Walker battles hard to maintain top ten Championship position The Pr1mo Bournemouth Kawasaki Racing team were in British Superbike Championship action again at the weekend, participating in the first ever round outside of the British Isles. However, it was no foreign adventure for the team with just three points to show for their spirited efforts at the Assen circuit in Holland. Team leader Chris Walker has fond memories of the circuit, having won a World Superbike Championship round there back in 2006, but it wasn’t as kind to him six years on and he had to battle extremely hard to rack up those aformentioned three points. Having qualified in 17th place, race 1 saw Chris make a good start to move up to 12th but he soon found himself out of the points and down in 18th. However, he kept battling until the end of the 18 laps and, having overtaken three riders in the final lap, he was rewarded with 15th and a single Championship point. The second encounter saw him in the points throughout and after a race long battle with a group of riders battling it out for 9th to 14th, he crossed the line in 14th for two more points, which was enough to maintain his tenth place overall in the Championship table. For new team member Victor Cox, his British Superbike Championship debut was most definitely a baptism of fire. The Trowbridge rider, who currently lies in third place in the National Superstock 1000cc Championship, put in a solid performance in qualifying to place 25th but his first race was over almost before it had begun after a first lap crash with Tristan Palmer. He was then lying in 21st in the second when he suffered a rear wheel failure at the chicane on the final lap, crashing out, fortunately without serious injury. Speaking afterwards, team owner Pete Extance commented: “It was great for the team and all concerned to go to such a great venue and although we’re not 100% happy with the results,at least we held our Championship position. As always, Chris battled hard throughout the weekeend but the harder compound tyre didn’t work for him in the first race and then the softer compound one went off in the second! They were certainly 3 hard earned points and staying inside the top ten of the Championship was the least he deserved. We were really pleased with the efforts of Victor and, as well as improving throughout the three days, he was an absolute pleasure to work with. A simple case of bad luck meant he suffered two DNFs but he proved that he has the potential to succeed in the Superbike class and we’d like to thank Ian Lougher and everyone at ILR Kawasaki for allowing Victor to race for us this weekend.” The penultimate round of the series takes place at Silverstone, Northants this weekend, September 28-30. More, from a press release issued by Celtic Racing/Orient Express: Double Wins & Pole At Homestead For Celtic Racing’s Rispoli Celtic Racing’s James Rispoli secured Pole Position and two race wins this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway aboard his #1 Celtic Orient Express Racing Suzuki GSX-R 600. With just one race remaining in two weeks time, the entire team got a great boost of energy and enthusiasm from the strong results. Rispoli battled hard in both races at the front of the pack and led many laps in dominating fashion. Rispoli’s teammate Corey Alexander took sixth position in qualifying on his #5 National Guard Fairhills Group Suzuki GSX-R 600, with less than a second separating the top ten riders. Alexander would go on to take a strong fifth place finish on Saturday and an eighth place finish on Sunday, when a red flag and then a weather delay cut short the race to only ten laps. Rispoli did not add any points to his AMA SuperSport West Championship this weekend, and maintains his 60 point advantage over second place in the series as the season closes at New Orleans in two weeks. Alexander gained valuable points at Homestead-Miami where AMA SuperSport East Championship points were paid, and has been able to maintain his fifth place position. The 12th and final round of the 2012 AMA Pro RoadRacing season is in less than two weeks time at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, Louisiana, October 5-7, 2012. Rispoli stated happily that “it was a great weekend! We got our first double in the books. Not exactly the way I would have wanted to win on Sunday but we haven’t had the best luck with red flags, so I guess it was our turn to get a win on a shortened race. My Celtic Orient Express GSX-R 600 was so good this weekend – my crew made it so easy to ride, the K-Tech Suspension was working great! I finally was able to get a win with a nice margin of victory. This was a great pair of wins, it feels so good and I’m so happy my family and friends could come out this weekend to watch.” James Rispoli would like to thank all of his sponsors: AGV Helmets, Dainese Leathers, Defy All Odds Apparel, Monster Energy, and Techmount for their support. Corey Alexander is due for more good results, and looks forward to the next event to end the season on high note, “this weekend didn’t go as well as I wished. We struggled to find a good setup to be able to push forward. My crew worked hard to try and get it figured out but with limited track time due to the weather, we couldn’t get it done. We will give it another go at NOLA. Thanks to everyone supporting us, and my sponsors Fairhills Group, Hudson Valley Motorcycles, Spidi Leathers, XPD Boots and Arai Helmets.” Both Celtic Racing