VESRAH SUZUKI VICTORIOUS AT SUMMIT POINT IN WERA NATIONAL CHALLENGE SERIES. Vesrah Suzuki riders finished on the podium in all of the races they entered at the WERA National Challenge sprint races held this weekend at Summit Point Motorsports Park in Summit Point WV. Tim Bemisderfer on his Suzuki GSX-R 1000’s won both the Open Superstock and WERA Superbike races. Mark Junge on his 2011 Suzuki GSX-R 750 finished 3rd in Open Superstock and 2nd in both 750 Superstock and WERA Superbike Mark Junge Team Owner Vesrah Suzuki & Rider #57 “It feels awesome to get back on a bike in a racing situation and to return to my roots in the WERA National paddock. To finish on the podium in all of my races is fantastic and I’m glad Tim Bemisderfer was able to come out with 2 victories. I am going to run the rest of the WERA National schedule to try and help Tim in the points chase by running blocker and am looking forward to spending more time on my Suzuki GSX-R’s. Also as an AMA Pro Racing team owner, the best way to evaluate the kids about to enter that series is to be on track and race against them. “ Tim Bemisderfer Vesrah Suzuki #511 “It was a huge boost to my quest for two 2011 WERA National Challenge Series championships to win both races today. It was also great to be on track with team owner Mark Junge and have his support. I have to thank my personal sponsors Dunlop, Twigg Cycles, CTR Suspensions & Washington Cycle Works.” Vesrah Suzuki wants to thank all of their sponsors for their support for the 2011 season Vesrah, American Suzuki, Rockstar Energy Drink, Nielsen Enterprises Suzuki, Penske Racing Shocks, Traxxion Dynamics Fork Components, Yoshimura, Catalyst Racing Composites, Sudco Int., Bazzaz, Factory Pro, Maxima Racing Oils, Vortex, DID Chain, GPR Stabilizers, Trek Bicycles, GP Tech, Active, Pilot, Suzuka Tire Warmers, Pit Bull & Road Rage Designs More, from a press release issued by Racedays Promotions: Titanic battle for European Junior Cup at Silverstone as Australian Davies takes championship lead. The European Junior Cup was once again blessed with sunny skies for the fourth race of the 2011 Championship at the legendary Silverstone circuit. New faces at the EJC included wild card entries New Zealand 125cc champion Jake Lewis, BSB 125 front runner Lee Jackson and standing in for his injured friend Ross Patterson, young Ulsterman Adam McLean. Free practice and qualifying showed that McLean wasn’t just there to keep Patterson’s Kawasaki Ninja 250R warm, as he first posted second place in practice and then set an amazing pole lap ahead of Spain’s Ruben Fenoll, Australian Matt Davies and Germany’s Tom Busch. From the start this race had the makings of a classic battle as a group of seven riders fought for the lead. McLean proved he was going to be a tough contender in the race, bashing fairings and elbows with Davies as they sought to make a break from the pack with Davies even being run on to the grass at one point, only to recover and move back into the lead. Lewis and Jackson both managed to break through to a second place position during the race, but were passed as the lead group shuffled positions nearly every corner. Although Davies pushed as hard as possible he could not break the tow of McLean and the chasing pack, and at the final chicane any one of the seven riders were in contention. McLean tried his hardest to break past Davies but was held off by the Australian and then passed by Ruben Fenoll, who had previously set the fastest lap of the race. Matt Davies went on to take his 3rd victory of the season and with it the championship lead, followed by Ruben Fenoll for 2nd and Adam McLean taking the final podium step. McLean’s performance is­­­­ particularly impressive given that this was his first time at the circuit, or on the Kawasaki Ninja 250R. Germany’s Tom Busch was visibly distraught as he lost his championship lead finishing in 4th ahead of Lee Jackson and the increasingly strong American rider Brandon Kyee. Jake Lewis showed he has the pace for his next EJC race at Magny Cours, the young New Zealander rounding off the leading group of seven who were covered by only 1.5 seconds at the line. French rider Jean Francois Demoulin was happy to finish a strong 8th following some bad luck in the first part of the season and Englishman Loris Hunt had his best result of the year. The former British grasstrack champion coming in ninth after a great battle with New Zealands Daniel Mettam, French lady rider Amelie Demoulin and British Pakistani Qays Hashmi. More, from a press release issued by BMW Motorrad Motorsport: First world championship lead for the BMW S 1000 RR. Fourth place at the Suzuka 8-Hour race catapulted Team BMW Motorrad France 99 to the