ESP/ VENEMOTOS YAMAHA TAKING UTAH MOMENTUM TO ROAD AMERICA (Elkhart Lake, WI)”” ESP/ Venemotos Yamaha rolls into Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin for the sixth round of the AMA Superbike series. Robertino Pietri and the Tucson based ESP crew are still riding high from their podium success in Utah and are looking to carry that momentum into Wisconsin. Although the Larry Miller GTU race wasn’t an AMA event, many of the top AMA competitors participated in the one-off race. The ESP crew was able to work on the setup of Pietri’s Yamaha R6 and are confident that the extra track time will help them at the fast and flowing Road America circuit. Pietri was at, or near, the top of every time sheet heading into the final on Saturday afternoon. Minutes before the race was scheduled to go off, the sky opened up and wetted down the track for the first time all weekend. As competitors scrambled to fit rain tires and adjust settings, Robertino and the ESP crew gambled that the track would dry with enough time to take advantage of the slick tires they had fitted. The gamble almost payed off as Tino was closing fast on eventual race winner West when the checkered flag fell, posting the fastest lap of the race in the process with a 1:57.8 . ESP/ Venemotos will be re-joined by Supersport standout Josh Day when the East Supersport championship resumes this weekend at Road America. Robertino Pietri: “What a race! I knew that a dry line was going to develop after the first couple of laps, but when the green flag waved I dropped the clutch and just sat in place spinning the rear tire, by the time it hooked up I think two rows passed me. The first few corners were a little sketchy with the slick tires and I was wondering if we made the wrong choice. As the laps went on, a dry line developed and I was able to put my head down and start passing people. With a few more laps I think I would have caught Cory, but his treaded tire choice allowed him to gap us enough in the early laps that we couldn’t catch him. This was a great opportunity for us to work on our setup and finishing on the podium wasn’t too bad either. I’m feeling really good going into Road America ” Evan Steel: “That is what we needed! Tino rode smart all weekend, he was always up front in every session and even when it rained he was confident going into the race. We were able to work on Tino’s setup in various conditions and run against a lot of our normal AMA Sportbike competitors. Heading into Road America after this weekend, there is no reason why we shouldn’t be battling for a top ten this weekend.” For Sponsorship inquiries contact Murph at Syndicate Motorsport Management, LLC: (+1) 831 464 3458 or email: [email protected] Team ESP/ Venemotos Yamaha: Evan Steel Performance is a small, personal, specialized shop located in Tucson, Arizona that deals with all aspects of motorcycle road racing. ESP bikes have had some of the highest trap speeds in their classes at AMA Nationals, as well as the highest top speed at start/finish at the 50th annual Macau Grand Prix. In 2008, ESP scored a very rare privateer podium at the VIR AMA National in the Superstock class with Chris Peris. ESP is open to any level of racing, from basic race prep to planning a season at the Nationals. ESP can be reached at (520) 294 3050 or www.evansteelperformance.com More, from a press release issued by Buell: Buell Teams Head Home to Road America Expectations are High for Local Teams and Racers East Troy, Wis. (June 4, 2009) Buell racers and teams head into the sixth round of the 2009 AMA Pro Road Racing season at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, June 5-7 with optimism and high expectations at the company’s home track. With three wins so far in the Daytona SportBike class, early season standout Danny Eslick (Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Racing/RMR/GEICO Powersports) has seen his one-time points lead slip to third place with challenging races at the last two rounds at Barber and Infineon. But Eslick hopes that support from the home field crowd and the high-speed nature of the track will put him back into the championship mix. “It’s going to be a good weekend; I’ve always liked this place,” said Eslick, who races for Elkhart Lake-based Richie Morris Racing. “We’re coming in on a high note, being in Buell’s backyard, and I need to win a couple of races to get myself back in the championship. With [Team M4 Suzuki’s] Martin [Cardenas] winning four races in a row, he’s pulled out a little bit of a gap on us. We fell off the pace a little bit at a couple of rounds, but we scored points. So we have to get through here with some good finishes. The track’s going to be good for us and the bike, rain or shine, so we’re really looking forward to it.” Eslick’s teammate, Michael Barnes, riding the GEICO Powersports/RMR Buell 1125R sees this weekend as a chance to get his season back on track after a difficult start. “Being back in Buell’s home territory, with all the employees coming out, it will be special for everyone, ourselves included,” Barnes said. “I’m really looking forward to a top finish. I’ve had one top five and one top ten and I’m really ready to get two strong results out of one weekend.” Both riders are gunning for a strong showing in Friday’s 10-rider Superpole final qualifying session: “This is a track I’ve always gone well at. Superpole is my minimum expectation, but I really expect Danny and I to be running up front,” Barnes said. The home field advantage will be equally