DAYTONA BEACH, FL (March 1, 2010) – AMA Pro Racing officials announced today that the overall purse for the March 26-28 road racing event at Auto Club Speedway will feature added financial benefits for riders in the AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike class.
The top three finishers in AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike will now receive additional money and prize money that will be paid down to 15th place.
“We are pleased to add to the AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike prize fund,” said David Atlas, Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing, “the competition this year is extremely close and with the added financial incentives, the racing will be better than ever.”
This year’s National Guard American SuperBike field is lead by Josh Hayes (Team Graves Yamaha), Tommy Hayden (Rockstar Makita Suzuki), Larry Pegram (Foremost Insurance Ducati), Ben Bostrom (Pat Clark Motorsports Yamaha) and AMA Pro Racing returnee John Hopkins (M4 Monster Energy Suzuki). Joining Hayes, Bostrom and Hayden as former winners at Auto Club Speedway are Aaron Yates (Jordan Motorsports Suzuki), Jake Zemke (National Guard Suzuki), making this one of the most competitive fields in years.
The purse structures for the AMA Pro Racing Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL and the AMA Pro SuperSport classes will remain as announced with Daytona SportBike prize monies being paid from 1st to 20th places and SuperSport paying 1st through 10th places.
For tickets and track information, please check www.autoclubspeedway.com .
Eslick, Hacking and DiSalvo – Jamie’s not doing so good…after this he was suspended indefinitely. The specific remarks are not on tape (unfortunately)…more to come
Post Race Press Conference Transcript – Daytona SportBike:
Danny Eslick (#9 Bruce Rossmeyer’s RMR Buell, winner):
Q. Danny, it looked a little bit rougher today, but still a good run. When did you feel Jamie coming up to you?
A. I don’t even know exactly when it was, but he was there for a good few laps. I think I had maybe two seconds at one point. I’m not real sure. And then it just kept getting smaller. I tried to put my head down. I made a lot more mistakes today than I did yesterday, and he was right there. I was waiting – waiting for something. I was waiting for him to make a move and try to figure out what I could do, and I haven’t – fortunately, I haven’t been behind these guys all weekend, so it’s been – It would’ve been a different ball game if he would’ve snuck in there on me, because I wouldn’t have known where to try to make a move on him. I just want to thank the Bruce Rossmeyer RMR Buell, Geico Powersports, and everybody with the team. Thank you.
Q. Great weekend. You went two for two and kind of recovered from a Daytona result that puts you back in the points, which is good as we head into the balance of the season.
Jamie Hacking (#88 Attack Kawasaki, second place):
Q. Jamie, outstanding run today. In one lap, you were getting as much as four-tenths, half a second catching him, but maybe not enough time left in the race. Talk a little bit about your run.
A. For us, it’s a win in our eyes. We made some improvements overnight with the bike. I had to start the race there with a completely new setup I hadn’t even ridden yet. So it took me a while. That’s why I kind of fell back amongst those guys, and trying to figure out the machine, the new handling package that I had. It definitely was a little bit better than yesterday, and I managed to settle in and put some good hard laps in. I didn’t think I was going to really reel him in, but I guess my laps were about consistent, and I saw him coming back to me, and I just started pushing hard, hard. The whole way I’m coming up on him, I’m trying to figure out what I want to do when I got to him. I knew I could get to him, but getting by him was going to be another task. I put everything I could in that last lap there. Coming off the last corner, I knew that was going to be my only bid. I knew there wasn’t no point in trying to pass him anywhere else. He probably would’ve just passed me every little straightaway. So I thought I’d best give him a long shot there on the last lap coming out of the last corner, and I gave it all she had. The Monster Energy Kawasaki ZX-6R just didn’t have it today. Maybe we’ll make some more improvements and go to Atlanta and see if we can’t pick up that few little more tenths that we need.
