Team Speedbike Racing rider Edgar Muller and Evgeniya Shapovalova had a daughter, Alexandra Shapovalova Muller, May 14, in Boynton Beach, Florida.
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Yamaha Motor France – Ipone Hoping Recent Test At Brno Will Pay Off At Silverstone
The Kyalami race has been officially cancelled, which means that after 4 events out of 12 the Superbike World Championship comes to Silverstone ready for the second third of the season. It is time for the Team Yamaha Motor France – Ipone to look back at what happened during the beginning of this year. The two best results for the team are the two beautiful fourth positions of Norick Abe at Valencia. The three riders of the team started so far 22 times (Sebastien Gimbert could not race in Valencia as he was participating on the same week-end to the 24 Hours of Le Mans). They finished 18 times, and 12 times with points. Norick Abe started 8 times, and finished 7 times, including 5 with points. Shinichi Nakatomi started 8 times and saw 7 times the finish line, including 4 times in the top 15. Sebastien Gimbert started 6 times, finished 4 times, of which 3 in the points. Generally speaking, the test sessions for development (one of the main purposes of the team) and settings were successful. For instance, it was the case recently in Brno where two riders of the team did very well on race tires. Gimbert did 2:02.6 and Nakatomi 2:03.4, compared to the unofficial record of the track belonging to Troy Corser (Suzuki) with a time of 2:02.694 since last year. So the team can reasonably hope positive results in the future. Norifumi Abe could not participate to these tests at Brno because he had to rest after his very impressive crash at Monza during practice. Happily, his head was not badly hurt and he is back in a great shape in the United Kingdom. Silverstone Story Silverstone was built on the site of a WWII RAF airfield. The first race was held there in 1948, Luigi Villoresi winning the R.A.C. Grand Prix in his Maserati. From May 13th 1950 to July 15th 2001, 35 Formula One GPs have been raced at Silverstone. Alain Prost holds the record for the biggest number of wins: 5 with Renault, McLaren, Ferrari and Williams. Silverstone also played host to the British Motorcycle Grand Prix from August 14th 1977 to August 3rd 1986. Kenny Roberts (Yamaha) won the biggest number of 500 GPs there and Kork Ballington (Kawasaki) did the same in 250s. Both won three times while Angel Nieto won six 125 GPs (three with Minarelli and three with Garelli). Silverstone started life as a very high-speed circuit. In essence, it was all straights joined together by a few fast turns. Over the years, the track layout was changed to slow it down. Today there are six possible track configurations: Grand Prix (5.140 km), International (3.624 km), South (3.170 km), National (2.637 km), Stowe (1.281 km) and Rally Sprint (1.920 km). This permanent racing circuit is 15 meters wide, can accommodate up to 90,000 spectators and has 60,000 grandstand seats. Silverstone is 100 kms north of London, 25 kms south/west of Northampton, 74 kms north/west of Oxford and 5 kms west of Towcester in Northamptonshire.
Rally, Bike Show Added To List Of Events For AMA Superbike Weekend At VIR
Virginia Rally, Boz Bros Bike Show to be Part of Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals at VIR Alton, Va. Last year, the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals, featuring the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, at VIRginia International Raceway demonstrated how much more of an event a motorcycle racing weekend could be. This year’s event, scheduled for August 18-20, is going to push the envelope even further. For 2006, event promoter M1 Entertainment is adding even more off-track events and excitement for fans. One unique addition will be The Virginia Rally, a two-day motorcycle rally that will offer participants 200-mile poker runs on Thursday and Friday, August 17-18. The runs will originate from the tri-city area around Danville, and will incorporate some of the country’s most scenic roads through the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway. At the end of the tour, Virginia Rally participants will ride to VIR for the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals, where they will be invited to ride a lap of the same 2.25-mile VIR North Course on which the best motorcycle racers in the world will be competing. Rally organizer Jim Lorimer points out that adding The Virginia Rally to the itinerary is a great way to turn a two-day, whirlwind weekend trip in to a four- or five-day motorcycling vacation. “Between The Virginia Rally and the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals, we are going to have so much going on, it wouldn’t surprise me if motorcycle enthusiasts come in from states as far away as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia and South Carolina for this combined event. Visit www.TheVirginiaRally.com for more details. Another exciting component of the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals weekend will be the Boz Bros Bike Show presented by 2Wheel Tuner magazine and Parts Unlimited. Eric and Ben Bostrom, two of the world’s most renowned motorcycle racers, with experience in the World Superbike Championship and the AMA Superbike Championship, have created their own line of street bike exhausts, plus clothing and accessories. Their products will be on display at VIR, along with a climbing wall, a bike dyno, Tourist Trophy game demos and a wheelie machine for fans to enjoy. In addition, the Bostroms will host a custom sportbike show, with five classes open for fans to display their customized rides, specialized awards such as Best ‘Busa, and an invitational class for builders that have been featured in the magazine. Eric and Ben, along with other top names in the industry, will judge the bikes on Saturday afternoon, and will be available to sign autographs for fans. Those wishing to enter their bike into the show can visit www.m1event.com and click on “get tickets.” Todd Lamb, publisher of 2Wheel Tuner, explains: “With the growing popularity of customized sportbikes, we wanted to put a show like this together for the fans to display their work and be the stars of the event. The right mix of people came together at the right time: Eric and Ben are great to work with, and Parts Unlimited is a natural fit. We are all very excited about bringing the sportbike lifestyle to the Big Kahuna Nationals.” Fans are reminded that two special Big Kahuna promotions are quickly drawing to a close. With the Pit Crew Weekend Warrior promotion, you can gain access to see what it’s really like to work in the pit and be a part of the thrill of putting together a winning team. You can be part of the action in the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals at VIR! Two lucky winners’ names will be drawn from all those who purchase tickets during the month of May to be Pit Crew Weekend Warriors. This promotion ends May 31, so act now see what the racing is like from the other side of the pit wall! Also during the month of May, M1 Entertainment is partnering with Moto1 (www.Moto1USA.com), the official merchandise and apparel company for M1 Entertainment, to offer a $5 Short Sleeve Rider Shirt to all ticket orders sold in the month of May. That’s right, buy your tickets early and get a Rider shirt for only $5 at the race. This offer also expires on May 31, so be sure to get your tickets early and take advantage of this special offer! (Excludes event shirts and long-sleeve Rider shirts. One T-shirt per order; sizes are not guaranteed; T-shirts are sold on a first-come/first served basis.) The Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals offers a variety of ticket packages designed to fit every budget, including standard general-admissions tickets, Big Kahuna Super