strong for Buell teams entered in Saturday’s SunTrust Moto-GT series 2-hour endurance race, where two local teams are joined by another sponsored by a local company. Wisconsin-based James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing will field two Buell teams sponsored by H-D/Buell of Appleton, and team riders Paul James and Jeff Johnson will continue their quest for a podium finish in Moto-GT1 aboard their Buell 1125R after a season best 5th place finish at Barber Motorsports Park in May. “We’ve had a challenging season so far, learning a new bike, new tires and new tracks,” said James. “We’ve made progress in developing the bike, and we look forward to racing it at our home track of Road America.” The second James Gang/Hoban Brothers entry will be a Buell Firebolt XB12R in Moto-GT2 ridden by motorcycle journalists Kevin Duke from Motorcycle.com and Troy Siahaan from Sport Rider magazine. This will be the AMA Pro SunTrust Moto-GT debut for both riders. Elkhart Lake-based Richie Morris Racing rejoins the Moto-GT series with a GT1 class entry with Wisconsin-based riders Clint Brotz and Danny Bilansky aboard an 1125R. Rounding out the Moto-GT Buell entries is the Liberty Waves Racing/H-D/Buell of Antelope Valley GT1 team of Eric Pinson and Eric Haugo are sponsored by Wisconsin-based Dairyland Cycle Insurance, who are currently fourth in the Moto-GT1 points standings. The Old Glory H-D team of Jaycent Gebers and Dennie Huff rejoin Moto-GT2 after taking the Barber round off . In addition to the on-track action, Buell Motorcycle Company will host a series of events in East Troy and at Road America for fans, beginning Friday morning with an open house at the Buell factory in East Troy and continuing throughout the weekend at Road America. Scheduled activities at East Troy on Friday June 5 include: Open house at Buell Motorcycle Company Factory tours Outdoor product display Autograph session with Erik Buell In addition to the East Troy open house, Homecoming activities at Road America during the AMA race weekend, June 4-7, include: Demo rides on the full line of Buell Motorcycles (Friday-Sunday, 9-5pm) Racer autograph session under the Buell demo canopy Rider recharge hospitality area under the demo canopy Exclusive Buell motorcycle parking near the demo area Founded by visionary motorcycle designer and former privateer racer Erik Buell in 1983, Buell Motorcycle Company, a subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, Inc., produces sport motorcycles, motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel, including the 1125R superbike and 1125CR cafe racer and air-cooled XB-series Ulysses, Firebolt, and Lightning. To learn more about Buell motorcycles, or to locate the dealer nearest you, log onto www.buell.com. More, from a press release issued by Penny Nicolai, on behalf of Melissa Paris: MELISSA PARIS READY FOR A STRONG FINISH Oceanside. Calif — Heading to the lush green farmlands of Wisconsin and the running of Round 6 of the AMA Pro Road Racing Series at Road America, June 5-7, Melissa Paris and her team are ready to score a strong finish. “This is a doubleheader event,” says Paris who pilots the No. 13 Markbilt Yamaha R-6. “I think it should be a good weekend for us. Road America is one of my very favorite tracks. I ran in the ASRA/CCS Spring Fling in early May and took a second place in the USGPRU 250GP, a first in Femmoto and a sixth place in the ASRA Factory Pro Sportbike. The track offers long fast straights, big sweeping turns and lots of room for passing which is very cool.” In her first year of professional AMA road racing, this event will mark Paris’ second appearance in the Daytona SportBike Series. “We are running selected races this season,” explains Paris, who has already earned accolades for scoring the best finish by a woman in Daytona 200 history, beating over 50 competitors and for being the first female to ever qualify for a World Supersport event. “To me this year is all about learning and every time I ride our Yamaha R-6, I learn a little more. Last weekend’s World Supersport event was incredible and though we didn’t get the results we hoped for, I did gain a tremendous amount of knowledge. I was pretty nervous the whole time which won’t be the case at Road America. I am definitely looking forward to getting on the track.” A hard charger from the word go, Paris is determined to continue to hone her two-wheeled skill to a sharp edge. One of the most professional riders on the road racing circuit, she is well-versed it what it takes to win and her determination to get to the top is evident. More, from a press release issued by James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing: JAMES GANG/HOBAN BROTHERS RACING TO FIELD TWO TEAMS IN MOTO-GT AT ROAD AMERICA Waukesha, Wisc. – James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing will field two Buell teams sponsored by H-D/Buell of Appleton during round four of AMA Pro Racing’s SunTrust MOTO-GT series at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisc., held during the AMA Superbike race weekend on June 6. Team riders Paul James and Jeff Johnson will continue their quest for a podium finish in Moto-GT1 aboard their Buell 1125R after a season best 5th place finish at Barber Motorsports Park in May. “We’ve had a challenging season so far, learning a new bike, new tires and new tracks,” said James. “We’ve made progress in developing the bike, and look forward to racing it at our home track of Road America.” The second James Gang/Hoban Brothers