VOL. 51 ISSUE 18 MAY 6, 2014 P29
rounds and making any appropri-
ate changes to the machinery for
Road America. We found a few
things that are going to help us
there and it's going to take a little
time to prep for the Road Amer-
ica event, so time well spent in
preparation for there. I wish we
could. Initially I committed to
John [Ulrich – the Shootout pro-
moter] to support his series as
much as we could, but obviously
our main priority is contending
for a championship in AMA Pro.
So that's our plan on that."
Sakakura, however, didn't
downplay his enthusiasm for the
new series.
"I thought it was a success
again," he said. "Last week
we thought California Speed-
way [Auto Club Speedway] was
great. It's just nice to be at an
event with a club, regional event
series. I had no idea because it's
been years since I attended an
AFM race… it's nice to see so
much participation at the club
level. Obviously, like someone
said earlier, this is where our
future champions could come
from – one of these regions. So
it's nice to support it anyway we
can and help the series grow if
we can as well."
KTM team boss Mitch Hansen
is leaning toward taking Chris
Fillmore and the team to Miller.
"We think we're going to Mill-
er," Hansen said. "Obviously, it's
right before Road America and
that's a little bit of a problem for
us because we don't get our stuff
back. But I think we're going to
drive straight back to Wisconsin,
work on some things and go to
Miller. I think we're going."
He also has been pleased with
the Superbike Shootout format.
"I thought it was fantastic,"
Hansen said. "We showed up a
few days earlier, took advantage
of some extra practice and did
some AHRMA racing and that's
a great organization as well. This
organization here, the AFM, they
are very organized and the peo-
ple are very helpful and I thought
it was a great event. Things could
have turned out a little better for
us, but it certainly was the Chris
Fillmore show.
"So far I think the Superbike
Shootout is a great success.
We've had a lot of attendance
and the racers all like it. It's
been fun with some great rac-
ing. I don't see anything negative
about it – plus we have TV."
Andrea Wilson
As of right now it
doesn't appear
that the Yoshimura
Suzuki team will
compete in the final
round of the three-
race Superbike
Shootout at Miller
Motorsports Park.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
BRIAN
J.
NELSON
WHIBLEY TOPS KENTUCKY OMA
R
ound two of the OMA Nation-
als Series was held at the
Russell Creek XC compound in
Greensburg, Kentucky, on May
4 and after an uncharacteristic
last-place start, five-time OMA
Champion Paul Whibley, aboard
his NFab/Monster Energy/Am-
Pro Yamaha, took home another
win, his second since returning
healthy to the series this year.
Airgroup Moose Racing
Husqvarna's Nick Fahringer was
second, followed by Whibley's
teammate Jordan Ashburn, who
nosed out Fahringer for the FMF
Holeshot Award.
Jason Thomas and his KLIM/
Maxxis Dirt Wise KTM struggled
all day, but he nearly caught Ash-
burn in a late-race dash. He had
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