Superbikes Return to Mid-Ohio to Crown Series Champion in First-Ever AMA Superbike Shootout
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rebecca Ackford, 614-793-4620, rackford@midohio.com SUPERBIKES RETURN TO MID-OHIO TO CROWN SERIES CHAMPION IN FIRST-EVER AMA SUPERBIKE SHOOTOUT DUBLIN, Ohio (September 26, 2006) - The AMA Superbike Championship returns to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the second time in 2006 to crown its champion at the inaugural AMA Superbike Shootout, Sept. 29 - Oct. 1. The Lexington, Ohio, road course has long hosted the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire, a mid-season doubleheader for the Superbike series. The AMA Superbike Shootout will be the track's first time hosting the season finale. A unique qualifying format has been designed specifically for this championship-deciding event. The qualifying format will feature three Dunlop Tire Heat Races and a Dunlop Tire Last Chance Qualifier. The top five riders from each heat race and the last-chance qualifier will make up the grid for the exclusive 20-rider final. Those riders not making the final will compete in a consolation race immediately following the Superbike Shootout. The Dunlop Tire qualifying races will be held on Saturday of race weekend, while the AMA Superbike Shootout and consolation race will be run on Sunday. In addition to six Superbike races, the weekend also will feature season-ending events in the AMA Supersport, Superstock and Formula Xtreme classes. A select group of amateur riders from the previous weekend's AMA Road Race Grand Championships also will compete in a special AMA Sports 600cc Superstock Shootout on Sunday. "This is truly the signature moment of the season for the AMA Superbike Championship, and we're pleased to join the AMA in bringing it to life," said TrueSports, Incorporated President Michelle Trueman Gajoch. "The championship chase couldn't possibly be more exciting, and the fans are in for an exciting weekend from start to finish." Series riders have been jockeying for position all season long in anticipation of this championship event. Ben Spies leads the AMA Superbike Championship by just 20 points over defending champion and Yoshimura Suzuki teammate Mat Mladin heading into the Shootout, and could tie Mladin's all-time single-season wins record with a victory. Spies, who won both ends of the series' August doubleheader at Mid-Ohio, will be racing with a broken right hand suffered late in the season, and Mladin has taken wins in each of the last four series races to dramatically close the gap heading into the finale. "I broke my hand and that's been a bit of a challenge but it's better now, it's definitely healing," said Spies. "It'll be cool to see the whole new race format - there's no qualifying, no extra point to get for pole, just the point for leading the most laps. I just need to see who's in my heat race and how hard I have to ride my Suzuki GSX-R1000 to get into the main race. Then it's just a matter of getting in position and waiting for the checkered flag." Teammate Mladin, however, doesn't plan to sit back and allow Spies an easy job of it. "It will be good to go back to Mid-Ohio," said Mladin. "I have to thank my Yoshimura Suzuki guys for doing a great job because we have come on strong at the end of the year and now I'm looking forward to next year. Getting a kick in the pants from Ben has lit a fire under me. I won't make it so easy for him next year." Although technically out of the championship hunt, Honda's Miguel Duhamel will come to Mid-Ohio well in the frame for a race win. He earned consecutive podium finishes during the Wiseco Superbike 100 doubleheader at Mid-Ohio in August as well as a third-place finish at the series' most recent round at Virginia International Raceway. Suzuki's Aaron Yates and Ducati's Neil Hodgson round out the top five in championship points with five podium finishes among them this season. Tickets and information for the AMA Superbike Shootout are available by calling 1-800-MID-OHIO or visiting www.midohio.com <http://www.midohio.com/> . A comprehensive motorsports facility, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course features a permanent road racing circuit with two primary configurations: a 2.4-mile, 15-turn, and a 2.25-mile, 13-turn circuit. The park-like, 330-acre complex in Lexington, Ohio, also features an amateur motocross venue. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the track has been called the most competitive in the U.S. and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally sanctioned racing events for amateur, club and professional riders and drivers. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, TrueSports, Incorporated is a privately held motorsports entertainment enterprise. The company owns and operates Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School, and promotes a wide variety of motor racing, driver instruction, corporate, and family entertainment events throughout the year. -30-