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BUELL AND BILANSKY PREVAIL IN ASRA PRO THUNDERBIKE Penalty Determines Winner After a Four-Bike Battle at Summit Point
Summit Point, W.V. (May 26, 2008) – Hal’s H-D/Buell/Hal’s Speed Shop rider Dan Bilansky was declared the winner of the third round of the 2008 American Sportbike Racing Association (ASRA) Pro Thunderbike National series at Summit Point Motorsports Park after the apparent winner was penalized for blocking. Bilansky, riding a Buell XB12R Firebolt, crossed the finish line behind BMW rider Nate Kern, but Kern was penalized two positions for weaving three times to block Bilansky’s attempts to pass as the pair raced out of the final turn. The penalty moved Deeley H-D/Buell Canada/Ruthless Racing rider David Estok to second place, as Kern dropped to third.
It was a fitting finish to a very dramatic Pro Thunderbike National that saw Bilansky, Kern, Estok and H-D/Buell of Frederick rider Bryan Bemisderfer battling for the lead for most of the nine-lap race. Bemisderfer set the tone for the weekend when he lapped the recently repaved Summit Point circuit on his Buell XB12R Firebolt in 1:16.821 to take the pole in qualifying on Sunday, setting a new Thunderbike lap record 1.2 seconds faster than the previous mark held by Estok, the defending Thunderbike champion. Kern qualified second at 1:17.102, followed by Bilansky and Bison Racing/Eagle H-D/Buell rider Walt Sipp, all under the previous Thunderbike lap record.
Bilansky, Estok, Kern and Bemisderfer broke away from the field on the first lap, and all but Bemisderfer would swap the lead during the course of the race as the four riders passed and repassed. Bemisderfer dropped out on lap eight with a mechanical problem. Kern and Estok bumped in a turn on lap eight, causing Estok to ride off-track for a short time, as Kern took the lead with Bilansky on his rear tire.
“On the white-flag lap, I showed Kern a wheel in the first turn, but I couldn’t pass him,” said Bilansky. “After that, he was really protecting the racing line and did not give me another good opportunity, so I knew I would have to get a good drive on him out of the last turn. On the last straight I was just inches from his back tire and pulled out of the draft to pass and he moved over to block me three times. He beat me to the line by a wheel.”
Immediately after the race, ASRA officials penalized Kern two positions for making more than one move to break another rider’s draft.
“I didn’t even need to protest,” said Bilansky. “The officials told me to just go to the dyno test, because everyone saw what happened. The Hal’s crew put a strong Buell under me again today, and I’m pretty sure I would have nipped him at the line if he gave me a chance to make a clean pass.”
Sipp finished in fourth position, followed by Buell riders Seth Buchbinder, Joe Rozynski (Sound Waves/Hal’s Speed Shop) and Sam Rozynski (Sound Waves/Hal’s Speed Shop). Twelve of the 14 Thunderbike entries were riding Buell XB12R motorcycles.
Despite the penalty, Kern retains the Thunderbike season points lead after three ASRA National events. Kern has 92 points, Sipp is second with 81 points, followed by Estok with 72. Bilansky, who missed one race, is fourth with 54 points.
The next stop on the eight-race ASRA Pro Thunderbike schedule is the 8th Annual Virginia Festival of Speed, June 21-22, at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va.
Buell Riders Win in Summit Point CCS Racing A record-setting 1,298 entries descended on Summit Point for MotoSport.com Championship Cup Series (CCS) sprint racing during the weekend. Ray Price H-D/Buell rider Jordan Richardson rode a Buell XB12R to win the Amateur Lightweight GP and Amateur Thunderbike classes. Bemisderfer won in Expert SuperTwins, and Ray Price H-D/Buell rider Carl Reid took the win in Amateur GT Lights on a Buell.
To learn more about Buell motorcycles, visit your local Buell dealer today and experience the pure streetfighter attitude, style and performance only found on board a Buell. For the Buell dealer nearest you, pull into www.buell.com. |
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