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D&G Racing Kicks Off Buell 25th Homecoming With Win On 1125R

What better way to start your Independence Day than a victory at Road America. That is how Dan Bilansky and Clint Brotz feel right now as the took their D&G Racing Buell 1125R to first Overall and First in GTO during round 5 of the ASRA Team Challenge and A&J Recognition Solo Challenge. Following the Buell was the Quillman Motorsports team of Jeff Kramer and Jason Quillman who came up from Lake St Louis, MO to finish second overall ahead of the NESBA Racing in third.

The GTO machines were paced by early leader Garth Cloyd on the NESBA Racing Suzuki 1000 for the first 19 laps, but during their one pit stop, a crew member in short pants worked on the machine so they were given a stop and go penalty. This would not be their downfall; but the failure to report in a timely manner that cost the team 1 lap and victory forcing them to third in the GTO class behind the D&G Racing Buell and the Quillman Motorsports Team

In the GTU class it was the Central States Racing team with Matt Flowers and Paul Gilchrist aboard a Kawasaki 600 atop the podium. Originally it was thought the Team Appel entry was the winner but closer inspection after the event showed their Suzuki was not legal for the class and they were removed from the results. The effort required to win the event was apparent by the exhaustion showing on Flowers face in Victory Lane as he and co-rider Gilchrist thanked their wives and team for helping them to victory,. Regardless of their condition, Central States did what they had to do, beating class point leader Serpent Racing on the Ducati and thereby improving their title hopes with 3 rounds left in the championship. Serpent Racing minimized the damage by finishing in second in GTU, but riders Calvin Martinez and Dave Ebben are already looking forward the next round at Blackhawk Farms and the chance to regain the points lost at Road America. Local favorites Englehart Racing from Madison WI finished third with their Kawasaki 600, putting riders Shawn Kelly, Brett and Brian Boyd on the final step of the GTU podium.

This is the Buell 25th Anniversary Celebration and the James Gang/Hoban Racing Team gave them something more to cheer about with the GTL class win. Riders Paul James and Jeff Johnson were happy to oblige using their Moto-ST experience to pace themselves and bring home the win for Appleton Buell. Second place was captured by the Suzuki 650 of Team SSID/Compost Racing ridden by Chuck Coughlin and Dirk Schumann for their first national podium finish. Right behind them was the Shakka 4 Life entry of Michael Jordan, Steve Wilkins and Paul Grey for third aboard their Suzuki 650, making their second podium appearance this year.

The A&J Recognition Solo Challenge saw local hero Matt Weber on his Suzuki 750 lead the fast Floridian Garret Rick and his Ducati 848 from flag to flag to win the 5th round of the series. Weber, from Heartland WI, kept a consistent pace that Rick just couldn?t match as the two riders slowly pulled away from the third place rider, Vas Rajan. Rajan, in his first A&J Solo since injuring himself at Heartland Park-Topeka, was happy with the results especially since he now leads the series points chase by 6 points over Garrett Rick.

The next round of the Team Challenge Series will take place on August 23-24, 2008 at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in Beloit IL.

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