Motourage

This year’s AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL action could not have been more exciting and competitive.  With two winners in three races and one more rider who could have, or should have, won a race or two himself, today’s first of two weekend AMA Pro Daytona SportBike races was another chapter in what has been a series of races that just keep on delivering one wild and crazy race after another!

After a rocking early morning qualifying session where any number of riders topped the time sheets, it was Friday’s pole sitter Tommy Aquino on his Team Graves Yamaha that reclaimed the top spot when it looked like he would be beaten by his own Team Graves Yamaha teammate Josh Herrin and also Daytona pole position winner and reigning AMA Pro Daytona SportBike champion Danny Eslick on his bright yellow GEICO Powersports Suzuki and also M4 Monster Energy Suzuki rider Martin Cardenas. Aquino came through at the end of qualifying and he looked very strong for the race.

Under bright blue skies and warm temperatures, the standing start went off without a hitch and it was Cardenas who led the field into the uphill turn one. Aquino was in second, Herrin third, a strong starting Cory West, riding his Vesrah Suzuki was up to fourth ahead of Eslick, who was already starting his usual charge to the front.

It didn’t take long for the action to start as Herrin moved up and passed Cardenas and Aquino in one move and as the front six broke away from the rest of the field, Eslick jumped up to first on lap three. These three now put on their usual show with pass after pass lap after lap; this after it was thought there weren’t too many places to pass on the challenging and scenic Road Atlanta track. That theory was completely put to rest as the riders continuously made major passing moves at the top of the track at turns six and seven and also at the run down into the turn ten complex.

The man on the move in this race was West, who worked his way past Cardenas, Herrin and was all over Eslick, each passing the other and West really riding hard each and every lap. Herrin, indicative of just how hard everyone was running, just slid wide at the final turn and found himself in the gravel but in an excellent move kept his bike moving and was able to escape the gravel and rejoin the race, unfortunately back from the lead group.

Aquino was still part of the mix and Dane Westby, riding for local team Project 1 Atlanta Yamaha, also took a turn leading the race. At one point, Eslick got slowed by another of the many passing moves into and out of the turn ten complex that leads up to the bridge turn coming down the hill onto the front straight and it looked as if it was now between West and Cardenas.

Cardenas was able get by West on the penultimate lap and he rode very hard to make sure no one could pass him at turn ten. West tried as hard as he could, backing up the good form he really has shown all year by finishing second, followed by Eslick, who had a light touch with Aquino on the front straight with two laps left. Westby took fourth ahead of Aquino with Steve Rapp on his Team Latus Motors Racing Ducati who, while well back from the lead group, had a good race with Clinton Seller on the other Project 1 Atlanta Yamaha who finished just behind Rapp.

Herrin was a disappointed eighth, followed by Chris Fillmore on the second Vesrah Suzuki in ninth, rounding out a good day for the Vesrah Team. Taking tenth place was local Georgia rider Geoff May who, on his own team’s GMR Suzuki, ran a strong race at his home track in front of friends and family.

Another rider who showed extreme courage and heart was Alex Lazo who, on his TriangleCycles.com Yamaha, rode today’s race with a broken left foot. It’s his second year in AMA Pro competition and he soldered through to take a worthy twenty-third place.

Race two of the double header Suzuki SuperBike Showdown at Road Atlanta will be tomorrow and if the first four races are anything to go by, it will be another chapter of must see AMA Pro Road Racing motorcycle competition.

After a 0.001 of a second loss at the season’s first race, Joey Pascarella has basically swept all before him as he rolled to three consecutive pole positions and race wins on his LTD Racing Yamaha.

Today, that streak was broken in the most unusual and unexpected way. Pascarella and the rest of the AMA Pro SuperSport field went out for their initial warm-up lap prior to the traditional standing start, and unfortunately, he came upon some fluid on the track that had escaped in a sudden mechanical problem for another competitor. This unfortunate and unpreventable incident also derailed the hopes of another race favorite, Elena Myers, who lost traction on her Richie Morris Roadracingworld.com Suzuki. Both riders suffered injuries that, in Pascarella’s case, will prevent him from competing tomorrow in the second of two AMA Pro SuperSport races. Myers is expected to compete.

There was still a race to run and now, the four other main characters in this year’s exciting SuperSport series now took center stage. Daytona race one winner Cameron Beaubier and his Rockwall Yamaha teammate, J.D. Beach now basically had the front row to themselves and they took off with Pascarella’s LTD Yamaha teammate, Huntley Nash, and also the third LTD Yamaha rider Tomas Puerta in hot pursuit.

