AMA Superbike Championship: Miller Motorsports Park Honda Summit of Speed The AMA Superbike Championship will share the stage with an FIM world championship event for the first of two times this season on May 29-June 1 at Miller Motorsports Park, in Tooele, Utah. The unique four-day program will mark the first time in four years that the AMA Superbike series has run in conjunction with the Superbike World Championship, which is making its much-anticipated return trip to America with a first-ever trip to Utah. Taking the Long Way Around While the World Superbike stars will inherit the 3-mile long Outer Course that the AMA Superbike series utilized in their first two trips to the modern facility, in 2008 the AMA Superbike Championship will take on the 4.5-mile Full Course. The configuration is the longest the series will encounter all year, and in fact the lengthiest circuit in North America, surpassing another championship mainstay, Road America, which measures approximately a half mile shorter at ‘only’ 4 miles in length. Riders’ opinions of the extended Miller Motorsports Park configuration were overwhelmingly positive following a recent test, which should provide a unique experience for spectators. The Basics Miller Motorsports Park, located just west of Salt Lake City, is the brainchild of Larry H. Miller, who also owns the local NBA franchise, the Utah Jazz, among his many other high-profile business interests. The circuit opened in 2006, and was immediately added to the AMA Superbike schedule. Its world-class facilities rank among the very best found in the United States. In addition, the track’s high elevation and flowing nature have made for close racing, with the last non-Yoshimura Suzuki AMA Superbike race win coming at MMP (Jake Zemke, American Honda, 2006). AMA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY PARTS UNLIMITED The Title Fight is On Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki’s reigning double champion, Ben Spies, has clawed his way back into contention for a third-straight Superbike crown thanks to a powerful run of four consecutive Superbike victories. Spies has whittled teammate Mat Mladin’s advantage down from 29 points to just nine (242 vs. 233) on the strength of back-to-back doubles at Auto Club Speedway and Infineon Raceway. The 23-year-old Texan has performed admirably at Miller Motorsports Park in previous visits, scoring three race wins in four attempts. While the track configuration is different this year, Spies’ showed plenty of speed on the 4.5-mile circuit in testing, posting the fastest time among all riders aboard his #1-plated GSX-R1000. Bulldog Back on the Box Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jamie Hacking came on strong during the tail end of his first campaign as part of Kawasaki’s factory Superbike effort, scoring four podium results in the season’s final six races. The team is fielding an all-new ZX-10R in ’08 and while the bike’s development may have held the British-born rider back in the season’s opening races, he appeared to be fully back up to speed at Infineon Raceway, claiming a pair of third-place finishes, his best yet in 2008. Upsetting the Established Order Yamaha USA’s Jason DiSalvo flashed the form that saw him regularly claim pole positions on the undercard in seasons past, qualifying second at Infineon Raceway, marking the first time Ben Spies and Mat Mladin didn’t control the top two positions on the grid since the 2006 season. AMA PRO HONDA OILS SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY SHOEI Bostrom Back to World-Class Form Graves Motorsports Yamaha’s Ben Bostrom’s pole and win at Infineon Raceway marked his third in four attempts in both categories in the Supersport class this season. The Californian’s recent form has reminded many that he’s one of the racing world’s elite talents when properly motivated and on form as he is in 2008. Bostrom’s teammate, Josh Herrin, sits second in the points but Bostrom’s wins–combined with the teenager’s third and sixth-place finishes–at the last two rounds have opened up a bit of breathing space at the front. Bostrom now leads by 21 points. Bostrom will be eager to put together another stellar weekend while sharing the spotlight with the Superbike World Championship, the series that elevated him to fan favorite status around the globe. Behind Blue Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke was again the closest runner to snapping Yamaha’s perfect ’08 win streak in Supersport, claiming a second consecutive runner-up finish. Infineon Raceway also saw Matsushima Performance Suzuki’s Danny Eslick continue his rapid improvement in 2008. Eslick has jumped up the finishing order in each race this season, finishing tenth at Daytona, eighth in Birmingham, sixth in Fontana, and third in Sonoma. AMA FORMULA XTREME SERIES Three in a Row Jake Zemke continued to roll in Formula Xtreme action, claiming a third-straight class victory at Infineon Raceway. The Californian carries a commanding 18-point advantage over second-ranked Steve Rapp (Attack Kawasaki) into Miller Motorsports Park despite his disappointing 12th-place run in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. Oh So Close Zemke’s Erion Honda teammate, Josh Hayes, is still seeking his first win after claiming 11 combined in 2007. The Mississippian again came within a whisker of the win, losing out to Zemke at the checkered flag by a scant 0.067 seconds. The defending double FX champ finished second at Auto Club Speedway by 0.013 seconds, crashed out of first place at Barber Motorsports Park, and was disqualified after winning the Daytona 200. Impressive Debut Cory West put in a strong ride aboard the Team M4 EMGO Suzuki GSX-R600 at Infineon Raceway in place of his injured teammate, Martin Cardenas, finishing fourth in his 2008 class debut. AMA SUPERSTOCK SERIES PRESENTED BY DYNOJET The First is Always the Hardest While it took decades for Honda to claim a first-ever Superstock victory, they picked up a second just one race later as Corona Honda’s Jake Holden piloted his CBR1000RR to his third career AMA victory the last time out. Holden’s perfect pole/win weekend moves him to within 12 points of two-time class champion Aaron Yates (Yates leads 138-126). Jordan Suzuki Duo Look to Strike Back Yates has finished second two