A DAY OF FIRSTS FOR THE VESRAH SUZUKI TEAM DURING THE BIG M WEEKEND AT MILLER MOTORSPORTS PARK IN TOOELE, UTAH. Vesrah Suzuki rider Corey Alexander scored his first win in AMA Pro Racing competition Sunday in the Supersport class with a runaway victory in the wet. This was also the first win in AMA Pro Racing for the Vesrah Suzuki team as well as the first triumph for the new for 2011 Suzuki GSX-R 600. Corey now sits solidly in 3rd place in the Supersport West season point standings. In the Daytona Sportbike class Cory West finished just off of the podium in 4th place after running with the front group and leading during the race held in drying conditions. Taylor Knapp struggled with the difficult conditions ending up 14th at the finish. Cory retains 2nd place in the Daytona Sportbike season point standings and Taylor is now in 10th. Mark Junge Team Owner Vesrah Suzuki “I’m excited for Corey to get his first win in AMA Pro Racing and for him to be able to bring the team it’s first win at this level. I’m really looking forward to next weekend at Road America which is the home round for the team” Corey Alexander Vesrah Suzuki #5 “At the beginning of this weekend I had hoped for a good finish, especially after last weekends near podiums. It was cold but dry on Saturday during qualifying 1 and I knew we had the bike and setup to be on pole but I just couldn’t get any quality track time to put down a good lap. I just got beat out of 2nd but ended up 3rd on the front row. It rained this morning so I knew nobody was going to go faster but I wanted to see how the track was but I didn’t want to crash. I was unsure for the race and didn’t really know what would happen, I knew I just had to stay off the ground.” “On the first lap I was in 4th when the leader crashed, then I followed the two guys in front of me for a lap before realizing they were actually holding me up. I got around them pretty easily only getting passed back once. I put my head down and before I knew it I looked up at my board it said +25. I was so excited to see that checkered flag. To win in front of the world at one of he nicest tracks in America was amazing especially after a bittersweet finish last weekend. I’d like to give a special thanks to Barry and Tim for building me a perfect bike, Mark Junge for giving me the opportunity to ride under the Vesrah Suzuki colors, My Uncle Richie for getting me involved in this whole sport and being behind me 100% all of the time, the rest of my family, and everyone behind the Vesrah Suzuki effort. I’m glad to give Suzuki its first AMA win on the all-new 2011 GSX-R 600. My first win will always be very memorable.” Cory West Vesrah Suzuki #57 “The weather was pretty nasty on Sunday but we had a pretty good wet set-up. I’ve had some good races here in the past under wet conditions, so I had a lot of confidence going into the race. I got out with the leaders early and tried to feel the track out before I started pushing hard. We were on full rains but a lot of the track was dry, so keeping the tires cool was important. At the same time I didn’t want the leaders to get a gap on me, so I was pushing pretty hard in the middle part of the race. It was great to lead a few laps and have clear track but when I needed my tires at the end of the race they weren’t there. I shagged my front with about 4 laps to go and pretty much had to put it on cruise control. I’m disappointed to have not scored a podium after such a fun battle, but 4th was good for the day. We collected more good points and we’ll carry this momentum into next weekend. Thanks to the Vesrah crew for a great bike and to my crew chief Tony Pogue for all of his hard work.” Taylor Knapp Vesrah Suzuki #44 “It has been a really rough start to the season for me and I feel like I have been hit from every angle. But looking at the positives we have learned a lot on the new bike with a better dry set-up and had a solid qualifying position in 6th place as the top Suzuki. Bad weather hit for the race and I got off to a bad start and just really struggled with the conditions. It is good to see my teammates both had great races and I would like to thank everyone on the team especially Mark Junge and my crew chief James Lickwar for working hard for me.” 