SUPERBIKE 1-2-3
Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing followed up yesterday's AMA Superbike podium sweep at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia, with another one just like it on Sunday, marking the fifth such sweep for the Rockstar Makita Suzuki team of Mat Mladin, Ben Spies and Tommy Hayden.
The second Superbike race of the double-header weekend again started with an all- Suzuki front row of the grid and ended with six-time AMA Superbike Champion Mladin notching his ninth Virginia win; his ninth win of the season; and his 72nd career Superbike win overall.
Two-time and defending AMA Superbike Champion Spies started from pole position and brought home second place, successfully taking his 15th podium finish of the year. Rounding out the Rockstar Makita Suzuki podium in third place was again Hayden, who led the first lap of this 28-lap race. This finish is Hayden's second podium in a row after being injured, and his sixth podium of the year.
Currently, Spies leads the AMA Superbike title chase, Mladin is in second place and Hayden is in 10th.
Mat Mladin:
"It was a good race for us. It was a little bit cooler today and my Rockstar Makita Suzuki crew made a few changes to the GSX-R1000 that let me know that I could run a consistent pace. I tried to set a fast pace and pull away, and I was able to do that. VIR is a place that I've been able to win reasonably comfortably. It's a traditional road course and it's got a little bit of everything. I enjoy riding here. Right now, winning races is my priority and my goal, and if I can win a couple more races in Atlanta that would be fantastic."
Ben Spies:
"We're doing everything we can out there and we're riding as hard as possible on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki GSX-R1000. Thanks to my team for giving me a completely different motorcycle to race today though we just didn't quite have enough for Mat today. But we'll keep on riding as hard as we can every weekend. Even though we didn't get the win, hats off to my team mates for a great race and going one-two-three for Rockstar Makita Suzuki."
Tommy Hayden:
"I've really gotten my starts figured out in the last few weeks and that's made a big difference for me. It was a less exciting race for the fans but I enjoyed being up there with my Rockstar Makita Suzuki team mates in first, second and third. My team mates are the best riders by far out here in my opinion and we are on the best bikes as well. It's nice to have some momentum to finish off the season with and my goal is to be back up on the podium and keep the momentum going."
Superbike Results:
1. Mat Mladin (Rockstar Makita Suzuki) 2. Ben Spies (Rockstar Makita Suzuki) 3. Tommy Hayden (Rockstar Makita Suzuki) 4. Eric Bostrom (Yamaha) 5. Miguel Duhamel (Honda) 6. Jamie Hacking (Kawasaki) 7. Neil Hodgson (Honda) 8. Geoff May (Suzuki) 9. Jason DiSalvo (Yamaha) 10. Matt Lynn (Honda)