entry will be a Buell Firebolt XB12R in Moto-GT2 ridden by motorcycle journalists Kevin Duke and Troy Siahaan. This will be the AMA Pro SunTrust Moto-GT debut for both riders. “After running countless laps on dozens of production sportbikes in the process of bike testing for a motorcycle publication, it’s a real thrill to be actually racing once again,” said Duke. “The wide variety of machinery in the Moto-GT class always makes competition intriguing, and it will be both challenging and fun to chase a solid finish on the Buell XB12R at a cool track like Road America.” “I just want to thank James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing for this great opportunity. Kevin Duke and I are good friends and fierce competitors and we’re really looking forward to racing this weekend,” said Siahaan. The James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing crew for the Road America weekend will include Tuner John Dahmer and Crew Chiefs Mike Kirkpatrick and Matt King along with Alex Opperman, Pete Johnson, Amy James, Rita Johnson, Ben Schmidt and Zach Erb. More, from a press release issued by Pilot USA: Elkhart Lake, WI June 4rd, 2009 Four-Time World Champion and AMA Superbike Champion Doug Polen returns to AMA Pro Racing competition this weekend at Road America. Polen will be riding the # 27 4FR Toyota Trucks/GreenAcres.org American Superbike entry to help the team develop set up on the bike and evaluate their program overall. This is a special project that will see Polen take his vast knowledge and rider know-how to the track where the race and riders are, rather than the norm of riders and bikes coming to him at scheduled school and track. It is a direct line of communication and guidance at the track of choice for those riders and team in need, all in real time. Over the course of the weekend, Doug will be coaching the younger riders on the team as well as filling in for the injured American Superbike rider Scotty Van Hawk. “This is a great opportunity for the team and I was thrilled that we are able to put this together and that Doug was available. We hope to take what we learn from Doug this weekend and build on our recent top-ten finishes. It’s an honor to add him to our roster” said 4FR team principal Scotty Van Hawk. Doug Polen will use his 1on1 Riders School curriculum to guide the other team riders on and off the track during the weekend. “The 4FR team riders vary greatly in age and experience levels and are a perfect fit for my school program” said Polen. “I’m looking forward to working with them, riding the team’s Superbike and help them sort it all out. It should be a great weekend” About Doug Polen Polen is a Two-Time World Superbike Champion, Two-Time World Endurance Champion and AMA Superbike Champion that now offers his years of championship riding experience in his 1on1 Riders School. The schools are held at various tracks and locations in the US. Private instruction is also available at the track of choice. For more information, please visit www.gopolen.com More, from a press release issued by E3: Elkhart Lake, WI June 3, 2009 Red Bull & Speed and Strength sponsored stunt rider Aaron Colton will participate in his first national AMA race this coming weekend at Road America, located in Elkhart lake, WI. Known for performing breathtaking stunts on high powered sportbikes, 17 year old stunt riding sensation Aaron Colton will attend the AMA Pro Racing event campaigning the number 93 CBR600RR in the ultra competitive Supersport class. What clearly excites Aaron the most is this chance to make history. Colton will be the first of his sport to cross over into the world of road racing, and Colton is ready; “I feel this weekend is a huge accomplishment for me even before the flag drops” Colton explained. “Making the cross over from stunting in parking lots to competitive high speed track events, especially on an historical track like Road America, has been a big goal of mine. No matter what the results, I have achieved something really unique just by competing.” But Colton has been preparing and it’s doubtful he will be satisfied with anything less that his personal best: “I have been training as hard as I can, and while I may not have the very best equipment, from a fitness perspective I am ready to go!” Colton noted. “I am looking forward to a great experience and quality results. Most of all, I am super happy to be campaigning all my sponsors in both the stunt riding community and the road racing community. It’s not just about adding value it’s about taking a much more comprehensive approach to the sport as well as the motorcycle and motorsports industries as a whole. Again, that’s something truly unique that I am glad to be pioneering!” Colton will be also participating in a special Tucker Rocky / Speed and Strength event at Chaparral Motorsports in San Bernardino, CA Wednesday night and then flies to Elkhart Lake to hit the track for practice and qualifying Saturday and Sunday. Aaron Colton will compete in his first supersport race Sunday and will be updating his fans on his progress through press releases, myspace, twitter and other means throughout the weekend. For more information on Aaron Colton, visit www.aaroncolton.com, www.myspace.com/aaroncolton or http://my.SportbikeClub.com/Aaron_Colton. If you have questions or would like additional information, you can also contact his management agency, E3, toll free at 866-390-3453. More, from a press release issued by Jordan Suzuki: CHICAGO, IL Michael Jordan Motorsports will hit