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 American Suzuki: TEAM SUZUKISCOOPFANS’ ELENA MYERS CHARGES HARD AT MILLER MOTORSPORTS PARK & NABS BEST RESULT OF THE SEASON Myers captures impressive fifth-place finish in this weekend’s AMA SuperSport Race in the wet TOOELE, UT Team SuzukiScoopFans rider Elena Myers returned to AMA SuperSport racing this past weekend with a vengeance. After missing the last round due to a broken wrist, the 17-year-old Californian bounced back and nabbed an impressive fifth-place finish in the AMA SuperSport race at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, UT, over a very rainy Memorial Day Weekend. This remarkable result is not only Myers’ best finish of the year, it also puts her firmly in sixth place in the west division’s overall championship standings. Because the AMA series was sharing this rain-soaked weekend with the World Superbike series, there was only one AMA SuperSport race instead of the usual two. Young Myers made the most of the single 13-lap race, however. Despite the inclement weather, she got a good start on her Team SuzukiScoopFans Suzuki GSX-R600 and put herself into a solid fifth place. She then rode flawlessly, fighting off all comers to hold onto that position until the checkered flag flew. “It was a wet one for sure,” said Myers after the race. “But I got a great start on my SuzukiScoopFans Suzuki GSX-R600 and I kept my head down and tried to stay smooth. I wanted to build up some momentum and go a little faster each lap, and I did exactly that. Some people fell down but I made it through to the end. I admit that my wrist was bothering me quite a bit at the end, but I just fought through it for my team and I’m happy with our result.” Myers will continue to contest all the 2011 AMA SuperSport rounds, however, she is officially only competing in the West Division Championship. “Our next race is at Road America next weekend,” said Myers. “I’m really looking forward to that. It’s a fast track, just like this one here at Miller, and hopefully we’ll have some good luck there. My goal is to build on the momentum from this race and take it to Road America, and then through the rest of the season.” The 2011 SuzukiScoopFans team’s next event of the 2011 AMA SuperSport season will be at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI, on June 3-5, 2011. For more information, visit www.suzukicycles.com. Follow Elena Myers updates on SuzukiScoopFans on facebook and SuzukiScoop on twitter. About Suzuki: Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) founded The Motorcycle and ATV Division of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, CA, in 1963. ASMC markets motorcycles and ATVs via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. ASMC’s parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation, based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, automobiles and marine engines. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it has 120 distributors in 191 countries. For more information, visit www.suzukicycles.com. Follow Suzuki Scoop on facebook for exclusive team content www.facebook.com/suzukiscoopfans. More, from a press release issued by American Suzuki: MICHAEL JORDAN MOTORSPORTS RIDERS ROGER LEE HAYDEN AND BEN BOSTROM GRAB TWO TOP TENS AT MILLER TOOELE, UT The Michael Jordan Motorsports (MJM) team worked through rain and cold temperatures to claim two top tens and make progress with their Suzuki GSX-R1000s at round three of the 2011 AMA Pro National Guard Superbike Championship at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. Roger Lee Hayden, on the National Guard Jordan Suzuki, qualified fourth fastest in Saturday’s dry qualifying session and, like everyone else, was unable to better his time in Sunday’s wet qualifying. Hayden got a good start from his front row starting position in Monday’s race and battled with rider J.D. Beach for many laps before pulling clear for fourth place near the end. Hayden remains eighth in the championship points race heading into the fourth round next weekend. “The weekend was going pretty good up until the race,” Hayden said. “I was experiencing some problems that I hadn’t had all weekend. I think it was because the track was dirty. Nonetheless, it’s probably the most disappointing fourth place I’ve ever had. I was expecting so much more, and it just wasn’t there. We finished the race and we got some information. The Jordan Suzuki team worked hard all weekend. We had a better bike than it showed out there. I’m looking forward to Road America because we made some improvements this weekend to the bike to get closer to Tommy, Josh and Blake.” Jordan Suzuki’s Ben Bostrom had to start on the fourth row after losing his chance to improve his time from Saturday because of rain in Sunday’s qualifying session. Bostrom persevered in the race, getting a good start and running in seventh position before slipping to eighth place at the finish. Bostrom moves up to fifth position in the championship points race. “I love this place and that was a terrible performance,” Bostrom said. “So all we could do was keep our head down, not get too down and go to Road America. Fortunately, I only have to wait four days to ride again. We learned a lot this weekend, so that part is good. We definitely