Aprilia USA/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports 1’s Ty Howard and Michael Himmelsbach posted the fastest time Saturday during practice for the SunTrust MOTO-ST Daytona 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Howard used a fresh rear Pirelli on the team’s RSV1000 “Tuono” to record a lap of 1:45.752 around the 2.89-mile infield road course to top all teams and all entries in the premier Buell Motorcycles Super Sport Twins (SST) class. “It went good,” said Howard, who co-rode with Aprilia USA to win the 2007 MOTO-ST SST class Championship. “We mostly concentrated on cutting consistent laps. My new teammate [Himmelsbach] is working out really good. He was only half a second off my time, so I’m feeling really good about that. Plus, the team worked through some problems we had early in the session and got us back out on track really quick. We’ve got some things to work on tonight to make it better for tomorrow, but I’m pretty happy with how things are going.” Second-fastest overall and in SST with a lap of 1:45.974 was the Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Racing Buell 1125R, which was ridden by Shawn Higbee and Dan Bilansky. Higbee and Bilansky said they were still learning the new Buell and hoped to put all of their best settings together for Sunday morning’s warm-up session. The Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Racing Buell 1125R still wore its stock belt final drive, which the team said makes their rear wheel changes slower than they would be with a chain final drive. Touring Sport Ducati III (Doug Polen/Peter Friedland/Frank Shockley) posted the third-best lap time, a 1:46.433, on their new SST-class Ducati 848. According to Polen, the team used one set of Pirelli control tires throughout the two-hour session and he turned the team’s fastest time on their 41st lap. Roadracingworld.com Suzuki 18 (Chris Ulrich/Cory West/Michael Barnes), winners of the 8-Hours at Daytona, was third-fastest on their SV1000S when they stopped prior to the official end of the session, but the team’s 1:46.585 was bumped back to fourth in the closing stages of practice. Deeley H-D/Ruthless Racing’s Steve Crevier and Dave Estok added to the impressive racing debut of the new Buell 1125R by posting the fifth-best time of the practice, a 1:46.747, even though their bike still wore its stock rear shock and belt final drive. BMW Motorcycles of Atlanta’s MOTO-ST racebike was destroyed and team rider Thomas Hinterreiter was injured in a crash during a CCS race early Saturday, but the team was able to convert an R 1200 S streetbike into a racebike by the time practice started and Nate Kern and Richard Cooper were able to post the sixth-best lap (a 1:46.810) on the virgin machine. The fastest non-SST team was the Sport Twins (ST) entry of Speedwerks.com, which was 15th overall thanks to the 1:52.047 Hawk Mazzotta did on the team’s Suzuki SV650. Mazzotta will share the machine with Brian Kcraget and Scott Ryan. The best lap turned by a BMW Grand Sport Twins team was the 1:52.463 (16th-fastest overall) recorded by Wagner Motorsports Racing’s Mark Reynolds and Gus Holcomb on a Paul Smart Ducati 1000. UPDATE: At 7:45 p.m. local time it was announced that several of the top teams exceeded their respective class horsepower limits during post-practice dyno checks. SST teams Aprilia USA/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports 1 and Touring Sport Ducati III; GST team Wagner Motorsports Racing; and ST teams Pair-A-Nines 9 and Cycle Dynamics were all found in violation of the rules and will have to start Sunday’s race from the back of their classes on the rolling grid. SunTrust MOTO-ST Daytona 300 Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida March 1, 2008 Practice Results: 1. Aprilia USA/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports 1 (Ty Howard/Michael Himmelsbach/Zac Chapman), Apr RSV1000 Tuono, SST, 1:45.752 2. Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Racing (Shawn Higbee/Dan Bilansky), Buell 1125R, SST, 1:45.974 3. Touring Sport Ducati III (Doug Polen/Peter Friedland/Frank Shockley), Duc 848, SST, 1:46.433 4. Roadracingworld.com Suzuki 18 (Chris Ulrich/Cory West/Michael Barnes), Suz SV1000S, SST, 1:46.585 5. Deeley H-D/Ruthless Racing (Steve Crevier/Dave Estok), Buell 1125R, SST, 1:46.747 6. BMW Motorcycle of Atlanta (Nate Kern/Richard Cooper), BMW R 1200 S, SST, 1:46.810 7. Roadracingworld.com Suzuki 3 (Martin Cardenas/Robertino Pietri/Michael Barnes), Suz SV1000S, SST, 1:47.409 8. Aprilia USA/Lloyd Brothers Racing 6 (Henry Wiles/Ty Howard/Zac Chapman), Apr RSV1000 Tuono, SST, 1:47.957 9. Wagner Motorsports Racing II (Michael Martire/David Hudson), Apr RSV1000 Tuono, SST, 1:48.746 10. Team Hooters Aprilia (Mike Luke/Ben Carlson/Andy Deatherage), Apr