DOUBLE PODIUM KEEPS IDM TITLE CHANCES ALIVE Damian Cudlin enjoyed the best results of his rookie IDM Superbike season with a double podium finish at Schleiz on the weekend. Coming off the back of a successful race in the Suzuka 8 Hour just a week earlier, Cudlin re-adjusted to European time and immediately set a strong pace in Friday’s training sessions. Saturday’s qualifying sessions, held in hot and humid conditions, saw the Aussie secure a 5th place slot despite encountering traffic on each of his qualifying tyre runs. Disappointed with the second row, Cudlin remained confident that his race pace would prevail in Sunday’s races. “We seemed to be on the pace in the wet and the dry during practice and I was confident of sticking it on the front row in qualifying but I got held up on each of my hot laps which cost me time.” Cudlin explained after qualifying. “The BMW is working great here though and I’m confident of strong results in any weather condition.” Cudlin started Sunday strongly by topping warm up in dry conditions before rain settled on the Schleiz circuit insuring a wet first race. Bursting off the line in the tricky conditions, Cudlin slotted in behind countrymen Karl Muggeridge in the opening laps as the pair broke away from the pack by 3 seconds. A nasty crash from Ducati’s Dario Guessipetti brought out the red flag, which race officials deemed required a full restart. Despite losing their considerable early advantage, Cudlin put his head down again at the restart moving past Muggeridge for the lead and stretching an advantage at the front. Cudlin looked set to claim his first IDM Superbike win until the track began to dry at an alarming rate. Cudlin fought hard on his deteriorating wet tyres, smoke bellowing from the rear of his BMW as he slid sideways on the exit of every turn. Clinging to the lead as the last lap approached, Cudlin held back a determined Smrz on intermediates, but was eventually forced to concede to the Czech as he snatched the win from the Aussie. “I tried as hard as I could and was determined to get my first win of the season, but the race was about a lap and a half too long for my wet tyres and I couldn’t hold Smrz off for any longer.” Cudlin said after the first race. “It’s unlucky that we lost our advantage in race one, and even unluckier that the restart was delayed for so long, but I’m happy enough with 2nd. I hope we can go one better in the second race!” The track dried in time for the second race, insuring a full field on slick tyres. Cudlin made another strong start and jumped in behind KTM’s Martin Bauer and HRP’s Karl Muggeridge for the opening laps. Bauer immediately broke away at the front and when Muggeridge made a mistake, Cudlin swooped past and set about closing the considerable gap to Bauer. The Austrian was too strong though, smashing the lap record as he pulled away from the Australians. The next 15 laps saw a close battle between the Aussies for 2nd place, with Cudlin coming out on top by a mere 0.02 seconds. “It was a tough race but it was definitely a lot of fun. I couldn’t match Bauer’s pace, he blew us all away today, but it seemed we had the rest covered. Karl stuck to my back wheel for the whole race and when I saw the last lap board I knew he would have a go somewhere. I blocked each attempt but he squeezed past in the final turn and I thought then that he’d beaten me. I concentrated on getting a perfect exit and when I saw Karl spin up too much I knew I had a chance. Then the BMW power kicked in and I pipped him on the line. It’s been a great weekend for our team and we’re getting stronger with every race. I hope we can keep the momentum going now and finish the year on a high.” Cudlin now sits 3rd in the IDM Superbike standings, 27 points behind championship leader Bauer, and just 3 points behind reigning champion Muggeridge. The next race will be at the newly renovated Red Bull Ring in Austria where Cudlin hopes to achieve his first race win of the year. More, from a press release issued by Muench Motorrad Technik: Hotshot Himmelmann wins eGrandPrix in Assen (NL) German MUENCH driver once again victorious in the TTXGP racing series It was the third European eGrandPrix and one must admit a special on at that! Last Weekend racing enthusiasts were provided with lots of fun in Assen. In line with GT races, superkarts, harnessed teams and the Dutch motorbike championship eMobility and therefore the German brand MUENCH and its driver Himmelmann was a big topic as well. 70.000 visitors got to watch Himmelmann win another exciting TTXGP championship race. The MUENCH Racing Team already got to Assen on Thursday to set up their race truck awning from which the team manages the whole