Fillmore Earns Top Five Finish at Barber Motorsports Park Birmingham, AL – KTM/HMC Superbike Team rider Chris Fillmore earned his first top five finish of the 2013 AMA Pro SuperBike season at the third round of the series held at Barber Motorsports Park. “I was really nervous going into this weekend’s race,” stated Fillmore. “I broke my hand here last year in the first few laps of practice so it is safe to say I had quite a bit of butterflies in my stomach heading into the practice sessions.” Fillmore did not need to worry as both he and his teammate, Taylor Knapp, turned qualifying times inside the top ten, finishing the sessions 7th and 10th respectively. Hours later Knapp suffered a mechanical during the warm-up lap of the first race and had to go into the pits for repair. He eventually started the race but was in dead last position at the end of the first lap. Meanwhile, Fillmore was quick to move himself up front. “I was able to make a couple passes on the first lap to move myself into 7th position,” remarked Fillmore. “After I secured 7th, I filed in behind Danny Eslick and was able to gain a position after he ran wide. From there, I trailed Larry Pegram and we played a game of cat and mouse through the checkered flag.” It was Fillmore who would be credited with the 5th place position after Pegram was docked 5 seconds for jumping the start. Joining his teammate with an impressive ride was Knapp, who was able to come back from dead last to 13th by the race end despite his mechanical issue suffered on the warm-up lap. On Sunday, both Fillmore and Knapp jumped off the line to mid-pack starts. The two quickly charged hard to move into the top ten. Fillmore mentioned, “The majority of the race was about a 5-man battle for 7th position. I was fortunate enough to make a great pass on Geoff May with a few laps remaining that pushed me ahead of him and allowed me to pull a small gap as we crossed the checkers. My team has been working really hard this year and it is great to finally get two good results for them.” Knapp also walked away with his season best finish, earning 9th overall during Sunday’s race. Next Event: July 12-14, 2013 – Mid Ohio Sports Car Complex
More, from a press release issued by Michael Jordan Motorsports:
MICHAEL JORDAN MOTORSPORTS DOUBLE PODIUMS AT BARBER SUPERBIKE RACE
MJM’s National Guard Celtic Racing Suzuki cards top-10 results in Daytona SportBike and SuperSport
BIRMINGHAM, AL – The Michael Jordan Motorsports team celebrated a spectacular weekend at the AMA Pro National Guard Superbike Championships at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL, this weekend. National Guard Jordan Suzuki’s Roger Hayden raced his Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 to two podium positions, while Jordan Suzuki teammate Danny Eslick picked up two solid top-10 results.
The Barber race weekend saw National Guard Jordan Suzuki’s Hayden increase his number of podiums this season to three. In Saturday’s 21-lap race, Hayden got a good start and worked his way into second place by making the most of his Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000. In Sunday’s race, Hayden again got a good launch and put his head down to bring home another second-place result.
“On Saturday, it was a pretty good race,” said Hayden. “Though it’s a little bittersweet to be that close to winning and then to lose it by just a little bit at the end. On Sunday, my start wasn’t as good so I had to come from a little further back. This was my best weekend so far in Superbike, challenging for the win in two races. I really want to thank the National Guard Jordan Suzuki team. They’ve been working hard and I’ve been working hard. Now we need to keep doing what we’ve been doing and come out of the gate hard at Mid-Ohio and be there the whole race.”
Meanwhile, Jordan Suzuki’s Eslick overcame a brief off-track excursion on Saturday to finish eighth. Then, on Sunday he got a good start on his Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 and picked up the pace, running in fifth for almost 21 laps before eventually finishing sixth.
“Sunday was definitely better than Saturday,” said Eslick. “On Saturday, I got off to a good start but another rider had a big moment in front of me and I ran off the track. That put me back and I had to make my way back up to eighth. Sunday was good, I got an awesome start and I was right there with the lead pack. I tried to hold on but I wasn’t comfortable with their pace. Then I ran around in fifth and had a little battle at the end so I ended up sixth. Now I’m looking forward to Mid-Ohio. I’m feeling good on the Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 and I’ve done well at Mid-Ohio in the past.”
For MJM’s 600cc efforts, the National Guard Celtic Racing Suzuki team also made strides at Barber. In AMA Pro Daytona SportBike, James Rispoli carded seventh- and sixth-place finishes, while National Guard Celtic Racing Suzuki’s Corey Alexander brought home two sixth-place results in AMA Pro SuperSport.
In the 2013 AMA Pro National Guard Superbike Championship series rider point standings, Hayden sits in fourth place and Eslick is sixth. In AMA Pro Daytona SportBike, Rispoli is fifth, while Alexander is second overall in AMA Pro SuperSport East. The Michael Jordan Motorsports team’s next event of the 2013 AMA Pro National Guard Superbike Championship series is at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, OH, the weekend of July 12 – 14, 2013.
About Michael Jordan Motorsports: Legendary NBA star Michael Jordan formed Michael Jordan Motorsports in 2004 as a result of his passion for motorcycle racing. His mission is to bring a new level of excellence and style to the motorcycle racing industry. For more information on MJM, please visit www.23race.com, www.twitter.com/23race and www.23race.com,
About the Army National Guard: The National Guard is the oldest military branch. Today, Citizen-Soldiers hold civilian jobs or attend college while training part time, staying ready to defend America in the event of an emergency. The National Guard serves both state and federal governments. During local emergencies, Guard units assist residents endangered by storms, floods, fires and other disasters. Guard companies deployed overseas may see combat, but are often found building schools and hospitals, training local peacekeepers or teaching local farmers more efficient techniques and better uses of their land.
Michael Jordan Motorsports is proud to partner with: Jordan Brand (a division of Nike), National Guard, Suzuki Motor of America, Inc., Hanes, Gatorade, Bazzaz, Vortex Racing Components, FMF Exhausts, Gemini Racing, K-Tech Suspension-Orient Express Racing, Maxima Racing Oils, K & N Air Filters, Chicken Hawk Racing Tire Warmers, Armour Bodies, DID Chains, Pro-Bolt, Oakley, Roclun International, STAR Motorcycle School, Motion Pro Tools, Zero Gravity Windscreens, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, Designstar.com, with transportation provided by Eastside Trucking.
