NELSONS LEDGES, Ohio Ron Ruppert of Franklin, Ohio riding a Suzuki GSXR600 set the pace Saturday in the opening race of the second round in Fasttrax’s endurance series..

Ruppert completed 24 laps in the 30-minute solo mini-endurance to take first in Middleweight class and first overall in the combined Middleweight and Heavyweight race.

Rush Hour Racing on a Suzuki GSXR 750 took first in Heavyweight class and first overall in the three-hour endurance by narrowly besting Madhouse Racing running on a Yamaha R-6 in the Middleweight Class.

Both teams completed 143 laps of the fast two-mile mile Nelson Ledges circuit in the three hours, with Team Rush Hour less than a second faster than Madhouse Racing.

Saturday’s results:

Race 1, Combined Middleweight and Heavyweight 30-minute solo mini-endurance:

Heavyweight: 1st) Sam Williams, Kawasaki KZ1000, 21 laps, 29:51.846; 2nd) Sam Gaige, Suzuki GSXR1000, 16 laps, 29:44.727.

Middleweight: 1st) Ron Ruppert, Suzuki GSXR 600, 24 laps, 29:43,205; 2nd) Ross Lubrani, model missing, 23 laps, 28:29.006; 3rd) Jim Baughn, Honda CBR 600, 23 laps, 29:20.134; 4th) Kurt Russman, model missing, 22 laps, 29:45.275; 5th ) David Brodowsk, Model.21 laps, 28:49.495; 6th) Mark Gainer, Buell XB12R; 7th) Matt Kamman, Yamaha R-6, 17 laps, 29:31.326; Ryan Friday, Suzuki GSXR 600, 4 laps.

Race 2:

Lightweight 30-minute solo mini-endurance: 1st) Tim Batten, Suzuki SV 650, 23 laps, 29:38.244; 2nd) Todd Narduzzi, Suzuki SV650, 23 laps; 29:50.039; 3rd) Kevin Burns, model missing, 23 laps, 1:16:838; 4th) Shawn Strauwser, Buell XB9R, 22 laps, 28:36.426; 5th) Jeff Manley, Suzuki SV650, 22 laps, 29:00.381; 6th) Dan Chrystal, 22 laps, 20:08.525; 7th) Bill Smith, Buell XB9R, 20 laps, 28:36.565; John Noel Bartlett, Suzuki SV650, 18 laps, 28:47.433.

Three Hour Endurance:

Heavyweight: 1) Rush Hour Racing, Suzuki GSXR 750, 143 laps, 2:58:44.315, 2nd) Team R & D, Yamaha R-1, 142 laps, 2:59:58.673; 3rd) Team Bones, model missing, 140 laps, 2:58:45.098; 4th) TR Racing, model missing, 118 laps, 2:59:41..921.

Middleweight: 1st) Madhouse Racing, Yamaha R-6, 143 laps, 2:59:07.030; 2nd) Team Localriders.com, Yamaha R-6, 128 laps, 2:58:40.030; 3rd) Bumble Bee Racing, Honda CBR 600, 124 laps, 2:59:24.309; 4th) BLT Racing, Yamaha R-6, 124 laps, 2:59:20.449; 5th) Team Twist It Motors, Suzuki GSXR 600, 111 laps, 2:54:21.633.

Lightweight: 1st) Team Empty Pockets, Ducati PS1000LE, 136 laps, 2:58:43.912; 2nd) Team RACER RX, Suzuki SV650, 136 laps, 2:59:36.860; 3rd) DAYAM Racing, Suzuki SV650, 133 laps, 2:59:52.154; 4th, Birdmen Racing, Suzuki SV650, 119 laps, 2:59:04.287.

Iron Butt (solo) 1st) Wayne Yurak, Suzuki SV 1000, 102 laps, 2:59:00.685.

Fasttrax is a family-oriented club racing organization with its home track at Nelsons Ledges, Ohio. For information on all of Fasttrax’s events and programs visit www.Fasttraxlive.com

More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

Suzuki International Europe rider Andreas Meklau has moved into second place in the German IDM Superbike Championship with second and third places at Sunday’s weather-hit Nurburgring event.

Dense fog and visibility of less than 50 meters meant that only one qualifying race could be held and in the opening race, Meklau (40) took third place on his GSX-R1000 after being involved in a collision early on. After the restart, however, he managed to gain a leading position again to come second behind Martin Bauer (Honda). The second heat was even closer: Meklau finished third with Belgian Suzuki rider Werner Daemen second.

Meklau’s team mate Dominic Lammert improved his performance in both heats and came fourth in both. The 20-year-old, a new talent in the Suzuki team, overtook several opponents and emerged victorious from some fierce duels.

Andreas Meklau:

“After my fall in the first heat we just about managed to repair the bike before the restart, so I’m totally happy to have come in second. There must have been more wrong with the bike than we suspected though as its performance started to drop off gradually just as I was preparing for a final assault in the second heat.”