Beaubier and then Beach would lead, each passing and re-passing each other lap after lap.  Nash was trying as hard as he could to take the fight to the first two, and one time he did get by Cameron at turn seven, only to have Beaubier re-pass him as they dove down into the turn ten complex.

Out from under the famous Road Atlanta bridge, the three would be battling all the way down the front straight, setting each other up for the next pass. Meanwhile, Puerta was just back from the first three and it would only take the smallest error from any of the three ahead for him to also join the fray. It almost seemed that leading wasn’t the place to be since whoever was in second place coming down into turn ten, he could slip inside the leader under braking and hold the lead all the way under the bridge and past the start finish line.

As the race came down to the last lap, Beaubier and Beach had pulled out a slight margin to Nash and it now was between the two Rockwall Yamaha riders. Beaubier looked like he had it won and then Beach passed him on the long straight coming down to the turn ten complex for the last time, but this time he had enough of a margin that he was able to hold on for the win, finishing 0.108 ahead of Beaubier.

It was an exciting win for Beach and he expressed his delight in the post race press conference, “I have been racing with Cameron since 2007 and I was going to do anything to win, I was just going for it,” said J.D. Beaubier was disappointed not to have won, but his run of very strong showings continues as he and Beach show just how competitive the SuperSport class is.

Nash and Puerta also finished up with strong results; Puerta was just beaten at the end by Travis Wyman on his Yamaha. Top Gun entry, David Gaviria on his Kawasaki took sixth and Huntley’s older brother, Sam Nash took seventh on his Yamaha. Eighth was Miles Thornton on his Yamaha, followed by Top Gun riders James Dellinger and James Cohrs in ninth and tenth on their Suzuki and Yamaha motorcycles, respectively.

All in all it was another sensational race, every lap was spellbinding and the skill and respect shown by these Young Gun AMA Pro Racing SuperSport riders is simply awesome to behold. Check www.amaproracing.com for complete results under Road Atlanta race results.

Parts Canada Superbike Championship rider, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan based 18 year old Brett McCormick, will join the AMA Pro American Superbike series, riding for the Jordan Suzuki team in the AMA Pro American Superbike class. McCormick will make his debut at the upcoming third event of the season at Road Atlanta, near Braselton, Georgia, April 17-18.

Canadian Brett McCormick is no stranger to US circuits

McCormick tested for the team, owned by legendary basketball Superstar Michael Jordan, at Infineon Raceway at Sears Point, near San Francisco, CA, for the past two days.  With long time Jordan racer Aaron Yates injured during the previous round of the tour at Auto Club Speedway outside Los Angles, CA., last weekend, the opportunity opened up for McCormick to join the squad as a substitute for Yates.

Jordan team leader Yates was injured on Sunday morning, March 28, during the warm-up session for race four of the American Superbike series. Yates crashed in the infield of the road course, and was run over by a competitor who he had just passed.  The incident broke both bones in Yates’ lower leg, the tibia in two places.  Yates is expected to be out of action for around two months after surgery that lasted six hours.

For McCormick, the opportunity to ride for the Jordan team was a much needed positive career swing.  The Jordan squad fields two Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbikes, and the other team entry, ridden by Jake Zemke and sponsored by the National Guard, is currently leading the series points standings.

McCormick was runner up in both the Parts Canada Superbike Championship and Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike division in 2009, his third year as a Pro road race competitor on the Canadian National tour.  However the Blackfoot Suzuki squad folded during the past off season, leaving top prospect McCormick looking for work.  A potential job on the Superbike World Championship trail aboard a privateer Ducati looked promising, but a more experienced European racer got the job at the last minute.
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Thursday’s Infineon Test Recap release, courtesy of Infineon Raceway

Yamaha riders Josh Hayes and Tommy Aquino posted the top times on Thursday as nearly 15 riders hit the track for an AMA Pro Road Racing test session, hosted by Team Graves Yamaha, at Infineon Raceway.

Hayes (Team Graves Yamaha) recorded the top time for AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike on Thursday over the 12-turn, 2.22-mile road course at 1 minute, 36.72 seconds, while teammate Aquino was quickest in AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL at 1:39.29.

The teams are testing in advance of the West Coast Moto Jam, May 14-16, in the Sonoma Valley.

