Hal’s H-D/Buell/Hal’s Speed Shop rider Dan Bilansky, the 2009 Pro Thunderbike champion, rode a Buell XB12R to a third-place finish in the final round of the ASRA Michelin Pro Series at Daytona International Speedway. The Pro Thunderbike race was won by Nate Kern on a BMW.
Bilansky clinched the 2009 ARSA Pro Thunderbike championship on September 20 at Virginia International Raceway. Bilansky also won the Pro Thunderbike title on a Buell in 2006.
At Daytona, Ducati rider Christopher Boy led all qualifiers for the Pro Thunderbike final, but it was Kern who led the eight-lap race from start to finish. Boy was second, followed by Bilansky. Bison Racing rider Walt Sipp rode a Buell XB12R to a fourth-place finish, followed by Buell riders Jordan Richardson (Ray Price Harley-Davidson/Buell), Joel Spalding (Hal’s Harley-Davidson/Buell/Hal’s Speed Shop), Sam Rozynski (Soundwaves.com/H-D/Buell of Frederick), and Joe Rozynski (Soundwaves.com/H-D/Buell of Frederick).
"Daytona is such a big horsepower track, and I was working too hard in the infield to keep up with the Ducati," said Bilansky. "I got ahead of him a few times but then he would draft past me on the oval section, and finally I decided it was more important to put the Buell on the podium in this last race, so I backed off. We already had the championship and I wanted to be on the podium, too. I’d like to thank Hal’s and Buell for all of their support during the season."
Bilansky closed the 2009 ASRA Pro Thunderbike season with 252 points. Kern, the defending Pro Thunderbike champion, finished second with 197 points. Joe Rozynski was third 196 points, followed by Spalding with 190 points, Sam Rozynski with 186, and Richardson in sixth with 145 points.
Buell Riders Earn Seven CCS National Championships
Buell riders were winners in seven classes during the 26th Annual Race of Champions to determine national titles in Motorsports.com CCS sprint competition. Jordan Richardson (Ray Price Harley-Davidson/Buell) rode a Buell 1125R to win Amateur Heavyweight Superbike and Amateur SuperTwins, and won Amateur Thunderbike on a Buell XB12R. Sam Rozynski (Soundwaves.com/H-D/Buell of Frederick) rode a Buell XB12R to wins in Expert Lightweight Grand Prix and Expert Lightweight Superbike. Dan Bilansky (Hal’s H-D/Buell/Hal’s Speed Shop) won the Expert Heavyweight Superbike title on a Buell 1125R. Joe Rozynski (Soundwaves.com/H-D/Buell of Frederick) rode a Buell XB12R to win the Expert Lightweight Superbike championship.
AMA SunTrust MOTO-GT 8 Hours at Daytona
In the season-ending AMA Pro Racing SunTrust MOTO-GT 8 Hours at Daytona endurance race, Shawn Higbee, Paul James and Jeff Johnson rode the James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing Buell 1125R sponsored by H-D/Buell of Appleton to a 9th place finish in Moto-GT1 after qualifying third. The team suffered several mechanical setbacks throughout the race but managed a motor swap at the mid point and finished the final two hours of the race The Liberty Waves/H-D/Buell of Antelope Valley team of Eric Pinson, Walt Sipp and David Sadowski Jr., also suffered mechanical problems and finished 11th in the Moto-GT1 class. The Liberty Waves team clinched third place in the final 2009 season Moto-GT1 standings with four podiums and 129 points, followed by James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing in fourth with one win, two podiums and 119 points. The Moto-GT1 championship was won by Crozier Motorsports with two wins, three podiums and 181 points. The race was won by Westby Racing Yamaha and riders Josh Hayes, Dane Westby, Jeff Wood and Dustin Meador.
"We had a great qualifying effort and a strong early run going with Shawn Higbee on board," said James Gang/Hoban Brothers team co-owner Paul James. "The 8 Hours at Daytona is always a tough race. But this team never quit and we fought hard to the end and finished the race."
