Westby Racing/Kneedraggers.com’s Josh Hayes, Dustin Meador, Dane Westby and Jeff Wood rode a near-perfect race on their Yamaha YZF-R6 to win the AMA Pro SunTrust Moto-GT 8 Hours At Daytona by a margin of two laps.

Hayes turned the team’s fastest lap, a 1:51.518 on lap 96, but Westby Racing/Kneedraggers.com’s three other riders were nearly as fast and their Chuck Giacchetto-led crew were equally quick during their pit stops.

Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki, the two-time and defending 8 Hours At Daytona Champions, swapped the lead with Westby Racing/Kneedraggers.com several times during the first half of the race, but Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki’s riders Martin Cardenas, Jason DiSalvo and Chris Ulrich and its pit crew could not consistently match Westby Racing/Kneedraggers.com and slowly lost ground, although Cardenas did turn the fastest lap of the race, a 1:50.863 on lap 12 while racing wheel-to-wheel with Hayes.

Westby Racing/Kneedraggers.com took the lead for good on lap 90 and eventually won by a margin of two laps over Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki, which finished second on its GSX-R600. A turning point came when Roadracingworld.com Suzuki was assessed a ride-through penalty for cutting through an adjacent pit stall while making a pit stop.

Touring Sport Ducshop Ducati 49’s Ryan Elleby, Matt Lynn and Hawk Mazzotta established a firm grip on third place early in the race and maintained that position to the finish on their Ducati 848. Touring Sport Ducshop Ducati 49 also finished third in the GT1 class.

Crozier Motorsports (Michael Barnes/Phil Caudill/Mark Crozier/Dave Estok), which had already clinched the 2009 AMA Pro SunTrust Moto-GT1 Championship prior to coming to Daytona, got fifth overall on their new, Budweiser Select-sponsored Ducati 848.

Touring Sport Ducshop Ducati 77’s Pete Friedland, Corey Rech, Brad Phillips and Brian Stokes placed sixth overall on their Ducati PS1000LE, but more importantly they took first in the GT1 category, earning them that Championship.

AMA Pro SunTrust Moto-GT 8 Hours At Daytona Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida October 17, 2009 Provisional Race Results:

1. Westby Racing/Kneedraggers.com (Dane Westby/Dustin Meador/Jeff Wood/Josh Hayes), Yam YZF-R6, GT1, 247 laps

2. Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki (Chris Ulrich/Martin Cardenas/Jason DiSalvo), Suz GSX-R600, GT1, 245 laps

3. Touring Sport Ducshop Ducati 49 (Ryan Elleby/Matt Lynn/Hawk Mazzotta), Duc 848, GT1, 238 laps

4. R&B Motorsports (Michael Barnes/Phil Caudill/Mark Crozier/Skip Salenius), Duc 848, GT1, 233 laps

5. Crozier Motorsports (Mark Crozier/Scott Jensen/David Estok/Michael Barnes), Duc 848, GT1, 229 laps

6. Touring Sport Ducshop Ducati 77 (Pete Friedland/Corey Rech/Brad Phillips/Brian Stokes), Duc PS1000LE, GT2, 223 laps

7. KRM Racing by Motocorse (Chris Boy/Barrett Long/Fernando Ferrer), Duc PS1000LE, GT2, 223 laps, -111.718 seconds

8. Riderschoice.ca (Matt McBride/Andrew Nelson/Larry Orde/Pat Barnes), Suz GSX-R600, GT1, 220 laps

9. McNology Racing (David McPherson/Mark McCormick), Yam YZF-R6, GT1, 220 laps, -7.436 seconds

10. Touring Sport Ducshop Ducati 38 (Brian Stokes/Dario Marchetti/Frank Shockley), Duc PS1000LE, GT2, 210 laps

11. Pair-A-Nines (Jay Springsteen/Taylor Knapp/Scott Ryan), Kaw EX650, GT2, 203 laps

12. Team MIM/Repsol 17 (Paul Onley/Chris Onwiler/Jeff Purk/Mitch Stein), Suz SV650, GT2, 196 laps

13. Team Hurtbyaccident.com 69 (Santiago Villa/Russ Wikle/Tomas Puerta/Tyler Odom), Suz GSX-R600, GT1, 169 laps

14. James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing (Shawn Higbee/Paul James/Jeff Johnson), Buell 1125R, GT1, 168 laps

