MELISSA PARIS RETURNS TO RACE IN THE UNITED STATES WITH TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES AT LAGUNA SECA
AMA Pro Road Racer Currently Competing in Spain
ATLANTA (July 3, 2014) – Pro road racing rider Melissa Paris, currently competing in the FIM CEV Repsol International Championship, is returning to the United States to race a Triumph Daytona 675R in the AMA Pro Road Racing Daytona SportBike class at Monterey, California’s Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The race takes place July 11-13 during the FIM World Superbike Championship’s GEICO Motorcycle U.S. Round.
Paris was the first woman to qualify and race in a World Supersport event, at Miller Motorsports Park in 2009. She was later invited, in 2013, to the FIM Women’s Roadrace Training Camp Championship. Her 2013 performance led to the opportunity to compete in Spain with support from the “Women in the Winner’s Circle, Project Podium Grant.”
“The Spanish championship places an incredible emphasis on rider performance because the bikes are so equally prepared and because we’re on the track at the same time as the faster Moto2 bikes,” Paris said while preparing to race at Circuito de Albacete near Madrid. “The experience has helped me become a faster and more confident rider, and I’m looking forward to putting those skills to the test when I return to the United States.”
Paris has been competing in the FIM CEV Superstock 600 class. Her finishes include a fourth place at Catalunya, and seventh and eighth at Aragon despite never having previously raced at those courses.
For her first race in the United States since joining the Spanish Championship, Paris will compete with the #13 D&D Cycles/Castrol/Triumph with support from Go AZ Motorcycles, Joe Rocket, Women’s Sports Foundation, Project Podium, MotionPro, RokForm, Roadracing World Magazine, and Zodiac Watches.
“Melissa Paris is an extraordinary competitor, not just among women, but among all riders in her class,” said Go AZ Motorcycles General Manager Gina Marra. “She brings diversity and talent to the sport, as well as much needed exposure of a growing demographic of female riders. Coupled with the iconic Triumph brand for the World Superbike Race we believe Melissa will have a great day on the track.”
Project Podium was started by former IndyCar racer Lyn St. James in 2007 to help advance women in motorsports. In 2013, Project Podium joined with the Women’s Sports Foundation to create the “Women in the Winner’s Circle, Project Podium Grant” which is a matching grant for aspiring racers. Winners are chosen from applicants by a panel overseen by Lyn St. James. For more information on Project Podium, visit http://www.lynstjames.com/projectpodium/.
Founded in 1974 by tennis legend Billie Jean King, the Women’s Sports Foundation is dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity. For more information please visit www.womenssportsfoundation.org.
Watch the AMA Pro Road Racing Daytona SportBike class live at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca the weekend of July 11-13 online at FansChoice.TV. For a full schedule and to purchase tickets, visit the event page at AMAProRacing.com.
About Triumph
Triumph Motorcycles is the British motorcycle marque that produces a wide range of sport, cruiser, adventure and touring motorcycles. From the storied Bonneville to the class-leading Speed Triple and Daytona 675R, Triumph offers a blend of design, character and performance that result in truly distinctive motorcycles. First established in 1902 and now located in Hinckley, Leicestershire, England, Triumph has always set the pace for category-winning machines. The company is solely owned by Bloor Holdings Ltd., and Triumph Motorcycles America, its North American operations, are based in Atlanta. To see the full range of Triumph motorcycles, visit www.TriumphMotorcycles.com.