SERT takes victory at Bol D'Or

From Team Suzuki News Service

The Suzuki Endurance Racing Team clinched victory at the 73rd Bol d'Or 12-Hour World Endurance round in France on Sunday.

SERT riders Vincent Philippe, Freddy Foray and Oliver Four piloted their GSX-R1000 to 815 laps, three more than runners-up Honda Michelin Power's William Costes, Matthieu Lagrive and Josep Monge.

After a drama-packed opening to the event, when four riders crashed on the second lap and forced the safety cars to circulate for some time, SERT held a narrow lead after three hours, then increased it during the night over Honda Michelin Power and Yamaha France GMT 94.

At 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, SERT led by two laps over the Honda, but during the final seven hours, increased this further by an extra lap due to a faultless performance from the Suzuki GSX-R1000 and quicker pit stops.

Despite finishing off the podium, Yamaha Austria Racing Team clinched the 2009 World Endurance Championship title on the day with still one round remaining. SERT - champions in 2008 - did not contest the full series.

Results
1. SERT - Philippe, Foray, Four (Suzuki) 815 laps
2. Michelin Power - Costes, Monge, Lagrive (Honda) 812
3. GSR Kawasaki - Foray, Noyes, Fores (Kawasaki) 808
4. Team 18 Sapeurs - Molinier, Briere, Tangre (Suzuki) 793
5. City Bike - Junod, Houyssin, Black (Suzuki) 793
6. AM Moto Racing - Hernandez, Guersillon, Auger (Suzuki) 783

Guintoli to stay with Suzuki in Britain

From Team Suzuki News Service

Sylvain Guintoli has signed to ride for the Worx Crescent Suzuki team in British Superbikes for 2010.

Guintoli and team manager Jack Valentine took a detour from their respective journeys north to this weekend's Croft British Superbike race to rendezvous with Suzuki GB's managing director Yasuharu Osawa at the company's Milton Keynes headquarters.

"For Suzuki, this is a very exciting development," Osawa said. "Sylvain has shown through his races earlier this year - including his win at Brands Hatch - just how competitive the 2009 GSX-R1000 is. He is an exceptional rider and the excitement he generates within the team, and for the fans, to me feels like an extension of the excitement we feel the GSX-R itself generates. With 2010 being the 25th anniversary of the GSX-R, we look forward to celebrating the year together with Sylvain in the way he certainly knows how."

Added Guintoli, "This is the first time in my career I've signed a contract this early in the year - I think that shows just how comfortable both sides are with each other. Right now we are working on regaining the competitiveness we showed at the beginning of this season, but as well we know, now that the experience that I am gaining at the tracks this year will be something we can carry into next season. With the experience we will have of the tracks, of the GSX-R and of working together as a team, we can look forward to next year with a lot of optimism."

"We're very pleased to have Sylvain back on board for 2010 and to have him signed up so early," Valentine said. "This allows us to build towards next season as from today and it's almost a head start. But as well, this allows us to now focus on our second objective for the new season. It is our desire to have a young rider partner Sylvain in the Worx Crescent Suzuki team in the 2010 season. There's no small challenge in making that happen as we'll need to secure additional backing, but a two-rider team is our intention and will be what we'll now be focusing on."

Kawasaki claims Team of the Year

From Professional Motorsports Productions

TORONTO, ON – For the second year in a row Canadian Kawasaki Motors has won the Inside Motorcycles Team of the Year award in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship.
       
The honour comes after an impressive season from the squad in which Jordan Szoke of Brantford, ON picked up his fourth straight Parts Canada Superbike Championship and Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike title.
       
The 30-year-old is the first rider to win four consecutive Canadian Superbike crowns and the first to sweep both the Superbike and Pro Sport Bike titles in four straight years.
       
His Superbike success came aboard the venerable Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R while he won Sport Bike in the first year for the latest incarnation of the Ninja ZX-6R.
       
Szoke was ably backed up this season by 21-year-old Alex Welsh of Uxbridge, ON. In his first season with the factory squad, Welsh was seventh in Superbike points and fourth in the Pro Sport Bike rankings with podium finishes in four of the seven races.
       
“The Canadian Kawasaki Motors team had a near flawless season in this year’s Parts Canada Superbike Championship,” said Inside Motorcycles editor John Hopkins, who presented Kawasaki team manager Jeff Comello with the Team of the Year trophy at the final series round at Shannonville Motorsport Park on Sunday.
       
“What makes this season’s performance particularly impressive is the way the team responded to the challenge from Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing. In a situation where a lot of squads may have wilted under the pressure, these guys dug deep and found another gear, which is the true mark of a champion.”
       
Szoke won three of the seven races in the Superbike class and the Pro Sport Bike division and never placed lower than second in either category. In addition to his four Sport Bike podiums Welsh earned a season high third in the opening Superbike race of the Mosport International Raceway doubleheader.
       
“I'm genuinely surprised,” Comello said. “We had some tough competition this year from Pascal's team and others which forced us to work harder than ever to achieve what we did. But our team never gave up and constantly ensured the bikes performed flawlessly day in and day out. In the end it's the details that can make all the difference.”
       
The Canadian Kawasaki Motors factory team consists of Jean Bancroft, Brian Bevan, Jeff Comello, Mike Crompton, Mark Orchard, Jeremy Sharrard, Harald Surian, Sandy Szoke, Bob Szoke and Richard Winter.

Stoner on track for return

From motogp.com

Casey Stoner, the 2007 MotoGP World Champion is apparently recovering well from illness in his native Australia ahead of his scheduled return to action at the bwin.com Grande Premio de Portugal Oct. 2-4.

The Ducati Marlboro rider missed the visits to Brno, Indianapolis and Misano and returned to his family home in Tamworth, New South Wales, in order to try and fully recover from an illness which first affected him at the Barcelona race in June and which he was subsequently unable to overcome in the quick-fire rounds which followed at Assen, Laguna Seca, Sachsenring and Donington.

Stoner has enjoyed a fishing trip in the sunshine of the Northern Territory, at a place called Top End, where he took in the local wildlife and relaxed with his family. He is reported to be recovering well from the severe fatigue which was hindering him during those aforementioned races.

Several of his MotoGP rivals have wished him a speedy recovery and his team hope to have him back on top form in Portugal in just over three weeks’ time.

Stoner was quoted by newspaper Northern Territory News as saying, “I feel I’m getting better up here, and my appetite has really come back. We caught lots of fish, saw huge crocs and amazing birdlife. It was just like I expected Top End barra fishing to be.”

Szoke on the air!

By John Hopkins

Fresh from clinching his fourth straight Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Shannonville Motorsport Park last weekend, Jordan Szoke will be featured across Canada on Raceline Radio next week.

Hosted by Erik Tomas, the hour long motorsports program is aired on 21 stations across the country, including The Fan 590 in Toronto, where it can be heard on Monday nights between 7:00-8:00 pm.

Now in its 17th year on the air, the show provides year-round coverage of NASCAR Nextel Cup, Nationwide and Canadian Tire Series, Formula One, IndyCar, The NHRA, American LeMans, DIRT, World of Outlaws, Rallying and more.

Raceline Radio has won numerous international motorsport journalism awards from The American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association and The Eastern Motorsport Press Association.

Go to www.fan590.com for a complete list of stations and times for Raceline Radio.

Gerbrandt stars in Saskatchewan

From the CNMRA

The sixth and final round of the Midwest Motorsport Ltd Canadian National Mini Roadracing Series was held at the Martensville Speedway track in Saskatchewan last weekened.

Qualifying took place Saturday afternoon and Geoff Gerbrandt, with home track advantage, set the fastest time of the day on his KX85 with 48.67 seconds. Ian McWhirter of Calgary came in second with 49.27 seconds on his YZ27.

There were two participants in the Youth 7-10 race. Christy Conrad finished first and Reaghan Ross second.

In the Intermediate race Deb Strem of Regina took the first spot on the podium with Sharon Ham of White City second and Conrad third.

The Ladies Class put on a good show. Robyn Ham started both races from the back of the pack due to a mechanical problem during Super Pole, and with some exceptional manoeuvres placed second overall. Jana Ham took first place and Sam McManus placed third.

To make things interesting the Formula Over 21 field was placed in the same race as the Formula Under 21 racers, with the old guys gridded in front of the young guns. “Old guy” McWhirter got the holeshot off the start but “young gun” Gerbrandt was hot on his heels after the first lap. They had a good battle with Gerbrandt winning. He was followed in Under 21 by Cody Conrad and Chris Wilson. In Over 21 Formula McWhirter won from Rob Ross and Guy Hince.

In the Pocket Bike Open and Pocket Bike 40cc Chris Mah of Edmonton once again demonstrated his superiority and won every race. The podium finish was the same for both classes, with Mah first, Pierre Pelletier second, and twin brother Daniel Pelletier settling for third.

The Spec Super Sport races proved interesting. Gerbrandt was late to the grid due to equipment issues so started the first race in last position even though he had pole. With 12 bikes on the track, Gerbrandt was in second spot by the end of the first lap behind Dave Elmer. Saskatoon club president Emil Peev joined Elmer and Gerbrandt in the lead group.

Gerbrandt eventually obtained a comfortable lead and let Peev and Elmer battle it out. In the second last corner of the last lap Peev passed Elmer.

In the second race Gerbrandt comfortably led the convoy. Peev held onto second spot with Jana Ham securing third on the last lap and Elmer settling for fourth.

In Spec Thunder and Thumper McWhirter maintained a huge lead in both races. No one could touch McWhirter in Thunder, and he took first from Rob Ross and Sam McManus. In Thumper Jacob Snell placed first and Craig Poirier got second.

Both races in Formula Thumper and Formula Thunder were almost identical. No passing took place in these races with everyone immediately settling into finish positions. In Formula Thunder Cody Conrad was first and Rob Haynes second. Patrice Lambert was first in Formula Thumper.

Under 21 Spec was an entertaining race with Gerbrandt getting the holeshot and taking a huge lead. With two laps to go Gerbrandt’s bike was making weird noises and everyone wondered if he was going to be able to finish the race. Peev was having a huge battle with Sam McManus, but dropped from third position on the last lap to ninth when he went off the track temporarily. Robyn Ham started at the back of the race and battled her way up to fourth spot. Gerbrandt finished first, Mah second and McManus third.

In Spec Over 21 McWhirter got holeshot and secured a significant gap on the first lap. Snell crashed on the second lap. The podium was McWhirter first, Ross second and Elmer third.

Both races in Formula Super Sport were identical. Gerbrandt switched to a borrowed AMRA CBR125 but still claimed first spot. Chris Wilson was second and Cody Conrad third.

