Michael Jordan Motorsports (MJM) rolls into Alton, Virginia with just two rounds remaining on the AMA Pro Racing calendar, but plenty of action to be found on the track. MJM-riders Aaron Yates and Geoff May will take to the 2.25 mile circuit over the August 14 – 16 weekend at the Big Kahuna Nationals looking to finish out their seasons strongly and place their Suzuki GSX-Rs firmly on the Big Kahuna podium.
The scenic track, a favorite among riders, mixes a rolling, flowing road-course layout inside of country club-style grounds. On-track action begins Friday, August 14 with practice, qualifying, and Superpole kicking off at 9:40 a.m. The National Guard American Superbike races then take place on both Saturday and Sunday, with same-day coverage broadcast on SpeedTV.
Jordan Suzuki #23
Aaron Yates comes off a mixed weekend at Round 9 in Topeka, where the team captured a solid top five finish in Race 1, followed by a rare, non-points scoring result in Race 2. The #23 rider and team are coming into the final two rounds of the season with one common goal: placing the Jordan Suzuki on the podium in each of the remaining four races. With Yates riding his new Suzuki 2009 GSX-R well and enjoying a second-half hot streak, the veteran Superbike rider will be one to watch as the season comes to a close. Yates currently sits seventh in the championship with 214 points.
Aaron Yates Speaks….
"VIR is a fun track and one the Jordan Suzuki goes pretty good at," said Yates. "Our bike was working well at Topeka, and though we weren’t able to capitalize fully on that, I think this weekend we’ll be right back in the hunt for a podium. The promoters always do a good job of making it enjoyable for the fans and I’m hoping they will be making some noise for the #23 Jordan Suzuki."
National Guard Jordan Suzuki #54
Geoff May and the #54 National Guard Jordan Suzuki team have had this weekend circled on the 2009 calendar since Round 1 back at Daytona. The Virginia track is one of May’s favorites of the season and is one that the Georgia rider describes himself as having "ridden thousands of laps around" going back to his non-professional days. With two rounds remaining in the year, the National Guard Jordan Suzuki team is keen to recapture the early season magic that saw the #54 on the podium three times in the first five races. While the team hasn’t visited the podium recently, it has shown it has the speed to be there and will be working hard to place its Suzuki GSX-R back on the box at the Big Kahuna Nationals. May currently has 212 championship points, placing him in eighth position, just two points shy of seventh.
Geoff May Speaks…
"It’s good to be back at VIR," said May. "I’ve always liked riding here. The layout is good, the racing is always close and the fans always come out to support the round. This is the 10th year of the Big Kahuna Nationals and I’m ready to go out there and put the National Guard Jordan Suzuki back where it belongs – on the podium."