Tickets, Big Dog Hospitality Passes, Little Dog Hospitality Passes, Pit Walk Passes, car parking passes and camping passes. Response has been overwhelming for the new Trackside VIP Suite tickets, priced at $245 (sold in advance only). This ticket includes three-day admission, paddock access, a Pit Walk Pass, car parking pass, official event program and access to one of VIR’s brand-new pitside suites overlooking the pit lane. Each climate-controlled suite can accommodate 20 people, and features closed-circuit coverage on a flat-panel plasma TV, private bathroom and catered continental breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack with drinks (cash bar service also available). Of the 40 Trackside VIP Suite tickets made available only 25 still remain, so interested fans are advised to act quickly to reserve theirs. All current military personnel will receive a 30-percent discount and free parking with a copy of a current military ID (advance) or by presenting their ID card at the gate. Similarly, college students will be eligible for a 15-percent discount with a copy of a current college ID (advance) or by presenting their ID card at the gate. Groups of 20 or more will also be eligible for a 15-percent discount, providing the order is paid for with one credit card. Discounts do not apply to Trackside VIP Suite and Big Kahuna Super Tickets, or to Big Dog Hospitality Passes or Pit Walk Passes. Children aged 12 and under will receive free admission, provided they are accompanied by a paid adult, but must have a Little Dog Hospitality Pass to enter the Big Dog Hospitality area. Advance ticket sales will end at 5:00 pm on August 14. Tickets ordered too late to mail will be able to be picked up at Will Call at the track. To purchase tickets, visit www.m1event.com or www.gettix.net. VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River between Danville and South Boston, Va., and just north of historic Milton, N.C. In addition to its 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit, VIR is the cornerstone of VIR Club, America’s first motorsports country club; the VIR Raceplex Industrial Park; the VIR Gallery, a sales showroom for high-end collector and racing cars; Plantation Valley Kart Track, a 5/8-mile paved karting circuit; The Lodge at VIR, a 27-room trackside hotel; and the Oak Tree Tavern, a full-service restaurant located within the circa-1840 Plantation Clubhouse. For more information on VIRginia International Raceway, visit the track’s website at www.virclub.com or telephone 434-822-7700. For more information on M1 Entertainment, visit their website at www.m1event.com or contact them via telephone at 303-377-3278. For more information on the AMA Superbike Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited, visit their website at www.amasuperbike.com. For more information on The Virginia Rally, visit their website at www.thevirginiarally.com.
Ben And Mary Spies Pledge $15,000 To Match Donations To Roadracing World Action Fund
AMA Superbike Championship leader Ben Spies and his mother Mary Spies have pledged to match donations to the Roadracing World Action Fund up to $10,000 and $5000, respectively, in hopes of increasing rider safety at AMA venues and other road race courses with more soft safety barriers. “I’m sick of people getting hurt,” Ben Spies told Roadracingworld.com Tuesday. “I feel really fortunate to have been able to do what I’ve been doing lately, and I just want to give something back. “The whole thing with Vincent (Haskovec) hitting that wall at Infineon (Raceway) last year really aggravates me. I mean, he’s a guy who was at the top of his game, one of the best in the AMA, and he hit a wall and got paralyzed and may never race again. And if it can happen to him, it can happen to me. “Airfence is good, but I know it’s no real fix. We need to get walls moved. Walls can be moved, but racers can’t be brought back. We just need to keep working together to make things better, and this is one way to help.” (Note: Infineon Raceway recently moved the wall Haskovec hit last year.)
R.I.P. Jackie Martin Pfeifer, Father Of Racer Jack Pfeifer
Jackie Martin Pfeifer, 67, of Santa Clarita, California, died May 13 at St. Joseph Hospital in Burbank, California. No cause of death was given. Pfeifer is survived by his wife, Yvonne; two daughters, Laurie and Kristi; and two sons, Frank and Jack. The death of his father combined with a race hauler breakdown resulted in Jack Pfeifer skipping the AMA round at Infineon Raceway and participating in the May 20-21 WSMC round at Willow Springs International Raceway, in Rosamond, California, which is closer to his Las Vegas home.
Rossi Presented Laureus Spirit Of Sport Award
At the prestigious Laureus Sports Awards which took place in Barcelona last night, reigning MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi was awarded with the coveted ‘Spirit of Sport’ prize, given to the individual that has raised the profile of his or her chosen field. The ceremony was a star-studded affair, with Spain’s King Juan Carlos present, and Hollywood actors Cuba Gooding Jr. and Teri Hatcher presenting. A who’s who of sporting legends were also in attendance, but it was once again Valentino Rossi who stole the show, bringing proceedings to a close by riding onto stage on a Yamaha R1 before collecting his award from MotoGP Legend Giacomo Agostini and Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Rossi had earlier also been a nomination for World Sportsman of the Year for the third consecutive time, however that accolade fell to Swiss tennis sensation Roger Federer. Nevertheless when he finally made his entrance with trademark flamboyance the five-time MotoGP World Champion received a rapturous applause from the gathered luminaries. Once the ceremony was finished, Rossi remarked, “I am very happy to have received this award tonight, and very proud to be considered such an important ambassador for our sport. It’s also a big honour for me to be nominated once again for the main award alongside other such great sportsmen.” The Laureus Sports Awards are voted for by the Laureus Academy’s 42 members, which includes Agostini and other sporting legends such as Bobby Charlton, Seve Ballesteros, Ed Moses and Boris Becker. Rossi flew to the event especially, after having completed a day’s testing at the Le Mans circuit where he was forced to retire during Sunday’s race. The award was given to him for his part in raising MotoGP’s profile around the world and for his continued high level of performance after five consecutive MotoGP titles.
No Traction Control For Barros At Silverstone Round Of Superbike World Championship
On the upcoming weekend (May 26th 28th) World’s Superbike Championship enters its next round at Silverstone. With a length of 2.231 m (3.561 km) Silverstone is one of the shortest tracks of the whole Championship. It is a challenge for the riders to get this course under control. The radius of the bends is rather short and the last chicane before the start-finish is like a combination of two real hairpin bends. 45 km/h there is the maximum speed. – So the Silverstone round is guaranteed to provide extra thrills to the spectators. Alex Barros: “The last time I raced at Silverstone was in 1987. I know the old course. The course for Superbikes is a combination of the old and the new. So the whole track is completely new for me and I don’t know what to expect. So Silverstone will be surprise for me.” Team Manager Klaus Klaffenböck: “Silverstone is a new race track for Alex. But this is no problem for him. Also Monza was new for Alex and he achieved two excellent results. I’m sure he may show a similar performance at Silverstone. During the last weeks we had a lot of discussions concerning the traction control. At Silverstone we will not have traction control on Alex bike but we are still looking to get it as soon as possible.”
