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Brian Parriott on a BMW R1200S was the fastest qualifier for the event, turning a lap of 2:28.147 on the four-mile, 14-turn Road America course. Parriott got a jump on the field at the start of the six-lap Thunderbike National. Nate Kern on another BMW R1200S gave chase in second, with Estok in third and Hal’s H-D/Buell Hal’s Speed Shop rider Dan Bilansky in fourth, after starting from the back row. The top three spread out and finished in that order, with Parriott crossing the finish line 4.412 seconds ahead of Kern.
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ASRA Thunderbike National
1. Brian Parriott (BMW R 1200 S)
2. Dave Estok (Buell XB12R)
3. Darren James (Buell XB12R)
4. Christopher Boy (Duc 748)
5. Nate Kern (BMW R 1200 S)
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THE X-BIKE |
THE MULE |
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Some rare quite time between races |
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Brian gently breaks in the X-Bike's new motor |
Tom's turn on the X-Bike |
Racing is always and adventure, but San Jose BMW Racing is more like and Exploration of Possibilities! We traveled all the way to Elkhart Lake Wisconsin for the next round of races and once again - anything can happen. For the first time, we are fielding 2 bikes. The MOTO-ST Mule which we have raced very successfully and our new X-Bike. The X-Bike is an on-going project of Chris', to take the R1200S to it's full racing potential. While the MOTO-ST bike is restricted by weight and horsepower limits, other classes of racing have no such restriction.
The X-Bike engine puts out 15 more horsepower than the Mule. It is much quicker, as expected. What we didn't expect with our DEPENDABLE BMW motor, was to have the end of a Valve break off and destroy all associated parts. The heads on the X-Bike are modified and BMW doesn't offer larger valves - so we used racing valves from a prominent supplier - which will remain nameless (can you say piece-o-crap) .
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Brian on the X-Bike and Tom on the Mule - leave the pits for some heads-up racing |
Brian Parriott (left) #146 on the X-Bike, Tom Montano (right) #246 on the Mule
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Tom and Brian hang out before the first race of the day |
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(left)
They take a warm up lap first
(below)
Start of the MOTO-ST with Brian on the bike for the first stint
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Tom follows a Ducati |
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Tom Passes a Suzuki - because he can! |
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Brian leads the field around after a Yellow Flag |
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Brian shows his usual In-Your-Face riding style. We have to replace the valve covers on a regular basis. |
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Tom heads up the field behind the Road America Pace Car |
San Jose BMW (Brian Parriott/Tom Montano) and Aprilia USA 2 (Ty Howard/Troy Green), the two main protagonists in the inaugural SunTrust MOTO-ST Championship, battled each other and adversity until the last lap of the 500K at Road America. Two Safety Car periods threw both teams off their normal pit stop strategies and drew both into a game of gas-mileage chicken at the end of the race. Neither team blinked, and both stretched their fuel loads to the end.
Aprilia USA 2’s Howard almost didn’t make it as his Tuono shut off on the final lap, long enough for him to radio to his crew, "We’re done.” But the Aprilia sudden sprang back to life, and Howard got back on the gas, well behind San Jose BMW. Then, San Jose BMW’s R 1200 S sputtered to a halt in the last few hundred yards of the race, handing the overall and Super Sport Twins (SST) class wins -- and bigger Championship point leads in both -- to Aprilia USA 2.
With San Jose BMW dead on the side of the front straightaway, Aprilia USA 1 (Henry Wiles/Jon Francis) and Team Florida (Gustavo Laya/Armando Ferrer) held another race to the finish for what would become second place. Aprilia USA 1 had a horsepower advantage with its RSV1000 Tuono and beat Team Florida’s stock Ducati 749R to the finish line by a wheel.
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A one-in-a-million shot of Brian & Tom passing in front of the crew at 145 mph
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The Mule is all ready to go again |
Brett takes notes while Chris watches the computer screen as the Mule is Dynoed before the race |
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Brian on the Mule & Tom on the X-Bike for this race |
Brian puts the Mule on the Pole for the MOTO-ST |
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Brian chases down a GSXR |
Tom & Brian trade places during a MOTO-ST pit stop |
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What the heck? I was looking for MapQuest and you want to enlarge my what? |
Brett times the bike and keeps meticulous notes |
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Tom climbs back on for another stint |
Full pit stop with tires and fuel |
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Tom heads to the pits |
Waiting for #46 to cross the line |
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Brian hauling the mail down the back straight |