Suzuki GSX-R 600’s showcase the best in road racing technology. Product support for both machines comes from: Michael Jordan Motorsports, American Suzuki, Armor Bodies, Chicken Hawk Racing, DesignStar3, Dynojet, FMF Racing, Full Spectrum Power, Hudson Valley Racing, Galfer Brakes, GB Racing, K-Tech Suspension, Maxima Oils, Motion Pro, Pit Bull, Riviera Country Club, Saddlemen, Star Motorcycle School, Vortex Racing, and Zero Gravity. Celtic Racing was established in 2001 by Barry Gilsenan, and over the past 11 seasons has established itself as a premier privateer racing team. Development of riding talent began with two-stroke 125cc, and 250cc machines competing in professional and regional championship events. More recent Celtic Racing efforts have focused on AMA Pro Road Racing in the Daytona SportBike and SuperSport classes with Ducati, Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha four stroke motorcycles. Gilsenan’s talent for coaching racers of all ages and abilities has brought Celtic Racing worldwide attention and recognition, with many former Celtic Racing riders now competing on World Championship levels. Please join Celtic Racing on Facebook: ~http://www.facebook.com/CelticRacing~. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD The National Guard is the oldest military branch. Today, Citizen-Soldiers hold civilian jobs or attend college while training part time, staying ready to defend America in the event of an emergency. The National Guard serves both state and federal governments. During local emergencies, Guard units assist residents endangered by storms, floods, fires and other disasters. Guard companies deployed overseas may see combat, but are often found building schools and hospitals, training local peacekeepers or teaching local farmers more efficient techniques and better uses of their land. Please visit ~http://www.nationalguard.com~ to find out more. ORIENT EXPRESS Established in 1973, Orient Express is a high performance motorcycle parts and accessories warehouse distributor; offering dyno tuning, engine building services and precision machine work. Orient Express has an extensive history of racing, including support of both professional and amateur race series and individuals. For more information regarding Orient Express, or to find out what Orient Express can do for your racing success, please call 800.645.6521 or 631.231.9552 (NY/International), visit ~http://www.orientexpress.com~ or join them on Facebook at ~http://www.facebook.com/OrientExpressRacing~. FAIRHILLS GROUP Fairhills Group is a New York based alternative investment management firm that manages capital for the Bronson family and other high net worth individuals and wealthy families. Fairhills was established in 2002 for the purpose of providing public companies with alternative forms of financing, eventually becoming one of the most active investors in structured equity transactions. Fairhills has since grown to provide financing solutions to companies globally and recently has opened its doors for the first time to external investors, with a full range of alternative investment fund offerings. For more information on Fairhills, please visit ~http://www.fairhills.com~. More, from a press release issued by KTM North America: Fillmore Makes History at Homestead-Miami AMA Pro SuperBike Race Homestead, FL KTM/HMC Factory Superbike rider Chris Fillmore made history when he became the first KTM rider to lead a lap aboard the KTM 1190 RC8 R during the second day of racing at the eleventh round of the AMA Pro SuperBike Series. Fillmore’s history-making day did not come easy. Fillmore had a bad qualifying time heading into the weekend due to a mechanical issue in the first qualifier and heavy rain in the second and third. “I just couldn’t get in a good lap so I was stuck starting in the last row,” remarked Fillmore. On the first day of racing, Fillmore started at the end of the pack but pushed hard to work his way into the top ten. At his highest placement Fillmore was sitting in 8th place after passing four riders throughout the first half of the race. With only a few laps to go, Fillmore closed in on David Anthony and set-up for an inside pass. As they entered a corner neither rider wanted to give up the position which caused them to bump bars. The collision caused Fillmore’s brake lever to fall out of place. “I had to take my hand off the bars to adjust it which cost me about three positions. I was really upset because I had just worked really hard to pass into 8th and I lost it in a matter of seconds while trying to get my controls back in position.” Fillmore continued to pressure the group ahead of him but eventually had to settle for 11th at the end of day one. Day two greeted race fans with a large amount of rain fall. There was such a heavy downpour prior to the race that Fillmore and his KTM/HMC team decided to run a rain tire in the race. The tire paid off in the first third of the race as Fillmore rocketed his KTM off the line and quickly moved from last to 7th by the end of the third corner. Fillmore continued to make passes in each corner until he had moved into 2nd as the riders started the second lap. On the third lap Fillmore made history as he passed Geoff May for the lead and went on to lead the next lap of the race. That lap marked the first lap ever led by a KTM rider in the sport of AMA Pro SuperBike racing. “It felt great to lead that lap. Everything was clicking in those first few