FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chip
Spalding, Team Manager
KWS
Motorsports
4657
Franchise Street
North
Charleston, SC 29418
Phone:
1-877-RACE-KWS
Millennium/KWS Suzuki Scores a Top Five Finish at Barber Motorsports Park
Leeds, AL Ð April 2008 -- Millennium/KWS Suzuki sponsored by Suzuki of Orangeburg
had an excellent weekend at Barber Motorsports Park. This was the teams first
outing on their new 2008 Suzuki GSX-R1000Õs and despite some initial set up
issues the team was able to pull everything together for their first top five
finish of the year.
In order to maximize track time the team used Superbike qualifying for practice
and set up. Despite making several changes to the chassis through out the session,
Thompson was able qualify with a time of 1:27.953 for the sixteenth position.
Using the info developed in Superbike Qualifying the team was able to apply
those setting to the Superstock bike and Thompson was able to use the incredible
grip of the newest generation of Dunlop N-Tec tires to qualify fifth with a
time of 1:27.027. This put Thompson on the inside of the second row.
Racing is filled with many variables, most of which you cannot control. In
Superbike Race One Ben Thompson found one of those variables. Thompson got
a great start, unfortunately Ben drug the shift lever through turn five on
the first lap and snapped it off, necessitating a pit stop. The team made the
repair in a hurry, but Thompson was still a lap down. Thompson rode around
for the remaining laps with ESPÕs Chris Paris who finished in the ninth position;
this gave the team confidence for Superbike Race Two.
The Superstock race is the focus of the weekend. Thompson got a great start
and was racing in sixth position on first lap. In turn two of the second lap
Thompson lost traction and crashed for over 40 feet, wearing a hole in his
elbow and running over his own right foot. Some how, some way Thompson was
able to save it and only lose four positions. For the next fifteen laps Thompson
battled with a group of four riders. Thompson eventually passed all the riders
in his group, which led to a last lap battle with reigning Canadian Superbike
Champion Jordan Szoke. Thompson finished in the fifth position on his LeoVince
equipped GSX-R and is now fifth in Superstock points, ten points back from
second position.
Third place finisher Chris Ulrich on the Roadracingworld.com Suzuki was behind
Thompson in turn two when he almost crashed. ÒThat was the craziest save I
have ever seenÓ said Ulrich. ÒI thought for sure Ben was down, his whole body
was on the ground. I was blown away when I saw his number was still on the
board a few laps later.Ó
One hour after BenÕs fifth place Superstock finish and grinding a hole in his
elbow, Thompson mounted the Millennium Technologies Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike
for Superbike Race Two. The team made a few adjustments based on what they
learned in the Superstock race and Thompson got off to a good start but developed
front suspension chatter as the track temperatures increased. This made the
bike very difficult to ride and Thompson did a great job maintaining a consistent
pace and finishing in the thirteenth position. After three races Thompson is
currently fourteenth in Superbike points, fifteen points back from the ninth
position.
Ben Thompson Ð ÒThe weekend started off pretty tough and we didnÕt get a lot
of track time, but the Michael, Chip, Dustin, and Greg worked really hard and
stayed up all night to get all the bugs worked out of the new bikes. I canÕt
thank those guys enough for all their hard work. In the end we got some pretty
good results. We had a lot of little issues that were out of our control and
I think with a little luck we will be on the podium soon. I really want to
thank all the sponsors for their support especially K&N Filters, Fieldsheer,
and Bell Helmets.Ó
Kevin Hunt (Team Owner) Ð ÒThis is the first time we have ever been disappointed
with a top five finish. Ben rode great, the team worked hard, and with a little
luck we would have been on the podium. The good news is, itÕs early in the
season and we are off to a great start. The guys are on their way out California
and we will go at it again next week. I want to thank all the sponsors for
all their support. We have some of the best sponsors in the series and they
have stepped up big time to help us get the season started and I am very excited
to be able to give them some good results right from the beginning.Ó
Millennium/KWS Suzuki is proudly sponsored by:
Millennium Technologies, KWS Motorsports, American Suzuki, Suzuki of Orangeburg,
Dunlop Tires, Pit Bull, LeoVince Exhaust, K&N Filters, GP Tech, Galespeed,
Active, Bazzaz Performance, Sebimoto, Yoyodyne, Ohlins, VP Fuels, EK Chains,
Wiseco Pistons, BG Lubricants, Webcam, Performance Friction Brakes, Shock Doctor,
Worldwide Bearing, Zero Gravity, XT Racing, APE, CTR Suspensions, Chicken Hawk
Racing, Hel Brake Lines
For Pictures
and more Information: http://www.kwsracing.com or
Contact: chip@kwsmotorsports.com
Phone: 1-877-RACE-KWS
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