AMA Daytona Sportbike showdown looms at NJMP; Eslick Leads Cardenas by 17-point margin with two races to go

Press Release

With six wins and 16 top ten finishes in the season's 17 races to date, Eslick has worked his way back into the points lead with three straight wins at Mid-Ohio and Heartland Park, followed by strong second and seventh place finishes at Virginia International Raceway last month. Eslick leads Cardenas by 17 points and is 36 points ahead of the hard-charging Josh Herrin (Graves Yamaha), who swept both Daytona SportBike races at VIR, but with 63 points remaining up for grabs this weekend, it's still anyone's championship to claim. 

"This first season of AMA Pro Racing under new leadership has been truly exciting, both in American Superbike and Daytona Sportbike," said Erik Buell, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer of Buell Motorcycle Company. "We have had multiple winners on multiple brands in both classes, and Daytona SportBike is going into the final event with three possible winners on three different brands still in contention. It's been a real honor for us to be a small part of this great new series. I really look forward to what AMA Pro Racing's future will bring to all the riders and teams who have been working so hard and so long at a sport that has languished undeveloped. I think a few years from now we will really be seeing a huge increase in motorcycle roadracing interest from the public, and see our sport get the fame and fortune it has deserved."

In the American Superbike class, standout privateer Taylor Knapp will again ride the new Buell 1125RR race bike he debuted in July at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, in addition to riding the Latus Motors Buell 1125R in the Daytona SportBike class. Privateer Cory West will also race an 1125RR at NJMP in American Superbike.

Saturday's two-hour team endurance race at NJMP is the penultimate round in 2009 SunTrust Moto-GT series, where the Liberty Waves/H-D/Buell of Antelope Valley team of Eric Pinson and Eric Haugo are currently second in points in the Moto-GT1 class and hoping close their 11-point gap to the class leading Triumph of Crozier Motorsports. American Superbike, Daytona SportBike, and former Moto-ST racer Shawn Higbee will join Paul James and the James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing team for the NJMP round, replacing Jeff Johnson for the weekend. Higbee will also join James and Johnson as a third rider for the 8 Hours at Daytona race for the conclusion of the Moto-GT season championship on October 16-18.