Moto-ST 8Hr

[PJ721]

Fellow Mid-Atlantic racers Eric Helmbach (CCS #427), Eric Wilson (CCS #422), & Alex Shaw  (CCS #568) rode the Chester Auto Repair #42 Grease Monkey Racing SV650 to their 1st podium @ a Moto-ST event.

A late race red flag just about put us too far back into 4th with less than 30 minutes to go and needing to do a final stop for fuel.

With 3 laps to go and still 9 seconds behind the 3rd place bike - Alex ran our fastest lap of the race! When we saw him coming down off the T4 banking to take the white flag we knew we had it - one more lap and we were headed to Victory Lane for 3rd place on the podium!!!

Based on the results of post race tech we were awarded 2nd place in class when the 1st place bike failed for being over HP.

Helmbach, Wilson & Shaw did an awesome job all season - finishing 4th in points in the ST Class.

We also finished in the top 10 overall in final 2 races of the season. (8th @ NJMSP and 6th @ Daytona)

Not sure what 2009 will hold for Moto-ST but this was a season with lots of ups and downs  for me - both on the track and off - 
seeing the team on the podium in Victory Lane @ Daytona is something that I will remember forever.

http://www.moto-st.com/multimedia/photos.cfm?gid=1601

[jigs]

Congrats!!! I will also remember Daytona forever,no wood this year,there for the first time I learned alot/Hopefully I can return there next year.Great job boys!!

[apriliaman]

good job out there!!,i know your tired of getting 4th!! all the time.

[PJ]

PJ-

Congrats to you and the rest of the team. You guys had an awesome race and season! Daytona Victory Lane is something special--you guys earned it. 6th overall!! Wow. Hope to see you back in the new Moto-GT series next season.

PJ (too)

[Garywc]

congrats guys
if we werent 2 hp over we would have been up there with you
it was one of the most fun races i have had racing againt you guys we went back and forth for a few laps
hope fully we can do it again next season

[PJ721]

Hey guys...thanks!

PJ - I truly enjoyed this season - bunch of fantastic teams/racers out there. Always enjoyed our chats paddock side
       and with the new rules/structure for next year in Moto-GT - looks like we're going to squeeze some more HP out
        of the SV and give it a go! Hope to see you and Jeff back out there - wonder what color plates we'll be running??  ::)

Gary - that was a fantastic finish - the 3rd place spot in a 8hr race @ Daytona to be decided in the last 3 laps was freakin awesome! 
           I was biting my nails @ the Dyno...we didn't pull a run prior to the race - went in with what we had at NJ

Mark - yea we've been close a BUNCH of times...to finally get in - couldn't ask for a better way to end the season :o)

and for those who didn't see the new rules...

http://www.amaproracing.com/prorace/pdf/2009_AMA_Pro_Road_Race_Program.pdf
http://www.amasuperbike.com/article.php?UID=MnB3gf6GYtE1vIpbxJGM8XH7rSJZTe&sc=1120&aid=12541

[Garywc]

we did the same thing we had 73.4 hp at the NJ round and had 77 hp at Daytona and didnt touch the bike at all
was your HP close to what you had at NJ?

[PJ721]

yea...we were right around 74hp all season - dyno'd @ 73.6 post race @ Daytona

[Garywc]

i think we got boned with there dyno service how does one bike stay the same and another gain almost 4 hp
they need to have the same dyno and operator at every round and that still wont be 100%

[MELK-MAN]

6th overall on an sv is outstanding! We were running just in front of you on the mid class bike (#23bimota db5-90hp) and were 2nd in class but with 17 minutes to go gaining on our class leader, the breather tube on the back of the motor came out. It is big and metal, so not a simple plug and go fix. I think we finished around 10th overall or so. 

[PJ721]

guys were just smooth and consistent on track ....and we got some pretty quick stops for fuel...one rear tire change ...and
it all unfolded pretty nice at the end  - the fun of an 8Hr endurance race

I was wondering what had happened to you guys...bike was very strong all race.

[MELK-MAN]

so what are the 2 new classes in Moto "GT" going to consist of?? in-line 4 600cc bikes, and what else?? Dunlop tires are FOR SURE the spec tire now ?