ASRA Pro Series Heartland Park-Topeka April 24-27,2008 Sipp Breaks Through While Jensen Capitalizes on Wood’s Absence After a successful promotion at the local Buffalo Wild Wings in Topeka, Walt Sipp mentioned he might have a little something for the front runners in the ASRA ThunderBike class and he showed the crowd he wasn’t just blowing smoke. Dave Estok took the early lead and built a gap of 8 seconds over the battle for second between Nate Kern aboard his BMW 1200 and Sipp, but a slight miscalculation put the leader down in turn eight ruining his chance for victory. The next four laps saw a terrific struggle between Kern and Sipp for the top spot as Nate desperately tried to find a way past the Buell rider. Despite running quicker on laps 9 through 11, Kern was unable to get in front of Sipp where it counted, at the finish line. This is Walt Sipp’s first national win and couldn’t come at a better place than his home track, Heartland Park-Topeka. With Jeff Wood nowhere in sight, Robert Jensen appeared to have everything lined up to have a spectacular weekend in ASRA competition and he took full advantage of it. Jensen took his Suzuki 1000 out in SuperStock and proceeded to give a clinic on how to get around the Heartland Park course, setting a new lap record in the process. Confident on the podium, Jensen announced he would go for the motorcycle track record later in Unlimited GP; he was just glad to get the win in SuperStock and had two more races to get through before he worried about track records. Obviously Jensen had a good feeling about it as he reeled off record laps in both SuperBike and Factory Pro SportBike on his way to dominate victories in both classes. Jensen’s victories netted the rider more than $15,000 in cash and contingency awards for the day, and true to his word, a new motorcycle track record at HPT of 1:41.480. Overshadowed by Jensen’s sweep, Matt Hall put in three solid rides to make his mark on the ASRA Championships. Matt is now the Factory Pro SportBike point leader by 3 over Blake Young and Robert Jensen. Jensen enjoys a 1 point lead in both SuperBike and SuperStock while Nate Kern leaves round two the ASRA Pro ThunderBike Series with an 8-point lead over Walt Sipp with six rounds to go. The ASRA Pro Series moves to Summit Point Motorsports Park for Round 3 on May 24-25-26, for more information go to www.ccsracing.us. ThunderBike Time: 22:42.097 1. WALT SIPP, KANSAS CITY, MO.(BUELL 1200) 12 Laps 2. NATE KERN, MARIETTA, GA. (BMW1200) -0.313 3. DEAN HAGEMANN, BYRON, IL. (BUELL 1200) -1:43.934 4. GEORGE LINHART, ELMHURST, IL. (DUC1000) -1:57.564 5. JOEL SPALDING, HUNTLEY, IL. (BUELL 1200) -1 Lap 6. REBECCA CAUDLE, COLUMBIA, MO. (SUZ 650) -1 Lap 7. DAVID MYERS, WILDWOOD, MO. (BUELL 1200) -1 Lap 8. AARON HOLCOMB, WHITEFISH BAY, WI. (BUELL 1200) -3 Lap 9. DAVE ESTOK, NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL.(BUELL 900) -4 (Crash)(Record Lap 1:47.924) Factory Pro Sportbike Time: 33:02.561 1. ROBERT JENSEN, CHAFFEE, ND. (YAM 600) 18 Laps (Record Lap 1:43.924) 2. MATT HALL, KANSAS CITY, MO. (YAM 600) -0:35.703 3. TONY KASPER, BECKER, MN. (YAM 600) -0:45.650 4. JEFFREY PURK, DES MOINES, IA. (YAM 600) -0:52.944 5. SCOTTY RYAN, LEMONT, IL. (KAW 600) -0:53.286 6. ROBERT OLIVA, SIOUX CITY, IA. (HON 600) -1 Lap 7. KURT STOCK, KANSAS CITY, MO. (SUZ 600) -1 Lap 8. NICK SPOONER, SHAWNEE, KS (YAM 600) -1 Lap 9. JAMIE M HALL, KANSAS CITY, MO. (KAW 636) -11 Laps (Mechanical) Superbike Time: Red Flag 1. ROBERT JENSEN, CHAFFEE, ND. (YAM 600) 12 Laps (Record Lap 1:43.390) 2. MATT HALL, KANSAS CITY, MO. (YAM 600) -0:11.554 3. TONY KASPER, BECKER, MN. (YAM 600) -0:14.968 4. JEFFREY PURK, DES MOINES, IA. (YAM 600) -0:17.396 5. SCOTTY RYAN, LEMONT, IL. (KAW 600) -0:17.685 6. KYLE RUSSELL, CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (SUZ 600) -0:55.960 7. CHRIS CAREY, SHAWNEE, KS. (YAM 600) -7 Laps (Crash) 8. BRIAN HALL, SPRING GROVE, IL. (KAW 600) -7 Laps (Crash) Superstock Time: 21:39.346 1. ROBERT JENSEN, CHAFFEE, ND. (Suz 1000) 12 Laps (Record Lap 1:42.137) 2. MATT HALL, KANSAS CITY, MO. (YAM 1000) -0:20.694 3. BRIAN HALL, SPRING GROVE, IL. (KAW 1000) -0:33.170 4. DAVE ROSNO, EAGLE, WI. (SUZ 750) -1:24.678 5 ROBERT OLIVA, SIOUX CITY, IA. (KAW 1000) -1 Lap 6. PAULETTE ANI, ROOSEVELT, UT. (SUZ 750) -1 Lap 7. JOHN DEUSER, KANSAS CITY, MO (YAM 600) -8 Laps (Mechanical) More, from a press release issued by Heartland Park-Topeka: “Super” Dave Rosno