Dominic Lammert:

“It’s a result to build on. Perhaps I didn’t take the first bend as forcefully as I sometimes do, but I was thinking of my knee, which has still not completely recovered after the operation. In the second heat I made a braking error at the beginning and dropped back to ninth position. I managed to make it good later in the race but I didn’t make it onto the podium.”

Evren Bischoff – Team Manager:

“Andy Meklau showed again that he is in top form and is now second in the overall positioning. We are within reach of the top. And Dominic Lammert has improved his performance. I expect him to be a serious contender for a winning position in the next race. We have also made progress with adjusting his bike. We haven’t got a final version yet, because qualifying was rained off again. This means we’ll run another test before the next IDM heat.”

1st heat: 1 Martin Bauer (A-Honda), 2 Andreas Meklau (A-Suzuki International Europe), 3 Werner Daemen (B-Suzuki), 4 Dominic Lammert (D-Suzuki International Europe), 5 Chris Zaiser (A-Ducati), 6 Kari Vehniäinen (FIN-Yamaha), 7 Xavier (B-Team Alstare Suzuki), 8 Nina Prinz (D-Yamaha), 9 Olivier Depoorter (B-Suzuki), 10 Patric Muff (CH-Suzuki).

2nd heat: 1 Martin Bauer (A-Honda), 2 Werner Daemen (B-Suzuki), 3 Andreas Meklau (A-Suzuki International Europe), 4 Dominic Lammert (D-Suzuki International Europe), 5 Roman Stamm (CH-Suzuki), 6 Xavier Simeon (B-Team Alstare Suzuki, 7 Patric Muff (CH-Suzuki), 8 Günther Knobloch (A-Ducati), 9 Christian Kellner (D-Ducati), 10 Olivier Depoorter (B-Suzuki).

Points: 1 Bauer 150, 2 Meklau 94, 3 Daemen 92, 4 Teuchert 80, 5 Stamm 55, 6 Lammert 45, 7 Zaiser 34, 8 Depoorter 34, 9 Vehniäinen 22, 10 Kellner 31.

More, from another press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

Team Joe Rocket Suzuki rider Shawn Giles has closed to within three points of the Australian Superbike Championship lead, after finishing third overall in the third round at Victoria’s Winton Motor Raceway on Sunday.

Giles’ 35-point-haul from third and fourth placings in the two races has moved him to within three points of the championship lead, currently held by Glenn Allerton.

The three-time Australian Superbike Champion could well have taken out the round win – and with it the series lead – if not for an over-eager start to race two, where race officials handed Giles a 10-second penalty for a jump-start.

Giles ‘won’ race two on the track but was relegated to fourth in the results after the penalty was applied.

The 37-year-old had earlier taken third place in the opening race, setting a new Superbike lap record of 1:21.802 for the 3.0km Winton circuit.

Further success for Team Joe Rocket Suzuki squad came at the hands of 2003 Australian Superbike champion Craig Coxhell who finished second in his home round to move from seventh to sixth in the championship standings.

Coxhell finished sixth and second in the two races, scoring 35 points. The Shepparton rider narrowly missed victory in race two, finishing just 0.561 seconds behind race and round winner Dan Stauffer.

The second of the day’s two Superbike races was marred by a spectacular multi-bike crash which involved race one winner Jamie Stauffer, Team Joe Rocket Suzuki rider Robbie Bugden and championship leader Glenn Allerton.

Stauffer was part of a seven-bike freight train battling for the lead in race two when he lost control along the back straight after exiting turn nine on the third lap.

Stauffer was thrown from his bike as it cart-wheeled along the track, with Bugden and Allerton unable to avoid the incident, hitting both Stauffer and his motorcycle as debris was strewn across the track.

With no time to react, Bugden – the reigning New Zealand Superbike Champion – cannoned straight into Stauffer’s bike at an estimated 160km/h, fortunately missing the tumbling rider. Allerton took evasive action but was unable to avoid clipping Stauffer’s legs, with Stauffer’s cart-wheeling motorcycle flying over Allerton’s helmet.

Stauffer miraculously escaped major injury and was treated at the scene by the Suzuki RACESAFE Medical Team, before being transferred to Wangaratta Hospital for observation.

Bugden too was fortunate to escape serious injury in the incident and was able to take his place 30 minutes later in the re-run race aboard his spare bike, albeit somewhat battered and bruised after his wild ride through the air.

Team Joe Rocket Suzuki-supported privateer Trent Gibson bounced back to form with 10th in the second of the two races, the Victorian now coming to grips with the more powerful 2008-model GSX-R1000.

Additional success for the Team Joe Rocket Suzuki squad came in the hands of Josh Waters in the Australian Supersport Championship.

Waters’ win in race two and second in race one gave the 21-year-old second overall for the round, and consolidated second on the championship points table after three rounds. Waters now sits 24 points behind championship leader Stauffer and 19 points ahead of third-placed Wayne Maxwell.

Waters race win aboard the 2008 Suzuki GSX-R600 in only its third race meeting was the first at national-championship level for the new bike.

Phil Tainton – Team Manager:

“It’s been a great weekend for us and I’m really happy with the results – and especially with the progress of the GSX-R600 which was only in its third race meeting. We’re still developing the bike, so there’s more to come.