RSV1000 Tuono, SST, 1:48.883 15. Speedwerks.com (Brian Kcraget/Scott Ryan/Hawk Mazzotta), Suz SV650, ST, 1:52.047 16. Wagner Motorsports Racing (Mark Reynolds/Gus Holcomb), Duc PS1000LE, GST, 1:52.463 More, from a press release issued by MOTO-ST: Defending Champs Still on Top in Daytona SunTrust MOTO-ST Series DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 1, 2008) The defending champion Aprilia USA team set the pace in practice Saturday for this weekend’s season opening Daytona 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Ty Howard of Weatherford, Tex. recorded a time of one minute, 45.752 seconds on the No. 1 Aprilia Tuono 1000R to lead the rankings overall and in the Buell Motorcycle Company SuperSport Twins (SST) class. Howard’s time was good for an average speed of 98.722 miles per hour around the 2.90-mile track. Second quickest was the No. 8 Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Racing Buell 1125R ridden by Shawn Higbee at 1:45.974 and third was Texan Doug Polen on the No. 75 Touring Sport Ducati 848 with a time of 1:46.433. “I rode the bike yesterday for the first time and it was so fast we had to detune it,” said Howard, who won two events last year in helping Aprilia USA to the SST Teams Championship. “But it was even faster today. It doesn’t spin coming off the corners like it was yesterday.” The SST class has a horsepower limit of 120 hp. Last season’s points standings will be used to set the grid for Sunday’s race, meaning Howard and teammate Mike Himmelsbach of Quakertown, Penn. will start from the pole position. Joining them on the front row will be the No. 2 RightsForBikers.com Suzuki SV1000 of Modesto, Calif.’s Justin Filice and Robert Fisher from Sarasota, Fla. They placed 12th in Saturday’s practice session. Higbee held the top time for the middle portion of the two-hour session in a very impressive performance on the Buell 1125R, which is making its racing debut at Daytona. “I was not really happy with the front end yesterday but we swapped bikes and the new one is a lot better today,” said the Oconomonoc, Wis. rider. “It’s amazing we’re up to speed already. We’re learning a lot each time out and I don’t think we’ve touched the potential of this bike.” Higbee will be joined by Dan Bilansky of Berlin, Wis. on the Buell in Sunday’s race. Veteran road race champion Polen is also debuting a new bike with the Touring Sport Ducati team, who has added an entry in the SST class after winning the BMW GrandSport Twins (GST) category last year. “For a stock bike it’s not too bad,” said Polen, who will share the bike with Pete Friedland of Columbia, S.C. “From the time I got on the bike at the start of the session to the time I got off we were two seconds faster. That’s not a bad start.” Michael Barnes set the fourth fastest time of the session at 1:46.585 on the No. 18 Roadracingworld.com Suzuki SV1000 he will share with Chris Ulrich and Cory West on Sunday. Next up was the No. 29 Deeley/Ruthless Racing Inc. Buell 1125R of Steve Crevier and Dave Estok with a time of 1:46.747. An impressive sixth overall was the No. 4 BMW Motorcycles of Atlanta BMW R1200 of Nate Kern and Richard Cooper. The team made a remarkable return to action on a stock back-up bike after its race bike was destroyed in a crash on Saturday morning that left rider Thomas Hintereiter with a broken hand. Fastest in the GST class was the No. 20 Wagner Motorsports Racing Ducati 1000 SS ridden by Mark Reynolds of Woodstock, Conn. with a time of 1:52.463. Reynolds will share the bike with Boston rider Gus Holcomb on Sunday. Second quickest was the No. 77 Touring Sport Ducati PS1000LE of defending Riders class champion Frank Shockley and Brad Phillips with a time of 1:53.695. Third went to John Linder and Chris Boy at 1:54.158 aboard the No. 69 RightsForBikers.com Ducati 1000 SS. Hawk Mazzotta of Carmel Valley, Calif. was quickest in the Sport Twins (ST) class on the No. 87 SpeedWerks.com Suzuki SV650 he shares with Danville, Va.’s Brian Kcraget. Mazzotta recorded a lap at 1:52.047. Second quickest was the No. 43 Cycle Dynamics Kawasaki EX650 of James Rispoli and Ted Cobb at 1:52.652 and defending champions Pair-A-Nines were third with Jay Springsteen and Jimmy Filice setting a time of 1:53.022 on the No. 9 Kawasaki. A final practice session for the Daytona 300 will be held at 9:10 a.m. Sunday morning with the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series season opener scheduled to get the green flag at 2:00 p.m. The SunTrust MOTO-ST Series is organized and sanctioned by Professional Motorsports Productions (PMP) of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the Grand American Road Racing Association, based in Daytona Beach, Fla., provides the series with administrative and commercial support. Learn more about MOTO-ST