Brand X Yamaha’s Flawless Weekend Leads to 2nd Overall at Barber
LEEDS, Ala. – Ben Walters and Brett Champagne rode the Brand X Yamaha YZF-R1 to second overall and second in Heavyweight Superbike during Saturday’s WERA National Endurance Series race at Barber Motorsports Park, but their riding skills were just a part of the perfect teamwork that made the weekend a success.
In only their second year as a team, Brand X has consistently finished on the overall podium, and each weekend has netted better results. Walters and Champagne are both quick to give credit to their crew for the good results at Barber. Army of Darkness veterans Tim Gooding, Sam Fleming and Melissa Berkoff traveled to the Alabama track to act as crew this weekend.
“It’s been an uphill battle all year, but we’ve been improving our riding and we’ve been improving as a team,” said Walters. “We couldn’t have asked for a better race this weekend. The whole crew did an excellent job with out stops and made great calls that made our jobs as riders easy. Thanks to Brett, too. He’s been riding well all year and he’s done a lot for our development.”
“It was a great weekend, just like Summit Point,” agreed Champagne. “We had the quickest pit stops we’ve had all year, so thanks to the crew for such a phenomenal job. It was a great weekend and I’ve got a big smile on my face. I can’t wait until the next race.”
The weekend may have been flawless for Brand X Yamaha, but it was anything but easy. Walters and Champagne each rode two stints in the four-hour race, and during Walters’s second hour on the R1 a light rain began to fall. Champagne took over soon after the rain began, heading out on Michelin slicks since the track wasn’t completely wet yet. As the rain began to fall harder, Champagne had to tip-toe around the slippery circuit without giving up any positions.
Walters rode the final stint on rain tires, and at the checkered flag Brand X was on the same lap as the eventual race winner, and a full lap ahead of third place.
Brand X Yamaha is sponsored by Yamaha, Jamie James Productions, 13x.com, Michelin, Moto-Liberty, Arata, Thrust Company, Motion Pro, Silkolene, TGDRacing.com, Zero Gravity, Ridersurance.com and G2 Ergonomics.
The WERA Grand National Finals at Road Atlanta will wrap up the endurance season next month with a four-hour race on October 10. Keep up with Brand X online at www.BrandX13.com.
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For Immediate Release: September 23, 2008
Contact: Chuck Ivey, 706 294 5748, chuck@teamvelocityracing.com
Team Velocity Racing Rallies after Crash in Endurance Race at Barber
LEEDS, Ala. – Team Velocity Racing had a challenging weekend at Barber Motorsports Park, overcoming a crash and rain to win the Heavyweight Superstock Class in Saturday’s WERA National Endurance Series four-hour race.
The hard-earned win has clinched the Heavyweight Superstock championship for the TVR 131 Yamaha YZF-R1 with one round remaining this season. Chuck Ivey, Jamie James, Zac Chapman and James Vanderhaar represented Team Velocity Racing on the R1.
The weekend got off to a solid start with a productive practice day on Friday as the team dialed in the bike. James had plenty of valuable input since he’s lapped Barber so many times for his Jamie James Yamaha Champions Riding School.
James started the race and soon found himself in a battle for second overall. “I didn’t get a good start and was down around sixth, but I got around those guys and moved toward the front,” said James. “I had a good time going back and forth with Brett Champagne, a fellow Louisianian. Chuck and the crew did a great job; the bike was really good and the team works well together. I couldn’t have had a better time. Yamaha couldn’t be better represented than with this team, and I was impressed with the competitiveness and sportsmanship in the WERA Endurance Series.”
James wrapped up his stint and handed the R1 over to Chapman, but a red flag forced the team to alter their strategy. Ivey took the restart and held down second overall during the first half of his stint, then settled into a comfortable third even though the front Pirelli tire was already two hours old.
Chapman followed, setting the fastest laps of the day until it started raining, when he lost traction in turn six and high-sided. A broken case cover let oil seep onto the track, and a red flag came out while the crash was cleaned up. “I went out on new tires and was able to pass Brand X,” said Chapman. “I had to slow down when the rain started. I was going into six and the rear end just came around, and that was the end of my day.”
The TVR crew repaired the bike in under five minutes and sent Vanderhaar out for the final stint, which was a brief but tricky 35 minutes in the rain. “I was a little nervous the first few laps, but it was uneventful and went really well,” said Vanderhaar. “I felt really good on the bike, but it was too little too late to make up any ground.”
The crash dropped TVR 131 down to sixth overall, but their speedy repairs in the pits allowed them to hang onto first in class. “Being organized and pulling together as a team really minimized the damage and let us come away with first in class. A team’s character really shows when things get tough. Michael Dunn, Rob Petersen and Doug Crawford did a fantastic job crewing for us,” said Ivey.
Team Velocity Racing had a harder time in the Mediumweight Superstock class with the TVR 136 Yamaha YZF-R6. Mike Wheelis, James Dellinger and Reuben Frankenfield had competitive lap times, but a crash in the first hour set them back because of lengthy repairs. The team eventually finished eighth in class.
Team Velocity Racing is sponsored by XES Leather, Arai, Pirelli, EBC Brakes, Vortex, Repsol, EK Chains, VP Fuels, and Dyno Jet. Find out more about the team online at www.TeamVelocityRacing.com.
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