laps. Where everyone was cautious, I just pushed forward and was able to get out front,” stated Fillmore after the race. Unfortunately, the next few laps the track began to dry out as the rain stopped falling. Fillmore’s rain tires started to deteriorate in the dry conditions and by the halfway point he had fallen to 8th place while trying to salvage his tires. For safety reasons, he decided to pull into the pits to get the tires changed. Fillmore returned to the race in 15th position. In the three laps remaining he was able to log in enough laps to bump him to 14th overall for the day. “This definitely wasn’t the finish I had hoped for after running in the lead at the beginning of the race,” stated Fillmore. “I am still very proud that we were able to lead a lap but I am bummed that we suffered on our tire choice and it cost me a decent finish. Luckily, we are learning from every race and I know we will come back stronger at the next one.” Next Race: NOLA Motorsports Park October 5-7, 2012 More, from a press release issued by Speedcell Technologies: BOTH AMA PRO ROADRACING PREMIER CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS WRAPPED UP BY SPEEDCELL EQUIPPED RIDERS IN MIAMI September 24, 2012 (Las Cruces, New Mexico)– More dominating performances by Speedcell equipped riders in AMA Pro Roadracing competition at Miami. Monster Energy Graves Yamaha rider Josh Hayes clinches his third consecutive AMA Superbike championship on his Speedcell equipped R1 in Miami. GEICO Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas claims second Daytona Sportbike championship on his Speedcell equipped GSXR600. Roadrace Factory RedBull Yamaha rider Jake Gagne earns first Daytona Sportbike victory on his Speedcell equipped R6. Steve Rapp secures first Superbike podium of the year for Attack Performance Racing on his Speedcell equipped AP-10. Speedcell equipped riders’ performances at Miami: Superbike- Superbike Race 1- 3. Blake Young Yoshimura Suzuki Racing 6. Chris Ulrich M4 Suzuki 10. Aaron Yates EvanSteelPerformance.com /Iron Horse BMW 12. Josh Hayes Monster Energy Graves Yamaha (crash) 14. Robertino Pietri Team Venezuela (jump start, pitted) 19. Josh Herrin Monster Energy Graves Yamaha (crash) 21. Steve Rapp Attack Performance Racing (pitted) 22. Chris Clark Yoshimura Racing Suzuki DNS Superbike Race 2 1. Josh Hayes Monster Energy Graves Yamaha (clinches 2012 Championship) 2. Steve Rapp Attack Performance Racing 4. Josh Herrin Monster Energy Graves Yamaha 6. Robertino Pietri Team Venzuela 8. Chris Ulrich M4 Suzuki (crash) 19. Blake Young Yoshimura Suzuki Racing (DNS) 21. Aaron Yates EvanSteelPerformance.com /Iron Horse BMW (DNS) 22. Chris Clark Yoshimura Racing Suzuki (DNS) Superbike Qualifying 3. Josh Hayes (Yam YZF-R1), 1:23.061 4. Blake Young (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:23.581 6. Chris Ulrich (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:23.823 8. Robertino Pietri (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:24.172 9. Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R1), 1:24.191 12. Aaron Yates (BMW S1000RR), 1:25.825 Daytona Sportbike- DSB Race 1- 1. Cameron Beaubier Y.E.S. Graves Yamaha 2. Martin Cardenas GEICO Suzuki 4. Dane Westby M4 Suzuki 5. Jake Gagne RoadRace Factory RedBull Yamaha 20. JD Beach RoadRace Factory RedBull Yamaha (mechanical) DSB Race 2- 1. Jake Gagne RoadRace Factory RedBull Yamaha 2. Dane Westby M4 Suzuki 3. Cameron Beaubier Y.E.S. Graves Yamaha 4. Martin Cardenas GEICO Suzuki (clinches 2012 Championship) 9. JD Beach RoadRace Factory RedBull Yamaha DSB Qualifying- 1. Cameron Beaubier (Yam YZF-R6), 1:24.645 2. Martin Cardenas (Suz GSX-R600), 1:25.794 3. Jake Gagne (Yam YZF-R6), 1:25.901 6. Dane Westby (Suz GSX-R600), 1:26.156 9. JD Beach (Yam YZF-R6), 1:26.592 SuperSport- SuperSport Race 1 3. Tomas Puerta RoadRace Factory RedBull Yamaha 6. Hayden Gillim RoadRace Factory RedBull Yamaha 8. Garrett Gerloff Y.E.S. Graves Yamaha 30. Elena Myers Suzuki SportBikeTrackTime.com SuperSport Race 2 2. Tomas Puerta RoadRace Factory RedBull Yamaha 5. Hayden Gillim RoadRace Factory RedBull Yamaha 7. Garrett Gerloff Y.E.S. Graves Yamaha 9. Elena Myers Suzuki SportBikeTrackTime.com SuperSport Qualifying- 3. Tomas Puerta (Yam YZF-R6), 1:26.286 7. Elena Myers (Suz GSX-R600), 1:26.825 8. Hayden Gillim (Yam YZF-R6), 1:26.842 10. Garrett Gerloff (Yam YZF-R6), 1:26.930 About Speedcell Technologies Speedcell Technologies, a division of Navitus Group, was established in 2008 to create a lightweight lithium battery alternative to original equipment lead acid batteries. Speedcell engineers design and build all batteries in-house, in the USA. Speedcell builds OEM battery replacement and custom battery solutions for specific applications. Speedcell also works with various cell chemistries and builds battery management systems. Speedcell supplies batteries to the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy. Speedcell is a proud supplier to Attack Performance Motogp, Monster Energy Graves Yamaha, Yoshimura Suzuki Racing, Attack Performance Superbike, GEICO Suzuki, M4 Suzuki, Y.E.S. Graves Yamaha, Roadrace Factory RedBull Yamaha, Suzuki SportbikeTrackGear.com. Speedcell also supplies batteries to the Factory Yamaha Snowmobile team. More, from a press release issued by Doodson Motorsport/Tom Tunstall Racing: Doodson Motorsport Break into the Top Ten with Harms at Assen Doodson Motorsport rider Robbin Harms impressed when he broke into the top ten not once but