More, from a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:
Rapp Victorious In AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Race at Barber
Defending Champ Barnes Clings to Points Lead After Three Rounds Milwaukee – Suburban Motors Harley-Davidson’s Steve Rapp took a convincing win in the third round of the 2013 AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson series at Barber Motorsports Park, in Birmingham, Ala., to earn his second consecutive victory of the season. Despite missing the first practice session of the weekend, Rapp, a fulltime airline pilot who often flies to races on late notice, qualified on the front row next to series leader and polesitter Michael Barnes (Spyke’s H-D), the defending series champion, who led the first lap of the 11-lap contest and kept the pressure on Rapp after he claimed the lead on the second lap. Barnes and Rapp circulated nose-to-tail within a second of each other for the first half of the race, but by the seventh lap, Rapp had extended his gap over Barnes to just over one second and eventually built it into a 5.454-second victory margin. “From the first time I rode the bike, there’s just something about it. The way [the guys from Suburban Motors Harley-Davidson] have it set up and the special things they’ve done for me as a rider, like handlebars and the seat and stuff like that, it just feels so good. I feel like I can ride it a lot harder,” Rapp said. “I started the season with really nothing going on and Joe [Houpt] from Suburban Harley called me and said if I wanted to come out for Daytona we’d at least get one race in. I said ‘that’d be great’ and it’s just kept getting better.” With his second place finish, Barnes maintained the series points lead by a slim one-point margin, but the most exciting action on the track was for the third step of the podium. That battle was won by Tyler O’Hara (Eco Fuel Saver/Scrubblade) on the last lap, who nipped Suburban Motors H-D’s Benny Carlson by a 0.017-second margin to also take over third place in the points standings. Travis Wyman (Harv’s H-D) rode a lonely race to fifth position, followed by Shane Narbonne, Barrett Long, Nicholas Hansen, Ricky Parker and Adam Raffe, who rounded out the top ten finishers. The AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson series returns to action July 13-14 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
Barber Race Result: 1. Steve Rapp (Suburban Motors H-D), 11 laps 2. Michael Barnes (Spyke’s H-D), +5.454 seconds 3. Tyler O’Hara (Eco Fuel Saver/Scrubblade), +10.755 seconds 4. Benjamin Carlson (Suburban Motors H-D), +10.872 seconds 5. Travis Wyman (Harv’s H-D), +16.027 seconds 6. Shane Narbonne (MOB Racing/Empire H-D), +31.143 seconds 7. Barrett Long (Longevity Racing), +31.790 seconds 8. Nicholas Hansen (Suburban Motors H-D), +33.323 seconds 9. Ricky Parker (ChiliPepperRacing.com), +33.988 seconds 10. Adam Raffe (Racing for a Wish/Pikes Peak H-D), +34.379 seconds 11. Hayden Schultz (Happy Trails M/C Connection/Landers H-D), +35.097 seconds 12. David Estok (Thrashed Bike Racing), +37.766 seconds 13. Josh Chisum (Eco Fuel Saver/Scrubblade), +37.797 seconds 14. Darren James (Deeley Racing), +38.121 seconds 15. Brice Cooper (Aerostar Global Logistics/Suburban Motors H-D), +53.012 seconds 16. Paul James (Hoban Cycle/Spectro Oils), +1:05.556 17. Shelina Moreda (Spyke’s H-D), +1:07.587 18. Dave Rhinehart (Rhinehart Development), 10 laps
AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series Points Standings 1. Barnes, 63 2. Rapp, 62 3. O’Hara, 56 4. T. Wyman, 48 5. Carlson, 43 6. Long, 36 7. Narbonne, 29 8. Parker, 28 9. Hansen, 26 10. K. Wyman, 25
Company Background Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight custom, cruiser and touring motorcycles and offers a complete line of Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts, accessories, riding gear and apparel, and general merchandise. For more information, visit harley-davidson.com.
More, from a press release issued by rpsraceteam.com:
Kelsey scores at Barber
RPSRaceTeam.com lead pilot Danny Kelsey scored valuable AMA Pro National Guard Superbike series championship points en route to two solid finishes during the Triumph Superbike Classic hosted at scenic Barber Motorsports Park. This would be the first time that Kelsey would enter superbike class competition in 2013.
Kelsey faced formidable challenges as he prepared for competition. The team was unable to complete any tire testing prior to the event and Danny would need to get baseline geometry, gearing, and suspension settings during the one practice and two qualifying sessions to obtain a worthy race bike and quality finishes. Compounding the challenge for the team was that neither of the two mechanics the team was comfortable was using were able to make the event. This meant that that Crew Chief Marcus McBain would have to undertake the responsibility of setup/breakdown, suspension, maintenance, and rider coaching alone.
The team struggled greatly on Friday. It was tough going for the team as they tried to gain solid geometry and chassis settings. As the day completed and the team returned to the pits frustrated, tire technician Tony Romo stepped in to really help the team and guide them to a better tire selection. The team quickly realized Saturday morning that the selection(s) were going to help immensely along with some spring and geometry changes.
Kelsey rolled up for the start of the first race of the weekend with new found confidence. As the starting lights set the field off into turn one, Kelsey quickly took advantage of the new changes and moved into the top 15 quickly. As the race progressed, Kelsey kept the pace going and looked in position to start moving up turning his fastest lap of the race on lap 15. On lap 16 the clutch suddenly began to stop slipping. Kelsey compensated, but was now forced to back off from any charge forward. On lap 20, Kelsey was passed as he struggled with a seriously deteriorating clutch. At the checkered flag Kelsey posted a 16th place finish.
With new shock valving and a new clutch, Kelsey started race two by being easy on the clutch to protect it from premature wear and consequently rolled into T1 nearly last. He quickly put the hammer down though and joined a tremendous battle for 14th place. On lap 9, he posted his fastest lap of the weekend with a 1:28.940 and moved into 15th place on lap 12. With the gap to 14th closing, Kelsey focused on a final charge for the position. Unfortunately for Danny, the clutch problem from the previous day emerged again on lap 16 with Kelsey unable to maintain his faster pace. At the checkered flag, Kelsey accepted the top 15 finish with some frustration over his clutch performance.
Lead Rider Danny Kelsey: “This was a tough field and I am pleased we accomplished what we did. I also look forward to competing again soon as I got a lot of the tire setup and performance under my belt now. I want to really thank Marcus for his hard work. I didn’t have to do much but ride, and when I saw most teams with 3 or 4 guys working I realized how hard he was working doing everything by himself. I believe we will be at Mid-Ohio and I look forward to making the next step with the team there.”
Crew Chief Marcus McBain: “I am really proud of what the team accomplished. We obviously were shorthanded, but we got a lot done and Danny (Kelsey) distinguished himself as one of the top privateers in his first weekend of figuring out the Dunlop spec tire and getting the bike setup. I am really looking forward to the possibility of competing at Mid-Ohio as I believe we have the baseline settings we need to move forward in a big way.”
Danny Kelsey and RPSRaceTeam.com will continue to participate in select AMA Pro National Guard Superbike events. The team would not be able to compete at this level without the special efforts of KMC Controls, RS Taichi, Dynojet, Vortex, Motoliberty, South Central Race Center, Motopia, M4 Exhausts, DP Brakes, K’s Motorsports, GP Suspension, JRi Shocks, Lone Star Track Days, Shoei Helmets, Hotbodies Racing, Silkolene, WRW Racing, Barnett, Chicken Hawk Racing. Kelsey is scheduled to resume AMA Pro National Guard Superbike events at Mid-Ohio in July.
