AGV Dainese Sammy Halbert Leaves Daytona with great results

After winning the first night of the Daytona 2010 Short Track, taking his brand new AGV motocross helmet on the podium for the first time, Sammy had a difficult night on Day 2. Despite a great qualifiers race the start of the twenty five lap National saw Johnson on the point with Sammy Halbert right on his heels. As Halbert tried to shoot under Johnson exiting turn two he hit a slick spot starting and started a slow spin right in front of the entire field. Somehow everyone missed him and with the engine still running Halbert rejoined the chase.
While Johnson was cruising, the large crowds attention was riveted on the # 7 as Halbert caught the back of the pack by lap night and started working his way to the front, by lap fourteen he was in tenth place and still working forward. That was where the fairytale ended however as his Yamaha gave up and Sammy's night was over too soon.

In the GNC Dash Sammy Halbert showed the same speed and determination as he had with last night's win. Halbert stayed glued to the bottom while Joe Kopp had his # 3 American Agip / Latus Harley-Davidson backed Honda riding the rim.

GRAND NATIONAL POINT STANDINGS: 1. Jake Johnson (42 pts / 1 win); 2. (TIE) Henry Wiles / Joe Kopp / Johnny Lewis (34); 5. Sammy Halbert (33 / 1 win); 6. Kenny Coolbeth (32); 7. Jethro Halbert (29); 8. Jared Mees (25); 9. Bryan Smith (18); 10. Don Mullen (17).

PRO SINGLES POINT STANDINGS: 1. Jeffery Carver (42 pts / 1 win); 2. JD Beach (35 / 1 win); 3. James Rispoli (32); 4. Stephen Vanderkuur (31); 5. Brad Baker (30); 6. Mikey Avila (29); 7. Mikey Martin (19); 8. John Long (14); 9. (TIE) Cory Strickler / Mike Poe (13).

Rispoli gears up for the season finale

AGV Dainese's James Rispoli is on target for his season goal. Good luck from all of us at AGV Dainese USA.

Big supports and good luck to Sammy Halbert who will be dicing it up in the AMA Pro Grand National Twins Championship where Sammy is currently 4th in points.

PR from the "Team Rispoli"

For Immediate Release

October 21, 2009 Pomona, Ca

James “the Rocket” Rispoli gears up for the season finale of the inaugural AMA Pro Singles Championship at the THE FAIRPLEX AT POMONA, CA. James has already solidified an outstanding second place finish overall out of 68 pro-riders in the championship riding while riding his Weirbach Racing team bikes. For this weekend’s final race of the season, James will be riding a bike provided by Sammy Sweet Racing as part of a one-off-race sponsorship package.

James, a multi-discipline rider came from a significant 19 point deficit after the second race of the season to catch and pass the point’s leader only to give way to a mediocre 5^th place finish at the Indy Mile. With a 10 point deficit to make up and three races to go there was still a great chance with the Springfield Mile, Springfield short track and Pomona half mile races left. Then the odds started to pile up. With the Springfield mile called for darkness, and races winding down to only two, James laid it all on the line in the last-chance Springfield short track that was rescheduled for Monday after a rain out there during the Saturday evening program. Qualifying fourth, “the Rocket” got the hole shot, led all but the last lap and set fastest lap time in the race. In a brave last-ditch effort move to take the win James went for a small opening going into turn three only to have the door closed causing an unplanned high side exiting turn four falling short of the finish line. That 16^th place race gave the championship away but solidified his place in the history books.

“I am really blessed to have such great people who believe in me as I move forward in my career as a professional motorcycle racer,” said James. “Everyone around me gave 110% and we charged back from some mistakes, miss-queues, injuries and set-up problems. It was a shame so many races were rained out or cancelled because I know what I can do both on and off the track and the championship was mine to win. Meanwhile, I learned a bunch from everyone and I can’t thank Dick Weirbach and his crew for a great season. I also wanted to say big thanks to Sammy Sweet and my friends Dave and Ryan Wells. Sammy came up with a frame, stout motor and the labor while the Wells family provided the suspension and wheels. Between them they came up with the parts needed to put a bike together for me to race at Pomona. And, a huge thanks to the team of Chris Carr and Kenny Tolbert for bringing the bike out to the west coast. I sincerely look forward to riding hard, smart and fast for my team and to put on a great season finale show for all the fans that will come out to watch the pro-singles race. I know it’s going to be a hec of an east vs.. west coast show down so stay tuned.”

You can follow the action on James' web site www.jamestherocket.com