OPE”¦”¦”¦..There it is! Opie Caylor just put the wraps on another successful WERA Grand National Finals event following a strong season in 2010. As we recap though, things didn’t start off so good as an early season testing tumble put Opie behind the eight ball and had him playing catch-up all year. “The plan was to do all of the close WERA Nationals and challenge for the 750 championships. After I wadded up testing, one week before the first national, I knew that my plans would have to be altered. So, I focused on the regional events to build up my points and have better grid positions by the time the GNF rolled around. And, as it turns out, that worked out and I took home two National Championships this year!” Caylor said. Caylor was quick to give credit where credit was due for his ability to get his equipment back together quickly and continue his winning ways. “I was really fortunate to come away from that crash with as few injuries as I had. The good Lord was definitely looking out for me. I saved the initial highside but fell off of the opposite side of the bike and the bike rode me into the ground! Another big help that afternoon was having my old bike at my disposal. Trever Townsend was there testing as well and he let me throw a leg over my old bike and I was immediately back into the mid 57’s at Talladega. Aside from a little bruising, my Arai Helmet and Komodo Leathers, boots, and gloves protected me as well as any gear in the world could”, added Caylor. From the podium at the GNF, Opie said “I really want to thank all of my sponsors including everyone at Dunlop Tires, Komodo Leathers, Arai Helmets, VP Racing Fuels, Vesrah Brakes, M4 Exhaust, Pit Bull Stands, Silkolene Lubricants, Ohlins Suspension, Sharkskinz, Vortex, Fast Finish and my good friends down at Freewheeling Suzuki. Without all of their support I could not be out here doing this, Thank You!” Stay tuned for more exciting news from Opie Caylor Racing soon! More, from a press release issued by Graves Motorsports: Team Zyvax Reflects on Their Championship Winning Weekend Kennesaw, Georgia, (October 13, 2010) The Road Atlanta WERA GNF Finals held October 7-10 finalized Team Zyvax Racings’ dreams of winning two class championships along with the overall endurance crown. Considering the high level of competition, winning at GNF was not an easy task. That didn’t stop the entire team of riders, crew and support staff from going into the event with high expectations for their team. When the day’s racing was said and done, Team Zyvax / Graves Motorsports’ Yamaha R1 won the Endurance Class Overall Championship and the Heavy Weight Championship. Coming in a close second place was the Team Zyvax / Graves Motorsports Yamaha R6, taking the win in the Medium Weight Endurance class and second place Overall. Despite an off track excursion resulting in an unplanned pit stop, the team’s R6 came in first place in class and third overall in the race. The Graves Motorsports built R6 ran such an impressive season that it came down to the final race to decide the overall championship against the larger capacity R1. The R6’s sharp edge handling along with perfectly choreographed pit stops allowed it to stay within one lap of the second place liter bike despite the tire setback. “Like true professionals we performed exceptionally,” commented team owner JB Layman, “I think the R6 would have been in second place overall if not for that bent wheel.” Team Zyvax riders Clinton Seller and guest rider Tommy Aquino each put in incredible rides and overcame the entire field save their Zyvax teammates on the R1 and an outside 1000c effort. Aquino reveled in the endurance opportunity and again proved his talent during the race. “I had a great time on the Zyvax endurance bike,” said Aquino, “The 1000s were too quick to stay with at Road Atlanta but I did my best to keep us in the hunt. I’d like to thank JB Layman and Chuck Graves for the opportunity!” Despite the Yamaha R6’s speed and agility, Road Atlanta’s straights and fast, flowing corners allowed the Yamaha R1 to really stretch its powerful legs. Friday’s four hour endurance race saw the Team Zyvax / Graves Motorsports Yamaha R1 being piloted by a trio of proven riders. Jason Disalvo started the race and set the stage for the day, positioning the Zyvax heavyweight machine to lead from start to finish. Team rider Chris Clark along with guest rider Josh Herrin from Team Graves Yamaha put in notable rides on the R1 to