More, from a press release issued by Team Hammer PR:
ROBERTS AND TEAM HAMMER CELEBRATE DOUBLE VICTORY IN ALABAMA
Team Hammer celebrated another victorious day at the track as the squad left Barber Motorsports Park with two more wins added to its tally.
Racing under the California Superbike School Roadracingworld.com Racing banner, Team Hammer’s Joe Roberts closed out his remarkable AMA Pro Road Racing debut weekend in perfect fashion on Sunday. The 16-year-old phenom enjoyed unprecedented success at his first-ever professional event as he took the SuperSport class by storm; Roberts was fastest in every single practice and qualifying session, led the most laps in both races, and ultimately claimed a pair of dominating victories, including Sunday’s SuperSport contest by a 3.690-second margin of victory.
Additionally, the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup contender lapped under the existing SuperSport lap record, posting a blistering 1:29.019 lap en route to his Sunday win.
Just one week after his 16th birthday, Roberts became the first rider to earn a double victory in his AMA Pro Road Racing debut, let alone register a perfect weekend.
Roberts momentarily dropped to fourth after once again getting a less-than-ideal launch from pole, but he quickly worked his way forward. Once in front, Roberts ran an untouchable pace and broke free to claim his second win in as many attempts.
“The race was very difficult,” Roberts said. “I got an OK start–definitely better than yesterday. I had to work a bit to get up front and once I was in the lead I put my head down.
“To be honest, I really didn’t think this was possible. I thought I’d run top five and that was really my expectation for this weekend. But to come out and win both races and be P1 in every session is like a dream come true — it’s definitely my birthday wish.
“My Honda CBR600RR was great and my California Superbike School Roadracingworld.com team was so awesome. I was under the Team Hammer/M4 tent this weekend and my crew chief Eric Gray was awesome to work with.”
Roberts will compete for Team Hammer again this season at the upcoming Laguna Seca and Miller Motorsports Park rounds in July and August, respectively, the only rounds which don’t conflict with Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup events.
M4 SportbikeTrackGear.com Racing’s Chris Ulrich continued to up his pace aboard the team’s CBR1000RR Superbike despite continuing problems with electronics. The Californian posted a best time of 1:27.963 while fighting up from 14th to 12th, nearly four 10ths quicker than his best lap in Saturday’s AMA Superbike race (1:28.360).
“We’re chipping away at improving every aspect of the bike, from electronics to chassis,” said Ulrich. “Developing a Superbike is a big challenge but we’re making progress every time we get on the bike.”
GEICO Motorcycle Road Racing’s Dane Westby scored his second top-five result of the weekend in Sunday’s Daytona SportBike contest.
Westby missed the shift from from first to second gear and was mired down the order at the start but once again demonstrated his ability to charge up through the pack. The Oklahoman slashed through the field from the bottom of the top 10 and ultimately finished fifth aboard his Honda CBR600RR.
M4 SportbikeTrackGear.com Racing’s Benny Solis had a similar afternoon. The Californian got away with the front group but made a mistake in Turn 5 on the race’s second lap. Dropping outside the top 15, Solis took advantage of an improved set-up to confidently work his way back into the top 10.
Solis improved upon his Saturday result by taking the checkered flag in ninth position on Sunday.
Solis said, “I was at the end of the lead pack, so I was in a good position, and I felt good running with those guys. But going into Charlotte’s Web I made a mistake; instead of being a foot off the line of the rider in front of me, I was right behind him, almost in his draft. He got sideways when he braked which I didn’t expect and I almost hit him and went off. It was either hit him or go off the track and I barely missed him. I dropped back to 17th but then I was able to get to ninth because today’s bike set-up was much better.”
MPH Racing’s Melissa Paris again improved upon his qualifying position by picking up her second 17th-place result of the weekend aboard her Team Hammer Contract Services Honda CBR600RR.
Team Hammer will next travel to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for Round 4 of the AMA Pro Road Racing series on July 12-14. About Team Hammer: In 2013, Team Hammer, Inc. is competing in its 33rd consecutive racing season, and is marking its seventh year of offering technical and logistical support through its Contract Services Department. Riders on Team Hammer-prepared racebikes have earned 56 AMA Pro National race wins; 132 AMA Pro National podium finishes; 5 AMA Pro Championships; 133 Overall National Endurance race wins; 13 National Endurance Championships and assorted other race wins and titles.
More, from a press release issued by Doe-Anderson on behalf of Triumph:
Triumph Returns to the Podium at Barber Motorsports Park
Birmingham, Ala. – In only the second race weekend aboard his 2013 Triumph Daytona 675R, Jason DiSalvo started the Triumph SuperBike Classic with a second place qualifying effort and followed it up with a third place finish in Saturday’s AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race.
“I’m really happy to be back on the box, and what better place than here at my home track, Barber Motorsports Park, and the Triumph SuperBike Classic,” said DiSalvo. “I took a gamble to run the soft tires all weekend and we got a podium finish on Saturday, but the temperatures didn’t quite reach where they needed them to be today.”
Latus Motors Racing’s DiSalvo, along with the rest of the Triumph riders, continue to make improvements on the new race bikes.
“The first qualifying session was a great indicator that our bike was going to work very well at this track,” said DiSalvo. “To be so new on this machine and better my best ever time in Daytona SportBike at my home track tells me that our bikes have come a long way in a relatively short period of time.“
Joey Pascarella rode his Riders Discount Racing Triumph to a sixth place qualifying effort before turning in ninth and tenth place finishes in the races. He also posted the second fastest lap in Sunday morning practice.
“We made a lot of improvements on the bike this weekend and the speed is there because we are right there in qualifying,” said Pascarella. “We went with medium tires and just struggled for grip the entire time both races.”
Bobby Fong is in his second weekend on the D&D Cycles Castrol Triumph and sees a lot of potential after an eighth place finish on Saturday and a good run on Sunday.
“We have a good baseline setting and we know that the bike is capable of doing the times with the leaders,” said Fong. “We had a good race yesterday and today we were catching the guys in front of us.”
Kenny Riedmann improved upon his 14th place qualifying with 13th and 12th place finishes. The Sturgess Cycle Triumph rider is looking forward to the Mid-Ohio round after making steady progress throughout the weekend.
“We turned our fastest lap of the weekend in the last race and I think we have a good plan of what to do going forward, so I’m looking forward to the next round,” said Riedmann.
In his first weekend of AMA Pro Road Racing action since 2009, Rob McLendon III was happy with his results on his D&D Cycles Castrol Triumph.