race. Everybody was very surprised when MotoGP driver Jasper Iwema made its appearance on a Mavison for the events main sponsor team Gamma. A 22 year old racing driver who only weighs 48kg! The first open practice was run under dry conditions but unfortunately not without any trouble for team MUENCH. They had to react quickly: “Belt, cam lob, bevel wheel and linkage had to be replaced between the first and second open practice which caused us to completely remove and reconstruct the covering,” said Thomas Petsch, MUENCH Racing Team Manager. At the end of the second open practice the clock showed a time of 1:57.290- four seconds ahead of Alessandro Brannetti (CRP Racing) and HoChi Fung (Zongshen)! It was much closer during the qualifying on Sunday. Brannetti was ahead of Himmelmann, Iwema and Fung. Since Jasper Iwema and his Mavizen already encountered problems during the qualifying he continued the race on a MUENCH bike which Himmelmann, Petch etc. provided for him without further ado. Because of the TTE-2’s weak hinge moment Himmelmann was not able to quickly get away from the starting line. A problem the whole team is aware of but for now he only ranked sixth. After two curves he was already fourth and he passed the Chinese on the back straight third! “I was really proud when I out passed my team colleague and street championship driver Iwema,” stated Himmelmann after the race. Himmelmann was once again capable to compensate the TTE-2’s poor starting output with his outstanding driving skills and his thrilling hunt. And then everyone got to witness another fascinating duel with Alessandro Brannetti (CRP Racing) from Italy a very experienced 250 MotoGP driver. Himmelmann came out on top and extended his lead. “HoChi Fung crossed the finish line just Millimetres ahead of Jasper Iwema. Fortunately he placed second. During the awards ceremony we once again got to listen to the German national anthem. Himmelmann who will be called hotshot from now on wore everyone during a real battle,” said Thomas Petsch. “The best event I have been in so far! They provided something for everybody- not just eMobility but also GT races and lots of other suspenseful motorsport competitions. Well, and it was definitely one of my best,” said Himmelmann after his great success. More, from a press release issued by Quay Garage Tyco Honda: Podium finish for Muff in BSB Evo Patric Muff had his third podium finish with a strong third place in the first race of the Brands Hatch MCE British Superbike championship at Brands Hatch. The Quay Garage Tyco Honda rider was having his first ride on the Brands GP circuit but adapted well to the track and the tricky conditions to finish third on Saturday. He backed that up with fourth in Sunday’s first race but then crashed in the final outing. He remounted and rode back to the pits and eventually rejoined the race but was unclassified in the results. Despite that disappointment, the Swiss rider is now in a strong third place in the BSB Evo points standings. Muff said: “It’s another really difficult British track. I like it but it’s hard to learn especially this weekend with only two 30-minute practice sessions before qualifying instead of our normal 45 minute sessions.” BSB team-mate Peter Hickman was caught out with the wrong tyres in Saturdays first race that was started on a wet track but dried rapidly. But he bounced back to finish tenth and ninth in Sunday’s races to increase his points tally to 98 and sits tenth overall in the championship. Team owner Ian Woollacott said: “I’ve got to hand it to Patric, he gets stuck in every week and has consolidated his third place in the championship with two very strong rides. It’s a shame he went down in the final race but he was having a really good go out there. “Peter didn’t have the best of fortunes in qualifying and had to start from the fourth row, which was a bit of a setback. He made amends by setting a fast lap after changing tyres and setting a fast lap in race two that promoted him to the second row but then got an awful start. But he fought back and grabbed some valuable points and now we’ll look forward to Cadwell in three weeks time.” More, from a press release issued by Moto Rapido Ducati: DIFFICULT WEEKEND FOR MOTO RAPIDO DUCATI Moto Rapido Ducati had a difficult weekend at the Brands Hatch British Superbike triple-header with mixed conditions and clutch trouble hampering the team’s performance on what isn’t rider Scott Smart’s favourite circuit on the calendar. Friday saw an official test on the shorter Indy circuit where Smart was able to bed in some new parts ahead of a busy day on Saturday using the full GP circuit. Two free practice session saw the Maidstone rider make progress