15. Team MIM/Repsol 26 (Paul Onley/Chris Onwiler/Jeff Purk/Mitch Stein), Suz SV650, GT2, 114 laps

16. Old Pros Racing (Paul Schwemmer/Dave Aldana/J.P. Tache), Tri Daytona 675, GT1, 82 laps

17. Liberty Waves Racing (Eric Pinson/Walt Sipp/David Sadowski, Jr.), Buell 1125R, GT1, 82 laps

18. East Coast Powersports (Kenny Rodriguez/Trey Yonce/Ryan Patterson), Suz SV650, GT2, 70 laps

19. El Rey Beer for Kings 20 (Dave Ebben/Dennis Espinosa/Calvin Martinez), Suz GSX-R600, GT1, 36 laps

20. Team Hurtbyaccident.com 59 (Tomas Puerta/Rodolfo Ramirez/Jimmy Filice/Russ Wikle), Duc PS1000LE, GT2, 10 laps

21. Team Hurtbyaccident.com 64 (Robert Fisher/John Linder/Justin Filice/Rodolfo Ramirez), Duc PS1000LE, GT2, 0 laps

Final Championship Point Standings (after 9 of 9 races):

Moto-GT1: 1. Crozier Motorsports, 181 points 2. Old Pros Racing, 130 3. Liberty Waves Racing, 129 4. James Gang/Hoban Bros. Racing, 119 5. Team Hurtbyaccident.com 69, 116 6. Westby Racing/Kneedraggers.com, 110 7. El Rey Beer For Kings 20, 79 8. El Rey Beer For Kings 22, 72 9. Four Feathers Racing, 64 10. Scooter Superstore, 47

Moto-GT2: 1. Touring Sport Ducshop Ducati 77, 233 points 2. Pair-A-Nines, 207 3. Team Hurtbyaccident.com 64, 140 4. Touring Sport Ducshop Ducati 38, 86 5. Team MIM/Repsol 17, 84 6. East Coast Powersports, 83 7. TEam MIM/Repsol 26, 76 8. Cycle Dynamics, 62 9. East Coast Supertwins, 43 10. Team Hurtbyaccident.com 59, 36

More, from a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway:

Westby Racing Wins 8 Hours At Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. The No. 13 Westby Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 and riders Dane Westby, Dustin Meador, Jeff Wood and Josh Hayes captured the fourth annual 8 Hours At Daytona AMA SunTrust Moto-GT Series race on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.

The 8 Hours At Daytona went green under the Florida sunshine at 1 p.m. and quickly became a two-bike duel between the No. 13 Yamaha and the two-time 8 Hours At Daytona champion No. 18 Roadracingworld.com Suzuki GSX-R600 and riders Chris Ulrich, Martin Cardenas and Jason DiSalvo.

The Westby Racing Yamaha and the Roadracingworld.com Suzuki traded the lead in the early stages of the race before Westby Racing was able to pull away.

Westby Racing completed 247 laps with an average speed of 109.5 mph and had a margin of victory of two laps.

“It was fantastic,” Hayes said. “It was so much fun. I’m thankful that the guys invited me to come ride with them. It wasn’t about me. We had four good riders. We all did a really good pace. Those guys could have won it without me. They were that good. I feel fortunate to be part of the team.”

Hayes expected a dog fight in the 8 Hours At Daytona with the No. 18 Roadracingworld.com Suzuki team.

