Milwaukee (Sept. 7, 2010) – RMR/Bruce Rossmeyer Daytona Racing rider Jake Holden scored his first victory in the AMA Pro Racing Vance & Hines XR1200 series with a dominating flag-to-flag victory at New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 6.
With Holden's teammate and pre-New Jersey series points leader Danny Eslick sitting out the round to concentrate on his tight battle for the championship in the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike class, Holden looked to have clear sailing early in the weekend. A strong showing by newcomer PJ Jacobson, who qualified in second position on the Celtic Racing entry, hinted he might be Holden's toughest competition, but at the start of Sunday's 12-lap feature race it was RMR/Rossmeyer's Kyle Wyman who got the holeshot into turn one and led part of the first lap.
“I was smoking my hush puppies on the start. I almost looped it,” said Holden, who was third into the first corner after his bike wheelied off the starting line. “I knew I had to get out there and possibly make a gap because I knew these guys were starting to pick up the pace. I felt like I was pushing the envelope there for a bit after I got by Kyle and PJ trying to break a gap. Then just put my head down and went for the win.”
Once he gained the lead, Holden checked out as Jacobson and Wyman diced for the second step of the podium, waging a back and forth drafting battle in the race's late stages. Wyman moved back into second on lap 10, only to be repassed by Jacobson on the penultimate lap, setting up what looked to be drag race off the final corner to the checkered flag. But on the final lap, Wyman was unable to make the slingshot pass work and Jacobson held onto to second place by a 0.203 second margin.
“Kyle and I had an awesome battle. I didn't really know what to expect near the end with the tire wearing a little bit. It was definitely a fun race,” said Jacobson, who ran most of the race with a broken shifter.
“I got a lucky break getting the holeshot there and getting out front first, but then Jake came by me in turn five, and then PJ came by me in the last corner there on the first lap and I knew I had to tag onto one of those guys and try to go with them,” Wyman said. “I brought [PJ] back a little at the end and got by him. He came back by me on the next lap and we were really close. I thought I was going to be able to do it at the end. On the last lap coming out of turn nine with his broken shifter he kind of missed a shift and I was right up underneath his rear end and had to check up a little bit and then I couldn't get the drive out of there.”
In fourth place, MotorcycleUSA.com editor Steve Atlas posted a strong fourth place result for HOG Racing in his series debut, followed by Harv's Harley-Davidson's Travis Wyman in fifth, RMR/Rossmeyer's Joe Rozynski in sixth and James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing's Paul James in seventh. Michael Corbino (RMR/Rossmeyer) and Matthew Heidel (Shar-Tuff Racing) rounded out the order.
The five-round Vance & Hines XR1200 series concludes September 25-26 with the final round of the 2010 AMA Pro Racing season at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama.
Company Background
Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight custom, cruiser and touring motorcycles
and offers a complete line of Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts, accessories, riding gear and apparel, and general merchandise. For more information, visit www.harley-davidson.com.