learned a lot in that race (about) what not to do.” The Michael Jordan Motorsports team’s next event of the 2011 AMA American Superbike Championship series is at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin on June 3-5, 2011. ABOUT MICHAEL JORDAN MOTORSPORTS: Legendary NBA star Michael Jordan formed Michael Jordan Motorsports in 2004 as a result of his passion for motorcycle racing. His mission is to bring a new level of excellence and style to the motorcycle racing industry. For more information on MJM, please visit www.23race.com, www.twitter.com/23race and http://www.facebook.com/23race. Michael Jordan Motorsports is proud to partner with: Jordan Brand (a division of Nike), National Guard, American Suzuki, Upper Deck, Hanes, Gatorade, Bazzaz, MMI – Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, Vortex Racing Components, Gemini Racing, K-Tech Suspension-Orient Express Racing, Maxima Racing Oils, K & N Air Filters, Dainese Leathers, AGV Helmets, Ancra Tie-downs, Chicken Hawk Racing Tire Warmers, Armour Bodies, DID Chains, FMF Racing Exhaust, Factory Pro Dyno, Roclun International, STAR Motorcycle School, Motion Pro Tools, Zero Gravity Windscreens, with transportation provided by Eastside Trucking. More, from a press release issued by Tyco Quay Garage: HICKMAN FINISHES SECOND AT THRUXTON Peter Hickman scored the best result of his career when he finished second in race two at a rain-hit Thruxton MCE British Superbike round on Bank Holiday Monday. It was also the best result of the year for the Quay Garage Tyco Honda team who also enjoyed a third place with Tommy Bridewell in the opening race of the year at Brands Hatch Hickman was at the top of his game all weekend, qualifying fifth in the dry and then finishing fifth in the opening wet race. Hickman even led the race briefly at the mid-point the first time in his career he had led a British Superbike race. Hickman said: “My bike is megga. We go from track to track and don’t even touch the chassis apart from a few clicks to suit the circuit. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it. “In the first race I turned the traction control up at the start to save the tyre for later in the race but it was too much at the end and held me back a bit. It was good to lead a BSB race for the first time – but when Lowes came by me I couldn’t see a thing.” In race two though Hickman really shone, fighting off a determined bid from the vastly experienced Michael Rutter, to finish second a career best finish for the 24-year-old who is fast emerging as one of the ‘finds’ of this year’s BSB season. “I learned from race one about the traction when and where to use it,” he said. “But when Rutter came by me at the end, I could see he still had a little bit more grip than me at Goodwood and Church. But I just thought, ‘I can’t let him go,’ and did him straight back each time he passed me.” Hickman’s brilliant weekend means he’s now sixth in the championship after four rounds. The top six riders after nine rounds go through to the championship deciding three-round Showdown so Hickman is well placed to be a title contender. Quay Garage Tyco Honda team-mate Tommy Bridewell didn’t fare so well, plagued by handling problems all through the weekend. He retired from race one and finished 17th in race two, blinded by spray in the middle of the pack. Bridwell said: “It’s been a tough weekend and disappointing to come away with no points at my local circuit. We’ll have to regroup at Knockhill. Patric Muff, though, finished a brilliant 15th overall in race one on his first visit to the fearsomely fast Thruxton circuit. He placed third and fourth in the BSB Evo competition and sits fourth in the championship standings. Muff said: I’m really happy with my weekend. When I first saw the circuit I just couldn’t believe how fast and wide the track was with so many bumps. The team has worked really hard to help me understand the circuit and now I’m looking forward to the next challenge at Knockhill.” Team owner Ian Woollacott said: “I’m delighted for Peter. He’s chipped away every weekend since joining us, improving every time he rides the bike and, to be honest, this kind of result has been on the cards for a while. “My hope when we started the year was for Peter to be in the top ten in the first half of the year and top six place in the second half of the year. To be leading BSB races and be on the podium by round four is beyond my wildest dreams. “It’s been a tough weekend for Tommy though. We’ve got to put this behind us and go to Knockhill and get things back on track for him. “And as for Patric what a brilliant job he’s done this weekend. Thruxton is a really demanding track but he’s got stuck in scored two more top four finishes in BSB Evo and was a really impressive 