FONTANA, CA (March 27, 2010) – Today’s action during the Suzuki SuperBike Challenge at Auto Club Speedway saw AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike and AMA Pro Racing Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL pick up right they left off after last month’s Daytona season opener. After a major delay caused by high sustained and gusting winds from the East, teams, riders, and series and track officials pulled together to get in three thrilling races before the sun set on another phenomenal day of action around the 2.36-mile Southern California speedway road course.

After a brief morning warm-up session for the Daytona SportBikes, it was determined that conditions would not allow any further on-track activities until the wind and gusts subsided. As the officials met with the riders, owners and crew chiefs, a number of scenarios were discussed and once the wind started to subside, a short warm-up session was run in preparation for the National Guard American SuperBike race. After a short break to check and verify the conditions were acceptable for racing, the SuperBike race started just short of two hours late.

At the start, Jake Zemke on his Daytona winning No. 54 National Guard Jordan Suzuki jumped ahead of the No. 23 Brand Jordan Suzuki teammate of pole sitter Aaron Yates heading into turn one. No. 10 Team Iron Horse BMW/ESP rider Chris Peris took a fall in turn one before continuing, but the remainder of the 22-bike field made it through the opening lap without incident. No. 72 Foremost Insurance Ducati rider Larry Pegram ran third, followed by fast-starting No. 21 M4 Monster Energy Suzuki rider John Hopkins. Back in seventh, No. 4 Team Graves Yamaha rider Josh Hayes got down to business and started working his way up to the front. He and Hopkins battled lap after lap, while up front the action was too wild to even follow. Blake Young, riding his #22 Rockstar Makita Suzuki, was in the middle of the Zemke, Yates and Pegram battle, soon to be joined by Hayes.

At times, one or two riders would pull out a slight lead and then immediately the lead pack was right back at it, making major moves heading into turn one and continuing all over the 21-turn circuit. As the front group battled, Hayes was working his way to the lead and eventually took it on lap eleven. Hayes managed to pull a slight gap as Young ran wide and lost ground to the lead group. Soon thereafter, Yates had to abort the chicane in turn one and rejoined without losing touch with the leaders.

By lap 15 of the 21-lap final, the first four had broken away, with a slight lead for Hayes. He was quickly reeled in by the battling group and Zemke was running as hard as he could to take the lead back on lap 16. As the race wound down, each rider seemed to have a strong shot at the win before Hayes dropped back, making it a three-horse race of Yates, Pegram and Zemke. Pegram made the pass for the lead in the infield section on lap 18 and held on for a popular and hard fought victory, followed by Zemke, Yates and Hayes.

After the delay for the windy conditions, the riders said noted the wind at the end of the infield back straight and into turn one but decided to put on one of the best races anyone has ever seen at Auto Club Speedway.

Pegram paid tribute to his wife and entire team as he talked about what it meant for him to put another win on the board after his three wins in 2009, “To win against these teams with all the hard work everyone on our team puts in makes me so proud, I work as hard as I can on the track and my guys work every bit as hard as I do. I manage the team and my wife puts up with me but when we win I even get a little emotional because it means so much to all of us.”

Zemke felt that his season can be even better as he gets used to his new team and the National Guard Suzuki package, “Everything is still new for us and it is a work in progress, I know we can get the bikes better and as I learn to work with the team I know there is more to come.”

Rounding out the top ten are the two Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s of Young in fifth and a quiet race for Tommy Hayden’s No. 22 Suzuki to sixth. After his strong start, John Hopkins still finished a solid seventh, followed by Ben Bostrom on his No. 155 Pat Clark Motorsports Yamaha, Chris Ulrich on his No. 18 M4 Monster Energy Suzuki and No. 25 David Anthony riding the Aussie Dave Racing Suzuki, recovering nicely after their transporter awning was damaged by the high winds early in the morning.

The second National Guard American SuperBike race will be the final race of the weekend tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. local time. Be sure to check your local listings for SPEED’s coverage of this weekend’s racing.