“I think we all knew that rolling into it,” Hayes said. “Roadracing World, Chris UIrich and John Ulrich, they set the bar for endurance racing for a lot of years so we knew we were up against some strong opponents. I knew Martin and Jason and Chris are all pro racers in the AMA so they were going to be strong. Martin and I had a lot of fun riding around in the first hour together on the first stint.

“This happens, that happens, we ended up behind for almost two hours (of the race) and then things kind of turned, around went our way a little bit and we ended up out front and eventually were able to stretch it out pretty good.”

“This was a blast,” Wood said. “Everyone rode really well. Josh was our anchor. I hope that I did a good job. All three of the other guys were holding their own on their stints. The bike had no problems.”

“I knew it was going to be a battle,” Westby said. “It really was a battle in the beginning and I thought it was going to be a battle to the end,” Westby said. It worked out in our favor. We just opened up a gap and just never let it go.”

For Meador, this weekend’s Fall Cycle Scene is his first visit to Daytona International Speedway and couldn’t think of a better way to mark the event than a victory in the 8 Hours At Daytona.

“It’s my first time here and it’s amazing to be up there in Gatorade Victory Lane,” Meador said. “I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

“It was great to be on a team with this caliber of riders. This is my first time here. The crew worked really well. It was great that we put in real consistent laps.

The No. 18 Roadracingworld/Suzuki took runner-up honors with the No. 49 Touring Sport Ducshop Ducati and riders Ryan Elleby, Matt Lind, Hawk Mazzotta rounding out the podium.

In the GT2 class, the No. 77 Touring Sport DucShop Ducati PS1000LE with Pete Friedland, Corey Rech, Brad Phillips and Brian Stokes claimed victory.

AMA Pro SuperSport Shootout: Sunday’s final day of Fall Cycle Scene will be highlighted by the AMA Pro SuperSport Shootout at noon. Josh Day of Orlando will be starting on the pole.

For more information and tickets, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

8 Hours At Daytona AMA Pro SunTrust Moto-GT Series race

Top-10 provisional results for the 8 Hours At Daytona SunTrust Moto-GT Series race on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway with team name, riders, bike and laps:

1. Westby Racing, Josh Hayes, Dane Westby, Dustin Meador, Jeff Wood, Yamaha, 247 laps

2. Roadracingworld/Suzuki, Martin Cardenas, Jason DiSalvo, Chris Ulrich, Suzuki, 245

3. Touring Sport Ducshop Ducati, Ryan Elleby, Matt Lind, Hawk Mazzotta, Ducati, 238

4. R & B Motorsports, Michael Barnes, Phil Caudill, Mark Crozier, Skip Salenius, Ducati, 233

5. Crozier Motorsports, Mark Crozier, Scott Jensen, David Estock, Michael Barnes, Ducati, 229

6. Touring Sport Ducshop Ducati, Pete Friedland, Corey Rech, Brad Phillips, Brian Stokes, Ducati, 223

7. KRM Racing by Motocorse, Chris Boy, Barrett Long, Fernando Ferrer, Ducati, 223

8. RidersChoice.CA, Matt McBride, Andrew Nelson, Larry Orde, Pat Barnes, Suzuki, 220

9. McNology Racing, David McPherson, Mark McCormick, Yamaha 220

10. Touring Sport Ducshop, Brian Stokes, Dario Marchetti, Frank Shockley, Ducati, 210

Saturday’s results: Expert Formula 40: 1. Anthony Fania, Suzuki 750; 2. Charlie Mavros, Suzuki 750; 3. Frank Aragaki, Suzuki 600.

Amateur Formula 40: 1. Javier Vazquez, Suzuki 750; 2. James Cohrs, Yamah 600; 3. Richard Eanes, Ducati 1098.

Amateur Lightweight F40: 1. Jim Berard, Ducati 1000; 2. Darrell Ryals, Suzuki 650; 3. Steve Johnston, Ducati 1000.

Expert Lightweight F40: 1. Ed Key, Suzuki 650; 2. Eric Helmbach, Suzuki 650; 3. Eric Menetrier, BIM 1000.

