AMA Formula Xtreme Championship Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Monterey, California September 27, 2008 Provisional Race Results: 1. Jake Zemke (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, 17 laps 2. Josh Hayes (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -1.182 seconds 3. Steve Rapp (Kaw ZX-6R), Pirelli, -12.182 4. Martin Cardenas (Suz GSX-R600), Pirelli, -12.566 5. Chaz Davies (Kaw ZX-6R), Pirelli, -24.817 6. Larry Pegram (Duc 848), Pirelli, -29.322 7. Michael Beck (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, -30.327 8. Cory West (Suz GSX-R600), Pirelli, -30.600 9. Aaron Gobert (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -30.957 10. Tony Meiring (Yam YZF-R6), Michelin, -59.161 11. Marcos Reichert (Hon CBR600RR), -61.290 12. Chris Siebenhaar (Suz GSX-R600), Dunlop, -61.445 13. Fernando Amantini (Kaw ZX-6R), Dunlop, -63.599 14. Nicky Moore (Kaw ZX-6R), Pirelli, -78.701 15. Eric Pinson (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, -82.949 16. Brian Parriott (BMW HP2 Sport), Pirelli, -83.275 17. Brad Hendry (Tri Daytona 675), -86.598 18. Eric Haugo (Yam YZF-R6), Pirelli, -1 lap 19. Nahun Alvarez Gonzalez (Hon CBR600RR), -1 lap, 17.378 seconds 20. C.R. Gittere (Suz GSX-R600), Pirelli, -1 lap, 33.272 21. J.B. Layman (Yam YZF-R6), Pirelli, -1 lap, 35.403 22. Oscar Covarrubias (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap, 55.426 23. Sahar Zvik (Suz GSX-R600), -1 lap, 55.874 Provisional Championship Point Standings: 1. Zemke, 336 points 2. Hayes, 287 3. Rapp, 278 4. Pegram, 265 5. TIE, Davies/Gobert, 224 7. Cardenas, 213 8. Amantini, 177 9. Siebenhaar, 159 10. Moore, 140 11. Danny Eslick, 138 12. Garrett Carter, 110 13. Gittere, 94 14. Beck, 93 15. Haugo, 85 16. Meiring, 77 17. West, 75 18. Shane Narbonne, 71 19. Eric Wood, 69 20. TIE, Parriott/Taylor Knapp, 61 More, from a press release issued by Pirelli: Rapp Races Pirelli to Third in FX for the Day, Third for the Season Monterey, CA: High heels and help flossing were the ingredients that racer Steve Rapp’s girlfriend Cyrcee supplied as he locked up third place in the AMA Formula Xtreme (FX) Championship at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Rapp brought his Attack Kawasaki home on the podium in third for the day and in third for the 2008 FX Championship. Coming into the last round of the 2008 AMA Superbike championship, held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, just east of Monterey, California, Rapp was still healing from a broken hand suffered when a rider fell in front of him at Road Atlanta, causing Rapp to crash in the red clay. In the few weeks since that incident Rapp dedicated himself to being ready for this race, taking a second-row position on the grid and a podium finish in the final, while still unable to do delicate tasks. Rapp said, “Cyrcee still has to floss my teeth for me because of my broken hand. But I was ready to race and it feels like a win for me because with third in the championship we get to go to the AMA banquet and the whole team will be honored. I can’t thank Kawasaki and Richard and my crew enough for what they each did to get us such a successful season. We are a great team and I thank them all, especially Cyrcee.” This was Rapp’s fourth FX podium this season and he never finished a race lower than fifth, showing a stunning collection of speed and consistency. Rapp’s FX podium was hard fought as M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas battled with him during the closing laps after making up time lost during a minor off-track excursion early in the race. This fight for third between Rapp and Cardenas was an epic racing conflict and at least twice Cardenas showed unbelievable riding skills as he saved his bike during late braking maneuvers with the front tire locking. Cardenas finished fourth just inches behind Rapp, with Chaz Davies taking fifth for the Attack Kawasaki team, while Larry Pegram earned sixth on his Leo Vince/Foremost Insurance Ducati 848, and fourth in the FX Championship. Cory West came home eighth in the last FX race for the season, if not forever, giving Pirelli an even half of the top-ten finishing places. And adding to Pirelli’s tally of riders in the top ten for the season is Davies in sixth, Cardenas in seventh, and Nicky Moore in tenth. In Saturday’s single Superstock practice Blake Young set the fourth-best time of the session on his M4 EMGO Suzuki prepared GSX-R1000. David Anthony posted the fifth best time while Robertino Pietri was sixth quickest for the Roadracingworld.com Suzuki team, Scott Jensen was ninth fastest and Ryan Elleby laid done the tenth best Superstock lap of the day. Superstock qualifying and race are scheduled for Sunday. In Supersport qualifying Pirelli riders earned positions on row two, with Martin Cardenas on the outside with the fifth-best time of the session for the M4 EMGO Suzuki team. Chaz Davies put his Attack Kawasaki in seventh on the grid with Bobby Fong putting in another top performance by setting the eighth quickest time for Sunday’s Supersport grid. Pirelli Tire North America specializes in the manufacture and marketing of high-performance tires for passenger vehicles, motorcycles and motorsports. An industry leader in technology and quality, Pirelli operates its highly advanced Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) in Rome, Georgia, to better serve the North American OEM and Replacement markets. For more information please visit: www.us.pirelli.com, or www.us.pirellimoto.com. More, from a press release issued by Team M4 EMGO Suzuki: CARDENAS FOURTH IN FX SEASON FINALE AT LAGUNA SECA Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas concluded the 2008 Formula Xtreme Championship season with his sixth top-five FX finish of the year on Saturday at Laguna Seca. The Colombian battled hard throughout the 17-lap contest after qualifying third fastest at 1:26.511 aboard his Pirelli-shod GSX-R600 earlier in the day. He put himself in position to make a bid for a fourth-straight podium result on the final lap, however, he fell just short of overtaking Steve Rapp for third at the checkered flag and was forced to accept a fourth-place result. Despite missing two rounds and riding injured at another race this season, Cardenas’ strong finish to the year saw him climb to seventh in the final championship standings with 213 points. Cory West took part in the FX race as well after impressing in the class earlier in the season, finishing fourth and sixth while subbing for Cardenas. The Arkansas native qualified ninth fastest at 1:28.071 and backed that up with an eighth-place ride in the 60k race. Team Crew Chief Keith Perry said, “Martin finished the year in terrific fashion, taking three podiums late in the year and almost adding a fourth today. He was extremely disappointed that he didn’t get that third place today. He was down on himself a little bit about a couple of mistakes he made early in the race and felt he should have never been back there, but he rode another good race, very solid. Sometimes you can ride your heart out and it’s just not going to turn out the way you want. He’s determined to have a really good year next year and I’m sure he will. We’re going to do our best to give him the best bikes possible. “Cory felt like he wanted to get out there and race with those guys. He wanted to get warmed up because it’s a short weekend and he rode well too. He’s looking forward to tomorrow.” Cardenas also led the way for Team M4 EMGO Suzuki in Supersport qualifying. He’ll open tomorrow’s class finale from the inside of the second row, qualifying fifth fastest at 1:26.963. Teammate Blake Young was tenth best at 1:27.857 while West was twelfth at 1:27.972. Meanwhile, Young was fourth fastest in the day’s Superstock free session, guiding his GSX-R1000 around the undulating circuit in 1:26.681. On Sunday Team M4 EMGO Suzuki will conclude the 2008 season, opening the day with Superstock qualifying and then contesting the Superstock and Supersport season finales in the afternoon.