top of the FIM Endurance World Championship standings. Munich/Stephanskirchen, 3rd August 2011. The BMW S 1000 RR has taken the lead in a world championship for the first time. Team BMW Motorrad France 99 now tops the FIM Endurance World Championship standings following the prestigious Suzuka 8-Hour race (JPN). The team had already finished on the podium at the first race of the season, the renowned “Bol d’Or” 24-hour race in Magny-Cours (FRA), and then had secured the first victory for the BMW S 1000 RR in a world championship race when it triumphed at the 8-hour race in Albacete (ESP). The team enjoyed an extremely successful debut at the classic in Suzuka, with Erwan Nigon (FRA), Sébastien Gimbert (FRA) and Damien Cudlin (AUS) finishing in fourth place. The Suzuka 8-Hours is held in particularly high esteem within the Endurance World Championship, as it attracts a heavy presence from Japanese riders and teams on full factory bikes. As a result, the regular starters in the FIM Endurance World Championship face a difficult challenge to finish in the top ten. “This is an unbelievable result for BMW”, said Marcel Driessen, Director BMW Motorrad France. “To take fourth place on our debut at Suzuka is incredible enough, but to also take the lead in the World Championship standings is simply fantastic. The team have done a great job with our BMW S 1000 RR this season, but we cannot rest on our laurels. We need to continue to work on the bike, to ensure we have the most competitive package possible for our home race at Le Mans and the season finale in Qatar. Congratulations to the team and our riders on leading the championship, and let’s hope we can maintain this position until the end of the season.” Team BMW Motorrad France 99 was the only regular FIM Endurance World Championship team able to hold its own against the powerful Japanese factory teams. Fourth place was enough for the team to move into the overall lead in the world championship, with a six-point lead over its closest rivals. The next round of the FIM Endurance World Championship is the Le Mans 24 Hours (FRA) on 24th/25th September 2011. More, from a press release issued by Damian Cudlin’s publicist: CUDLIN LEADS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER SUZUKA SUCCESS Australia’s Damian Cudlin has taken the lead in the 2011 Endurance World Championship after claiming his best ever finish at the Suzuka 8 Hours Race in Japan on the weekend. The BMW Motorrad Team of Gimbert, Nigon and Cudlin entered the race trailing championship leaders Suzuki Endurance Racing Team by 2 points, but a determined effort saw them dominate their rivals in Japan, securing 4th place at the finish; 4 laps ahead of SERT in 9th. Entering the BMW S1000RR into the Suzuka 8 Hour for the first time, the BMW Motorrad Team had a lot to learn in the limited practice sessions, however after making rapid progress with every outing, the team secured a slot in the Top 10 Superpole Shoot Out which determined the starting positions for the famous event. With rain interrupting Cudlin’s attempt at a fast lap in Superpole, Frenchman Erwan Nigon was put in charge of securing the team’s grid position, and he stormed to a 2.09.5 minute lap time and sensational 7th place. Having achieved their best ever starting position at the Suzuka 8 Hour event, the BMW Motorrad Team then elected Cudlin to start the race who’d shown impressive speed on race rubber all weekend. Bursting from his grid position, Cudlin made a tremendous start and ran as high as 5th in the opening laps before finding a comfortable rhythm in a group of 3 riders battling for 6th. Riding with speed, security and intelligence, Cudlin turned the team’s fastest lap of the race before bringing the bike back for Gimbert at the first round of stops. “The start procedure seemed to drag on forever and while I was sitting in the sweltering heat all I wanted to do was go racing.” Cudlin explained. “The last time I started a race it was a bit of a disaster when I couldn’t start the engine, so I was focused on getting it right this time. Thankfully I made a clean start and put in a solid first stint. I spent the whole hour riding around with fellow Aussie Wayne Maxwell which kept us both entertained!” The BMW Motorrad Team performed a slick pit stop and Gimbert took to the circuit for his first stint of the race, but just moments later the former EWC Champion was on the ground at the hairpin. Fearing the worst, Nigon prepared to take over, however a gritty display saw Gimbert pick up the bike and carry on in without pitting. Having done nothing to dent his confidence, Gimbert continued riding at impressive speed, before Nigon took to the controls at the end of the hour. The trio