A thrilling, multi-rider battle in the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race Saturday at Road Atlanta was brought to a premature conclusion by a scary crash on lap 18 of 20. Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke was running away with an early lead when the Safety Car was brought out so officials could clean up the aftermath of a crash. On the restart, Zemke was not able to regain his advantage, and a tremendous fight ensued between Zemke, Danny Eslick, Chaz Davies, Roger Hayden, Jamie Hacking, Martin Cardenas and Josh Herrin. Team M4 Suzuki’s Cardenas took the lead on lap 15 and held it until lap 18 of 20, when the race was stopped for two crashes, one involving Andres Londono in Turn 10 and a scary-looking incident involving Dylon Husband impacting the Airfence outside of Turn 12. Londono’s condition was not immediately available, but Husband walked the short distance from the scene of his crash to the track’s medical center. Scoring was reverted to lap 16, and Cardenas was declared the winner. Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki’s Hayden was just a few bikelengths behind Cardenas when the red flag came out but had to settle for second in his first race of 2009. Eslick placed third on his Bruce Rossmeyer’s RMR Buell 1125R. Six different motorcycle manufacturers were represented in the top six finishing positions: Suzuki, Kawasaki, Buell, Honda, Aprilia and Yamaha. Cardenas’ teammate Jason DiSalvo led the first two laps but crashed in Turn Seven on lap three. He remounted and salvaged a few points by finishing 19th. AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Presented by AMSOIL Road Atlanta Braselton, Georgia April 4, 2009 Provisional Race Results (all on Dunlop tires): 1. Martin Cardenas (Suz GSX-R600), 16 laps 2. Roger Hayden (Kaw ZX-6R), -0.500 second 3. Danny Eslick (Buell 1125R), -0.881 second 4. Jake Zemke (Hon CBR600RR), -1.217 seconds 5. Chaz Davies (Apr RSV1000R), -1.730 6. Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R6), -1.938 7. Jamie Hacking (Kaw ZX-6R), -2.043 8. Tommy Aquino (Yam YZF-R6), -2.677 9. Chris Peris (Hon CBR600RR), -4.760 10. Taylor Knapp (Buell 1125R), -8.345 11. Michael Barnes (Buell 1125R), -8.660 12. Chris Fillmore (Yam YZF-R6), -9.059 13. Ben Thompson (Apr RSV1000R), -11.010 14. Michael Beck (Yam YZF-R6), -11.560 15. Robertino Pietri (Yam YZF-R6), -11.560 16. Garrett Carter (Yam YZF-R6), -16.932 17. Barrett Long (Yam YZF-R6), -17.195 18. Russ Wikle (Suz GSX-R600), -18.420 19. Jason DiSalvo (Suz GSX-R600), -20.494, crash 20. Daniel Parkerson (Kaw ZX-6R), -20.595 21. Kris Turner (Suz GSX-R600), -22.635 22. Marcos Reichert (Yam YZF-R6), -23.150 23. Bobby Fong (Tri Daytona 675), -23.723 24. Ricky Parker (Yam YZF-R6), -31.129 25. Tyler Odom (Hon CBR600RR), -31.562 26. Dane Westby (Yam YZF-R6), -31.734 27. Santiago Villa (Suz GSX-R600), -32.197 28. Fernando Amantini (Kaw ZX-6R), -32.972 29. Mark Crozier (Suz GSX-R600), -34.010 30. Andres Londono (Yam YZF-R6), -42.422 31. C.R. Gittere (Yam YZF-R6), -48.502 32. Michael Morgan (Suz GSX-R600), -48.776 33. Bryan Bemisderfer (Buell 1125R), -49.142 34. J.B. Layman (Yam YZF-R6), -50.392 35. Robert Michael (Yam YZF-R6), -61.031 36. Alistair Douglas (Suz GSX-R600), -62.179 37. Larry Myers (Kaw ZX-6R), -62.180 38. Dylon Husband (Kaw ZX-6R), -62.281, crash 39. Eric Haugo (Yam YZF-R6), -7 laps 40. Leandro Mercado (Kaw ZX-6R), -12 laps, DNF, crash 41. Steve Rapp (Yam YZF-R6), -14 laps, DNF 42. Scott Jensen (Apr RSV1000R), -16 laps, DNF 43. Shane Narbonne (Yam YZF-R6), DNS Championship Point Standings (after 4 of 19 races): 1. Hacking, 83 points 2. Cardenas, 81 3. Eslick, 78 4. Herrin, 71 5. DiSalvo, 63 6. Zemke, 60 7. Davies, 57 8. Aquino, 37 9. Rapp, 33 10. Peris, 32 More, from a press release issued by Team M4 Suzuki: CARDENAS WINS DAYTONA SPORTBIKE AT ROAD ATLANTA Team M4 Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas scored his first-career AMA victory on Saturday at Road Atlanta in incredible fashion. Bouncing back from Saturday’s Superpole crash that left the Colombian with a dislocated left shoulder and a tenth-place starting position, Cardenas worked his way up through an extremely tight and competitive pack that fought for the win in the Daytona SportBike final. On lap 15 Martin took control at the front and opened up a small gap aboard his Suzuki GSX-R600. Just as Cardenas was preparing for a final-lap battle to the checkered flag, a red flag was thrown. The late halt brought the contest to a conclusion and awarded the Team M4 Suzuki star a hard-earned and long-sought after first AMA win. After the race, the thrilled Cardenas explained, “As soon as I got to the front, I broke away a little bit and had a little bit of time. I was looking back and (Roger Hayden) was right there. I