Races against Pediatric Cancer TOPEKA, Kan. (APRIL 27, 2008) — Veteran Road Racer “Super” Dave Rosno partnered with Kansas City Ride for Kids to raise money and awareness for pediatric brain cancer. Rosno competed in the Championship Cup Series at Heartland Park Topeka on April 27, 2008 and will be donating his purse money and trackside donations to Kansas City Ride for Kids. Nearly $1000 dollars was raised at the event and Rosno hopes that he topped it at that this year races. Rosno’s guest for the day was Noah Sanchez along with his mother, father and younger sister. Sanchez is a seven-year-old pediatric brain tumor survivor and this is his third year visiting “Super” Dave at Heartland Park. Sanchez was an honorary pit crew member on Rosno’s team for the day and was also able to be up-close for the races that Rosno was a part of. Sanchez enjoys seeing and spending time with “Super” Dave despite the fact that he only sees him twice a year. Super Dave’s Race against Childhood Cancer was started by Rosno in 2003 in memory of his mother who died from cancer in 1999. Rosno’s father also passed in 2005 in cancer. For more information on Rosno and Sanchez visit www.superdavesrace.com Heartland Park Topeka, a multi-purpose racing facility located in Topeka, Kan. annually hosts National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) PowerAde Drag Racing Series, the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) National Championship Runoffs, World of Outlaws, Championship Cup Series (CCS) / American Sport bike Racing Association (ASRA) and many other pro and amateur dirt, drag and road racing events throughout the race season. More, from a press release issued by Bison Racing/Zero 7 Design Concepts: Sipp scores win at Heartland Park Topeka! Topeka, KS Bison Racing / Zero 7 Design Concepts rider Walt Sipp won round two of the ASRA Thunderbike Championship, held at a chilly Heartland Park Topeka circuit. Qualifying went well even on used tires from the previous AMA weekend. Walt qualified on the front row (2nd) with a 1:49.752. Nate Kern was on pole with a lap of 1:49.619 after early pole man Dave Estok’s time was dis-allowed for not being able to make the post qualifying dyno run. Sipp said, “I’m pretty happy with how things are going. If I would have known I had a shot at pole I would have put on new tires! It still feels good to be on the front row at my home track!” For the race on Sunday, Walt was confidant he could run the pace at the front. “I’m sure I can run with Nate and Dave. I just can’t let Nate get the holeshot” said Sipp. As it turns out, his fears were realized when he missed second gear on the start and ended up being fifth going into turn one. He made quick work of the first two riders and set off after Kern and Estok who had already started pulling away. Soon though he was on Kern’s back wheel and made the pass coming on to the front straight. Walt said, “Man, I don’t think I could have gotten away worse! I was happy I was able to reel in the guys as fast as I did after my mistake at the start.” Walt soon started making progress on Estok while opening a gap on Kern. Just after half way though, Sipp came upon a frustrated Estok obviously having mechanical issues. Sipp said, “I saw Dave having problems and I knew this one was mine. I knew I had a slight gap on Kern so I decided to just try to maintain the gap. I really used up my tires trying to catch those guys.” However, he backed it down too much and Kern was able to re-pass Sipp over the tunnel turn coming to the white flag. “Nate came by me and I told myself no more taking care of the tires he’s not going to steal this one. I was able to get by him going into turn one. I just put my head down went as hard as I could. As it turns out Kern and I turned our fastest laps on the last lap. Thankfully mine was a little quicker (1:48.209 to a 1:48.459). I would have like to been battling with Dave for the win, but I was only .3 of his track record (1:47.9) so it proves I would have been there no matter what. I know he’ll be strong the rest of the season as will Kern and the rest of the guys. Right now I’m just going to savor the win and go into the next race wanting more!” With the win at HPT and a fourth in Daytona, Walt moves up to second in the points only eight behind the leader Kern. Follow Walt and his Championship chase to the next round; Summit Point, WV May 24-26th or catch up at www.waltsipp.com.