Cardenas Recovers from Daytona Opener to Win Daytona SportBike Race One at Auto Club

As the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL teams awoke on Saturday morning, they were met with sustained high winds of at least 20 to 30 miles an hour with some gusts up to 45. The teams went out for their scheduled morning warm-up session in preparation for the second and final qualifying session and the first of two races at Auto Club Speedway this weekend.

After a short period, the winds proved to be too severe for any further on track activity to take place. As the teams, riders and fans tried to make the best of their time, there was nothing anyone could do but wait out the high wind delay. A number of scenarios were discussed and, after conditions improved, the Daytona SportBike riders readied themselves for a 4:35 p.m. local time start.

Following the same procedures that were established by AMA Pro Racing officials in conjunction with the riders, teams and track personnel, a short warm-up session was run to ensure the riders were familiar with the track conditions before their race start. Following the incredible AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike race, the Daytona SportBikes went ahead and put on a show of their own.

Danny Eslick on his No. 1 GEICO Powersports/RMR Suzuki led from pole position ahead of a fast-starting Tommy Aquino on his No. 6 Team Graves Yamaha, Daytona 200 winner Josh Herrin, also riding a Team Graves Yamaha, and Team Latus Motors Racing Ducati rider Steve Rapp, followed by Dane Westby and Martin Cardenas on his M4 Monster Energy Suzuki.

Westby, riding his Project 1Yamaha, was the man on the move and he took Cardenas with him towards the front. Aquino and Rapp fell back and the group comprised of Eslick, Herrin, Westby and Cory West on his Vesrah Suzuki, put on a breathtaking show. Lap after lap, they fought back and forth, with Eslick holding station at the front for the first six laps. Occasionally pulling out a slight lead, it was just as quickly diminished as the riders behind fought back on the front banking and all throughout the many twists and turns of the infield section.

After his heartbreaking Daytona race, a vey determined Cardenas showed why he is a major threat for the championship by fighting his way to the front on lap 12 and holding off the very determined assaults of Eslick, Westby and Herrin. Westby led for two laps and had one of the greatest saves of the day as he had a huge moment and was somehow able to stay on top of the Yamaha and only lose a couple of seconds to the leaders. He fought back as Eslick and Cardenas put on a demonstration of hard fought racing with total respect as each rider gave the other only just enough room as they battled for the win.

On the last lap, Eslick made his final lunge for the win in turn 11 and he and Cardenas ran side-by-side through the corner, inches apart but neither rider giving an inch. Cardenas held on for the fantastic win ahead of Eslick, Westby, Herrin and West. Rounding out the top ten were Aquino, who stayed with it and took sixth, Rapp in seventh and Chris Fillmore, riding the other Vesrah Suzuki, taking eighth. Bobby Fong took a solid ninth place, riding his DNA Energy Drink CNR Motorsports Ducati, and Clinton Seller rounded out a great day for Project 1 Yamaha with tenth place.

Eslick was delighted with his race and had fun too, “I never gave up, and tried everything to stay in front early and then I kept working on trying to win the race. I saw both the front and back of Dane’s leathers when he had his moment and I thought he was going to end up in my lap but somehow he held on and saved it.”

Cardenas said he thought Danny had gotten away at the start but he kept working and made some passes and then fought as hard as he could to stay up front until the end, “I knew he (Eslick) was going to try something at the end, I just didn’t think he would try and pass me there, I saw his front wheel but I just held on and I knew the Suzuki was good and we took the win.”

All in all, it was another incredible race and tomorrow’s race two should be just as wild as the same group go at it again at 1:00 p.m. local time Sunday at Auto Club Speedway. Be sure to check your local SPEED listings for coverage of this weekend’s races.

Pascarella Proves his Worth with Second Win in Race One at Auto Club Speedway

After once again showing his skills and outright speed, LTD Yamaha Rider Joey Pascarella put on a clinic today to close out day one in the first of two weekend AMA Pro SuperSport races at Auto Club Speedway. After delays for high winds, AMA Pro Officials lined up the SuperSport riders at 6:00 p.m. local time for their 17-lap race.