was feeling the pressure and if the race wasn’t stopped, I think it would have been an interesting last lap with passes and everything. The race was very tough because I started from tenth and to pass here is very difficult. It worked out and the bike was very good. I want to really thank the team. “This feels great. I’ve been looking for this since I came here. I have been close a few times, and it feels great to win. That’s what we’re here for.” Cardenas now sits second in the season’s championship chase, just two points removed from the title lead. The triumph extended Team M4 Suzuki’s perfect Daytona SportBike podium record. And it might have been two M4 Suzuki GSX-R600s on the box if not for an early mistake from Jason DiSalvo, who opened the race from the pole position. The New Yorker held down the lead for the races opening two laps but crashed out of first while working lap 3, losing the front in turn 7. Kris Turner qualified on the front row for Sunday’s SuperSport contest, putting in a fast lap of 1:32.856. The lap was good enough for third on the grid, making up for Friday’s frustration. Turner, who finished 21st in Saturday’s SportBike race, claims there is more to come. “I think I have a lot more in me. It was funny, the lap I had all my good splits I coasted across the finish line. I wasn’t paying close enough attention. It wasn’t the lap time I was looking for but I can’t complain about the front row.” On Sunday Team M4 Suzuki will look to score more victories as they complete the Road Atlanta with the second 50-mile Daytona SportBike race and the 40-mile SuperSport final. More, from a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing: Cardenas Scores First AMA Pro Road Racing Win in AMA Pro Daytona SportBike at Road Atlanta Team M4 Suzuki Rider Recovers From Friday Superpole Spill and Dislocated Left Shoulder BRASELTON, Georgia (April 4, 2009) – Martin Cardenas (No. 36 Team M4 Suzuki GSX-R600) won his first major race in AMA Pro Road Racing competition at Road Atlanta Saturday after recovering from an accident and dislocated left shoulder in Friday’s Superpole qualifying to give the established Team M4 Suzuki its first win in AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL competition. Cardenas reported post race that he suffered no lingering pain from Friday’s spill and proved it in the race. Forced to start 10th and last of the Superpole qualifiers, Cardenas was in sixth place by Lap 3 and cracked the top five on Lap 10. The quick Colombian then consecutively picked off a rider a lap until taking the lead on Lap 15, but he was under heavy pressure by the returning Roger Hayden (No. 95 Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R). “As soon as I got to the front, I broke up a little bit and I had a little bit of time, but I was looking back every lap and he was right there,” said Cardenas about the youngest Hayden brother. “He was closing a little bit, especially on the back part of the track. I was feeling the pressure.” The pressure was short lived, however, as a red flag for dual incidents on track brought the race to an early close. Andres Londono (No. 204 Destiny Racing Yamaha YZF-R6) and Dylon Husband (No. 73 Team Pur Sang Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R) were each transferred to the Road Atlanta medical center where they were examined and released after separate incidents. Husband went off course at full racing speed at Turn 12 but the Air Fence placed at that high-impact location prevented a serious incident. With the red flag displayed, Cardenas scored his maiden victory, Hayden finished second in his first start of the year and Danny Eslick (No. 9 Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Racing/RMR Buell 1125R) coupled a third place showing with his sweep of both Auto Club races last month. “If the race wasn’t stopped, I think the last lap would have been very interesting with passes and everything,” Cardenas said. “The race was very tough, because I started from 10th and to pass here is very difficult. It worked out okay and the bike was working very good. I want to thank the team. The Suzuki was very good and M4, everybody, thank you very much.” Hayden made a strong return with Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki after sitting out the year’s first two events and was competitive from the drop of the green flag. He started seventh but joined the top five by Lap 3 and was in contention the entire race. He passed race lap leader Jake Zemke (No. 1x Erion Racing Honda CBR600RR) for third on Lap 15, slipped by Eslick for second in Lap 16 and was closing on Cardenas when the red flag came out. “I was a little bummed just because I was close enough,” Hayden said. “I felt like, maybe my bike was a little faster than his, but I don’t