FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Chip Spalding, Team Manager
KWS
Motorsports
4657
Franchise Street
North
Charleston, SC 29418
Phone:
1-800-KWS-RACE
Millennium/KWS
Suzuki makes a statement at Barber
North
Charleston, SC – March 2006 -- Millennium/KWS Suzuki sponsored by Ron
Ayers Motorsports arrived at Barber Motorsports Park this weekend with a point
to prove. The team had tested their Suzuki GSX-R1000Õs with Pirelli at Barber the
last week of March and felt they were as prepared as possible. ÒI am extremely
happy with the progression of the tires, suspension, and motor package,Ó said
team owner Kevin Hunt. ÒPirelli has really stepped up their program and the lap
times prove it. With our sponsors help we can run with the factory bikes.Ó
John Haner
put in one of the most inspiring rides of the 2006 season in the first Superbike
race. Haner qualified in the tenth
position with a time of 1:27.043. John got an excellent start, completing lap
one in eighth place ahead of both factory Ducati riders, Neil Hodgson and Ben
Bostrom. Eventually both factory pilots got by, but Haner put his head down and
re-passed Bostrom on lap 20. Haner battled the last third of race with Bostrom
and factory Suzuki rider Aaron Yates. Haner finished the top privateer in eighth
position ahead of Bostrom when Yates beat him at the line by only a tenth of a
second.
After all
of the success of Saturdays Superbike race, the team was extremely hopeful for
good results from both Millennium/KWS Suzuki riders in the Superstock race on
Sunday. John Haner qualified in the tenth position with a time of 1:27.700 and
Matt Lynn in the thirteenth position with a time of 1:28.231. Lynn got an
excellent start but was pushed off the track by another riders mistake in turn
one and completed the first lap in last place, half a lap down. Unfazed by his
bad luck, Lynn rode hard making up the half lap deficit and passing thirteen
other riders to finish in the nineteenth position. Haner got a great start as
well and was racing Jordan Motorsports riders, Jake Holden and Steve Rapp for
seventh position when Haner crashed on lap five injuring his shoulder.
Although
nothing was broken, Haner elected not to compete in the second Superbike race
of the weekend. John will be consulting a specialist this week to make sure
nothing is seriously damaged.
John
Haner – ÒThe
Superbike race on Saturday was good.Ó said Haner. ÒIt was fun being up there
battling with Hodgson, Bostrom, and Yates. My guys have been working their
butts off and being able to test here with Pirelli helped a ton.Ó Haner went on
to say that he was very disappointed for the team to have crashed and to have
been injured in the Superstock race. ÒI think that if we could have raced the
second Superbike race that we would have had a good chance at a top five,
especially with the eight lap sprint to the finish.Ó John went on to thank his
mechanics Michael Godin and Owen Garnett for all their hard work.
Matt
Lynn – ÒThe
team worked so hard this weekend and I turned the fastest laps I have ever
turned here,Ó said Lynn. ÒMy mechanics Rick Matheny and Brian Stricker did
everything they could to put me in a position for a good finish, but you canÕt
control everybody else on the track. I was glad to be able to get back on track
and get some points.Ó
Kevin
Hunt (Team Owner) –
ÒAnytime you can beat a factory team in a heads up race is a good weekend. Both
riders rode great this weekend and I could not be happier with everyoneÕs
effort, riders and mechanics alike. The sponsors are doing their part as well
with Pit Bull and Ron Ayers Motorsports helping out tremendously with some crucial
pit equipment to make the mechanics job easier. We have some of the best
sponsors in the paddock and they make this all happen.Ó
For Information: http://www.kwsracing.com
or
Contact: info@kwsracing.com
Phone: 1-800-KWS-RACE
# # #