Wild Card Riders Selected For Valencia Grand Prix, McCoy To Give Ilmor X3 Another Go

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October 19, 2006

Wild Card Riders Selected For Valencia Grand Prix, McCoy To Give Ilmor X3 Another Go

The wild-card riders who will race in the Valencia Grand Prix (Gran Premi de la Comunitat Valenciana), scheduled on the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia (Spain) on October 29 next, are the following: 125cc Class Number/Rider/Bike/Team/Nomination 30 Pere Tutusaus (SPA-Derbi) RACC Derbi RFME 39 Daniel Webb (GBR-Honda) Repsol Honda RFME 54 Randy Krummenacher (SUI-KTM) Red Bull ADAC KTM Junior FIM 77 Daniel Saez (SPA-Aprilia) Quinto Almoradi RFME 78 Hugo van den Berg (NED-Aprilia) Varenhof Racing FIM 250cc Class Number/Rider/Bike/Team/Nomination 6 Alex Debon (SPA-Aprilia) Aprilia Racing MSMA 31 Alvaro Molina (SPA-Aprilia) Andalucia Team Mas RFME 45 Dan Linfoot (GBR-Honda) Winona Racing FIM 53 Santiago Barragan (SPA-Honda) Extremadura Junior RFME 57 Chaz Davies (GBR-Honda) Grillini Racing FIM MotoGP Class Number/Rider/Bike/Team/Nomination 8 Garry McCoy (AUS-Ilmor X3) Ilmor SRT FIM/Dorna Maximum number and nomination of wild-cards riders: 125cc: 3 nominated by the FMNR (Organising Federation); 2 nominated by the FIM. 250cc: 3 nominated by the FMNR (Organising Federation); 1 nominated by MSMA (Motorcycle Sport Manufacturers’ Association); 2 nominated by the FIM. MotoGP : 1 nominated by MSMA, 1 nominated by the FIM/Dorna. – A compulsory briefing will be held for all the riders who will be participating for the first time in the current Championship, at 17h00 on the day preceding the day scheduled for the first practice session.

Perez Undergoes Surgery On Fractured Hand

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October 18, 2006

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Perez Undergoes Surgery On Fractured Hand

Rojo Racing Jason Perez underwent surgery on Monday afternoon at the hands of Dr. Arthur Ting to repair two fractured metacarpals in his right hand. The injury occurred at the sixth AMA round held at Miller Motorsports during FX qualifying. Although his hand was x-rayed at both the Hospital in Utah and his orthopedic surgeon at home, there were no broken bones found on film. Since Laguna Jason has complained of grip strength issues but felt his hand would heal and gain strength over time. At the Toyota 200 after two days of chasing setup Jason began complaining of severe pain in his hand. A decision was made to compete in minimal sprint races on Saturday in hopes of saving his hand for the Big Race on Sunday. Monday after the Toyota 200 the wheels were put into motion to find the problem with his hand. After an MRI on Wednesday and a CT scan on the following Monday it was found that Jason had two compressed fractures (basically crushed) of the index and middle metacarpals near the base of his wrist. After options given by Dr. Ting, a decision was made to plate over the damaged bones. His recovery should be swift given Dr. Ting’s prognoses and will be ready to compete in the 2007 season. Jason can be contacted at [email protected]

North Carolina Motorsports Association Launches Motorcycle Motorsports Council

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October 18, 2006

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North Carolina Motorsports Association Launches Motorcycle Motorsports Council

Council to Focus on $21 Billion Dollar Motorcycle Industry Concord, NC The North Carolina Motorsports Association (NCMA) announces the creation of the NCMA-Motorcycle Council. The Motorcycle Council is an industry subgroup focusing on motorcycle motorsports. The motorcycle industry is currently estimated to be a $21 billion dollar industry. The Council’s goal is to grow North Carolina’s share of the overall motorcycle industry and to position the state to benefit from future industry growth. The motorcycle industry is diverse and includes a variety of motorsports such as road racing, motocross (indoor and outdoor), drag racing, supermoto, cross country, enduro and trials. North Carolina is well positioned to service this motorsport segment given the motorsports infrastructure already in place for stock car racing. In addition, the state is home to a number of top professional motorcycle racers. People like Jamie Hacking, 2006 AMA Superstock and Supersport Champion; Jim Neese, 2003 Arenacross Champion; and Matthew Smith, 2000 and 2001 Top Eliminator Champion. There are already a number of companies headquartered in North Carolina that cater to the motorcycle industry such as Indian Motorcycles, Powersport Grafx, SPEED Channel, CV Products, Xceldyne, Givi, and AHDRA (All Harley Drag Racing Association.) The members of the council are business leaders committed to the growth of the motorcycle industry in North Carolina. The interim Chairman for the Council is Ed Kuhlenkamp of Build-Momentum, LLC. ABOUT THE NORTH CAROLINA MOTORSPORTS ASSOCIATION ~ The North Carolina Motorsports Association is the central organization and voice for the vast motorsports industry in the state of North Carolina. Members of the NCMA are not only supporting the states 5.9 billion dollar industry, but are also receiving valuable returns and resources from their membership. NCMA Members receive”¦ – Networking Opportunities – Exclusive Access to Industry Contacts – Member Benefits & Special Discounts – A “Voice” for your Specific Industry area – Key Industry Information & News