[Brief inaudible conversation between DiSalvo and Eslick. DISALVO CLAIMS HE DID NOT SAY ANYTHING IN THIS BRIEF INAUDIBLE CONVERSATION]
Q. You took the points lead this weekend, extended it a little bit today, and you also set the fastest race lap at 1:28.059 on that Kawasaki. So outstanding run today.
A. That’s all that counts. Set fast lap and lead points.
Q. It definitely counts for something.
Jason DiSalvo (#40 M4 Suzuki, third place):
Q. Jason, we saw you quite a bit in Daytona. Now you’re joining us on the last session here for the weekend. Great run. You pulled out some fireworks there. Talk about your run on your teammate, as you came down to the finish.
A. Both the M4 Suzukis were really strong today. Both me and MartÃn were making our way through that pack of guys. I had – I just really couldn’t get going on the start of the race, and fell back behind, I think, one of the Aprilias. I was way back there. Those guys, I was back behind them, and they had a gap, and I had to get through and chase them down and then work through them. By the time I got there and got to the back of the pack, I saw I had three laps – three laps to go.
[Inaudible conversation between Hacking and Eslick]
DISALVO: Hey, I’m doing a little interview here.
[Laughter from the audience.]
By the time I got to the back of those guys, there was three laps to go, and I had three guys in front of me. So I said, “Three laps, three guys. I gotta get one guy each lap.”
[Inaudible conversation between Eslick and Hacking]
DISALVO: Hey. [Laughter from the audience] Did I talk during your thing? Answer my question. Did I talk during your thing?
MODERATOR: All right, guys.
HACKING: Do you have a microphone? They can hear you. Continue, son
MODERATOR: Let’s finish up the interview. Let’s be respectful.
DISALVO: Let’s get a little respect here. So anyway -
HACKING: I lost all respect for you a long time ago.
DISALVO: I never had any for you.
[and they drop to the floor and started throwing punches...OK not really but that would have been cool]
MODERATOR: Hey, we’re not going to get into it here. Let Jason finish his interview and then we’re going to have questions. Thank you.
DISALVO: So. Got me all fired up here.
MODERATOR: You were talking about the pass and how you came up on Martin.
DISALVO: Yeah. Me and Martin came off the last corner. It was M4 Suzuki versus M4 Suzuki. I just tried to set him up and get as good a drive as I could off the last turn. We made the draft work today. That was it. We got it done. The M4 Suzuki had what it took coming to the line.
MODERATOR: Thank you. Questions, please?
Q. What about the track conditions from yesterday to today, with the rains overnight? How did that affect your setup for today?
ESLICK: We ran the same exact setup from yesterday. The track was just a little bit greener than yesterday. That’s really about it. Not too much different. Little lower track temperature. That’s probably all.
Q. Jamie, how much, if any, could you use the draft off his Buell when you were getting up that close?
M4 Suzuki racers Cardenas and DiSalvo earn podium finishes at Auto Club Speedway – Both racers finish in top 4 each race of the doubleheader weekend – Round 2 – AMA Daytona Sportbike Series
Fontana, California – Auto Club Speedway
In Saturday’s Race 1 of the AMA Daytona Sportbike doubleheader at Suzuki Superbike Challenge at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, M4 Suzuki racers Martin Cardenas and Jason DiSalvo
battled in a five-rider lead pack. While eventual race winner Danny Eslick pulled away with the lead, Cardenas and DiSalvo kept their M4 Suzuki GSX-R600 sportbikes in the heat for the final podium positions. The fight carried on into the final lap, and Cardenas was well positioned to earn the thirdplace position. During Sunday’s Race 2, dark clouds and a cool breeze threatened the track, but it remained dry throughout the 21-lap contest. M4 Suzuki racers Cardenas and DiSalvo were forced to battle from a mid-pack start. These two riders remained the fastest of the field through the mid-section of the 2.4-
mile circuit, allowing M4 Suzuki to battle for another podium position. In this race, DiSalvo made the most of the last three laps to earn third place and a podium position at the checkered flag.
