AMA Sportbike: Celtic Ducati Signs Jacobsen

2011 AMA Daytona Sportbike

Celtic Racing will once again compete with the talented P.J. Jacobsen in the AMA Pro Racing Daytona SportBike class in the 2011 season.

The AMA Sportbike team will race Ducati 848EVO machinery with support from legendary Ducati tuning house Fast By Ferracci.

Jacobsen and Celtic Racing enjoyed a successful 2010 AMA Sportbike season, with the young New Yorker building tremendous momentum as the year went on. P.J. and Celtic Racing increased their competitiveness throughout the campaign, scoring a notable fourth place in Virginia and registering an impressive performance in New Jersey in which P.J fought for victory in the lead pack to the checkered flag.

Armed with the quick and reliable Celtic Racing-prepped sportbike equipment, Jacobsen earned nine top ten finishes in AMA Pro’s most competitive class.

P.J. Jacobsen says: “2010 was a good year for us and I’m glad to be back with Celtic Racing once again. We made a lot of progress and the team worked really hard. I’m excited about our program for 2011. The Ducati 848 EVO is going to be a great bike and to have support from Fast By Ferracci is really positive.”

Since the AMA team’s inception in 2001, Celtic Racing has taken a professional approach and delivered solid results in several AMA Pro classes.

Besides the AMA Sportbike class, Celtic Racing’s riders have earned the podium in AMA Pro Superbike, Formula Xtreme, and the XR1200 series along the way. The alliance with Fast By Ferracci holds with Celtic Racing’s desire to take the next step in competitiveness in the Sportbike class with Jacobsen aboard.

Barry Gilsenan (Celtic Racing AMA Sportbike Team Owner) says: “We’re delighted to have re-signed P.J. to ride the Ducati 848EVO with backing from Fast By Ferracci. We have the right rider, the new Ducati 848EVO, and Eraldo’s knowledge and passion for racing on our side. It’s a good combination and we’re really excited about next year.”

“We’re looking to build on our past successes and take it even further to get to the top steps of the podium. The program will be a success on the track and while that’s the most important thing, I think with the personalities we have involved with our program there will be plenty of fun as well.”

Fast By Ferracci has a glorious racing history, winning both the World Superbike Championship and the AMA Pro Superbike Championship in the 1990s.

Eraldo Ferracci is one of the preeminent Ducati tuners and the proprietor of a successful aftermarket performance business. As a long time Ducati dealer, Eraldo was convinced to go racing again upon examining the shop’s first 848EVO and its class potential.

Eraldo Ferracci (Ducati Sportbike Tuner) says: “I’m excited about this and I know we can have success. Barry has been my friend for a long time and he runs a very good team. I’ve seen P.J. race over the years and am impressed. I’ve followed his career and have wanted to work with him.”

“He’s a fast guy that has judgment and focus. I was impressed how he is not just out there trying hard. He has a strategy and knows when to make a pass and where. He’s talented and smart.”

“I have worked with Ducatis for more than half my life and I know them well and believe in them. The Ducati 848EVO is going to be a new machine but our goal is to make the combination of P.J.’s skill and the machine work. I think we can run with the leaders in Daytona SportBike. I have a lot of confidence.”

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