Two-Time Endurance World Champion To Ride With Haner And Ciccoto In MOTO-ST

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October 18, 2006

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Two-Time Endurance World Champion To Ride With Haner And Ciccoto In MOTO-ST

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. When riders line-up on the grid for the start of the inaugural SunTrust MOTO-ST 8 Hours At Daytona on Saturday, October 21, two-time FIM World Endurance Champion Warwick Nowland will be among those looking to make his mark in this all new series. Joining Mike Ciccoto of Sebastian, Fla., and John Haner of Austin, Texas, aboard a BMW R1200 sponsored by BMW Motorcycles of Daytona, Nowland, a native of Australia, will make the long trek from his homeland to the famed Daytona International Speedway with one goal in mind to win this inaugural race. “This is going to be a fantastic event,” says Nowland, who began his racing career in 1993. A definite hard charger, Nowland is known for his determination to win. “Once I started racing I couldn’t stop. Even now, I can’t live without it. I love the sport, I love what it can do for people and I love the ‘Team’ aspect about it and I always want to win everything. Winning races and World Championships is what drives me. Plus, I want to entertain the spectators and always have lots of fun with my team along the way.” One of the foremost names in World Endurance, Nowland and his teammates finished third in this year’s World Championship. “It was a good result for us,” he explains. “We did not have the same equipment as the two bikes that finished ahead of us. For me, it is okay. I have never finished outside the top three of the World Championship since I started in 2000 except for last year when we finished fourth, and I feel that that is a good record.” With the World season over, Nowland is now busy planning 2007. “Once again, I plan to race in the World Endruance Championship and of course, do everything I can to win another title. At the moment, I have four opportunities aboard four different makes of motorcycle. Putting everything in place to make a winning situation is the hard part. I want to get everything finalized as soon as possible. Coming to the United States will definitely be a nice break and one that I am looking forward to.” A tough competitor on the track, when not racing, Nowland enjoys water sports, riding off-road motorcycles, fishing, skiing, PlayStation, hanging out with his friends and having fun. Planning to continue his career in the World Endurance Championship Series, Nowland would like to end up with five World titles to his name and then to manage a team. The next order of business, however, is taking part in the inaugural SunTrust MOTO-ST 8 Hours At Daytona this weekend. “I’m ready for the race,” he says. “All we need is that green flag to signal the start.” The inaugural event of the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series will take the Green Flag on Saturday, October 21 at 1:00 PM (ET) with racers taking the Checkered Flag at 9:00 PM (ET). Tickets to the 8 Hours At Daytona may be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or www.racetickets.com or by calling 1-800-PIT-SHOP. MOTO-ST is organized by Professional Motorsports Productions of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) of Pickerington, Ohio. The Grand American Road Racing Association, based in Daytona Beach, Fla., provides the series with administrative and commercial support. The MOTO-ST advisory board features some of the most respected individuals in the world of motorsports, including AMA Hall of Fame members, respected motorcycle racing journalists and renowned officials from various forms of road racing. Learn more about MOTO-ST at www.moto-st.com.

39 Teams Prepare For This Weekend’s Inaugural MOTO-ST Endurance Race At Daytona

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October 18, 2006

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39 Teams Prepare For This Weekend’s Inaugural MOTO-ST Endurance Race At Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Upwards of 100 riders and 39 high performance Sport Twin motorcycles among three classes have been entered for Saturday’s historic 8 Hours At Daytona, the inaugural event in the new SunTrust MOTO-ST Series. The teams and riders will do battle on the 3.56-mile, 14-turn layout at Daytona International Speedway beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET, all with the goal of writing their names in the history books as the first winners in SunTrust MOTO-ST history. In addition to it being the first race in series history, Saturday’s eight-hour endurance race will also mark the first motorcycle night race at the “World Center of Racing” since 1985. The 8 Hours At Daytona entry list features several established names in motorcycle endurance racing in addition to several looking to make names for themselves in this inaugural event.

