Fabrizio takes 3rd at Miller!
Posted: 12 June 2008
We at Salt Lake Motorsports enjoyed meeting some of our online customers at the HANNspree Super Bike World Championship. The race marked the return of World Superbike to the United States for the first time since 2004. The two day event drew the largest crowd of spectators in Miller Motorsports Park history.
Rookie Checa took his first SBK win after starting from pole, moving into the lead on lap 4 and having an untroubled run to the flag. Second place went to an on-form Troy Corser, who had not finished on the podium since the Spanish round at Valencia in early April, while Fabrizio powered his way up to third. Championship leader Bayliss had a nasty crash on lap 5 at the final turn while battling for second. To make up for this, Michel Fabrizio got his first podium in SBK for both races. Congratulations team Ducati.
Stop in the shop and check out the 2007 Sport Classic models we have in stock, Ducati is taking $750 off the current sticker price. Our next track day will be happening on July 13th, so hurry in and sign up. While you are here you can check out our spectacular savings on apparel.
The shop is buzzing as the season is in full swing. One of the season highlights is Saturday the 17th, when we’ll premier the new Monster 696! Free brats on the grill from 11-4pm. Then the HANNspree Superbike World Championship will return to the U.S. for the first time in 4 years May 29th to June 1st at Miller, sharing the weekend with the AMA Superbike Championships. We’ll be celebrating at the shop all weekend starting on the 28th, with new Bayliss racing t-shirts, championship paraphernalia and a number of killer apparel sales you don’t want to miss. Don’t want to carry your purchase with you? We’ll ship it for free that following Monday for orders over $150.00, and for a flat $8 shipping fee for purchases below that amount. Stop in Friday the 30th from noon to 4pm for a free barbeque. See you at the shop on 916 South Main!
Four days at the Estoril circuit were completed with a test session on April 14th with warm and sunny conditions. During the test Stoner settled a consistent pace in the 1’37s. “I’m happy with the work we’ve done today. We modified a few things that made the bike a little less nervous over the bumps and allowed me to lap in 1’37s with more consistency than I managed yesterday. We also tried a few new tyres and found some interesting things.” Fellow Ducati Marlboro Team rider Marco Melandri found his fastest lap at 1′39.725, saying “Things have improved a little and I’m quite pleased. We need to continue and be positive, work together and I’m sure we’ll find the way forward.” Current world standings have Stoner in 4th and Melandri in 13th. Rumors were also abound this week that Team Ducati Marlboro is doing outside tests on the Desmosedici GP8 with former GP riders Troy Bayliss and Max Biaggi, confirming that the team may make such a move with Marco Melandri.
The first night ride in the history of the MotoGP was held last weekend in Qatar. But Ducati MotoGP Team rider Casey Stoner wasn’t afraid of the dark. He started the defense of his title from fourth on the grid and had dropped to fifth by the end of the first lap, before charging through to set up a stirring battle with Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. The Spanish rookie proved to be the most difficult obstacle between Stoner and his eleventh career MotoGP win but by the eighth lap Stoner was in control and little by little he opened out an insurmountable gap.