twice at the latest round of the British Superbike Championships. Making a landmark first voyage across the North Sea, the tenth round of the British Superbike Championship was staged at Assen in Holland. Known as the “Cathedral of Speed”, the legendary Dutch track is widely revered for its fast flowing nature which has a habit of producing spectacular racing. Off the back of a positive weekend at Donington, combined with Harms experience of Assen, there was an upbeat mood in the Doodson camp. Progress for both Robbin and teammate Tom Tunstall was made throughout the practice session and into qualifying as the Doodson Honda Fireblades were honed to suit the flat high-speed track, Harms taking 15th on the grid after holding his nerve as a brief rain shower interrupted the 10 minute Q2 session. Tunstall was placed 28th for race one after missing most of the morning session and then having to use a different spec spare engine following a gearbox issue. The Yorkshireman regrouped during Sunday morning’s warm up, taking another 0.7 off his time. In the first of the two 18 lap outings, Harms struggled to launch off the line and the Dane ended lap one in 14th place. A consistent and strong pace meant Harms worked his way up the field and took 10th place with two laps to go. As his charge continued he was denied 9th place by just over a tenth of a second from Stuart Easton. Tunstall’s form was also improving well, a good start and race pace saw him pass and holding off Scott Smart and Luke Quigley until another gearbox issue brought an early finish and frustration. It also meant he was unable to take part in race two. For Harms the race one performance had earned him a 12th place, third row grid slot for race two. Not wasting the opportunity a great start saw him in 10th taking 9th from Swiss rider Patrick Muff on lap two and 8th from Stuart Easton over the following 2.88mile lap. With title fighters Tommy Hill and Tommy Bridewell less than a second ahead the Dane did all he could to join the leading group. His impressive tempo was enough to hold the gap but he wasn’t able to join the elite and experienced riders just ahead. The effort took its toll and as the tyres wore , James Westmoreland found his way past Harms with only a few laps remaining. Harms crossed the line in a hard fought and well deserved 9th place. Suitably pleased with his efforts Harms explained: “This weekend has been really good in many ways. We made a new setup which made the bike feel more like mine. We qualified to Superpole 2 and finished 15th fastest which meant 4th row on the starting grid. In race 1 I found a good pace and made my way through finishing 10th. In race 2 I had a good start and felt really strong. Pushing hard to keep contact with the leading group which made my race pace really fast. I lost the contact midway through the race but kept pushing hard to eventually finishing 9th. Two top ten results is awesome and I like to thank the team for their good work”. Teammate and team owner added: “On track my weekend was very positive and despite some technical issues continued to improve both my riding and the set-up of the bike which in turn means more confidence. The Assen track is fantastic and great to ride. Robbin’s progress cannot be underestimated, he’s still fresh to Superbikes and to run with, and beat such established teams and riders really bodes well not only for his ability but also the team’s potential for results. It’s fair to say the team are really looking forward to the next round at Silverstone.” Utilising the “Arena GP” layout the next round at Silverstone takes place this coming weekend September 28th- 30th. More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing: Yamaha R1 Dominates with Josh Hayes to Clinch 2012 AMA Superbike Title Monster Energy Graves Yamaha rider Josh Hayes put his YZF-R1 on the top of the podium again last Sunday to claim his third consecutive AMA Pro Superbike Championship title with Yamaha. The victory at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida, Hayes’ 14th win of the season, means the title is secured with two races still to go. Hayes’ season aboard the R1 has been in a different league to the competition, taking a number of records including nine consecutive pole position starts, ten consecutive race wins and his total of 14 wins so far. Young team mate Josh Herrin, in his rookie season in the Superbike class, finished third in the overall standings emphasizing the strength of the R1. It wasn’t just the YZF-R1 dominating at Homestead; the YZF-R6 Supersport machine was also the one to beat. Yamaha Extended Service Graves Yamaha’s Cameron Beaubier won Saturday’s Daytona Sportbike race and RoadRace Factory R6 rider Jake Gagne took the honours on Sunday. The podiums and wins continued to flow in the support classes with an impressive 20 Yamaha R6 top ten finishes over the weekend. “It’s pretty incredible to win my third AMA Pro Superbike Championship”, Hayes said. I want to give a big thank you to Yamaha, not just to my team but all the employees and dealers for the opportunity to race the R1 for you.” “Congratulations to the entire Monster Energy Graves Yamaha Team”, said Yamaha Road Racing Team Manager Tom Halverson. “It’s been an incredible season and it tales so many pieces of the puzzle to put together three consecutive Superbike Championships. Thanks to Josh, our crew and sponsors and all the people back at Yamaha that made this