in terms of laptimes but as they went into qualifying, a technical difficulty saw Smart just fail to make the second group. Race one, also held on Saturday, was run in mixed conditions and a less-than-inspired tyre choice saw Smart, among others, pull in early to change rubber only to go out again to set a time for the second race grid slot for Sunday and pick up some Evo championship points. A dry and sunny Sunday saw Smart push through to 18th place overall in the first outing of the day and he followed that up with 20th place in the second where the overall pace was faster. He moves into fifth place in the Evo championship and now looks forward to Cadwell Park where Smart expects to be back on the podium. “Brands Hatch has never been a good track for me even though it is my home circuit. I don’t know why I don’t like it, I never have and have never really gone well here. We picked up some good Evo championship points and now I can look forward to three races at Cadwell Park where I realistically expect to be at least on the podium three times,” said Smart. Team manager Steve Moore added: “We worked hard all weekend to get a good setup. We made a bit of an error with the tyre choice in race one but the rest of the weekend was good from a team point of view. We’re looking forward to Cadwell Park now and getting some serious points.” More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Suzuki’s 2011 New Model GSX-R600 continues to dominate racetracks around the world with a double victory in the hotly-contested British Supersport Championship, fifth place overall in the AMA Pro SuperSport West Division Championship; and a podium position in the Southern 100 Supersport race on the Isle of Man. Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing’s Alastair Seeley and his GSX-R600 dominated both races at Brands Hatch at the beginning of August, with two spectacular and hard-fought-for victories. Following his earlier podium at the Oulton Park round, the Irishman has now closed the gap in the series to 43 points after eight rounds – with four rounds remaining and 200 points still available. Said Seeley, after his two bar-banging races with Wilson: “I really enjoyed that tussle today with Ben and although there was some contact, it wasn’t dangerous and reminded me of my motocross days. It’s always nice to take another win for the all-new GSX-R600! We got the job done and I’m now looking forward to moving on to the next round at Cadwell Park and keeping the pressure on. This Championship is far from over yet.” Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing team mate Guy Martin also enjoyed success on the GSX-R600 at the Southern 100 Races in the Isle of Man mid- July: The team’s International Road Racer rounded off a solid week of racing the team’s GSX-R1000 with third place in the Supersport race; at one stage holding second and setting a new lap record of 112.234 mph. Said Martin: ” The 600 race was some battle. At one stage I was second and then I was fourth, so I’m happy enough to get on the podium. It’s been a decent enough week. We would have liked more wins, but that’s the way it goes and the boys did a good job.” Team Manager Philip Neill added: “Guy had a decent week: we got a win – which is always good for our sponsors – and three podiums demonstrate the pedigree of Suzuki’s GSX-R machinery. It’s more mileage and more information for the team as we prepare for the Ulster Grand Prix in August.” In America, Elena Myers celebrated strong showings the AMA Pro SuperSport race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio and at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California aboard her Team SuzukiScoopFans GSX-R600. Following her first podium of the year at the previous round, the 17-year-old picked up fifth and sixth-placed finishes at Lexington then went on to take fifth at Laguna Seca to secure fifth position overall in the West Division Championship. Said Myers, who missed two races of the series due to injury: “The SuzukiScoopFans Suzuki GSX-R600 has been working great all season, but it was pretty hard to really be a real contender in the Championship after missing two rounds. But next year, I definitely want to go for the Championship and hopefully I’ll stay healthy and everything will go well.” More, from a press release issued by KWS Motorsports: KWS Motorsports and Jake Lewis are National Champions at VIR! Charleston, SC August, 2011 KWS Motorsports sponsored rider Jake Lewis clinched both the 750 Superstock and 750 Superbike Championships on his KWS built, Earl’s Racing Team Yamaha R6. Lewis won the championship two rounds early by winning every National 750 race so far in 2011. Tim Hunt continued