Attack Kawasaki’s Rapp Wins Daytona 200 On All-New 2007 Kawasaki Ninja ZX™-6R DAYTONA Attack Kawasaki rider Steve Rapp captured the win in AMA Formula Extreme aboard the all-new 2007 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R at the Daytona 200. Rapp’s win was his first-ever career win in the Daytona 200 and also signaled return to the top of podium for Kawasaki, its’ first since 1995. “The bike was fast, the tires were good, and the team pulled out some great pit stops,” said Rapp. “To win at Daytona, that’s what you need. It feels great to not only win, but to be able to reward your team for the time they invest in you. It’s a way of giving back.” Teammate Ben Attard finished a close second and marked the second time this week that Kawasaki took the top two positions, following Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Roger Hayden and Jamie Hacking’s one-two finish in AMA Supersport on Thursday. Attard also put in an impressive performance, taking advantage of quick and efficient pit stops that eventually lead him to gain four positions on the track. “I think we recorded the fastest pit time ever at Daytona in the 66 years they’ve been doing it,” said Attard about his pit stops. “It was unbelievable.” Attack Perfomance owner and team manager Richard Stamboli added, “Our team has been putting in 16-hour days preparing for this race. Everyone gave 100 percent. It was a team effort and I’m so pleased by the results.” Rapp and Attard’s finishing positions this weekend in the Daytona 200 marked the first time Kawasaki had captured the top two positions in the prestigious race. In AMA Superbike, Monster Energy Kawasaki riders Hayden and Hacking qualified fourth and 10th, respectively, but ran into some unfortunate luck in the main event. Hacking went down in turn one after tangling with another rider. A few moments later, Hayden, who was running strong in the fifth position and looking to make a move on fourth, lost the back end and was sent to the ground. Neither rider was able to continue the race but walked away uninjured from the crashes. “We really don’t know what happened out there,” said Hayden. “We can’t figure out whether I got on the gas too hard, because everything looked the same as the lap before. Whenever you crash and don’t know why, you want to figure out the mistake so it doesn’t happen again and we will.” Monster Energy Kawasaki and Attack Kawasaki will return to action on April 20 at the Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. AMA Superbike Championship Dayton International Speedway Daytona Beach March 10, 2007 AMA Formula Extreme 1. STEVE RAPP, MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIF., ATTACK KAWASAKI 2. BEN ATTARD, MURRIETA, CALIF., ATTACK KAWASAKI 3. Michael Barnes, Boca Raton, Fla., Suzuki 4. Chaz Davies, Nyack, N.Y., Yamaha 5. Jason Disalvo, Stafford, N.Y., Yamaha 6. Joshua Hayes, Gulfport, Miss., Honda 7. Pascal Picotte, Ct Cecile De Milton, QC, Suzuki 8. Ryan Elleby, Powder Springs, Ga., Honda 9. Joshua Day, Orlando, Fla., Yamaha 10. Bostjan Pintar, Slovania, Yamaha AMA Superbike 1. Ben Spies, Longview, Texas, Suzuki 2. Miguel Duhamel, Las Vegas, Nev., Honda 3. Jake Zemke, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda 4. AKRIA YANAGAWA, FUKUOKA, JAPAN, KAWASAKI 5. Geoff May, Gainesville, Ga., Suzuki 6. Jason Disalvo, Stafford, N.Y., Yamaha 7. Jake Holden, Eatonville, Wash., Suzuki 8. Tommy Hayden, Owensboro, Ky., Suzuki 9. James Ellison, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., Honda 10. Mat Mladin, Henderson, Nev., Suzuki 24. ROGER HAYDEN, OWENSBORO, Ky., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI 25. JAMIE HACKING, DENVER, N.C., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI More, from a press release issued by Pirelli: Pirelli Owns, Dominates, Rules, the Daytona 200 Pirelli wins the Daytona 200. Pirelli takes second in the Daytona 200. Pirelli takes third in the Daytona 200. ‘Nough said. Congratulations to Steve Rapp, Ben Attard, and Michael Barnes. Details to follow. More, from another press release issued by Pirelli: Pirelli riders ruled the day at Daytona International Speedway during the 66th Daytona 200, taking first, second and third. Topping this podium ownership was Attack Kawasaki’s Steve Rapp, winning on a 2007 ZX-6R, 21.951 seconds in front of his teammate Ben Attard in second, with Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Michael Barnes finishing third on a GSX-R600, another 6.867 seconds behind. The next rider was Chaz Davies, 31.725 seconds from the race winner. This marks Pirelli’s first win in the Daytona 200. A win of unmatched performance defined by a stunning, total podium sweep. All Pirelli riders competing in the Daytona 200 qualified for the race on standard racing Diablo Superbike Slicks, rather than qualifying tires, possibly giving false hopes