Richie Morris Racing started off the weekend with the fastest time (1:29.203) in the Friday morning practice with Danny Eslick aboard the Bruce Rossmeyer RMR Buell 1125R. Danny showed fans exactly what kind of power the Buell had at Daytona and was determined to do it again here at Fontana. The weather was perfect in the morning with the sun shining and free of high winds. Neither riders had been able to test here pre-season, so both the GEICO Powersports as well as the Bruce Rossmeyer RMR Buell crews had to work extra hard to make sure set-up was good for the track. During the morning practice, Danny was consistently in the top four , which was comprised of four different manufacturers. Barney ended the morning session in the top 20. Barney still recovering from a pre-season hand injury improved in qualifying moving up from 16th to 13th position, again just one tenth of a second from being able to make Superpole later in the afternoon. Danny was third in line for Superpole. With his fastest time being a 1:28.372, which catapulted him to the top of Superpole until the the very end where he missed it by a one-tenth of a second. There will be two races this weekend one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Both the GEICO Powersports and the Bruce Rossmeyer RMR Buell Team are ready to show what the Buell 1125R is made of! Today was the launch of the all new GEICO Garage website, which features all of the GEICO Powersports Sponsored Athletes. Make sure to log on and Check out the GEICO Powersports RMR Buell rider Michael Barnes. The website has information on the rider, the team and bike. Including video footage and a fantastic photo gallery. Along with our website the geicogarage.com website will have updates following each race weekend! March 21st, 2009 Richie Morris Racing takes a victory at Auto Club Speedway for the first of the double header race for the Daytona Sportbike class. On the Bruce Rossmeyer RMR Buell 1125R, Danny Eslick took the bike all the way to victory lane. Leading every lap of the 21 lap race, Danny started Saturday’s race in 2nd position. With the rolling start Danny took the steps to take the lead and never let it up. This is a huge victory for everyone involved, the first ever AMA win for the Buell 1125R and the first win for young gun Danny Eslick. “I’m just excited that my Bruce Rossmeyer RMR Buell 1125R and I work so well together”, says, Eslick. “I am thankful for my crew, my friends. family and everyone else who has made this possible.” “On behalf on the entire Buell Motorcycle Company, I would like to congratulate Danny and the entire Bruce Rossmeyer crew! This couldn’t come at a better time,” says President and COO Jon Flickinger. “This makes all of the hard work worth it” said Richie Morris team owner. “It’s a great day for RMR, Buell, Geico Powersports, Bruce Rossmeyer, Shelly Rossmeyer, and America. We have put an American motorcycle on the top of the box for first time in the modern day era.” I have never witnessed a kid with the heart as big as Danny’s…he rode his guts out!. Teammate Michael Barnes who started in the 24th position couldn’t be prouder of Danny and his first ever victory. “I’m am really happy with my result, moving up from 24th to 12th place.” says Barney. Barney still recovering from a hand injury in pre-season testing, wanted to put his best foot forward. March 22nd, 2009 Sunday morning started off with a wet Daytona Sportbike practice. The GEICO Powersports and Bruce Rossmeyer Buell riders Michael Barnes and Danny Eslick, weren’t going to let a little rain get them down, especially after the good results from Saturday’s race. “We will race in the rain as long as it is safe and the proper measures are taken,” remarked both Danny and Barney. Danny was 6th fastest in the session with a 1:34.452 and Barney was close behind in 8th with a 1:36.688. Both riders have proven in the past that a little rain won’t scare them. Richie Morris Racing leaves Auto Club Speedway with two victories and two more top 20 finishes. Sunday morning left many wondering if there was going to be any racing at all…but come the 2:30pm start time for the last of the double-header weekend for the Daytona Sportbike class, there was blue skies ahead. The #9 Bruce Rossmeyer machine piloted by young gun Danny Eslick started the race from second position. With the rolling start and the green flag thrown Danny once again took the lead and held it until the checkered flag. This time Danny glanced back and saw another rider closing in. Danny kept his head low and the throttle pinned, shutting out any chance of losing his lead. “This is just awesome, I came into this weekend without winning a AMA National and I am leaving with two back-to-back!” says Eslick. “I plan on keeping my team, sponsors and everyone else who supports me proud.” I want to thank my Bruce Rossmeyer RMR Buell Crew for giving me a fantastic bike to race on” Barnes who started in 24th position and finished 12th the day prior had some great battles within the middle of the pack and crossed the finish line at 15th. “I am happy with my finish, especially with having to nurse this hand injury and the cold weather,” states Barnes. “I am