More On This Past Weekend’s Rained Out British Superbike Race
Mondello Park Cancelled Round 5 Bennetts British Superbike Championship The Hawk Kawasaki Team were disappointed this weekend (19th – 21st May) after round five of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Mondello Park, had to be cancelled due to dreadful weather conditions. Despite good qualifying positions from Craig Coxhell in 11th position on the grid and Dean Thomas in 12th. The correct decision was made by the Race Director, Stuart Higgs and his staff at MCRCB to cancel the meeting as it would have been unsafe for the riders to have ridden in such atrocious conditions. With strong winds all weekend the weather stayed reasonably dry during the practice and qualifying sessions. Coxhell, Thomas and Hickman continuously improved throughout the weekend and they began to find a good race set up for the Kawasaki ZX10. Hickman was unlucky to have missed out on a higher qualifying position after the session was red flagged, whilst the young 19-year-old was on his last qualifying tyre. The heavens opened from early morning on Sunday, and it proceeding to rain all day. Despite the valiant efforts of the organisers to continue to run with the event, large amounts of standing water around the 2.2-mile Irish Circuit proved hazardous for the competitors. BSB Race Director, Stuart Higgs made the following statement: “Due to the constant heavy rain we have been unable to prepare the circuit in a manner suitable for competition. We had warm up sessions for the Superbike, Supersport and Superstock classes and further reviewed the circuit for racing. At 2.00pm in consultation with the Mondello Park circuit and Dorna, a joint decision was made to cancel the event. The Superbike races will not be rescheduled. The 125cc race will be run at a double header at Mallory Park and a decision will be made in the next two to three days regarding the Superstock and Supersport races.” The three Hawk Kawasaki riders of Coxhell, Thomas and Hickman will now prepare for their local round at Mallory Park in a few weeks time, 2nd – 4th June.
Updated Post: Round Two Of Press Releases From The AMA Races At Infineon Raceway
ULRICH AND PIETRI FIGHT WEATHER AND RIVALS AT INFINEON RACEWAY Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki battled through difficult weather conditions to put in a strong effort this weekend at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA, the scene of the fourth stop on the 2006 AMA roadracing calendar. Chris Ulrich kept his perfect season record of top-15 results in the Superstock class alive, finishing 14th in Sunday’s red-flagged, shortened race. After qualifying in the 15th position aboard his Pirelli-shod GSX-R1000 with a best time of 1:40.089 on Saturday, the two-time AMA Superstock race winner ran in that same position for the race’s opening six laps. With his bike set-up for a strong finish, he started his charge forward on lap 7. Unfortunately, his hopes for a top-ten result were dashed when the contest, which was originally scheduled for 17-laps, was halted by a red flag due to oil laid down on the course. The race was then declared complete on lap 8 due to scheduling and weather concerns. “It’s a shame the race ended early because we were just starting to move up the field,” the Californian said. “We were fighting against a lack of track time with the rainy weather all weekend long, but the team did a solid job to find a setting that worked really well for the race. That would have even more true if it had gone the entire distance, I think. We started out a little slow on Thursday and I had some allergy problems that were bothering me. For Friday, we made some setup changes that really helped and then made another jump with the setup on Saturday. My plan in the race was to see how the things developed and then charge late. I feel it was going my way but then the red flag came out. ” Chris said he was pleased with the progress the team made over the weekend. “We’ll just go from here and build on what we’ve learned so far this year. I know the next few tracks really well and we have a test, so it will be a lot of riding in a short amount of time. I’m looking forward to racing and feel I’m in good shape in my quest for the top ten.” Teammate Robertino Pietri stuck to his season game plan at Infineon Raceway. The young Venezuelan in the midst of a learning season continued to be patient picking up the nuances of the American racetracks while again proving to be the fastest South American on the racetrack by nearly a second. Pietri qualified in 18th for the Superstock final with a lap of 1:41.465 on Saturday. Then on raceday he was awarded with 17th after chasing a factory-backed rider for much of the contest before its premature ending. “This is a very difficult track to learn, but I think I did a good job this weekend even if we didn’t get much track time. It went better than we might have expected, given the situation with the weather. The mechanics and I have been working well together and that helps. When we’re making changes, they are making the bike better each time. I was doing well in the race, right behind Ben Attard,” Pietri said. “My arm pump problem bothered me some and that is something I need to get checked out.” The Infineon Raceway weekend was a good test for Robertino, forcing the young rider to push hard but also testing his patience. “I just want to continue to learn the racetracks and continue compiling data for next year. It’s also my main goal this year to be the fastest Venezuelan in the series and we accomplished that again this weekend.” Following four of eleven rounds, Ulrich currently sits in 11th place in the Superstock championship race with 73 points while Pietri is 15th at 64. Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki will test at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah this week and continue race action in two weeks time at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI on June 2-4. More, from a press release issued by Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki: Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki Finishes Successful Superbike Race Weekend at Sonoma SONOMA, Calif. (May 21, 2006) – Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki’s three-man team enjoyed a successful race weekend at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., on Saturday and Sunday, despite the threat of inclement weather. Jordan Suzuki rider Steve Rapp collected two top-10 AMA Superbike finishes during the double-header weekend, while teammates Jason Pridmore and Jake Holden worked on improving their overall bike set-up. Rapp was the team’s top finisher in both Saturday’s and Sunday’s AMA Superbike races, coming in ninth place in both events. “I got a pretty good start on my Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 in both races and I was able to pull away,” said Rapp. “Then I started gapping the guys behind me and I just tried to run consistent laps and pull ahead.” Pridmore finished a few spots behind his teammate in 11th position in both Superbike races. For Pridmore, these races were exercises in fine-tuning the set-up on his Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000. “I’m working with my crew on a better set-up for Road America in June,” said Pridmore. Although Holden was unable to finish Saturday’s race, he finished 10th in Sunday’s event. The team’s newest member diced with Rapp and swapped positions before coming away with an impressive top-10 finish. “It was a good race,” he said afterward. “The Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 