15th overall in race one, beating several of the more experienced BSB riders.” More, from a press release issued by Marty Nutt’s publicist: Nutt excels at Thruxton Castlerock’s Marty Nutt enjoyed his best weekend of racing so far this season with two top-twelve finishes at the latest round of the 2011 British Supersport Championship. Competing at Thruxton in Hampshire, Marty took 12th in Sunday’s dry race but excelled in Monday’s wet race and was rewarded with an excellent 6th place, his best ever position in a British Championship race. A solid first day saw Marty take 10th and 15th in the two free practice sessions and, happy with the performance and handling of the bike, he was able to push on in Sunday’s solitary qualifying session. Indeed, he was able to take almost 1.5s off his lap times and a lap of 1m18.068s was good enough for a fine 11th spot and third row start for Sunday’s 12-lap race. Equally encouraging, he was also only one second off the pole position time. A slightly sluggish start in the race saw Marty slip back to 15th on the opening lap but he slowly began to move forward and by lap 7 he was up to 13th. Enjoying a good battle with Luke Stapelford and Allan Jon Venter, Marty was able to overhaul both of them by the chequered flag and take 12th and 4 more Championship points. Subsequently, Marty lined up in 14th position for Monday’s longer 18-lap race although this was subsequently cut to 15 laps due to wet weather. A solid start saw him up to 13th at the end of lap one and a lap later he was up to 12th, a position he maintained until lap 7 when Dean Hipwell dropped out of the race. Edging ever closer to the top ten, Marty was again proving his wet weather capabilities and by lap 8 he was up to 9th and on course for his best position of the year. Second placed Jack Kennedy then crashed out as did Steve Plater and Christian Iddon and the race was red flagged with four laps still remaining which meant Marty was promoted up to 6th for his best ever besult in the Supersport Championship. The 14 points gained from the two races has catapulted him up to 14th place in the Championship table. Marty now has a three-week break with the next round taking place at Knockhill, June 17-19. More, from a press release issued by Cycle World: June 1, 2011, Newport Beach, CA”” Cycle World, America’s leading motorcycle media brand, has competed on the racetrack since the magazine’s inception in 1962. This tradition continues in 2011 in AMA Pro Road Racing with Team Cycle World Attack Performance Kawasaki rider JD Beach and AMA Pro Flat Track with Associate Editor Mark Cernicky. This past weekend, Beach turned in another a strong performance in the AMA Pro American SuperBike race held under challenging conditions at Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City, Utah. Beach, competing in just his second SuperBike event, qualified seventh-quickest for the 16-lap race on his Richard Stanboli-tuned Kawasaki ZX-10R. Beach made a strong start from the second row of the grid, worked his way toward the front of the field and, after a brief-but-heated battle with National Guard Jordan Suzuki’s Roger Hayden, moved into fourth place. Unfortunately, Beach crashed on the 12th lap in the Clubhouse Corner and was subsequently credited with 15th place. Next stop for Beach and Team Cycle World Attack Performance Kawasaki is Round 4 of the AMA Pro Road Racing Series, June 3-5, at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Cernicky continued the Team Cycle World tradition of participatory journalism by attempting to qualify for both the AMA Flat Track Pro Singles Springfield Mile and TT held over the Memorial Day weekend in Springfield, Illinois. While he came up short in the Mile, Cernicky made it to the Last Chance Qualifier for the TT on his Yoshimura-built Honda CRF450R. Regrettably, sixth place wasn’t good enough for a transfer to the main event. Cernicky’s experience at Springfield will help him prepare for his next racing adventure: the annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Cernicky will ride a Ducati Multistrada 1200S Pikes Peak Edition from California to Colorado prior to the race weekend and then compete on that same machine in the 12.42-mile, 156-turn “Race to the Clouds” to truly test the multiple-use claims of the Italian V-Twin. Cycle World reaches millions of enthusiasts all over the world, making it the most recognizable motorcycle media brand in the industry. Cycle World delivers the full experience of motorcycling through words, photos and video in new and dynamic platforms, giving readers, visitors and viewers the richest, most in-depth and up-to-the-minute coverage of our sport. For more information about Cycle World, go to www.facebook.com/cycleworld or www.cycleworld.com.