looking forward to our next race at Road Atlanta and expect to be fit and ready to ride once again!” Richie Morris Racing will be heading next to Round 3 at Road Atlanta April-3-5. Both the GEICO Powersports and Bruce Rossmeyer Teams will be ready for some more good results on their Buell 1125R’s For more info please visit: www.richiemorrisracing.com www.geico.com www.geicogarage.com www.buell.com www.brucerossmeyer.com More, from a press release issued by Shobert Family Racing: Shobert Earns First AMA Pro Racing Podium Second Generation Racer Finishes Third Texas In only his second race as an AMA Pro Racer, Clint Shobert earned a hard fought third place aboard an American Honda / Pro Honda Oils sponsored Honda CBR 600RR. The race was round two of the AMA Pro Road Racing National Championship, and was held at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Shobert, who is 18 years old and the son of 4-time AMA Champion Bubba Shobert, has only been road racing for less than a year. The podium came only a few weeks after his professional debut at Daytona Speedway and marked a significant accomplishment for the young racer from Texas. “I started further back in the pack and just put my head down and tried to be smooth and fast, while working my way up and clicking off the laps” said Shobert. “I am really looking forward to the rest of the season and to keep building some momentum with my racing. It is just crazy how much I seem to learn everytime I get on the bike.” Keeping with tradition, assisting Clint and his team for the weekend was Joe Fenech and Brian Uchida. After the podium celebration, Uchida quietly mentioned to the team that he remembered a similar day back in 1984 at Mid Ohio except it was Clint’s father Bubba earning his first AMA podium. Uchida, a long time employee of American Honda, had worked on Bubbas crew that day as well. Clint Shobert and the Shobert racing family wishes to thank American Honda and Pro Honda Oils & Chemicals, Alpinestars, Arai, Dunlop Tires, Shark Skins, Leo Vince, Fox Racing, Ohlins, Zero Gravity and Vesrah. More, from a press release issued by Michael Jordan Motorsports: Michael Jordan Motorsports Captures First Podium of the Season #54 National Guard Jordan Suzuki’s Geoff May Takes Third at Auto Club Speedway FONTANA, CA Michael Jordan Motorsports riders Geoff May and Aaron Yates had a weekend of ups and downs at the AMA Pro Racing doubleheader at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. May, who rides for the #54 National Guard Jordan Suzuki team, earned the team’s first podium finish of the season during Saturday’s Race 1. Geoff May, National Guard Jordan Suzuki #54 May leaves Fontana in high spirits after putting in hard effort all weekend long. He earned his first Superbike podium finish in Race 1, finishing third during Saturday’s race. On Sunday, May once again had a solid finish in fourth place in Race 2, just missing out on the final podium position by .2 seconds. May started both races from fourth position on the grid after qualifying his National Guard Jordan Suzuki GSXR-1000 on the front row during Friday’s Superpole session. May, a resident of Gainesville, Georgia, will return to his home state with the National Guard Jordan Suzuki team as it prepares for Round 3 of the AMA Pro Racing American Superbike Championship. May is currently in third position in Championship Points. 3rd PLACE SATURDAY RACE 1 – “It feels pretty good to put my National Guard Jordan Suzuki on the podium in our 2nd race of the season,” said May. “This one goes out to all the soldiers representing us in the National Guard. It feels good to get my first Superbike podium this early in the season with our new team.” 4th PLACE SATURDAY RACE 2 – “While it stings that I missed the podium, I’m happy to leave here with two good results on my National Guard Jordan Suzuki,” said May. “Thanks to all the fans for braving the cold, wet weather this morning and see you all at Road Atlanta where we’ll be ready to keep rocking.” Aaron Yates, Jordan Suzuki #23 It was a difficult weekend for Jordan Suzuki’s Aaron Yates. Although he was consistently one of the fastest riders in the American Superbike class all weekend long, Yates was hampered in both races by unfortunate circumstances. In Race 1, while sitting in third place and making up ground on the lead group, Yates lowsided and was forced to Pit In for inspection of his GSXR-1000, eventually finishing the race in 15th place. Even more disappointing was Sunday’s Race 2. As Yates made a high speed pass on the front straight to move his Jordan Suzuki into second place, he was balked by his competitor, causing a collision on track. Holding on after rear-ending another motorcycle at over 150 MPH, Yates soldiered through the remainder of the race with a flat front tire and non-functioning front brakes. Through sheer willpower and skill, Yates managed to cover the 2.3 mile course in the 1:35 laptime range and brought his GSXR home inside the Top 10, a remarkable feat. Yates, eighth in the championship standings after Fontana, now turns his attention to his home state of Georgia, where he will next take the track during the AMA Pro Racing American Superbike race at Road Atlanta April 3-5, 2009. 