is running good and every Superbike race we do is just more practice for Superstock.” The Jordan Suzuki team will next compete in the fifth round of AMA Superbike at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., June 2 – 4, 2006. Jason Pridmore, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #43 11th Place – AMA Superbike Race 1 11th Place – AMA Superbike Race 2 9th Place — Overall Steve Rapp, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #15 9th Place – AMA Superbike Race 1 9th Place – AMA Superbike Race 2 11th Place – Overall Jake Holden, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #59 DNF – AMA Superbike Race 1 10th – AMA Superbike Race 2 14th Place – Overall More, from another press release issued by Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki: Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki Celebrates Strong Superstock Finishes at Sonoma SONOMA, Calif. (May 23, 2006) – Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki’s Jake Holden celebrated his first top-five finish in the AMA Superstock race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., on Sunday afternoon. Teammate Steve Rapp finished close behind in seventh position and Jason Pridmore followed them home in eleventh. Holden started out the weekend strong by posting a best lap time of 1:37.622 in Saturday’s qualifying session and nabbing sixth position on the second row of the grid. “That’s a pretty good spot,” he said. “We’ve gotten the Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 pretty well figured out and my crew has done a great job.” Teammates Rapp qualified right behind Holden in seventh position (1:37.755) while Pridmore was slated to start from the fourth row (1:39.352). Sunday’s 17-lap race turned out to be an abbreviated event when a red flag was thrown due to a rider’s mechanical issue. Because of anticipated inclement weather, the AMA called the race with only eight laps completed. For Holden, this fifth-place finish is his best result of the season and moved him from seventh to sixth place overall. “I won’t be happy until I get a podium,” maintained Holden, “but it was a good weekend.” Rapp was also pleased with his result. “I crashed this morning and, though I didn’t get hurt, my bike was in rough shape,” he said. “I had to jump on my other Suzuki, which wasn’t set up for this track. I was able to ride decently and we came away with seventh place.” Finally, Pridmore looked at the event as a way to improve the performance of the bike overall. “We’re just continuing to fine-tune the Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000,” he said. “We’re going to Road America next and I’m looking forward to that race.” The Jordan Suzuki team will next compete in the fifth round of AMA Repsol Superstock at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., June 2 – 4, 2006. Jake Holden, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #59 5th Place – AMA Repsol Superstock 6th Place – Overall Jason Pridmore, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #43 11th Place – AMA Repsol Superstock 7th Place – Overall Steve Rapp, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #15 7th Place – AMA Repsol Superstock 10th Place – Overall More, from a press release issued by Millennium/KWS Suzuki: Millennium/KWS Suzuki Scores another Top 10 at Infineon Millennium/KWS Suzuki sponsored by Ron Ayers Motorsports battled rain, crashes and electrical problems to get another top 10 finish at Infineon Raceway this past weekend. Matt Lynn continues to get faster each race, improving his personal best finishes in Superstock and Superbike. Lee Acree, filling in for the injured John Haner, was quick in getting up to speed despite limited time on the Pirelli shod Millennium/KWS Suzuki GSX-R1000. For Saturday’s Superbike race one, Matt Lynn qualified seventeenth and Lee Acree qualified in the fifteenth position on their LeoVince equipped Suzuki’s. Both riders got excellent starts and Lynn had worked is way up to eleventh before crashing out on lap seven. Acree inherited the eleventh position but suffered an electrical problem and was forced to retired on lap eight. The team then went to work preparing both GSX-R1000’s for Sunday’s races despite the specter of rain on Sunday. Fortunately the rain held off for a few hours on Sunday morning allowing the team a chance at redemption in Superstock and Superbike race two. Lynn qualified twelfth for Superstock, and with another great start was able to stay with the lead pack. Lynn was battling for the seventh position with Jordan Suzuki’s Steve Rapp and Erion Honda’s Josh Hayes when the red flag came out on lap eight for oil on the track. Although upset at not being able to run the full distance and fight for a possible top five finish, Lynn was extremely happy with ninth place, his best AMA finish to date. With only ten minutes to between races due to the shortened schedule, Lynn hopped on his Millennium/KWS Suzuki GSX-R1000 to run Sunday’s Superbike race two. Both Acree and Lynn got good starts and rode very aggressively in the first few laps to put themselves in a good position incase the weather did not hold and the race was red flagged. Fortunately, the weather held and the Millennium/KWS Suzuki riders finished nose to tail with Lynn in the thirteenth position and Acree in the fourteenth position. Matt Lynn “Overall the weekend went really well. We had problems with the weather and I thought we were not going to get a chance to race on Sunday. Fortunately the weather held out and I got my best finishes to date in both classes. My mechanics, Rick Matheny, Michael Godin and Brian Stricker worked really hard to get the bike back together for the tight schedule on Sunday. I can’t thank those guys enough.” Lee Acree “It was great to be back with Millennium/KWS Suzuki this weekend. I did not get a lot of time to set up the bike due to the weather, but my mechanic Owen Garnett and Chip Spalding worked really hard to give me the best bike they could with amount of time we had to work on it. The Millennium/KWS Suzuki Superbike is a lot different than the Vesrah Suzuki endurance bike that I am used to riding. I am glad that I will have another chance to do well at Road America.” Kevin Hunt (Team Owner) “The team worked really hard this weekend and had to deal with a lot of elements that where out their control. I am really excited about Matt’s progression; he just keeps getting faster and faster. I would also like to thank Lee Acree for helping us out this weekend, he did a great job!”
Vesrah Brakes Giving Away Racebike To Top Contingency Earner In 2006
Vesrah Brakes is giving away a motorcycle to its top contingency winner for the 2006 race season. The rider with the largest total of contingency earned during 2006 in any race series will win a brand new 2006 Suzuki GSX-R1000. The bike will be a fully prepared, Superstock legal race bike. The bike will have all the same components as a Vesrah Suzuki sprint bike. The bike will be given away at WERA’s Grand National Final in Atlanta on Sunday, October 16th. Contingency earned during the GNF will count towards the rider totals. The bike will include these components: Vesrah Brakes Hamaguchi Exhaust Traxxion Dynamics Forks Penske Shock Pirelli Tires Factory Pro Tuning case covers Hotbodies Racing Bodywork Vortex Rearsets, Bars and Sprocket DID Chain Maxima Oil GPR Stabilizer For more information contact [email protected]
Recent Birth: Alexandra Shapovalova Muller
Team Speedbike Racing rider Edgar Muller and Evgeniya Shapovalova had a daughter, Alexandra Shapovalova Muller, May 14, in Boynton Beach, Florida.