to the competition. For Daytona, Pirelli prepared itself with tri-compound tires to meet the unique needs of the super speedway. The compound varied for left cornering, the infield, and the banking, using the same technology as the Diablo Corsa III multi-compound street tires. These three podium-finishing Pirelli riders, Rapp, Attard, and Barnes, battled from the start in a tight pack of six bikes at the front of the field until the first pit stops. Michael Barnes led the first lap of the race, after beating the factory Hondas back to the line. Rapp, Barnes, and Attard all took turns leading the race, giving up only 21 of its 68 laps to Pirelli’s competition. This is the first time a “non-factory” rider has won the Daytona 200 since 1989. But this time it was accomplished in a field with many factory riders, none of whom made it to the podium. Other Pirelli riders finishing in the top ten include Pascal Picotte and David Anthony, respectively finishing seventh and tenth, giving Pirelli five of the top ten places. Daytona 200 winner Steve Rapp said, “I wouldn’t want any other two racers up here with me. Ben’s my teammate and Barney and I go way back. I knew the race tires were good. I knew the times I could do. The team knew but no one else knew because we qualified on the same tires we raced on. The competition might not have believed that but they probably do now. With one lap to go was I hoping I don’t run out of gas. During a pit stop (team owner) Richard (Stanboli) had told me I came in too soon. So after that I was backing off on the banking to save fuel. I didn’t believe I had it until I saw the tri-oval in front of me on the last lap. “Maybe over the years I never had the right combination. I finally got on a good bike with a good team with good tires and some luck. We champed it out and made it. We did little to the bike all week. All we did was change tires during the race. We stuck to the harder tires and I knew I could run the pace I needed. The first twenty laps were tight with lots of drafting and late braking going on between a bunch of us. I saw Miguel (Duhamel) off the side of the track and knew he’d be the guy to try to run me down so that gave me a lot of room.” Second place finisher Ben Attard said, “Having Joey (Lombardi) as my crew chief and having a trainer has really made my riding come together. Winning would have been better but this is really good for the team. I can learn a lot from Steve. This track is a hard place to learn, you have to put your self in the right position. These Pirelli tires blow me away. They just keep gripping and gripping. The pit stops were so fast I couldn’t even drink any water. I think”¦ I don’t even know what I think at the moment. Kawasaki makes great bikes, the ’07 is unbelievable and with our crew it’s a great combination. Steve and I are going to battle out this championship to the end.” Third place finisher Michael Barnes said, “It’s exciting to see these tires coming this far in the few years I’ve been on them. The race started out with the pace being slow. Josh (Hayes) was being nice to his tire. I did the same, seeing who’d have the most, seeing if my crew gave me good pit stops. Towards the end I dug deep and upped my pace when I got a signal that we were battling for the podium. So I pushed hard. I had a couple of moments but it all worked out. My team did a great job.” In the Superbike race run earlier in the day, Pirelli-rider Geoff May took fifth place with his Suzuki GSX-R1000. The Team M4 EMGO Suzuki rider, May, did this at a horsepower track on a Superstock-spec bike with Pirelli Diablo Superbike Slicks, shocking the factory Superbike riders. It was an exciting race with former champion Mat Mladin and Aaron Yates both crashing and remounting to finish. Pirelli’s week at Daytona has resoundingly reaffirmed its commitment to racing in America and to every motorcycle enthusiast. From the Diablo Superbike slicks that just won the Daytona 200, to the all-new Diablo Corsa III dual-compound street tires available at your local Parts Unlimited dealer: We race what we sell, we sell what we race. More, from a press release issued by Attack Kawasaki: Attack Performance congratulates Steve Rapp for making history the other day and winning the 66th Daytona 200, an accomplishment that required heart, soul and a lifetime of commitment to the notion that if you desire something strongly enough and are willing to put in every ounce of effort, you can make it happen. A word of praise, too, for Ben Attard who put his head down and raced the 200 miles around Daytona with grit, determination and inspired race craft, crossing the finish line right behind his team mate. A special thanks goes out to the crew of Attack Kawasaki Racing, each of whom focused every brain cell and muscle on the task of securing the best results a team could ever wish