15th PLACE SATURDAY RACE 1 “It’s unfortunate that the result doesn’t reflect the pace we ran all race long,” said Yates. “We were gaining on the leaders and running comfortably in the low 24s when I lost the front. After pitting in and having the bike re-teched, we were able to head back out and end up inside the top 15.” 10th PLACE SUNDAY RACE 2 – “What a race,” said Yates. “On lap 15, I was making my move past Tommy Hayden on the front straight for second, when he missed a shift and moved down into my line. I don’t think he knew I was there but regardless, it caused me to run into the back of his motorcycle. I almost lost it and the collision caused some serious damage, causing me to ride the rest of the race with no front brakes and a flat front tire. It made for a long final four laps, but I was able to bring it home with a Top 10 finish. I’m disappointed not to leave Fontana with the results I know our team was capable of and I can’t wait to get to my home track next round at Road Atlanta.” AMA Superbike Points Standings: 1. Mat Mladin, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing 2. Tommy Hayden, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing 3. Geoff May, National Guard Jordan Suzuki 4. Blake Young, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing 5. Ben Bostrom, Yamaha 6. Josh Hayes, Yamaha 7. Larry Pegram, Ducati 8. Aaron Yates, Jordan Suzuki 9. Aaron Gobert, Honda 10. Taylor Knapp, Suzuki More, from a press release issued by Buell: Eslick and Buell Complete Fontana AMA Daytona SportBike Sweep Privateer Buell Beats Factory Kawasaki’s Hacking in Both Races East Troy, Wis. (March 24, 2009) Danny Eslick swept the AMA Daytona SportBike double-header at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, March 20-21, winning both rounds of the weekend aboard his Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Racing/RMR Buell 1125R in dramatically different fashion to achieve his first career AMA Pro Racing wins. The victories were also the first in AMA Pro Racing competition for the Buell 1125R. In Saturday’s Race 1, Eslick jumped out to the lead on the first lap, and as Team M4 Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas, Monster Energy/Attack Kawasaki’s Jamie Hacking, Team M4 Suzuki’s Jason DiSalvo and Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke engaged in a dogfight for the second and third steps on the podium behind him, he broke away for a commanding wire-to-wire victory. The 22-year-old Broken Arrow, Okla., rider lead by more than seven seconds at one point before backing down on the final lap to take a celebratory wheelie across the start-finish stripe. His victory margin was 2.5 seconds over second place Hacking. Eslick also recorded the fast lap of the race, a 1:27.832. “I got a good start and broke away from those guys,” said Eslick. “They were battling each other back there and I had sort of a lonely race up front. I just kept my head down and kept watching my lap timer. The Buell 1125R was awesome.” Eslick again charged to the front and lead every lap of Sunday’s Race 2, but had a much tougher fight on his hands from Hacking. After an early three-lap caution period, Eslick reassumed the lead on the restart and built a small gap, and by the time Hacking worked his way up from fourth past Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke and Graves Yamaha’s Josh Herrin into second on Lap 13, Eslick had jumped out to a 2-second lead. But Hacking clawed his way back into contention, closing the gap to just 0.151 second by Lap 19 and setting up a battle to the checkered flag as the pair broke away from the rest of the field. At the stripe, Eslick bested the veteran factory rider by less than a tenth of a second. Team M4 Suzuki’s Jason DiSalvo made a late-race charge to nip teammate Martin Cardenas by a photo-finish margin of 0.031 second for third place. The gap from Hacking to DiSalvo was eight seconds. “I got the holeshot and I built a little bit of a gap, but then Jamie was all over me. He never really showed me a wheel, and I kept waiting for a big move from him but it never happened,” Eslick said. “It was an awesome weekend and it was just spectacular to get my first two [AMA Pro Racing] wins.” “We are so honored to have this great Bruce Rossmeyer/RMR/GEICO team and a rider like Danny Eslick,” said Erik Buell, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer of Buell Motorcycle Company. “Danny is exploring all the differences of the Buell, like ZTL brakes and fuel in the frame, and he likes what he’s finding. AMA Pro Racing’s new Daytona SportBike class is great competition, with six brands finishing in the top ten. It’s going to be an incredible season to watch motorcycle racing in America, and best of all to watch an American sportbike finally battling for wins.” Founded by visionary motorcycle designer and former privateer racer Erik Buell in 1983, Buell Motorcycle Company, a subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, Inc., produces sport motorcycles, motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel, including the 1125R superbike and air-cooled XB-series Ulysses, Firebolt, and Lightning. To