happen.” More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Brookes charged into the lead of the British Superbike Championship with a forceful display of riding aboard his GSX-R1000 at yesterday’s 10th round at the TT Circuit at Assen in the Netherlands. In a first venture outside the UK for the hotly-contested BSB series – and the first round of the end-of-season “Showdown” events that pits the top six riders of the series against each other to win the title – Brookes moved from third to first place in the championship with a thrilling victory in race two. The Australian, who finished the opening race in second place, now leads the championship on 570 points, two ahead of Shane Byrne (Kawasaki) with defending champion Tommy Hill (Yamaha) third on 548 with two rounds and five races remaining. The Northern Ireland-based Tyco Suzuki/ TAS Racing team also tasted success in the Supersport class as American teenager PJ Jacobsen made his debut on the 2011 British Supersport Championship-winning GSX-R600 and raced to victory in the second race. Josh Brookes: “We suffered a bit with chatter here this weekend and tyre wear but we just managed it and found a set up where we could do the lap times that were good enough to win the second race. We did make a few small changes for race two which gave me better performance on the GSX-R1000, and I was able to run the race to Shakey. I was always going to try and make the pass, just didn’t expect it to come down to the final chicane, but it was a good weekend and thanks to the whole team for the effort.” PJ Jacobsen: “On Sunday we had a way better tyre and set up of the bike, and like Philip told me, I just put Saturday’s result in the box and forgot about the disappointment. I knew the second race would go down to the wire and I also know these boys can be super aggressive so I had to give the same back. But I think I proved on Sunday that the Suzuki GSX-R600 is a top Supersport bike, and at a circuit where you are pretty much wide open for a lot of the lap.” Philip Neill – Team Manager: “What a weekend. We love Holland! It was a difficult enough start for everyone with limited testing and a different type of circuit to deal with. The boys in the garage worked extra hard this weekend to find a set up that gave enough tyre life for a race duration. This is like the start of the championship now for me – like round one – so there is plenty of work to do, but to come away just a few points in front of Shakey and have pulled a bit of a gap on Tommy Hill, we have to be pleased. “On Saturday we got it a little wrong in the first 600 race but the boys made the right decision for race two on Sunday and we knew PJ would have the pace on the GSX-R600 to be up there. It was a great race and nice to see him winning at the next level in British championship.” BSB Race 1: 1. Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 2. Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +4.731s 3. Alex Lowes (WFR Honda) +4.881s 4. Luca Scassa (Padgetts Honda) +9.327s 5. Noriyuki Haga (Swan Yamaha) +10.024s 6. Tommy Bridewell (Supersonic BMW) +11.026s 7. Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda) +11.538s 8. James Westmoreland (WFR Honda) +17.160s 9. Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +23.137s 10. Robin Harms (Doodson Motorsport Honda) +23.292s BSB Race 2: 1. Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) 2. Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +0.246s 3. Alex Lowes (WFR Honda) +3.018s 4. Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +3.346s 5. Tommy Bridewell (Supersonic BMW) +9.074s 6. Noriyuki Haga (Swan Yamaha) +9.140s 7. Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda) +9.245s 8. James Westmoreland (WFR Honda) +17.311s 9. Robbin Harms (Doodson Motorsport Honda) +17.633s 10. Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +18.891s More, from a press release issued by Michael Jordan Motorsports: MICHAEL JORDAN MOTORSPORTS TEAM CAPTURES FIRST VICTORY OF THE SEASON AT HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SUPERBIKE RACES HOMESTEAD, FL The Michael Jordan Motorsports (MJM) team and rider Roger Hayden celebrated their first AMA Pro National Guard Superbike victory of the season at the series’ penultimate round at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, FL, on Saturday afternoon. The MJM team followed that spectacular performance with a third-place podium finish by Ben Bostrom on Sunday, despite inclement weather in a rain-delayed race. On Saturday, National Guard Jordan Suzuki’s Hayden had plenty to celebrate. Hayden captured his first AMA Pro National Guard Superbike pole position in the morning, and then went on to race his Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 to his first-ever Superbike win in the afternoon. In the 23-lap race, Hayden got a great start, took the lead within the first several laps and never looked back. At one point, Hayden led the field by almost eight seconds. “It feels really good to get my first Superbike win,” said an emotional Hayden. “It’s been a long time since I’ve won a race. But we’ve put in a lot of work and come through a lot of injuries. A lot of people have stuck in there with me my family, mainly and I want to dedicate this win to my family for everything they’ve done. I also have to thank the National Guard Jordan Suzuki team because they took a chance on me when nobody else would, and I hope that this weekend makes them feel like they made the right choice.” On Sunday, weather