Following the same procedures as the other two races, the riders had a 15-minute practice session to acquaint themselves with the track conditions. After qualifying fourth, local rider Elena Myers, on her Richie Morris Racing Roadracingworld.com Suzuki, posted the fastest time in the warm up. Auto Club Pole-position and Daytona race two winner Pascarella shot ahead at the flag only to have Myers and another rider collide moments after the start, causing a red flag.

Ms. Myers was checked out at the Auto Club Speedway infield medical facility and was seen sporting a sling on her left arm as she departed the track for a precautionary trip to Redlands Community Hospital with her parents. Meanwhile another start was set up, and this time everyone got away clean. Pascarella again just drove off into the distance as first his LTD Yamaha teammate Huntley Hash followed in second with Scott Gilbert on his Team Graves Yamaha in third.

Nash held on gamely but Pascarella eventually pulled out as much as a ten-second lead, which grew to over thirteen seconds at the finish. Nash and Gilbert provided the best action, with Gilbert getting by Nash on lap six and holding him off for a satisfying second place finish. Rounding out the top ten was Top Gun entry Tyler O’Hara on his Yamaha in fourth, Eric Stump on his Honda fifth, local rider Chris Sromalla on his Lucas Oil Suzuki in sixth, Michael Corbino in seventh, Robert Tinagero in eighth, both on Yamaha’s. Ninth was Kawasaki rider Paul-Michael Patterson and tenth was Bruce Bleecker on his Yamaha.

Fighting off the discomfort of facial and hand abrasions suffered on his mountain bike earlier in the week, Joey said he just kept his head down and concentrated on winning the race. Gilbert may have been the happiest rider today, he injured himself here last year and even though he has a large amount of experience at Auto Club Speedway, this finish may have been the sweetest after missing all of last year due to injury.

Foremost Insurance Pegram Ducati’s Larry Pegram dominated Saturday’s Auto Club Speedway American Superbike race- a thriller that came down to the last lap.

Mounted on a Ducati 1198R, Pegram battled the field from start to finish. The owner of the Foremost Insurance-backed team waited until the last two laps in order to make his move on Jake Zemke and Aaron Yates, and took home his first win of the 2010 season. It was a trouble-free race, and the Ducati rider didn’t reveal his hand until the very end.

Pegram was set to continue his winning ways on Sunday until an unfortunate accident ended his race two early, while his Ducati was in the lead. Larry and crew are more motivated than ever to continue their fine form as preparations begin for the next round at Road Atlanta. The 1198R’s next outing will be a test at Infineon Raceway later this week.

“I’m really excited to be back on top of the podium and in the hunt for the 2010 title. Auto Club Speedway has long been one of my favorite tracks, and I was really, really excited to finally get a win there. We should get in some good testing this week, and be ready to go come Road Atlanta,” Said Pegram.

In Sunday’s Daytona Sportbike race, Latus Racing- MotoCorsa rider Steve Rapp piloted his Ducati 848 to a solid third position, riding a strong race by using his 848’s power to its fullest on Auto Club Speedway’s long banking. The podium keeps Rapp fourth in the overall standings and in a strong position to gain momentum at Road Atlanta.

For more information on Team Foremost Pegram Racing please visit www.pegramracing.com. To learn more about Ducati’s line of racing inspired motorcycles; and the 1198R that Pegram piloted to victory please visit www.ducatiusa.com.

FONTANA, CA (March 26, 2010) – The more things change, the more they stay the same as the first day of practice and qualifying came to a close at the Auto Club Speedway in beautiful sunny southern California. The fast qualifier from each class in last month’s opening round of the 2010 AMA Pro Road Racing championship season at Daytona International Speedway showed their speed again today during the opening qualifying sessions.

Aaron Yates and the Michael Jordan-owned Brand Jordan Suzuki team again showed the way in the AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike series with a fast time of 1:23.982 to place the Georgia native on provisional pole position going into tomorrow’s final qualifying session. Asked why he is running so well in 2010, Yates said, “I’m feeling really good this year, my health is really good and the No. 23 Jordan Suzuki guys have been working really hard and it’s paying off.”

