Saillant promoted, Broadhead joins staff

SAILLANT PROMOTED, BROADHEAD HIRED AS PART OF ONGOING AMA STAFF RESTRUCTURING

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Nov. 14, 2006) -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and AMA Pro Racing are pleased to announce that Ken Saillant has been promoted to Flat Track Director and Morgan Broadhead will join the company as Road Race Manager.

Saillant will oversee Flat Track racing activities in both the AMA's professional and amateur racing programs. Flat Track Manager Bruce Bober will report to Saillant. Responsibility for the AMA Hillclimb Championship will also fall under Saillant.

Saillant is a 17 year AMA member. A racer, Saillant promoted flat track events in the 1990s throughout the Midwest, including promoting the AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships and co-promoting an AMA Grand National Championship event. Race Director for AMA Sports Dirt Track Grand Championships since 2000, Saillant was hired as AMA Sports Track Racing manager in March of 2005.

"I'm looking forward to working with our committees to determine a strong direction for the future of flat track and hillclimb," Saillant said. "Flat track racing is one of the most traditional and exciting forms of racing in motorcycling and we need to continue to try and find innovative ways to help that form of competition thrive. We'll also work hard to ensure that hillclimb competition is properly managed."

Broadhead will report to Road Race Director Keith Kizer and will manage the AMA Superbike Championship. Broadhead replaces Ron Barrick who will continue with the company.

Broadhead joins the AMA from American Suzuki Motor Corporation where he has overseen Suzuki's road racing and drag racing contingency programs since 2002. He has served as Suzuki's representative on the AMA Road Racing Advisory board and has extensive experience in the industry having also managed motorsports programs for Freddie Spencer's High Performance Product Line and Phillips Motorsports Group.

"It's a new AMA racing department and I'm excited to be a part of it," said Broadhead. "I've worked with Keith for five years while at Suzuki. He has promised me the support will be there for us and I'm confident that we'll make a good team that can help AMA championship road racing continue to grow."

Broadhead will continue at his current position with Suzuki until Dec. 1, in order to facilitate as smooth a transition as possible for both companies. His first day on the job for the AMA will be at the Daytona tire test on Dec. 5.

The AMA announced in February of this year changes to the organization's structure designed to increase the Association's effectiveness in its core mission of promoting motorcycle "rights. riding. racing."

-credit: ama pro racing