“We made a lot of changes every session and ran the best times of the weekend in the last session,” said McLendon. “It’s a really positive experience when you can see progress with lap times.”
Elena Myers qualified 11th on her Apex Manufacturing Castrol Triumph but was sidelined for the weekend after an incident in that session. She looks forward to making her return at the season’s next race.
The next round for AMA Pro Road Racing’s 2013 season is at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the Buckeye SuperBike Weekend on July 12-14.
More, from a press release issued by Riders Discount Triumph:
Improvements For Pascarella and Riders Discount Triumph At Barber
Birmingham, AL – Joey Pascarella and his 2013 Riders Discount Triumph 675R continued improve during the Triumph SuperBike Classic at Barber Motorsports park this weekend. Pascarella managed his quickest pace in qualifying and two top ten finishes in the Daytona Sportbike Class – ending up ninth in race one and tenth in race two.
“We started the weekend looking for improvements,” said Pascarella on Sunday. “Both of the new 2013 Triumph 675R’s felt a lot better from the get-go on Friday than they did at Road America. I felt more comfortable on one of them than the other, so we used that as our base setting and worked on it from there. This gave us a pretty good pace by the time we got to the first qualifying session on Friday and I ended up tied with Westby in seventh. The crew made some changes to the bike overnight and it felt even more comfortable on Saturday morning. In the final qualifying session I was able to go quicker and moved up to the sixth spot on the grid.”
Saturday’s race itself began with a good start, but a small moment in the sixth lap caused Pascarella to drop back before fighting back into the top ten.
Regarding race one, Pascarella added, “We started off quick, but I was struggling for grip and ended up making a small mistake which led to running off track at one point. I was able to recover and got back up to ninth by the end.”
Sunday began with more changes having been made to the Triumph overnight. The difference was immediately apparent in the warm up, when Pascarella posted the second quickest time of the morning session. Confident going into race two, Pascarella was able to get out of the gate with a solid start until balance issues from a spun tire and a lack of grip slowed his pace. He was still able to maintain a top ten position, and left the weekend’s racing feeling confident about the team’s progress.
“I was super happy with the bike this morning,” said Pascarella on Sunday afternoon. “We were second in the morning warm up, and almost went as fast as we did in qualifying on a used set of tires. I was excited going into the race today, but struggled with grip once the track temps got hotter in the afternoon. Overall, the crew did an awesome job improving the bike this weekend and it’s feeling much better than the last time out at Road America. We’re obviously fast, as we showed in qualifying and practice, and we just need to keep working at finding the grip when the track is hot and greasy. I know we can run up front when we do!”
Bree Poland, Riders Discount Triumph team manager, had this to say about weekend at Barber, “This weekend was good for the team. We are finally figuring things out and managed to claim two top ten finishes. Of course we would like to be up front battling for podiums, but we’re quite happy with the the progress we’ve made. Joey ended up second quickest in Sunday morning’s warm up, which gave us some good momentum going into the afternoon’s race. Unfortunately Joey’s rear tire spun on the rim and we were unable to convert that into a podium position. Teething pains like these won’t happen again.”
Joey Pascarella would like to thank his sponsors: Riders Discount, Triumph, Speed and Strength, K-Tech, Shoei, Akrapovic, Dunlop, Motion Pro, Zero Gravity, Vicci, Maxima, Saddlemen, Sidi, Forcefield Armour, Renthal, Andrew Swenson Designs, Hanshaw Engines, GB Covers, Brembo, Cap-It Tire Warmers, Spiegler, Attack Performance, Utopia, Sharkskinz, Drippinwet, Pitbull, Fastbikes USA.
About RidersDiscount.com: RidersDiscount.com is an online retailer of quality powersports gear, apparel and accessories. A company founded by racers,RidersDiscount.com ships equipment for every riding style to customers worldwide, backed by knowledgeable sales team and excellent customer service.
Triumph Motorcycles (www.TriumphMotorcycles.com) is the British motorcycle marquee 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 its North American operations are based in Atlanta.
*If interested in being a partner/sponsor of Riders Discount Racing, please contact [email protected] for more info.
More, from a press release issued by Yoshimura Suzuki:
YOSHIMURA SUZUKI FACTORY RACING PODIUMS IN SUPERBIKE RACE, CONTINUES TO LEAD CHAMPIONSHIP
Yoshimura Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas finishes third at Barber
BIRMINGHAM, AL – Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s Martin Cardenas turned in two tremendous performances this past weekend in the 2013 AMA Pro Superbike Championships at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. On Saturday, Cardenas brought home a podium position and he followed that up with a solid fourth-place finish on Sunday. As a result, Cardenas continues to lead the overall championship points in the premier class. In each day’s race, Cardenas was one of four Suzuki racers who finished in the top 10.
On Saturday, Yoshimura Suzuki’s Cardenas got a great start on his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 and led a number of the race’s 21 laps before eventually finishing third. On Sunday, he also got a good start and battled for a podium position for the entire race before finishing fourth.
“On Saturday, my race was a little bit tough,” admitted Cardenas. “I had a good rhythm going on the Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, but I wasn’t as fast as I wanted to be. I tried my best and just tried to finish in third and get some points. For Sunday, we changed a few things and we had some good speed at first, but from the middle to the end of the race, I had a hard time keeping the pace. Next we go to Mid-Ohio, and I like the layout of that track. I’ve had some good results there and I hope to come back stronger for that race.”
Yoshimura Suzuki teammate Chris Clark struggled at the Barber event, never really finding his rhythm. On Saturday, he finished the race in 15th place and on Sunday he had to retire early from the event.
The Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing team’s next event of the 2013 AMA Pro Superbike Championship series is at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, OH, the weekend of July 12 – 14, 2013.
Barber Superbike Results, Race 1:
1. Josh Hayes 2. Roger Hayden 3. Martin Cardenas 4. Josh Herrin 5. Chris Fillmore 6. Larry Pegram 7. Geoff May 8. Danny Eslick 9. David Anthony 10. Aaron Yates
Barber Superbike Results, Race 2:
1. Josh Hayes 2. Roger Hayden 3. Josh Herrin 4. Martin Cardenas 5. Larry Pegram 6. Danny Eslick 7. Chris Fillmore 8. Geoff May 9. Taylor Knapp 10. David Anthony
2013 Superbike Standings:
1. Martin Cardenas – 144 2. Josh Hayes – 134 3. Josh Herrin – 131 4. Roger Hayden – 107 5. Larry Pegram – 106 6. Danny Eslick – 94 7. Chris Fillmore – 79 8. David Anthony – 70 9. Geoff May – 60 10. Chris Clark – 55
About Yoshimura R&D of America: Yoshimura is “The Leader in Performance” and has been for more than 55 years. With unmatched skills, knowledge, and passion for racing, Yoshimura is on the forefront of the aftermarket exhaust industry. Yoshimura pipes are race bred and feature the same legendary performance, fit and quality that has been their trademark for more than five decades. To learn more about Yoshimura and view their wide variety of performance products, visit www.yoshimura-rd.com.