Tommy Hayden took second on his No. 22 Rockstar Makita Suzuki with a time of 1:24.133 and No. 72 Foremost Insurance Ducati rider Larry Pegram was third with a time of 1:24.150. Twenty-two American SuperBike motorcycles attempted to qualify today and final qualifying will be tomorrow morning at 9:50 a.m. local time, ensuring quicker times as the track conditions will be close to perfect around the 2.36-mile 21-turn Auto Club Speedway circuit.

In AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL, Daytona pole position winner Danny Eslick and his No. 1 GEICO Powersports/RMR Suzuki topped the time sheets as the defending champion posted the fastest lap on his penultimate lap of qualifying to take the provisional pole. Under clear blue skies, Eslick put up a time of 1:27.164 and felt great about his time and his season in general, commenting, “I’m feeling great, I won both races here last year and I really like this track. The change to the GEICO Suzuki has been flawless and we are running right where we need to be.”

Right behind Eslick is 2010 Daytona 200 winner Josh Herrin on his No. 8 Team Graves Yamaha with a time of 1:27.255. Third was Herrin’s Team Graves Yamaha teammate, No. 6 Tommy Aquino with a time of 1:27.457. The second round of qualifying for the Daytona SportBikes will be tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. local time, with the first of two races kicking off tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 p.m.

In keeping with the pattern so far, Daytona’s SuperSport pole and race two winner Joey Pascarella took the top spot in the last qualifying session of the day. After being beaten in race one at Daytona in the SuperSport season opener by 0.001 of a second, Pascarella has yet to be beaten in a race or qualifying session. Pascarella, suffering the painful looking wounds from a mountain bike fall earlier in the week, led the way on his No. 25 LTD Racing Yamaha with a time of 1:29.310. Asked if he was distracted by the abrasions on his hands and face, Joey commented, “Once I start riding, I don’t notice it. I wasn’t sure I would be able to hold on but it’s not bad.”

Second quick was No. 19 Scott Gilbert on his Yamaha with a time of 1:30.188 and third was Pascarella’s Yamaha teammate, No. 75 Huntley Nash who turned in a time of 1:31.393. Nash has never been to Auto Club Speedway and was pleased with his effort, “For my first time here, I’m pretty happy, I followed Joey around a couple of times and picked up some ideas where I could improve and I’m looking forward to tomorrow when I know I can run better.”

The SuperSport riders will take to the track again tomorrow for final qualifying and also their first race of two this weekend. Local rider Elena Myers again showed her experience on a track she has been riding on since the beginning of her short career by taking fourth place with a time of 1:31.573. Myers, riding her No. 21 RMR/RoadracingWorld.com Suzuki, ran close to the top of the time charts throughout today’s practice and qualifying sessions.

Following post-qualifying technical inspection, times were disallowed for non-compliant fuel for the following motorcycles: American SuperBike No. 10 and No. 59, Daytona SportBike No. 122 and No. 153, SuperSport No. 729. Riders will have the opportunity to qualify or improve their position on the grid by posting times in tomorrow morning’s final qualifying sessions.

Saturday’s weather looks even better than today’s and after a solid first day of practice and qualifying the weekend is shaping up to again see some incredibly close racing.

FONTANA, CA (March 25, 2010) – Celtic Racing Orient Express will make its debut American Superbike entry this weekend at Auto Club Speedway for Round 2 of the AMA Pro Racing Championship. At the controls of the LeoVince powered Suzuki GSX-R 1000 will be 18-year old Canadian sensation Brett “The Kid” McCormick who’ll be making his first racing appearance at Fontana California over the March 26th – 28th weekend. McCormick, the runner-up in the 2009 Canadian Superbike Championship, has already shown impressive speed this season with a strong performance at Round 1 Daytona finishing a solid 8th place in American Superbike Race 2 during his first visit to the legendary Speedway.