rode faultlessly from that point on in the race, and aided by lightning fast pit stops, the BMW Motorrad Team crossed the finish line in a terrific 4th place, trailing only the Factory Japanese Entries of Honda and Suzuki. “We’re over the moon with this result and to be leading the World Championship for the first time in my career. The race was tough but our priority here was to beat SERT and we did that convincingly. The team performed brilliantly with faultless pit stops, and the Michelin tyres also made our life a lot easier in the race. It also shows how good the BMW S1000RR is”¦ I could pass practically anyone on the back straight!” Cudlin grinned. “I’m really proud of this team and all our supporters. We’re giving 110% this year and I’m just happy to be a part of it.” The BMW Motorrad Team will now focus on the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hour race in September, knowing that a good result there could win them a World Championship. More, from a press release issued by TVR/EBC Brakes Yamaha: TVR/EBC Brakes Yamaha Closes in on WERA Endurance Championship Lead SUMMIT POINT, W. Va.””TVR/EBC Brakes Yamaha closed to within one point of the WERA National Endurance championship lead during Saturday’s six-hour race at Summit Point Raceway. The team of Chuck Ivey, Scott Brown, Phil Caudill and Shane Williams finished second. The narrow championship gap gives TVR/EBC Brakes Yamaha extra momentum as they prepare for the final three rounds of the season. Team owner Chuck Ivey says that the team has to be aggressive while still being smart. “We’re really going to push like we do every weekend,” Ivey says. “With only three rounds left, it’s going to be a fine line between pushing and staying consistent. We can’t make any mistakes.” TVR/EBC Brakes Yamaha certainly didn’t make any mistakes at Summit Point. They battled more than just their competitors at the West Virginia track, fighting high heat and humidity. They led during the third hour before settling into second for the second half of the race. Summit Point marked the first time that Caudill and Williams have competed on the TVR/EBC Brakes Yamaha YZF-R1. The duo usually competes on the team’s R6, but the long race and weather conditions prompted Ivey to consolidate for the weekend. In addition to new riders, the R1 also had new Michelin tires. Not knowing what to expect of the new tires’ characteristics, Ivey figured they would spend all of Friday’s practice sessions acclimating to them. “That turned out to be unnecessary,” Ivey says. “In our first session out, the tires were great and we knew we were working with something good. We made some setup changes and our practice day was flawless.” Ivey and the rest of TVR/EBC Brakes Yamaha are hoping the remainder of the WERA National Endurance Series season will be flawless, as well. The team has earned overall wins at two of the three venues: Barber Motorsports Park and Road Atlanta. “The championship seemed out of reach a couple races ago,” says Ivey. “This just shows how fast things can turn around.” TVR’s sponsors include EBC Brakes, Michelin, Yamaha, Aiken Motorcycle, XES Leather, MotoHeaven.com, Arai, EK Chains, VP Fuels, and Dyno Jet. Keep up with the team online at www.TeamVelocityRacing.com. More, from a press release issued by West Coast GP Cycles: WEST COAST GP CYCLES INVADES COLORADO West Coast GP Cycles loaded up a stack of the Los Angeles team’s Pirelli-shod Suzuki SV650s and headed for Round Five of the MRA racing series in Colorado this weekend. When the dust settled at High Plains Raceway on Sunday, the team had a trophy in the bag, a pair of finishes in the 4-hour endurance race, and a pile of new friends and excellent memories. “We had an excellent adventure, and the team performed superbly,” said West Coast GP Cycles co-owner Andy Palmer. “MRA runs an awesome program, and they made us feel welcome – even though they’ve got a few new rules to write into the rulebook, thanks to us!” Dustin Coyner put his Pirelli-shod SV650 on the box in SuperTwins GTU, and he and his father Charlie “Biggie” Coyner took their SV650 to 18th in the endurance race on Saturday afternoon. In that race, Palmer and Michael Gougis took their SV650 to 15th overall – overcoming a stop-and-go penalty for jumping the start and being forced to make an extra pit stop after getting caught out by a red flag. The teams were the first all-SV teams across the line after four hours of hard racing. It is worth noting that because of the West Coast GP Cycles team and its terrifying-to-nutritionists dietary habits, MRA racers now can order from the cafe the “West Coast Billy” – a heart-stopping combination of a bacon cheeseburger and a Philly cheese steak sandwich.