AMA Press Releases

The American Motorcyclist Association extends its gratitude this Veterans Day, Nov. 11, to the U.S. military servicemen and servicewomen for the sacrifices they have made while preserving American freedom.

Cyriel “Babe” DeMay, an AMA Grand National competitor who raced from the early 1950s to the late 1960s before becoming a leading tuner and team owner on the AMA Grand National circuit, died Oct. 26 at his home in Rossville, Tenn. He was 88.

National champions will be crowned during a six-race EnduroCross series, a closed-course extreme off-road discipline organized by Cycle City Promotions and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association.

The series, which gets underway Oct. 23, pits riders head-to-head for a chance to win an AMA National Championship at the end of the season.

The AMA Road Race Grand Championship returns to Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., Oct. 22-25, with the 2020 WERA Grand National Final.

The official U.S. amateur road racing championship, sanctioned by the AMA and operated by WERA Motorcycle Racing Inc., features 13 competition classes for motorcycles from 400cc to 1,000cc.

The country’s top amateur racers will compete for AMA National No. 1 plates, as well as for the Nicky Hayden AMA Road Race Horizon Award, which goes to the rider showing the most promise for success in the professional ranks. Past winners of the AMA Road Race Horizon Award have included Xavier Zayat, Anthony Mazziotto III, Jason DiSalvo, Hayden Gillim, Jake Lewis, Ben Spies, Miles Thornton and Blake Young.

Veteran campaign manager Peter Stockus has joined the American Motorcyclist Association staff as the government relations manager for off-highway issues.

Stockus most recently oversaw land-use, candidate campaigns and other issues for the Calvert Street Group, a political consulting firm in Nashville, Tenn. His campaign experience dates to 2016.

At the AMA, Stockus will report to AMA Government Relations Director Mike Sayre.

The 2020 AMA Supermoto National Championship features two days of competition in November in Tucson. Ariz., to determine who receives the coveted AMA National No. 1 plate in five classes.

Originally scheduled as a six-event series, this national championship, sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association, will consist of four points-earning races. The format includes two races per day Nov. 7-8. Each race offers points toward the overall championship. The six scheduled events were canceled due to restrictions put in place by government officials during the coronavirus pandemic.

With the long weekend for the Labor Day holiday Sept. 5-7, the American Motorcyclist Association asks motorists to be especially aware of nearby motorcycles as they travel to family gatherings and other outings.

“As we acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and contributions of American workers on this holiday, all road users must be aware of the increase in traffic and potential distractions that come with holiday weekends,” AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman said. “We must recognize our responsibility for the safety of our passengers and those in and on other vehicles we encounter in our travels.”

The AMA urges riders and drivers to stay alert, maintain plenty of space between vehicles and take an extra look before changing lanes.

AMA member Tiffany Cipoletti, who has worked on motorcycle rights issues in Washington, D.C., for more than a decade, is the new American Motorcyclist Association government relations manager for on-highway issues.

She will be based at the AMA Government Relations office in Washington, D.C., reporting to AMA Government Relations Director Mike Sayre.

Members of the American Motorcyclist Association are eligible for a 10 percent discount on all online courses offered by Street Skills LLC, a new AMA Member Benefit Partner.

The Street Skills curriculum is based on Jon DelVecchio’s 2018 book “Cornering Confidence: The Formula for 100% Control in Curves,” and includes 109 online lessons.

The 2020 American Motorcyclist Association Hillclimb Grand Championship, the amateur national championship event for motorcycle and ATV hillclimb, is rescheduled for Sept. 19-20 at the Pioneer Motorcycle Club in Waterford, Ohio.

The American Motorcyclist Association will not participate in the 2020 Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme Motocross of Nations, Sept. 25-27, in Matterley Basin, Great Britain, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Some 200 motorcyclists took advantage of sunny skies and warm weather on Saturday, July 11, to attend an open house and bike night supporting the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame museum.