MASON AND ULRICH EARN TOP 15 FINISHES AT LAGUNA SECA
Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki faced its fair share of drama in Sunday's AMA Superbike final at Laguna Seca, but in the end was pleased to pick up a pair of top-15 results against a stacked Superbike field. Gary Mason was 14th, Chris Ulrich was 15th, and Robertino Pietri did not finish the race.
The team entered the weekend stronger than ever, recently adding a third rider to the fold. Former British Superbike star Gary Mason joined the team on his Red Devil Roadracingworld.com Suzuki GSX-R1000, and qualified in tight formation with his new teammates, Chris Ulrich and Robertino Pietri. Ulrich led the way in 19th at 1:27.907, with Pietri 21st (1:28.060) and Mason 22nd (1:28.308).
The race started in difficult fashion for the squad as Pietri ran into the back of Ulrich's machine on lap 3, knocking the Californian into the dirt and into last place, while the Venezuelan's brake lever was broken off in the impact, ending the reigning Latin American and Venezuelan Superbike champion's race almost as soon as it got started.
Ulrich fought hard to regain position and managed to just battle his way into the top 15, finishing 15th at the flag.
Team newcomer Gary Mason made an impressive debut, riding a steady race to finish one place ahead of Ulrich in 14th.
The team should be able to leverage all that they learned this weekend in the Superstock season finale when the series returns to Laguna Seca to conclude the 2007 season in September.
At the end of the weekend Ulrich said, "100% it was a test for us, but still, we race to win. In the Superbike class we're at a technological disadvantage from the get-go since our team's focus is on the Superstock this year. With the amount of guys out there on really fast Superbikes, a top-15 finish was our goal. At the end of the day, we had two riders in the top 15, although it wasn't without a lot of drama.
"A couple laps in, Robertino ran into me. He sent me off the track in Turn 2 and I think I was dead last when I came back on. I just started catching guys and working my way through and at the end we got pretty lucky because a couple guys ran out of gas.
"For the team, we've got a new rider, Gary Mason, and he did great -- 14th right ahead of me. He's going to run out the year with us on his Red Devil Roadracingworld.com Suzuki. He's a great teammate to have and 'Tino has been doing a great job the past couple weeks, too, even if he didn't have his best outing today.
"We learned a lot this weekend and that's the biggest thing. We tried a lot of stuff in a limited amount of track time and we went over a second faster than we did last year. It's a good bonus."
In two weeks time (August 3-5) Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki will race at Mid-Ohio, one of Ulrich's best circuits. He scored the Superstock win at the venue in 2002 and finished on the podium in the 250GP class in 2000.
"Mid-Ohio is my favorite place in the world," Chris said. "It's a shame we don't go there twice anymore, but I'm definitely looking forward to that. I'm going to push very hard and shoot for a top-five finish there."
The team entered the weekend stronger than ever, recently adding a third rider to the fold. Former British Superbike star Gary Mason joined the team on his Red Devil Roadracingworld.com Suzuki GSX-R1000, and qualified in tight formation with his new teammates, Chris Ulrich and Robertino Pietri. Ulrich led the way in 19th at 1:27.907, with Pietri 21st (1:28.060) and Mason 22nd (1:28.308).
The race started in difficult fashion for the squad as Pietri ran into the back of Ulrich's machine on lap 3, knocking the Californian into the dirt and into last place, while the Venezuelan's brake lever was broken off in the impact, ending the reigning Latin American and Venezuelan Superbike champion's race almost as soon as it got started.
Ulrich fought hard to regain position and managed to just battle his way into the top 15, finishing 15th at the flag.
Team newcomer Gary Mason made an impressive debut, riding a steady race to finish one place ahead of Ulrich in 14th.
The team should be able to leverage all that they learned this weekend in the Superstock season finale when the series returns to Laguna Seca to conclude the 2007 season in September.
At the end of the weekend Ulrich said, "100% it was a test for us, but still, we race to win. In the Superbike class we're at a technological disadvantage from the get-go since our team's focus is on the Superstock this year. With the amount of guys out there on really fast Superbikes, a top-15 finish was our goal. At the end of the day, we had two riders in the top 15, although it wasn't without a lot of drama.
"A couple laps in, Robertino ran into me. He sent me off the track in Turn 2 and I think I was dead last when I came back on. I just started catching guys and working my way through and at the end we got pretty lucky because a couple guys ran out of gas.
"For the team, we've got a new rider, Gary Mason, and he did great -- 14th right ahead of me. He's going to run out the year with us on his Red Devil Roadracingworld.com Suzuki. He's a great teammate to have and 'Tino has been doing a great job the past couple weeks, too, even if he didn't have his best outing today.
"We learned a lot this weekend and that's the biggest thing. We tried a lot of stuff in a limited amount of track time and we went over a second faster than we did last year. It's a good bonus."
In two weeks time (August 3-5) Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki will race at Mid-Ohio, one of Ulrich's best circuits. He scored the Superstock win at the venue in 2002 and finished on the podium in the 250GP class in 2000.
"Mid-Ohio is my favorite place in the world," Chris said. "It's a shame we don't go there twice anymore, but I'm definitely looking forward to that. I'm going to push very hard and shoot for a top-five finish there."
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