conditions were less than stellar and the race started with a wet track. As the sun came out, conditions were questionable, but MJM’s Bostrom did not let it affect him. The Californian started from the second spot on the grid and led briefly before settling into second. As the race progressed, Bostrom continued to battle for a podium position for all 23 laps before bringing home a well-earned third place. “I can’t thank everybody enough,” said Bostrom. “There’s been some sketchy weather and sketchy racing, and I was just glad to be out there putting on a show for everyone. My Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 has been podium material all year but I haven’t been able to put it together. I haven’t had too many opportunities to shine for my team, but they’ve stood by me and now I’m looking forward to a few more opportunities to shine again at the last race weekend.” In the 2012 AMA Pro National Guard Superbike Championship points standings, Hayden sits in fourth place, while Bostrom moved up to sixth. The Michael Jordan Motorsports team’s next event of the 2012 AMA Pro National Guard Superbike Championship season is the final round at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, LA, the weekend of October 5 – 7, 2012. ABOUT MICHAEL JORDAN MOTORSPORTS: Legendary NBA star Michael Jordan formed Michael Jordan Motorsports in 2004 as a result of his passion for motorcycle racing. His mission is to bring a new level of excellence and style to the motorcycle racing industry. For more information on MJM, please visit www.23race.com, www.twitter.com/23race and http://www.facebook.com/23race. ABOUT THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: The National Guard is the oldest military branch. Today, Citizen-Soldiers hold civilian jobs or attend college while training part time, staying ready to defend America in the event of an emergency. The National Guard serves both state and federal governments. During local emergencies, Guard units assist residents endangered by storms, floods, fires and other disasters. Guard companies deployed overseas may see combat, but are often found building schools and hospitals, training local peacekeepers or teaching local farmers more efficient techniques and better uses of their land. Michael Jordan Motorsports is proud to partner with: Jordan Brand (a division of Nike), National Guard, American Suzuki, Hanes, Gatorade, Bazzaz, Vortex Racing Components, FMF Exhausts, Gemini Racing, K-Tech Suspension-Orient Express Racing, Maxima Racing Oils, Mechanix Wear, K & N Air Filters, Dainese Leathers, AGV Helmets, Ancra Tie-downs, Chicken Hawk Racing Tire Warmers, Armour Bodies, DID Chains, Factory Pro Dyno, Roclun International, Cardo Scala Rider, STAR Motorcycle School, Motion Pro Tools, Zero Gravity Windscreens, with transportation provided by Eastside Trucking. More, from a press release issued by Yoshimura Suzuki: TEAM YOSHIMURA SUZUKI HEATS UP AT HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY Yoshimura Suzuki’s Blake Young brings home third in Superbike race HOMESTEAD, FL Team Yoshimura Suzuki’s Blake Young turned in what can only be called a spirited performance at the penultimate round of the AMA Pro Superbike Championship this past weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, FL. Young was absolutely on fire, racing his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 to a hard-fought podium finish in Saturday’s race. The weekend started out with Yoshimura Suzuki’s Young capturing a front-row position on the starting grid. Then, in Saturday’s 23-lap race, Young got a good launch on his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 and took the holeshot. He swapped the lead for several laps before taking a firm hold on second. As the race progressed, Young blazed between second and third before finally crossing the finish line in the final podium spot. On Sunday, Young chose not to race because of track conditions that he considered to be unsafe. “I was racing at the front on Saturday, then I got passed and I thought that was going to be the end of my day,” said Young. “But it turned out to be a pretty good race. I have to thank the Yoshimura Suzuki team because the GSX-R1000 was working really good. Saturday was a great race and really fun. Hopefully we can do this at the last round, but be doing it for the win.” Yoshimura Suzuki teammate Chris Clark did not race this weekend after developing a lung infection from battling bronchitis at the previous round in New Jersey. Although Clark attempted to ride in the first practice session at Homestead-Miami, he eventually opted out of the weekend to recover for the final round of AMA Pro Superbike in two weeks. Team Yoshimura Suzuki Racing’s next event of the 2012 AMA Pro Superbike Championship series is the final round at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, LA, the weekend of October 5 – 7, 2012. More, from a press release issued American Suzuki: SUZUKI SPORTBIKETRACKGEAR.COM’S ELENA MYERS HANGS TOUGH AT HOMESTEAD Myers rallies after race one get-off to capture top-10 finish in AMA SuperSport HOMESTEAD, FL Team Suzuki SportbikeTrackGear.com rider Elena Myers came through a challenging, rain-soaked double-header race weekend with style and grace at the penultimate round of AMA Pro SuperSport at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, FL, this past weekend. Overcoming an incident in the first race and facing lightning and thunderstorms