When looking for big name riders and teams, one need look no further than the top of the entry list to find the No. 3 M4 EMGO Suzuki SV1000S with riders Michael Barnes, Geoff May and Chris Ulrich. The M4 EMGO Suzuki team, which was founded 26 years ago by Bruce Hammer and John Ulrich, is the winningest team in American endurance racing and the squad looks to add to its long list of accomplishments this weekend. The team has also entered the No. 18 Suzuki SV1000S for the same trio of riders. Both bikes are entered in the Buell Motorcycle Company SuperSport Twins (SST) class””featuring motorcycles making between 90 and 118 horsepower””which should produce the overall winners.

Among the chief competitors to M4 EMGO Suzuki in the SST class should be the No. 46 San Jose BMW R1200S with top American BMW rider Nate Kern, Belgian former Grand Prix and Superbike star Stephan Mertens and Californian Brian Parriott. The team will also field the No. 4 BMW R1100S for Tom Montano and Craig McLean in the BMW Grand Sport Twins (GST) class.

Another strong SST team comes from Spain in the form of Belson Brumos Ducati Motorrad. Sharing the team’s No. 59 Belson/Brumos Ducati 749R will be Spanish endurance champions Daniel Ribalta and Kenny Noyes. Likewise, the BMW Cycles Daytona entry for Floridian Mike Ciccoto, Texas native John Haner and Australian Warwick Nowland will also be an SST team to watch. Haner is a consistent top-10 finisher in AMA competition, while Nowland is a two-time World Endurance Champion and they will share the No. 83 BMW Motorcycles of Daytona BMW R1200 with Ciccoto. The No. 83 is a number made famous at Daytona by Steve McLaughlin, the winner of the first AMA Superbike race in 1976 on a BMW and a member of the MOTO-ST Advisory Board.

The GST class””for bikes ranging in horsepower from 75 to 90″”will primarily feature a battle between Buell and Ducati motorcycles in addition to the aforementioned entry from San Jose BMW. Among those to watch from the Buell brigade include San Rozynski, Joe Rozynski and Don Bilansky aboard the No. 35 Sound Waves/Veateh Motorsports Buell XB1200 and the No. 70 James Gang Racing Buell XB1200 in the hands of Paul James, John Fox and Greg Avello. Fox and Avello are current racers in American endurance events, while Fox is a public relations representative for Buell. Leading the charge for Ducati will be the No. 19 DucatiToronto.com Ducati 1000. The No. 19 machine will be co-ridden by Canadians Pat Barnes, Robert Trottier and Matt McBride, who is one of the top Superbike riders in Canada.

The Sport Twins (ST) class, for bikes making less than 75 horsepower also boasts a strong field. The No. 9 Pair-A-Nines Kawasaki Ninja 650R will feature riders Jimmy Filice, Brian Stokes and Nick Cummings on the team which is managed by the famed Gary Nixon. Filice is a former AMA champion and Grand Prix winner, while Cummings will be substituting for the injured Jay Springsteen. The ST class will feature the first major entry from a Korean manufacturer in Hyosung Motor USA. The No. 13 Hyosung Motors/Double Life Corp. Hyosung 650 will be ridden by up and coming AMA racer Cory West and Dustin Dominguez. Another ST team sure to draw some attention is the No. 16 Team HurtByAccident.com Suzuki SV650 of Mark Crozier, Steven Breckenridge and Nicole Hoffman, who is also a full-time employee at NASCAR. Hoffman is one of two women listed on the 8 Hours At Daytona entry list, the other being Melissa Berkoff, who is also competing in the ST class. Berkoff is sharing the No. 87 Speed Werks Racing Suzuki SV650 with Brian Kcraget.

Pirelli has been named as the sole supplier of SunTrust MOTO-ST tires for the inaugural 8 Hours At Daytona as well as the first full season of competition in 2007. All competitors will use Sunoco GT unleaded fuel and horsepower limits will be enforced by a Dynojet chassis dynamometer, and the starting grid will be determined by the order in which race entries were received.

