MOTO-ST: Heartland Park Topeka doubleheader preview

Touring Sport Ducati Ready to Go for Another Doubleheader Victory

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 13, 2008) - Fresh from a doubleheader triumph at Barber Motorsports Park, Touring Sport Ducati has every intention of making it two-in-a-row when the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series thunders into action, August 16-17 at Heartland Park Topeka.

Running in the Buell Motorcycle Company SuperSport class (SST) and the BMW GrandSport Twins class (GST) class, Touring Sport Ducati sits in second place in both classes.

"We are currently seven points out of the lead in SST and one point out of first in GST," explains team manager Frank Shockley who, along with teammates Brad Phillips and Peter Friedland, earned the GST title last season. "Winning at Barber was a huge morale booster for all of us and really got us going. Now we're ready to do it all over again at Heartland Park."

Piloting the team's No. 75 Ducati 848 in the SST Class will be Ryan Gordon of Clemson, S.C. and two-time World Superbike and World Endurance Champion Doug Polen.

"I'm looking forward to Heartland Park," says Polen, who lives in Camarillo, Calif. "It will be my first time on the track and my first time running with Gordon. It will all be new and that will make it fun. I'm pretty much used to adapting to anything so I don't foresee any problems. I missed running at Barber due to a prior commitment, so it was Gordon and Elleby who took the win. I know I better have my act together as everyone on the team will definitely give me a bad time if I make a mistake."

"Doug always does an excellent job for us," continues Shockley.  "He
and Ryan (Gordon) are going to make a good pair.  I've known Ryan for a
few years.  He actually burst on the scene in 2004 and immediately began
winning.  He rode here and in Europe and then two years ago he retired
for awhile.  Now, he's back and riding for us."

Leading the charge for GST points will be Frank Shockley and Brad Phillips aboard the team's No. 77 Ducati PS1000LE.

"This time out Peter Friedland has a prior commitment and will unfortunately miss this round," explains Shockley. "So it is all up to me and Brad. We definitely want to put our Ducati on the top of the Podium again. We like being there so that is our plan. One of the good things about this race is that we have a promoter's practice day on Friday. This will give us ample time to set up our bikes and learn the track which is cool. I have ridden there before and I really like the track layout. All in all, this is definitely gong to be a fun event."

There is literally no other form of motorsports that can be compared to the spectacle of this type of professional team two-wheeled competition. It is unique. It is fast and unbelievably exciting. Unprotected by metal or heavy roll bars, knee-dragging riders wrestle heavy machines about corners, leaning over at impossible angles, then rocket down straights at speeds over 150 mph, sometimes so close that they trade the paint off their fairings. It is definitely team road racing at its very best.

Qualifying for the SunTrust MOTO-ST Heartland 500 will take place on Sunday, August 17th beginning at 8:45 am and racing action will get underway at 4:00 pm. Plan now to attend this thrilling race.

-credit; www.moto-st.com.