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The Factory Aprilia Millennium Technologies Team riders had their best finishes of the year at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama.
Factory Aprilia Millennium Technologies Team Riders at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama
Factory Aprilia Millennium Technologies Team Rider Chaz Davies scored a fourth place finish at Barber Motorsports Park and was only .027 of a second off the podium
Ben Thompson finished sixth and Chaz Davies finished fourth in the Daytona SportBike Series Race. Davies qualified in third position after a fast lap in Superpole. Thompson qualified in his best starting position of the year in fourteenth position.
Aprilia RSV1000R rider Chaz Davies scored one of his best finishes this season at the Daytona SportBike Race
Ben Thompson in the AMA Daytona SportBike Series Race in Leeds, Alabama
The first day of competition was difficult for the Factory Aprilia Team. Davies crashed when a rider in front of him dragged dirt on the track with his knee. Davies picked up his RSV1000R and continued the race. He finished in 28th place and managed to turn the fastest lap of the race. Thompson finished 19th.
The next day riders and fans faced tornados and thunderstorms. The AMA managed to get in three races during a break in the weather. Race Day Two began with a wet but drying track. Davies and Thompson had great starts and Davies was in immediate contention for the lead. Thompson raced through the field well into the top ten.
The Aprilia RSV1000R's are equipped with K&N air and oil filters. “We use K&N on everything we build,” said Team Manager Chip Spalding. “K&N protects our engines from track debris.”
“The team took advantage of the short three week break between rounds and made huge improvements to the Aprilia RSV1000R,” said Davies. “We had a podium finishing bike both days but we just did not have the right circumstances.”
The Spokane Humane Society in Washington made an alliance with mud racers for the love of animals. “Bogs for Dogs” is a benefit race where a community came together for a day.
NMRO Racers traverse in the Pacific Northwest for the Spokane Humane Society in Washington, photo by Sue Potter
Mud Racers in heads-up action take on a 200 foot course in seconds, photo by Sue Potter
Mud racing combines track motorsports and off-road racing. Racers compete in heads-up action to see who can go the fastest in 200 feet. They traverse through a mud track filled with pits and holes that can be three feet deep in places.
Mud Racing combines track motorsports with the competition of off-road action, photo by Sue Potter
Mud Racer Sam Thomas takes car of his 4 wheel drive and takes care of the animals in a benefit race called Bogs for Dogs, photo by Sue Potter
The Bogs for Dogs race started on a field behind the Spokane Humane Society. A local construction company donated an excavator to get the track ready, announcers donated their time and racers came to compete for bragging rights and a trophy. The price of admission went to the dogs.
“We have two dogs along with two rabbits and I love animals and I love mud racing,” said Sam Thomas of Kettle Falls, Washington. “I competed in the Open Class at the Bogs for Dogs event.”
“Bogs for Dogs” follows National Mud Racing Organization rules. “Think of it this way,” said Thomas. “The NHRA has brackets and we have classes based on vehicle modifications. We went 200 feet in 2.8 seconds. I just press on the gas and hold on for dear life. If you’re fast enough the dirt all goes behind you.”
Thomas raced his 357 cubic inch small block Chevy against a 540 Ford, a 572 Dart big block Chevy and a 502 big block Chevy. “I beat them all even though they had bigger engines,” he said. “My car has a fantastic set up. I race in NMRO sanctioned races throughout the Pacific Northwest. In 2008 I competed in 60 rounds and won 57.”
In his spare time, Thomas is a locomotive diesel technician. He knows his engines and chooses K&N as his filter of choice. “K&N gives my engines the additional filtration and power they need on and off the track,” he said. “K&N also protects my engines from track debris.”
Thomas's next official NMRO event will be in Longview, Washington. In the meantime, if the Humane Society calls he will be there again for the animals.
Teen Alyssa Riker has started her 2009 quarter midget season with a win at the West End Fairgrounds in Gilbert, Pennsylvania. The
7th grader from Milford, New Jersey is a dominating force on any banked dirt oval track she takes on in her Senior Honda 120. Alyssa Riker is in her sixth year of racing Quarter Midgets in the West End Quarter Midget Racing Association.
Winner's Circle First Place Result for Quarter Midget Driver Alyssa Riker
Alyssa Riker started out in third place in a field of 10 cars and worked her way up to the lead position in two laps during qualifying. Alyssa Riker started on the pole for the feature. She had the lead for the full twenty laps and took the win.