for. Performing the fastest, most flawless pit stops, Team Attack demonstrated a level of commitment to planning and execution that simply has no rival. Of course, nothing would be possible without the dedicated support of our sponsors, both old and new, whose excellent products give our riders the edge they need when they’re hanging it all out for the world to see. Way to go, Team! More, from a press release issued by American Suzuki: Suzuki Support Rider Barnes Podiums Prestigious Daytona 200 BREA, Calif., (March 12, 2007) American Suzuki Motor Corp. (ASMC) is excited to announce that Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Michael Barnes captured an impressive third-place finish in the 66th running of the world-famous Daytona 200 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Saturday, March 10, 2007. Barnes, 36, rode his M4 EMGO Suzuki GSX-R600 to a podium finish in the 200-mile, 68-lap Formula Extreme race after getting a good start and leading the first lap. Barnes put in a consistent ride and his crew provided two flawless pit stops. Barnes initially joined the satellite Suzuki road race team in 2005 when he stepped in to ride for injured rider, Vincent Haskovec. “To podium in the Daytona 200 is quite a thrill,” said Barnes after the race. “I’ve been on the Daytona podium a few times before in a few different classes, but this is the first time in the Formula Xtreme class and in the 200. It’s just a blast to be up here and the M4 EMGO Suzuki team is great”¦ It was just meant to be. I was supposed to be up here this weekend. This is for Vincent.” Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Barnes and the rest of the Suzuki support teams will next compete in AMA road racing at round two of the AMA Superbike Championship Series at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., the weekend April 20 – 22. More, from a press release issued by Safety First Suzuki: Safety First Suzuki reflects on Daytona Safety First Suzuki equaled their best finish ever in the Daytona 200 with rider Bobby Fong crossing the finish line in 12th. Teammate Scott Ryan was in 15th place with six laps to go when a mechanical issue robbed the team from placing both riders in the top fifteen. Stockton, CA resident Fong completed his first ever AMA race and was as high as 11th place, before losing out to a late race battle on the last lap to finish a very credible 12th. The quality of the Michelin tires on the Suzuki GSXR 600’s, along with very quick pit stops by the Safety First Suzuki Team played a big role in the riders steady progress through the field. Lemont, Illinois rider Scott Ryan had an up and down weekend, finishing 35th in the talent-deep Supersport race and falling mid-way through the FX 200 race, only to rapidly remount his bike and work his way back through the field and come up just a few laps short when a mechanical sidelined Ryan. Kevin Hanson- Safety First Suzuki Team Owner “What really stood out this weekend was that both riders first saw and rode this daunting track on Wednesday. I am delighted with the outcomes of their performances in both the Supersport race on Thursday and the 200 on Saturday. Bobby and Scotty both came here with virtually no Daytona experience and left with a diploma in their hand. What they learned here will certainly benefit them the rest of the year with their racecraft and both of these guys rode their hearts out.” Bobby Fong: 21st- Supersport, 12th- Formula Xtreme “Overall, it was a great learning experience. There are a lot of fast guys here. I got a chance to really try out my Komodo leathers by having several “offs” during the weekend, but I stayed on the bike when it mattered and finished 21st in Supersport and almost got a top ten for the biggest race in North America, all in my first time. The Komodo leathers and Suomy Helmets really held up to their reputations as being the highest in quality. I had a huge highside and whacked my head in the International Horseshoe and had a fast get-off in the back chicane. There were no holes or burn through in my leathers. They are ready to go for the next race!” Scott Ryan: 35th- Supersport, 42nd- Formula Xtreme (DNF) “I was able to whittle away and get to know this track during the weekend and I am looking forward to Barber, a track I have been to before. I also fell in love with my Komodo leathers and Suomy helmets as Bobby and I did some pretty intense field testing and they held up awesome!” The team was very happy with the performance of their Michelin DOT’s tires that they ran all week. “After each race and after the pit stops, the tires looked great” declared Hanson. “Ron and the guys at Michelin gave us some great tires and we were proud to be the highest Michelin team in the prestigious Daytona 200. Both riders also wanted to thank engine-builder Ed Hilton back at the Safety First Racing shop