Formula GP and Motard classes were run together. McWhirter and Gerbrandt battled it out in the Motard Class. McWhirter crashed on the fifth lap but still finished the race in second spot. Gerbrandt took first in Motard, McWhirter second and Snell third. In the Formula GP class Ross took first, Haynes second and Guy Hince third.

Yamaha launches 2010 models

From Yamaha Motor Canada

TORONTO, ON – The motocross world is about to be turned upside down, and backwards (literally), with the release of the much anticipated 2010 Yamaha YZ450F. Credited with developing the first competitive four-stroke motocross bike — in both the 400 and 250 classes — Yamaha is proud to once again wear the hat of innovation.

Totally revamped for 2010, the YZ450F has received a laundry list of changes, beginning with the “reversed,” rear slanted, fuel-injected four-stroke engine. The FI throttle body and airbox are front mounted, while the exhaust exits from the rear of the cylinder. This design is used to centralize mass for excellent handling and a light feel.

The all-new “Tornado” design exhaust system exits from the rear of the cylinder and features a spiral winding of the header pipe. A power chamber is built into the header pipe to limit sound, and the entire system continues to centralize mass.

Like its little brother, the YZ250F, the 450F receives an all-new bilateral beam frame and sharp, new styling package as well. A unique incentive to the all-new 450F is the ability to optimize the power curve. For those who purchase a YZ450F before December 31, they’ll be given a “YZ Power Tuner” that allows for tailoring of FI settings and ignition mapping.

Yamaha didn’t forget the street, touring or four-wheeled enthusiasts either. For 2010, Yamaha welcomes aboard the all-new Stratoliner Deluxe. Based off the award winning, XV1900 Stratoliner platform, the Deluxe features a hard fairing with mini windshield, integrated speakers that are pre-wired for easy connection with an iPod, and colour matched hard saddlebags.

Also new for the street is the Valentino Rossi Replica YZF-R1. Complete with all of the great features of their standard R1, the Rossi Edition comes dressed just like “The Doctor’s” factory race bike.

Yamaha’s ATV lineup sees a host of changes. The all-new YFZ450X is a woods version of the 450R and has a narrower track chassis for better performance and confidence between the trees. On the utility side, Yamaha now offers GYPA kits (Explorer and Polar) for specific types of demand.

Go to Yamaha-motor.ca to see the complete list of changes and many more 2010 models!

De Angelis slammed for Misano shunt

From motogp.com

There was drama early in the MotoGP contest on Sunday at Misano when home rider Alex de Angelis hit Colin Edwards at the start of the first lap, with the crash also taking Nicky Hayden into the gravel and instantly ending the race for all three riders.

Following their good performances in practice and qualifying each of the talented trio had looked well set to earn a decent points total at round 13, but it was not to be – with De Angelis accepting the blame for the crash and later apologizing to both Americans.

However, Tech 3 Yamaha rider Edwards was in no mood for sympathy and described De Angelis’ riding as unacceptable.

“I thought I had the pace to easily be fourth and maybe fight with Dani Pedrosa for a podium but we are in Italy and occasionally you have to deal with an Italian rider who wants to be a hero and today that was De Angelis," the Texan fumed. "Turn 1 at the start with 17 bikes is not the place to be going at race pace and he was never going to make through there. Today De Angelis is the guy who needed to be wearing Valentino’s donkey helmet.

“I didn’t know what had happened until I was sliding through the gravel. Turn 1 is the most dangerous time to crash with so many bikes around you, it is unacceptable. I’ve been fighting with Andrea Dovizioso in the championship most of the season and now he has 10 points on me with four races to go. That’s racing.”

Marlboro Ducati's Hayden, meanwhile, was similarly disgruntled and was particularly dismayed to have missed the chance to give the thousands of Ducati supporters at Misano something to shout about.

“It’s easy to say it now but I just know I was set for a good race so I’m extremely disappointed," the native of Kentucky remarked. "Maybe I wasn’t going to win but at least I could have run with the front guys for a while and given all the Ducatisti something to cheer, as well as picking up some vital experience and data for this machine.

“To be honest I had a feeling De Angelis might create some drama here. He’s at home and fighting for his job and when I saw him in the corner of my eye I just tried to gas it and get out of his way. Unfortunately he slightly clipped my rear wheel and that was the last I knew about it.

"I know in racing people can make mistakes and I have done plenty in my life but I’m not happy with Alex because this wasn’t racing - it was just stupid to try and pull a move like that on cold tires, on the first lap. Anyway, we’re all okay and looking forward to Portugal.”

For his part it was a highly costly error and De Angelis has now failed to finish the race on both occasions he has ridden in his home event as a MotoGP rider, having also crashed out last year.

“I got a decent start and thought I could make some more ground up on the inside on the turn but I went in too deep," he ruefully stated. "Colin cut in front of me and I braked as hard as I could to avoid him but the front folded and I hit him. Unfortunately Nicky was hit as well and I apologize to both of them.

"Unfortunately these things happen in racing and I am desperately disappointed because this is my home race, there were a lot of people here supporting me and I wasn’t able to deliver a good result. It is especially frustrating because we had the potential to put a really good race together here after another excellent weekend, but we’ll take the positives out of it and try to continue with our recent progress at Estoril.”

Rossi to Ducati in 2011?

From motogp.com

Speculation in the press linking Italian national hero Valentino Rossi with a move to Italian factory team Ducati resulted in the World Champion inevitably being asked about the subject following yet another victory in Italy, but the MotoGP title holder insists the rumours are just paper talk at present.

The 30-year-old rider took another step closer to what would be a fourth premier class title with his current Fiat Yamaha team and a seventh premier class crown in total on Sunday, and when asked about the 2011 Ducati rumours he replied, “I haven’t decided yet about my future, I will decide in the next year. I have a contract signed already with Yamaha (for 2010). For sure it is a great dream for everybody, to see Valentino with Ducati. We will see, I don’t know.”

Commenting on the superb atmosphere at Misano, which is situated close to his hometown of Tavullia, Rossi enthused, “It is fantastic. This year I really feel like this is my home Grand Prix. Before it always felt more like Mugello was home, but here with all this crowd it is brilliant. It is great for MotoGP to have so many fans and to see everyone with their 46 flags was amazing.”

On whether he had expected a harder battle with his team-mate Jorge Lorenzo during the race he stated, “Jorge is always strong but we saw in the practice that we had a little bit of an advantage, so we were able to go a bit faster than him.”

Schouten perseveres at Shannonville

By John Hopkins

Shannonville, ON -- Vicki Schouten must have thought someone was out to get her.

After qualifying fastest for the sixth round of the Pro Honda Oils Women's Cup at Shannonville Motorsport Park on Saturday she was penalized five starting spots for exceeding the class hosepower limit. Then she was handed a five-second penalty for jumping the start of Sunday's race.

But the Richmond, ON racer persevered and came through it all to claim her third straight win of the season and edge closer to taking the 2009 series title.

Riding her Kahuna Powersports Kawasaki ZX-6R Schouten finished the eight-lap race around the 2.45km (1.53-mile) Shannonville 'Pro' track 4.966 secs. ahead of Genevieve Lesieur's Chaine Performance Suzuki GSX-R600, with her time penalty included.

Vanessa Gareau-Dominguez completed the podium in third place aboard the Seamont Brokerage Suzuki GSX-R600.

"It's been an interesting weekend," said Schouten after her victory. "I guess my Kahuna Kawasaki was working a little too good yesterday and my mechanic, Jim Brooks spent all morning trying to dial it back. I just rode hard the whole race, there was no resting."

Schouten had turned a lap in 1:09.307 in qualifying to grab the pole by almost exactly one second (0.999 secs.) over Lesieur.

But her Kawasaki recorded 119.04 on the Dynojet Dyno used for post-qualifying inspection, just over the 118 hp class limit. That not only cost Schouten a place on the front row, but also three championship points.

Lesieur made a great start from pole position in the race and led at the end of the first lap, with Schouten, Gareau-Dominguez and Natalie Catherine Provost (Les Souers en Vrac Honda CBR600RR) in tow.

That's when the other shoe dropped. Schouten was judged to have made a little too good of a start and would now have five seconds added on to her race time.

"I didn't know I had jumped the start and so when I saw the crew signalling my gap I thought it was pretty strange," she said. "Eventually I figured it out."

Schouten took the lead from Lesieur on lap two and then set about trying to open up a gap of more than five seconds. She finally did it on lap five, and continued to pull away. She turned the fastest lap of the race on her fifth tour, 1:08.500.

Lesieur settled for a comfortable second place. The Quebec City rider had been struggling through practice and elected to race her 'B' bike.

"I'm really happy," she said. "I didn't reach my lap times from last year, but this bike is pretty much stock. We were doing a lot of set-up work still this morning so I'm pretty proud of what we did."

Gareau-Dominguez was delighted with third place on her Suzuki. The Montrealer had injured her hand and leg when she got caught up in an incident during Amateur Sport Bike qualifying the previous day.

"This has been a long time coming," she said. "I've done well in the regionals but this is my best ride in the nationals. Franklyn [Dominguez, her husband and Pro Superbike racer] has been working his ass off for me. I'm having a great time; I don't want the season to end."

Provost finished fourth after a race-long battle with the Waznie Racing Kawasaki ZX-6R of Amy Karthaus, which took fifth.

Roxanne Gravelle was sixth on the Gym-Max/Hybrid Racing Yamaha YZF-R6.

Schouten stretched her lead to 29 points unofficially heading to the seventh round of the season back at Shannonville Sept. 25-27. She now has 123 points to the 94 of Provost, but Gareau-Dominguez picked up ground on the Honda rider and is now a close third with 91.

Race Results
1. Vicki Schouten, Richmond, ON (Kawasaki ZX-6R) 8 laps
2. Genevieve Lesieur, Quebec, QC (Suzuki GSX-R600), +4.966
3. Vanessa Gareau-Dominguez, Montreal, QC (Suzuki GSX-R600) +8.993
4. Natalie Catherine Provost, Laval, QC (Honda CBR600RR) +12.180
5. Amy Karthaus, Brantford, ON (Kawasaki ZX-6R) +14.076
6. Roxanne Gravelle, Gatineau, QC (Yamaha YZF-R6) +37.902
7. Kana Matsumoto, Aurora, ON (Suzuki SV650) +41.741
8. Samantha Goyer, Ottawa, ON (Yamaha YZF-R6 +41.979
9. Sara-Clode Carrier, Gatineau, QC (Suzuki SV650) +45.071
10. Michelle Tennier, Trenton, ON (Suzuki GSX-R600) 7 laps

Unofficial Point Standings (Top 5)
1. Vicki Schouten 123
2. Natalie Catherine Provost 94
3. Vanessa Gareau Dominguez 91
4. Genevieve Lesieur 83
5. Roxanne Gravelle 66

Herrin completes SportBike sweep

From AMA Pro Racing

MILLVILLE, NJ - Josh Herrin (No. 8 Team Graves Yamaha YZF-R6) completed a sweep of both AMA Pro Daytona SportBike races in the AMA Pro Superbike Championships on Thunderbolt Raceway at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) on Sunday.

