In response to a recent press release by Paradigm Racing regarding an all call for the team’s future expansion plans, I have been getting swamped with phone calls and e-mails from fellow racers, mechanics and managers wanting to know what is going on with Paradigm Racing, as well as myself for next season, and questioning me as to how to get involved. The press release suggest that the team would be competing in Daytona Sportbike as well as expanding into American Superbike. With that said, I felt compelled to put out an official statement to let my fellow peers in the racing community know that I have officially resigned as Team Coordinator and Crew Chief for Paradigm Racing. 

I had the opportunity to sit down at a track day at Barber Motorsports Park this past weekend with one of the financial investors of the team to discuss AMA racing and our future involvement in that venue. During these talks it was decided that Paradigm Racing would be sidelined for the the upcoming 2010 season. I do understand the difficult economic climate that we are in right now and respect Paradigm’s difficult decision. 

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone responsible for making my first season at the helm with Paradigm Racing such a great experience. My crew, Ed Sullivan, Curtis Campbell, John Long, Justin Long, Mark Braunwalder, John France, Cody Chesebrough, Chris Hunt and Kellee Melneciuc tirelessly and diligently put in countless hours to ensure the success of our operation. 

It was a team effort validated by our results. I had the pleasure to work with four very unique and professional riders who each brought their own game to our team: Barrett Long, a native Floridian with a wealth of experience at Daytona, kicked off our season by riding a brilliantly consistent, smart race in the first ever Daytona 200 under the lights and brought our Yamaha R6 home to an impressive 6th Place finish and then backed up that result with a premier visit to Superpole the following race weekend at California Speedway! Damian Cudlin, an Australian racer new to the AMA paddock this season, having never seen any of our tracks before, carried the torch keeping the Superpole tradition alive for us, and then executed a masterful 5th Place finish in the treacherous conditions brought on by the torrential deluge of rain at Road America. Ty Howard, an accomplished racer with a tremendous amount of experience on many different brands of motorcycles joined our team as a second rider for the Mid-Ohio and Topeka rounds. His experience and feedback were invaluable in solidifying the direction we were going with our program. And finally, Bobby Fong, a young talented rider from northern California, stepped up to the plate under a tremendous amount of pressure to do well, matched our previous visits to Superpole and out and out battled with the best of the best for our final 3 rounds giving Paradigm Racing its best finish of the season, 4th Place in race one, and a fight for a potential win in race two at New Jersey Motorsports Park, a new track to all the competitors and a level playing field for all! 

Finally, I want to personally thank everyone else who contributed support and guidance to myself and our team this season. Without a doubt, their efforts did not go unnoticed: Yamaha, the entire crew at Graves Motorsports, Mach 1 Motorsports, Cycle Nation, Yoyodyne, Arai, Sharkskinz, Moto-Liberty, Zero Gravity and ZDecals. Also, a big thanks to the entire staff at the AMA, specifically Al Ludington and Bill Syfan who always made themselves available to find the answers to my endless stream of questions. I look forward to my future endeavors and opportunities within the AMA paddock this upcoming 2010 season, as well as the pleasure to continue building relationships with such a great group of professionals! I can be reached at 770-861-6611, or by e-mail, [email protected]. 

See you at the races, Perry Melneciuc