For Celtic Racing the addition of McCormick to the team’s roster at Auto Club Speedway continues owner Barry Gilsenan’s mission of developing new talent and giving international riders a competitive platform in the AMA Championship. With Celtic’s other young rider, 16-year old PJ Jacobsen, sidelined for Round 2 due to injuries sustained during Round 1 Daytona, the team will be 100% focused on McCormick’s entry into the intensively competitive 2010 American Superbike field. The team is no stranger to Superbike competition with a successful 2009 highlighted with Irishman Michael Laverty’s 2nd place finish at Road America supported by numerous Top 10 finishes throughout the year. McCormick’s Auto Club Speedway entry will be Celtic Racing’s first foray into the 200mph battlefield for 2010 with both rider and team confident in a successful weekend.

Brett McCormick – #7 Celtic Racing
“It’s great to be racing this weekend at Fontana with the Celtic Racing team” said McCormick. ”I’m comfortable on the Suzuki GSX-R 1000 and Celtic Racing has a proven history of having top bikes and a sharp crew. It’s going to be my first time racing at Auto Club Speedway but I’ll be putting my head down early and getting up to speed as fast as I can. Thanks to Barry, Gemini, and Pascal for all their assistance and I hope to get a good result for all the folks back home!”

Celtic Racing will be on-track Friday afternoon for Practice 1 with Qualifying and Race 1 on Saturday March 27th followed by Race 2 Sunday March 28th. Live timing can be found on www.amaproracing.com with SpeedTV coverage following each race at 10pm EST Saturday and 11pm EST Sunday. For more information on Celtic Racing please visit http://www.celticracing.com.

NYACK, NY (Tuesday 23, 2010) – Celtic Racing Orient Express’s PJ Jacobsen will sit out Round 2 of the AMA Pro Racing Daytona Sportbike championship this coming weekend at Auto Club Speedway due to injuries sustained in the opening round. Jacobsen was one of the riders involved in the multiple bike incident during the initial start of the Daytona 200 at Daytona International Speedway March 5th that left the young New York rider unable to rejoin the field and continue in his inaugural Daytona 200.

It was immediately known that Jacobsen suffered a mild concussion in the tumble and was spared serious head trauma due to his excellent Shoei helmet but what when unknown until last week was that PJ had also fractured his left hand during the incident. Initially chalked up to typical ‘bumps and bruises’ acquired during a motorcycle crash it wasn’t until Jacobsen attempted to resume his training regime that the extent of his injuries became apparent. Jacobsen immediately traveled to New York City for consultation with his personal hand specialist Dr. Keith Raskin of New York University Medical where upon examination Dr. Raskin advised forgoing Round 2 to allow for a proper and full recovery.

PJ Jacobsen – #54 Celtic Racing
“Daytona was an incredible experience overall and I was pretty bummed my first Daytona 200 ended on the first lap of the race.” said Jacobsen. “I was caught up in that big pile-up after turn 1 and it turns out I broke my hand. I didn’t realize it was broken until I tried riding motocross recently and couldn’t do it because of the pain. After visiting Dr. Raskin in New York City the plan is to sit out Round 2, heal up, and come back strong for Road Atlanta on my Celtic Racing Orient Express Suzuki GSX-R600.”

Celtic Racing will resume on-track activity at Round 3 Road Atlanta April 16th – 18th in Braselton Georgia with American PJ Jacobsen on the #54 Daytona Sportbike GSX-R 600 and Bermudian Antoine Richards on the #45 Supersport Top Gun GSX-R 600. Friends and fans can stay updated at
http://www.celticracing.com and http://www.pj99.com.

Heading into round two of this year’s AMA Pro Road Racing championship at California’s Auto Club Speedway, to be held March 26 – 28, riders, teams and fans are ready to rejoin the battles that begin at the opening round last month at Daytona International Speedway.

The Suzuki AMA Pro SuperBike Challenge weekend will feature two action packed races in each of the three AMA Pro Road Racing classes. Practice and qualifying begin on Friday, March 26th at the 2.36-mile combination speedway/road course. Saturday, March 27th will see more qualifying and the first of two AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike races. Just prior to the American SuperBike race on Saturday, fans will be treated to rider introductions and a Grid Walk. The second American SuperBike race will be on Sunday, March 28th.