Herrin also swept the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) three weeks ago to end the season as the hottest rider in the class. 

His victories in the final four races vaulted him to second in the final championship standings, just five points behind 2009 Daytona SportBike Champion Danny Eslick (No. 9 GEICO Powersports/RMR Buell 1125R). Eslick finished seventh Sunday and ended his successful championship run with 387 points to Herrin's 382. Eslick's No. 9 GEICO Powersports/RMR Buell team also won the Daytona SportBike Team Championship with the same 387-point total.

Herrin's late charge helped Yamaha win the Daytona SportBike Manufacturer Championship. Yamaha's total of 441 points edged Suzuki and Buell who ended up tied with 416 points.

Herrin and most of the other front runners survived an opening lap dust up in Turn 1 that shuffled the running order and ended with four riders going down or off course. Herrin was in sixth place at the end of lap 1 but was up to fourth and mixing it up with the leaders two laps later. He was challenging Saturday runner-up Chaz Davies (No. 57 Factory Aprilia /Millennium Technologies Team Aprilia RSV1000R) for the lead on lap 11 when the Aprilia rider slid off course. Davies was uninjured but his weekend was over.

"Turn 1 was definitely really scary," Herrin said. "I thought we were done for, but luckily we got out of there. I think we were in seventh going into Turn 3 and it was definitely harder than I wanted it to be. A little more stress on us, but we made it happen. My Graves Yamaha crew has been working really, really hard all year. We came up five points shy but it's the best that we've done since I've been in AMA Pro so hat's off to them."

Herrin's final battle for the lead was with Jake Zemke(No. 1x Erion Racing Honda CBR600RR), who joined his teammate Chris Peris (No. 10 Erion Racing Honda CBR600RR) in having one of Honda's best races of the season. Zemke passed Herrin for the lead on lap 21 only to have the Yamaha rider draft past two laps later in the fast run down the front straight to start the last lap.

"On the white flag lap we went down into Turn 1 and I thought 'There's no way he's going to make the corner, I'm just going turn right back underneath him,'" Zemke said. "As soon as I took the thing in, I lost the rear and it skidded away. It gave Josh a nice little gap. I was able to close back up a little bit there at the end but it was just not enough. So, congratulations to Josh and congratulations to Danny on his first championship, that's great to see.

"It's been a long year for us. It would have been nice to finish it off with a win but we'll take the second place. It's going to be a long winter but we'll come out swinging next year."

The young Yamaha standout crossed the line just .063 of a second ahead of Zemke for the win while Herrin's teammate Tommy Aquino (No. 6 Team Graves Yamaha YZF-R6) finished third.

"I got a really clean start and apparently I was the only one," said Aquino, who led the first lap. "I was out in the lead for a little bit. I got passed a couple of times and I just settled in. Once I thought I was settled in, somebody else would kind of stuff me, but I was trying to ride my race. Eventually some people either moved out of the way by themselves or I moved them out of the way. It went pretty good and I'm happy with this."

Peris finished fourth after running as high as second while Jamie Hacking (No. 88 Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R) rounded out the top five.

Hacking's teammate Roger Hayden (No. 95 Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R) edged Eslick for sixth place at the line, but the 2009 Daytona SportBike Champion raced to the end while wrapping up the title.

"Going back all the way to three weeks before Daytona, I didn't have a ride," Eslick said. "The season has been amazing and with just the first couple of wins, we would have been happy with that. We've kept on going and won a couple more races, had some off weekends and made the best of what we have. My guys have worked so hard. The GEICO Powersports/Bruce Rossmeyer/RMR Buell team has just worked so hard all year long and never given up.

"It's been a long, hard fight the whole way and this weekend is no different. We've had some tough times a month ago, but we made it through. Who would have thought I'd have any wins coming into the season, and to leave with the championship, I couldn't ask for anything more."

Superpole winner Jason DiSalvo (No. 40 Team M4 Suzuki GSX-R600) had another challenging race and finished eighth. Saturday's third place finisher Steve Rapp (No. 48 Bazzaz/Pat Clark Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R6) was also uninjured in a lowside incident in Sunday's race.

Of the riders involved in the opening lap incident, only Aaron Gobert (No. 97 Factory Aprilia /Millennium Technologies Team Aprilia RSV1000R) required medical attention, but he was examined and released.

The AMA Pro SuperSport National Championship Shootout will not be run until next month at Daytona, but apparently nobody told 2009 SuperSport Champions Josh Day (No. 4 Team E.S.P. Yamaha YZF-R6) and Ricky Parker (No. 96 Team Graves Yamaha YZF-R6). The two riders waged a thrilling SuperSport shootout of their own Sunday at NJMP with SuperSport East Champ Day ultimately winning the race by .460 of a second over SuperSport West Champ Parker.

"Ricky really made me work hard for it today and I just want to say hat's off to him for riding it smooth and not doing anything dirty out there today," said Day, who won his fourth straight SuperSport race. "It was definitely a tough race for us all. It was all close racing; we were just out there having fun. It was just awesome to come out on top though."

Day clinched the East title one race ago in Virginia but officially ended his 2009 campaign with 189 points after Sunday's victory. He was credited with leading 16 of the SuperSport race's 19 laps in New Jersey but the number of unofficial lead changes within laps was almost impossible to follow.

J.D. Beach (No. 73 Rockwall Performance/Red Bull Yamaha YZF-R6) finished third for his third straight podium finish. He also moved to second in the final SuperSport East standings with 107 points.

Next up on the SuperSport schedule is the National Championship Shootout at Daytona International Speedway, Oct. 16-18. The lucrative non-points race is open to any rider that has run at least one SuperSport race this season, with the winner earning the title of SuperSport National Champion.

Daytona SportBike Race Results (Top 20)
1. Josh Herrin (Team Graves Yamaha) Yamaha YZF-R6 23 Laps
2. Jake Zemke (Erion Racing) Honda CBR600RR +0.062
3. Tommy Aquino (Team Graves Yamaha) Yamaha YZF-R6 +8.087
4. Chris Peris (Erion Racing) Honda CBR600RR +8.230
5. Jamie Hacking (Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki) Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R +16.326
6. Roger Hayden (Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki) Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R +24.281
7. Danny Eslick (Rossmeyer Geico Powersports RMR Buell) Buell 1125R +24.283
8. Jason DiSalvo (M4 Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R600 +33.896
9. Clinton Seller (Markbilt Racing) Yamaha YZF-R6 +35.030
10. Ricky Parker (RPR Racing) Yamaha YZF-R6 +37.677
11. Leandro Mercado (Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki) Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R +37.681
12. Taylor Knapp (Latus Motors Racing) Buell 1125R +43.705
13. Michael Beck (Team Beck Racing) Yamaha YZF-R6 +45.332
14. Kyle Wyman (Wyman Brothers Racing) Yamaha YZF-R6 +47.551
15. Christian Cronin (Crusty Motorsports) Yamaha YZF-R6 +1:03.924
16. Fernando Amantini (Amantini Racing) Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R +1:26.664
17. Huntley Nash (Four Feathers Racing) Yamaha YZF-R6 +1:27.191
18. Michael Barnes (GEICO Powersports ·RMR ·Buell Racing) Buell 1125R +1:27.339
19. Josh Galster (Slednecks Racing) Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R +1:27.810
20. Mike Selpe (Slidewayz Racing) Suzuki GSX-R600 22 Laps
Race Time: 32:25.711
Margin of Victory: 0.062
Best Race Lap: Roger Hayden (1:10.134)

Daytona SportBike Final Standings (Top 20)
1. Danny Eslick 387
2. Josh Herrin 382
3. Martin Cardenas 340
4. Jamie Hacking 299
5. Jason DiSalvo 283
6. Jake Zemke 258
7. Chris Peris 244
8. Tommy Aquino 235
9. Chaz Davies 219
10. Steve Rapp 200
11. Taylor Knapp 178
12. Roger Hayden 164
13. Michael Beck 121
14. Bobby Fong 119
15. Michael Barnes 118
16. Damian Cudlin 92
17. Chris Fillmore 90
18. Dane Westby 83
19. Ricky Parker 72
20. Shawn Higbee 70

Hot Hayes wins again in New Jersey

From AMA Pro Racing

MILLVILLE, NJ - Josh Hayes (No. 4 Yamaha Motor Corp. USA Yamaha R1) doubled up to close out the 2009 AMA Pro Road Racing season with a repeat race win Sunday in the AMA Pro Superbike Championships on Thunderbolt Raceway at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP).

Hayes won his fourth straight and seventh overall AMA Pro American Superbike race of the year and ended the season second in the championship.

For the second-straight day, Hayes had a classic battle with recently crowned 2009 American Superbike Champion Mat Mladin (No. 1 Rockstar/Makita Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000). This time Mladin's teammate Tommy Hayden (No. 22 Rockstar/Makita Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000) was also in the mix with each rider taking turns up front before Hayes took the lead for good on lap 15. The race saw seven official at-the-line lead changes between the three riders with the total more than doubling when multiple lead swaps within a lap were taken into account.

"It was one of those deals where I just tried to keep myself close to the front," Hayes said. "I rode as hard as I could the whole race. I had to keep putting together good laps to see if I could keep the pressure on. The Yamaha was great. It was a great bike to ride this weekend. I'm really proud of how the end of the season has come around.

"Congratulations to Mat on his career. Like I said on the podium, I only hope that I can achieve half of what he's done in his career." 

Mladin was making his final American Superbike start in a record-setting career and raced true to form before gearbox issues emerged in the later part of the race. Mladin is retiring with an unmatched total of seven AMA Pro American Superbike championships and a record 82 career victories.

"Today was a really good race," Mladin said. "I felt pretty good for most of it. I really didn't want to be in second place and I was trying to lead and was doing as much as I could from the front. We put it in as much as we could. About 10 laps to go, I couldn't get the thing in fifth gear. I had to go straight through to sixth and in the end we just couldn't keep up." 

Hayes crossed the finish line 2.254 seconds ahead Mladin while Aaron Yates (No. 23 Brand Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000) was third for the second straight day. Mladin passed Yates on the last lap to take second.

"It feels really good to be up here and finish the year out with a few decent finishes," said Yates, who posted his sixth podium finish of the season. "Racing with Josh and Mat, it feels good to be up here and running with them. Mat definitely wasn't joking about it not getting into fifth gear back there. It was twice running up through the bridge there that we got pretty close. I thought I was going to run right over him or into him. I got by Mat on the front straight and he came by me on that last lap, came up beside me, got on the brakes and I thought he was done, then he just slipped off to the inside." 

