8th Annual Summit Point Cyclefest
Michelin Pro Series Qualifying
Summit Point, WV
May 25, 2009
As the afternoon program got started at 8th Annual Summit Point Cyclefest, it was clear that track knowledge was going to be the key to victory for all the Michelin Pro Series riders. With the SuperStock field full of local talent, championship contender Brian Stokes had to start at the back of the grid since he missed qualifying and that proved to be difference in the results. Tim Bemisderfer, on his Dunlop-shod Jeff Atwell Racing Kawasaki, started three rows in front of Stokes and turned that advantage into a 6.8 second victory. Stokes, on his Michelin-shod Duponte & Lipton Kawasaki, was able to jump into second from the first lap but could not overcome the track knowledge and talent of Bemisderfer. Stokes settled for second and a 34 point lead in the championship. David Loikits on the Loikits Industries Suzuki finished in third, .9 seconds ahead of pole sitter Arnold Hastings on the SMI Signs Suzuki 750 who finished fourth
Jeff Wood, the four time defending champion in the Michelin Pro Series SuperBike, reminded everyone why he has held the title for so long. Wood started from the pole on the Team Higgins Powersports/Roadracingworld.com Kawasaki and from the first lap to the last lap, Wood was consistently fastest and showed no sign of letting up as he was the only rider to dip into the 1:13 range. Wood finished the 10 lap final 3.88 seconds quicker than Jason Palmer’s Shenandoah Honda sponsored R-6. Palmer kept contact with Wood but was never able to challenge for the lead after the start. Jonathan Lawrence was able to bring his Sprinklers Sales & Service Yamaha in third. Paul Allison on the Chronic Motorsports R-6, struggled to the finish in fifth place fighting off injuries from the previous days Championship Cup Series races to increase his point lead to 34 over Brian Stokes.
When the ThunderBikes rolled to the grid with last year’s Cyclefest winner Bryan Bemisderfer, defending series champion Nate Kern and former champion and current point leader Dan Bilansky all on the front row, you knew it was going to be a great race. Bemisderfer, sponsored by Harley Davidson of Frederick, had the home track advantage of “a million laps” at Summit Point but that didn’t stop Bilansky from taking the holeshot and leading the first lap. Then Kern on the BMW took his turn at the point for a lap leading the three bike battle before Bilansky took back the position on lap 3 and gaped the challengers by 4 or 5 bike lengths. It looked like Bemisderfer suddenly got serious on lap 7 of the 10 lap contest and started to close in on his fellow Buell rider for the lead. “Yeah, I could really close on Danny in turn 5, he would hit the brakes and I’d just roll in there, catching up a couple of bike lengths each time.” said Bemisderfer as he explained his maneuver to catch the front runner. The strategy worked and Bemisderfer was able to dive underneath Bilansky to take the lead on the final lap Kern held on to a lonely third position 12 seconds back while fourth place finished another 11 seconds behind the BMW rider. Joel Spaulding was able to hold the young gun Jordan Richardson at bay at the end of the ten lap event for fourth place. Richardson, riding the Ray Price Harley Davidson Buell came up just .2 short of finishing in the position he qualified in. After the race both Richardson and Spaulding said “that was the best race” they’d ever been in. Bilansky now holds a 24 point lead over Spaulding in the championship chase.
In the Factory Pro SportBike race, Jason Palmer took the holeshot on the Shenandoah R-6 but that was the last of the lead he would have as Jeff Wood continued his juggernaut towards his second win of the day. Wood once again flirted with track record pace on the Bettencourt’s Kawasaki, coming up just .5 seconds short at 1:13.530. Palmer continued to put the pressure on Wood but was never able to get close enough to put himself in front. Brian Stokes, after starting on the back row, moved past Jonathan Lawrence to third after just 3 laps and held that position with his Duponte & Lipton Kawasaki to the checkered flag. Stokes now leads Paul Allison by 17 points in the championship. Allison was able to finish the race in fifth but had to be helped form his Chronic Motorsports Yamaha after the injuries suffered on Sunday finally overcame him. “Adrenaline only takes you so far” said Allison’s crew as they helped him back to the paddock.
