Rockstar Makita Suzuki Atlanta Report
Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s David Vuillemin Captures Another Top-10 Result at Atlanta SX
Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Nico Izzi finishes 8th in SX Lites debut
Round 8 – AMA Supercross Series
Atlanta, GA
Georgia Dome
Feb. 23, 2008
Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing’s David Vuillemin celebrated another strong AMA Supercross result on Saturday night in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome. The Frenchman’s night began with a fifth-place finish in his eight-lap qualifying heat race and then ended with a ninth-place finish in the 20-lap main. After battling injuries for the first two months of the season, this is the third weekend in a row that Vuillemin has brought home a top-10 result. Vuillemin’s Supercross-class teammate Mike Alessi is still recovering after breaking his collarbone at the San Diego round and did not race.
In the AMA Supercross Lites class, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Nico Izzi made his Pro debut by taking the win in his six-lap heat race and then following that up with an impressive top-10 finish in the 15-lap main. The young rookie got a decent start on his Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z250 in the main event and worked his way up into fifth position. Unfortunately, he made a small mistake and went down, but the young rider retained his composure and still brought home an impressive eighth-place finish in his first Pro Supercross Lites race.
David Vuillemin:
“We’re getting there, though there is still some room to improve. I think I could have had a seventh-place finish tonight, if I’d had a little more speed and a little more fitness. I feel more comfortable on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 and the team has been working hard during the week with testing. Now I just need to get a little better in the races. Tonight, the beginning of my race was not too bad but I got passed by some guys that I shouldn’t have gotten passed by – but I’m running faster and I just need to get used to that pace.”
Nico Izzi:
“The weekend started off pretty harsh. In the first practice I was riding pretty tight, I didn’t have a lot of flow. Then, I was better in the second practice and I was pretty pumped after that. In my heat race, I got a decent start and had worked my way up into second place and then I guess the leader did something to get disqualified so I got the win. Going into the main, I was pretty psyched to go out there and race and turn some fast laps on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z250. At the start, I had the jump and several of us were drag racing to the start and another rider went down in front of me and I got hung up on his bike so I had to work my way up, and I’d gotten up into fifth when I made a dumb mistake and crashed. Live and learn. My goal was to get a top-five finish so I’m disappointed but now I’ll just have to come back strong next week and redeem myself.”
Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing will race next at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Saturday, March 1, 2008.
Mike Alessi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #800
DNR – Atlanta Supercross
10th Place – Overall Championship Points Standings
David Vuillemin, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #12
9th Place – Atlanta Supercross
9th Place – Overall Championship Points Standings
Nico Izzi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z250, #341
8th Place – Atlanta Supercross Lites
8th Place -- Overall Championship Points Standings
AMA Supercross Top 10 Finishers:
1. Davi Millsaps, Honda
2. Kevin Windham, Honda
3. Andrew Short, Honda
4. Tim Ferry, Kawasaki
5. Nathan Ramsey, Yamaha
6. Chad Reed, Yamaha (Holeshot)
7. Charles Summey, Yamaha
8. Paul Carpenter, Honda
9. David Vuillemin, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing
10. Jason Thomas, Honda
AMA Supercross Lites Top 10 Finishers:
1. Trey Canard, Honda (Holeshot)
2. Martin Davalos, KTM
3. Ryan Sipes, KTM
4. Jake Moss, Yamaha
5. Tyler Bowers, Yamaha
6. Branden Jesseman, Kawasaki
7. Josh Grant, Honda
8. Nico Izzi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing
9. Kyle Chisolm, Kawasaki
10. Ben Coisy, Honda
