Suzuki’s Spies Tops AMA Superbike Standings Entering Infineon Raceway SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) “” Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies has wrestled away the reins of the AMA Superbike Championship from teammate Mat Mladin heading into the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown weekend at Infineon Raceway, May 19-21. The weekend is presented by Supercuts. Spies, a 21-year-old rider from Longview, Texas, completed a sweep this past weekend at California Speedway, giving him four consecutive Superbike victories and first place in the rider points standings after five races. He leads Mladin, the most decorated Superbike rider in AMA history with 44 career wins, by 19 points (182-163). Spies, who is seeking his first AMA Superbike Championship, as well as his first Superbike victory in the Sonoma Valley, powered his way to the checkered flag in both 28-lap main events in Southern California. The performance has set-up a great showdown between Spies and six-time AMA Superbike champion Mladin, who has won five of the last six Superbike features at Infineon Raceway. He holds the track record over the 12-turn, 2.22-mile road course with six career Superbike wins. “I don’t know if the rest of the races will be quite this easy, but we’ve got to keep on it because Mat is a six-time champion and he’s going to come back even harder,” said Spies, who pilots a GSX-R1000. “So, we’ll go home, do some homework and see what we can come up with for Infineon.” Spies has two career victories at Infineon Raceway, in Pro Honda Oils Supersport (2004) and Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme (2003). In two Superbike starts in Sonoma, Spies has placed third and fourth, both in 2005. “We just didn’t have it today, that’s it,” Mladin said after Sunday’s race in Fontana. “This is the fifth race into the championship and we had to shut it down today to bring it home. It’s good to have (Spies) here to help me pick up my game and I’m looking forward to the next race (Infineon).” WHAT: Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Supercuts WHERE: Infineon Raceway, Highways 37 & 121, Sonoma, CA 95476 WHEN: May 19-21. COURSE: 12 turns, 2.22 miles. 2005 WINNERS: Mat Mladin (Superbike, both main events, Suzuki); Tommy Hayden (Supersport, Kawasaki); Jake Zemke (Formula Xtreme, Honda); Aaron Yates (Superstock, Suzuki). SUPERBIKE SCHEDULE(All times Pacific): Friday “” Superbike practice, 9:40-10:40 a.m.; Superbike qualifying, 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday “” Superbike qualifying, 9:50-11 a.m.; Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown main event #1, 3:50 p.m. (28 laps) Sunday “” Superbike practice, 10:20-10:50 a.m.; Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown main event #2, 3 p.m. (28 laps) TICKETS: $10-$65, 12-and-under free, parking is free. 800-870-RACE, www.infineonraceway.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Gates open at 7 a.m. each day.