Three-time 2009 race winner Larry Pegram (No. 72 Foremost Insurance/Pegram Racing Ducati 1098R) finished fourth to improve on Saturday's fifth place showing while Neil Hodgson (No. 100 Corona Extra Honda CBR1000RR) had his best result since finishing second in the Daytona opener to round out the top five.

Pegram jumped to fourth in the final American Superbike standings with 347 points, one spot behind Hayden, who locked down third with 373 points. Hayden stepped up to challenge Hayes in the closing laps of the race but was uninjured when he lowsided after just taking the lead a little under three laps from the finish.

"I really wanted to win a race before the year was over and I wanted to try and get second in the championship, and I knew that one would take care of the other," Hayden said. "I just made a little mistake, went in a corner a little too hot and lost the front. It's a shame. On the one hand, I'm bummed and on the other hand, I left it all out there and that was one thing I wanted to make sure and do today. We learned a lot and we're looking forward to next year."

Ben Bostrom (No. 2 Yamaha Motor Corp. USA Yamaha R1) was also uninjured when he lowsided two laps into the race, but he still finished fifth in the final American Superbike championship standings with 333 points. 

Race Results
1. Josh Hayes (Yamaha Motor Corp. USA) Yamaha YZF-R1 23 Laps
2. Mat Mladin (Rockstar ·Makita ·Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +2.253
3. Aaron Yates (Jordan Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +2.334
4. Larry Pegram (Foremost Insurance ·Pegram Racing Ducati) Ducati 1098R +4.440
5. Neil Hodgson (Corona Extra Honda) Honda CBR1000RR +4.974
6. Jake Holden (Holden Racing) Honda CBR1000RR +7.882
7. Cory West (Erik Buell Racing) Buell 1125RR +9.491
8. Damian Cudlin (Celtic Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +15.883
9. Blake Young (Rockstar ·Makita ·Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +15.891
10. Geoff May (National Guard Jordan Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +29.813
11. Scott Charlton (Aussie Dave Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +50.124
12. Taylor Knapp (Taylor Knapp Racing) Buell 1125RR +1:09.744*
13. Chris Ulrich (Roadracingworld.com ·Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +1:13.482
14. Ricky Corey (RCR Yamaha) Yamaha YZF-R1 +1:20.015
15. Scott Jensen (Moto Garage Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +1:20.168
16. Shane Narbonne (Shane Narbonne ·DASPerformance.com) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +1:21.113
17. Shawn Higbee (Higbee-Racing.com) Buell 1125R +1:21.165
18. Skip Salenius (Run One Racing ·Marietta Motorsports) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +1:21.370
19. Tim Hunt (Team Hooters Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 22 Laps
20. Mark Crozier (Four Feathers Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +40.276
21. Eric Haugo (Liberty Waves Racing 2) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +41.030
22. Tommy Hayden (Rockstar ·Makita ·Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 20 Laps
23. Ben Bostrom (Yamaha Motor Corp. USA) Yamaha YZF-R1 2 Laps
24. Dominic Jones (Moto Garage Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 DNS
25. Johnny Rock Page (Johnny Rock Page ·944 Magazine) Suzuki GSX-R1000 DNS
* -- Penalized 10 seconds for speeding in pit lane
Race Time: 31:30.675
Margin of Victory: 2.253
Best Race Lap: Tommy Hayden (1:21.154)

Final Point Standings (Top 20)
1. Mat Mladin 453
2. Josh Hayes 406
3. Tommy Hayden 373
4. Larry Pegram 347
5. Ben Bostrom 333
6. Blake Young 290
7. Aaron Yates 290
8. Geoff May 234
9. Taylor Knapp 207
10. Jake Holden 195
11. Neil Hodgson 167
12. Chris Ulrich 156
13. David Anthony 120
14. Scott Jensen 105
15. Michael Laverty 98
16. Aaron Gobert 87
17. Hawk Mazzotta 69
18. Shawn Higbee 61
19. Shane Narbonne 60
20. Mark Crozier 58

Rossi back on top at Misano

From motogp.com

World Champion Valentino Rossi delighted the home crowd at Misano on Sunday with his second successive victory at the Italian circuit, to reassert his authority in the MotoGP title race.

A 2.4-sec. win at the Gran Premio Cinzano di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini over his team-mate Jorge Lorenzo was the perfect response to his Indy DNF and Rossi now leads the Spaniard by 30 points in the standings, with four rounds to go.

“I am so happy because this victory is more important than normal, coming after a bad mistake in Indianapolis just seven days ago and especially because my team and I did a great job, from Friday afternoon," Rossi said. "It was a perfect weekend, we were always very fast in all the practices and we are always proud of all the fans here in Misano. Thanks to them for all their support.

“I hoped to make a better start and get to the front but Dani (Pedrosa) and Toni (Elías) overtook me on the first corner and then Jorge at the end of the first lap, so I was fourth and in a little bit of trouble. I had a full fuel load and wasn’t 100 per cent confident.

“I decided to find my rhythm and get the right temperature into the tires, then I started to push and it was a great race. It was a great battle with Toni, Jorge and Dani. When I got in front I couldn’t see everything behind me but I saw Jorge overtake Dani. I had three or four corners where I was very fast so I tried to use that advantage to the maximum.”

Lorenzo did his very best to stay with his illustrious team-mate over the course of the 28-lap contest, having overtaken Dani Pedrosa after a short battle, but 'The Doctor' was unstoppable in the Italian sunshine.

The Majorcan rider is the only rider to have been on the podium every time he has finished a race this year and the Misano contest took him onto the rostrum for the 10th time in 2009.

“After the pace in warm up I knew it was going to be a difficult race," said Lorenzo, who was only sixth in the race morning session. "I had a not bad start, but then I almost crashed on the second corner, because (Alex) de Angelis was going so fast and his bike touched me. Fortunately I didn’t go down and I wanted to relax, so that I could recover, without taking too many risks.

“I think today was the day to finish second and not to win, because Valentino had the best pace all through the weekend. So I had to concentrate on getting second place because I didn’t have the perfect set-up for my bike and I couldn’t brake so late. Because of that it was difficult to get around Dani, as the Honda was accelerating very well. Anyway, second place is good.”

Repsol Honda’s Pedrosa could not match the pace of the powerful Fiat Yamaha pair, eventually crossing the line 10 seconds behind Lorenzo to complete the podium.

The former 250cc and 125cc World Champion made one of his signature superb starts and led the race in the early laps, but was eventually hunted down by Rossi and Lorenzo, who appeared to have an advantage in terms of lap times on their Yamaha M1 machines.

“I gave it my maximum in the race," Pedrosa said. "I tried to do everything I could and I wanted to stay with them (Rossi and Lorenzo) at the beginning, but in the middle of the race I started to go slower and they were just faster. They were braking better and cornering better, so I couldn’t keep up with them.

At the end of the race the Barcelona rider had to be brought back to the pits by fellow Catalan Toni Elías after his machine cut out on the warm down lap.

“From the beginning I had some misfiring on a couple of corners and in the end I was very lucky because my bike stopped on the ‘in-lap’ and it was very strange," the Spaniard explained. "I don’t know if it was lack of fuel or something else, but I think I was lucky to finish the race and get third! Anyway, thanks to my team and the people around me.”

Early in the race there was drama - and heartbreak – when de Angelis (San Carlo Honda Gresini) appeared to misjudge the first corner and crashed out, with American pair Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Nicky Hayden (Ducati Marlboro) unfortunately sliding out with him.

Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) and Loris Capirossi (Rizla Suzuki) had a fierce fight behind the rostrum finishers, with Dovizioso eventually coming out on top by two-tenths of a second for his third fourth place finish in a row.

The top 10 was rounded off by early race leader Toni Elías (San Carlo Honda Gresini), Mika Kallio (Ducati Marlboro), Marco Melandri (Hayate Racing), Chris Vermeulen (Rizla Suzuki) and James Toseland (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), while temporary Pramac Racing representative Aleix Espargaró did very well in 11th place in just his second MotoGP race.

A tremendous 250cc World Championship battle at Misano between Héctor Barberá (Pepe World Team) and home rider Mattia Pasini (Team Toth Aprilia) went right down to the wire on Sunday afternoon, with a desperate last lap ending with the Spaniard crossing the line four-hundredths of a second in front of the Italian.

Unlike previous duels between the pair there was no controversy on this occasion, with Barberá emerging on top to claim his second victory of the year.

There was also a superb fight for the last podium position between title candidates Álvaro Bautista (Mapfre Aspar) and Hiroshi Aoyama (Scot Racing Team) on the final lap – and it was a Spanish rider who succeeded in that contest too, albeit by just six-thousandths of a second. That result means Bautista now trails Aoyama by 13 points at the head of the standings.

A dramatic finale to the 125cc race at Misano saw the two leading riders, Andrea Iannone (Ongetta Team I.S.P.A.) and Pol Espargaró (Derbi Racing Team), crash on the last corner to hand Julián Simón (Bancaja Aspar) another crucial win.

MotoGP Race Results
1. Valentino ROSSI (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 44:32.882 (159.371 km/h)
2. Jorge LORENZO (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha +2.416
3. Dani PEDROSA (SPA) Repsol Honda Team Honda +12.400
4. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (ITA) Repsol Honda Team Honda +26.330
5. Loris CAPIROSSI (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki +26.539
6. Toni ELIAS (SPA) San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda +28.286
7. Mika KALLIO (FIN) Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati +30.184
8. Marco MELANDRI (ITA) Hayate Racing Team Kawasaki +31.757
9. Chris VERMEULEN (AUS) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki +31.909
10. James TOSELAND (GBR) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha +38.347
11. Aleix ESPARGARO (SPA) Pramac Racing Ducati +46.673
12. Randy DE PUNIET (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP Honda +52.041
13. Niccolo CANEPA (ITA) Pramac Racing Ducati +1:03.198
14. Gabor TALMACSI (HUN) Scot Racing Team MotoGP Honda +1:22.347
Not finished 1st lap
Alex DE ANGELIS (RSM) San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda
Colin EDWARDS (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha
Nicky HAYDEN (USA) Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati

MotoGP Standings
1. Valentino ROSSI (Yamaha) 237
2. Jorge LORENZO (Yamaha) 207
3. Dani PEDROSA (Honda) 157
4. Casey STONER (Ducati) 150
5. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (Honda) 133
6. Colin EDWARDS (Yamaha) 123
7. Loris CAPIROSSI (Suzuki) 97
8. Alex DE ANGELIS (Honda) 88
9. Randy DE PUNIET (Honda) 88
10. Marco MELANDRI (Kawasaki) 87
11. Chris VERMEULEN (Suzuki) 84
12. Toni ELIAS (Honda) 80
13. James TOSELAND (Yamaha) 78
14. Nicky HAYDEN (Ducati) 73
15. Mika KALLIO (Ducati) 51
16. Niccolo CANEPA (Ducati) 35
17. Sete GIBERNAU (Ducati) 12
18. Gabor TALMACSI (Honda) 12
19. Yuki TAKAHASHI (Honda) 9
20. Aleix ESPARGARO (Ducati) 8

Spies takes World Superbike points lead

From the World Superbike Championship

The German Round of the Hannspree FIM Superbike World Championship offered a number of thrills and spills at the Nurburgring as Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike) moved into the lead of the championship for the first time this year.