Expert Middleweight SuperSport: 1. Roberto Pietri, Yamaha 600; 2. Paul Allison, Yamaha 600; 3. Scott Greenwood, Kawasaki 600.

Amateur Middleweight SuperSport: 1. James Cohrs, Yamaha 600; 2. Hunter Propst, Suzuki 600; 3. Fernando Ferro, Yamaha 600.

Expert ThunderBike: 1. Nate Kern, BMW 1200; 2. Christopher Boy, Ducati 748; 3. Danny Bilansky, Buell 1200.

Amateur ThunderBike: 1. Jordan Richardson, Buell 1203; 2. Jim Berard, Ducati 1000; 3. Jay Smit, Buell 1200.

Amateur Unlimited SuperSport: 1. Javier Vazquez, Suzuki 1000; 2. Richard Eanes, Ducati 1098; 3. Chris Meier, Ducati 848.

Expert Unlimited SuperSport: 1. Shane Narbonne, Suzuki 1000; 2. Brian Stokes, Kawasaki 1000; 3. Charlie Mavros, Suzuki 1000.

More, from a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

Westby Racing Wins AMA Pro SunTrust Moto-GT 8 Hours At Daytona After Near Perfect Day

Westby, Meador, Wood, Hayes Edge Roadracingworld.com; No. 77 Ducati Win GT2 Race and Title

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 17, 2009) – The No. 13 Westby Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 of Dane Westby, Dustin Meador, Jeff Wood and all-star addition Josh Hayes prevailed in a race-long duel with the No. 18 Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki GSX-R600 of Chris Ulrich, Martin Cardenas and Jason DiSalvo to win Saturday’s fourth annual AMA Pro SunTrust Moto-GT 8 Hours At Daytona. The victory was the third in a partial season of just five races for the new Westby team that raced in SunTrust Moto-GT for the first time just this past June at Mid-Ohio. “It’s a great feeling to win at Daytona,” said Westby, who had the honor of riding the No. 13 Yamaha for the final 11 minutes of the race. “I thought it was going to be a battle until the end but we’ll take it this way. I’d like to thank the addition of the ‘J’s’ – Josh Hayes and Jeff Wood – they really helped us out. I don’t think we could have done it without them.” After swapping the lead repeatedly with the No. 18 Suzuki for most of the first half of the race, the No. 13 Yamaha team and riders steadily opened up in the final hours of the event. They put the No. 18 one lap down with two hours remaining and all but wrapped up the victory when the Roadracingworld.com team was forced to replace a right foot peg on its Suzuki in an extended pit stop just over 50 minutes from the finish. The Westby team went up two laps and Hayes got on the Yamaha for a final stint to seal the victory with 45 minutes remaining before handing off to Westby. “Everybody seemed pretty excited to have me on the team and I was excited I was able to come out and ride with these guys, but this was not by any means about me,” Hayes said. “We had four good racers today and everybody did their fastest lap within a half a second of each other. So many people that were part of the crew came together for this event. Eight hours is a long race and everybody on the team did a fantastic job.” Team Roadracingworld.com came up just short in its bid for a third-straight 8 Hours At Daytona victory but has never finished lower than second in each of the four races run to date. The team led 67 laps in the first half of the race but began slightly losing ground to Westby in the final four hours. “The Westby team ran a mistake free race, they did a fantastic job and their rider line up was great,” said Ulrich, who is the only rider to finish on the overall podium in all four runnings of the 8 Hours At Daytona since 2006. “We made mistakes that got us behind but, no matter what, those guys rode so well today. They beat us, they beat us fair and square and, you know what, it is actually kind of fun to have some competition. Who knows, maybe next year we can come back and see if we can regain the crown. I feel good and I am proud of Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki. To be on the podium at Daytona for four years straight in the eight hour is pretty good. It was close today but not close enough.” The final overall and GT1 podium spot went to the debuting No. 49 Touring Sport Ducshop Ducati 848 of Ryan Elleby, Hawk Mazzotta and Matt Lynn that crossed the line nine laps behind the winners. The team ran in third place for nearly the entire race and the solid first-time result was just part of the Touring Sport Ducshop team’s great day. The team also clinched the GT2 Championship with the No. 77 Touring Sport Ducshop Ducati PS1000LE that scored a series-leading fifth win of the year with riders Pete Friedland, Brad Phillips and Corey Rech. “It feels great, and I’ll tell you, I’ve been racing with the Touring Sport Ducshop team for four years now and we couldn’t have a better group of guys and gals,” said Friedland, who also scored a class win with the team in the 2007 8 Hours At Daytona. “This race tonight was very nerve wracking. After we had a little problem with the 38 bike, we knew the 77 would have to take it home. We were pretty nerve wracked right down to the end.”

