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PRESS ROOM
DUCSHOP NCR RACE REPORT – BARBER MAY 7
Ducshop Millona Racing had a positive practice session but a disappointing first race of the WERA season at Barber Motorsports Park this weekend. Rider, Mike Smith, high sided in lap two of their Heavyweight Solo practice race, mildly damaging the left side of the bike and injuring his shoulder. Prior to the practice race Smith was running consistently fast laps that should have had seen him running four seconds faster than the leaders in the Heavyweight Twins Superbike race and within a second of the 600 Supersport class. The team felt they were close to a race setup for the bike and Mike was enjoying himself immensely.
After the crash the team decided to cut the weekend short, and return when both rider and bike were in top condition. Team owner Mark Sutton summed up the race in an email sent Saturday night to NCR s.r.l. owner, Michele Poggipolini.
“The first practice session was very positive, with only minor suspension adjustments. Mike was running lap times from 1:33.04 to 1:33.60. (Roger Hayden’s AMA 600 Supersport pole lap was a 1:28.05) and he felt getting in the 1:29's were possible.
“Saturday afternoon we were grided in the second wave of a 40 rider field in the 16 lap Heavyweight solo expert and by the end of lap one Mike was already in 10th position, slicing up the field trading positions with Josh Hayes. But on the second lap, in a pack of five riders coming out of the last turn onto the straight, he lost rear grip and had a violent high side throwing him on the track and ended in the gravel trap. Even with a shoulder and ankle injury he said he would try to ride in the main event on Sunday but without enough spare parts it would have been very difficult for us to make the MILLONA competitive the next day. Rain was also in the forecast so we decided to save ourselves and come back next race - even stronger than before.
“We have all become very passionate about our little MILLONA and hated to see her damaged and we will surely build her back better than ever.”
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