at www.moto-st.com. From another press release issued by MOTO-ST: Five Teams Penalized After SunTrust MOTO-ST Series Practice DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Following Saturday afternoon’s practice for the opening round of the 2008 SunTrust MOTO-ST Series at Daytona International Speedway five teams have been assessed penalties for exceeding their respective class horsepower limits in post-practice tech. In the Buell Motorcycle Company SuperSport Twins (SST) class the No. 1 Aprilia USA/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Aprilia Tuono 1000R and the No. 75 Touring Sport Ducati 848 have been penalized. In the BMW Grand Sport Twins (GST) class the No. 20 Wagner Motorsports Racing Ducati 1000SS has been penalized. In the Sport Twins (ST) class the No. 9 Pair-A-Nines Kawasaki EX650 and the No. 43 Cycle Dynamics Kawasaki EX650 have been penalized. Each of these bikes will be placed at the back of their respective classes on the starting grid for Sunday’s Daytona 300 race. The horsepower limit for the SST class is a maximum of 120 hp, for GST it is 90 hp and in the ST division it is 75. A final practice session for the Daytona 300 will be held at 9:10 a.m. Sunday morning with the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series season opener scheduled to get the green flag at 2:00 p.m. The SunTrust MOTO-ST Series is organized and sanctioned by Professional Motorsports Productions (PMP) of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the Grand American Road Racing Association, based in Daytona Beach, Fla., provides the series with administrative and commercial support. Learn more about MOTO-ST at www.moto-st.com. More, from a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway: Crozier Hopes To Deliver Another Win For Vallely Racing In Sunday’s Daytona 300 SunTrust MOTO-ST Series Race DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 1, 2008) — Mark Crozier, a competitor in Sunday’s SunTrust MOTO-ST Series Daytona 300 race and next Saturday’s Formula Xtreme 67th Daytona 200 By Honda, hopes to maintain his title of “Mr. Consistency” throughout Daytona 200 Week by Honda. Finishing third in the 2007 SunTrust MOTO-ST Series rider points standings, Crozier was one of the most consistent riders on circuit, not finishing lower than sixth place in any SunTrust MOTO-ST series race. Crozier and the Flagler Beach, Fla.-based Vallely Racing team are confident about the upcoming events at the Daytona International Speedway, including Sunday’s season-opening SunTrust MOTO-ST Series Daytona 300, scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m. “I think its going to be a good race,” Crozier said. “I have a really good shot at possibly doing really well, being on the podium in the MOTO-ST class. Mr. Vallely’s racing team has got great equipment and he’s given us a great opportunity.” Crozier will be sponsored in a joint effort by Vallely Racing and Augusta Triumph for the main event at DIS — the historic Daytona 200 By Honda on Saturday, March 8. “Daytona is a special place,” Crozier said. “We should do well here. I’ve finished top 15 in the last three years in the Daytona 200. “We’re definitely one of the teams to watch and one of the teams to beat. If everything goes good, we should be doing well.” Crozier began racing motorcycles at age three, competed in his first race at age five, and clinched his first championship title at age six. He has ventured into all types of racing including dirt, motocross, drag racing and road racing. He made the switch to road racing in 1998, but experienced an injury setback and was forced to take a few years off. He revved up again in 2001 and has been riding non-stop. As an endurance rider, Crozier enjoys being on the bike as long as he possibly can. He loves everything there is to love about motorcycles. “The endurance racing is a lot of fun to me because you get a lot of seat time, so you’re on the bike a lot,” Crozier said. “Sprint racing is fun but it’s really quick. “I like the whole endurance side because there are so many different critical areas in endurance racing–pit stops, the durability of the motorcycle, physical condition, mental conditions, that kind of stuff. It plays in to my hands a lot because I do very well in it.” Although a day in the life of Crozier consists of strictly training and riding, he does find some time for himself and his family. “Racing is my job,” Crozier said. “It’s a full-time job, but in my spare time I do enjoy working out and spending time with my five-year-old daughter.” Crozier was born and raised in the Georgia area, but moved to the sunny side of Jacksonville, Florida in 2002, and later moved to the Daytona Beach area in 2003. He just recently moved to Charlotte, N.C., but still thinks of the Daytona Beach