The SunTrust MOTO-ST riders will get their first look at the Daytona International Speedway road course in a two-hour practice session on Friday evening beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET. Saturday’s schedule calls for brief warm-up sessions for all classes beginning at 8:00 a.m. ET, followed by an autograph session at 10:00 a.m. The 8 Hours At Daytona is scheduled to take the green flag at 1:00 p.m. ET. Live Timing and Scoring data for all sessions will be available via the official web site of the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series, www.moto-st.com, and a one-hour highlight package from the race will air on SPEED at some point in the fourth quarter of 2006. Tickets to the 8 Hours At Daytona may be purchased online at www.moto-st.com, or www.moto-st.com, or by calling 1-800-PIT-SHOP.

MOTO-ST is organized by Professional Motorsports Productions of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) of Pickerington, Ohio. The Grand American Road Racing Association, based in Daytona Beach, Fla., provides the series with administrative and commercial support. The MOTO-ST advisory board features some of the most respected individuals in the world of motorsports, including AMA Hall of Fame members, respected motorcycle racing journalists and renowned officials from various forms of road racing. Learn more about MOTO-ST at www.moto-st.com,

Josh Hayes Earns AMA Pro Racing Speed Athlete Of The Year Nomination

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October 18, 2006

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Josh Hayes Earns AMA Pro Racing Speed Athlete Of The Year Nomination

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Josh Hayes, winner of the 2006 Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series, earned his first AMA Pro Racing SPEED Athlete of the Year nomination. Hayes, 31, from Gulfport, Miss., won the Formula Xtreme title in a tight season-long battle with Yamaha riders Eric Bostrom and Jason DiSalvo. All three riders had a chance at the series coming into the final race of the year. Hayes earned the championship in spectacular fashion, winning a riveting battle over Bostrom and DiSalvo at the Mid-Ohio finale on Oct. 1. In all Hayes won three Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme rounds this year on his Erion Racing Honda CBR600RR and edged Bostrom by seven points in the final standings. Hayes’ Formula Xtreme title was his second AMA national championship. He previously won the AMA Superstock Series in 2003. This past season was Hayes’ 10th year of AMA professional racing. To earn an Athlete of the Year nomination at this point in his career was somewhat unexpected. “Who would have thought that I would earn this nomination,” said Hayes, who is ranked 10th on the all-time Formula Xtreme wins list. “It makes me feel good to know that people are paying attention to the Formula Xtreme class. It was a great series this year and beating someone of Eric Bostrom’s caliber made it that much more special to me. This is pretty awesome.” Hayes was a WERA National Champion before becoming a pro with the AMA. His early career was plagued by injury, but he completed this year healthy and it resulted in a championship. It marked the seventh Formula Xtreme Championship for Honda and the makers’ third straight in the class. AMA Pro Racing will honor the champions of American professional motorcycle racing at its 32nd annual AMA Pro Racing Awards Banquet on Sunday evening, Nov. 19 at Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The annual event attracts not only America’s best professional racers but also executives and personalities from the motorcycle industry. The banquet is the conclusion of the nearly year-long AMA Pro Racing season comprised of over 70 professional racing events. The highlight of the banquet each year is announcing the AMA Pro Racing SPEED Athlete of the Year recipient. Last year Ricky Carmichael became the first rider in AMA history to win the Athlete of the Year Award for the fourth time. Five nominees for the award will be announced over the next two weeks. About the AMA Pro Racing SPEED Athlete of the Year Award The AMA Pro Racing SPEED Athlete of the Year Award is the highest honor an AMA competitor can receive. Past recipients include such legendary racers as Bob Hannah, Scott Parker and Kenny Roberts, among others. The award goes to the rider judged to have had the most successful racing year. The rider’s career achievements can also be considered if the season complements a remarkable career. A selection panel made up of AMA and AMA Pro Racing staff, field staff and volunteer leadership is named by the AMA CEO and that panel evaluates nominations and determines the final winner. About AMA Pro Racing AMA Pro Racing is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its properties include the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship and the AMA Supermoto Championship. For more information about AMA Pro Racing, visit www.amaproracing.com. Accredited media outlets can also access AMA Pro Racing’s online Press Room at www.amaproracing.com/pressroom.

