CARLSON WINS AT HOME TRACK
27 September 2006 - KTM-Sportmotorcycles AG

AMA Supermoto; Elkhart Lake, WI: Round 8:

The AMA Supermoto Championship headed back to the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex at Road America on Saturday, September 23, for Round 8 of the 2006 series to share the spotlight with the Champ Car World Series also competing at the Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin venue during the weekend.

Team Red Bull KTM HMC’s Ben Carlson, from nearby West Bend, WI, came into the weekend with high hopes as he was determined to finally win at his home track and move back into title contention in the Supermoto Unlimited championship race.

The 21-year-old local favorite did exactly that, enjoying a dream weekend while successfully managing the treacherous wet conditions that heavily influenced the day’s racing.

After setting the pace in qualifying aboard his KTM 560 SMR, Carlson found himself behind title leader David Baffeleuf in the race’s early stages. Despite the track being difficult to pass on even in the best of conditions, Ben stormed into the lead on lap 3 of 18. Upping the pace at the front, Carlson then forced Baffeleuf into making a mistake as he struggled to maintain the new leader’s pace.

Carlson went onto claim victory while Baffeleuf, who came into the weekend leading in the points, ran off course and ultimately finished sixth. As a result, the Red Bull KTM HMC star has taken a slim lead in the points race with just two races remaining on the ’06 slate.

Afterwards, a jubilant Carlson, who now boasts 156 points to Baffeleuf’s 154, said, “It feels great. We’ve led a lot of laps here in previous visits and it’s good to come out of here with a good result. We’ve been needing this. We’ve kind of been down in the dumps but the team has stayed behind me. I can’t stay enough for everybody that’s helped out.

“David and I are probably some of the better rain riders in the class. We actually battled; I got up the inside of him and had a good clean pass. It feels good to actually pass him and beat him clean. I’m pumped.”

The defending class champion, All Access Racing KTM’s Micky Dymond, remains in Unlimited title contention as well. The veteran ace completed an all-KTM podium in the class, finishing third at Road America, one position behind BP Racing’s KTM 560 SMR-mounted Leonardo Bagnis.

Dymond is now third in the championship fight, just seven points off the lead at 149.

Meanwhile, the reigning AMA Supermoto champion, Jurgen Kunzel, enjoyed a solid day’s work in the premier class, scoring two podium finishes for Team Red Bull KTM HMC aboard his KTM 450 SMR.

After picking up a pair of third-place results in the wet the German remarked, “It was a good weekend for me. I didn’t crash and I finished on the podium two times. My starting position was not the best but I am so happy to make my way up to the podium. My whole team did a great job this weekend and I want to thank them for their efforts.”

While Kunzel’s usual teammate, Kurt Nicoll, was absent as he waits for his Visa to be renewed, South African Supermoto star Brian Capper impressed in his place. Capper scooped up sixth and eighth-place finishes in the premier class during his guest ride with the Red Bull KTM HMC team.

Hart & Huntington Tattoo’s Steve Drew got into the top ten in AMA Supermoto action as well, taking 9th in the first moto aboard his KTM 450 SMR.

Once again KTM was dominant in the Unlimited class. Joker Machine QTM KTM’s Justin Ross and Team Red Bull KTM HMC’s John Lewis finished fourth and fifth, respectively, completing a KTM sweep of the top five.

SSFU Motosports’ Monte Frank broke into the top ten as well, finishing tenth in the big bore class.

BP Racing’s Leonardo Bagnis added a fourth-place ride aboard his KTM 250 SX-F in the Supermoto Lites class to his second-pace result in Unlimited action to complete a stellar day for the rider from Argentina.

Round 9 of the 2006 AMA Supermoto Championship will take place on October 14 at the Music City Motorplex in Nashville, TN.

AMA Supermoto Series, Elkhart Lake, WI: Round 8, September 23, 2006

Supermoto Race 1

1. Chris Fillmore
2. Doug Henry
3. Jurgen Kunzel KTM
4. Adrien Chareyre
5. Mark Burkhart
6. Jeff Ward
7. Troy Herfoss
8. Brian Capper KTM
9. Steve Drew KTM
10. Steve Drew

Supermoto Race 2

1. Jeff Ward
2. Mark Burkhart
3. Jurgen Kunzel KTM
4. Adrien Chareyre
5. Josh Chisum
6. Brian Capper KTM
7. Chris Fillmore
8. Matt Burton
9. David Arnold
10. Vincent Guisande

Supermoto Lites

1. Cassidy Anderson
2. Danny Casey
3. Brandon Currie
4. Leonardo Bagnis KTM
5. Alex Thiebault
6. Casey Yarrow
7. Cole Walsdorf
8. Dalton Dimick
9. Matt Abbott
10. Robbie Horton

Supermoto Unlimited

1. Ben Carlson KTM
2. Leonardo Bagnis KTM
3. Micky Dymond KTM
4. Justin Ross KTM
5. John Lewis KTM
6. David Baffeleuf
7. Gary Trachy
8. Robert Loire
9. Nick Daniels
10. Monte Frank KTM

www.ktm.at

More News
  For September 2006
  From KTM-Sportmotorcycles AG
  For Supermoto
  Biker247.com Home Page