News and EventsTri-Valley Moto and the KTM Super Duke make their AMA Daytona SportBike Racing DebutLivermore, Ca. (June 30, 2009) - The AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL class is already one of the most diverse divisions in major league motorcycle road racing, but the competition is going to get even more interesting beginning with this weekend's Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The California-based Tri-Valley Moto team and rider Eric Gulbransen will field the No. 394 KTM 990 Super Duke in Sunday's AMA Pro Daytona SportBike final. The KTM 990 Super Duke is the 11th different motorcycle approved and homologated for AMA Pro Daytona SportBike competition, and one of the unique twin cylinder bikes will be debuted this weekend at Mazda Raceway. "We have seen outstanding racing this year in AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL and that is due to the incredible talent of the teams and riders and the performance of a diverse line-up of motorcycles," said AMA Pro Racing President Roger Edmondson. "AMA Pro Daytona SportBike is now home to 11 different motorcycles from nine different manufacturers and the parity we have seen in the on-track performance has been unmatched at this level. We welcome KTM and Tri-Valley Moto to the series and know they will be a competitive addition to an already outstanding class." The Austrian-made KTM brand has been ridden to more than 90 motorcycle championships around the world but the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike debut will be the manufacturer's first experience in North America at this level. Tri-Valley Moto (www.trivalleymoto.com) is based in Livermore, California and Gulbransen is a veteran California rider from Menlo Park, who also has extensive experience racing Ducatis. "This bike is laugh out loud fun to race!" said Eric Gulbransen, pilot of the SuperDuke. "When you get on this Mad Max looking streetfighter, the bars reach out to you, the pegs are a natural step up, and as you roll through the pits people look at you like you forgot your pants. But once out there on the track, I don't know, I kind of forget this bike doesn't look like a regular a racer and nothing feels better than making a nice pass and showing them my elbows!" Tri-Valley Moto started developing the SuperDuke for racing in October of 2008 in the very competitive AFM Club racing series. "Developing this bike has been a fantastic experience for our dealership and race team." said Michael Meissner, partner at Tri-Valley Moto "We have always been impressed with the KTM SuperDuke and we just thought the bike was begging to be tested on the race circuit. Suspension development has been crucial to the success of our program and for that we have Phil Douglas and our subsidiary, Aftershocks, (www.aftershocks-suspension.com) to thank. The SuperDuke may look a little unconventional out there next to the full faired bikes but in spite of its "Bulldog" looks, this bike can go! One thing is for sure, you won't mistake us for any other bike out there." Dual 23-lap/50-mile sprints for AMA Pro Daytona SportBike and AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike presented by Parts Unlimited will bring the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix weekend to a close on Sunday, July 5. The Daytona SportBike race begins at 3:30 p.m. local time and will be followed directly by the American Superbike race at 4:15 p.m. See you at the races! |
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