Henry Wiles to join forces with Kenny Coolbeth and Zanotti Racing for 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track season
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 22, 2014) – Henry Wiles, winner of 24 GNC1 main events since his debut season in 2003, will be fielded by Zanotti Racing for the upcoming 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track season.
Headed by Dave Zanotti, Zanotti Racing has been one of the premier organizations in the AMA Pro Flat Track arena for some time now, and adding a rider of Wiles’ caliber to flank three-time Grand National Champion Kenny Coolbeth will only strengthen its already impressive reputation.
“I’ve known that Dave (Zanotti) is a very smart guy,” said Wiles. “He wants to do what I want to do, which is win races and compete for a championship. I believe this was a great move for me and that we can accomplish these things together. I’m very excited heading into the 2015 season.”
Wiles will ride the Zanotti Racing Harley-Davidsons at Half-Mile and Mile long circuits, and will be mounted on a Zanotti Racing Honda CRF450R in TT (Tourist Trophy) and short track events.
Though Coolbeth didn’t earn the championship, Wiles’ newly acquired teammate had an excellent first year competing under Zanotti in 2014, finishing fourth in points for his best showing since 2011. Both Coolbeth and Wiles will make up arguably the strongest one-two-punch combination the series will see in 2015, as both riders have proven the ability to compete competitively at the highest level. Together, they have 57 GNC1 victories.
Wiles has dominated one race for the last decade, and he’s confident he will be able to keep his streak of conclusive Peoria TT wins alive next summer. Another victory there would be his 11th in a row.
“I’m definitely looking forward to Peoria,” said Wiles. “There are a lot of other good riders out there and I’m sure they’re going to bring everything they’ve got to try and wrestle that win away from me. When it comes to the 450s, I’ve done fairly well on a lot of the tracks that we visit. Peoria in particular is a very fast track, which I think caters to my style of racing tremendously. The event as a whole is phenomenal and it’s always fun riding there.”
Though Wiles will be attacking Peoria on a Honda this year as opposed to a Kawasaki, the bike he’s used to win the prestigious event, the Michigan product will still be the odds-on favorite to claim the coveted Peoria TT checkered flag come Aug. 16.
Both Wiles and Coolbeth are poised for strong 2015 seasons. When Coolbeth couldn’t race at the season finale at Pomona last October due to an injury, Wiles filled his spot and rode the Zanotti Racing Harley-Davidson to a fifth-place finish.
“Dave (Zanotti) is accomplished and he knows how to win,” said Wiles. “That’s what I like.”
Find out just how big of a splash Wiles and Zanotti Racing will make together next season when the lights go green in Daytona on March 12-13. If you can’t make it Daytona, the entire event will be streamed live on www.FansChoice.tv.