James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing won the GTL class and finished second overall during the ASRA Team Challenge race held at Blackhawk Farms on August 19. Teammates Jeff Johnson and Paul James rode their MOTO-ST spec Buell Firebolt XB12R equipped with Pirelli rain tires during the 2 hour race as a tune up for the upcoming 8 Hours at Daytona MOTO-ST finale. “The course conditions were pretty challenging, with a full wet situation at the start and a gradually drying line,” said Paul James. “Our Buell Firebolt XB12R was flawless, and the Pirelli rain tires held up really well, especially considering I’d already used them quite a bit during the weekend.” James won the CCS GTL 25-minute race as well as the Thunderbike and SuperTwins sprint races, each held in wet conditions aboard his CCS spec Buell Firebolt with the same set of Pirelli rain tires the team eventually used in the Team Challenge. “We entered the Team Challenge race for practice, intending to do two or three pit stops to stay sharp for MOTO-ST, but when Jeff pushed into the class lead and threatened the overall, we changed to a single pit stop strategy,” said James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing crew chief Mike Kirkpatrick. “We had a great pit stop but as the track dried, Paul had his hands full with the bigger bikes. He did well to unlap us at the end and make time on the overall leader, but we ran out of time. It was a great team effort and we feel ready for the MOTO-ST 8 Hour.” James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing currently holds second place in the MOTO-ST Grand Sport Twins class with one class win and two other podium finishes on the season. To view the team blog, go to [email protected]. For team sponsorship opportunities, please email [email protected]. More, from a press release issued by ARNCHU Racing: ARNCHU Racing’s Sherman and Dressman fly in the rain at Nelson Ledges. This past weekend at WERA’s Sportsman Regional event at Nelson Ledges Road Course ARNCHU Racing team members Randy Sherman and Nathan Dressman topped the podium. All of Sunday’s practice and sprints were held in the rain. Sherman was the man to beat at the event, topping the time charts with a 1:21.2 on the slick and bumpy course. His time was over a second faster than his nearest rival”¦who happened to be his teammate, Dressman. Both riders attributed the finishes to seat time gained in successful endurance seasons of past years. ARNCHU Racing, won the WERA Heavyweight Superstock Championship for 2006, finishing 2nd overall among 109 registered teams. Sherman was able to run away with the win in each of the three Suzuki-paying classes he entered, saying, “The Michelin rains from Mize Mobile performed flawlessly all day long. The tire grip was predictable, though the bike did get sideways a few times due to the bumps and sealer. It really came together for me today and I was riding comfortably.” The Suzuki East of Toledo-sponsored riders came to the event hoping to gain dry set-up notes for the WERA National next month, but instead found an acceptable baseline for wet weather racing. Dressman was just behind in the 600 and 750 classes, finishing 2nd to Sherman. “He must a ate his Wheaties today! No- Seriously, hats off to Randy’s skills today. No one had anything for him.”