his championship fight for the Open Superstock and WERA Superbike classes with a podium finish. Luie Zendejas continued to improve lap times and came away with two solid finishes. Earl’s Racing Team’s Jake Lewis continued his dominance of the 750 classes at VIR by winning both races and clinching both championships two rounds early. Lewis has won every 750 race held this year at WERA national events. In the 600 classes, fifteen year-old Lewis battled with championship contender Garrett Gerloff in every race. Jake got the hole-shot in 600 Superstock, but Gerloff got by on lap seven. Both riders battled back and forth for the entire second half of the race and Lewis planned on a last lap move for the lead but was held up by a lapper in turn six and had to settle for second. In 600 Superbike Lewis once again got the hole shot, but was passed by Gerloff on lap two. Although Jake could run Gerloff’s pace early, Lewis ran off on the third lap and could not recover and had to settle once again for second. The championship in both classes almost certainly will come down to the last event at the WERA Grand National Finals held in October at Road Atlanta. Currently Lewis is ahead of Gerloff by eleven points in 600 Superbike and behind by three in 600 Superstock. Apex Racing’s Tim Hunt struggled through a tough weekend at VIR, but was able to finish on the podium and maintain his championship positions in both Open Superstock and WERA Superbike. In Open Superstock, Hunt faced a tough field with several past national champions on the grid. Hunt got a great start and ran with the lead group early on his KWS built, Millennium Technologies sponsored GSX-R1000, but in the end had to settle for third. A fourth place finish in WERA Superbike means that Tim is only five points back on the Championship lead. In Open Superstock Hunt is leading the championship by eleven points with two rounds left to go. KWS Motorsport’s Luie Zendejas had solid finishes all weekend including a fourth place finish in Open Superstock and a seventh place finish in WERA Superbike on his BMW of San Jose S1000RR. Zendejas is currently third in both championships. KWS Motorsports sponsored, first year novice, Dan Crawford finished just off the podium in both 750 Superstock Novice and 750 Superbike Novice but made huge gains in the points and should be able to clinch both championships at Barber. Jake Lewis “We have had a really good time racing over the last two weeks. It’s nice to take a little racing vacation before school starts! I am very excited about the championships in the 750 classes and I can’t thank all my sponsors and supporters for all their help getting me here. In the 600 classes we struggled a little bit against Garrett at VIR, but we have two more rounds to go and I really hope it comes down to a winner take all deal at the GNF. Thanks again to all my sponsors, especially Earl’s Racing Team, KWS, STT, Millennium Technologies, Roclun Int, Princeton Pawn, and Dunlop. Thanks for everything!” Tim Hunt “We struggled at VIR from the beginning, but this is what championships are about. Everything can’t be perfect at every round and it’s even more important to bring home the points when things are tough than it is when everything is perfect. I really want to thank my Mechanic Aaron, Michael Godin, Dunlop, Race Tech, and the Wacker Family for all their help this weekend!” Luie Zendejas “We had a good, solid weekend. Once again, we went faster than we have ever gone at VIR and we learned a ton about the BMW S1000RR. This is my first full expert season and I am learning so much at each round. I can’t thank KWS Motorsports, Ohlins, Arai, Michael Godin, Eric Knight, and Mike Fitzgerald for all their support.” Chip Spalding (KWS Manager) “I am super proud of Jake and his first WERA National championships. He is an incredible talent and we are very proud to be a part of what will surely be a bright future. Tim, Dan, and Luie all rode great and all are marching forward toward national championships in their respective classes. We are very much looking forward to Barber in a few weeks. Thanks to all the sponsors, especially Millennium Technologies and Ballistic Performance Components. KWS Motorsports (www.kwsmotorsports.com) is proudly sponsored by: Millennium Technologies, Ballistic Performance Components, Pit Bull, LeoVince Exhaust, Motion Pro, Bazzaz Performance, Yoyodyne, Worldwide Bearings, K&N Filters, Zero Gravity Windscreens, Spider Grips, XT Racing, Drippin Wet Graphics, VP Fuels and Motul Lubricants. Luie Zendejas (www.luiezendejas.com) is proudly sponsored by: KWS Motorsports, BMW of San Jose, Millennium Technologies, Ballistic Performance Components, Ohlins USA, Andrew Swenson