About Suzuki: Suzuki Motor Corporation founded Suzuki Motor of America Inc. (SMAI), Brea, CA, in 2013. SMAI markets motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, Outboard Engines and Automotive Parts and Accessories via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. SMAI’s parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, automobiles and marine engines. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it has 147 distributors in 201 countries. For more information, visit www.suzukicycles.com. Like Suzuki on Facebook for exclusive team content www.suzukicycles.com.
More, from a press release issued by Team RFC:
A WEEKEND OF CHALLENGES FOR AMA PRO SUPERBIKE RIDER RYAN KERR AT BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK
From a Press Release Issued by RFC
Johnstown, Ohio (June 25, 2013) Ryan Kerr and the Ryan Kerr Racing Team were anxious to get back on the track at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama this past weekend. Kerr is on his way to becoming a well known name in the AMA Pro Superbike series. Ryan Kerr and the Ryan Kerr racing team struggled with bike adjustments during Friday’s practice and qualifying sessions but were hopeful that improvements made would result in a strong qualifying position during the second qualifier on Saturday morning.
Kerr stated, “The bike felt much better on Saturday and I was improving my lap times during qualifying and was moving up on the starting grid when I encountered trouble in turn 1 which resulted in a crash. I was transported to the care center and fortunately was cleared to race. Through hard work and perseverance, my crew chief and his assistant were able to get my equipment back together and ready for the race.”
Kerr started in the 20th position and worked his way up to the 17th spot before the effects of the earlier morning incident began to make it difficult for him to continue. Kerr’s race ended early and he made the decision to not compete in the Sunday event and allow himself time to heal and prepare for the upcoming race in July at his hometown track, Mid Ohio Sports Car Course.
The devotion of Ryan Kerr and the entire Ryan Kerr racing team makes them very deserving of great finishes. Kerr is one of the few privateers competing in the Superbike series.
Kerr explains, “It truly has taken commitment and sacrifice from my family and friends to keep me racing at this level. My goal is to continue to improve at every event and to learn from the best! It is devastating that I was unable to finish the Barber event but I will take the next few weeks to recover and be ready to compete and see my home town fans at Mid Ohio in a few weeks.”
Finally, Ryan Kerr would like for all of his fans to join the team! Become a member of the Ryan Kerr Fan Club by checking out his website at www.Flyinryankerr.com. Also, take the time to like the Ryan Kerr Racing facebook fan page to get the latest information about Ryan and his racing career.
Ryan Kerr is sponsored by RFC, Best Book 1, Yoshimura, Sunstar, Suzuki, Arai, 614Paintworks, EBC, Brembo, D/I Held, Ballistik, In The Sky Apparel, Mid Ohio School and Bazzaz.
More, from a press release issued by BP Racing:
BP Racing riders secure two top 10 finishes at Barber Leeds, AL. (June 25, 2013) – BP Racing’s Sebastiao Ferreira takes a top 10 finish in the GEICO AMA Motorcyle-Superstore.com SuperSport class at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, AL. Ferreira finished 9th in race 1 and crashed out in race 2 while battling to get up to 5th. BP Racing’s newest SuperSport rider Charles “CJ” Weaver takes home a 10th place finish in race 1 and a 11th place finish starting from the 5th row in race two. “We had a good set up starting Friday practice off and after some fine tuning we got Sebastiao more comfortable to push” said team owner Mike Hammett. “Sebastiao had a great start in race 2 and was dropping his times close to the race leaders but pushed a little too hard and low-sided in turn 5.” “We will be training over the next month in preparation for much better finishes at Laguna Seca. CJ Weaver had a good start to the weekend qualifying 17th and having good starts in each of his races. But at the end of the race 1 the Alabama heat got to him causing dehydration” states Team Manager Ken Chewey. “This weekend started off great!” commented Ferreira. “I had a great setup and went faster than I did last year right out of the gate. I felt comfortable on the bike and felt like I could do anything I wanted to on it. I am ready for Laguna Seca and will do everything in my power to get the results that I need. I feel like now I have a good setup to run up front. My team worked hard for me to get the bike just the way I like it and would like to thank everyone for the hard work that was put in. I also want to thank, Ricondi leathers my new sponsor Shoei Helmets who literally saved my ass this weekend during my crash.” Charles “CJ” Weaver “First practice I felt great, and so did the bike. I ran take offs for practice and ended up 11th with a 1:33.047, half a second faster than race pace last year with new tires. I felt confident for first qualifying so we put a new set of tires on and I went out for the 20 minute qualifying. I was on a good lap, but when I came out of the second to last corner, I accelerated hard and I started to high side. My legs came off of the bike and my face hit the windscreen. It tweaked my neck and back pretty good and I was really stiff. Despite major back pain I am happy that I still managed a 10th place in race 1”
BP Racing would like to thank Mach 1, Optimal Racing, Life in Christ, Moto D, Ricondi Leathers, Shoei Helmets, EDR Performance, Ktech Suspension, Leo Vince Exhaust, Galfer Brakes, Vortex, Ignited Soul Apparel, Zero Gravity, Pacific Track Time, Drastikk Graphics, StitchTech Designs, Redzone Racing and Motorex, Deion Device. Become a fan on Facebook: BP Racing, facebook.com/blueplateracing Become a fan on Facebook: Sebastiao Ferreira, http://goo.gl/flImY Become a fan on Facebook: CJ Weaver, http://goo.gl/flImY Become a fan on Facebook: Redzone Racing, http://goo.gl/flImY If interested in being a partner/sponsor please contact Ken Chewey at: [email protected] for more info.
More, from a press release issued by Team 95:
Team 95 (Hayden Gillim) and Red Bull RoadRace Factory (JD Beach) Barber Recap Racing was once again underway at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL after a short break from the last event at Road America in Wisconsin. It was a very hot and humid weekend that lead to some amazing racing. Hayden had his best weekend so far this season with a 4th and a 2nd in the SuperSport class. JD wasn’t too far behind him picking up a 5th and 3rd in the Daytona SportBike class. Team 95 (Hayden Gillim) and Red Bull/RoadRace Factory (JD Beach) left the weekend on a high note and are looking forward to the next round at Mid-Ohio. Hayden finally had some good luck come his way over the weekend and was able to start turning his season around. Barber is on Hayden’s favorite list so Team 95 was looking for some good finishes over the weekend. The weather played a big part in the race plan over the weekend but with the right people in the pits the questions as to whether they could actually turn their season around never went unanswered. Team 95 Hayden Gillim (4th and 2nd) “After having such a hard weekend in Road America it was nice to have a quick turnaround to Barber. I just wanted to get back on my R6 and redeem myself. Barber is a track that I have ridden at many times over the years and I really enjoy it. Our crew for the weekend grew by one member with Rick Mathey coming in to help my dad (Frankie) and Jon Heinen, they all get along real well so it was good to have the knowledge of Rick as well.”
