Gettin’ Sideways: AMA Pro Flat Track Peoria TT

AMA Pro Flat Track is one of the most competitive racing series in the world. No two tracks on the schedule are even a tad bit similar, so many different riders have the possibility to claim victory on any given day. Some shine on larger tracks like Springfield and Indy, and others have their best finishes on single-cylinder machines at places like Daytona and Peoria.

Henry Wiles is close to claiming the title as the best single-cylinder rider in the history of the sport. This past Sunday, he scored his 26th Grand National victory (more than 90 percent of those wins have come on 450s) and 10th consecutive win at the historic Peoria TT. Once again, Wiles took on some of the best “TTers” in the world and came out on top at the Peoria Motorcycle Club in front of a packed crowd.

Peoria is not for the weak hearted. Launching 100-plus feet, sideways, over the back-straightaway jump takes grit and determination, especially at the speeds the motorcycles we race today are capable of producing. Racing is a hobby for me. I fund my own singles program, and I don’t have as much fun competing at Peoria as I do some of the other tracks on the schedule, so I sat out this event to get ready for the four remaining twins races. I did, however, manage to get a bird’s-eye view of the action, so here are some highlights:

Next race: August 23, Round 13, Colonial Downs, New Kent, Virginia

Cory Texter is a third-generation motorcycle racer from Willow Street, Pennsylvania. He is currently national number 65 in the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship and has also held an AMA Pro Road Racing license. His father, Randy, was the 1990 AMA TwinSports champion, and his sister, Shayna, is the only female to win an AMA Pro Grand National Expert Singles race. Cory also co-hosts Flat Track Weekly Radio.