Larry Pegram on Ducati 1098R Gets Third | Auto Club Speedway

The Ducati 1098R Team Foremost Pegram Racing pilot recovered from a highside to take third position in race two at Auto Club Speedway.

After a bittersweet weekend of accident and recovery, Ducati rider Larry Pegram and his racing team head back east seventh position overall in the AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike championship.

Entering this weekend’s Fontana round of the 2009 championship; rider Larry Pegram was confident in his Ducati 1098 R Superbike, and his chances for a win in Fontana. After a strong showing in practice, Pegram’s race one was cut short on the third corner by a horrific highside accident, leaving him motionless on the track and prompting a red flag. The Team Foremost Pegram racing rider was unable to make the restart, although later in the day was cleared by medics to partake in Sunday’s race two.

Despite strong chances of rain and his near concussion on Saturday, Pegram bounced back in spectacular form for race two, putting his accident behind him and charging hard from the start all the way to the checkered flag. He was rewarded with third place for his efforts- a spectacular end to an eventful weekend.

Race One Recap:
"I got an OK start to the race," commented Pegram. "I entered turn three a little bit hot trying to make up ground and under braking the bike went sideways. Next thing I knew I woke up on the asphalt.

Race Two Recap:
After restarting the race due to another red flag, Pegram began his charge to the podium in race two. Picking up three positions in as many laps he settled into a rhythm from seventh place. With ten laps to go, Pegram and his Ducati 1098 R found themselves closing in on fifth and sixth positions. Eight laps from the finish Larry sealed fifth position and made the charge for fourth, which he soon passed Geoff May to secure. From there Pegram ran a solid pace, albeit far behind the leading trio. Suzuki’s Aaron Yates and Hayden then collided ahead; enabling Pegram to close the gap and pass Yates for third with three laps to go.

"I wasn’t expecting to get on the box today, really. I just wanted to go out there and get some points and try to salvage the weekend, so getting on the box made it nice. I just rode around at what I felt like was a comfortable pace and started catching the guys in front of me. I just started picking the guys off-get right on them and draft them up the front straightaway. My bike had good steam, and just one by one went by them," commented Pegram.

Races one and two will air on SPEED TV this March 28th at 10pm EST. The AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike Championship now heads back east to Road Atlanta, where the third round of the series will take place this coming April 3-5th.

Race 2; classification after 19 laps: 1: Mladin (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 2: Hayden (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 3: Pegram (Ducati 1098 R) 4: Geoff May (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 5: Bostrom (Yamaha YZF-R1)

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