Martin Cardenas – 3rd place, Race 1, Daytona Sportbike class:
“I did not get the start that I wanted and had to make many passes from about 10th position. It was a very exciting race with all the competition, and my M4 Suzuki GSX-R600 ran very fast and I was able to keep passing toward the front of the field. I know we will compete well throughout the season.”
Jason DiSalvo – 3rd place, Race 2, Daytona Sportbike class:
“Both the M4 Suzukis were really strong. Me and Martin (Cardenas) were making our way through the pack well. With three laps to go, I had three guys to pass, so I knew I had to pass one each lap. I
just tried to set ‘em all up, and the M4 Suzuki GSX-R600 had what it took at the finish line.”
M4 Suzuki Racing will race next at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, on the weekend of April 4-5, 2009.
LARRY PEGRAM; SHAKEN-BUT-NOT-STIRRED AND TAKES THIRD AT FONTANA
The Team Foremost Pegram Racing pilot recovered from a highside to take third position in race two at Auto Club Speedway
Fontana, Calif (22 March 2009) – After a bittersweet weekend of accident and recovery, Ducati rider Larry Pegram and his racing team head back east seventh position overall in the AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike championship.
Entering this weekend’s Fontana round of the 2009 championship; rider Larry Pegram was confident in his Ducati 1098 R Superbike, and his chances for a win in Fontana. After a strong showing in practice, Pegram’s race one was cut short on the third corner by a horrific highside accident, leaving him motionless on the track and prompting a red flag. The Team Foremost Pegram racing rider was unable to make the restart, although later in the day was cleared by medics to partake in Sunday’s race two.
Despite strong chances of rain and his near concussion on Saturday, Pegram bounced back in spectacular form for race two, putting his accident behind him and charging hard from the start all the way to the checkered flag. He was rewarded with third place for his efforts- a spectacular end to an eventful weekend.
Race One Recap:
“I got an OK start to the race,” commented Pegram. “I entered turn three a little bit hot trying to make up ground and under braking the bike went sideways. Next thing I knew I woke up on the asphalt.”
Race Two Recap:
After restarting the race due to another red flag, Pegram began his charge to the podium in race two. Picking up three positions in as many laps he settled into a rhythm from seventh place. With ten laps to go, Pegram and his Ducati 1098 R found themselves closing in on fifth and sixth positions. Eight laps from the finish Larry sealed fifth position and made the charge for fourth, which he soon passed Geoff May to secure. From there Pegram ran a solid pace, albeit far behind the leading trio. Suzuki’s Aaron Yates and Hayden then collided ahead; enabling Pegram to close the gap and pass Yates for third with three laps to go.
“I wasn’t expecting to get on the box today, really. I just wanted to go out there and get some points and try to salvage the weekend, so getting on the box made it nice. I just rode around at what I felt like was a comfortable pace and started catching the guys in front of me. I just started picking the guys off—get right on them and draft them up the front straightaway. My bike had good steam, and just one by one went by them,” commented Pegram.
Races one and two will air on SPEED TV this March 28th at 10pm EST. The AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike Championship now heads back east to Road Atlanta, where the third round of the series will take place this coming April 3-5th.
For a race report, photos and team information please visit www.pegramracing.com; or for more information on Ducati and the revolutionary 1098 R Superbike please visit www.ducatiusa.com
DÉJÀ VU FOR AMA PRO AMERICAN SUPERBIKE, AMA DAYTONA SPORTBIKE AT AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY
Mladin extends most wins record winning eighth AMA Pro American Superbike Race at Auto Club Speedway
San Bernardino County, Calif. (March 22, 2009) – It was déjà vu Sunday in the final day of competition at the AMA Pro Road Racing Series—the Suzuki AMA Pro Superbike Challenge at Auto Club Speedway.
