AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Presented by AMSOIL Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio July 17, 2010 Provisional Race One Results (all on Dunlop tires): 1. Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R6), 21 laps 2. Bobby Fong (Duc 848), -0.045 second 3. Martin Cardenas (Suz GSX-R600), -0.251 4. Danny Eslick (Suz GSX-R600), -6.999 seconds, ran off track 5. Tommy Aquino (Yam YZF-R6), -9.052 6. Steve Rapp (Duc 848), -9.420 7. Chris Fillmore (Suz GSX-R600), -33.788 8. Cory West (Suz GSx-R600), -33.814 9. Clinton Seller (Yam YZF-R6), -34.129 10. Josh Day (Yam YZF-R6), -34.173 11. P.J. Jacobsen (Suz GSX-R600), -34.491 12. Michael Barnes (Yam YZF-R6), -43.442 13. Michael Beck (Duc 848), -57.909 14. David Anthony (Yam YZF-R6), -58.614 15. Paul Allison (Yam YZF-R6), -59.039 16. Kris Turner (Suz GSX-R600), -59.374 17. Russ Wikle (Suz GSX-R600), -70.958 18. Marcos Reichert (Yam YZF-R6), -71.358 19. Fernando Amantini (Kaw ZX-6R), -78.838 20. Kyle Wyman (Yam YZF-R6), -84.956 21. Michael Morgan (Suz GSX-R600), -91.064 22. Santiago Villa (Suz GSX-R600), -1 lap, ran off track 23. Dane Westby (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap, 29.015 seconds 24. Matt Spannan (Suz GSX-R600), -1 lap, 61.150 seconds 25. Sam Rozynski (Yam YZF-R6), -9 laps, DNF 26. Melissa Paris (Yam YZF-R6), -10 laps, DNF, retired 27. Tony Kasper (Yam YZF-R6), -11 laps, DNF 28. Dominic Jones (Yam YZF-R6), -14 laps, DNF 29. Doug Polen (Duc 848), -17 laps, DNF AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Championship Standings (after 10 of 18 races): 1. Herrin, 247 points 2. Eslick, 216 3. Cardenas, 206 4. Rapp, 165 5. Westby, 157 6. West, 150 7. Aquino, 119 8. Seller, 108 9. Fillmore, 106 10. Fong, 101 11. Jacobsen, 73 12. Amantini, 65 13. Lenny Hale, 54 14. TIE, Tyler Odom/Beck, 36 16. Geoff May, 35 17. Shawn Higbee, 33 18. Turner, 31 19. Wikle, 29 20. Jones, 21 More, from a press release issued by Penny Nicolai on behalf of Crozier Roberson Motorsports: CROZIER ROBERSON MOTORSPORTS PILOT TAKES SECOND IN TODAY’S AMA PRO DAYTONA SPORTBIKE RACE AT MID-OHIO Lexington, Ohio”¦(July 17,2010) Deftly piloting his DNA Energy Drink Ducati, Crozier Roberson Motorsports pilot Bobby Fong took 2nd place in today’s AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. “Bobby rode an incredible race,” echo team owners Robbie Roberson and Mark Crozier. “We are really proud of him. He was on it the whole time and actually came within a stones throw of winning. Our whole team has been working double time over the last six weeks and it definitely paid off. This is our best finish to date and the first of many to come.” Thundering off the Starting Grid in 8th place, Fong began making his way up through the field. By lap 13 he was in 2nd. Falling back into 4th on lap 15, Fong put his head down and showed his incredible determination. “I wasn’t going to settle for 4th,” said the rider from Stockton, Calif. “I was going to finish the race on the podium.” And, finish on the podium he did, taking over the 2nd place slot on the final lap. “What a rush,” said Fong. “I’m pretty much speechless. I wanted to be the first member of our team to put the DNA Energy Drink banner on the podium and I succeeded. I couldn’t be more pleased. Running for 21 laps on the 2.4 Mid-Ohio track, Fong averaged a speed of 96.0 mph, the same as the leader. “The team gave me an awesome bike. My Ducati was flawless. We were just 0.045 seconds behind the leader and that is pretty close. We will definitely be ready for more tomorrow. Hopefully, we can land on the podium two times in a row.” Teammate Michael Beck, who fell to the back at the start, also did a great job. Moving up at a steady rate, he managed to pass a number of riders for a 13th place overall. In SuperSport, Joey Pascarella managed to score a 7th place finish despite getting a bad start of the grid. Crozier Roberson Motorsports is sponsored by: DNA Energy Drink, Quality Brands, Inc., FMF, Arai Helmets, Race Tech, Motion Pro, Pit Bull, EBC Brakes, EK, Melillimoto Ducati, Moto-Heaven.com, XES, Thrust Company, HEL, Woodcraft, Armour Bodies, Puma, Held Gloves, GP Tech, Active, Zero Gravity and Christopher Bean Coffee. More, from a press release issued by Vesrah Suzuki: VESRAH SUZUKI RIDERS TAKE 2 TOP 10 FINISHES IN DAYTONA SPORTBIKE RACE 1 AND AN 11TH IN SUPERSPORT RACE 1 AT MID OHIO. Vesrah Suzuki’s Chris Fillmore and Cory West took 7th and 8th place today in Daytona SportBike Race 1 at Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington Ohio. Chris was able to put in a quick lap in this morning’s qualifying session to bump him to 5th on the grid, which is his best qualifying in AMA roadracing to date. In the race the 2 teammates ended up running together and finishing within a tenth of a second of each other. Young Gun Nick Hansen joined the Vesrah Suzuki squad to contest the Supersport class for this round and after adapting to a new machine and crew was able to qualify in 14th place and finish in 11th place in Supersport Race 1. Mark Junge Team Owner Vesrah Suzuki “This is the first time the team has raced at Mid Ohio and we are still learning We have made progress in every session on track so far and have a few things to try for tomorrow’s races.” Cory West Vesrah Suzuki #57 “We really struggled in our qualifying sessions to find our set-up and that made my life difficult in the race. Coming from the 4th row made for an exciting first half of the race, but I managed to pass quite a few people and raced at the front of the 2nd pack of riders. I wish I could have been closer to the lead group but tomorrow we have a few things to try to improve our lap times. I’m not thrilled about finishing 8th but we collected some valuable points and we will come back stronger tomorrow.” Chris Fillmore Vesrah Suzuki #55 “I jumped onto my B bike in qualifying and put in a smoking flyer that put me into 5th position which is my best AMA qualifying to date. Race 1 started good but I couldn’t hold the pace of the front group and slowly faded. I had lots of front-end issues that kept me from running up front. I ran most of the race with my teammate and a few others with lots of trading positions going on. I ended up getting past Cory on the brakes going into turn 6 and ended the day in 7th place. A good day all considering but I hope to improve in tomorrow’s race. Big thanks to the team.” Nick Hansen Vesrah Suzuki #97 “Today started off not to hot because at the end of qualifying session 2 I was in 14th so I was kind of disappointed and had my head down. I took about an hour and went to the motor home to just clear my head. When race time came I was pumped and ready to go. I got a great start and was running with the lead group for a while but some slower riders just got in my way and made me fall behind. So then I was battling with these 2 guys and they were fast so I was kind of playing chess. On the last lap I got around 1 guy and was going for the next but I couldn’t get him. Tomorrow I will be pumped and ready for a comeback.” Vesrah Suzuki wants to thank all of their sponsors for their support for the 2010 season Vesrah, American Suzuki, Rockstar Energy Drink, Nielsen Enterprises Suzuki, Traxxion Dynamics Fork Components, Dainese Leathers, Boots and Gloves, AGV Helmets, Graves Motorsports, Hotbodies Racing Bodywork, Sudco Int., Bazzaz, Factory Pro, Maxima Racing Oils, Vortex, DID Chain, Penske Racing Shocks, GPR Stabilizers, Trek Bicycles, GP Tech, Active & Road Rage Designs More, from a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing: Herrin Manages to Hold off Surging Daytona SportBike Field in Race One at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course LEXINGTON, Ohio (July 17, 2010) – After it was all said and done, it looked like business as usual for AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL points leader Josh Herrin and his Team Graves Yamaha. He took his fourth win of the 2010 season from pole position but for the many lucky fans in attendance, this was another of what is now the standard fare in this exciting class. After a race-long battle with five-time 2010 race winner Martin Cardenas, once again riding his M4 Monster Energy Suzuki with style and speed, reigning Daytona SportBike Champion Danny Eslick on his GEICO Powersports Suzuki and the surprise of the show, Bobby Fong with his DNA Energy Drink Ducati, Herrin posted another classic win by just 0.045 of a second. — Live Timing Begins Again Sunday Morning at 8:30 a.m. ET — And battle is what happened for the entire 21 lap race at the 2.4-mile Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. At the start, Eslick got a perfect launch and led into the tight left-hand first turn. Slotting in right behind him was the fourth-starting Cardenas followed quickly by the other front row qualifier, Team Latus Motors Ducati rider Steve Rapp. Herrin was a surprising fourth with Fong a strong fifth, looking for more. This group settled in to a cut and thrust battle with Herrin quickly making a move from fourth to second at the end of the long back straight. Then Cardenas took a turn at the front on lap six and although he was being challenged at different parts of the track, he led the next ten laps until Herrin got by for three laps. Meanwhile, Steve Rapp had dropped back and had his hands full with Team Graves Yamaha rider Tommy Aquino, who eventually took fifth from Rapp towards the end of the race. Back at the front, Fong was quickly becoming the star of the show as he ran as high as second with a great move on Herrin in the Carousel. Eslick dropped back but quickly rejoined the first three for the sprint to the flag. Cardenas looked like he had it under control as he led laps 19 and 20 but then Herrin made a big move to take the lead again going up into the Key Hole turn. But then Cardenas took first back at the end of the long back straight before Herrin retook the lead on the tight backside of the circuit. At this point, Eslick and Fong were dicing, causing Eslick to overcook, it putting him off the track and dropping him to fourth at the flag. Fong then made a last lap, last turn charge for the