“Josh’s race win and second overall for the round sets him up well for the rest of the season. He showed that he can ride smart as well as fast, and that he can beat Jamie Stauffer in a head-to-head duel.

“Second and third overall in the Superbikes with Craig and Shawn was a great result and Shawn has now moved to within three points of the championship lead. Along with Robbie, we’ve got three riders in the top six of the championship. Shawn’s enthusiasm rubs off on the whole team and his new lap record shows just how well he’s riding this season.

“It was great to see Craig back on the podium. I know by his high standards that he’s been frustrated by his start to the season as he’s chased a setup he’s comfortable with, but Winton proved that he’s now in the championship chase.

“Robbie’s effort in getting on his spare bike to grab some points in race two was exceptional given the tumble he’d just taken. “The whole team is now looking forward to the next round at Queensland Raceway – it’s a track we’ve had some great results at in the past.”

Shawn Giles:

“Overall I’m happy with the results and second on the points table, although race two was a little frustrating when I got the 10-second jump-start penalty. If not for that the race win would have given me the overall round win and the championship lead. I knew I’d jumped as soon as I let the clutch out. I was just a little too eager.

“I had a slight setup problem in race one that dropped me back to third in the later laps, but we fixed that for the second race.

“I really want the title this year – it’s hard to explain how hungry I am to add number four. I’m injury free and fitter than I’ve been for a couple of seasons, and I honestly believe I’m riding as well as I ever have. Getting the new Superbike lap record was pretty satisfying and proves just how good the 2008 bike is.”

Craig Coxhell:

“I went into this round determined to get my championship challenge back on track, so I’m pretty happy with second overall. It’s always good to do well at my home round in front of family and friends.

“It was little confusing with the two-part second race as to what the actual race positions were, so it was a bit frustrating to find I’d missed the race win – and the round win – by just half a second to Dan Stauffer. I had a couple of goes at getting past him in the closing laps, but couldn’t quite pull it off.

“The team has worked so hard on getting a setup that makes me feel comfortable and I feel my confidence is now back to what it should be. I’m looking forward to the next round at Queensland Raceway.”

Robbie Budgen:

“It’s been a mixed weekend for me results-wise, but the most important thing is that no one was seriously hurt in the crash in race two.

“I had nowhere to go when Jamie Stauffer crashed. I cannoned straight into his bike at around 160km/h. Bits of bike went everywhere – mine ended up in two pieces. I was just glad I hit his bike and not Jamie. It was a pretty scary moment.

“I was pretty sore but fortunately I was able to ride my spare bike in the restart and get some valuable points. My number one bike had been really strong right through qualifying and the first race – it had the fastest speed through the radar trap. At least we’ve got a six-week break to get it rebuilt for the next round at my home track, Queensland Raceway.”

Joshua Waters:

“It’s been an awesome weekend and I can’t thank the team enough. It’s only our third meeting with the new 2008 GSX-R600 and it just keeps getting better and better.

“The win in race two was hard work as I knew there were parts of the circuit where Jamie Stauffer was faster than me, but other parts where I was faster than him.

“Once I got the holeshot and had him behind me I made sure I kept things tight and didn’t leave a gap – especially at turns nine and 10. I knew if I did that he’d have trouble getting by. I had to keep my concentration up and ride smart to try and block his lines.”

Superbike Overall Results – Round Three: 1 Daniel Stauffer, 2 Craig Coxhell (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 3 Shawn Giles (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 4 Glenn Allerton, 5 Zac Davies, 6 Robert Bugden (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 7 Jamie Stauffer, 8 Damon Buckmaster, 9 Mark Higgins, 10 Jason O’Halloran.

Superbike Championship Points (after three of seven rounds): 1 Glenn Allerton 114pts, 2 Shawn Giles (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 111, 3 Daniel Stauffer 101, 4 Jamie Stauffer 97, 5 Robert Bugden (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 96, 6 Craig Coxhell (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 93, 7 Jason O’Halloran 89, 8 Kevin Curtain 54, 9 Chris Trounson 52, 10 Zac Davies 51.

Supersport Overall Results – Round Three: 1 Jamie Stauffer, 2 Joshua Waters (Suzuki GSX-R600), 3 Ben Attard, 4 Wayne Maxwell, 5 Christian Cassella, 6 Mitchell Carr (Suzuki GSX-R600), 7 Grant Hay, 8 Ian Andrews (Suzuki GSX-R600), 9 Jason Cullen, 10 Chris Quinn.

Supersport Championship Points (after three of seven rounds): 1 Jamie Stauffer 141pts, 2 Joshua Waters (Suzuki GSX-R600) 117, 3 Wayne Maxwell 98, 4 Jeremy Crowe 83, 5 Ben Attard 80, 6 Judd Greedy 77, 7 Grant Hay 72, 8 Mitchell Carr (Suzuki GSX-R600) 65, 9 Chris Quinn 61, 10 Ian Andrews (Suzuki GSX-R600) 59.