Quarter Midget driver Alyssa Riker wins both Honda 120 and 5 Horsepower Briggs Stock Heats and Features
"I was worried about a leaking head gasket on her car during the Briggs 5 HP Stock Race," said Jamie Riker, Alyssa's father. "The motor sounded strong even with the leak. We started her out on the track hoping it would last and I was able to repair it before the feature."
Riker said the car looked great when Alyssa started the feature. "Alyssa set her sights on first place and moved up fast," said Riker. "She just took off in a different zip code."
The engine received a work out, but stayed strong. K&N products are on the Riker cars. "We race from May through October of every year," said Lori Riker, Alyssa's mother. "K&N air filters are great. They give us added performance and excellent filtration on the track.
We have been installing K&N products for over 20 years. They always fit the
first time with no modifying or cutting."
Alyssa races every Saturday night with the top drivers in her class. "She has no problem with the competition," said Jamie Riker. "We are always learning more about what Alyssa likes in her cars as well as the track conditions might be each week."
"It's great to see her in the Winner's Circle," said Riker. "There were also a hand full of other drivers, parents and a lot of moms congratulating her for her great driving on the track." Riker has won class championships for the past three years.
Leszno in Poland will host the second round of the 2009 World Speedway Grand Prix World Championship Series. Australian rider Jason Crump is ready for the challenge and ready to chase his third World Championship.
Australian Jason Crump will chase his third Grand Prix World Championship at Leszno in Poland, photo by Mike Patrick Photography
Crump has fewer races this season due to dropping the British Elite League. “Jason is more relaxed without the additional races,” said Roy Stone, Media Relations Manager. “He’s still full of determination with a constant desire to win every race he contests.”
Jason Crump ready for the Challenge in the second round of the 2009 World Speedway Grand Prix Championship Chase, photo by Mike Patrick Photography
“Lezno was not kind to me in the 2008 Grand Prix,” said Crump. “I got excluded in the semi-final and only collected 8 points, so it was a poor result. I am a lot fresher now thanks to doing less races and it has made a huge difference.” Crump finished in second place overall in the 2008 Grand World Speedway Grand Prix Series.
Even though Crump is racing less, one thing that has stayed the same on his motorcycles is K&N filters. “My aim is to be World Champion this year,” he said. “Without the support of sponsors like K&N, my fans and my team none of this would be possible. I am physically, mentally and mechanically prepared for the challenge in Lezno, and we will see what the night brings.”
The Grand Prix World Championship Leszno race will be in Poland on May 9.
The Terrible’s 250 at Primm, Nevada was the second race out of five in The Best in the Desert Off-Road Racing Series.
The Glass Chiropractic Racing Team Ford F-150 in the Terrible's 250 at Primm, Nevada, photo by EventPhotoDigital.com
The Glass Chiropractic Racing Team took on the 210 event. Macrae Glass and co-drivers Kevin Davis and Michael DeHaas drove their Ford F-150 in the Class 8000. “Kevin and I started the race and we drew the number one starting spot for the event,” said Glass. “The race was a 2x2 start and our neighbors got the jump off the line.”
Next on the racing schedule for Macrae Glass is the Vegas to Reno event in August. photo by EventPhotoDigital.com
The Glass Chiropractic Racing Team finished first in its class in the Best of the Desert Series Race, photo by EventPhotoDigital.com
Three or four turns later the Glass Chiropractic made its move. “The first 20 miles were very dusty,” said Glass. “We carefully picked off 4-5 additional Pro Trucks. We were thankful for the giant K&N filter protecting the bullet under the hood.”
As they approached the 32 mile market, the dust began to thin out and Glass was able to make some time. They passed giant sand whoops around the 52 mile mark and their lead continued to grow.
“Lap two was a lot easier,” said Glass. “We stopped at pit one, the half way point for 44 gallons of fuel.” DeHaas took over as co-driver and they continued on the course without any problems. “As the miles clicked off, I was really enjoying our new truck and becoming more confident in its performance,” said Glass. “We cleared pit two with nothing to slow us down. We had a sizable lead at this point.”
The course had deteriorated by lap three. There were huge rocks, ruts and berms in every corner. “The whoops got even bigger than before and the broken cars and trucks were everywhere,” said Glass. “We saw a
Class 1 truck literally stuck half way up a Joshua tree.”
The bumps continued to get bigger and the team was looking forward to the checkers. They crossed the line and were first in Class 8000 and 23rd overall.
The Glass Chiropractic Racing Team will head to The Vegas to Reno 1000 in August.