Fourteen riders from eight teams, including Rockstar Makita Suzuki, Michael Jordan Motorsports and Pat Clark Motorsports attended the test, which concluded on Friday.

Hayes was followed by Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammates Blake Young (1:36.78) and Tommy Hayden (1:37.37).  Hayes claimed his first American SuperBike win at Infineon Raceway last year; the first win for a non-Suzuki rider in Sonoma since 2006.

In Daytona SportBike, Aquino was followed by teammate Josh Herrin (1:39.81) and Steve Rapp (1:40.12, Team Latus Motorsports).

AMA Pro Road Racing Series Test Session

Infineon Raceway, Sonoma

The top times from Thursday’s test session over the 12-turn, 2.22-mile road course at Infineon Raceway.  Unofficial times provided by AMA Pro Road Racing:

AMERICAN SUPERBIKE

1.       Josh Hayes (Yamaha) 1:36.72

2.       Blake Young (Suzuki) 1:36.78

3.       Tommy Hayden (Suzuki) 1:37.37

4.       Ben Bostrom (Yamaha) 1:37.48

5.       Jake Zemke (Suzuki) 1:37.61

6.       Larry Pegram (Ducati) 1:37.63

7.       Brett McCormick (Suzuki) 1:38.64

8.       Chris Clark (Yamaha) 1:41.51

DAYTONA SPORTBIKE

1.       Tommy Aquino (Yamaha) 1:39.29

2.       Josh Herrin (Yamaha) 1:39.81

3.       Steve Rapp (Ducati) 1:40.12

4.       Dave Westby (Yamaha) 1:40.90

5.       Clinton Seller (Yamaha) 1:41.17

6.       Tyler Odom (Honda) 1:45.89

The more things change, the more they stay the same as the first day of practice and qualifying came to a close at the Auto Club Speedway in beautiful sunny southern California.  The fast qualifier from each class in last month’s opening round of the 2010 AMA Pro Road Racing championship season at Daytona International Speedway showed their speed again today during the opening qualifying sessions.

Aaron Yates and the Michael Jordan-owned Brand Jordan Suzuki team again showed the way in the AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike series with a fast time of 1:23.982 to place the Georgia native on provisional pole position going into tomorrow’s final qualifying session.   Asked why he is running so well in 2010, Yates said, “I’m feeling really good this year, my health is really good and the No. 23 Jordan Suzuki guys have been working really hard and it’s paying off.”

Tommy Hayden took second on his No. 22 Rockstar Makita Suzuki with a time of 1:24.133 and No. 72 Foremost Insurance Ducati rider Larry Pegram was third with a time of 1:24.150.  Twenty-two American Superbike motorcycles attempted to qualify today and final qualifying will be tomorrow morning at 9:50 a.m. local time, ensuring quicker times as the track conditions will be close to perfect around the 2.36-mile 21-turn Auto Club Speedway circuit.

In AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL, Daytona pole position winner Danny Eslick and his No. 1 GEICO Powersports/RMR Suzuki topped the time sheets as the defending champion posted the fastest lap on his penultimate lap of qualifying to take the provisional pole.  Under clear blue skies, Eslick put up a time of 1:27.164 and felt great about his time and his season in general, commenting, “I’m feeling great, I won both races here last year and I really like this track.  The change to the GEICO Suzuki has been flawless and we are running right where we need to be.”

Right behind Eslick is 2010 Daytona 200 winner Josh Herrin on his No. 8 Team Graves Yamaha with a time of 1:27.255.  Third was Herrin’s Team Graves Yamaha teammate, No. 6 Tommy Aquino with a time of 1:27.457.  The second round of qualifying for the Daytona SportBikes will be tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. local time, with the first of two races kicking off tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 p.m.

In keeping with the pattern so far, Daytona’s Supersport pole and race two winner Joey Pascarella took the top spot in the last qualifying session of the day.  After being beaten in race one at Daytona in the Supersport season opener by 0.001 of a second, Pascarella has yet to be beaten in a race or qualifying session.  Pascarella, suffering the painful looking wounds from a mountain bike fall earlier in the week, led the way on his No. 25 LTD Racing Yamaha with a time of 1:29.310.  Asked if he was distracted by the abrasions on his hands and face, Joey commented, “Once I start riding, I don’t notice it.  I wasn’t sure I would be able to hold on but it’s not bad.”