Designs, Drippin Wet, LeoVince Exhaust, Bazzaz Performance, Armour Bodies, Arai Helmets, Motion Pro, K&N Filters, EBC Brakes, Cycle Gear, Zero Gravity Windscreens, VP Fuels, Cox Radiator Guards, Worldwide Bearings, Spiegler Brake Lines and Motul Lubricants. Jake Lewis (www.jakelewis85.com) is proudly sponsored by: Hayden Brothers General Store, Earl’s Racing Team, 3rd Chance Auto Sales, KWS Motorsports, Millennium Technologies, Apex Manufacturing, Sportbike Track Time, Roclun International, GMDATL.com, Race Tech, Princeton Pawn, Alpinestars, Arai, HotBodies, Vortex, Galfer, Dunlop, Oakley, RK, VP Fuels, RoadracingWorld.com and Motul Lubricants. Tim Hunt (www.apexroadracing.com) is proudly sponsored by: KWS Motorsports, Millennium Technologies, Race Tech Suspension, Dunlop Tires, EBC Brakes, GPR Stabilizers, LeoVince Exhaust, VP Racing Fuels, Vortex, Arai Helmets, Hotbodies, Bazzaz, Heroic Leathers, K&N Filters, and Motul Lubricants. For Information: ~http://www.kwsmotorsports.com~. More, from a press release issued by CaylorR-Made Motorsports: CayloR-Made Motorsports on the Box at VIR! CayloR-Made Motorsports continued their winning ways this past weekend during the 2011 WERA Cycle Jam held at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia. Once again leading the charge was Komodo-sponsored rider Opie Caylor with three race starts and three race wins! Opie had an uphill battle all weekend with no Thursday practice simply due to the volume of work back at CayloR-Made Motorsports. In addition, some nasty weather plagued the event early on that cost Opie some dry practice time. Throw in an all new rear shock on Opie’s Dunlop-shod GSXR1000, currently in development by suspension manufacturer JRi, and we’ve got chaos! Friday’s 4 Hour National Endurance race included a CayloR-Made entry in the Trophy Class – a first for the CayloR-Made Team! CCF Office Solutions Fred Turner offered his GSXR 600, and with additional pit support from Dan Neves, Billy Myers, Patrick Jernigan, and Toland Shipp, it was the CayloR-Made / CCF Office Solutions GSX-R600 for the win! Thanks to riders John Risconsin (who doubled as rider and co-crew chief), Derek Mugge, Kevin Mills, and Dave Krier in securing the win! After skipping Saturday’s wet morning warm-up, Opie took his third row grid position for Formula One Expert. With an average start and only six laps to race, Opie quickly went to work on getting to the front. He methodically dissected the field on his way to the checkered flag and went on to take the win by a slim half-a-second margin. After the race, Opie said “Wow! That was a tough race! I skipped practice this morning due to the rain and just jumping on the bike and going out to race isn’t easy. The lap times weren’t spectacular but we got the win. We put the all new JRi shock on the bike right before the race and just went for it! Out of the box, the shock worked really well.” Following a meeting of the minds of JRi Technical Advisors Tim Godshall and Travis Johnson along with Thermosman Suspensions Mike Fitzgerald, changes were made to the JRi shock for Sunday. Opie went out in morning warm-up and went a full second faster per lap by turning a 1:28.5. Opie continued to put the JRi shock to the test when he launched off the second row in Open Superstock and lead into turn one. With clear track ahead, Opie focused on putting in fast lap after fast lap and pulled out nearly a five second margin of victory over second place in only eight laps. Afterwards, Opie said “I can’t believe the start I got. It was perfect. I just tried to ride hard and limit any mistakes. The changes that Tim, Travis and Mike made to the JRi shock were spot on. The Dunlops were great as always. We won another one!” As the featured race of the day, WERA Superbike would be the final event of the 2011 WERA Cycle Jam. With a race distance of 12 laps, Opie entered this race with a different strategy. Get in with the top three or four riders and let everybody settle in. Opie found this to be way tougher than he expected though. Off the line and into turn one, Opie slotted into fourth place. As the race began to unfold, the two leaders were starting to open up a gap. It wasn’t until lap four that Opie made a pass stick on the third place rider. Once past, there was a large gap that had to be crossed. Opie caught the leaders three laps later just as a lead change had taken place going down VIRs front straight. As the new race leader opened up a small gap, it took Opie an entire lap to take over the second position. Now into second and facing yet another gap, Opie really had his work cut out for him. Opie’s lap times dropped again as he reeled in the race leader and made an inside pass on him