in the second, Myers remained undaunted and put in solid rides on her Suzuki SportbikeTrackGear.com Suzuki GSX-R600. On Saturday, Myers picked up a second-row qualifying spot on the starting grid. In the 18-lap race, she got a good launch off the line and was running in the top 10 when she suffered a minor get-off and had to retire for the day. In spite of this bad luck, Myers turned up on Sunday more than ready to return to the fray. Despite inclement weather, she got a top-10 start on her Suzuki GSX-R600. Ever the professional, Myers played it safe in the poor conditions and turned in a smooth, consistent performance to bring home ninth. “It was a crazy weekend, to say the least,” said Myers. “Battling with the weather was stressful for everyone. Overall, with a crash and a ninth-place finish, I’m not too pleased. But there is one race weekend left, so it’s time to make things happen and get my Suzuki SportbikeTrackGear.com Suzuki GSX-R600 up on the podium.” With this weekend behind her, Myers and crew are already preparing for the final round of the series in Louisiana in two weeks. That last event will be part of the AMA SuperSport West Series, where Myers is currently third in the overall championship points. The Suzuki SportbikeTrackGear.com team’s next event of the 2012 AMA Pro SuperSport season is the final round at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, LA, the weekend of October 5 – 7, 2012. About American Suzuki: Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) founded the Motorcycle and ATV Division of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, CA, in 1963. ASMC markets motorcycles and ATVs via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. ASMC’s parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation, based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, automobiles and marine engines. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it has 147 distributors in 201 countries/regions. For more information visit www.suzukicycles.com. More, from a press release issued by Orient Express/K-Tech Suspension: K-Tech AMA/BSB Weekend Report – 6 Wins & 4 Poles K-Tech Suspension is pleased to report another successful weekend of racing in both the AMA Pro Road Racing Series and the BSB British Superbike Championship. In AMA Pro Road Racing, K-Tech Suspension equipped racers scored three pole positions, and three race wins in the second to last round of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In the BSB British Superbike Championship, K-Tech equipped racers took three wins and several podium finishes! In the AMA Superbike class, Roger Hayden rode his #54 National Guard Jordan Suzuki GSX-R 1000 Superbike at a blistering pace all weekend. Roger claimed his first Pole Position and took the race win on Saturday in a great battle up front using K-Tech 20DDS front fork cartridges and a 35DDS rear shock. His teammate Ben Bostrom would follow up that success on Sunday with a great third place finish on his #23 Jordan Suzuki GSX-R 1000 Superbike, also equipped with K-Tech Suspension components. Bobby Fong took fifth position in AMA Daytona Sport Bike qualifying with his #50 Meen Motorsports Racing Yamaha YZF 600 R6, and would go on to finish third in Saturday’s race event. This was Fong’s second trip to the podium in as many weekends – his Yamaha YZF 600 R6 featuring K-Tech 20DDS front fork cartridges and a 35DDS rear shock. Celtic Orient Express Racing’s James Rispoli took double victories and the Pole Position in the AMA Pro Road Racing SuperSport class, in a great weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Rispoli’s #1 GSX-R 600 carries K-Tech 20DDS front fork cartridges and a 35DDS rear shock, which allowed him to pull some distance away from the competition in both events. In the XR1200 class, Pole sitter Tyler O’Hara had a close battle up front for the entire race and would bring home his K-Tech equipped Harley Davidson XR1200 in second place. O’Hara’s machine features K-Tech IDS front fork cartridges and 35MTS rear shocks, and as the season draws to an end he sits only two points from first place. Across the pond in BSB British Superbikes, K-Tech equipped riders swept the podium in both races, with the top four in race one (Shane Byrne, Josh Brookes, Alex Lowes, and Luca Scassa) finishing first through fourth, all using K-Tech KTR-3 front forks and 35DDS rear shocks. In race two, Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Brookes notched another race win to lead the series on his K-Tech equipped GSX-R 1000, with Byrne and Lowes rounding out the K-Tech podium. In BSB British SuperSport K-Tech Suspension equipped riders swept the podium in both races, and claimed all top ten positions in race one. In the first 12 lap Supersport 600cc race of the weekend on Saturday afternoon Christian Iddon (Oxford TAG Racing Triumph) took the race win from Jack Kennedy (Martrain Racing Yamaha) with Richard Cooper (Oxford TAG Racing Triumph) taking third, all three riders were using K-Tech 20DDS front fork cartridges and 35DDS rear shock absorbers. In the second 15 lap race on Sunday, American PJ Jacobsen (Tyco Suzuki by TAS Racing) took the race win in only his second outing in the class, with Christian Iddon in second place 0.110 seconds behind him, Glen Richards (Smiths Gloucester Racing Triumph) took the final podium position a further 0.152 seconds behind, with all three riders using K-Tech 20DDS front fork cartridges and 35DDS shock