“During the break between the races I really picked my training up with the heat rolling in and could tell it helped my racing. My whole crew had the bike working great as soon as the track went green for the first practice. We kept improving the bike and to come away with a 4th and a 2nd is great. In the first race I picked my speed up a lot and the bike wasn’t working like I wanted it to by the end of the race. When the bike is like that, I tend to really start over riding the bike which leads to mistakes and fatigue. With the punishing heat and humidity along with Barber being such a difficult track that, near the end of the race I started to develop the dreaded “arm pump” where a rider physically cannot hold onto the bike. Going into Race 2 we had the bike working better for the faster race pace that I found myself riding at from the day before. What a difference that made! I got an awesome start and was able to lead the first 5 laps before Joe (Roberts) was able to get by and put a couple real quick laps down and make a bit of a gap. From there on the battle for second was between Tomas (Puerta) and me. It was a great battle and a lot of fun. He was able to get by me on the last lap but I kept pushing and was able to pass him back at the line and beat him by .004. It’s great to have a weekend like that going into another round like Mid-Ohio. I love the track at Mid-Ohio and have had some great races there. I just have to thank my crew for working so hard all weekend.” Red Bull/RoadRace Factory JD Beach (5th and 3rd) JD had another great weekend, once again finishing very strong. The Daytona SportBike class is packed full of great battles and he was right in the thick of things. JD was nervous coming into the weekend, as Barber has been a difficult track for him in the past. He and his crew made the best of it and gained a lot of knowledge throughout the entire weekend.
“After such a great weekend in Road America I just wanted to really keep the ball rolling and have some more strong finishes. I’ve been able to finish on the podium before in race one, but then I wasn’t able to back it up for the next race, so I really wanted to show that I could do that this weekend. Barber is a difficult track for me to get going at the start of the weekend so I knew I was going to have my work cut out for me.”
“Both races I had some fantastic battles. In Race 1, Dane (Westby) and Garrett (Gerloff) kept my race very busy. We had a race long battle, with Dane barely edging me out and myself beating Garrett by .003 at the line. While going over data after the race with Scott (Jensen) we knew we had the pace to run at the front. Overnight Scott and Danny (Anderson) worked their magic on the bike and had it working great Sunday. We had a great battle once again, but this time it was between Garrett and the clock. He jumped the start so he received the mandatory 5 second penalty, but during the race he had a bit of a gap on me. I was running 4th and trying to run him down and we both kept putting fast lap after fast lap in. Even though I was within 5 seconds I wanted to pass him to really get 3rd. With 3 laps to go my chances where almost blown when we came up on a pack of lappers and I lost 2 seconds. On the last lap I had to go all out and was able to get 3rd by .2. After all the hard work Scott and Danny put in over the hot weekend it felt really great. I can’t wait to get back on the bike at Mid-Ohio.” After such a great weekend at Barber there’s no time to rest before Mid-Ohio. There’s always training to be done and bikes to be worked on. Both JD and Hayden are excited for Mid-Ohio and can’t wait for the weekend to come. Thank you so much for your support!
More, from a press release issued by LeoVince USA:
LeoVince USA and Dion Device Riders Dominate at Barber Motorsports Park
Richmond, Calif. – June 25, 2013 – AMA Pro Road Racing headed south for round three at Barber Motorsports Park the weekend of June 21-23, and LeoVince USA’s riders ensured that both LeoVince exhausts and the Dion Device brake lever protector were represented on the podium in SuperBike, Daytona SportBike and SuperSport.
SuperBike Dion Device is designed to protect the brake lever in the event of an on-track collision or a crash, but Josh Hayes kept everything upright and out front in both SuperBike races. In Saturday’s race one, the Monster Energy Graves Yamaha rider took the win after a race-long battle with several other top riders. In the end, Hayes crossed the line with a slim 0.172-second margin of victory. Hayes went on to win race two on Sunday, and it was a similar scenario as Hayes held off challengers to take the victory by only 0.221-second. Hayes now has four consecutive wins, and he is just ten points out from taking over the championship lead.
Josh Herrin also has the Dion Device on his Graves Yamaha YZF-R1, and his fourth- and fifth-places finishes at Barber leave him comfortably in control of the third spot in the championship, just three points behind Hayes.
Riders with Dion Device support could be found throughout the SuperBike top ten. Larry Pegram notched a sixth and a fifth on the Pegram Racing Yamaha YZF-R1, Geoff May took seventh and eighth on the Team Hero EBR 1190RS, and Aaron Yates rode his Team Hero EBR 1190RS to tenth and eleventh.
Daytona SportBike LeoVince exhausts and Dion Device brake lever guards were prominent on the Daytona SportBike podium thanks to Jake Gagne and JD Beach. The RoadRace Factory riders had a combined three podiums. In Saturday’s race one, Gagne took second while Beach crossed the line in fifth. Gagne repeated his second place for race two on Sunday, while Beach landed on the podium in third. All of the recent trips to the podium mean the Yamaha YZF-R6 riders are also doing well in the championship standings, with Gagne in second and Beach in third.
SuperSport RoadRace Factory was a standout in SuperSport, too, thanks to the skills of Tomas Puerta. He rode his LeoVince and Dion Device-equipped Yamaha YZF-R6 to second on Saturday and third on Sunday.
Hayden Gillim, another rider who utilizes a LeoVince exhaust and a Dion Device, finished second in race two, upping his effort after finishing fourth in race one. Gillim was on board his Team 95 Yamaha YZF-R6.
The LeoVince USA riders are now preparing to begin a very busy summer schedule that kicks off with round four at Mid-Ohio, July 12-14, followed just one week later by Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, where they will run in conjunction with MotoGP.
For more information about sponsored teams and the LeoVince line of performance products, visit the LeoVince USA website at www.leovinceusa.com. To keep up with the latest product and racing news from LeoVince, be sure to like them on facebook at www.leovinceusa.com.
More, from a press release issued by Celtic Racing/Orient Express:
Celtic Racing Leaves Barber With Strong Results In SuperSport & Daytona Sport Bike Races
Celtic Racing continued to work hard and develop speed this weekend during AMA Pro Road Racing’s third round of events at Barber Motorsports Park. James Rispoli started from the middle of the second row with a fifth place qualifying effort on his #43 National Guard Celtic Racing Suzuki GSX-R 600 in both Daytona Sport Bike races. Corey Alexander would start from the outside of the second row with a sixth place qualifying position on his #5 National Guard Celtic Racing Suzuki GSX-R 600 in SuperSport.