After an historic two-race Daytona sweep for Jake Zemke and his No. 54 National Guard Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000, all eyes will be focused on whether the California native can build on his fast start to the season with his new team and maintain his championship points lead. Hot on Zemke’s heels is No. 22 Rockstar Makita Suzuki GSX-R1000 rider Tommy Hayden, who finished second in both Daytona races after running in the lead in race two before Zemke passed Hayden for an incredible 0.009 of a second win at the line.

Both National Guard American SuperBike races at Daytona International Speedway were wild affairs and a number of riders held and battled for the lead in each race. No. 72 Foremost Insurance Ducati 1098R rider Larry Pegram finished a strong third in race one and backed that up with a solid fifth in race two to put him in third place in the points. Round one Pole Position winner Aaron Yates (No. 23 Brand Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000) underscored the strong weekend for the Jordan Suzuki team by finishing fourth in both races under the watchful eye of team owner Michael Jordan. Hayden’s teammate, Blake Young (No. 79 Rockstar Makita Suzuki GSX-R1000) also ran well at Daytona and currently sits fifth in the points after solid fifth and seventh place runs. Taylor Knapp is in sixth place in the points after two strong races on his No. 44 RidersDiscount.com Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Conspicuously absent from the top of the standings are Yamaha riders Ben Bostrom (No. 155 Pat Clark Motorsports Yamaha R1), Josh Hayes (No. 4 Graves Motorsports Yamaha R1) and Chris Clark (No. 48 Pat Clark Motorsports Yamaha R1), but even though their Daytona performances didn’t meet their expectations, keep your eye on this group at Fontana and beyond. Bostrom had a tough start to his season with an eighteenth place finish in race one but recovered nicely to take a strong third in race two on his Pat Clark Motorsports/Palms Hotel/Las Vegas Motor Speedway Yamaha. Bostrom’s teammate Clark just missed a top ten performance in race one and finished sixteenth in race two. Team Graves Yamaha rider Josh Hayes took fourteenth after an early off-track excursion in race one and improved to a solid sixth in race two but is still below his and the team’s expectations.

Two other riders that had up and down weekends at Daytona were Chris Ulrich, who finished a solid sixth place in race one and recovered for another strong finish in race two after he also had an early off track excursion on his No. 18 Roadracingworld Monster Energy Suzuki GSX-R1000. His teammate, fan favorite and former MotoGP star John Hopkins had a troublesome first weekend back on his No. 21 M4 Monster Energy Suzuki GSX-R1000, but stayed tuned as this strong combination will soon take their rightful place at the front.

After a busy winter testing schedule at Auto Club Speedway, the teams are ready to tackle the exciting 21-turn, two-mile plus combination circuit and with the unpredictable start to the season, this weekend’s Suzuki AMA Pro SuperBike Challenge races should be more competitive than ever.

AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike practice begins on Friday, March 26th at 12 noon with first round qualifying at 3:50 PM. Saturday will see final SuperBike qualifying at 9:50 AM and the 21-lap race one will be at 1:30 PM. Sunday’s race two will line up at 4:00 PM and start at 4:30 PM, bringing the weekend to an exciting finish.

After putting his name firmly into the history books with his dramatic Daytona 200 win, AMA Pro Racing Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL points leader Josh Herrin and his No. 8 Team Graves Yamaha head into the second race of the season at California’s Auto Club Speedway looking to take advantage of his early season momentum. The Suzuki AMA Pro SuperBike Challenge weekend at the 21-turn, 2.36-mile combination speedway/road course configuration at Auto Club Speedway will give Herrin and his competitors’ two chances to fight their way back into the season long point’s battle.

Practice and qualifying begin on Friday, March 26th with more qualifying on Saturday, March 27th and the first of two AMA Pro Daytona SportBike races starting at 4:30 PM local time. The second 17-lap Daytona SportBike race will be on Sunday, March 28th at 1:00 PM and will open with Rider Introductions and a Fan Grid Walk. All three AMA Pro Road Racing categories will be competing during the Suzuki AMA Pro SuperBike Challenge weekend, including doubleheaders for AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike and AMA Pro SuperSport.