In front of 42,000 spectators on Sunday the Yamaha man took the race 1 win from Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox), and his second place in race 2, in addition to a turn 1 crash for Haga, allowed him to open up an 18-point gap at the top of the table.

Britain’s Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) took his second win of the season with a commanding performance in race 2. 

Spies notched up his 12th win of the season at the end of a nail-biting scrap with his championship rival Haga, reducing the gap at the top of the table to just two points.

The Japanese rider powered away to the best possible start, but Spies managed to recover by the mid-point, when he took over at the front. With a couple of laps to go before the chequered flag, Haga made a slight error and the Texan was able to cut loose to take the win.

“It was a good race," Spies said. "I didn’t get a great start and I lost a little bit of time to get past Rea, while Nori got away a little bit and I really had to move to catch him. When I got Nori we passed and re-passed. It was tough because he was extremely fast in the first section. The bike started moving around quite a bit and then with three laps to go it was time to put the hammers down and go.”

“I’m not so happy," Haga admitted. "I wanted to win and I felt sure I could win that race. I tried to overtake Ben everywhere but in some parts he was quicker than me and in some parts my bike was quicker than his, but I couldn’t get past him, he was a little faster than me so I had to settle for second place."

Third place went to Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), who held off his team-mate Rea for the final podium slot.

There was another terrific battle for fifth between Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing), Leon Haslam (Stiggy Racing Honda) and Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), who finished in that order.

Troy Corser scored a positive eighth place for BMW, with the Australian running in fourth for much of the race before dropping away in the final stages.

Stand-in rider Karl Muggeridge brought the first Suzuki Alstare BRUX machine home in 12th, but both Kawasaki riders were forced into retirement. Makoto Tamada was involved in an incident shortly after the start together with John Hopkins (Stiggy Racing Honda), and they were both taken to Adenau hospital for checks for slight concussion.

The Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team returned to the top of the podium in the second encounter thanks to a superb race by Rea, who scored his second season win after the one at Misano.

“I tried to ride my own race and mind my own business," Rea said. "I got a really bad start and had to get a bit aggressive with people in turn 1 because I had to regroup and come from a long way back. I had to put moves down quick, because I really messed up race 1 which was all my fault.

"We changed nothing in between, my guys sat me down and explained exactly what I had to do to win. I gave it all today, the package was really strong.”

The British youngster finished just ahead of Spies, who thanks to Haga’s turn 1 crash when he made contact with Rea, is now the points leader. Eighteen points lie between the two, with the title battle wide-open.

“The track was a lot cooler and it was definitely much quicker," Spies said. "I didn’t get off the line good and a bunch of people came round me in turn 1 and I lost almost two seconds to the lead. I came up to the front but by the time I got there I just didn’t quite have the rear grip to get out of the corners in the last five laps. Johnny was not making any mistakes so hats off to him for winning. It wasn’t my race, but we’ve got the championship lead now.”

Third place again went to Checa ahead of Biaggi, who had another convincing run, this time to fourth, and Haslam in fifth.

Corser was again one of the protagonists, with a sixth place finish for BMW.

It wasn’t a particularly good day for Fabrizio, who added a ninth place in race 2 to his seventh earlier on, the Italian finishing behind Ryuichi Kiyonari (Ten Kate Honda) and Tom Sykes (Yamaha World Superbike).

The final top-10 position went to Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki Alstare BRUX), while Kawasaki could only manage three points overall in the German race weekend, thanks to a 13th place in the second race by Broc Parkes.

Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha World Supersport) scored another undisputed win in the 11th round of the World Supersport Championship at the Nurburgring.

The points leader appeared to have an extra gear over his rivals right from the start of the weekend and showed it during the race when he immediately pulled away at the start and went on to take the chequered flag by 10 seconds.

The next men to finish were Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda)and Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Motocard.com), who engaged in a terrific scrap for the runner-up slot. Thanks to his second place Laverty keeps Crutchlow’s lead down to 22 points with three rounds remaining.

Massimo Roccoli (Intermoto Czech Honda) put in a good run to fourth place, the Italian holding off the attacks from Fabien Foret (Yamaha World Supersport).

A bad start ruined the race of Garry McCoy (Triumph ParkinGo), but the Australian managed to finish eighth at the flag, while Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) looked as though he might challenge Crutchlow in the early laps but then crashed out and later retired.

Xavier Simeon (Ducati Xerox Junior Team) looks to be well on the way to winning this year’s Superstock 1000 FIM Cup title after the Belgian youngster scored a lights to flag victory, his third in a row. Simeon now has a 40-point advantage over his closest rival Claudio Corti (Suzuki Alstare BRUX), who could only finish fifth.

The runner-up slot went to Maxime Berger (Ten Kate Honda), who put together an incredible recovery from 16th position on the grid.

Vincent Lonbois (MTM Yamaha) scored his second win in a row in the Superstock 600 class, and now becomes the leading rival for the European title to Danilo Petrucci (Yamaha Trasimeno). The Italian limited the damage with the runner-up slot, but is now only eight points ahead of the Belgian with three rounds remaining.

Superbike Race 1 Results
1. Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF-R1 39:04.818 (157.737 km/h)
2. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R +3.850
3. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR +6.990
4. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR +7.109
5. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory +12.825
6. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR +13.243
7. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R +14.223
8. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR +14.382
9. Sykes T. (GBR)  Yamaha YZF-R1 +17.206
10. Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R +26.547
11. Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR1000RR +27.388
12. Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9 +30.968
13. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R +31.069
14. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR +31.188
15. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9 +40.165
16. Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R +54.897

Superbike Race 2 Results
1. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 39:01.561 (157.956 km/h)
2. Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF-R1 +0.786
3. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR +4.993
4. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory +8.191
5. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR +10.907
6. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR +17.152
7. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR +19.473
8. Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF-R1 +19.721
9. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R +22.981
10. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9 +24.161
11. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R +29.367
12. Nieto F. (ESP) Ducati 1098R +30.007
13. Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-10R +37.281
14. Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R +47.883
15. Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR +49.549
16. Baiocco M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R +49.635

Superbike Points (after 11 of 14 rounds)
1. Spies 364
2. Haga 336
3. Fabrizio 289
4. Rea 244
5. Biaggi 224
6. Haslam 201
7. Checa 177
8. Sykes 165
9. Byrne 140
10. Smrz 140

Matechuk takes Amateur Sport Bike title

By John Hopkins

SHANNONVILLE, ON -- Cody Matechuk of Cochrane, AB locked up the Armour Bodies Amateur Sport Bike Championship with a second place finish at Shannonville Motorsport Park on his Suzuki Dealers / Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R600 on Sunday.

The race was won by his nearest title challenger, Sebastien Tremblay of Longueuil, QC on the A. Perusse Kawasaki / Kawasaki ZX-6R, who finished 7.955 secs. clear of Matechuk. Tremblay picked up the Tirox Won Bigtime Award for having the largest winning advantage of the day.

Matechuk finished the season 41 points clear of Tremblay in the standings.

After Efram Ellenbogen led the opening lap of the 14-lap race on his BnE Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 Matechuk took over the top spot on lap 2.

"I thought I would go out and lead the first few laps and see how it went, but I wasn't comfortable running those times," said the 15-year-old Matechuk.

Tremblay moved into second on lap 6 and stayed close to Matechuk, taking over the lead as the pair was negotiating lapped traffic on lap 9. From there Tremblay pulled clear for his second win of the season.

"I never got good starts this year but I always turned consistent lap times, and that's what got me the win today," Tremblay said. "I didn't stop pushing, except for maybe the last lap a bit."

Jeffrey Dion of Granby, QC held off fellow Kawasaki rider Vicki Schouten for the final spot on the podium. The Robitaille Racing rider survived a big moment exiting the final corner on the last lap to hold off the Kahuna Powersports ZX-6R by less than a second at the line.

"We had some suspension problems this weekend but we tried a softer spring in the back and it was much better today," Dion said.

Schouten's fourth place combined with a DNF for early leader Ellenbogen allowed Schouten to snatch third in the final point standings from the Yamaha rider while Dion moved up to fifth in the rankings with his third podium of the year.

Raphael Archambault of St-Colomban, QC clinched the Suzuki SV650 Cup title by just a single point after a 12th place finish at Shannonville on Sunday.

His nearest threat, Brantford, ON’s Rob Busby won the race and led the most laps to claim maximum points for the weekend but still ended up with 294 points to the 295 of Archambault.

"I feel like I did what I had to do," said Busby, who missed the third round of the series at Calgary's Race City Motorsport Park. "I'm kind of sad I didn't go to Calgary, or didn't qualify a little better for a couple of those races that would have gotten me an extra point or two."

Archambault had a rough day at Shannonville. The winner of four straight races this year looked to have the title in the bag but suffered a morning warm-up crash and then was penalized for a jump start in the race. He ran around at the back of the field and only secured the 12th place he needed four laps from the end.

Philippe Masse of St-Dominique, QC finished less than a second behind Busby after nearly missing the start of the race while Granby, QC's Jeremie Hade Precourt survived a jump start penalty and a near highside in the hairpin two laps from the end to complete the podium.

Steven Nickerson of Hamilton, ON took home the Honda CBR125R Challenge title thanks to a runner-up finish in the season finale. His main rival, Bodhi Edie of Warman, SK won the race but ended the season 15 points behind in second place.

Nickerson and Edie battled for the top spot through the early stages of the eight-lap race before the points leader thought better of it and settled into a safe second spot.

Quesnel, BC's Ryan Appenrodt made his return to the series after starring at Mosport and completed the podium, edging Samuel Proulx, Ryan Roche and Loic Viscasillas to the line after a dramatic race.

