LAKE ODESSA, MICH. (July 14, 2010) - Scott Powersports/DR.D/Pit Posse/Monster Energy's Johnny Lewis headed to Michigan this past weekend with aspirations to compete in his first-ever AMA Pro K&N Filters Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com (GNC) Flat Track Twins Half-Mile main event after two previous tries this season. With a new motor in his Scott Powersports Kawasaki 650 custom flat-tracker, this athlete came away with an impressive seventh among the nation's elite, veteran racers at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Michigan on Saturday, July 10.

After two previous outings on the Scott Powersports Kawasaki 650, the Springfield Mile and the Lima Half-Mile, Lewis' crew did extensive work on bike set-up and built a brand-new motor with the goal to make the main event in Michigan. At Springfield in May, Lewis had a bike failure. The crew was able to resolve the motor failure for the next race. Then in Lima last month, Lewis made significant progress just missing out on the main event.

On Saturday night at I-96 Speedway in the Mecca of the flat track world and surrounded by the infamous Michigan Mafia, Lewis was destined to improve. He qualified in practice at 17th place among more than 50 competitors. On the half-mile oval, a return to this track for the AMA Pro GNC series after a few years hiatus, Lewis rode hard and smooth on his Custom Axis Racing Shocks-suspended Kawasaki 650 to earn a sixth-place. That was not enough to advance him directly to the main as only the top four finishers transfer directly.

The Scott Powersports crew made some more adjustments and Lewis headed out for the semi. This was the last chance to make the main event. Lewis made his way to the front right away and was able to run with fellow Kawasaki-mounted rider Bryan Smith, the only other top competitor on Japanese-manufactured equipment. Lewis held on for second, allowing him to continue his night and enter the 25-lap main event, the first-time ever AMA Pro GNC Twins main for the recently turned 21 year-old.

In the main event as the initial laps ticked off, Lewis was working his way through the pack. Then oil spilled on the dirt oval which caused him to crash. The race was red flagged. On the restart, Lewis was on the fourth row. He kept in a fast groove line and was soon running in the top ten. With raw determination and pure talent, Lewis made his way to seventh with his fastest lap during lap 24, the white flag lap. At the checkers, Lewis earned seventh on his white and red custom Kawasaki flat-tracker.

"Mike Scott and crew worked hard all week and even on race day to get the bike ready with the new motor," said Lewis who wears number 10 in custom Alpinestars leathers during Twins races. "It was only my third time racing this bike and we started off with a whole new 650cc motor competing against mostly 750cc bikes. Every time I was on the bike, we gained some speed and figured out something new to do to make my performance better. Finishing and then earning a top ten in my first half-mile main is awesome!"

After eight events run in the AMA Pro GNC Flat Track Championship, Lewis sits in ninth place in the standings with 65 points. This is already an accomplishment, considering he missed round three and did not make the main events in rounds four and five. Additionally, in the AMA Pro GNC Singles standings, Lewis is in seventh place, only 12 points back from third place.

The next stop on the circuit will be round nine at the AMA Pro GNC Calistoga Half-Mile at the Calistoga Fairgrounds in Calistoga, California on Saturday, July 31. Race fans be sure to watch Scott Powersports/DR.D/Pit Posse/Monster Energy's Johnny Lewis on the #10 white and red custom Kawasaki 650 flat-tracker. Stop by his pit area to pick up a custom Johnny Lewis poster by Axis Designs. Keep posted to Lewis on Twitter at www.twitter.com/johnnylewis21 and visit his website at www.johnnylewis.org. You may also "friend" him on Facebook by searching under "Johnny Lewis."