FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Chip Spalding, Team Manager
KWS
Motorsports
4657
Franchise Street
North
Charleston, SC 29418
Phone:
843-552-7177
Team
Millennium/KWS Suzuki with a Double Podium at Mid-Ohio
Lexington,
Ohio - October 1st – Team Millennium/KWS Suzuki sponsored by
Ron Ayers Motorsports arrived on the podium in an AMA Superbike race for
the first time ever in what many consider the weirdest weekend in recent
memory. The highlights of the weekend included a rain, cold, rider boycotts,
and at least three schedule changes on Sunday alone.
Due
to rain and cold temperatures on Saturday the AMA was unable to run the
scheduled qualifying heat races to qualify for the Superbike main event or the
standard qualifying session for Superstock. Fortunately the weather was
beautiful on Sunday, but the track was not considered dry until early
afternoon. The AMA then held a meeting Sunday afternoon to explain the final
schedule to riders and team principles. Instead of eliminating the heat race
format and running four practices and four races as suggested by the riders,
the AMA decided at the insistence of the promoter to continue with the heat
race format and scratch practice for Superstock and Supersport. All of the
factory and factory supported riders felt this was unsafe as many of the
Supersport and Superstock riders had not been on the track since FridayÕs
single practice session for both classes. The majority of the Superbike riders
decided not to run the Superbike heat races until the AMA gave equal practice
to all classes. When only ten privateer riders participated in the two
scheduled heat races, the AMA conceded to the riders and gave ten minute for
practice to all classes. Once this compromise had been met, riders who are in
the top ten in Superbike points took provisional starts for the Superbike main
event. This unfortunately left Millennium/KWS Suzuki riders John Haner and Matt
Lynn, as well as Jordan Suzuki rider Jake Holden and factory Kawasaki rider
Roger Hayden in the Superbike consolation race.
The
Superstock race was gridded utilizing Friday practice times in which Matt Lynn
was twelfth and John Haner was fourteenth on their LeoVince sponsored
Suzuki GSX-R1000Õs. In the race both riders got good starts and raced nose to
tail for eighth place until the tenth lap when HanerÕs rear tire began to fade.
Lynn went on to finish in the eighth position, LynnÕs tenth top ten of the
season. Haner hung on to finish in the twelfth position. ÒWith almost zero
practice time all weekend the team had to take a gamble with the rear tire and
they chose the wrong one,Ó said Haner ÒThe Pirelli tires have been great this
year and they are getting better all the time.Ó
The
Superbike consolation race was gridded on Friday practice times as well as
there was no last chance qualifier. Matt Lynn started in the second position
and John Haner was gridded in the sixth position. Both riders got excellent
starts but Jordan SuzukiÕs Jake Holden was able to jump out to an early lead
from pole. This left Lynn and Haner to race an epic ten lap battle in which
they were never more than three bike lengths apart. Haner eventually came out
on top with a last lap pass to finish second. Lynn finished right behind Haner
in third.
John
Haner – ÒIt
was a weird weekend but it turned out really well. The Superstock race could
have been better but we made up for it in the Superbike race. I would like to
thank the team, especially Michael Godin and Owen Garnett for all their efforts
this year, despite the injury and some bad luck we had a lot of fun. I also
would like to think my sponsors, Komodo, Rockstar, Dragon Optical, Space City
Laser Tag, Shogun, and HJC.
Matt
Lynn – ÒThe
weekend was a little crazy with the weather and all, but it turned out pretty
good. We only had a limited time to set up the bike but fortunately we had a
good base setting from the last time we were here. I want to thank
Millennium/KWS Suzuki for giving me an opportunity to prove myself this
year and of course thanks to my mechanics Rick Matheny and Brian Stricker.
Kevin
Hunt – ÒI
just want to thank everybody involved with the team for a great year. The team,
the riders, the sponsors, everybody. There was a lot of upÕs and a lot of
downÕs and we worked through it all the best we could. I feel confident that
everybody gave 110% and I canÕt wait to do it all again next year with new 2007
Suzuki GSX-R1000.Ó
Millennium/KWS
Suzuki is proudly sponsored by:
Millennium
Technologies, Ron Ayers Motorsports, American Suzuki, Pirelli Tires, Leo Vince
Exhaust, Pit Bull, VP Fuels, Catalyst Composites,
Vortex, EK Racing Chains, Chickenhawk, BG Lubricants, Webcams, Wiseco, APE,
K&N Filters, Zero Gravity, Dynojet, Thermosman Suspension, Worldwide
Bearing and GP Tech.
For
Information: http://www.kwsracing.com or
Contact:
chip@kwsmotorsports.com
Phone:
843-552-7177
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