absorbers. K-Tech riders took nine of the top ten positions in race two at Assen. K-Tech Suspension offers a complete range of high performance suspension solutions for your street, track, or racing motorcycle. For more information regarding K-Tech, please contact Orient Express, the exclusive North American importer and distributor. Dealer inquiries welcomed. Please visit http://www.orientexpress.com, email [email protected], or call 800.645.6521 or 631.231.9552 (NY/International) and ask what K-Tech can do for your success! More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision: TITLE FIGHT INTENSIFIES WITH TWO NEW RACE WINNERS AS KENNEDY CRASHES AT ASSEN Two intense races from the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship protected by Datatag at Assen last weekend produced two new races winners as standings leader Jack Kennedy crashed out twice to have hi lead cut to four and a half points as Glen Richards closed in. Visiting and home fans were given the best example of British Championship quality in the opening sprint race as seven riders fought for the historic maiden win. The race was the first British Championship race outside of the British Isles and the leading protagonists duelled in sensational style over the 2.8-mile circuit with the positions changing constantly. Pole sitter Luke Mossey had taken the initial lead, holding off the chasing pack over the opening from Iddon and his Oxford TAG team-mate Richard Cooper. Iddon then edged ahead, but he came under pressure from championship leader Kennedy in the closing laps; he had carved his way up the order from 31st on the grid to claim second place following a hard-fought race. Title rival Glen Richards had to settle for sixth as Cooper on the second Oxford TAG Triumph maintained his podium position. In the Feature race New Yorker PJ Jacobsen enjoyed a maiden victory ahead of Iddon and title challenger Richards after a 15 lap thriller, as series leader Kennedy crashed out of contention. Schouten made the early start but Kennedy was reeling him in rapidly took the lead, with Richards running in third ahead of Jacobsen but next time around, Richards was second. The fight was fierce at the front with Kennedy holding the advantage, just, but disaster struck for the Dubliner when he crashed out unhurt. Richards had the lead, but not for long before Schouten was back in front with Iddon aboard the Oxford TAG Triumph third from Tyco Suzuki’s Jacobsen locked in a four rider thriller at the front of the pack. Richards was riding hard to regain the lead but at the same time had to protect his position to fight off the ever present challenge of Iddon but they were both upstaged by an audacious move by Jacobsen as he snatched second place. Jacobsen took the lead next time around but in a now fierce five rider confrontation Iddon grabbed second on the penultimate lap and then made a determined last corner lap but the American held on to take his maiden victory. Iddon was a close second with Richards grabbing the final podium spot. Motorpoint British Supersport Championship protected by Datatag, Assen, Sprint result: 1. Christian Iddon (Oxford TAG Triumph) 2. Jack Kennedy (Martrain Yamaha) +0.106s 3. Richard Cooper (Oxford TAG Triumph) +0.843s 4. Luke Mossey (Smiths (Gloucester) Racing Triumph) +0.874s 5. Raymond Schouten (Seton Tuning Yamaha) +0.926s Motorpoint British Supersport Championship protected by Datatag Feature race result: 1. PJ Jacobsen (Tyco Suzuki) 2. Christian Iddon (Oxford TAG Triumph) +0.110s 3. Glen Richards (Smiths Gloucester Triumph) +0.152s 4. Raymond Schouten (Seton Tuning Yamaha) +0.500s 5. Richard Cooper (Oxford TAG Triumph) +0.706s Motorpoint British Supersport Championship protected by Datatag standings: 1. Jack Kennedy (MarTrain Yamaha) 330.5 2. Glen Richards (Smiths Gloucester Triumph) 326 3. Billy McConnell (Smiths Gloucester Triumph) 271 4. Christian Iddon (Oxford TAG Triumph) 231.5 5. Ben Wilson (Gearlink Kawasaki) 203 For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com More, from a press release issued by JRi Shocks: JRi Shocks on top of the podium in ASRA at V.I.R. It was a great weekend at V.I.R. for the ASRA and CCS events. In the ASRA Pro Sport Bike class, JRi Shocks-equipped Mark Miller, Jr. started at the back of the grid. When the green flag was thrown Miller quickly worked his way up to the front of the field. Miller kept his head down and extended his lead throughout the race. At the checkered flag Miller had a 12-second advantage over second place. In the ASRA Super Stock event four riders were expected to be in a tight battle for the win. As the race started JRi Shocks-equipped Scott Carpenter took the lead and held off a hard-charging Tim Bemisderfer and JRi Shocks-equipped Reese Wacker. As the race went on it looked like it would be decided between Wacker and Bemisderfer, but Bemisderfer made a miscue trying to track down Wacker and went off the track. Reese put down the fastest laps of the weekend and stretched his lead to over 15 seconds. Wacker crossed the line first, and Carpenter battled to the line for a third-place finish. In the CCS events over the weekend JRi Shocks-equipped riders were on the podium an amazing 13 more times. Miller, Wacker, Carpenter, and Jim Cohrs were the class of the field in their events. It was especially good to have Cohrs back on the podium as he continues his road to recovery from a very bad crash at Roebling Road early in the year. www.jrishocks.com