area as home. Bouncing back and forth between Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina, Crozier jokingly admits he’s not quite sure where he lives. “I’m floating,” Crozier said. “Depends on where the weather’s good.” Quick hits: SunTrust MOTO-ST Series teams participated in their lone practice session on Saturday afternoon “¦ Former Daytona 200 By Honda winner John Ashmead captured the Expert Formula 40 on Saturday morning aboard a Suzuki 750 “¦ Winning the Saturday afternoon ASRA Finals were Cory West (Superbike), Chris Ferris (Superstock), Nate Kern (Thunderbike) and Blake Young (Factory Pro Sportbikes). Results — Expert Unlimited GP: 1. Carol Fahean Suzuki 1000; 2. Kevin Nolde, Kawasaki 1000; 3. Bradly Graham, Yamaha 6000; Amateur Unlimited GP: 1. Dennis Espinosa, Suzuki 1000; 2. James Cohrs, Yamaha 998; 3. Jeremy Bennett, Yamaha 1000; Amateur Middleweight Superbike: 1. Rafael Ferrer, Kawasaki 6000; 2. Robert Cloutier, Kawasaki 600; 3. Larry Karpinsky, Yamaha 600; Expert Middleweight Superbike: 1. Martin Cardenas, Suzuki 600; 2. Eric Wood, Ducati 848; 3. Blake Young, Suzuki 600; Amateur Formula 40: 1. Dennis Espinose, Ducati 1098; 2. Stuart Zuckerman, Kawasaki 600; 3. Kurt Roll, Honda 1000; Expert Formula 40: 1. John Ashmead, Suzuki 750; 2. Robert Dougherty, Suzuki 750; 3. David McPherson, Yamaha 600; Amateur Lightweight Superbike: 1. Carl Reid, Buell 1203; 2. Fernando Barbosa, Bim 1000; 3. Jorge Arana, M 650; Expert Lightweight Superbike: 1. Jason Edmonds, Bimo 1000; 2. Kevin Mendez, Bim 1000; 3. Ryan O’Donnell, Suzuki 650; Expert SuperTwins: 1. Eric Wood, Ducati 848; 2. Barrett Long, Ducati 1098; 3. Christopher Boy, Ducati 999; Amateur SuperTwins: 1. Roberto Conception, Ducati 749; 2. Dennis Espinose, Ducati 1098; 3. Yoshio Kasai, Ducati 996; Amateur Lightweight Grand Prix: 1. Carl Reid, Buell 1203; 2. Fernando Barbosa, Ducati 1000; 3. Jorge Arana, Um 650; Expert Lightweight Grand Prix: 1. Pete Friedland, NCR 1000; 2. Kevin Mendez, BIM 1000; 3. Joseph Rozynski, Buell 1200; Amateur Heavyweight Superbike: Rafael Ferrer, Kawasaki 600; Christopher Maher, Kawasaki 600; 3. Larry Karpinski, Yamaha 600; Expert Middleweight Grand Prix: 1. Martin Cardenas, Suzuki 600; 2. Sean Dwyer, Yamaha 600; 3. Ryan Patterson, Yamaha 600; Amateur Middleweight Grand Prix: 1. Larry Karpinsky, Yamaha 600; 2. Jay Scott Quick, Kawasaki 600; 3. Christopher Maher, Kawasaki 600; Expert Heavyweight Superbike: 1. Darren Luck, Suzuki 600; 2. Sean Dwyer, Yamaha 600; 3. Greg Melka, Yamaha 600; Superbike: 1. Cory West, Suzuki 600; Jeff Wood, Yamaha 600; 3. Barrett Long, Ducati 848; Superstock: 1. Chris Feris, Suzuki 1000; 2. Michael Barnes, Suzuki 1000; 3. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki 1000; Thunderbike: 1. Nate Kern; 2. Richard Cooper, BMW 1200; 3. Dave Estok. Buell 986; Factory Pro SportBike: 1. Blake Young, Suzuki 600; 2. Barrett Long, Ducati 848; 3. Jeff Wood, Yamaha 600. More, from a press release issued by MOTO-ST: SunTrust MOTO-ST Series Racers Gear Up for Fastest Lap DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 1, 2008) Competitors in the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series will have a little extra incentive to pick up the pace during the 2008 season. Beginning with Sunday’s season opening Daytona 300 at Daytona International Speedway, Performance Under Gear will award the Performance of the Race Award to the team in the Buell Motorcycle Company Super Sport Twins (SST) class that records the race’s fastest lap. Each rider on the Performance of the Race winning team (to a maximum of three) will receive a set of Performance Under Gear. Based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, Performance Under Gear produces a wide range of clothing designed to help athletes maintain an ideal body temperature. The company’s products feature COOLMAX Extreme fabric, one of the first wicking performance fabrics that helps move moisture away from the skin, helping keep people cool and comfortably dry. Performance Under Gear’s line of products includes t-shirts and long sleeve shirts, leggings, shorts, boxers, skull caps and balaclavas. More information is available at www.performanceundergear.com. The 2008 SunTrust MOTO-ST Series opens Sunday with the Daytona 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Practice will be held Saturday between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. with Sunday’s race scheduled to get the green flag at 2:00 p.m. The SunTrust MOTO-ST Series is organized and sanctioned by Professional Motorsports Productions (PMP) of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the Grand American Road Racing Association, based in Daytona Beach, Fla., provides the series with administrative and commercial support. Learn more about MOTO-ST at www.moto-st.com.