It was a double take with Sunday’s AMA Pro American Superbike with Mat Mladin riding his No. 7 Rockstar/Makita Yoshimura Suzuki GSX- R1000 into to Gatorade Victory Lane winning Race 2, after also winning Race 1 on Saturday. Posting a winning time of 38:43.014, Mladin’s win makes this his eighth, further extending his AMA Pro American Superbike most wins record at Auto Club Speedway.
Despite efforts to beat Mladin to the finish, teammate Tommy Hayden (No. 22 Rockstar/Makita Yoshimura Suzuki GSX- R1000) finished second, 8.759 seconds behind. After a highside incident at Turn 3 during Saturday’s AMA Pro American Superbike race, Larry Pegram (No.72 Foremost Insurance/Pegram Racing Ducati 1098R) rebounded to finish third, 13.370 seconds behind Mladin.
Danny Eslick (No. 9 Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Racing/RMR Buell 1125R) who won Saturday’s AMA Pro Daytona SportBike, also took first in Sunday’s event ahead of Jamie Hacking on his No. 88 Monster Energy/Attack Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R.
Eslick led all 21 laps, posting a winning time of 33:09:382, just 0.099 seconds in front of Hacking. Jason DiSalvo (No. 40 M4 Suzuki GSX-R600) finished third with a time of 7.999.
Results of Sunday’s AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike race at Auto Club Speedway showing finishing position, number (in parentheses), name, team, motorcycle and laps completed around the 2.36-mile road course.
1. (7) Mathew Mladin; Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 19.
2. (22) Tommy Hayden; Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 19.
3. (72) Larry Pegram; Foremost Insurance/Pegram Racing Ducati/; Ducati 1098R; 19.
4. (54) Geoff May; National Guard Jordan Suzuki; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 19.
5. (2) Benjamin Bostrom; Yamaha Motor Corp. USA; Yamaha YZF-R1; 19.
6. (4) Joshua Hayes; Yamaha Motor Corp. USA; Yamaha YZF-R1; 19.
7. (44) Taylor Knapp; Taylor Knapp Racing; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 19.
8. (25) David Anthony; Aussie Dave Racing; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 19.
9. (79) Blake Young; Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 19.
10. (23) Aaron Yates; Jordan Suzuki; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 19.
11. (59) Aaron Gobert; Holden Racing; Honda CBR1000RR; 19.
12. (61) Scott Jensen; Moto Garage Racing; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 19.
13. (121) Hawk Mazzotta; Aussie Dave Racing; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 19.
14. (27) Shane Narbonne; Four Feathers Racing; Yamaha YZF-R1; 19.
15. (11) Shawn Higbee; Higbee-Racing.com; Buell 1125CR; 19.
16. (9) Eric Haugo; Liberty Waves Racing; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 18.
17. (58) Josh Graham; Moto Garage Racing; Yamaha YZF-R1; 18.
18. (38) Dean Mizdal; M Racing; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 18.
19. (270) Davie Stone; AllStoneArmy.com; Honda CBR1000RR; 18.
20. (102) Mark Simon; X Dot Racing; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 18.
21. (45) Brad Puetz; SRK Racing; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 18.
22. (571) Jeremy Toye; Lee’s Cycle Racing; Honda CBR1000RR; 17.
23. (616) Brad Hendry; Nor CO Racing; Ducati 1098R; 12.
24. (100) Jake Holden; Corona Extra Honda; Honda CBR1000RR; 10.
25. (18) Chris Ulrich; Roadracingworld.com/Suzuki; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 5.
Race Time: 38:43.014
Margin of Victory: 8.759 seconds
Winners Average Speed: 67.7 mph
Lap Leaders
Mladin: 1 – 6; Hayden: 7 – 9; Mladin: 10 – 19;
Results of Sunday’s AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race at Auto Club Speedway showing finishing position, number (in parentheses), name, team, motorcycle and laps completed around the 2.36-mile road course.