Triumph Becomes Newest Manufacturer Added To Massive Destination Daytona Dealership Complex

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October 18, 2006

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Triumph Becomes Newest Manufacturer Added To Massive Destination Daytona Dealership Complex

Triumph Motorcycles has announced that they have become the latest motorcycle brand to join Destination Daytona – Bruce Rossmeyer’s massive 150 acre motorcycle complex near Daytona Beach, Florida. Triumph’s line will be displayed in a branded showroom in a separate building adjacent to Daytona Harley Davidson, the Worlds Largest Harley dealer. By expanding the range of motorcycles being displayed at Destination Daytona, it will broaden the appeal of the site to customers interested in something besides a traditional v-twin. Todd Andersen, VP of Marketing for Triumph USA, says “We are pleased that Mr. Rossmeyer has chosen to add Triumph Motorcycles to his range at Destination Daytona. We expect that this will quickly grow into one of our largest dealers and play an important role in our continued growth.” About Triumph Triumph is one of the oldest and most famous names in motorcycling. The name dates back to 1885 when Siegfried Bettmann settled in Coventry and started selling bicycles. Today, Triumph is a privately owned British company and it is the only British motorcycle brand still producing bikes today. The Triumph factory, located in Hinckley, Leicestershire, is the most modern motorcycle manufacturing facility in the world. This, together with its diverse model range and aggressive model development program, places Triumph firmly at the forefront of motorcycling. Triumph – Go your own way. For more information please see www.triumphmotorcycles.com

Young Stars To Compete In USGPRU National Finals At Miller Motorsports Park

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October 18, 2006

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Young Stars To Compete In USGPRU National Finals At Miller Motorsports Park

Tooele Valley, Utah – Twelve-year-old motorcycle sensation Elena Myers will be one of several promising young riders competing at Miller Motorsports Park in the National Final of the United States Grand Prix Racers Union (USGPRU), October 21 and 22. Miller Motorsports Park will finish its inaugural season of motorcycle racing October 21 and 22 with the exciting championship race of USGPRU and the final race in Miller’s own Plaza Cycle Masters of the Mountains series. Gates open at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The race schedule is posted online at www.MillerMotorPark.com. Kids 12 and under are free. The goal of the USGPRU series is to provide a direct springboard for talented young (12 to 18 year old) Americans and Canadians to jump to pro motorcycle racing. The Miller Motorsports Park race will draw the top talent in the country. Among the competitors at Miller will be Tommy Aquino, Cameron Beaubier, PJ Jacobson, Elena Myers, Kris Turner, and Brandon Warren. These are not typical teens. A CycleWorld magazine writer recently described Elena Myers as follows. “She enjoys hanging out with friends, listening to music and playing video games. Where she differs from other eighth graders is her ability to ride a motorcycle fast. Very, very fast. Myers spends her weekends racing, regularly beating adults, mostly men two to three times her age, on tracks throughout the western U.S. Last year, at age 11, she won three Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association events.” Tanya Beaubier is the mother of 13-year-old competitor Cameron Beaubier, one of three Americans and one of 20 total riders selected to compete in the Red Bull Moto GP Rookies Cup. Says Ms. Beaubier, “This competition can be compared to the Olympics or Formula 1 racing because of the competition. After the seven race series, in six different countries, six riders will be chosen to attend their MotoGP Academy, where their chances of becoming future MotoGP racers is increased. In the motorcycle racing industry, MotoGP is the height of professional motorcycle racing. These kids are great and deserve America’s support!” For more information about the race series, contact: Jennifer Evenson, Assistant Director of Racing, 435.277.8016, [email protected]. For ticket and race information, visit www.MillerMotorPark.com or call 801.563.4250.

Halasz Takes 4 Wins In GP Moto Races At Summit Point

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October 18, 2006

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Halasz Takes 4 Wins In GP Moto Races At Summit Point

On Monday November 16, Team Pro-Motion hosted the fifth of five of its GP Moto Premier Racing Events at Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia.

The bigger winner on the day was Antal Halasz of College Point, NY. Halasz won all 4 classes he entered, the first time anyone has been able to dominate a GP Moto Premier Racing Event in this manner.

In GP Moto A, Halasz crossed the line in front of points rival, Martin Lazor, while Michael Gabor just edged out Lucas Frkous. In GP Unlimited, it was Halasz again, this time over Nassef Guirguis and Frkous. In GP Moto B, Halasz again topped Lazor while Frkous had the edge over Gabor in the rematch for third place. In the 10 lap GP Moto Dash For Cash, we saw Halasz jumped out to a early lead and extending it all the way to the finish unchallenged, finishing his sweep. Guirguis crossed the line in second, and Ivan Milan had the endurance and caught Brian Laws for third place. Rich Littieri rounded out the top 5. The only other winner on the day was Mark Evry in the GP Lite class, who edged John Morgan and Rich Littieri in what had to be the best GP Lite race all year.