in Chicago, as he gave them some very fast bikes for this horsepower dominated track. Safety First Racing was formed in 2004 by police officer/racer, Kevin Hanson, based out of Chicago, IL. For 2007, Safety First Suzuki will be competing in the AMA Superbike series in the Supersport and Formula Xtreme classes and is proud to be partnering with American Suzuki. Checkout www.SAFETYFIRSTRACING.com to see the Safety First Suzuki line of apparel and casual wear. Kevin Hanson continues to educate elementary school aged children nationwide about the importance of helmet usage. More, from a press release issued by Corona Extra Honda Racing: CORONA EXTRA HONDA RACING ELLISON AND CBR1000RR SUPERBIKE TAKE NINTH AT DAYTONA Corona Extra Honda Racing’s James Ellison brought his CBR1000RR SuperBike home to a fine ninth place finish in his first ever AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited race here at Daytona International Speedway. Teammate Gary Mason suffered a fall in the SuperSport race putting his Corona Light CBR600RR out of the race. Ellison, just arrived from Europe after competing in MotoGP, continued to learn the famous banks of Daytona getting faster every test session and picking up tips of the trade from other riders. He qualified 14th on the grid so had to work his way through traffic after his first SuperBike start. “The whole race was about chasing those in front of me!” said Ellison. “I had to be patient out there but it was fun, especially the last lap.” During the closing laps Ellison was able to size up his competition to set up a last lap pass of multi-time SuperBike champion Mat Mladin, cementing the 9th place finish. “I wanted to pass Mat in the infield area but I figured that I should wait for the banking,” said Ellison. “Once we got onto the banking I drafted past him to take the position right at the line.” Ellison is currently ninth in the SuperBike Championship points order. Gary Mason, in his first appearance on the Corona Light Honda CBR600RR spent much of the weekend getting to know the bike and finding the right set-up for the suspension. With Daytona being the first time ever the entirely-new-for-2007 bike had been run on track it was also a learning experience for the crew. Mason qualified 19th still working on the set-up. In the race he got caught up in a first lap incident and had to take to the grass losing a whole load of places. He got back on track and was making good progress back through the field when he lost the front end in turn five. Gary held on to the bike, which was undamaged, but unfortunately a helping turn worker getting the bike off the track dropped it and broke a lever which meant he could not get back in the fray. Even with the end result Mason is looking forward to getting back on his Honda CBR600RR. “It’s a brand new bike and it’s my first time on a 600cc bike in a while,” said Mason. “The chassis on this Honda is really good and with our guys working on it we will get better and better as the season progresses. I’m already ready for the next round!” In other Daytona news, James and Gary along with the crew put in a terrific effort meeting the public during Bike Week, appearing at eight Corona bar promotions, four retail locations and the opening of the 82nd Cycle Gear Store. Additionally, they joined the Honda factory riders to sign autographs at the manufacturer display area. Daytona bike week public also got to see six Corona Extra Honda Racing CBR1000RR bikes in retail displays around the area giving tens of thousands the opportunity to see the bikes in the flesh! More, from a press release issued by Rockwall Honda: POSITIVE DAYTONA FOR ROCKWALL HONDA The first race of 2007 proved to be successful for Rockwall Honda. Ryan Elleby finished eighth in the Daytona 200, a remarkable accomplishment for the young rider. Ryan Andrews finished 12th in the hyper-competitive AMA Supersport class and ran inside the top ten for much of the day in the Daytona 200 before tangling with a slower competitor. The Rockwall, Texas-based squad boasts two young and talented riders and will contest the 2007 AMA season with support from American Honda. Ryan Elleby (23) and Ryan Andrews (19) will compete in Formula Xtreme and Supersport. “I thought it went really well,” said Elleby of his Daytona 200. “The bike and Dunlop tires and the Rockwall Honda team worked out awesome. I just went out and tried to get in a groove in the race and was able to do it. I had been working hard this off-season and hired a personal trainer, so I felt fit the whole race. It was good to be able to finish and get a good result in the season opener.” Andrews saw a great chance at a top ten in the Daytona 200 evaporate on Saturday. “Before the first pit stop, we were running strong. Things were going our way and we were in the top ten as the race began to settle down,” said Andrews, a