The next race for the Michelin Pro Series is the prestigious 86th Annual Loudon Classic on June 12-14 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
For more information and complete results, please visit us at www.asraracing.com .
More, from a press release issued by Buell:
THUNDERBIKE WIN TO BUELL AND BEMISDERFER AT SUMMIT POINT
Bilansky is Second and Adds to ASRA Pro Thunderbike Season Points Lead
SUMMIT POINT, W.V. (May 25, 2009) Harley-Davidson/Buell of Frederick rider Bryan Bemisderfer rode a Buell XB12R to win the Pro Thunderbike race at the ASRA Michelin Pro Series event at Summit Point Motorsports Park. Hal’s H-D/Buell/Hal’s Speed Shop rider Dan Bilansky finished second and continues to lead the series in points.
Appearing in his first ASRA Pro event of the season, Bemisderfer was the top qualifier for the Pro Thunderbike event with a lap of 1:17.983 on the two-mile Summit Point road course. At the start of the 10-lap Thunderbike race, BMW of Atlanta rider Nate Kern took the lead with Bilansky in second position and Bemisderfer stuck back in a pack of other riders after a poor start. Bilansky passed Kern on lap two to take the lead. Bemisderfer worked his way up to the leaders, got past Kern and closed on Bilansky. Bemisderfer took the lead with a pass of Bilansky on lap seven, but could not shake the Hal’s rider, who stayed on his rear wheel and appeared to be setting up for a last-lap pass. That plan went awry when the pair encountered a lapped rider mid-way through the final lap. Bemisderfer had a clear path around the lapper, but Bilansky had to check up, lost his momentum, and was left to settle for second place. Kern finished third, followed by Buell riders Joel Spalding (Hal’s H-D/Buell/Hal’s Speed Shop), Jordon Richardson (Ray Price H-D/Buell), Joe Rozynski (Soundwaves.com/H-D/Buell of Frederick), and Sam Rozynski (Soundwaves.com/H-D/Buell of Frederick). Eleven of the 18 starters in the Pro Thunderbike race were riding Buell XB12R motorcycles.
“This was a great weekend of racing on my home track with my family and friends here,” said Bemisderfer, who won the Thunderbike championship in 2004. “Buell of Frederick put me on some fast Buell motorcycles. I entered three races and won them all.”
After three events on the 2009 ASRA Michelin Pro Series Thunderbike schedule, Bilansky leads with 122 points, followed by Spalding with 98 points, Joe Rozynski with 72 points, and Sam Rozynski with 69 points.
The next event on the 10-race ASRA Michelin Pro Series schedule is the 86th Loudon Classic, June 12-14 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H.
Buell Riders Grab Four Wins in Motorsports.com CCS Sprint Races
In Motorsports.com CCS sprint competition at Summit Point, Jordon Richardson (Ray Price H-D/Buell) won in Amateur GTO and Amateur Thunderbike on a Buell XB12R. Bryan Bemisderfer (H-D/Buell of Frederick) won Expert SuperTwins on a Buell XBRR, and won Expert Thunderbike on a Buell XB12R.
To learn more about Buell motorcycles, visit your local Buell dealer today and experience the pure streetfighter attitude, style and performance only found on board a Buell. For the Buell dealer nearest you, pull into www.buell.com.
More, from a press release issued by Jeff Wood:
Team Higgins Powersports/Roadracingworld.com had a great event this past weekend at Summit Point Raceway! Current ASRA champion Jeff Wood fended off a hard charging Jason Palmer to take the wins in ASRA Sportbike and Superbike classes on his Kawasakis.
Rider Jeff Wood was excited to get some good laps in on the new ZX6R’s and had this to say on the event,”It was great to get down to the ASRA event at Summit and work on the Kawasaki set-up. I was pushed the whole weekend by Jason, who rode extremely well! I would like to thank the whole Higgins Powersports/Roadracingworld.com team and sponsors for their support at this event. I’m looking forward to the events at Loudon and VIR we have coming up next”