the track for Round 6 of the AMA Pro Racing series this weekend at Road America. The Elkhart Lake, WI track is the unofficial ‘”home” circuit of the MJM #23 Jordan Suzuki and #54 National Guard Jordan Suzuki teams, which are based out of East Troy, WI. Boasting the longest straightaway of any track on the 2009 calendar, Road America is a scenic and exciting venue on which to showcase the power of the teams’ GSX-R 1000s and will offer fans exciting racing in the American Superbike class. Action begins on June 5 with Practice and Qualifying and continues through June 7 with feature American Superbike races taking place on both Saturday and Sunday. Jordan Suzuki #23 Aaron Yates and the #23 Jordan Suzuki squad come off a mixed finish in Round 5 at Infineon Raceway and look to set the tone this weekend at Road America. Finishing a strong fourth in Race 1 at Infineon after a season-high second in Round 3, Yates and his 2009 Suzuki GSX-R have proven they have the pace to run up front. Supported by his Richie Alexander and Karl Steyrer-led crew, Yates brings his considerable experience to the fast Elkhart Lake track and will be looking for the podium once again. Yates is currently in seventh place in the Championship standings with 116 points. “This weekend is going to be a bit different after Barber and Infineon,” said Yates. “Those tracks are both on the tighter end of the spectrum and now we are heading into the fast Road America track. I should be good. It’s an old school raceway and it will give us a chance to show how quick our Jordan Suzuki GSX-R 1000 is.” National Guard Jordan Suzuki #54 Geoff May and the #54 National Guard Jordan Suzuki team faced some tough competition at the last round. Looking to rebound this weekend at Road America, May and the #54 team are eager to get back to work and get back into the top three of the Championship. Known for his incredible lean angles and love for fast corners, May will be undoubtedly on pace this weekend The National Guard Jordan Suzuki team currently sits fifth in the Championship with 143 Championship points. “I’m ready to get back on the bike,” said May. “Sure, an extra weekend off is nice, but we had a tough one at Infineon and that makes me want to just get right back out there racing. Road America is a really fast track and it’s our home round. I can’t wait to get my National Guard Jordan Suzuki opened up on Friday.” More, from a press release issued by Ducati North America: TEAM FOREMOST PEGRAM RACING AIMS TO KEEP DUCATI ON THE PODIUM AT ROAD AMERICA ELKHART LAKE, WI (June 4, 2009) Team Foremost Pegram Racing has arrived at Wisconsin’s Road America, looking to take Superbike victory at a track that favors Ducati’s L-Twin power and stable chassis. Rider Larry Pegram rode a strong race to the podium on his Ducati 848 Superbike last year, and feels the chassis of its 1098 R big brother has what it takes to win this weekend. Following an extra week of preparations due to the series skipping Miller Motorsports Park, the Foremost Ducati squad has the bikes rebuilt and ready for action tomorrow. “The Foremost Ducati 1098 R has been running well lately, and I’m fully recovered from my injuries earlier this season. Road America suits the Ducati’s chassis well, and the torque will come in handy accelerating onto the long front straightaway,” commented Pegram. “I’m looking forward to turning some fast laps in qualifying and fighting for the win in both races this weekend.” For a race report, photos and team information please visit www.pegramracing.com; for more information on Ducati and the revolutionary 1098 R Superbike please visit www.ducatiusa.com. More, from a press release issued by Paradigm Racing: Paradigm Racing is heading to Road America for the 5th round of the 2009 AMA Pro Racing Daytona SportBike series. Road America’s 4-mile track is situated just miles from the scenic hills of the Kettle Moraine State Forest in beautiful Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The track and it’s 14 turns remain unchanged since their inception and combine to form one of the country’s premier tracks. Paradigm Racing rider Damian Cudlin enters this round with two strong top ten finishes in the two previous race weekends. After experiencing the sweltering heat of the past round Cudlin is looking forward to the more temperate climate of Elkhart Lake. “The extreme heat at Infineon was brutal and really took its toll. However, we got out of there with another strong top ten finish under our belt. Big thanks to my team for the great job they did there. We are looking to take that momentum from the previous round and capitalize on it at Road America. I think the Paradigm Racing Yamaha R6 is definitely going to get a chance to stretch its legs with the long straights there!” The high speed nature of the track requires a lot of the bikes, but crew chief Perry Melneciuc is confident. “We have had really good bikes this year and they have been strong through the season thus far. Obviously, Road America presents a situation that is going to really test the durability and strength of all the bikes on the grid. However, I think we have prepared a great package here and were confident that we will be really competitive. I was really happy with our two solid finishes at Infineon, especially in the insane conditions there. We’re looking to build on that and carry the momentum into Road America.” For more information on Paradigm Racing please visit www.paradigmracing.com or follow the team at www.twitter.com/paradigmracing.