Matt Hall Wins TrackAddix GP Overall Championship By Jason Jenkins Big smiles, loud applause, and bench racing filled Cinzetti’s restaurant in Overland Park, Kansas January 20 as TrackAddix wrapped up its inaugural season with the 2006 Awards Banquet. Over 80 people were in attendance despite heavy snow and treacherous driving conditions throughout the Midwest. Although there are many champions for ’06, one name rang out louder than any other; Matt Hall. Every racer in the paddock would recognize the back end of his #7 Yamaha YZF-R6, as the man was virtually untouchable from the drop of the green to the checkered flag. We asked the new champion a few questions to give you a closer look at his ’06 season and plans for the coming year. TrackAddix: What was the largest obstacle you had to overcome in ’06 to win this championship? Matt Hall: The largest obstacle came early in the season. I crashed at Road America and broke my clavicle with the next round of TrackAddix GP region just two weeks away at Heartland Park. I was concerned about not being able to race and losing points. On top of being injured, I did not have enough time to get my Yamaha back together and was forced to ride my less competitive back up bike. I went out for practice and was able to get around the track but it was not easy. Every blip of the throttle combined with the pressure of braking sent sharp pain shooting through my clavicle. I knew I had to race so I toughed it out. It was a painful weekend but I made it through, and still managed some solid finishes and kept my points where they needed to be. TA: What are your plans for the ’07 season? MH: We plan to run the full AMA series in 2007. We will be racing Supersport on a 2006 Yamaha R6 and Superstock on a new 2007 Yamaha R1. Both bikes have been prepared by Lee’s Performance Center out of Charlotte North Carolina to give us the competitive edge that we will need to compete against the best in the nation. We will be running the traditional red, black, and white Two Wheel Connection paint scheme with #174 for all AMA events. We will return to the TrackAddix Great Plains region for select events that don’t conflict with the AMA schedule, proudly running the #1 plate. We will also compete in other select regional events with CRA, CMRA, MRA and WERA. We are fortunate to have AT Industries Inc. continuing support in our efforts for the 2007 season as well as a couple of new faces. Kissick Construction Co. out of Kansas City, Missouri and Bazzaz Performance Design have joined with TWC Racing for the coming year. We are very thankful for the support that we have received for the new season and look forward to a great year. TA: Are there any people you’d like to thank that aren’t on your sponsor list? MH: I owe a lot to all of my sponsors for their support, but most importantly I want to thank my family. Thanks to my mom for allowing me to participate in this sport and my dad for getting me into it. He is a former AMA racer from the late 70’s and early 80’s, racing Yamaha TZ250’s, which is the same bike I started on. He used his knowledge to give me the best when I took my 1989 Yamaha TZ250 to my first championship in 2004. He has made it to every event, races and track days, with me since my first track day in 2000. He is always going the extra mile to make sure that we look and act as professional as we can, no matter where we are. I also owe a big thanks to my older brother Jamie for his support. He is a racer as well, look for him to join me at select AMA rounds. We will be another set of brothers racing in the AMA ranks hoping to make a name for ourselves such as the Hayden’s and Bostrom’s have. Another guy that I owe is a very close friend of our family; Hector St. John. He is pretty much family. He has given me a lot of advice about racing and life in general. I met him when I went through licensing school in 2002 and he has been there for me ever since; always willing to give me a hand whenever needed. I also need to thank Dr. Peter Vilkins, my orthopedic surgeon, for taking care of me in my less fortunate moments. He has been able to literally screw me back together and get me back out on the track ASAP. He has dubbed me, “His permanent patient”. I will be visiting him this year, but it will be because I want to and not because I have to. Matt’s sponsors through the ’06 season were: Two Wheel Connection, AT Industries Inc., Cafe Racer Inc., Yamaha, Advantage PowerSports, B and H Automotive, Welds Supply Inc., K.C., Ruff Ryders.com, Michelin, Vortex, Catalyst Composite, Chicken Hawk Racing. Any parties interested in being a part of his ’07 season can contact Matt directly at [email protected] We all wish Matt the best of luck in the upcoming season. You are a true Champion, Mr. Hall. Not only is this man incredibly quick and cunning on the track; he also displays the sportsmanship we all wish we could possess. Matt and his family are always more than willing to lend a hand in times of trouble and are friends with everyone at the track. He also gives back to the racing community as an instructor for newcomers to the TrackAddix racing and trackday community. Matt is a humble, hard working, racer who takes advantage of every minute of practice and gives all at every race. It is no wonder he finished on top. Godspeed and good luck in your ’07 season. Congratulations to all of the TrackAddix GP Champions! Expert Champions: Matt Hall””Overall Points, Middleweight Supersport, Middleweight Superbike, Middleweight Gran Prix, Heavyweight Superbike Mark Nudelman””Unlimited Supersport, Unlimited Superbike, Unlimited Gran Prix, GTO Rich Wu””Lightweight Supersport, Lightweight Superbike Nick Spooner””Heavyweight Supersport, GTU Jamie Hall””Lightweight Gran Prix Greg Williams””GT Lights Hector St. John””125 Gran Prix Walt Sipp””Thunderbike, Supertwins Kevin Clark””Lightweight Formula 40 Dean Rumfola””Formula 40 Amateur Champions: Curt Henderson””Overall Points Chris Chase””Lightweight Supersport, GT Lights, Thunderbike R. John Deuser””Middleweight Supersport, Middleweight Superbike, GTU Randy Sullinger””Heavyweight Supersport, Heavyweight Superbike, Formula 40 Kris Pippin””Unlimited Supersport, Unlimited Superbike, Unlimited Gran Prix, GTO Rebecca Caudle””Lightweight Superbike Matt McNall””Lightweight Gran Prix, Lightweight Formula 40, Supertwins James Rich””Middleweight Gran Prix 2006 Overall Top 10: 1- Matt Hall 2- Andy Feuersthaler 3- Mark Nudelman 4- Nick Spooner 5- Brian Hall 6- Ed Key 7- Jason Jenkins 8- Jason Temme 9- Rich Wu 10- Rob Oliva