Race Time: 33:09.382
Margin of Victory: 0.099 seconds
Winners Average Speed: 87.4 mph
Lap Leader
Danny Eslick: 1 – 21
About Auto Club Speedway: With the conclusion of the Suzuki AMA Pro Superbike Challenge at Auto Club Speedway, mark your calendar for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup as it races to Auto Club Speedway for its inaugural debut in California on October 11, 2009 for the Pepsi 500. To purchase tickets for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series — Pepsi 500 weekend call 800-944-RACE (7223), or visit the new www.autoclubspeedway.com for more information.
Mladin and Eslick Double Up on Wins in Suzuki AMA Pro Superbike Challenge at Auto Club
Mladin Sweeps American Superbike; Eslick and Buell Take Two Daytona SportBike Wins
FONTANA, California (March 22, 2009) – Mat Mladin and Danny Eslick doubled up on race wins in the Suzuki AMA Pro Superbike Challenge at Auto Club Speedway this weekend where the Australian veteran swept both AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike presented by Parts Unlimited races and the young American won two AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL races.
Mladin (No. 7 Rockstar/Makita Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000) battled with teammate and early race leader Tommy Hayden (No. 22 Rockstar/Makita Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000) for the second-straight day but ultimately prevailed for this third win in as many American Superbike starts this season.
“I think I’m going to have a chat with Suzuki about the teammates they keep signing up for me,” said Mladin, in reference to both Hayden and former teammate and rival Ben Spies. “At the start I wanted to have a look and see what Tommy had in a few spots. There were a couple of spots yesterday that we were definitely lacking compared to Tommy and we learned a little bit from him and changed the bike. We had no chance to try it out this morning but went with it for the race and definitely were able to keep that gap between us a little bit better in those spots today.”
Mladin made the winning pass on the run through Auto Club’s tri-oval on Lap 10 and steadily pulled away from Hayden, who did well to nurse his damaged Suzuki to the finish after an unintentional contact incident with third-place runner Aaron Yates (No. 23 Brand Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000).
“I got on the front straightaway, missed a couple of gears and didn’t have anywhere to go,” Hayden said. “It was definitely my fault and I apologize to him for that, hopefully it didn’t cause too big of an issue for him. Mat had a pretty big lead so I just tried to hold on to second to bring it home.”
Aside from the Yoshimura duo’s weekend of success, another top story from the race was the rebound of Larry Pegram (No. 72 Foremost Insurance/Ducati 1098R) from yesterday’s opening race incident. Pegram highsided just after the initial Saturday race start but recovered to finish third in Sunday’s final.
“We crashed yesterday, so I was in some pain today,” said Pegram, who took advantage of the Hayden and Yates incident. “I got a little tired towards the end of the race, and I was definitely a little too tentative at the beginning of it and let those guys get away. I was happy with third, obviously something happened to Aaron (Yates), and I thought he had third pretty well locked up but something happened to us yesterday so I think we deserved this.”
Fourth-place went to No. 54 National Guard/Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 rider Geoff May who capped a good weekend after finishing third in yesterday’s race. Ben Bostrom (No. 2 Yamaha YZF-R1) also posted his best American Superbike result of the season to round out the top five. Yates recovered to finish 10th.
Eslick and Buell Do the Double
Buell scored its first major motorcycle road racing win Saturday at Auto Club Speedway after years of competition in AMA Pro Road Racing. Less than 24 hours later they did it again.
Danny Eslick (No. 9 Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Racing/RMR Buell 1125R) turned in his second flag-to-flag performance in as many days Sunday to sweep both AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL races at the Suzuki AMA Pro Superbike Challenge.
“It feels good to be back up here again,” said Eslick, who took the lead at the start of the race from second on the grid. “It wasn’t as easy today as it was yesterday, not that yesterday was easy, but Jamie (Hacking) had the pressure on me. I was waiting on a sneak move but it never quite happened. The Bruce Rossmeyer’s/RMR Geico Powersports Buell 1125R really stuck in there today.”
