Motourage

The U.S. Army National Guard has extended its sponsorship of AMA Pro Road Racing’s Superbike class for the 2011 season.

The Army National Guard is the oldest component of the U.S. Armed Forces and one of the longest enduring U.S. institutions, operating in all 50 states, D.C. and three U.S. territories. This will be the Army National Guard’s third consecutive year of involvement with AMA Pro Road Racing as the primary sponsor of the elite Superbike class.

“We are very proud of our association with the Army National Guard,” said AMA Pro Chief Operating Officer David Atlas. “To help support the important recruiting efforts of the Army National Guard is something we take very seriously. The overall support of the many men and women serving our country at home and abroad makes all of us at AMA Pro very proud to be associated with the greatest military institution in the world.”

The Army National Guard and AMA Pro have a dedicated series of actions and activities at each AMA Pro Road Racing event that provide for recruitment and exposure to the many exciting opportunities available in the Army National Guard.

The fast paced environment of AMA Pro National Guard Superbike racing and the other exciting classes of motorcycle racing on tap at AMA Pro Road Racing events attracts a high-energy, dedicated fan base that provide a high degree of potential candidates for recruitment in the Army National Guard.

In addition, the National Guard sponsors the winning Michael Jordan Motorsports team with new rider Roger Lee Hayden riding the iconic No. 54 in 2011. Last year, The National Guard Jordan team took their historic first victories in the AMA Pro National Guard Superbike class at Daytona International Speedway.

This year’s AMA Pro Road Racing season will kick off March 10-12, 2011 at Daytona International Speedway and will race throughout the country over the year.

National Guard Jordan Motorsports' Jake Zemke leads the field at Daytona

Suzuki continued its tradition of owning the racetrack at the opening round of AMA American Superbike series in Daytona Beach, Florida this weekend – the GSX-R1000 taking seven of the top-10 spots overall after two days of racing.

National Guard Jordan Suzuki team rider Jake Zemke took first place in both 44-mile, 15-lap races and Tommy Hayden steered his Rockstar Makita Suzuki GSX-R1000 to second place in both races. On Friday, he and Zemke were only .009 seconds separated as they crossed the finish line.

Jordan Suzuki’s Aaron Yates took pole position after setting the quickest qualifying lap in the day leading up to the double header; ending up fourth overall at the end of the event, while Blake Young, in his second year with the Rockstar Makita team, took fifth overall after grabbing the holeshot in Thursday’s race and leading for a few laps.

The RoadRacingWorld.com Suzuki, with Chris Ulrich aboard, took sixth overall. Taylor Knapp and his RidersDiscount.com Suzuki took seventh, and Shane Narbonne finished ninth on his DASPerformance.com GSX-R1000.

In the 69th running of the legendary Daytona 200, Geico Powersports RMR Suzuki’s Danny Eslick raced his GSX-R600 to the pole position and won the Rolex award for fastest qualifier. Eslick battled through the cold and challenging 200-mile race and took fourth, as Vesrah Suzuki’s Cory West took sixth overall. 

Daytona Superbike Race 1:
1. Jake Zemke (Suzuki)
2. Tommy Hayden (Suzuki) +0.238
3. Larry Pegram (Ducati) +0.259
4. Aaron Yates (Suzuki) +0.291
5. Blake Young (Suzuki) +0.307
6. Chris Ulrich (Suzuki) +27.398
7. Taylor Knapp (Suzuki) +27.43
8. Shawn Higbee (Ducati) +1 lap
9. Shane Narbonne (Suzuki) +9.078
10. Barrett Long (Ducati) +16.377

Daytona Superbike Race 2:
1. Jake Zemke (Suzuki)
2. Tommy Hayden (Suzuki) +0.009
3. Ben Bostrom (Yamaha) +0.081
4. Aaron Yates (Suzuki) +0.212
5. Larry Pegram (Ducati) +0.858
6. Josh Hayes (Yamaha) +1.838
7. Blake Young (Suzuki) +22.383
8. Brett McCormick (Suzuki) +29.235
9. David Anthony (Suzuki) +34.124
10. Taylor Knapp (Suzuki) +34.404 

Top 10 Points Standings:
1. Jake Zemke 62
2. Tommy Hayden 50
3. Larry Pegram 37
4. Aaron Yates 37
5. Blake Young 30
6. Taylor Knapp 25
7. Ben Bostrom 24
8. Chris Ulrich 24
9. Josh Hayes 23
10. Shane Narbonne 20

Today’s Motourage Video of the Day features a Motourage favorite, Jordan Motorsports’ Geoff May.  Geoff, the Jordan Motorsports team and the entire AMA Pro Racing roster come to Virginia International Raceway on August 14-16 for the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals.  This will also be the first official Motourage event, and we’re proud to be able to offer discounted Pagoda Hospitality Passes for our readers.  For more information about the Motourage Celebrity Weekend and VIR, click HERE.
Hope to see you in Virginia!