entering the roller coaster. Back onto the front straightaway and with a draft pass, Opie lost the lead. Two laps to go and Opie struggled to find a way past the leader who was riding defensively. Still in second when the white flag was shown, Opie was becoming desperate. He tried to square up turn one and get underneath the leader but came up short. He would try again while entering turn three but was unsuccessful. Things changed when the leader, blocking the inside line in turn seven, was passed on the outside going up the hill! Both riders got on the gas at the same time and made contact as they exited the turn. Now back into the lead, Opie knew he had one shot. He blocked the inside going into the roller coaster and covered the inside going down the hill. Out of the final corner, Opie’s bike was hung out as he drove it onto the front straight! Tucking in as tight as he could and aiming for the waving checkered flag and barely! By the slimmest of margins, Opie took the win by .05 of a second! Nearly out of breath following an epic battle Opie said “I’ve been racing for many years and I can’t think of one race in my entire career that was tougher than that. I tried so hard for the whole race. At one point, I started thinking about giving up and taking third but I just didn’t want to NOT win the race! Those guys rode so well. I’m really happy about this one – I really had to earn it. Between the JRi shock and my Dunlop tires we definitely had the right combination.” Other CayloR-Made Motorsports riders did the business during the Cycle Jam starting with Dave Krier taking his second win in as many races in the Heavyweight Senior Superbike Novice class aboard his Dunlop shod x-Vincent Haskovec/M4 GSXR 750. John Risconsin came back with guns-a-blazin following a transmission failure that caused him to miss a couple of races. He finished second in C Superbike Novice but won C Superstock Novice on his CayloR-Made/CCF Office Solutions GSXR 600 after a hard fought battle. Derek Mugge took home second place wood in the Clubman Novice race, while Nikk Rogers captured second place in A Superbike Novice on Saturday and repeated the same result on Sunday by taking second place in A Superstock Novice in the National Event. CayloR-Made Motorsports riders return to action during the WERA National Challenge Series weekend at Barber Motorsports Park on September 9-11. Come out and cheer on the Compound! More, from a press release issued by Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada: SHUBENACADIE, Nova Scotia (August 9, 2011) Atlantic Motorsports Park Ruthless Racing Inc. rider, Darren James, was ecstatic after winning his first pole position of the season. Not because of the achievement of besting Steve Crevier, but more for the pride of meeting his commitment to crew chief, Dave Murphy. “I told Dave I was gonna get him a watch,” (the Tactical Products Canada Luminox watch for winning the pole position in Saturday’s qualifying session). “Dave has been with me for 11 years now, and the team has had such a tough time; I think he really deserves this,” James added. Series leader and MotoSport Plus of Kingston rider, Steve Crevier, qualified for second position, only 0.201 of a second behind James, with Privateers Harley-Davidson®-sponsored Cody Matechuk a close third. Sunday morning was welcomed by slate grey skies, but the mood in the Shubenacadie paddock could not have been brighter. The stage was set for the final, and Ruthless Racing Inc. rider, Darren James, could not have been happier. He had not only set the track record in the Harley-Davidson® XR1200® Cup, but he had also managed to place his BuellTM 1125RTM bike onto the Pirelli Tire Superpole in the Superbike Class, a first in his years of trying. As the day progressed, the skies cleared, and the big Harley-Davidson® XR1200® motorcycles were staged for the final on the challenging 2,560-km Atlantic Motorsports Park track. With the start lights darkened, Crevier and Matechuk had shot off, jostling for position going into the first corner with Crevier gaining a slight advantage. James was hot on their heels with J. R. McRae, Chris Harmon, and Samuel Proulx in a three-way battle behind the lead trio. Crevier held on to a narrow margin in the lead, and Matechuk hounded the veteran at every corner; showing him a wheel at every turn. James continued his solid run in third, and had the best seat in the house to watch the battle in front of him. Behind them, a long train of Harley-Davidson® XR1200® bikes had their own war. By lap five of the 16-lap event, Vision Harley-Davidson® rider, Chris Harmon, jumped ahead of McRae and Sherbrooke Harley-Davidson® rider, Samuel Proulx. The battle for the lead