Experience will benefit GEICO Honda rider Zemke at New Jersey season finale
MILLVILLE, N.J. (Sept. 9) — It has been almost two months since GEICO Honda SportBike rider Jake Zemke has been on the track, but his years of road racing experience should play in his favor when he returns for the season-ending Devil’s Showdown, Sept. 13-14, at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back on my GEICO Honda after such a long break,” Zemke said. “Two months seems like forever between races. It’s hard to maintain momentum when you’re out of competition for so many weeks in a row. Fortunately, we’ve dealt with this before and we’ll be fine.
“It’s a two-day race format, so you jump right into the fire as soon as you get there. It’s times like these when it pays to have raced for as long as I have. You have it in your head what you’re supposed to do and it’s just a matter of executing.”
Zemke won’t be the only one excited for the AMA Pro Road Racing Series to return to action. Fans have also had to endure the long break in anticipation of the season finale, but Zemke knows the fans won’t be disappointed in New Jersey.
“New Jersey is a fun track and we have always had a great turnout of fans ever since the first year (2009) we started racing there,” Zemke said. “The fans have really supported this race from the start and they are really into motorcycles up there, so that makes it very cool for the riders.”
Sitting 10th in the midst of a tight points battle, Zemke has the opportunity to move up in the standings and reflect the consistent season he has had. However, the veteran rider would like to take it to the next level and finish the year with his GEICO Honda on the podium.
“The guys have been working really hard back at the shop to give me the best possible bike this weekend,” Zemke said. “I want to reward them for all their hard work this year, so I’ll be riding my heart out. It would be great to give GEICO a podium finish before we’re done. We’ve got two chances to get it done.”
Racing action starts Saturday with GoPro Daytona SportBike qualifying at 8:40 and 11:50 a.m. and the first 21-lap SportBike race starting at 3 p.m. The season will wrap up Sunday with the final 21-lap race at 2 p.m.