Jere Starks Named Sportsman of the Year by AMA Pro Racing at Annual Banquet SONOMA, Calif. (Nov. 20, 2006) Jere Starks, vice president of facilities at Infineon Raceway, was recognized for both his philanthropic and on-track safety efforts at the 32nd annual AMA Pro Racing Championship Banquet this past weekend in Las Vegas. Starks was named 2006 Sportsman of the Year by AMA Pro Racing at the banquet, which was held at The Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The banquet honored every champion in every class of AMA Pro Racing, as well as several special award winners. “Jere’s passion for motorcycling and his concern for the safety and well-being of our competitors have driven many of the positive changes we’ve made to this facility,” said Steve Page, president and general manager at Infineon Raceway. “I’m delighted to see the industry recognize his efforts.” Starks was nominated, in part, for his fund-raising efforts for rider Vincent Haskovec, who was injured in an accident during an AMA event at Infineon Raceway in 2005 and is currently receiving care in Arizona. Starks, along with fellow riders James Randolph and Jay Brosius, formed 3J’s Motorcycle Track Days, and the group has generated $135,000 the last two years for Haskovec, including $95,000 during a motorcycle track day, dinner and auction on Nov. 7. Six-time AMA Superbike champion Mat Mladin donated a new Suzuki GSX-R750 that was raffled off during the November event. Starks, an avid motorcyclist, has also helped improve rider safety at Infineon Raceway over the years, highlighted in 2003 when raceway officials consulted with AMA riders, including Miguel Duhamel, Eric Bostrom and Ben Bostrom, on redesign elements of the road course. It marked one of the first times AMA riders had been consulted so heavily on such an expansive project. Since then, the track has continued to make rider safety a focal point, increasing run-off at virtually every turn on the 12-turn, 2.2-mile road course. This past year, the raceway, in a joint effort with the American Federation of Motorcyclists (AFM), Roadracing World Action Fund and the AMA, deployed 140 pieces of Airfence at its AMA national event. That represented the most Airfence ever deployed at an AMA national event at Infineon Raceway. “It is gratifying to be recognized for the work that we, as a track, have completed to make Infineon Raceway a safer venue for riders,” Starks said. “It would be hard to list all the people who have contributed to this endeavor, but there have been many. And we’re also pleased to help Vincent with the fund-raisers we have done, and we’re hopeful of making it bigger and better in 2007.” Infineon Raceway will host the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Supercuts, May 18-20.