MICHAEL JORDAN MOTORSPORTS ON THE ROSTRUM FOR BOTH RACES AT ROAD ATLANTA
BRASELTON, GA – Michael Jordan Motorsports riders Geoff May and Aaron Yates put in impressive performances this weekend during AMA Pro Racing's Round 3 of the American Superbike Championship at Road Atlanta in Braselton, GA. May earned double podium finishes in the races, while Yates enjoyed one top five finish and picked up valuable Championship points. The riders competed at Road Atlanta on their 2008-spec Suzuki GSX-R 1000s. The bikes will now be retired and May and Yates will race on brand new 2009 GSX-Rs for the remainder of the season.
Geoff May, National Guard Jordan Suzuki No. 54 May, of nearby Gainesville, took third place in both Saturday and Sunday's American Superbike races. He has now visited the rostrum in three of the five races he’s competed in this season and sits third overall in the Championship with 92 points.
3rd PLACE, SATURDAY RACE 1 – In Race 1 May found himself down in position six (P6) by the midway point of the race, after starting on the front row. However by continuing to apply pressure and drawing on his high fitness level, May moved himself forward during the later stages of the race and put his National Guard Jordan Suzuki on the box at the checkered flag.
"I just stayed motivated," said May, who raced in front of a large contingent of local family and friends. "I just stayed patient and every time somebody made a mistake, I just picked him off."
3rd PLACE, SUNDAY RACE 2 – In Race 2 May had a huge moment on the start that resulted in not one, but two, massive wheelies off the line. Finishing the first lap in 10th position, the Georgia rider made an inspired ride to the front and joined the frantic seven rider battle for second place. May methodically moved through this intense pack and soon found himself in a battle for second place with Factory Suzuki's Blake Young. At the line, it was Young in second with May third, just a scant .2 seconds behind for his second podium of the weekend.
"I was afraid I was going to get run over at the start," said May. "I just put my head down again and we had the bike set up good for the end of the race. I've been trying to really work hard on the end of the race, on the last half, on worn-out tires. I start getting faster and faster and faster and put in my fastest laps, usually, in the last couple laps."
Aaron Yates, Jordan Suzuki No. 23
Road Atlanta fan favorite and Milledgeville, GA resident Aaron Yates had a solid weekend at the Braselton circuit, culminating in a top five finish in Sunday's contest. Yates heads into Round 4 in eighth place in Championship points with 62.
6th PLACE, SATURDAY RACE 1 – Starting from eighth position on the grid, Yates moved forward through the tough American Superbike field and soon found himself in a tussle with the Factory Yamaha of Josh Hayes. Yates and Hayes dueled throughout the 50 mile contest with Yates crossing the line a mere .02 seconds behind Hayes, finishing in sixth position.
“We only had 10 minutes of practice this morning and that really put a damper on my setup for the race,” said Yates. “It was a good battle today with Josh and my Jordan Suzuki 1000 has what it takes to run up front.”
5th PLACE, SUNDAY RACE 2 – In Sunday's Race 2 Yates was embroiled in a seven rider battle for second position for much of the race. At the back of this group after the first lap, local hero Yates continued to move forward as the race progressed. At the line, Yates put his Suzuki GSXR firmly inside the top five and recorded the second fastest lap of the race while doing so.
“Considering I didn't get the start I would have liked I'm fairly happy to get a top five finish out of the weekend, after just missing it in yesterday's race,” said Yates. “We got my 2008 GSX-R1000 working well this morning and it was a good, fast group of guys for most of the race battling for that second spot. I would like to have been further up and know my crew and GSX-R can do it. We have our 2009 Suzukis coming for Barber and I'm ready to get up on the box.”