Alexander had good starts in both SuperSport races, and was with the lead pack ahead of the 41 bike field in both events. Corey was unable to improve on his starting position during the race on Saturday, but rode consistently and was able to finish a strong sixth. Sunday’s results were the same, with Corey finishing sixth, ahead of SuperSport East points leader Mesa. Alexander was thus able to tighten the gap down to two points in the standings with 119 to Mesa’s 121, and maintain his healthy lead over third place Gillim. Alexander stated “we had a rough weekend from the moment practice started. I’m happy to have had consistent and decent finishes, which are worth important points towards the championship. It is indeed true that you can’t win them all, but I am definitely not happy with 6th place. We will continue to work hard and plan to do better at Mid Ohio. Thanks to my National Guard Celtic Racing crew for working hard all weekend. Also thanks to Spidi Leathers, XPD boots, and Arai Helmets for keeping me safe during my crash on Friday!”
Rispoli’s riding was certainly better than his result in Saturday’s Daytona Sport Bike race, where he finished seventh after starting from fifth. The 23 rider field was filled with aggression, with several riders fighting for top positions all race long. Rispoli would improve his finish on Sunday with a sixth place at the checkered flag, after riding as high as third during the race. James’ steady hand and even finishes puts him solidly in fifth place in the overall Daytona Sport Bike standings with 71 points. Rispoli was optimistic and said “the weekend was full, with plenty of ups and a few downs. Overall though, another great step in the right direction. The motorcycle, the team, and I are becoming more and more accustomed to Daytona Sport Bike. Race two on Sunday we had some very consistent laps, and we were only 6 seconds off the podium. We need to work on a few more things, and we will be fighting for some podiums. Hats off and thanks to the National Guard Celtic team for working so hard and helping me to get competitive in DSB. Many thanks also to my personal sponsors, Dainese Leathers, AGV Helmets, Monster Energy, Spider Grips, and Techmounts for all their support!”
Celtic Racing is proud to partner with: Army National Guard, Michael Jordan Motorsports, Orient Express Racing, Hudson Valley Motorcycles, American Suzuki, Armour Bodies, Bazzaz, Chicken Hawk Racing, DesignStar3, D.I.D. Chain, FMF Exhaust, Full Spectrum Power, Galfer, GB Racing, K-Tech Suspension, Maxima Racing Oils, Motion Pro, Pit Bull Products, Saddlemen, Signs Ink, Star Motorcycle School, Vortex Racing, and Zero Gravity.
CELTIC RACING
Celtic Racing was established in 2001 by Barry Gilsenan, and over the past 12 seasons has established itself as a premier privateer racing team. Development of riding talent began with two-stroke 125cc, and 250cc machines competing in professional and regional championship events. More recent Celtic Racing efforts have focused on AMA Pro Road Racing in the Daytona SportBike and SuperSport classes with Ducati, Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha four stroke motorcycles. Gilsenan’s talent for coaching racers of all ages and abilities has brought Celtic Racing worldwide attention and recognition, with many former Celtic Racing riders now competing on World Championship levels. Please join Celtic Racing on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CelticRacing
ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
The National Guard is the oldest military branch. Today, Citizen-Soldiers hold civilian jobs or attend college while training part time, staying ready to defend America in the event of an emergency. The National Guard serves both state and federal governments. During local emergencies, Guard units assist residents endangered by storms, floods, fires and other disasters. Guard companies deployed overseas may see combat, but are often found building schools and hospitals, training local peacekeepers or teaching local farmers more efficient techniques and better uses of their land. Please visit http://www.nationalguard.com to find out more.
ORIENT EXPRESS
Established in 1973, Orient Express is celebrating it’s 40th year as a high performance motorcycle parts distributor and race shop. Orient Express offers engine and motorcycle building services, precision machine work, suspension servicing, and dyno tuning services. Orient Express has an extensive history of racing, including support of both professional and amateur race series and individuals. For more information regarding Orient Express, or to find out what Orient Express can do for your racing success, please call 800.645.6521 or 631.231.9552 (NY/International), visit http://www.orientexpress.com or join them on Facebook at http://www.orientexpress.com
More, from a press release issued by Saddlemen:
Saddlemen Fills the Podium at Barber
Rancho Dominguez, Calif. – June 25, 2013 – Saddlemen captured seven podium finishes in the Triumph SuperBike Classic at Barber Motorsports Park. Warm temperatures and some close battles made for an exciting weekend in Birmingham, AL as some of the best young racers in the sport put their Saddlemen seats to the test.
AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Saddlemen’s impressive stable of talented young racers put forth their best efforts this weekend in the Daytona SportBike class, and after all was said and done it was Jake Gagne who led the way with a pair of 2nd place finishes. After a commanding performance in Saturday’s race, the RoadRace Factory rider experienced a setback when he high-sided in Sunday morning warm-ups. Despite injuring both feet, the 19-year old fought through the pain and challenged for the lead through a majority of the second race. As the leader pulled away in the final laps Gagne settled for another 2nd place finish, and with it a solid hold on the same position in the DSB standings.
Gagne’s RoadRace Factory teammate, JD Beach, is continuing to demonstrate growth as he held off a late charge to take the final spot in the top-5 by just .003 seconds. Beach improved on Sunday with a 3rd place finish. Although he was the fourth bike across the line, Beach was promoted to the podium after a 5-second jump-start penalty was enforced on several riders. This podium is the second of the season for Beach, and he holds a 2-point lead for 3rd place in the standings.
National Guard/Celtic Racing’s James Rispoli continued his streak of 7th place finishes with another in Race 1 aboard his Saddlemen Performance Chicane seat. The Rocket made some adjustments in Sunday morning practice that apparently paid off. Rispoli made a beautiful pass into third at the famous “Charlotte’s Web” turn, but fell back to a battle for fifth place in the final laps. Though James did not capture his first top-5 SportBike finish, he did end up with a career-best 6th place, and is in 5th in the Daytona SportBike standings.
Riders Discount racer Joey Pascarella put together a pair of top-10 finishes. Following Saturday’s 9th place finish, the 2012 Daytona 200 champ finished 10th on Sunday. These are the first top-10 finishes of the season for the Pascarella, and he has climbed the ranks to 15th after five races.
D&D Cycles/Castrol’s Bobby Fong rode his Saddlemen-equipped Triumph Daytona 675 to an 8th place finish in Race 1, but dropped out midway through the second race. Fong is in 10th in the standings.
AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport With National Guard/Celtic Racing’s Caroline Olsen still recovering from shoulder surgery, Saddlemen only had four racers compete in the SuperSport class at Barber. Race 1 saw a pair of Saddlemen-equipped riders atop the podium, as RoadRace Factory’s Tomas Puerta finished 2nd and TOBC Racing’s Nick McFadden followed in 3rd.