win and was only inches behind Herrin at the flag to take second; his and the CNR Motorsports team’s best finish of their AMA Daytona SportBike careers. For all of his hard work, Cardenas ended up third which is less than he wanted but it keeps him in the chase for the championship. He is now just 10 points behind Eslick and 41 behind Herrin. Behind Aquino and Rapp, Chris Fillmore and his Vesrah Suzuki teammate Cory West as well as Clinton Seller (Project 1 Atlanta Yamaha), Josh Day on his Four Feathers Racing Yamaha and P.J. Jacobson on his Celtic Racing Suzuki had their own private battle for seventh through eleventh. All in all it was a great race. Josh Herrin continues to ride with a great mix of speed and patience in his quest for the 2010 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Championship. Race two of the Honda Super Cycle Weekend Presented by Dunlop Tire will be tomorrow, Sunday, July 18th. Please visit www.midohio.com for ticket information and www.amaproracing.com for full results from today’s races. SPEED will have flag-to-flag coverage of all National Guard SuperBike and Daytona SportBike races from Mid-Ohio in same weekend broadcasts. Tonight’s broadcast begins at 11:00 p.m. ET. A full TV schedule can be found at ~http://www.speedtv.com/schedule/filter/program/948061~. AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com. More, from a press release issued by Team M4 Monster Energy Suzuki: CARDENAS FIGHTS FOR VICTORY IN OHIO, FINISHES ON THE PODIUM Team M4 Monster Energy Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas was a major player in Saturday’s thrilling AMA Pro Daytona SportBike final at Mid-Ohio, scrapping hard at the front en route to his seventh podium result of the season. Cardenas got away quickly aboard his GSX-R600 from his outside front row qualifying position, picking up a couple spots and ultimately taking control of the contest at the front as the race settled in. The former Spanish Supersport champion found himself embroiled in a four-rider dogfight for victory as the laps ticked away. He traded the top spot back and fourth multiple times during the decisive final two laps. He reestablished the lead with less than two laps remaining but was pushed back to second entering Turn 2 on the final lap. Martin made a stunning pass around the outside on the brakes at the end of the back straight to take the lead once more, however, his maneuver was countered by a similarly brave inside move with a turn later. A subsequent minor miscalculation saw him bumped down to the third in the final run to the checkered flag by a meager 0.206 seconds. After the race Cardenas explained, “I made a good start and was in second and then third for a while before moving into the lead. I tried to set a good pace–not on my limit, but a good pace but I wasn’t gapping anyone so I tried to just maintain the pace. “I was dropped down to second for a few laps and in the final three laps I tried to think what I was going to do. I made a move two laps from the end and was thinking someone might try to pass me on the back straight, but he came a little bit earlier. So I passed him back in the hard braking but I didn’t shut the door like I should and he put the bike on my inside and there was nothing I could do. Then on the next corner I made a small mistake and I opened the door again and got passed again. “Still, it’s a good result. My bike was working really good, but unfortunately it wasn’t the result that we needed in order to close the gap in the championship. We’ll try again tomorrow and see what happens.” Team M4 Monster Energy Suzuki enjoyed a strong showing in the American Superbike class on Saturday as well. Jake Holden and Chris Ulrich ran in formation aboard their GSX-R1000s early in the contest, holding down seventh and eighth position. Holden put in a charge at mid-distance, ultimately clawing his way up to a fifth-place result at the conclusion of the grueling 21-lap affair contested in extreme heat. It equalled his best result of the season and was his second straight fifth-place finish. “I was a pretty good race for us,” Holden said. “I got a bad start and got stuck behind some guys for a little bit. Once I finally got some space, I started catching the guys a little further ahead and made up some positions. “I’ve just been having a few issues getting comfortable with the front end of this bike and it seems like with a full fuel load it works better for me but once the fuel starts going away I lost a little bit of feel. I saw I had a gap back to sixth so I kind of backed off with a few laps to go. I’m hoping we can improve some for tomorrow and run at the front. That’s our goal and we’re improving.” Ulrich added a second top ten result for the squad in Superbike, coming home in ninth after moving into seventh at one point in the race. His hopes for an even higher position were dashed when his tire went off in the closing laps. Team M4 Monster Energy Suzuki will round out the Mid-Ohio round on Sunday with the second half of the weekend’s SportBike and Superbike doubleheaders.