seal the deal the overall and class win for the day and the year. Though Herrin lacked R1 seat time unlike Disalvo and Clark, he quickly acclimated himself to the big bike and got to work putting in fast laps. “I had fun and was really comfortable after seat time,” said Herrin of the opportunity, “I’d like to thank JB Layman and the entire Zyvax team, Chuck Graves and Keith McCarty.” Chuck Graves couldn’t have been more pleased with the results. “I’m extremely happy for Team Zyvax and all the crew and riders that worked so hard all year in the pursuit of delivering the Middleweight, Heavyweight and the Overall championships aboard the Graves Motorsports supported Yamaha R1 and R6; this is a great accomplishment,” said Graves, “I’d like to thank all the WERA officials and competitors that participated in the series and made the championships possible.” Team Zyvax is sponsored by Zyvax, Inc, Graves Motorsports and Dunlop. www.teamzyvax.com Graves Motorsports is a leading motorcycle sport bike parts and accessories manufacturer. Graves Motorsports produces exhaust systems, fender eliminator kits, frame sliders, velocity stacks, engine case covers, engine performance and the leading resource for Dynojet Power Commander + accessories. Graves Motorsports has two locations: Van Nuys, California and Kennesaw, Georgia. www.gravesport.com More, from a press release issued by Beth Dolgner, on behalf of Team Velocity Racing: TVR/EBC Brakes Yamaha Finishes 2010 Endurance Championship 3rd Overall, 2nd in Class BRASELTON, Ga. “” TVR/EBC Brakes Yamaha clinched third overall in the WERA National Endurance Series championship on Friday, wrapping up another successful season for the veteran team. The results at the season finale””a four-hour race in the Grand National Finals at Road Atlanta””also wrapped up second in the Heavyweight championship for the riding trio of Chuck Ivey, Scott Brown and James Vanderhaar. TVR/EBC Brakes Yamaha finished the race fifth in Heavyweight and eighth overall on their Yamaha YZF-R1. Ivey, Brown and Vanderhaar handle both riding and pit crew duties, along with dedicated pit crewmember Michael Dunn. The team has proven it doesn’t take a big operation to bring home a top-three finish in the championship. “A big budget can win championships, but we’ve proven in the past that heart can win championships, too. All of the guys on this team have heart,” says Ivey. “It’s hard not to win the championship, but we’re still one of the top three endurance teams in the nation. Racing is a season-long process, and our consistency, teamwork and dedication has kept us at the top this season.” Sponsors who have continued to support TVR/EBC Brakes Yamaha are also an integral part of the team’s success. “With so many cutbacks, we especially appreciate all of the sponsors that have stayed with us, particularly EBC Brakes and Michelin,” says Ivey. “We’re also indebted to the support of Yamaha, Aiken Motorcycle, XES Leather, MotoHeaven.com, Arai, Vortex, EK Chains, VP Fuels, and Dyno Jet.” For Brown, the top-three finish in points is especially satisfying because of the hard work put in by everyone on the team. “It’s gratifying to know it’s us doing it all,” says Brown. “We’ve got three people that get along really well, and as the season has progressed we learned to really work together with setup. It was a fun season.” Vanderhaar agrees, also calling his stints in the season finale fun. “We are the first of the rest,” he says. “It’s tough to beat a team like Graves/Zyvax Racing, and they were great competition all year. We were able to stay ahead of everyone else to bring home second in the Heavyweight championship.” Keep up with the team during the off-season and find pictures online at www.TeamVelocityRacing.com. More, from a press release issued by Shoei: Shoei Congratulates 2010 WERA C Superstock Expert National Challenge Series Champion Benny Solis Jr. In 2008, 14 year old Benny Solis Jr. burst onto the national road racing scene by taking the AMA Red Bull Rookies Cup Championship. The following year, Benny left for Europe to compete in the 2009 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. After struggling in Europe, Benny returned home to the US to rebuild his racing career under the tutelage of former AMA pro Chuck Graves, now the owner of the AMA championship winning Graves Motorsports Yamaha team. Benny’s father Ben was actually a Willow Springs local during Chuck’s era of domination at the