The rider most anxious to get back to work this weekend is No. 36 M4 Monster Energy Suzuki rider Martin Cardenas. He started second on the grid at Daytona and held the lead after the first turn but had an unfortunate fall on the first lap, ending his race before it really had begun. Another rider who hoped for better things at Daytona was Daytona SportBike Championship defender and No. 1 GEICO Powersports Suzuki rider Danny Eslick. He started from pole position but had slow starts on both the original start and red flag restart. Eslick fought back to an impressive fourth place at the end of a long night in Daytona but showed he is more than ready to defend his Daytona SportBike championship crown.

No one can take anything away from what was an historic Daytona 200 victory for Herrin and his Team Graves Yamaha. His victory underscored that this sport is also about teamwork, as his Team Graves Yamaha Team gave him a lead he would not surrender at the second and final pit stop. He and eventual second-place finisher Dane Westby came down pit lane side by side and it was only the excellent pit work that got Herrin out with enough of a lead so that Westby and his Project 1 Atlanta Yamaha couldn’t reel Herrin back in. Veteran Steve Rapp put up an excellent performance, showing his patience and experience in taking his Team Latus Motors Racing Ducati to a fine third place in the race and also the points standings heading into the Fontana, CA Auto Club Speedway event.

The true form for the season has yet to emerge thanks to the unique nature of the season-opening event. This weekend should give real indication of who the riders to beat are and, including the above named riders, there are a number of people to watch as the season begins to take shape. Herrin’s teammate Tommy Aquino is one to watch, he ran up front for a good part of the Daytona 200 when he suffered an unfortunate refueling problem, ending his race after 17 laps. Cory West ran well at Daytona for the Vesrah Suzuki team, as did Shawn Higbee on his Higbee-Racing.com Buell. 2009 AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion Josh Day on his Four Feathers Racing Yamaha will feature this weekend along with Westby’s teammate, Clinton Seller riding the second Project 1 Atlanta Yamaha. Ducati fans will be cheering for Bobby Fong and teammate Mark Crozier on their DNA Energy Drink CNR Motorsports Ducatis. Another strong rider is Santiago Villa on the Roadracingworld.com Suzuki. Tyler Odom will be riding for local California Honda team owner Kevin Erion and P.J. Jacobson is back from his difficult start at Daytona, riding a Celtic Racing Suzuki.

AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL provides some of the best racing of the weekend. Practice and qualifying begin Friday, March 26th and the doubleheader race weekend features 17-lap races both Saturday, March 27th and Sunday, March 28th at the beautiful Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

One thing is pretty clear after the first of two AMA Pro SuperSort races at this year’s season opening Daytona event in February – the competition can’t get any closer. After an amazing race, where six motorcycles battled lap after lap, Cameron Beaubier took an amazing win over Joey Pascarella by the incredible margin of 0.001 of a second.

The AMA Pro Racing SuperSport battle will again take to the track for this weekend’s Suzuki AMA Pro SuperBike Challenge weekend at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Fans will see these and the two other exciting AMA Pro Road Racing series, AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike and also the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL, all of which will provide wheel-to-wheel action with doubleheader events Saturday, March 27th and Sunday, March 28th.

The amazing SuperSport racing continued at Daytona International Speedway when the second race of the doubleheader weekend saw Pascarella, on his LTD Racing Yamaha, win over Jake Gagne on his Yamaha, with Tomas Puerta and race-one winner Beaubier on his Rockwall Yamaha. This time the margin of victory between first and fourth was an impressive 1.354 seconds.

Another standout performance at Daytona was put in by Richie Morris Racing/ Roadracingworld.com Suzuki rider, 16 year old Elena Myers. Myers, who is working to finish her high school studies a year ahead of schedule through Liberty Union High School District in Brentwood, will be competing in her second professional AMA Pro Racing event at Auto Club Speedway this weekend. Elena finished a very impressive seventh place in both races at the historic Daytona circuit last month.