races in a row after opening the season with two wins. His teammate, Geoff May, was also in contention for the win at Infineon Raceway, running a close third when the race was red flagged and called complete deep into the event. The result marked the Georgian’s first podium since his third-place run in the season opener in Daytona. May is now tied for third in the standings with Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki’s Chris Ulrich as the two sit equal with 104 points apiece following four rounds. Coverage on SPEED Saturday’s AMA Superbike final will air on SPEED with same-day coverage at 10 pm Eastern time on Saturday, May 31. Sunday’s race will air live on Sunday, June 1 at 4 pm Eastern time. The Supersport race will get the same day delay treatment, airing an hour before Sunday’s Superbike race at 3 pm. The AMA Formula Xtreme and Superstock races will air on Tuesday, June 3 on SPEED at 12 pm. Tickets Tickets for the combined AMA/World Superbike weekend can be obtained by calling 435-277-RACE or visiting www.millermotorsportspark.com. More, from a press release issued by Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki: Aurora, IL (May 27, 2008) – Michael Jordan Motor Sports Suzuki rider Aaron Yates looks to defend his spot on the podium when the Jordan Suzuki team returns to Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah, May 29-June 1, 2008. At last season’s races at Miller Motorsports Park, Yates piloted his Suzuki GSX-R1000 to three top 10 finishes, including a third place podium slot in the Superstock event. Also competing for the checkered flag in this weekend’s Superstock race is Yates’ teammate Geoff May. Miller Motorsports Park is the only track on the current AMA race schedule at which Yates has not won. Yates hopes to change that, as well as give his crew its third AMA Superstock win in 2008 on Saturday. May, who has enjoyed two podium finishes of his own this season, would love to challenge Yates for the coveted top spot. In addition to Superstock racing, both Jordan Suzuki riders compete in the AMA Superbike series. While May races both classes on his production based Suzuki GSX-R1000, Yates rides a full Superbike in that event. “In the past, the team has struggled there [Miller] with our Superbike setup,” said crew chief Rich Alexander. “We’ve sorted it out at the last test, and we can’t wait to get back to podium contention at Miller.” The Jordan Suzuki team earned double podium finishes in the Superstock race at Infineon Raceway two weekends ago, with Yates finishing in second and May in third. Yates is currently in first place in the AMA Superstock championship standings with 138 points. The weekend’s racing action includes the running of the HANNSPREE FIM World Superbike Championship and a full AMA class schedule, with both Jordan Suzuki riders competing back-to-back in Saturday’s 14-lap (100K) Superbike race one and the 9-lap (60K) Superstock race. Sunday’s AMA Superbike race two is scheduled between the double rounds of FIM World Superbike. This year at Miller Motorsports Park, motorcycles will compete on the full 4.5 mile, 24-turn course for the first time. AMA Superbike Championship points standings (after four rounds): AMA Superstock Points: AMA Superbike Points: Aaron Yates, 1st place (138) Aaron Yates, 9th place (133) Geoff May, 3rd place (104) Geoff May, 11th place (129) More, from a press release issued by Robert Pandya: Scott Jensen fired up for wildcard ride in World Superbike. Scott Jensen, one of the top privateers in the 2008 AMA Superbike and Superstock series, has been invited as the sole American Wildcard rider in this weekends World Superrbike Championship Series visiting the Miller Motorsports Park for the 5th race in the fourteen event international series. Jensen, well known in the paddock for his old school work ethic, his talents on the track and for always presenting a positive attitude towards motorcycle road racing is excited to be invited into the series after placing 12th overall in the 2007 Superbike series, featuring a third place in the Road America Round of the 2007 AMA Superstock series. “You know I HOPE this is not a once in a lifetime experience,” joked the Longmont, Colorado based racer. “I’m fired up to get a chance to be on the track with a new group of racers. Being given the opportunity to race with names like Toseland, Biaggi, Corser, Haga there are so many heroes of mine out there, and my goal is to represent the American privateer racer to the highest degree possible.” Jensen has set up a sponsorship program through his website: www.moto-garageracing.com/pages/donate. Any amount is appreciated with Jensen joking, “Five bucks will feed two crew members almost all weekend!” Jensen has already garnered media attention for being the only American participating in the World Superbike Race, with a planned article in Road Racer X magazine, and confirmed coverage on “On The Throttle” TV. (www.onthethrottle.com). Jensen has earned support for his consistent efforts and easy going nature in the paddock. Sponsors include, www.Moto-Garage.com, www.12volttavern.com, www.trackstar1.com. Opportunity still exists for a primary sponsor for the upcoming WSB race, which is currently being funded by friends and family. “We should be calling ourselves ‘Team Mastercard’,” jokes the racer who honed his skills club racing in Arizona and working his way into being an AMA series regular. “Honestly if it were not for my friends and family this dream would never be realized. I humbled by their support and that I get through my website. I get the feeling lots of guys want to be on the grid and I guess they see some of themselves in me or something it’s really an honor.” For more information, log on to www.moto-garageracing.com or swing by the paddock to say hello (or donate a Subway Sandwich coupon) this weekend at the Miller Motorsports Park (www.millermotorsportspark.com). Jensen will be riding the number 61 self-prepared GSXR 1000 in the series sponsored by: On The Throttle.TV, Pirelli, SUZUKI, Moto Garage, TediJensen.com Graphic Design, UNINK printworks, Aces Loaded, HELD, VORTEX, Leo Vince, BG oils, Dynojet, Bickle racing, E-Racings, Arai Helmets, Regina EBC brakes, SOCAL Trackdays, Öhlins, SIDI, West Valley Machine, Pacific Powesports, Cycle Cynch, LP racing, VP fuels.