Buell Loudon ASRA Report

LOUDON, N.H. (June 15, 2009) – Hal’s Harley-Davidson/Buell/Hal’s Speed Shop rider Joel Spalding moved into the Pro Thunderbike series points lead with a third-place finish aboard a Buell XB12R at this weekend’s ASRA Michelin Pro Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Spalding qualified fifth for the Thunderbike National. Ducati rider Brett Guyer of Stratham, N.H. was the top qualifier and also won the 15-lap race. Todd Babcock of Hampton, N.Y. was second on a Suzuki.

“I got a good jump at the start on my Buell, and got in behind the two fast riders at the front, figuring I could try to stay with them,” said Spalding. “They pulled away but in those first laps I opened a gap on the riders behind me.”

Spalding, from Huntley, Ill., and in his first season racing as an ASRA Expert, used the third-place result to take the Thunderbike points lead away from fellow Hal’s H-D/Buell/Hal’s Speed Shop rider Dan Bilansky, who did not attend the race in Loudon.

“At the beginning of the season I made a commitment to make all of the ASRA nationals and to learn all of the new tracks,” said Spalding. “And this was a really tough track to learn, because it has a lot of low-speed turns, some banked turns and bumps. We also had two practice sessions rained out, but every time I got on the track I dropped my time. The local racers really know this track, and they are tough to beat, but everyone out here was also great to race with.”

After four events on the 2009 ASRA Michelin Pro Series Thunderbike schedule, Buell racers hold down the top four spots in the season points race. Spalding leads with 124 points, followed by Bilansky with 122 points, Joe Rozynski (Soundwaves.com/H-D/Buell of Frederick) with 91 points, and Sam Rozynski (Soundwaves.com/H-D/Buell of Frederick) with 82 points. The next event on the 10-race ASRA Michelin Pro Series schedule is the Heart of America Cyclefest, July 10-12 at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kan.

To learn more about Buell motorcycles, visit your local Buell dealer today and experience the pure streetfighter attitude, style and performance only found on board a Buell. For the Buell dealer nearest you, pull into www.buell.com.