Second quick was No. 19 Scott Gilbert on his Yamaha with a time of 1:30.188 and third was Pascarella’s Yamaha teammate, No. 75 Huntley Nash who turned in a time of 1:31.393.  Nash has never been to Auto Club Speedway and was pleased with his effort, “For my first time here, I’m pretty happy, I followed Joey around a couple of times and picked up some ideas where I could improve and I’m looking forward to tomorrow when I know I can run better.”

The Supersport riders will take to the track again tomorrow for final qualifying and also their first race of two this weekend.  Local rider Elena Myers again showed her experience on a track she has been riding on since the beginning of her short career by taking fourth place with a time of 1:31.573.  Myers, riding her No. 21 RMR/RoadracingWorld.com Suzuki, ran close to the top of the time charts throughout today’s practice and qualifying sessions.

Following post-qualifying technical inspection, times were disallowed for non-compliant fuel for the following motorcycles: American Superbike No. 10 and No. 59, Daytona SportBike No. 122 and No. 153, Supersport No. 729.  Riders will have the opportunity to qualify or improve their position on the grid by posting times in tomorrow morning’s final qualifying sessions.

Saturday’s weather looks even better than today’s and after a solid first day of practice and qualifying the weekend is shaping up to again see some incredibly close racing.

Heading into round two of this year’s AMA Pro Road Racing championship at California’s Auto Club Speedway, to be held March 26 – 28, riders, teams and fans are ready to rejoin the battles that begin at the opening round last month at Daytona International Speedway.

The Suzuki AMA Pro Superbike Challenge weekend will feature two action packed races in each of the three AMA Pro Road Racing classes.  Practice and qualifying begin on Friday, March 26th at the 2.36-mile combination speedway/road course.  Saturday, March 27th will see more qualifying and the first of two AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike races.  Just prior to the American Superbike race on Saturday, fans will be treated to rider introductions and a Grid Walk.  The second American Superbike race will be on Sunday, March 28th.

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The AMA Suzuki Superbike Showdown just five weeks away.

Get ready for heart pounding excitement as the country’s best riders attack Road Atlanta’s 2.5 miles of swooping hills and thrilling turns at speeds as fast as 190 mph.

Your favorite riders – Aaron Yates, Larry Pegram, Ben Bostrom, Tommy Hayden, Jake Zemke, John Hopkins, Danny Eslick, Blake Young, Taylor Knapp and more – on your favorite bikes – Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda, Ducati and more – in your favorite classes – American Superbike, Daytona Sportbike and SuperSport.

DISCOUNTED TICKETS

2010 ticket prices discounted another 10%–20% from last year’s already discounted prices.
Saturday and Sunday single-day tickets are only $33 (down from $40 last year) and a two-day weekend ticket, which now includes FREE admission to Friday afternoon practice, is only $55 (down from $60 last year). It’s the perfect time to come and see the thrilling excitement for yourself. Remember, kids 12 and younger are free, so bring the entire family.

Buy your tickets today online at roadatlanta.com or call 800.849.RACE (7223).

Road Atlanta is located at 5300 Winder Highway, Braselton, Georgia 30517

AMA Pro Racing Round 1 – Daytona International Speedway
Schedule

Wednesday March 3
8:30am Garages Open
9:00am – 12:00pm Rider Head Shots in Media Center – Mandatory
12:00pm Post Entry Deadline for SuperSport Top Guns Only
12:30pm – 1:00pm Free Practice Daytona SportBike (LC)
1:30pm – 2:00pm Free Practice American SuperBike (SC)
2:10pm – 2:40pm Free Practice SuperSport (SC)
2:40pm – 3:40pm Mid-day Break
3:45pm – 4:45pm Free Practice American SuperBike (SC)
5:00pm – 6:00pm Free Practice SuperSport (SC)
6:30pm – 8:00pm Free Practice Daytona SportBike (LC)
9:00pm Garages Close