Another interesting aspect of the AMA Pro SuperSport class is that it enables local riders with an Expert level license from an accredited motorcycle racing organization to register right up until Friday at 12 noon for the Auto Club Speedway event and compete with the SuperSport regulars under the halo of the big Suzuki AMA Pro SuperBike Challenge weekend. This gives a local rider a chance to compare their skills against the younger stars of tomorrow in the SuperSport class.

The two classes within SuperSport are called Young Gun and Top Gun and Top Gun entrants Sam Nash and Eric Stump II both finished in the top ten at Daytona aboard their Yamaha and Honda motorcycles, respectively.

The AMA Pro Racing SuperSport class is fun to watch and gives fans a look to the future as tomorrow’s stars are competing in this great class today.

Practice and qualifying for the Suzuki AMA Pro SuperBike Challenge weekend begins on Friday, March 26th and continues on Saturday, March 27th when the first of two AMA Pro Racing SuperSport races goes off at 2:45 PM with Sunday’s SuperSport race starting at 2:15 PM.

Another fun aspect of the weekend will be “Lefty’s Family Fun Day and 5K” event taking place on Saturday, March 27th. Starting at 7:00 AM, everyone participating in the non-competitive 5K walk, run, ride and roll around the 2.36-mile motorcycle road course will be admitted free to the Suzuki AMA Pro SuperBike Challenge that same day, which includes an action packed day of qualifying and races in all three categories of AMA Pro Road Racing.

Please visit www.leftys5k.com for more information and also check out www.autoclubspeedway.com for more info and ticket information. Visit www.amaproracing.com for the latest points and information on all aspects of AMA Pro Racing.

OK – Fong would already be there…

Fontana, Calif…Ready to battle their way to the front of the pack, DNA Energy Drink pilots Mark Crozier and Bobby Fong are heading to California for Round 2 of the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Series, March 26-28 at the Auto Club Speedway.

“We have some making up to do,” explains Cozier, who go caught in a first lap, multi-bike crash at the season opener. “Luckily for me, I just got banged up, but we were unable to get back on the track. Bobby finished 13th out of 45 riders and that’s good for his first time racing under the lights at Daytona. But, this time out we are ready to put our heads down and go for the win.”

Both Crozier and Fong are familiar with the well known Auto Club Speedway. For Native Californian Fong, it will be his first race in his home state this season.

“I can’ think of anything better than putting the DNA Energy Drink banner right in victory lane,” says Fong who signed with Crozier Roberson Motorsports at the beginning of this season. “It would be totally awesome. We will be running two races; one on Saturday and one on Sunday which gives us a chance to do it twice. I made a mistake at Daytona and missed coming in for gas by a lap. We were running in 7th at the time, but I had to push my bike down pit row which lost us a couple of laps. This time, I definitely will make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“There are some really talented riders in this year’s AMA Pro Daytona SportBike class,” says Crozier, who won the AMA Pro SunTrust MOTO-GT 1 title last year. “The competition is really close and there are a number of riders who can easily win at each event. One of the keys is consistency and that is our game plan….to earn top finishes each and every time out.”

Hard chargers and extremely determined, both Crozier and Fong know what it takes to win.

“Being a skilled rider is only part of the equation,” explains Crozier. “You need a dedicated, professional crew and well-running machinery. We had worked very hard since Daytona on dialing in our DNA Energy Drink Ducati 848s and think we will have exactly what we need for Fontana. The only other thing we need is a favorable look from Lady Luck and we should be set.

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 .

AMA Pro American Superbike Points Standings after Auto Club Speedway:

Championship Standings:

1. Mat Mladin – 94 points
2. Tommy Hayden – 72
3. Geoff May – 50
4. Blake Young – 46
5. Ben Bostrom – 45
6. Josh Hayes – 43
7. Larry Pegram – 39
8. Aaron Yates – 31
9. Aaron Gobert – 30
10. Taylor Knapp/David Anthony – 26

* these are our calculations AMA Pro has yet to certify results fro this weekends race