Yamaha Motor France – Ipone Hoping Recent Test At Brno Will Pay Off At Silverstone
The Kyalami race has been officially cancelled, which means that after 4 events out of 12 the Superbike World Championship comes to Silverstone ready for the second third of the season. It is time for the Team Yamaha Motor France – Ipone to look back at what happened during the beginning of this year. The two best results for the team are the two beautiful fourth positions of Norick Abe at Valencia. The three riders of the team started so far 22 times (Sebastien Gimbert could not race in Valencia as he was participating on the same week-end to the 24 Hours of Le Mans). They finished 18 times, and 12 times with points. Norick Abe started 8 times, and finished 7 times, including 5 with points. Shinichi Nakatomi started 8 times and saw 7 times the finish line, including 4 times in the top 15. Sebastien Gimbert started 6 times, finished 4 times, of which 3 in the points. Generally speaking, the test sessions for development (one of the main purposes of the team) and settings were successful. For instance, it was the case recently in Brno where two riders of the team did very well on race tires. Gimbert did 2:02.6 and Nakatomi 2:03.4, compared to the unofficial record of the track belonging to Troy Corser (Suzuki) with a time of 2:02.694 since last year. So the team can reasonably hope positive results in the future. Norifumi Abe could not participate to these tests at Brno because he had to rest after his very impressive crash at Monza during practice. Happily, his head was not badly hurt and he is back in a great shape in the United Kingdom. Silverstone Story Silverstone was built on the site of a WWII RAF airfield. The first race was held there in 1948, Luigi Villoresi winning the R.A.C. Grand Prix in his Maserati. From May 13th 1950 to July 15th 2001, 35 Formula One GPs have been raced at Silverstone. Alain Prost holds the record for the biggest number of wins: 5 with Renault, McLaren, Ferrari and Williams. Silverstone also played host to the British Motorcycle Grand Prix from August 14th 1977 to August 3rd 1986. Kenny Roberts (Yamaha) won the biggest number of 500 GPs there and Kork Ballington (Kawasaki) did the same in 250s. Both won three times while Angel Nieto won six 125 GPs (three with Minarelli and three with Garelli). Silverstone started life as a very high-speed circuit. In essence, it was all straights joined together by a few fast turns. Over the years, the track layout was changed to slow it down. Today there are six possible track configurations: Grand Prix (5.140 km), International (3.624 km), South (3.170 km), National (2.637 km), Stowe (1.281 km) and Rally Sprint (1.920 km). This permanent racing circuit is 15 meters wide, can accommodate up to 90,000 spectators and has 60,000 grandstand seats. Silverstone is 100 kms north of London, 25 kms south/west of Northampton, 74 kms north/west of Oxford and 5 kms west of Towcester in Northamptonshire.
Rally, Bike Show Added To List Of Events For AMA Superbike Weekend At VIR
Virginia Rally, Boz Bros Bike Show to be Part of Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals at VIR Alton, Va. Last year, the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals, featuring the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, at VIRginia International Raceway demonstrated how much more of an event a motorcycle racing weekend could be. This year’s event, scheduled for August 18-20, is going to push the envelope even further. For 2006, event promoter M1 Entertainment is adding even more off-track events and excitement for fans. One unique addition will be The Virginia Rally, a two-day motorcycle rally that will offer participants 200-mile poker runs on Thursday and Friday, August 17-18. The runs will originate from the tri-city area around Danville, and will incorporate some of the country’s most scenic roads through the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway. At the end of the tour, Virginia Rally participants will ride to VIR for the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals, where they will be invited to ride a lap of the same 2.25-mile VIR North Course on which the best motorcycle racers in the world will be competing. Rally organizer Jim Lorimer points out that adding The Virginia Rally to the itinerary is a great way to turn a two-day, whirlwind weekend trip in to a four- or five-day motorcycling vacation. “Between The Virginia Rally and the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals, we are going to have so much going on, it wouldn’t surprise me if motorcycle enthusiasts come in from states as far away as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia and South Carolina for this combined event. Visit www.TheVirginiaRally.com for more details. Another exciting component of the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals weekend will be the Boz Bros Bike Show presented by 2Wheel Tuner magazine and Parts Unlimited. Eric and Ben Bostrom, two of the world’s most renowned motorcycle racers, with experience in the World Superbike Championship and the AMA Superbike Championship, have created their own line of street bike exhausts, plus clothing and accessories. Their products will be on display at VIR, along with a climbing wall, a bike dyno, Tourist Trophy game demos and a wheelie machine for fans to enjoy. In addition, the Bostroms will host a custom sportbike show, with five classes open for fans to display their customized rides, specialized awards such as Best ‘Busa, and an invitational class for builders that have been featured in the magazine. Eric and Ben, along with other top names in the industry, will judge the bikes on Saturday afternoon, and will be available to sign autographs for fans. Those wishing to enter their bike into the show can visit www.m1event.com and click on “get tickets.” Todd Lamb, publisher of 2Wheel Tuner, explains: “With the growing popularity of customized sportbikes, we wanted to put a show like this together for the fans to display their work and be the stars of the event. The right mix of people came together at the right time: Eric and Ben are great to work with, and Parts Unlimited is a natural fit. We are all very excited about bringing the sportbike lifestyle to the Big Kahuna Nationals.” Fans are reminded that two special Big Kahuna promotions are quickly drawing to a close. With the Pit Crew Weekend Warrior promotion, you can gain access to see what it’s really like to work in the pit and be a part of the thrill of putting together a winning team. You can be part of the action in the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals at VIR! Two lucky winners’ names will be drawn from all those who purchase tickets during the month of May to be Pit Crew Weekend Warriors. This promotion ends May 31, so act now see what the racing is like from the other side of the pit wall! Also during the month of May, M1 Entertainment is partnering with Moto1 (www.Moto1USA.com), the official merchandise and apparel company for M1 Entertainment, to offer a $5 Short Sleeve Rider Shirt to all ticket orders sold in the month of May. That’s right, buy your tickets early and get a Rider shirt for only $5 at the race. This offer also expires on May 31, so be sure to get your tickets early and take advantage of this special offer! (Excludes event shirts and long-sleeve Rider shirts. One T-shirt per order; sizes are not guaranteed; T-shirts are sold on a first-come/first served basis.) The Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals offers a variety of ticket packages designed to fit every budget, including standard general-admissions tickets, Big Kahuna Super Tickets, Big Dog Hospitality Passes, Little Dog Hospitality Passes, Pit Walk Passes, car parking