know. Nothing is guaranteed, but it was a good race for me, my first ride back. I’m pretty excited. That was a fun race. My guys worked really hard for me this weekend and really made me feel comfortable in my first week back. I’m excited.” Eslick led three laps and was on the podium for the third straight race. He passed Zemke on a Lap 10 restart after the race’s only safety car period and the two riders swapped the lead several times before Cardenas took control. “Before the pace car came out, Jake (Zemke) was gone,” Eslick said. “I don’t think anybody had anything for Jake that first little bit. The safety car came out and sucked him back in right there, so that was kind of nice for me. I got a big draft down the back straightaway and got by, and we went back and forth for a few laps. It’s just good to be on the podium. I’ll definitely take it, because the guys that are ahead of me in the points were behind me (in the race), so I’ll take it.” The top six finishers represented six different manufacturers with the Suzuki, Kawasaki, Buell and Honda in the top four being joined the No. 57 Factory Aprilia Millennium Technologies Team Aprilia RSV1000R of Chaz Davies in fifth and Josh Herrin in sixth on the No. 8 Team Graves Yamaha YZF-R6. Seventh place finisher Jamie Hacking (No. 88 Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R) continues to lead the Daytona SportBike championship standings with 83 points but Cardenas has closed to within two points and Eslick is third with 78 points. Zemke led nine laps, Eslick was up front for three and Cardenas led only the final two laps. The only other leader was pole-sitter Jason DiSalvo (No. 40 Team M4 Suzuki GSX-R600) who led the first two laps before going down in Turn 7. DiSalvo was uninjured and recovered to finish 19th. The race was run under sunny conditions and more sunshine and even warmer temperatures are expected Sunday when AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Race 2 kicks off the day’s racing a 1:30 p.m. local time. Saturday SunTrust Moto-GT Rodolfo Ramirez and Armando Ferrer and the No. 69 HurtByAccident.com Suzuki GSX-R600 slipped by the fuel stricken No. 4 Scooter Superstore Aprilia RSV of Hawk Mazzotta and Ryan Elleby on the last lap to take the overall win in the 2-Hour SunTrust Moto-GT race that closed Saturday’s schedule for the Suzuki Superbike Showdown at Road Atlanta. “We just kind of got lucky on the last lap,” said Ramirez, who joined Ferrer in leading 43 of the race’s 60 laps. “By luck, with one lap to go, I saw the Scooter team on the side of the road, so it was more like a lucky pass. I wouldn’t say it was a pass.” The No. 41 Liberty Waves Racing Buell 1125R of Eric Pinson and Eric Haugo also slipped by the No. 4 Aprilia to take second and now leads the GT1 championship standings after placing third in the season opener in Daytona. The No. 41 riders led 10 laps while the No. 4 Aprilia team, which was classified third, led seven laps. The No. 77 Touring Sport Ducati PS1000LE of Frank Shockley and Elleby – who pulled double duty in the SunTrust Moto-GT race in addition to racing in American Superbike this weekend – finished fourth overall and won the GT2 class. Shockley wasn’t worried about his young teammate doubling up. “I didn’t think there would be any issues,” Shockley said. “Ryan is a tough kid and I knew he was in great shape and it wouldn’t be a problem for him. The only thing I was worried about was giving him a good position to start with. We got off in the race in third and, I guess, in about three laps, I was able to get it into the lead. Then, on about Lap 5, I ran off in Turn 10 and instantly went to fourth place. I had to work really hard to get back to second. During the caution period, the Cycle Dynamics team pitted, which put us back in the lead. We were able to hold onto it until we got Ryan on the bike. He went out, and of course, it was a real exciting match between them. I tell you, it had my heart pounding. It was a great run, and I really appreciate it.” The No. 34 Cycle Dynamics Kawasaki EX650 of Ted Cobb and Dustin Dominguez finished second and motorcycle racing legend Jay Springsteen and his young co-rider Nick Cummings took the final podium spot on the No. 9 Pair-A-Nines Kawasaki EX650. AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. From its Daytona Beach headquarters, the organization operates and manages AMA Pro Road Racing, which includes AMA Pro American Superbike, AMA Pro Daytona SportBike, AMA Pro SuperSport and AMA Pro SunTrust Moto-GT. AMA Pro Racing also manages and works closely with the day-to-day operational organizations of the AMA Pro Flat Track Championship and the AMA Pro Supermoto Championship Series in addition to other two-wheel and ATV series. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.