In the points battle, with 1 round still remaining on Oct 30 at Summit Point, Lucas Frkous has already wrapped up the GP Unlimited championship while the top 2 in GP Moto class are only separated by a single point. Halasz trailed Lazor by 7 points going in and left Summit Point with the smallest possible lead of a single point. By coincident, the battle for 3rd place in the series is also separated by just a single point as Artie Meeker turned a 3-point deficit to a single point lead by finishing just in front of Matt Cranston in both GP Moto class races.

Everyone is eagerly anticipating the 2006 GP Moto Racing Series finale at Summit Point on Oct 30. Point battles will be settled and new champions will be crowned. Team Pro-Motion would like to thank everyone who supported and participated in the 2006 series, and we would love to provide great racing again in 2007.

For more information regarding Team Pro-Motion’s GP Moto Cup racing series, please visit our website at ~http://www.teampromotion.com/tpm.php?page_id=gpmoto~ or email race director Dafan Zhang at [email protected].

Results from the event:

GP MOTO A

1 Antal Halasz 2 Martin Lazor 3 Michael Gabor 4 Lucas Frkous 5 Artie Meeker 6 Matt Cranston 7 Rob Allen 8 Chris Maher 9 Daniel Heverly 10 Brian Hengeveld 11 Mark Evry 12 Ryan Fleming 13 Bernard Wilson 14 Dave Lennon 15 Erwin Delossantos 16 Andy Reiss 17 Jonas Ferro 18 Kevin Tavel 19 Coleman Howard 20 Mark Yeldham 21 Nick Schwartz

GP MOTO UNLIMITED

1 Antal Halasz 2 Nassef Guirguis 3 Lucas Frkous 4 Brian Laws 5 Kang Lu 6 Ivan Milan 7 George Demetropolis 8 Rich Littieri 9 Ken Heverly 10 Ryan Fleming 11 Andy Reiss

GP MOTO LITE

1 Mark Evry 2 John Morgan 3 Rich Littieri 4 Mark Yeldham 5 Andy Reiss 6 William Reyes 7 Jennifer Burkett

GP MOTO B

1 Antal Halasz 2 Martin Lazor 3 Lucas Frkous 4 Michael Gabor 5 Artie Meeker 6 Matt Cranston 7 Rob Allen 8 Chris Maher 9 Daniel Heverly 10 Bernard Wilson 11 Dave Lennon 12 Andy Reiss 13 Coleman Howard 14 Kevin Tavel 15 Nick Schwartz

GP DASH FOR CASH

1 Antal Halasz 2 Nassef Guirguis 3 Ivan Milan 4 Brian Laws 5 Rich Littieri 6 Kang Lu 7 Ryan Fleming 8 Matt Fleming 9 Derrick Wills

Updated: More From The WERA Grand National Finals At Road Atlanta

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October 18, 2006

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Updated: More From The WERA Grand National Finals At Road Atlanta

WERA ENDS 2007 SEASON IN STYLE AT GRAND NATIONAL FINALS

BRASELTON, Ga. Seventy-six first-place trophies were awarded last weekend during the WERA Grand National Finals presented by Parts Unlimited at Road Atlanta, bringing the 2007 season to an exciting close for the WERA Pirelli Sportsman Series National Championships, Bridgestone National Challenge Series, Michelin National Endurance Series, National Vintage Series and the Suzuki Cup Series.

The racing got started as early as Thursday with the finals for the National Vintage Series and the WERA/Pirelli Sportsman Series National Championships.

On Friday, round ten of the WERA/Bridgestone National Endurance Series began the day’s racing with a four-hour event. Series champions Vesrah Suzuki won overall and Heavyweight Superbike with Mark Junge, Tray Batey, John Jacobi and Lee Acree on a Suzuki GSX-R1000. A thrilling race to the checkered flag for second place gave ARNCHU Racing the podium spot and the Heavyweight Superstock victory. Randy Sherman and Mark Crozier beat their toughest competition, 5150 Racing, by just seconds on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 for the class championship. 5150’s Phil Caudill and Justin Marm were third on their Heavyweight Superstock Suzuki GSX-R1000.

TVR II was in a championship fight, also, and they edged out Dalke Motorsports to win the Mediumweight Superbike race and title. Joshua Day and James Stroud rode the TVR II Yamaha YZF-R6, finishing fifth overall. Red Star had the Mediumweight Superbike championship wrapped up already, but nothing could keep Brian Gibbs and Ben Walters from going for the class win again on their Yamaha YZF-R6. Red Star was ninth overall. In Lightweight Superbike, Touring Sport Racing put a Ducati 1000SS at the front with riders Brad Phillips, Frank Shockley and Pete Friedland.