passes and camping passes. Response has been overwhelming for the new Trackside VIP Suite tickets, priced at $245 (sold in advance only). This ticket includes three-day admission, paddock access, a Pit Walk Pass, car parking pass, official event program and access to one of VIR’s brand-new pitside suites overlooking the pit lane. Each climate-controlled suite can accommodate 20 people, and features closed-circuit coverage on a flat-panel plasma TV, private bathroom and catered continental breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack with drinks (cash bar service also available). Of the 40 Trackside VIP Suite tickets made available only 25 still remain, so interested fans are advised to act quickly to reserve theirs. All current military personnel will receive a 30-percent discount and free parking with a copy of a current military ID (advance) or by presenting their ID card at the gate. Similarly, college students will be eligible for a 15-percent discount with a copy of a current college ID (advance) or by presenting their ID card at the gate. Groups of 20 or more will also be eligible for a 15-percent discount, providing the order is paid for with one credit card. Discounts do not apply to Trackside VIP Suite and Big Kahuna Super Tickets, or to Big Dog Hospitality Passes or Pit Walk Passes. Children aged 12 and under will receive free admission, provided they are accompanied by a paid adult, but must have a Little Dog Hospitality Pass to enter the Big Dog Hospitality area. Advance ticket sales will end at 5:00 pm on August 14. Tickets ordered too late to mail will be able to be picked up at Will Call at the track. To purchase tickets, visit www.m1event.com or www.gettix.net. VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River between Danville and South Boston, Va., and just north of historic Milton, N.C. In addition to its 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit, VIR is the cornerstone of VIR Club, America’s first motorsports country club; the VIR Raceplex Industrial Park; the VIR Gallery, a sales showroom for high-end collector and racing cars; Plantation Valley Kart Track, a 5/8-mile paved karting circuit; The Lodge at VIR, a 27-room trackside hotel; and the Oak Tree Tavern, a full-service restaurant located within the circa-1840 Plantation Clubhouse. For more information on VIRginia International Raceway, visit the track’s website at www.virclub.com or telephone 434-822-7700. For more information on M1 Entertainment, visit their website at www.m1event.com or contact them via telephone at 303-377-3278. For more information on the AMA Superbike Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited, visit their website at www.amasuperbike.com. For more information on The Virginia Rally, visit their website at www.thevirginiarally.com.
Ben And Mary Spies Pledge $15,000 To Match Donations To Roadracing World Action Fund
AMA Superbike Championship leader Ben Spies and his mother Mary Spies have pledged to match donations to the Roadracing World Action Fund up to $10,000 and $5000, respectively, in hopes of increasing rider safety at AMA venues and other road race courses with more soft safety barriers. “I’m sick of people getting hurt,” Ben Spies told Roadracingworld.com Tuesday. “I feel really fortunate to have been able to do what I’ve been doing lately, and I just want to give something back. “The whole thing with Vincent (Haskovec) hitting that wall at Infineon (Raceway) last year really aggravates me. I mean, he’s a guy who was at the top of his game, one of the best in the AMA, and he hit a wall and got paralyzed and may never race again. And if it can happen to him, it can happen to me. “Airfence is good, but I know it’s no real fix. We need to get walls moved. Walls can be moved, but racers can’t be brought back. We just need to keep working together to make things better, and this is one way to help.” (Note: Infineon Raceway recently moved the wall Haskovec hit last year.)
R.I.P. Jackie Martin Pfeifer, Father Of Racer Jack Pfeifer
Jackie Martin Pfeifer, 67, of Santa Clarita, California, died May 13 at St. Joseph Hospital in Burbank, California. No cause of death was given. Pfeifer is survived by his wife, Yvonne; two daughters, Laurie and Kristi; and two sons, Frank and Jack. The death of his father combined with a race hauler breakdown resulted in Jack Pfeifer skipping the AMA round at Infineon Raceway and participating in the May 20-21 WSMC round at Willow Springs International Raceway, in Rosamond, California, which is closer to his Las Vegas home.
Rossi Presented Laureus Spirit Of Sport Award
At the prestigious Laureus Sports Awards which took place in Barcelona last night, reigning MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi was awarded with the coveted ‘Spirit of Sport’ prize, given to the individual that has raised the profile of his or her chosen field. The ceremony was a star-studded affair, with Spain’s King Juan Carlos present, and Hollywood actors Cuba Gooding Jr. and Teri Hatcher presenting. A who’s who of sporting legends were also in attendance, but it was once again Valentino Rossi who stole the show, bringing proceedings to a close by riding onto stage on a Yamaha R1 before collecting his award from MotoGP Legend Giacomo Agostini and Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Rossi had earlier also been a nomination for World Sportsman of the Year for the third consecutive time, however that accolade fell to Swiss tennis sensation Roger Federer. Nevertheless when he finally made his entrance with trademark flamboyance the five-time MotoGP World Champion received a rapturous applause from the gathered luminaries. Once the ceremony was finished, Rossi remarked, “I am very happy to have received this award tonight, and very proud to be considered such an important ambassador for our sport. It’s also a big honour for me to be nominated once again for the main award alongside other such great sportsmen.” The Laureus Sports Awards are voted for by the Laureus Academy’s 42 members, which includes Agostini and other sporting legends such as Bobby Charlton, Seve Ballesteros, Ed Moses and Boris Becker. Rossi flew to the event especially, after having completed a day’s testing at the Le Mans circuit where he was forced to retire during Sunday’s race. The award was given to him for his part in raising MotoGP’s profile around the world and for his continued high level of performance after five consecutive MotoGP titles.
No Traction Control For Barros At Silverstone Round Of Superbike World Championship
On the upcoming weekend (May 26th 28th) World’s Superbike Championship enters its next round at Silverstone. With a length of 2.231 m (3.561 km) Silverstone is one of the shortest tracks of the whole Championship. It is a challenge for the riders to get this course under control. The radius of the bends is rather short and the last chicane before the start-finish is like a combination of two real hairpin bends. 45 km/h there is the maximum speed. – So the Silverstone round is guaranteed to provide extra thrills to the spectators. Alex Barros: “The last time I raced at Silverstone was in 1987. I know the old course. The course for Superbikes is a combination of the old and the new. So the whole track is completely new for me and I don’t know what to expect. So Silverstone will be surprise for me.” Team Manager Klaus Klaffenböck: “Silverstone is a new race track for Alex. But this is no problem for him. Also Monza was new for Alex and he achieved two excellent results. I’m sure he may show a similar performance at Silverstone. During the last weeks we had a lot of discussions concerning the traction control. At Silverstone we will not have traction control on Alex bike but we are still looking to get it as soon as possible.”
