Pa., on Feb. 7 to celebrate the top riders' achievements in the 2014 AMA Pro Hillclimb Championship Series, and to look ahead to the 2015 series.
Michael Gentry, Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing, and Joe Bromley, representing the American Motorcyclist Association, addressed the assembled riders, team owners, crew members, family and officials. They offered congratulations for a great 2014 series and piqued interest with the announcement that FansChoice.tv is looking to add live Internet coverage of select hillclimb events to its already extensive racing coverage.
Vinny Nuzzolilli, from Massachusetts, took top honors in the Unlimited Class. Nuzzolilli battled head-to-head with chief rival, Minnesota rider, Jay Sallstrom throughout the year and was tied for points after seven rounds. Nuzzolilli clinched the title by just three points in the finale at Oregonia, Ohio. He scored seven podium finishes, three of them wins, in eight rounds. New Yorker, John Koester took the third step on the Unlimited Class podium, just behind Sallstrom.
Koester topped the Xtreme Class podium for 2014, winning his second championship in a row. Like Nuzzolilli in Unlimited, Koester amassed 182 out of a possible 200 points on the season. He chalked up five wins and six podium finishes in eight rounds of racing, ending the season a full 10 points ahead of his nearest competitor, Sallstrom. Pennsylvania rider, Phil Libhart took third on the year.
Pro Sport Rookie of the Year, Matt Walker, from Johnstown, Pa., took the title in his class despite missing Round 4. Walker stepped onto the podium six times during the year and took three wins, with 157 points to his credit. He said taking the title his first year on the circuit was a "dream come true."
Walker also announced he's moving up to an expert-class bike for 2015. Rounding out the Pro Sport podium for 2014 was Kyle Welch of South Glastonbury, Conn., and Molly Carbon of Bellingham, Mass., respectively.
Extreme Class Rookie of the Year honors went to flat track rider Cory Strickler of Delta Pa., who joined the series for the last three rounds, and showed a knack for translating flat track skills to uphill riding.
White Rose Motorcycle Club, promoter and host club for the Jefferson, Pa., hillclimbs was recognized as "Club/Promoter of the Year."
George Longabaugh, longtime mechanic for Dr. Bob's Racing, received the "Behind the Scenes" award and Ralph Kreeger was recognized with the "Mechanic of the Year" award.
"Showman of the Year" and the Shawn P. Farnsworth High-Point Rider awards (highest combined point total for both expert classes) both went to Sallstrom.
The hillclimb community was saddened in 2014 by the loss of two riders; Colin Krenzul, from Massachusetts, who passed away from injuries sustained in a street bike accident and Todd Libhart, from Maytown, Pa., who passed away from injuries sustained in a crash at the final round at Oregonia, Ohio. The families of these riders received Tear-Drop Memorials honoring the fine riders.
Todd Libhart and his brother, Phil, were honored as the "Sportsmen of the Year" and Todd was honored with the "Dave Watson Hard Charger" award for 2014.
Looking ahead to 2015, the season will begin May 30, when riders head south for the Buffalo Valley Hillclimb at the Middle Tennessee Dragway in Cookesville, Tenn., The race will coincide with the Tennessee State HOG (Harley Owners Group) Rally, promising the area's first taste of AMA Pro Hillclimb will be exciting.
Rounds 2 and 3 will return to Pennsylvania where, on June 7, White Rose Motorcycle Club will host the series at Jefferson, Pa. One week later the Bushkill Valley Motorcycle Club will be home to round three at Freemansburg, Pa., on June 14.
Next, it's off to the Granite State for Round 4 in Canaan, N.H., where Ridge Runner Promotions will host the All Star Challenge during the renowned Laconia Bike Week on June 17. With four rounds in just 18 days, there's little time between to recover from an injury or a blown engine.
Round 5 will serve as the kick-off event for the Ogemaw Hills Bike Week in West Branch, Mich., on July 19.
Teams get to rest, or make repairs, during August, then the series returns to Pennsylvania for Round 6 at Freemansburg on Sept. 13 and Round 7 at Jefferson on Sept. 27. Round 7 is being held in conjunction with the White Rose Thunder Rally and Harley-Davidson open house held in nearby York, Pa.
The series wrap-up and crowning of the champions will happen at The Staircase at the Dayton Motorcycle Club in Oregonia, Ohio, on Oct. 11.
The AMA Pro Hillclimb Series receives sponsorship from VP Racing Fuels, Wiseco Performance Products, ALCO Cleaning Products, PSYCHMX Graphix, and Tilt-A-Rack.
