TEAM ROCKSTAR MAKITA SUZUKI IS PREPARED TO DOMINATE Team riders Tommy Hayden and Blake Young head to Daytona for superbike season opener BREA, CA (March 4, 2011) Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Tommy Hayden and Blake Young are all set to pilot their Yoshimura-prepared Suzuki GSX-R1000s to the top of the podium at the upcoming first round of the 2011 AMA American Superbike Championship at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL. The returning Rockstar Makita Suzuki riders have had a successful pre-season and are ready to race. Hayden finished a close second in last year’s championship and teammate Blake Young managed to finish sixth despite a mid-season injury. For the last 50 years, no one has seen anything like Suzuki’s domination of racing. More recently, the Yoshimura-prepared Suzuki GSX-R has won the last ten out of twelve AMA Superbike Championships, and has set an unprecedented number of records from the sheer volume of superbike titles to the races won, to pole positions acquired. No other machine has so completely and utterly dominated this sport like the Yoshimura-prepared GSX-R. From all appearances, 2011 looks to be another winning season for the Rockstar Makita Suzuki crew. Tommy Hayden returns to the Suzuki fold after celebrating his best AMA Superbike season ever. Hayden won his first superbike race, and followed that up with five more victories. And even when he didn’t take the top spot, he was on the podium at nearly every single race. Focusing on improving an already notable performance, Hayden is poised to make a strong bid for the title this year. “We finished a close second last year, so it’s time to move it up a step,” said Hayden. “I think that I could improve my riding in certain areas of the track. I feel like there were times where I left a lot of bonus points out there and that can make the difference in a championship. With qualifying and with points for number of laps led things like that I want to do a better job. And there are some other things that I’m working on as well. In one way, I feel like I gave it everything I had last year, but at the same time there’s room for improvements to be made with my riding. I just feel like we’re ready to make another step up this year.” Likewise, his younger teammate Blake Young also celebrated his best AMA Superbike season last year. He made a big splash by earning his first superbike win early on and simultaneously sweeping the weekend in the process. Unfortunately sidelined due to injury, Young missed a few rounds midway through the season but still rallied to finish sixth overall. “The positive side of the injury was that by being forced to sit out, I was able to reflect on what I wanted to accomplish,” Young explained. “When I watched the other racers, I knew that I should be right there with them, but I couldn’t be. That was really good for me to reflect on those things and see what the main objective was what my goal was and figure out how to achieve that. I had to just sit around and let my back heal, even though I was still doing as much as possible with my training. But I just wanted to work hard and get back to the top before the season was over. I felt like I owed it to my team and to myself. Now that’s over and I need to go into the 2011 season with a different mindset. Now we know we can win; we need to put it all together and get the number one plate.” Since both Hayden and Young will be looking to improve on consistency and their overall performance this year, what better motorcycle to be racing than Suzuki’s GSX-R1000? The combination of the GSX-R1000, Yoshimura’s and Suzuki’s racing prowess, and the Rockstar Makita Suzuki lineup will surely be a formidable force to be reckoned with. The 2011 Rockstar Makita Suzuki team’s first event of the 2011 AMA American Superbike Championship series is at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL, March 1012, 2011. About Suzuki: Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) founded The Motorcycle and ATV Division of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, CA, in 1963. ASMC markets motorcycles and ATVs via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. ASMC’s parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation, based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, automobiles and marine engines. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it has 120 distributors in 191 countries. For more information, visit www.suzukicycles.com. Follow Suzuki Scoop on facebook for exclusive team content www.facebook.com/suzukiscoopfans. About Rockstar: ROCKSTAR is the world’s most powerful Energy Drink. Enhanced with the potent herbal blend of Guarana, Ginkgo, Ginseng, and Milk Thistle, ROCKSTAR is formulated to provide an incredible energy boost for those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles from athletes to rock stars. ROCKSTAR Energy Drink is available in sixteen amazing flavors. Also, check out ROCKSTAR Energy Gum and ROCKSTAR Energy Shots. ROCKSTAR Energy Drink supports the active Rockstar lifestyle in every sport. Go to www.rockstar69.com for athlete and event updates, videos, profiles, and product information. About Makita: Makita is a worldwide manufacturer of industrial quality power tools and offers a wide range of industrial accessories. Makita applies leading-edge technology and innovation to engineer tools that are more compact with less weight yet deliver industrial strength power and results. Makita innovation includes Makita LXT®, the industry’s first 18V lithium-ion cordless lineup. The Makita Teal color is the trade dress of Makita Corporation and is protected under common law and registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Makita is Best in Class Engineering. For more information visit www.makitatools.com. About Yoshimura R&D of America: Yoshimura is “The Leader in Performance” and has been for more than 55 years. With unmatched skills, knowledge and passion for racing, Yoshimura is on the forefront of the aftermarket exhaust industry. Yoshimura pipes are race bred and feature the same legendary performance, fit, and quality that have been their trademark for more than five decades. To learn more about Yoshimura and view their wide variety of performance products, visit www.yoshimura-rd.com. Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki is grateful for the support of their sponsors: Rockstar Energy Drink, Makita Industrial Power Tools, Yoshimura R&D, Dunlop, Motorex, Parts Unlimited, Galfer, Renthal, BMC Air Filter, NGK Spark Plugs, F. Fabbri, Catalyst, RK Racing Chain and Motion Pro.