Amateur Sport Bike Race Results (Top 15)
1. Sebastien Tremblay, Longueuil, QC, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 14 laps  
2. Cody Matechuk, Cochrane, AB, Suzuki GSX-R600, +7.955
3. Jeffery Dion, Granby, QC, Kawasaki ZX-6R, +20.773   
4. Vicki Schouten, Richmond, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6R, +21.752       
5. Joey McRae, Orangeville, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, +30.687 
6. Stephane Beaupre, Quebec, QC, Yamaha YZF-R6, +37.999
7. Kenny Riedmann, Belfountain, ON, Triumph Daytona, +40.171*
8. Jason Thoms, Manotick, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6R, +42.050  
9. Sylvain Dery, St-Colomban, QC, Yamaha YZF-R6, +42.390       
10. Richard A. Have, Hawkestone, ON, Suzuki, GSX-R600, +44.369 
11. Alain Lefebvre, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, Suzuki GSX-R600, +46.733
12. Vanessa Gareau-Dominguez, Montreal, QC, Suzuki GSX-R600, +48.784   
13. Dominic Dupont, Laval, QC, Kawasaki ZX-6R, +53.255 
14. Etienne Giguere, Levis, QC, Honda CBR600RR, +56.891
15. Ted Kuehn, Kingston, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6R, +57.608   
* -- Penalized five seconds for jump start
Fastest Lap: 1:07.285 by Efram Ellenbogen on lap 3

Amateur Sport Bike Final Point Standings (Top 20)
1. Cody Matechuk (Suzuki) 311
2. Sebastien Tremblay (Kawasaki) 270
3. Vicki Schouten (Kawasaki) 159
4. Efram Ellenbogen (Yamaha) 153
5. Jeffrey Dion (Kawasaki) 134
6. Billy Shields (Yamaha) 122
7. Joey McRae (Yamaha) 113
8. Kenny Riedmann (Triumph) 79
9. Stephane Beaupre (Yamaha) 71
10. Alain Lefebvre (Suzuki) 69
11. Jason Thoms (Kawasaki) 65
12. Marcel Irnie (Kawasaki) 62
13. Clarke La Prairie (Kawasaki) 61
14. Christian LaBrecque (Yamaha) 47
15. Etienne Giguere (Honda) 44
16. Amy Karthaus (Kawasaki) 41
17. Aubrey Bailey (Honda) 38
18. Dominic Dupont (Kawasaki) 30
19. Trevor Berhardt (Suzuki) 29
20. Thomas Bodrovics (Suzuki) 29
21. Richard A. Have (Suzuki) 29

Suzuki SV650 National Cup Race Results
1. Rob Busby, Brantford, ON 14 laps    
2. Philippe Masse, St Dominique, QC, +0.761
3. Jeremie Hade Precourt, Granby, QC, +9.116*
4. Brent Strong, Mississauga, ON, +19.823
5. Dan Henri, Ottawa, ON, +22.800
6. Michel Sabourin, Brampton, ON, +23.419
7. Lee Kuhn, Hamilton, ON, +26.921
8. Chris Dopke, Cambridge, ON, +30.061
9. David Mongrain, St-Jerome, QC, +30.329
10. Kana Matsumoto, Aurora, ON, +57.975
11. Philippe Bonin, St-Colomban, QC, +1:01.330
12. Raphael Archambault, St-Colomban, QC, +1:09.648*
13. Joe Rodrigues, Weston, ON, +1:11.316
Did Not Finish
Francois Chartrand, Repentigny, QC, 8 laps
Martin Chartrand, Montreal, QC, 6 laps
Tyler Reid, Toronto, ON, 3 laps
* -- Penalized five seconds for jump start
Fastest Lap: 1:10.409 by Philippe Masse on lap 7

Suzuki SV650 National Cup Point Standings (Top 15)
1. Raphael Archambault 295
2. Rob Busby 294
3. Philippe Masse 232
4. Jeremie Hade Precourt 227
5. Dan Henri 148
6. Brent Strong 121
7. Jody Greening 105
8. Lee Kuhn 103
9. Chris Dopke 100
10. Joe Rodrigues 82
11. David Mongrain 71
12. Steve Grujic 69
13. Kana Matsumoto 64
14. Francois Chartrand 59
15. Michel Sabourin 50

Honda CBR125R Challenge Race Results
1. Bodhi Edie, Warman, SK, 8 laps      
2. Steven Nickerson, Hamilton, ON, +3.099
3. Ryan R. Appenrodt, Quesnel, BC, +8.165
4. Samuel Proulx, Magog, QC, +8.280
5. Ryan Roche, Pickering, ON, +8.863
6. Loic Viscasillas, Laval, QC, +8.924
7. Stavros Grekos, Toronto, ON, +25.584
8. Nicole Pilkington, Blackstock, ON, +26.936
9. Karl Robitaille, Ste-Julie, QC, +32.434
10. Pascal Bastien, Laval, QC, +34.420
11. Young Jae Kim, Mississauga, ON, +35.227
12. Daniel Corbett, Ottawa, ON, +46.544
13. Toni Nesbitt, Saint-Lazare, QC, +47.746
14. Steve Walker, Carleton Place, ON, +48.520
15. Jessie Parks-Hamer, Barrie, ON, +56.442
Fastest Lap: 1:06.420 by Bodhi Edie on lap 8

Honda CBR125R Challenge Final Point Standings (Top 15)
1. Steven Nickerson 403
2. Bodhi Edie 388
3. Ryan Roche 268
4. Karl Robitaille 267
5. Leah Vignale 187
6. Ryan R. Appenrodt 180
7. Young Jae Kim 145
8. Nicole Pilkington 143
9. Geoffrey Gerbrandt 102
10. Samuel Proulx 90
11. Toni Nesbitt 90
12. Loic Viscasillas 81
13. Dylan Jones 53
14. Emil Peev 46
15. Cody Conrad 44
16. Robert Haynes 44

Szoke is Sport Bike king again

By John Hopkins

SHANNONVILLE, ON – Jordan Szoke clinched his fourth straight Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike Championship with a runner-up finish to Brett McCormick in the 15-lap  season finale at Shannonville Motorsport Park on Sunday.

In a race very similar to the Superbike event later in the day, McCormick took the lead on lap three on his Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R600 and eased clear to a 5.993-sec. victory over the Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-6R of Szoke. Szoke finished the season with 345 points to the 340 of McCormick.

"This has been one of the most exciting years in my career, and one of the toughest years," said the 30-year-old Szoke. "I thought I raised my game in the off-season but Brett did not let up. He's a heck of a rider and having that much competition makes this even sweeter."

Alex Welsh completed the podium finishers on another Canadian Kawasaki Motors ZX-6R. Despite struggling with a broken pelvis suffered in the previous round of the series at Atlantic Motorsport Park, the Uxbridge, ON rider played a key role in helping Szoke secure the title, leading the opening two laps of the race and then covering Szoke's back in third spot.

"I have the best teammate in the world," Szoke said. "I was happy he got out front because I knew Brett was coming. Alex was battling for me back there."

The Kawasakis ran 1-2 for the first lap before McCormick got around Szoke heading into the hairpin on lap 2 and then grabbed the lead from Welsh in Allen's Corner a lap later. He then eased away from the green bikes, lapping about half a second faster than anyone else in the race.

"I didn't get the start I was looking for and wound up fourth heading into turn 1," said the 18-year-old McCormick. "I knew the Kawis weren't going to make it easy for me, but I didn't want to play that game of bunching up the field. I wanted to prove we had the best bike out there."

After ceding second spot to Szoke, Welsh provided a rear guard support, holding off a pack that included Kevin Lacombe, Andrew Nelson, Steve Crevier, Jodi Christie and Karl Daigle.

"I didn't want to interfere too much with the championship battle," Wesh acknowledged. "I probably didn't have the pace of Jordan or Brett. The pace we were running wasn't easy by any means. It was comfortable, but fast."

McCormick had the race's fastest lap at 1:05.031.

Lacombe settled for fourth on the Team Toyota Yamaha / OTSFF Yamaha YZF-R6 and was third in the final Pro Sport Bike standings with 238 points.

Steve Crevier on the Deeley Racing Powered By Buell / Buell 1125R passed Nelson's Nelson Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 two laps from the end to take fifth.

Christie was seventh on the Powerhouse Honda Dealers of Ontario / Roz-Gar Racing Honda CBR600RR and Daigle settled for eighth riding the A. Perusse Kawasaki / Chaine Performance Kawasaki ZX-6R.

The race was stopped three laps from the end of its scheduled 18-lap distance for a crash involving factory Buell rider Darren James in turn two. The North Vancouver racer was not badly hurt, and returned to compete in the Superbike feature later in the day.

Race Results
1. Brett McCormick, Saskatoon, SK, Suzuki GSX-R600, 15 laps
2. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6R, +5.993
3. Alex Welsh, Uxbridge, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6R, +7.219
4. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Yamaha YZF-R6, +8.084
5. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, BC, Buell 1125R, +9.819
6. Andrew Nelson, Kars, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, +10.319
7. Jodi Christie, Keene, ON, Honda CBR600RR, +10.473
8. Karl Daigle, Roxton Pond, QC, Kawasaki ZX-6R, +16.660
9. Dave Estok, New Smyrna Beach, FL, Buell 1125R, +18.895
10. Matt McBride, Mississauga, ON, Suzuki GSX-R600, +25.339
11. Elie Daccache, Ottawa, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6R, +32.714
12. Tony Kasper, Becker, MN, Yamaha YZF-R6, +34.086
13. Marie-Josee Boucher, Montreal, QC, Honda CBR600RR, +38.788
14. Michael Ferreira, Mississauga, ON, BMW HP2, +41.354
15. Martin Grande, Montreal, QC, Suzuki GSX-R600, +46.025**
16. Alain Campagna, Mascouche, QC, Yamaha YZF-R6, +1:04.801
17. Louie Raffa, Ste-Marthe, QC, Yamaha YZF-R6, 14 laps
18. Olivier Spilborghs, White Rock, BC, Buell 1125R, 14
19. Darren James, North Vancouver, BC Buell 1125R, 15*
Did Not Finish
Zenon Nelson, Bowmanville, ON, Suzuki GSX-R600, 8 laps
* -- Put to back of finishing order for causing red flag
** -- Penalized five seconds for jump start
Fastest Lap: 1:05.031 by Brett McCormick on lap 4

Final Point Standings
1. Jordan Szoke (Kawasaki) 345
2. Brett McCormick (Suzuki) 340
3. Kevin Lacombe (Yamaha) 238
4. Alex Welsh (Kawasaki) 216
5. Steve Crevier (Buell) 204
6. Andrew Nelson (Yamaha) 196
7. Jodi Christie (Honda) 159
8. Dave Estok (Buell) 126
9. Royce McLean (Yamaha) 124
10. Karl Daigle (Kawasaki) 99
11. Darren James (Buell) 93
12. Tony Kasper (Yamaha) 68
13. Matt McBride (Suzuki) 67
14. Michael Ferreira (BMW) 67
15. Martin Grande (Suzuki) 66
16. Francis Martin (BMW) 65
17. Brian Blaauwendraat (Honda) 64
18. Marie-Josee Boucher (Honda) 60
19. Elie Daccache (Kawasaki) 30
20. Jean-Francois Cyr (Honda) 21
21. Frank Trombino (Suzuki) 15
22. James Collins (Yamaha) 15
23. Louie Raffa (Yamaha) 14
24. Rob Darlington (Yamaha) 13
25. Matt Schmidt (Suzuki) 12
26. Matthew Leahey (Honda) 12
27. Scott Rupert (Suzuki) 12
28. Jeff O'Leary (Kawasaki) 10
29. Alain Campagna (Yamaha) 10
30. Andrew Dunlap (Kawasaki) 8
31. Rob Busby (Kawasaki) 6
32. Matthew Elder (Suzuki) 6
33. Olivier Spilborghs (Suzuki) 5
34. Dan Henri (Yamaha) 4
35. Todd Scott (Honda) 4
36. Chad Swain (Kawasaki) 4
37. Jesse Sherstan (Yamaha) 2
38. Zenon Nelson (Suzuki) 1

Szoke scores sixth Superbike title

By John Hopkins
Photo by Rob O'Brien

SHANNONVILLE, ON – Brantford, ON’s Jordan Szoke claimed his record fourth straight Parts Canada Superbike Championship and his sixth career national crown with a second place finish in the season finale at Shannonville Motorsport Park on Sunday.