resident of Robinson, Texas. “Then we started having an issue on the bike. It was a tough race, for sure. We were getting closer to the end and I was trying to bring it home. I was trying to pass a rider when he stood his bike up in the middle of the corner and I went down. I hit the air fence but I was okay and tried to get going again. The windscreen was broken and the handlebars were bent, and we still had our problem from before. I decided to pull it in and not get hurt any worse.” Andrews was 12th in Thursday’s Supersport race, earning a good result on his 2007 Honda CBR600RR. “The Supersport race was pretty fun. I got an okay start and the bike handled awesome. We’ll work on our bike before the next race and continue to improve the power and handling. I’m happy with where I ended up seeing as how it was only our third time on the track. We’ll be even better at Barber.” Ryan Elleby was classified by the AMA as 19th place in the Supersport race, a solid result in what was a learning experience for him, including his first race on Dunlop tires. “It was my first race on the Supersport bike,” said Elleby, a Powder Springs, Georgia native. “It was pretty much a learning experience because we’d only had a practice and qualifying session the day before the race. We’re pleased with the result, considering the circumstances, but we want more. Once we get sorted through everything, we should be right up there.” Team owner Michael Worrell said he was pleased with the weekend. “The first race of the year is always difficult. The team really worked hard to get the equipment ready for the racers and it’s a race against the clock to be ready. Ryan Andrews and Ryan Elleby both did a fine job this weekend and we’re looking forward to the next race at Barber next month.” That event will be held April 20-22 near Birmingham, AL. More, from a press release issued by Millennium/KWS Suzuki: Millennium/KWS Suzuki Finish In the Top Ten at Daytona Charleston, SC March 2007 — Millennium/KWS Suzuki sponsored by Ron Ayers Motorsports had great start to the 2007 AMA Superbike season at the world famous Daytona International Speedway. John Haner picked up his first top ten of the season in Superstock and David Weber was very impressive in his first Superbike race for the team. In Superstock qualifying John Haner used the amazing grip of the new Dunlop N-Tec’s to qualify in the ninth position with time of 1:43.428. Teammate David Weber qualified right behind Haner in the twelfth position with a time of 1:44.226. In the race both riders had good starts, but unfortunately for Weber he made contact with another rider on lap one and was unable to continue the race. Haner won a hard fought top ten finish after a race long battle with several riders to finish in the tenth position. Superbike is once again the most competitive class in AMA pro racing with well over twenty teams capable of running at the front. In Superbike qualifying John Haner qualified in the nineteenth position with a time of 1:41.657 and David Weber qualified in the twenty-fifth position after having a minor mechanical issue in qualifying. In the race both riders found themselves in the middle of a chaotic battle for survival in an incident filled Superbike main event. The Millennium/KWS Suzuki riders raced hard and did a great job to conserve their equipment and finish the race with Haner in the sixteenth position and Weber in the seventeenth position. John Haner “I am very happy to be back and have the season underway. The team made a lot of really good changes in the off season and we are stronger than ever. The Dunlop tires are awesome and we are getting incredible suspension support from Penske. We got our first top ten of the season and really I want to thank the whole team for all their hard work.” David Weber “Working with a full crew and the support of Millennium/KWS Suzuki was a new experience for me. I have never had that kind of backing behind me during a race weekend and I’m very happy to be a part of the team. Even though we didn’t finish as well as I would have liked, I am confident that 2007 is going to be a fantastic year for us. The bikes are super fast and the new Penske suspension is awesome. I want to thank my mechanics Rick Matheny and Matt Hill for all their help this weekend.” Kevin Hunt (Team Owner) “We picked up our new 2007 GSX-R1000’s from Ron Ayers Motorsports only days before the event so we decided to race our proven 2006 bikes. We only had time to dyno the 2007 model and it makes a lot more power than last year’s bike. We knew that John and David were going to be down on power compared to the guys on the 2007 bikes and it says a lot about their talent and the dedication of the crew that they did so well,” said Hunt. “We are very excited about having our built 2007 bikes at Barber, the new 2007 GSX-R1000 really is that good.”