Racer Mark Brereton was airlifted to Northeast Georgia Regional Medical Center, in Gainesville, Georgia, following a crash in turn one during AMA Superstock qualifying Saturday at Road Atlanta. Brereton had just been passed by Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki’s Robertino Pietri going into turn one, when Brereton contacted the back of Pietri’s GSX-R1000, causing both riders to crash. According to eyewitness Chuck Giachetto, Crew Chief for Cory West, Brereton appeared to hit his brake lever on the back of Pietri’s bike, causing the front brakes to lock and Brereton’s Suzuki GSX-R1000 to begin “cartwheeling, end over end” off the track. “It was scary, man,” said Giachetto. “I passed him on the inside and then Bam! I felt a big hit on the back of my bike,” said Pietri. “It sent me off the track. I had to jump off before I hit the wall.” According to a medical update issued by Road Atlanta, Brereton was airlifted as a “precautionary move, primarily because Brereton apparently suffered a ‘moderate concussion,’ a possible fractured hand and cuts and abrasions.” Pietri was not injured in the incident. When not racing, Brereton works in the finance department at Pirelli North America headquarters in Rome, Georgia.