Riding his Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R Szoke finished 6.121 seconds behind race winner Brett McCormick, but that was enough to give him the title by five points over the Saskatoon racer, 341-336.

“I had to ride hard today,” the 30-year-old Szoke said. “I don’t know if I had anything for Brett. This is a lot of weight off my shoulders. Brett’s definitely given me the hardest run of my career. It’s been a super year, a really exciting year for me.”

McCormick needed a win to deny Szoke his sixth Superbike title and despite receiving a five-second penalty for a jump start the 18-year-old rider of the Team Suzuki / Blackfoot / Picotte Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 dominated at Shannonville. He took the lead on lap three of the 20-lap race and pulled clear for his fourth victory in seven races this year.

“It sucks to come up a little bit short,” said McCormick, who had shattered the track record in qualifying on Saturday. “But Jordan knows how to win. You don’t win four in a row without knowing something. A couple of mistakes from us earlier in the year cost us the championship.”

Szoke grabbed the lead from the start of the race but on lap two both Kevin Lacombe on the Team Toyota Yamaha / OTSFF Yamaha YZF-R1 and McCormick got by. McCormick took the lead from Lacombe on the following lap and Szoke got around the Yamaha rider a lap later.

“I got a good start but then Brett and Kevin came by me and it took me a few laps to collect myself,” said Szoke, who won three races this year. “But I got a great pace going and got really comfortable.”

Lacombe initially stayed close to Szoke but started to drop back at half distance as he struggled with handling issues. He came under pressure from the Suzuki Dealers / Acceleration Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 of Clint McBain in the closing laps but hung on for third place.

“I was giving it everything I had; I don’t think I’ve ever pushed that hard in a Superbike race at Shannonville,” the Granby, QC racer said. “I started pushing the front really hard and the rear was spinning like it was on ice.”

McBain got by Lacombe in turn three two laps from the end but was passed back almost immediately by the Yamaha rider. McBain planned to repeat the move on the final lap but the Cochrane, AB racer was thwarted by a waved yellow flag in the corner for a crash involving Franklyn Dominguez.

Nevertheless, it was a gutsy effort from McBain, who was still feeling the effects of a bady bruised backside sustained in a practice crash on Friday. He claimed third in the final Superbike standings with 236 points.

Kars, ON’s Andrew Nelson placed fifth on the Nelson Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 to secure fourth in the final point standings. Still struggling with his fitness after a Mosport practice crash, Nelson made a good start from the second row to run fourth in the first half of the race but was passed by McBain just before half-distance.

Steve Crevier of Maple Ridge, BC was sixth aboard his Deeley Racing Powered By Buell / Buell 1125R. Crevier was battling with the second Canadian Kawasaki Motors entry of Alex Welsh on the final lap when the two collided exiting the hairpin and Welsh crashed.
       
Crevier was later placed on probation for two races by Parts Canada Superbike Championship officials for his role in the incident. Welsh was unhurt in the fall.
       
After qualifying on the front row Mississauga, ON’s Matt McBride raced to seventh on Sunday aboard the Riders Choice Suzuki GSX-R1000. The unlucky McBride had seen his engine blow on the series dyno in post quaifying inspection on Saturday so he was forced to revert to a back-up powerplant.

Keene, ON’s Jodi Christie finished eighth on the Honda Powerhouse Dealers of Ontario / Roz-Gar Racing Honda CBR600RR and locked up the HJC Pro Rookie of the Year title.

Christie passed Karl Daigle of Roxton Pond, QC on the A. Perusse Kawasaki / Chaine Performace Kawasaki ZX-6R and the second of the Deeley Racing Powered By Buell entries, ridden by New Smyrna Beach, FL’s Dave Estok, in the second half of the race.

Daigle finished ninth and Estok completed the top 10 on his Buell 1125R.

Race Results
1. Brett McCormick, Saskatoon, Sask., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 20 laps*
2. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, Ont., Kawasaki ZX-10R, +6.121
3. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, Que., Yamaha YZF-R1, +14.861
4. Clint McBain, Cochrane, Alta., Suzuki GSX-R1000, +15.055
5. Andrew Nelson, Kars, Ont., Yamaha YZF-R1, +21.867
6. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, B.C., Buell 1125R, +26.389
7. Matt McBride, Mississauga, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, +29.969
8. Jodi Christie, Keene, Ont., Honda CBR600RR, +32.452
9. Karl Daigle, Roxton Pond, Que., Kawasaki ZX-6R, +34.094
10. Dave Estok, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Buell 1125R, +34.697
11. Erick Beausejour, Val D'Or, Que., Suzuki GSX-R1000, +45.794
12. Marie-Josee Boucher, Montreal, Que., Honda CBR600RR, +50.101
13. Sean Huffman, Kemptville, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, +1:03.772
14. Ross Millson, Hamilton, Ont., Suzuki GSX-R1000, 19 laps
15. Alain Campagna, Mascouche, Que., Yamaha YZF-R6, 19
Did Not Finish
Alex Welsh, Uxbridge, Ont., Kawasaki ZX-6R, 19
Franklyn Dominguez, Montreal, Que., Kawasaki ZX-10R, 18
Darren James, North Vancouver, B.C., Buell 1125R, 5
Martin Grande, Montreal, Que., Suzuki GSX-R600, 1
Did Not Start
Elie Daccache, Ottawa, Ont., Kawasaki ZX-6R
Larry Orde, Peterborough, Ont., Yamaha YZF-R1
Louie Raffa, Ste-Marthe, Que., Yamaha YZF-R6
Olivier Spillborghs, White Rock, B.C., Buell 1125
Tony Kasper, Becker, Minn., Yamaha YZF-R6
* -- includes five-second penalty for jump start Margin of Victory: 6.121 secs.
Fastest Lap: 1:04.191 by Brett McCormick on lap 5

Final Point Standings
1. Jordan Szoke 341
2. Brett McCormick 336
3. Clint McBain 236
4. Andrew Nelson 200
5. Steve Crevier 188
6. Kevin Lacombe 158
7. Alex Welsh 145
8. Matt McBride 105
9. Erick Beausejour 99
10. Karl Daigle 99
11. Jodi Christie 95
12. Royce McLean 79
13. Ross Millson 74
14. Marie-Josee Boucher 64
15. Sean Huffman 52
16. Frank Trombino 51
17. Scott Rupert 50
18. Michael Taylor 44
19. Martin Grande 40
20. Dave Stokowski 39
21. Brian Blaauwendraat 33
22. Chris Murray-Audain 32
23. Peter Holzinger 23
24. Jean-Francois Cyr 21
25. Franklyn Dominguez 21
26. Dave Estok 19
27. Mike Zottmann 17
28. Martin Ricard 16
29. Alain Campagna 16
30. Mitch Rathje 13
31. Elie Daccache 8
32. Brad Gavey 8
33. Terry Steeves 5
34. Larry Orde 3
35. Dean Plater 2

Pedrosa and Dovizioso re-sign with Honda

From Repsol Honda

HRC (Honda Racing Corporation) has confirmed that Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso have re-signed for the factory Honda MotoGP team.

After the basic agreement announced by HRC at the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic, the details of the contracts have duly been finalized and both riders signed at the Misano World Circuit during the San Marino Grand Prix weekend.

Pedrosa has agreed a one-year extension to his contract which will see the 23-year-old Spaniard riding for the factory Honda squad for a fifth consecutive season. Dovizioso has signed a deal with HRC for 2010 with options to extend for 2011. With this young and talented pairing, HRC is convinced it has the rider line-up needed to recapture the MotoGP World Championship title.

“We are very pleased that both Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso have re-signed for the factory Honda team and we have total confidence that these two riders possess the talent to help us fight for the MotoGP World Championship," said Tetsuo Suzuki, HRC President. "They both have long and successful careers with Honda in Grand Prix racing and we are happy this partnership will continue.

"Although we have struggled this season, we will continue the challenge until the very last Grand Prix. Since this year is the 50th anniversary of the start of Honda’s participation in the World Championships, we must remind ourselves once again that Honda has been striving to compete at the top level in the world since the day of its founding. As HRC we will, of course, reinforce the development of our machine, and together with every team member, we will continue to fight with Honda’s challenging spirit in our hearts.”

“This new agreement with HRC is great news for me and I’m very pleased to be staying with the team that I’ve ridden for since 2006," Pedrosa said. "We have now established an effective way of working and I’m confident that we can become even more competitive in the future. We have proved before that we can be the fastest and beat the best in the world, and I still believe we can get to a level where we are challenging for that at every race.”

Added Dovizioso, “I’m very happy to be continuing with HRC in the factory Honda team. The experience of being involved with such a prestigious team has been very important for me and, as soon as we began discussing the future, my target was to continue with Honda.

"My first year as a factory rider has taught me a lot. I’m confident that with the direction we’ve agreed for machine development we can reach a level where we are fighting for victory every Sunday. Honda is a company that has achieved huge racing success and there are a lot of very talented and passionate people behind this effort. I’m sure we have the potential to fight for the world title.”

Late effort puts Rossi on pole

From motogp.com

Qualifying at the MotoGP Gran Premio Cinzano di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini went down to the wire, but Valentino Rossi ultimately emerged on top.

Having crashed out at Indianapolis last Sunday Rossi is fighting back in style at his home event this weekend and he took pole at the end of an intriguing qualifying practice at Misano on Saturday afternoon.

The Italian legend has been the fastest rider in every session so far this weekend and his last gasp 1:34.338 lap put him in pole position for the sixth time this season in the Rimini sunshine.

As the session drew to a close it looked as though Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa had snatched pole from Rossi with a decent 1:34.560 effort, but the Fiat Yamaha rider found another level in the closing seconds to deny the Spaniard.

