First podium finish of the year for GEICO Honda rider Ulrich

TOOELE, Utah — Luck may be changing for GEICO Motorcycle Honda American rider Chris Ulrich, who reached the podium for the first time this year by finishing third in the last round of the GEICO Motorcycle Superbike Shootout at Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City.

“It’s been a fun weekend starting all the way back on Friday,” Ulrich said. “We were pretty much in around fifth all weekend. We qualified fifth but we were able to close the gap quite a bit, and I was really happy about that.

“With the Superbikes, it’s all about keeping the gap close, and we were able to do that here. I got a really good start and was fourth off the line. I kept thinking, ‘Keep your head down, keep calm, and keep going.’ I came around one lap and I saw a rider down, and next thing I know I’m in third place. I was pulling away from the guy behind me and I’m pacing along with the rider in second place. It was a good feeling.”

Ulrich knows that without the consistency he had the entire weekend, his podium finish may have been harder to secure. At a track that is known for large gaps in between riders, Ulrich knew that he had to be almost perfect.

“I put myself in a good position by having a good start and qualifying well. I did everything right this weekend, and I feel like I got rewarded for it. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on the podium, and I’m going to enjoy it. I’m glad I can reward my team and my family.

“We still have a lot of work to do and to continue to work on closing the gap, but to get the trophy means you’re doing something right on the bike. It means you worked hard to get there. I’m just definitely super stoked.”

Ulrich will look to ride his momentum when the AMA Pro Road Racing Series season continues with the Subway SuperBike Doubleheader, May 30-June 1, at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.