Ghetto Customs, who earned second in class, came away with the Lightweight Superbike championship. The WERA/Michelin National Challenge Series races saw the experts battling lap after lap.

At the end of the weekend, the only rider to have won more than one National Challenge expert race was Moto-R’s Matt Lynn, who was victorious in Formula 1 and Open Superstock. Vesrah Suzuki’s Lee Acree took the top spot in 600 Superstock, and Butler Machinery’s Robert Jensen was the victor in 750 Superstock. Michael Beck won 600 Superbike, while the 750 Superbike class win went to Opie Caylor. Tray Batey dominated Heavyweight Twins Superstock, and Chris Parrish took the victory in Lightweight Twins Superstock. Dane Westby won Formula 2.

In the novice classes of the National Challenge Series, first-year racer Curt Henderson was the man to beat. Henderson won 600 Superstock, 750 Superstock and 600 Superbike. Robert Wilkey won 750 Superbike and Open Superstock in the novice division. Miles Thornton won Formula 2, while Mark Wyland took off in Heavyweight Twins Superstock. The Lightweight Twins Superstock victory went to Payton Sassaman.

In the Suzuki Cup Series Finals, Lee Acree came away with the wins in the Suzuki GSX-R1000 and GSX-R600 Cup Finals. Jeff Wood took the victory in the Suzuki GSX-R750 Cup Final. In the twins classes, Tray Batey won the Suzuki SV1000 Cup Final, while Dane Westby took top honors in the Suzuki SV650 Cup Final. To keep up with WERA during the off-season, visit www.WERA.com.

More from a press release issued by Raven Communications:

TEAM EMBRY’S KEITH MARSHALL ENDS SEASON WITH TOP 5 FINISHES AT WERA GNF BRASELTON, Ga. From the hospital to the podium, Keith Marshall had a challenging 2006 race season, but the AMA and WERA racer ended the year strong with a string of top-five finishes during last weekend’s WERA Grand National Finals and Suzuki Cup Finals at Road Atlanta. Marshall began the weekend with two races in the WERA/Pirelli Sportsman Series. In B Superstock, Marshall started 28th but worked his way up to fourth on a Suzuki GSX-R750 provided by Pro-Line Race Prep. A red flag sent Marshall back to where he had begun for the restart, and once again he had to work his way to the front. Marshall did just that, moving into third place in the short eight-lap race. The Sportsman Series races at the GNF are for championship honors, and the Alpharetta, Georgia resident’s finish secured him third in the B Superstock championship. “On the restart, it took me until lap five to get back into fourth, where I had been before the red flag,” explained Marshall. “By that time, I had lost touch with the leaders, but it was satisfying to take third in the championship.” The C Superstock race was even tougher, and Marshall was the 32nd bike on the grid. Not to be intimidated, he got to work and ran as high as ninth before a red flag after four laps. The scoring reverted to the last complete lap, giving Marshall 13th. During the National Challenge Series races, Marshall earned fourth in 750 Superstock, a career best for that class. “I’ve got to thank Vinnie with Pro-Line Race Prep for giving me such a solid GSX-R750,” commented Marshall. “I was riding with the leaders but my tires went away. The lap times were there but I didn’t want to risk making any passes.” On Sunday, Marshall competed in the Suzuki GSX-R600 Cup Final and the Suzuki GSX-R750 Cup Final after qualifying fourth for both. “I got good starts in both races and picked off one or two guys, but I lost the leaders. At Road Atlanta, if you lose the draft you can’t catch up. It was nice to earn decent finishes, especially in such competitive races,” said Marshall. At the checkered flag, Marshall was fourth in the GSX-R750 Final and fifth in the GSX-R600 Final. In the 600 race, his lap times dropped into the 1:28 range, despite running with only 119 horsepower. The weekend capped a rollercoaster season for Marshall, who came back from a violent crash during the AMA Pro Racing weekend at Road America to take three top-15 AMA finishes before ending the season with his four top-five finishes at the GNF. “It felt good to be back on pace,” said Marshall, who spent much of his summer in physical therapy after his Road America crash. “It’s bittersweet because I wasn’t on the podium, but that’s racing. Considering how tough it was after I got hurt, it feels good to be competitive again. I lost out on a lot of seat time this year, and I’m looking forward to a healthy, competitive season next year.” During the off-season, Marshall will continue his training and work on his plans for 2007. Sponsors of Team Embry include MD Racing, Pirelli Tires, Arai Helmets, Vortex Racing Components, Oxtar Boots, Held Gloves, Silkolene Oils, Godfather Racing, K & N Engineering, LeoVince Exhaust Systems, Pit Bull Stands, EBC Brakes, Thermosman Suspensions, Ohlins, R-Tech Fuel, Spyder Leatherworks, Yoyodyne, Suzuki of Bartow County, Cycle Specialty, Moto-R, Mirror Images Photography, and Lockhart-Phillips. More information about Team Embry and Marshall can be found at www.TeamEmbry.com.