learn more about Buell motorcycles, or to locate the dealer nearest you, log onto www.buell.com. More, from a press release issued by Syndicate Motorsport Management: March 24, 2009 (Reno, NV)”” Team ESP/ Venemotos Yamaha struggled throughout the AMA weekend. The ESP/ Venemotos Yamaha was fighting an uphill battle with the other top teams after opting not to participate in the February Fontana AMA test. The first practice session on Friday was newcomer Damian Cudlin’s first time seeing the track. A lack of familiarity with the Southern California facility contributed to a first session placement of twenty second. Robertino Pietri’s first Friday session went a little better where he finished thirteenth and secure in knowing he was in the faster Group A. The new AMA format that does not include Thursday promoter practice makes the first practice on Friday all the more important, as Cudlin was to find out. Although he posted an afternoon time that would have seen him thirteenth in Group A, he was relegated to being the fastest qualifier in group B and unable to make the jump to Group A Saturday morning. Compounding the fact that he needed a little time coming up to speed, Cudlin had a late session crash that resulted in losing a small chunk of his left elbow that needed 7 stitches to pull it closed. The pain and stiffness from this crash would adversely effect him for the rest of the race meeting. Robertino Pietri’s weekend was progressing nicely from the first session where he posted the thirteenth fastest time, followed with afternoon practice where he just missed qualifying for superpole in the twelfth position. Pietri’s form continued to improve on Saturday where morning final qualifying saw him post the fourth fastest time. Pietri was looking good and feeling confident going into the Saturday race. Unfortunately for Pietri, his confidence was shattered when he was struck from behind on the opening lap of the race. After pitting, Pietri soldiered on to thirty first in search of vital points and a race setup for Sunday. Damian’s Saturday race effort was severely hampered by the soreness of his post crash body, particularly the stitches in his left elbow, and he was able to cross the line inside the top twenty in eighteenth place. The entire ESP/ Venemotos team was ready to put Saturday behind them when they woke up on Sunday. Instead of the typical sunny Southern California weather, they were greeted with rain and blustery winds for morning practice. Both riders agreed that they would join the action for morning warm-up and try and find a wet- race setting for their Yamaha R6 machines. The conditions proved tricky but both riders were confident they had the speed if the race was indeed held in the wet. The wet practice was all for naught, as the skies cleared and the race was held on a dry, albeit green, racetrack. Robertino finished just outside the top ten in twelfth, and Damian just missed out on a top fifteen finishing sixteenth. Robertino Pietri: “This weekend was filled with highs and lows. After last year, I knew that I could find a good pace around here and I was looking forward to the races. I steadily improved my bike and times with the ESP/ Venemotos crew and thought I had a good shot at a top 5 finish. The first race I tried something new, taking it easy in the first laps, and I got hit from behind! The second race I decided I would go out hard and try and get with the lead group. This field is so deep I ended up in a multi bike battle and ended up twelfth. It was better than Saturday’s race but not as good as I know I can finish.” Damian Cudlin: “For me, this weekend proved that racing motorbikes is not all fun and games. After that crash on Friday I just wanted to take a bit of a breather. I’ve got seven stitches in my elbow and my bum is all black and blue. I owed it to the team to do as well as I could and try and earn the maximum points. I’m here to do a job and prove that I deserve to be here in the AMA so we made the most of a painful situation. We’ve got a week and a half to heal up and get ready for Atlanta, so that is what we’ll do.” Evan Steel (co-owner ESP) “Not the weekend that we were looking for but sometimes that is the way it goes in racing. We’ll be ready to go for Atlanta in Daytona Sportbike and we’ll be re-joined by Josh Day in Supersport. We’ll head back to Tucson for a couple of days and get the equipment ready and then we’ll head out. See you at Road Atlanta!” For Sponsorship inquiries contact Syndicate Motorsport Management, LLC: (+1) 831 464 3458 or email: [email protected] Team ESP/ Venemotos Yamaha: Evan Steel Performance is a small, personal, specialized shop located in Tucson, Arizona that deals with all aspects of motorcycle road racing. ESP bikes have had some of the highest trap speeds in their classes at AMA Nationals, as well as the highest top speed at start/finish at the 50th annual Macau Grand Prix. In 2008, ESP scored a very rare privateer podium at the VIR AMA National in the Superstock class with Chris Peris. ESP is open to any level of racing, from basic race prep to planning a season at the Nationals. ESP can be reached at (520) 294 3050 or www.evansteelperformance.com