More On This Past Weekend’s Rained Out British Superbike Race
Mondello Park Cancelled Round 5 Bennetts British Superbike Championship The Hawk Kawasaki Team were disappointed this weekend (19th – 21st May) after round five of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Mondello Park, had to be cancelled due to dreadful weather conditions. Despite good qualifying positions from Craig Coxhell in 11th position on the grid and Dean Thomas in 12th. The correct decision was made by the Race Director, Stuart Higgs and his staff at MCRCB to cancel the meeting as it would have been unsafe for the riders to have ridden in such atrocious conditions. With strong winds all weekend the weather stayed reasonably dry during the practice and qualifying sessions. Coxhell, Thomas and Hickman continuously improved throughout the weekend and they began to find a good race set up for the Kawasaki ZX10. Hickman was unlucky to have missed out on a higher qualifying position after the session was red flagged, whilst the young 19-year-old was on his last qualifying tyre. The heavens opened from early morning on Sunday, and it proceeding to rain all day. Despite the valiant efforts of the organisers to continue to run with the event, large amounts of standing water around the 2.2-mile Irish Circuit proved hazardous for the competitors. BSB Race Director, Stuart Higgs made the following statement: “Due to the constant heavy rain we have been unable to prepare the circuit in a manner suitable for competition. We had warm up sessions for the Superbike, Supersport and Superstock classes and further reviewed the circuit for racing. At 2.00pm in consultation with the Mondello Park circuit and Dorna, a joint decision was made to cancel the event. The Superbike races will not be rescheduled. The 125cc race will be run at a double header at Mallory Park and a decision will be made in the next two to three days regarding the Superstock and Supersport races.” The three Hawk Kawasaki riders of Coxhell, Thomas and Hickman will now prepare for their local round at Mallory Park in a few weeks time, 2nd – 4th June.
Updated Post: Round Two Of Press Releases From The AMA Races At Infineon Raceway
ULRICH AND PIETRI FIGHT WEATHER AND RIVALS AT INFINEON RACEWAY Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki battled through difficult weather conditions to put in a strong effort this weekend at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA, the scene of the fourth stop on the 2006 AMA roadracing calendar. Chris Ulrich kept his perfect season record of top-15 results in the Superstock class alive, finishing 14th in Sunday’s red-flagged, shortened race. After qualifying in the 15th position aboard his Pirelli-shod GSX-R1000 with a best time of 1:40.089 on Saturday, the two-time AMA Superstock race winner ran in that same position for the race’s opening six laps. With his bike set-up for a strong finish, he started his charge forward on lap 7. Unfortunately, his hopes for a top-ten result were dashed when the contest, which was originally scheduled for 17-laps, was halted by a red flag due to oil laid down on the course. The race was then declared complete on lap 8 due to scheduling and weather concerns. “It’s a shame the race ended early because we were just starting to move up the field,” the Californian said. “We were fighting against a lack of track time with the rainy weather all weekend long, but the team did a solid job to find a setting that worked really well for the race. That would have even more true if it had gone the entire distance, I think. We started out a little slow on Thursday and I had some allergy problems that were bothering me. For Friday, we made some setup changes that really helped and then made another jump with the setup on Saturday. My plan in the race was to see how the things developed and then charge late. I feel it was going my way but then the red flag came out. ” Chris said he was pleased with the progress the team made over the weekend. “We’ll just go from here and build on what we’ve learned so far this year. I know the next few tracks really well and we have a test, so it will be a lot of riding in a short amount of time. I’m looking forward to racing and feel I’m in good shape in my quest for the top ten.” Teammate Robertino Pietri stuck to his season game plan at Infineon Raceway. The young Venezuelan in the midst of a learning season continued to be patient picking up the nuances of the American racetracks while again proving to be the fastest South American on the racetrack by nearly a second. Pietri qualified in 18th for the Superstock final with a lap of 1:41.465 on Saturday. Then on raceday he was awarded with 17th after chasing a factory-backed rider for much of the contest before its premature ending. “This is a very difficult track to learn, but I think I did a good job this weekend even if we didn’t get much track time. It went better than we might have expected, given the situation with the weather. The mechanics and I have been working well together and that helps. When we’re making changes, they are making the bike better each time. I was doing well in the race, right behind Ben Attard,” Pietri said. “My arm pump problem bothered me some and that is something I need to get checked out.” The Infineon Raceway weekend was a good test for Robertino, forcing the young rider to push hard but also testing his patience. “I just want to continue to learn the racetracks and continue compiling data for next year. It’s also my main goal this year to be the fastest Venezuelan in the series and we accomplished that again this weekend.” Following four of eleven rounds, Ulrich currently sits in 11th place in the Superstock championship race with 73 points while Pietri is 15th at 64. Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki will test at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah this week and continue race action in two weeks time at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI on June 2-4. More, from a press release issued by Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki: Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki Finishes Successful Superbike Race Weekend at Sonoma SONOMA, Calif. (May 21, 2006) – Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki’s three-man team enjoyed a successful race weekend at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., on Saturday and Sunday, despite the threat of inclement weather. Jordan Suzuki rider Steve Rapp collected two top-10 AMA Superbike finishes during the double-header weekend, while teammates Jason Pridmore and Jake Holden worked on improving their overall bike set-up. Rapp was the team’s top finisher in both Saturday’s and Sunday’s AMA Superbike races, coming in ninth place in both events. “I got a pretty good start on my Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 in both races and I was able to pull away,” said Rapp. “Then I started gapping the guys behind me and I just tried to run consistent laps and pull ahead.” Pridmore finished a few spots behind his teammate in 11th position in both Superbike races. For Pridmore, these races were exercises in fine-tuning the set-up on his Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000. “I’m working with my crew on a better set-up for Road America in June,” said Pridmore. Although Holden was unable to finish Saturday’s race, he finished 10th in Sunday’s event. The team’s newest member diced with Rapp and swapped positions before coming away with an impressive top-10 