Thursday March 4
8:00am Garages Open
9:00am – 9:20am Qualifying Practice Daytona SportBike Group A (LC)
9:25am – 9:45am Qualifying Practice Daytona SportBike Group B (LC)
10:15am – 10:45am Qualifying Practice American SuperBike (SC)
11:00am – 11:30am Final Qualifying SuperSport (SC)
11:45am – 12:30pm Final Qualifying American SuperBike (SC)
12:30pm – 1:30pm Mid-day Break
12:45pm – 1:30pm Mandatory Autograph Session- American SuperBike,
Daytona SportBike, SuperSport
1:30pm Opening Ceremonies – SuperSport
2:00pm SuperSport (12 laps) 35 Mile Race
3:00pm Opening Ceremonies – American SuperBike
3:30pm American SuperBike (15 laps) 44 Mile Race
5:00pm – 6:30pm Evening Break/Fan Track Rides
6:30pm -7:00pm Final Qualifying Daytona SportBike Group A (LC)
7:00pm -7:30pm Final Qualifying Daytona SportBike Group B (LC)
8:30pm Garages Close

Friday March 5
9:30am Garages Open (DAYTONA 200 Pit Assignments Posted at Tech)
11:30am – 12:00pm Warm-up SuperSport (SC)
12:15pm – 12:45pm Warm-up American SuperBike (SC)
1:30pm – 2:00pm Warm-up Daytona SportBike (LC)
2:00pm – 3:00pm Mid-day break
3:00pm SuperSport (12 laps) 35 Mile Race
4:00pm American SuperBike (15 laps) 44 Mile Race
7:15pm Opening Ceremonies-DAYTONA 200
8:00pm DAYTONA 200 (57 laps)
12:00am Garage area move-out

TIME CERTAIN SCHEDULE – All Sessions to start and finish as shown
(SC) = Short Course-4.67km, 2.9 miles (LC) = Long Course-5.65km, 3.51 miles

Daytona 200 TV Coverage:
Friday, March 5
AMA Pro Road Racing – Daytona 200
Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL, USA
SPEED
9:00pm-11:30pm (Live)

AMA Pro Racing officials announced today that the overall purse for the March 26-28 road racing event at Auto Club Speedway will feature added financial benefits for riders in the AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike class.

The top three finishers in AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike will now receive additional money and prize money that will be paid down to 15th place.

“We are pleased to add to the AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike prize fund,” said David Atlas, Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing, “the competition this year is extremely close and with the added financial incentives, the racing will be better than ever.”

This year’s National Guard American SuperBike field is lead by Josh Hayes (Team Graves Yamaha), Tommy Hayden (Rockstar Makita Suzuki), Larry Pegram (Foremost Insurance Ducati), Ben Bostrom (Pat Clark Motorsports Yamaha) and AMA Pro Racing returnee John Hopkins (M4 Monster Energy Suzuki).  Joining Hayes, Bostrom and Hayden as former winners at Auto Club Speedway are Aaron Yates (Jordan Motorsports Suzuki), Jake Zemke (National Guard Suzuki), making this one of the most competitive fields in years.

The purse structures for the AMA Pro Racing Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL and the AMA Pro SuperSport classes will remain as announced with Daytona SportBike prize monies being paid from 1st to 20th places and SuperSport paying 1st through 10th  places.

For tickets and track information, please check www.autoclubspeedway.com .  Also  visit www.amaproracing.com for the latest AMA Pro Racing results and information.

AMA Pro Racing announced today that the AMA Pro SuperSport Top Guns division will begin accepting pre-entries for the 2010 AMA Pro Road Racing season following the opening round of competition during the Daytona 200 event week, March 3rd -5th at the world famous Daytona International Speedway.  Entries for the Daytona round will be accepted at Registration March 2nd (11 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and March 3rd (7 a.m. – 12 Noon).

The new class within a class, AMA Pro SuperSport Top Guns will feature riders with a current Expert License from a recognized motorcycle road racing organization and enables regional competitors to race alongside the SuperSport Young Guns, which are young riders aged 16 to 21 that compete for an East and West Regional Championships, culminating with a season-ending Young Guns Shootout.

It is anticipated that many local riders will enjoy the ability to race and showcase their talents during an AMA Pro Racing weekend and this will add more local interest to the events during the ten race AMA Pro Road Racing season.  The SuperSport Top Gun riders compete for individual event prize monies and will be invited to participate in their own season-ending Top Guns Shootout.

Any interested riders must have a current AMA Pro Basic Membership, show proof of a current Expert status license with an approved Road Racing organization and present a Photo ID to registration at each and every event.  Interested minors must have the minor’s release section signed by both parents.

Rules packages, entry forms, eligible equipment lists and additional important procedural information on the entry and registration process can be accessed via the AMA Pro Racing website, www.amaproracing.com under the AMA Pro Road Racing Competitor Information Section.