Afterwards an excited Rossi commented, “I am very happy to get the pole position here in Misano. I was able to do a great lap on my final tire and that was enough for pole, and the team changed the tire in the time of an F1 pit stop so thanks to them! We know that it's going to be a very tough race tomorrow, but we are in good shape.

“We expected it to be a bit cooler today but in the end it wasn't so different from yesterday and it's still very hard work for all the riders. This afternoon the grip wasn't great and we found it a bit harder with the race pace, but then we made a second round of modifications and everything felt very good.”

In his typically self-deprecating manner, Rossi explained the new helmet he is sporting this weekend, stating, “I have the donkey on it because in Italy, if you make a stupid mistake we say that you are a donkey. I made a mistake in Indy so this is why!”

Having qualified on the front row for the fourth GP in succession Pedrosa will try to spoil Rossi’s party at Misano on Sunday as he goes in search of his second victory of 2009.

“It’s great to get a front row start here and we weren’t far away from pole position, which is a good result from this afternoon because our rivals are very strong again here," Pedrosa said. "During the session we were working on race set-up and we still have a little way to go to improve my race pace and consistency compared to the others. In qualifying I was able to up my speed towards the end and I was pushing really hard because it’s very important to get on the front row here and give yourself the best chance of a clean getaway.”

Completing the front row, Rossi’s team-mate Jorge Lorenzo also marked his best time at the end of the QP, but he finally fell half a second short of his title rival. Lorenzo will need to be at his very best if he is to improve on his second place result in last year’s Misano contest.

“Unfortunately I wasn't fast enough with the soft tire right at the end," the Indy winner said, "but we are still on the front row once again and this is the most important thing. My race pace is very good and I did some consistent runs, even though we still have some areas that we need to improve a bit because our setting isn’t perfect yet.

“I think the race tomorrow is going to be quite painful in this heat and the physical condition is going to be very important! It will be a long race but we are in good shape and I am looking forward to the challenge.”

The second row of the grid is headed by San Carlo Honda Gresini rider Toni Elías, who lapped with a similar pace to Lorenzo and will be desperate for a good performance on Sunday as he fights for his future in the premier class.

Behind Elías on the grid sits the experienced Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and the Texan’s compatriot Nicky Hayden (Ducati Marlboro), who is enjoying plenty of support from the Ducatisti this weekend.

The top 10 also features home rider Alex de Angelis (San Carlo Honda Gresini), Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda), Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda) and Loris Capirossi (Rizla Suzuki) - the veteran Italian surviving an off track excursion unscathed during the session.

Despite his great overall form this season, with three victories and six podiums to his name, it has taken until the 12th 250cc qualifying session of the year for standings leader Hiroshi Aoyama to achieve his first pole of 2009.

The Japanese rider broke his duck with a 1:38.867 time on the 21st of his 23 laps of the Misano circuit on Saturday afternoon, though it was only just good enough as Spaniard Héctor Barberá (Pepe World Team) came within 0.008 secs. of denying the Scot Racing man.

Local lads Marco Simoncelli (Metis Gilera) and Mattia Pasini (Team Toth Aprilia) were not far behind, the pair of them lapping around two tenths down on Aoyama, and both will be expected to fight desperately for victory from the front row at their home round on Sunday.

Bradley Smith set a new pole record at Misano on Saturday as he qualified at the head of the grid for the 12th 125cc race of the year, in scorching hot conditions in Rimini. The young Englishman secured his third pole of the season with a lightning fast 1:43.727 lap to hold off a strong challenge by his Bancaja Aspar team-mate Julián Simón, who was just 0.016 secs. behind him.

MotoGP Qualifying Results
1. Valentino ROSSI (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1:34.338 (267.790 km/h)
2. Dani PEDROSA (SPA) Repsol Honda Team Honda +0.222
3. Jorge LORENZO (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha +0.470
4. Toni ELIAS (SPA) San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda +0.569
5. Colin EDWARDS (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha +0.846
6. Nicky HAYDEN (USA) Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati +0.885
7. Alex DE ANGELIS (RSM) San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda +1.005
8. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (ITA) Repsol Honda Team Honda +1.154
9. Randy DE PUNIET (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP Honda +1.216
10. Loris CAPIROSSI (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki +1.223
11. Mika KALLIO (FIN) Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati +1.263
12. Marco MELANDRI (ITA) Hayate Racing Team Kawasaki +1.447
13. Chris VERMEULEN (AUS) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki +1.452
14. James TOSELAND (GBR) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha +1.732
15. Aleix ESPARGARO (SPA) Pramac Racing Ducati +1.890
16. Niccolo CANEPA (ITA) Pramac Racing Ducati +1.926
17. Gabor TALMACSI (HUN) Scot Racing Team MotoGP Honda +2.753

Herrin stays on SportBike roll

From AMA Pro Racing

MILLVILLE, NJ - Josh Herrin (No. 8 Team Graves Yamaha YZF-R6) earned the title of Big Kahuna one race ago at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) and he proved it Saturday in the opening day of AMA Pro Road Racing competition at the AMA Pro Superbike Championships on Thunderbolt Raceway at New Jersey Motorsports Park, taking the Daytona SportBike win. 

Herrin's late-season charge has moved him, his Graves team and Yamaha into the hunt for the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Rider, Team and Manufacturer championships. He ran nose-to-tail with Tommy Aquino (No. 6 Team Graves Yamaha YZF-R6) at the front of the field for the majority of the race, and Herrin took a lead he would hold to the finish when his 17-year-old teammate lowsided on lap 20.

"I got right in the spot that I like to be, I like to just sit second or third and just watch what's going on," Herrin said. "My plan was to try and strike at him in the last two laps. It's a bummer that we had to win like that. Tommy was running a really good race and I know he would have fought right to the end."

Herrin has now moved to within 22 points of Daytona SportBike leader Danny Eslick (No. 9 GEICO Powersports/RMR Buell 1125R) who had a steady run to a fifth-place finish on Saturday. Eslick has 373 points and Herrin has 351 as the only riders left with a mathematical chance to take the Daytona SportBike rider title on Sunday. The team championship is based on the same point scenarios. Herrin would need nothing short of another dominating victory coupled with a bad day for Eslick to leave New Jersey as the champ, but that is far from his focus.

"As for the championship, we just keep fighting and hope for the best," Herrin said. "If we get it, we get it. If we don't, we're going to win some races trying. It's fun and I'm just trying not to stress out about it at all and just go and do my race."

While Herrin has some ground to make up in the rider and team battle, Yamaha is leading the Daytona SportBike manufacturer standings in one of AMA Pro Road Racing's closest championships. Yamaha leads with 411 points, Suzuki has 403 markers and Buell is right there with 402 points.

Chaz Davies (No. 57 Factory Aprilia /Millennium Technologies Team Aprilia RSV1000R) finished second to match his previous best 2009 finish at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on the Fourth of July event weekend. He raced alongside Herrin in a battle for second early in the race but was never able to mount a challenge for the lead in the closing laps.

"In the end, I just didn't quite have it," said Davies, who crossed the finish line 6.028 seconds behind the winner. "I just didn't have what it took to run with these two guys. Happy enough, and I was feeling pretty good in the opening four or five laps. I managed to keep in touch enough to get a good run up to the start-finish and got side-by-side with Josh, got some good top speed and knew I'd be pretty strong on the brakes. It was getting tight."

Steve Rapp (No. 48 Bazzaz/Pat Clark Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R6) finished third and joined Davies in posting a finish that equaled his best this season. Rapp also finished third in May at Infineon Raceway.

"Really good day," Rapp said. "I just wanted to get those first four or five laps out of the way. Chaz was right in front of me the whole race, and I used him to pace me. We had a great race. It kind of felt like back last year, or the year before, when we raced for Kawasaki. We raced a lot very closely together so I felt comfortable around him. He rode really smooth. This was a really good race for us, the bike was great."

Bobby Fong (No. 51 Paradigm Racing Yamaha YZF-R6) finished fourth while Eslick rounded out the top five.

Superpole winner Jason DiSalvo (No. 40 Team M4 Suzuki GSX-R600) recovered from an opening lap off-course ride at Turn 1 to finish 13th.

Sunday's Daytona SportBike race will start at 2 p.m. ET.

Race Results (Top 20)
1. Josh Herrin (Team Graves Yamaha) Yamaha YZF-R6 23 Laps
2. Chaz Davies (Factory Aprilia Millennium Technologies Team) Aprilia RSV1000R +6.028
3. Steve Rapp (Bazzaz) Yamaha YZF-R6 +6.728
4. Bobby Fong (Paradigm Racing) Yamaha YZF-R6 +17.911
5. Danny Eslick (Rossmeyer Geico Powersports RMR Buell) Buell 1125R +19.031
6. Jake Zemke (Erion Racing) Honda CBR600RR +20.033
7. Chris Peris (Erion Racing) Honda CBR600RR +21.280
8. Chris Fillmore (Chris Fillmore Racing) Yamaha YZF-R6 +22.319
9. Dane Westby (Westby Racing ·Kneedraggers.com) Yamaha YZF-R6 +24.563
10. Leandro Mercado (Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki) Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R +38.062
11. Michael Beck (Team Beck Racing) Yamaha YZF-R6 +38.078
12. Jamie Hacking (Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki) Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R +47.067
13. Jason DiSalvo (M4 Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R600 +47.479
14. Aaron Gobert (Factory Aprilia Millennium Technologies Team) Aprilia RSV1000R +50.344
15. Ricky Parker (RPR Racing) Yamaha YZF-R6 +1:04.332
16. Kyle Wyman (Wyman Brothers Racing) Yamaha YZF-R6 +1:06.286
17. Josh Day (Four Feathers Racing) Yamaha YZF-R6 +1:08.768
18. Russ Wikle (Roadracingworld.com ·Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R600 +1:22.080
19. Michael Barnes (GEICO Powersports ·RMR ·Buell Racing) Buell 1125R +1:30.613
20. Fernando Amantini (Amantini Racing) Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R 22 Laps
Race Time: 32:23.415
Margin of Victory: 6.028
Best Race Lap: Josh Herrin (1:23.748)

Point Standings (Top 20)
1. Danny Eslick 373
2. Josh Herrin 351
3. Martin Cardenas 340
4. Jamie Hacking 283
5. Jason DiSalvo 270
6. Jake Zemke 233
7. Chris Peris 226
8. Chaz Davies 219
9. Tommy Aquino 214
10. Steve Rapp 200
11. Taylor Knapp 169
12. Roger Hayden 149
13. Bobby Fong 119
14. Michael Barnes 115
15. Michael Beck 113
16. Damian Cudlin 92
17. Chris Fillmore 90
18. Dane Westby 83
19. Shawn Higbee 70
20. Robertino Pietri 63