finish. “It was a good race,” he said afterward. “The Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 is running good and every Superbike race we do is just more practice for Superstock.” The Jordan Suzuki team will next compete in the fifth round of AMA Superbike at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., June 2 – 4, 2006. Jason Pridmore, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #43 11th Place – AMA Superbike Race 1 11th Place – AMA Superbike Race 2 9th Place — Overall Steve Rapp, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #15 9th Place – AMA Superbike Race 1 9th Place – AMA Superbike Race 2 11th Place – Overall Jake Holden, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #59 DNF – AMA Superbike Race 1 10th – AMA Superbike Race 2 14th Place – Overall More, from another press release issued by Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki: Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki Celebrates Strong Superstock Finishes at Sonoma SONOMA, Calif. (May 23, 2006) – Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki’s Jake Holden celebrated his first top-five finish in the AMA Superstock race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., on Sunday afternoon. Teammate Steve Rapp finished close behind in seventh position and Jason Pridmore followed them home in eleventh. Holden started out the weekend strong by posting a best lap time of 1:37.622 in Saturday’s qualifying session and nabbing sixth position on the second row of the grid. “That’s a pretty good spot,” he said. “We’ve gotten the Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 pretty well figured out and my crew has done a great job.” Teammates Rapp qualified right behind Holden in seventh position (1:37.755) while Pridmore was slated to start from the fourth row (1:39.352). Sunday’s 17-lap race turned out to be an abbreviated event when a red flag was thrown due to a rider’s mechanical issue. Because of anticipated inclement weather, the AMA called the race with only eight laps completed. For Holden, this fifth-place finish is his best result of the season and moved him from seventh to sixth place overall. “I won’t be happy until I get a podium,” maintained Holden, “but it was a good weekend.” Rapp was also pleased with his result. “I crashed this morning and, though I didn’t get hurt, my bike was in rough shape,” he said. “I had to jump on my other Suzuki, which wasn’t set up for this track. I was able to ride decently and we came away with seventh place.” Finally, Pridmore looked at the event as a way to improve the performance of the bike overall. “We’re just continuing to fine-tune the Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000,” he said. “We’re going to Road America next and I’m looking forward to that race.” The Jordan Suzuki team will next compete in the fifth round of AMA Repsol Superstock at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., June 2 – 4, 2006. Jake Holden, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #59 5th Place – AMA Repsol Superstock 6th Place – Overall Jason Pridmore, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #43 11th Place – AMA Repsol Superstock 7th Place – Overall Steve Rapp, Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, #15 7th Place – AMA Repsol Superstock 10th Place – Overall More, from a press release issued by Millennium/KWS Suzuki: Millennium/KWS Suzuki Scores another Top 10 at Infineon Millennium/KWS Suzuki sponsored by Ron Ayers Motorsports battled rain, crashes and electrical problems to get another top 10 finish at Infineon Raceway this past weekend. Matt Lynn continues to get faster each race, improving his personal best finishes in Superstock and Superbike. Lee Acree, filling in for the injured John Haner, was quick in getting up to speed despite limited time on the Pirelli shod Millennium/KWS Suzuki GSX-R1000. For Saturday’s Superbike race one, Matt Lynn qualified seventeenth and Lee Acree qualified in the fifteenth position on their LeoVince equipped Suzuki’s. Both riders got excellent starts and Lynn had worked is way up to eleventh before crashing out on lap seven. Acree inherited the eleventh position but suffered an electrical problem and was forced to retired on lap eight. The team then went to work preparing both GSX-R1000’s for Sunday’s races despite the specter of rain on Sunday. Fortunately the rain held off for a few hours on Sunday morning allowing the team a chance at redemption in Superstock and Superbike race two. Lynn qualified twelfth for Superstock, and with another great start was able to stay with the lead pack. Lynn was battling for the seventh position with Jordan Suzuki’s Steve Rapp and Erion Honda’s Josh Hayes when the red flag came out on lap eight for oil on the track. Although upset at not being able to run the full distance and fight for a possible top five finish, Lynn was extremely happy with ninth place, his best AMA finish to date. With only ten minutes to between races due to the shortened schedule, Lynn hopped on his Millennium/KWS Suzuki GSX-R1000 to run Sunday’s Superbike race two. Both Acree and Lynn got good starts and rode very aggressively in the first few laps to put themselves in a good position incase the weather did not hold and the race was red flagged. Fortunately, the weather held and the Millennium/KWS Suzuki riders finished nose to tail with Lynn in the thirteenth position and Acree in the fourteenth position. Matt Lynn “Overall the weekend went really well. We had problems with the weather and I thought we were not going to get a chance to race on Sunday. Fortunately the weather held out and I got my best finishes to date in both classes. My mechanics, Rick Matheny, Michael Godin and Brian Stricker worked really hard to get the bike back together for the tight schedule on Sunday. I can’t thank those guys enough.” Lee Acree “It was great to be back with Millennium/KWS Suzuki this weekend. I did not get a lot of time to set up the bike due to the weather, but my mechanic Owen Garnett and Chip Spalding worked really hard to give me the best bike they could with amount of time we had to work on it. The Millennium/KWS Suzuki Superbike is a lot different than the Vesrah Suzuki endurance bike that I am used to riding. I am glad that I will have another chance to do well at Road America.” Kevin Hunt (Team Owner) “The team worked really hard this weekend and had to deal with a lot of elements that where out their control. I am really excited about Matt’s progression; he just keeps getting faster and faster. I would also like to thank Lee Acree for helping us out this weekend, he did a great job!”
Vesrah Brakes Giving Away Racebike To Top Contingency Earner In 2006
Vesrah Brakes is giving away a motorcycle to its top contingency winner for the 2006 race season. The rider with the largest total of contingency earned during 2006 in any race series will win a brand new 2006 Suzuki GSX-R1000. The bike will be a fully prepared, Superstock legal race bike. The bike will have all the same components as a Vesrah Suzuki sprint bike. The bike will be given away at WERA’s Grand National Final in Atlanta on Sunday, October 16th. Contingency earned during the GNF will count towards the rider totals. The bike will include these components: Vesrah Brakes Hamaguchi Exhaust Traxxion Dynamics Forks Penske Shock Pirelli Tires Factory Pro Tuning case covers Hotbodies Racing Bodywork Vortex Rearsets, Bars and Sprocket DID Chain Maxima Oil GPR Stabilizer For more information contact [email protected]