SPIES LEADS SUZUKI 1-2-3 DOUBLE!
Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing dominated the Suzuki-sponsored
double-header AMA Superbike weekend at Auto Club Speedway
in Fontana, California, by sweeping the AMA Superbike podium
on Saturday's and Sunday's races.
Just like in Saturday's race, defending AMA Superbike Champion
Ben Spies took the win on Sunday and was followed home by
Rockstar Makita Suzuki team mates Mat Mladin in second and
Tommy Hayden in third.
Six-time AMA Superbike Champion Mladin actually led most
of the laps in Sunday's race but Spies passed him on the last
lap as the two crossed the start-finish line to get the win.
Hayden got a better start in Sunday's race and worked his
way into third position to take the final spot on the podium.
This is the third-consecutive AMA Superbike podium sweep for
the Rockstar Makita Suzuki squad.
Ben Spies:
"This is one of the toughest races I've ever been in.
I just couldn't make any headway. It's a little easier when
you have someone in front of you because you can chase. But
certainly the race didn't go the way I would have planned.
I was about to be content with second place when I saw Mat
run wide. So I put my head down and kept pushing and pushing.
I almost gave up with about 15 laps to go but I knew I needed
to get as many points as possible. I think for the last 10
laps or so, I was just out of control. Mat definitely made
me work for it. I can't believe how fast we were going - we
had nothing left at the end of the race, we were pushing the
whole time. These two AMA Superbike podium sweeps speak for
how good the Rockstar Makita Suzuki team is."
Mat Mladin:
"We had a completely different Rockstar Makita Suzuki
GSX-R1000 today than we did yesterday and it was a good race
for us. We pretty much led all of it but at the end, we just
didn't have it. I made a few small mistakes and gave back
a little time that proved costly at the end. I did what I
could but just couldn't hang on."
Tommy Hayden:
"I got a much better start on my Rockstar Makita Suzuki
GSX-R1000 today than on Saturday. And thanks to my crew for
making some changes to the bike that made my race easier and
helped me keep a better pace. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki crew
gave me a great motorcycle for the weekend overall and an
even better bike for today. Now we have some momentum on our
side, and we'll keep plugging away and hopefully get a little
closer to my team mates. I'm just happy to do my part in the
Rockstar Makita Suzuki one-two-three sweep -- the way it should
be."
AMA Superbike Top 10 Finishers:
1. Ben Spies (Rockstar Makita Suzuki)
2. Mat Mladin (Rockstar Makita Suzuki)
3. Tommy Hayden (Rockstar Makita Suzuki)
4. Neil Hodgson (Honda)
5. Jason DiSalvo (Yamaha)
6. Eric Bostrom (Yamaha)
7. Jamie Hacking (Kawasaki)
8. Scott Jensen (Suzuki)
9. Matt Lynn (Honda)
10. Dean Mizdal (Suzuki)
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