Hacking (No. 88 Monster/Attack Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R) was the weekend’s Daytona SportBike Superpole winner and finished second to Eslick in both races this weekend. On Sunday, however, he steadily reeled the Buell rider in during the final half of the 21-lap race.
“We went out with a new setting that we hadn’t ridden on,” said Hacking, who spent the first part of the race battling in a large group of Daytona SportBikes. “It took me awhile at the beginning to figure out what the bike was doing, which is why I fell back a little bit, but once I got settled in I managed to put in some good laps and managed to catch Danny. I was thinking about everything I could possibly do. The ZX-6R ran as well as it could but it just didn’t have it today.”
Team M4 Suzuki rider Jason DiSalvo (No. 40 Team M4 Suzuki GSX-R600) edged teammate Martin Cardenas (No. 36 Team M4 Suzuki GSX-R600) at the finish line to take the final podium spot.
“It was an awesome race, everyone battled so hard,” DiSalvo said. “I pulled up alongside Martin down the back straight and made the pass for third on the lap to the white flag, and then on the last lap he wouldn’t let me make it stick. It was M4 versus M4, I don’t know if my engine was a little tighter or what. I tried to get a drive on him, timed the draft just right and it worked.”
For the second straight day, parity was the theme of the race in Daytona SportBike where six different makes of motorcycles were ridden by the top-seven finishers. The top trio of Buell, Kawasaki and Suzuki were joined by the Yamaha YZF-R6, Honda CBR600RR and Aprilia RSV1000R.
Cardenas, who finished third Saturday, took fourth Sunday while Josh Herrin (No. 8 Team Graves Yamaha YZF-R6) completed the top five.
AMA Pro Issues Penalties
AMA Pro Road Racing rider Jamie Hacking has been suspended indefinitely following this weekend’s event at Auto Club Speedway for conduct detrimental to the sport of professional motorcycle racing. The culminating incident occurred in the Auto Club Speedway media center following post-race interviews on Sunday where Hacking used a string of profane language while exiting the press interview area. Prior to this incident, Hacking displayed additional acts of inappropriate behavior in both public and media interviews.
“No premier sporting organization would tolerate, whether it be motorsports or major league stick and ball sports, the level of disrespectful, profane and vulgar language in a public forum as demonstrated by Jamie Hacking this weekend at Auto Club Speedway,” said AMA Pro Road Racing Managing Event Director Colin Fraser. “His behavior was totally disrespectful to the media, his competitors and the sport of motorcycle racing in general.”
Hacking will be considered for reinstatement pending payment of a $4,000 fine and delivery of a public apology to AMA Pro Road Racing officials. Subsequent to payment of the fine and receipt of an apology acceptable to AMA Pro Road Racing, Hacking will also be suspended for one full event weekend.
All fines paid to AMA Pro Road Racing will be donated to Camp Boggy Creek, a Paul Newman Hole in the Wall Camp located in Eustis, Florida, and the Roadracing World Action Fund.
Additionally, AMA Pro Road Racing also placed riders Michael Beck, Kevin Boisvert, Mat Mladin, Mark Simon and Dustin O’Hara on probation due to failure to participate in Sunday’s mandatory autograph session.
Jake Holden, standing in for Corona Extra Honda Racing’s injured Neil Hodgson, took his Honda CBR1000RR to a terrific fifth place in the first Auto Club Speedway Superbike race ahead of the factory Yamaha’s of Hayes and Bostrom following a race-long duel that saw another photo-finish at the line.
Holden quickly got up to speed in practice but his first time on the bike was limited by AMA test of the pace car concept. However his time had him into the Super Pole which saw each of the top ten riders get a full flying lap on a clear track. Jake further improved and finished in a fine fifth place.
When the green flag dropped in race one Jake did not make the best start but luckily escaped being taking out in the first corner by a crashing Larry Pegram. The incident brought out the red flag and a restart which saw a slightly better start for Holden who was eighth after the first lap. There then followed a race long duel with Hayes and Bostrom. He picked off Bostrom on lap twelve and went after Hayes finally pipping him on the line by two thousandth’s of a second!