More from a press release issued by Bad Medicine Racing:

SURGEON WINS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Dr. Lee Schmitt won the WERA Senior Superbike National Championship on October 12 at Road Atlanta, racing on his heavily modified Suzuki GSX-R750 Superbike. Starting from the pole, Dr. Schmitt lost the lead only once to a racer who crashed immediately after making the pass. The rider was not seriously injured in the 80+ mph fall. Afterwards he was never again seriously challenged for the lead during the 8-lap Sprint race.

Dr. Schmitt has been racing with WERA since 2003. WERA began as the Western – Eastern Racing Association in 1973 and has grown to be the nation’s largest road racing organization. Dr. Schmitt was crowned the Southeast Region Senior Superbike champion earlier this year after wins at Barber Motorsports Park, Talladega Grand Prix Raceway and Carolina Motorsports Park (S.C.), as well as podium finishes at Roebling (GA) RoadRaceway and Jennings (FL) Grand Prix.

National Champions are determined during a pressure packed 4-day event called the Grand National Final (GNF). WERA divides the county into six regions and only the top 15 riders in points from each region earns an invitation to the GNF. Much like the Olympics, these top riders compete in just one race to determine who is the best. This year’s event was held at Road Atlanta, a 12-turn, 2.54-mile road course where top speeds exceed 170 mph on the long back stretch.

Dr. Schmitt received his trophy at a banquet on October 15th at the Gainesville (GA) Civic Center. When he is not racing, Dr. Schmitt is a general surgeon at Medical Center East and specializes in weight loss surgery.

More from a press release issued by ARNCHU Racing:

ARNCHU RACING WINS WERA NATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT SUPERSTOCK ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP!

This past week at the WERA Grand National Finals, ARNCHU Racing powered to their season goal by winning the Heavyweight Superstock Endurance Championship. The team made it a priority to finish as high as possible in the overall standings, accomplishing a 2nd overall for the season, against 109 season registered teams.

At Road Atlanta, ARNCHU Racing finished the final 4-hour race just 5.5 seconds ahead of heavyweight challenger 5150 Racing. ARNCHU took the podium with a first in class and second overall in what has become pattern for the team as they settled into rhythm of consistency just before mid-season.

Key to ARNCHU’s consistency have been the two Michelin-shod Suzuki GSX-R1000s from Bell’s Suzuki in Lexington, KY.

“Nathan and I turned the finishes around after coming home to Michelin tires at Miller Motorsports Park this year. The bike had always worked well everywhere and gave us some confidence even when the other tires couldn’t,” Randy Sherman said.

At the Cycle Jam in Atlanta, Michelin rider Mark Crozier was invited to join the team and has been a welcomed addition to the ARNCHU Racing Team. “I’ve really enjoyed myself riding with these guys, as they always give me a good machine to work with. It’s great to add this title to my list of hard-won accomplishments,” Crozier mentioned.

Nathan Dressman, the ARNCHU Rider who broke his ankle in Wednesday’s practice had this to say: “Well, of course my ankle is an unfortunate side to this, but our team is strong and I knew that Mark and Randy had the lap times to prove us right. Randy almost got caught at the end of the race, but dug deep and pulled that small gap back out. I’m proud of everything we have been able to accomplish this year, from increasing our rider skill and developing these bikes into real performers with the assistance from our partners, sponsors and crew. We’ve worked through every issue with tenacity and it seems no one could keep this from happening because we were committed to it! It’s been an amazing experience this year.”

ARNCHU’s season long battle with all the 1000cc teams for the class championship demanded the highest degree of preparation, planning, riding, and crew work available. ARNCHU Racing wishes to congratulate all the teams on finishing a tough series and thanks WERA for events in which to compete and strive for excellence.

ARNCHU Racing season highlights and partner links can be found at www.arnchu.net.