LAKE ODESSA, Mich. (July 27, 2011) – Two days prior to the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track Championship round 11, Scott Powersports/Triple J Racing/DR.D’s Johnny Lewis was with other RIDE Academy instructors to give students dirt track racing techniques. Although the I-96 Speedway Half-Mile was not one of his best finishes this season, he certainly put on a technique show during the semi qualifier race on Saturday, July 23. Lewis finished 13th in the GNC Twins expert main event.

I-96 Speedway created a festival of sorts highlighted by the AMA Pro Flat Track race. Spectators saw exciting racing along with a free concert. The track earlier in the day was loose with sand mixed in with the clay likely due to the extreme hot temperatures and lack of rain in Michigan during the past several weeks. After the half-mile oval was watered, it became more hard-packed and there were multiple lines.

During the practice sessions, Lewis tried out both his primary and back-up #10 Scott Powersports Kawasaki 650 flat trackers to find the best set-up for the I-96 Speedway. While he improved his time during the second timed qualifying session, he notched 32nd on his primary race bike.

In front of the diehard Michigan flat track fans, Lewis was in his custom black and red AXO leathers and all black Arai helmet on the second row for the second heat race. He was running fourth late into the heat rate when suddenly his hand went up and he exited the track. The bike was chugging in the waning laps. It was discovered that the bike had a broken fuel line. Scott Powersports’ owner Mike Scott immediately went to work to fix the bike and had even prepped the back-up Kawasaki 650 twin until he managed to repair the primary Kawasaki.

Due to the heat race DNF, Lewis was placed in the back row in the second semi race. His bike was running cool and ready to go thanks to the FLUIDYNE radiator. Only three riders would transfer to the main event. If Lewis didn’t make one of those spots, the team would be packing up early. After the start, he bulleted through the pack passing five riders before exiting turn two. Lewis would pass riders on both the high and low lines, inside and outside, putting on a show for fans. When the race was red flagged, he was in fourth. On the restart, the Dubach Racing Development (DR.D)-sponsored Lewis jumped into third place with only four laps left. With two laps left, he passed both second and first place riders in nearly a single move to get into the lead and take it to the checkers.

The Scott Powersports team felt strong after the semi win following the earlier struggles, though they knew this night could still throw wrenches into their plans. After some bike adjustments and a race strategy session, Lewis went to the line for the AMA Pro GNC Expert Twins main event. In the 25-lap main, he was on the back row. At the start Lewis rocketed through the pack to be in the top five in the early going. However after a few laps, he soon looked to be moving back although at first he appeared he would make a run for a podium spot. As the laps waned, Lewis battled with a group for a top 10 finish and would end up at the back of that pack. At the checkers he finished 13th place.

“We had a tough night for the most part and good we came away with valuable points in the main,” said Lewis, the long-time Silkolene-sponsored racer. “It could have been worse. We chose the wrong gearing for the main and it spun the wheel too much, eating up the rubber. The left side of my tire was nearly bald when I came back to the pit. I put some of my RIDE Academy techniques to work to maintain a finish for points, and definitely used the technique in the semi. We keep learning these tracks and the bike.”

Following the night of racing at I-96 Speedway, Lewis talked about the event in this video interview from the pits: http://youtu.be/Rei8MwasHsc.

Lewis remains in sixth place in the 2011 AMA Pro H-D Insurance Flat Track Championship standings with 122 points, only nine points from the top five.

“We’re on a three-week road trip that began with the RIDE Academy two-day school in Michigan last week. We just arrived in California for the Sacramento Mile. We’re really looking forward to that event and getting our Kawasaki on the mile track. Come on out and watch us race the groove!”

Race fans head to the Sacramento Mile on Saturday, July 30 at the Cal Expo Fair in Sacramento, Calif., round 12 of the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track Championship. Stop by the Scott Powersports pit to meet Lewis, and enter his JL10 Sponsor Giveaway drawing and get an autographed poster. He will have limited edition T-shirts available for sale. Then, watch him on the mile on his Scott Powersports/Triple J Racing/DR.D #10 Kawasaki 650 flat tracker in his custom AXO leathers. Keep up with Lewis on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lewis10 and his new website at www.lewis10.com.

About Johnny Lewis
Professional athlete Johnny Lewis of Coatesville, Pennsylvania has been competing in the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship (GNC) for the past two seasons, earning tenth during the 2010 season. The 2010 season was his first full year racing in both the Singles (short track and TT) and Twins (half-mile and mile) events. Prior to flat track, Lewis raced in the AMA Pro Supermoto Championship for three full seasons where he was the youngest to ever win in the Unlimited Class. He won many championships and races as an amateur dirt track competitor. In 2011, the 21 year-old Lewis will race the number 10 Scott Powersports/DR.D/Pit Posse/Monster Energy Honda CRF450F in AMA Pro Flat Track Singles events and the number 10 custom Kawasaki Ninja 650 flat tracker in AMA Pro Flat Track Twins races. Lewis would like to thank his sponsors that make the 2011 season possible: Scott Powersports, Dubach Racing Development (DR.D), Saddleman, Triple J Racing, Pit Posse, Monster Energy. AXO, Arai, Kicker Audio, K&N Filters, Matrix Concepts, Axis Designs, Silkolene, Penske Racing Shocks, Pro Moto Billet, Factory Box, Engine Ice, ALL Balls, Boyesen, TRX Fitness Anywhere, Myers Trucking, Metro Racing, FLUIDYNE, Violation Goggles, Victory Circle Graphics, Spider Grips, ActionSportsTV.com, and MotoPR. Visit www.lewis10.com to follow Johnny Lewis' season.