Puerta followed up on Sunday with a 3rd place finish, missing out on a 2-2 weekend by just .004 seconds. Puerta did not earn points for his SuperSport West campaign, but a pair of podium finishes on his Saddlemen-equipped R6 is a good sign for the 20-year old in search of his first SuperSport title.
Puerta was joined on the Sunday podium by fellow Saddlemen racer Hayden Gillim who finished 2nd. The Team 95 rider improved on his 4th place in the first race of the weekend by earning his second podium finish of the season in Race 2 and establishing himself in 3rd place in the SuperSport East standings.
McFadden just turned 16 this June, qualifying him for AMA Pro competition. He started his AMA career off with a bang with his 3rd place podium appearance in his first pro race. Unfortunately, Nick crashed out of the second race, but his impressive debut got him started at 10th in the SuperSport East standings.
National Guard/Celtic Racing’s Corey Alexander continued his strong 2013 campaign with a pair of 6th place finishes. After 3 rounds of racing on his Saddlemen Performance Sport seat, Alexander is just two points behind the SuperSport East leader in 2nd place.
Learn more about Saddlemen Performance seats and other products at www.saddlemen.com. Get more product and racing news by following Saddlemen on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
More, from a press release issued by Galfer:
Galfer Riders Earn Six Podiums at Barber Motorsports Park
Oxnard, Calif. – June 25, 2013 – Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, is known as a tight, technical track where precision braking is just as important as throttle. During last weekend’s round three of the AMA Pro Road Racing season, Galfer-sponsored riders showed off their braking skills as well as their competitive edge, taking a total of six podium finishes during the double-header weekend at Barber.
SuperBike After bringing home eighth and ninth at Road America, KTM/HMC Racing’s Chris Fillmore stepped up his game to bring home fifth and seventh at Barber on his Galfer-equipped RC8R. His teammate Taylor Knapp also broke into the top ten, finishing ninth in race two.
Daytona SportBike RoadRace Factory rider Jake Gagne continued to be a top contender in Daytona SportBike, finishing second in both races on his Yamaha YZF-R6. His effort in race two was especially valiant, after a morning practice crash left him with two injured feet. Gagne’s double podium follows up a win at Road America, and he continues to hold down the second spot in championship points.
Jason DiSalvo rode his Team Latus Motorsports Triumph 675R to third in race one. In race two, JD Beach joined Gagne on the podium, improving from his fifth-place finish in race one. The RoadRace Factory rider was third after holding off a charge from a pack of riders, and it marks Beach’s second trip to the podium this season.
Dane Westby also had a strong weekend on his GEICO Honda CBR600RR, finishing fourth in race one and fifth in race two. It marks the first time that Westby has broken into the top five this season.
SuperSport Tomas Puerta gave Galfer two SuperSport podiums at Barber, finishing second in race one and third in race two. Puerta took over second in race one, but had to hold off several challengers before his RoadRace Factory R6 crossed the finish line in that position. In race three, Puerta fought hard once again and finished third, just 0.004-second behind the second-place finisher.
Hayden Gillim also represented Galfer on the podium after finishing second in SuperSport race two. He was on board a Galfer-equipped Team 95 Yamaha YZF-R6.
Harley-Davidson Series Triple Crown/RMR’s Michael Barnes is always a standout in the Harley-Davidson Series, and round three at Barber was no exception. Barnes finished second on his Harley-Davidson XR1200, which allowed him to hang onto his lead in the championship. Barnes now sits just one point ahead of second place, so he’ll have his work cut out for him at round four.
Follow Barnes and all of Galfer’s AMA Pro Road Racing riders when they get round four underway at the historic Mid-Ohio, July 12-14. To learn more about Galfer performance brakes for racing, street and off-road applications, visit www.GalferUSA.com.
More, from a press release issued by Dunlop:
Dunlop riders set lap record and fastest race lap times at Barber
Buffalo, NY: A fantastic weekend of close and exciting competition at Barber Motorsports Park served to highlight the ongoing development of Dunlop’s Buffalo, NY-made race tires as riders posted faster race laps in all four classes.
In the American SuperBike Class, Monster Energy/Graves Yamaha R1 rider Josh Hayes won both races despite being hounded relentlessly all weekend by National Guard/Jordan Suzuki’s Roger Hayden. In the process, Hayden set a new SuperBike fastest race lap at Barber of 1.25.2 during Saturday’s race, a half-second faster than the 2012 fastest race lap. The pace was exceptionally fast with Hayes and Hayden lapping in the mid-1.25s for most of the duration of both races. The performance of the domestically developed and produced Dunlop 200/55R17 KR449 slicks was stellar, with amazing consistency during both races despite track temperatures topping 118 degrees. Case in point: on lap 20 of Saturday’s race Hayden turned an impressive 1.25.6 despite the wear and brutal temperatures.
In the Daytona SportBike class, all riders competed on Sportmax D211GP-A tires designed and produced in Buffalo. During Saturday’s qualifying session, Cameron Beaubier and his Yamaha Extended Service/Monster Energy/Graves Yamaha R6 set a new lap record in qualifying with a 1.27.2, which was 0.2 of a second faster than the previous record. He backed up that effort with a new fastest race lap during race 2, turning a lap time of 1.27.4 seconds, which was 0.8 of a second faster than the fastest race lap in 2012.
With the entire SuperSport field likewise mounted aboard US-made Sportmax D211 GP-A DOT-approved tires, 16-year-old Joe Roberts celebrated his birthday and AMA racing debut by winning both races in impressive fashion aboard his California Superbike School/Roadracingworld.com Honda CBR600RR. In the process, Roberts dominated the racing and set a new fastest race lap for the class in race 2 with a remarkable time of 1.29.0, nearly a second faster than the previous year.
Veteran Steve Rapp topped the fastest race lap during the Harley-Davidson XR1200 race aboard D211 GP-A tires as he lowered the previous class fastest race lap by a full second, posting a 1.34.6 time that demolished the 1.35.6 fast-lap mark set only a year ago in 2012.
Dunlop extends its thanks and congratulations to all of the racers who worked so hard over the weekend, with a special shout-out to the four riders who set lowered race times. As the spec-tire supplier to AMA Pro Road Racing, Dunlop never ceases its ongoing development of race tires, and the performance at Barber serves as proof that racing continues to improve the breed—advancements that we incorporate into the Dunlop street tires available to all riders.
About Dunlop Dunlop is the largest supplier of original equipment and replacement motorcycle tires in the U.S. and the only manufacturer of motorcycle tires in North America. With North American operations located in Buffalo, NY, Dunlop has been making and selling high-quality tires in the U.S. since 1923. For more information, visit www.dunlopmotorcycle.com.