The No. 77 ran in second place behind its sister No. 38 Touring Sport Ducshop Ducati PS1000LE for most of the race but moved up to the front when their teammates were forced to the pits for an extended stop with one hour to go. The No. 38 fell from the lead and lost 10 laps before a faulty ECU was discovered. The No. 23 KRM Racing by Motocorse Ducati PS1000LE of Chris Boy, Barrett Long and Fernando Ferrer finished second after slipping past the stricken No. 38 in the final hour. Despite the late disappointment, team owner/rider Frank Shockley, Dario Marchetti and Brian Stokes recovered to finish third on the No. 38 Ducati as the Italian manufacturer swept all three podium spots in GT2. “With this race, it’s not over until it’s over,” said Shockley, who was on the No. 38 on Saturday. “We had the issue where the ECU went bad, but we were able to win the race and the title with the 77 so it all worked out good in the end. We’ve won a championship three years in a row, right here at this race in Daytona. It always comes down to the end, in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Three-peat!” The No. 9 Pair-A-Nines Kawasaki EX650 of Jay Springsteen, Scott Ryan and Taylor Knapp came into the race as the only other team still alive in the GT2 championship battle. The team overcame an early-race spill and was beginning to mount a challenge on the leading Ducatis only to have its Kawasaki slow with engine trouble just before the five-hour mark. The Pair-A-Nines team replaced the engine in less than 45 minutes and came back to finish fourth in GT2 despite never really being able to mount a challenge for the championship in the finale. “It was great racing with the Ducati guys all year long,” Springsteen said. “They had the pressure on us and we had the pressure on them. It made it exciting throughout the whole year. We had fun and it was great racing with those guys all year long. Our guys did a great job today, we didn’t quite get it done, but we just love being able to race.”

The Touring Sport Ducati team and the GT1 title winning Crozier Motorsports team were honored for their respective championships in post-race ceremonies. Crozier and his team clinched the GT1 title one race ago at New Jersey Motorsports Park and finished a solid fifth in the 8 Hours with teammates Scott Jensen, David Estok and Michael Barnes.

“It was a less stressful weekend, for sure, because we didn’t have to worry about a championship,” said Crozier. “We already had that taken care of, so we were here to do the best we could and try to win but it just didn’t work out. The season started out really slow, but it worked out halfway through and we prevailed. We were consistent on the podium. We won two races, but we were on the podium almost every weekend so that helped out for the championship. I’m absolutely looking forward to next season. We’ve got a lot of new things coming, new bikes, new sponsors, a lot more to come.”

Complete 8 Hours At Daytona results, news and final AMA Pro SunTrust Moto-GT point standings can be found at www.amaproracing.com.

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. From its Daytona Beach headquarters, the organization operates and manages AMA Pro Road Racing, which includes AMA Pro American Superbike, AMA Pro Daytona SportBike, AMA Pro SuperSport and AMA Pro SunTrust Moto-GT. AMA Pro Racing also manages and works closely with the day-to-day operational organizations of the AMA Pro Flat Track Championship and the AMA Pro Supermoto Championship Series in addition to other two-wheel and ATV series. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.