A delighted Jake said; “I didn’t get a very good start and just tried to be consistent. The Yamaha’s sort of held me up. I had a hard time getting past them. I was getting more confident on the bike over the race and we were closing on Blake (Young) by the end, maybe just another couple of laps!”
Race day two started wet, blustery, and very un-Californian with warm-up practice in heavy rain. Holden spent the session getting acclimatized to the Honda Superbike’s power in the wet. Afterwards he said: “I’m hoping for a dry race as I know I can run with all the front runners now!” Jakes wish came to pass and by the time the green flag dropped conditions had improved dramatically, the sun was out the race and was fully dry. Just like race one, a red flag came out on the first lap. On the restart Jake settled into sixth for a few laps before charging up right on fourth and fifth. He was setting up to make the pass when a misfire on his bike slowed him down and eventually forced him to retire.
A disappointed Jake said: “I had the two guys in front all setup for the pass when the bike started missing. I thought it was fuel so dropped to the trackside and then got back on it but it just got worse and I pulled in!”
In its “Race to the Lime” Corona Extra Honda Racing is proud to be partnering with; Parts Unlimited, Cycle Gear, Pro Honda Oils, AGV, FMF, Autolite, Hotbodies Racing, K&N, Motion Pro, Vortex, Dainese, GPR, Ogio, CR&A, RK, Dunlop, Powerstands, Bellco, Adran, K&L, HRC, Acme Garage, Vicci, Fluid Designs, EBSCO Media, MTS.
Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Mladin Adds to his Impressive Victory Tally at Fontana Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Hayden Finishes Second Again
Round 2 – AMA Superbike Series – Fontana, California – Auto Club Speedway
March 22, 2009
As in Saturday’s race of this doubleheader weekend, Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammates Mat Mladin and Tommy Hayden pulled to the front of the field for the afternoon competition. A Red Flag stopped the race early on, and in the restart Tommy Hayden was able to take the holeshot ahead of Mladin. The teammates exchanged the lead once more during the race, before Mladin capitalized on a nearly flawless race to the checkered flag. Hayden was not able to keep pace with Mladin in the final laps, but he succeeded in holding off the rest of the field and earning another second-place finish for the Suzuki Superbike Challenge weekend. Newly signed Blake Young had a rough day,
jumping the start and then working his way up from last place. The young rider made the best of a bad situation, however, and brought home a top-10 finish.
Mat Mladin:
“I had a good race today. We learned a little bit from Tommy (Hayden) yesterday, and we changed a couple things today. We made some improvements, and it allowed me to stay close to him and make the move when I needed to. We ran a little bit hotter pace today and it was a very good race overall for Rockstar Makita Suzuki. It’s great to have Suzuki up here on top again with first- and second-place finishes. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki crew can take most of the credit for that. I show up for the weekend and have a great motorbike to race in the Suzuki GSX-R1000. ”
Tommy Hayden:
“It was shaping up to be a pretty good race, battling with Mat. I got on the front straightaway and missed a couple gears. Overall, the Suzuki GSX-R1000 was very good. I had some issues with grip today, so it was a little harder for me to run with Mat. He had his head down today. It was a good weekend with two secondplace finishes. I got a little momentum going into Road Atlanta, and we’ll try to keep up what we’ve been doing.“
Blake Young:
“My race started out good. I got a good start and then we had the red flag and had to re-grid. I just jumped the start, so I had to come into the pits and do a ride-through and that’s basically where my race ended. But I did my best and worked my way through to ninth place. I think as far as looking at the positives from today, we learned a lot from race one on Saturday and applied it to race two on Sunday. And because of that, I think we have a better bike going into Road Atlanta because of it.”
Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing will race next at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, on the weekend of April 4-5, 2009.
