The Army National Guard and Parts Unlimited will join together in 2009 as the respective title and presenting sponsors of the AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike presented by Parts Unlimited class. The announcement was made by officials from both organizations and AMA Pro Racing in a press conference today at Daytona International Speedway, site of Thursday's 2009 season-opening AMA Pro American Superbike race.

The paring of the National Guard with Parts Unlimited gives AMA Pro American Superbike one of its strongest title partnerships since the series first ran as a National Championship in 1976. The National Guard is also the first-year title sponsor of the No. 54 National Guard Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 AMA Pro American Superbike and rider Geoff May while Parts Unlimited is celebrating its 10th year as the title sponsor of the Parts Unlimited Canada Superbike Championship.

"The National Guard is an American institution and Parts Unlimited has maintained an iconic presence in North American motorcycle racing for a decade," said AMA Pro Racing President Roger Edmondson. "We are honored that these respected organizations have come together to support AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike presented by Parts Unlimited and look forward to a successful inaugural season and many more mutually beneficial years to come."

Complementing its team and series presence, the National Guard will also be the title partner of the Hometown Heroes portion of AMA Pro Racing's web site AMAProRacing.com. This program will highlight hometown riders and crew members that grew up within the vicinity of AMA Pro Road Racing events as well as service men and women from the same region.

"We planned our involvement in motorcycle road racing with the Jordan Suzuki team but never thought we would be able to launch that program with a complementary title position with the entire AMA Pro American Superbike division," said Sergeant First Class (SFC) John Metzler of the National Guard Bureau Advertising Strength Maintenance Division. "We see a clear spirit of teamwork and cooperation from the new AMA Pro Road Racing that complements the values inherent in the Army National Guard. With a large number of motorcycle enthusiasts in the Army National Guard and future enthusiasts this was a great partnership."