track. Benny’s results improved steadily throughout his 2010 WERA campaign. By the time the series rolled into Road Atlanta for the GNF, Benny was within 2 points of Garrett Gerloff for the C Superstock Expert National Challenge Series Championship. It would be a winner-take-all showdown on Sunday for the title! Benny started the weekend strong by winning both the C Superbike and Superstock Expert WERA Sportsman National Championships on Saturday in tight battles with Gerloff. On Sunday morning, Benny knew he had his work cut out for him. “It was between Garrett Gerloff and me for the 600 Superstock Expert class. I was on pole and he was starting 2nd so I knew it would be a tough race,” said Benny, “Once the race started, I lead the first lap and was planning on following Garrett for most of the race, but down the back straight I didn’t see him behind me and figured he made a mistake, so I put my head down and I was able to lead the whole race with Garrett pushing me the whole way until the end.” Benny took the win, and with it, the 600cc Superstock Expert WERA National Challenge Series Championship, but there was still one more race left to run. “Garrett had the 600cc Superbike championship wrapped up so even if I won I couldn’t have taken another title. I started on the front row again and it was a battle between Garrett and me every lap. I passed him a few times, but he got me back and lead the whole race until the last lap. Going down the back straight, I drafted him and got by but then he got me going into turn 10th on the brakes. I was able to get a good drive out of 11 and make an inside pass going into 12, which allowed me to cross the finish line first!” Benny’s perfect weekend netted him one WERA National Challenge Series Championship and 2 WERA Sportsman National Championship titles. Shoei would like to congratulate Benito on his accomplishments, and we look forward to protecting Benny in 2011! More, from a press release issued by GB Racing: GBRacing wins all four-stroke classes in the 2010 British Superbike Championship GBRACING, the high performance motorcycle crash protection specialist, capped a perfect season at Oulton Park by winning the British Superbike Championship with HM Plant’s Ryuichi Kiyonari to give it a full house of victories in all the BSB four-stroke classes. HM Plant Honda uses GBRacing engine case covers to protect its Championship winning Honda Fireblade Superbikes in the event of a crash. In the BSB Evo Superbike class Steve Brogan took title honours on his Jentin BMW S1000RR again using GBRacing engine case covers as part of its performance package. Sam Lowes on the GNS Honda CBR600RR, sporting GBRacing engine protection, won the British Supersport Championship and Patrick McDougall took victory in the Supersport Cup on his GBRacing East Coast Yamaha R6. Jon Kirkham won the Superstock 1000 series on his Samsung Mobile BMW S1000RR with GBRacing engine covers while Josh Day took victory in the National Superstock 600 Championship on his GBRacing-shod Air Racing Yamaha R6. GBRacing Director Graham Banks said: “I am pleased all our teams have enjoyed such success. We are delighted to have been a factor in that and I am even happier that these teams do not receive sponsorship money from GBRacing they actually choose our products because they offer the best performance in a crash and reduce engine damage dramatically. “Protecting your engine not only saves money on rebuilds but in the era of one-bike rules it means that it can save you a lot of time in the garage and championship points, in fact the 2010 BSB Championship graphically demonstrated this at Oulton Park last weekend. We look forward to winning more races and Championships as well as delivering the very best protection possible with our partners in 2011 and don’t forget you can use this protection on your road and track bikes as well.” GBRacing designs, develops and manufactures in North London the only MCRCB and FIM approved bolt on, composite injection moulded nylon 6.6 long glass fibre 60 per cent, secondary engine covers that means they are super tough and protect a motorcycle’s engine in a crash, minimising chances of a holed crank case or generator and therefore saving potentially thousands of pounds. As well as secondary engine covers, GBRacing manufactures frame sliders, crash bobbins and paddock stand bobbins. For the full range and prices, visit www.gbracing.eu or a reputable motorcycle dealer for more information.