waged on for another six laps, with Crevier and Matechuk banging through the corners, until Matechuk’s race came to a sputtering halt as he pulled the Harley® bike to the side of the track, the victim of an electrical problem. With Matechuk out, Crevier romped to the win with James taking second and Chris Harmon finishing a brilliant ride to take third. Samuel Proulx managed to hold off Ruthless Racing Inc. rider, J.R. McRae, for the fourth spot, while Trev Deeley Motorcycles-sponsored Ov Spilbourghs took sixth. With his podium finish, Chris Harmon was the winner of the Performance Under Gear Performer of the Race Award. After the race, Crevier commented, “I have to thank Pete Snell for all his hard work to make this happen, I don’t let him out from under that canopy all weekend, and he just works so hard to keep me going.” He added, “I made a bit of a rookie mistake on the start line [by] leaving my visor up, but I wasn’t letting go of the handlebars for nothing.” With this win, Crevier holds a solid 21-point advantage over Matechuk: 208 points to 187. The next round of the Harley-Davidson® XR1200® Cup will be a doubleheader weekend. This final contest of the season will be held at the Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ontario, on August 20 and 21. About Deeley Harley-Davidson® Canada Deeley Harley-Davidson® Canada is the exclusive Canadian distributor of Harley-Davidson® motorcycles, Genuine Motor Parts and Accessories, and MotorClothes® apparel, which are provided through a national network of authorized Harley-Davidson® Retailers. Office and distribution warehouse facilities are located in Richmond, British Columbia, and Concord, Ontario. Please visit www.harleycanada.com for further information on Harley-Davidson® products in Canada. More, from a press release issued by Graves Motorsports: Graves Rider Garrett Gerloff Shines in Virginia Kennesaw, Georgia August 9, 2011 – Up and coming Graves Motorsports rider Garrett Gerloff added more wins to his resume during the WERA Cycle Jam this weekend at VIR. Astride his Monster Energy / Graves prepped Yamaha R6 Gerloff took the top prize on Sunday, taking wins in the 600 Superstock and 600 Superbike races. “In the 600 Superstock race I followed Jake (Lewis) for a few laps and took the lead on lap three,” said Gerloff. A few laps later Gerloff was passed back by Lewis until the race’s ending laps. “I made the final pass going to the white flag and went on to win the race.” Gerloff put in a VIR personal record of time of 1:27.30 during the race. “In the 600 Superbike race I followed Jake for a lap, took the lead and never looked back. Jake made a small mistake and I took the victory by ten seconds,” said Gerloff of his second win on Sunday. “It was a great weekend and my Graves Yamaha R6 was flawless.” Gerloff took the points lead in Superstock and gained valuable points in Superbike going into the last two WERA National rounds. He now has a three point lead in Superstock and is a mere 11 points down from the lead in Superbike. After comparing Gerloff’s personal best lap of 1:27.3 to the AMA Pro Supersport’s pole position of 129:143 set by JD Beach during the 2010 AMA VIR races, Chuck Graves of Graves Motorsports said, “That puts Gerloff at approximately 1.8 seconds quicker than the fastest AMA Pro Supersport rider that weekend.” “I’m really excited about my first AMA race heading into New Jersey. We’ve compared my times with the top AMA guys to see how I stand and this has helped me gain valuable confidence going into this race,” remarked Gerloff. See Garrett’s first AMA Pro Race at New Jersey Motorsports Park, September 2-4, 2011. More, from a press release issued by Ducati Oklahoma Pros 4 Vets.org: Ducati Oklahoma Pros 4 Vets.org finishes strong at Eagles Canyon Raceway After a tough start, Air Force Captain Van Blaylock held off challengers through the last turn to bring the Ducati 1198S a 4th place finish in the CMRA heavyweight twins class at Eagles Canyon Raceway on August 7th. “It was a difficult weekend from start to finish. I thought we were done when we experienced a problem at the start of Practice Two that caused us to miss Practice Three, but we managed to get it back together in time for the race. Today was about completing the mission, and we did that in a way that we can be proud of,” Blaylock said after the race. Ducati Oklahoma’s Ryan Tupps said, “This weekend was a difficult one from the beginning, from making adjustments as it’s time to leave the pits to missing sessions due to mechanical issues. But I’m very proud of Van’s fight and ending in the position we did. Even when you don’t have the pace for a win, you have to show what you’re made of. We did that today.”