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's Lee Acree Injured at Infineon Raceway
Sonoma, CA Ð May 2008 -- Millennium/KWS Suzuki sponsored by Suzuki of Orangeburg
had a difficult weekend despite some extremely fast lap times from replacement
rider Lee Acree. 2008 team rider Ben Thompson was injured at Auto Club Speedway
two weeks prior and could not compete at Infineon, so 2005 Millennium/KWS Suzuki
rider Lee Acree was brought in to ride in ThompsonÕs absence.
It appeared the team had made a wise choice as Lee Acree went on to turn some
extremely fast laps. In Superstock qualifying Acree used a Dunlop race tire
to turn a 1:37.373 for fifth position. This put Acree on the inside of the
second row for the start of the race. In Superbike qualifying, Acree qualified
on the third row in the twelfth position with a time of 1:37.988.
Acree got a great start for the Superstock race and spent the majority of the
race battling for fourth position with Blake Young, Chris Paris, and Jason
Pridmore. The four riders where only separated by a few tenths of a second
and switch positions several times. On lap fourteen Acree got a great drive
out of turn four and was closing quickly on former World Endurance Champion
Jason Pridmore, when suddenly PridmoreÕs engine failed and he slowed rapidly.
With only a few bike lengths separating the two riders at well over 130mph
there was no time to react and Acree made hard contact with the back of PridmoreÕs
Suzuki.
Both Acree and Pridmore where transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.
Pridmore was transported by ambulance and Acree by helicopter because of concerns
about internal bleeding. Pridmore was released from the hospital later that
afternoon with a mild concussion. Unfortunately Acree was admitted with a compound
fracture of the left Tibia and Fibula just above the ankle. Acree had surgery
to insert plates and screws at the hands of Dr. Roger Klein. Acree is expected
to be out for around four months.
Ben Thompson is scheduled to be back in action on the Millennium/KWS Suzuki
GSX-R1000 at Miller Motorsports Park in two weeks.
Lee Acree Ð ÒWe were having such a good weekend up until the point of the crash.
The Millennium/KWS Suzuki GSX-R1000 is one of the best bikes I have ever ridden.
Michael Godin and Chip Spalding did such a great job of setting the bike up
and the Dunlop tires are simply amazing. I want to thank everybody at Millennium/KWS
Suzuki for giving me this opportunity and the entire motorcycle racing community
for all of their thoughts, prayers, and concerns.Ó
Kevin Hunt (Team Owner) Ð ÒWe are very fortunate that Lee and Jason where not
hurt any worse. That crash was one of the worst I have ever seen. I really
want to thank Lee for coming out and doing such a great job and I am very sorry
this happened. It was just one of those freak racing incidents that was truly
nobodyÕs fault. We are having a rough couple of races with injuries and I want
to thank all the sponsors for helping us out, especially LeoVince Exhaust,
Suzuki and Millennium Technologies.Ó
GET WELL SOON LEE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Millennium/KWS Suzuki is proudly sponsored by:
Millennium Technologies, 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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