Bel-Ray Weekend Wrap-Up

Courtesy of Bel-Ray

Bel-Ray racers were in action on opposite sides of the world  this past weekend as the 2012 Monster Energy Supercross Series continued in Atlanta, Georgia and the 2012 World Superbike Championship series began on Phillip Island in Melbourne, Australia.

Team Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki’s Blake Wharton continued to be a front runner in the  Lites class. Wharton qualified 4^th fastest in timed qualifying, 4^th in his heat race and backed it up with a 4^th place in the main event. Wharton’s consistency moves him into 3^rd place in the series points standings after 2 rounds. Teammate Hunter Hewitt also qualified directly to the main event with a 4^th place finish in his heat race. Hewitt, who finished 12^th place last weekend, improved on his results this week. An 8^th place finish in the main event moved him up to 8^th place in the points standings.

Both Dodge/Hart & Huntington/Sycuan Casino/Bel-Ray Racing’s riders had rough nights in Atlanta. Josh Hansen’s night started off well with a 4^th place in his heat race. After a great start, Hansen was up in the top 5, challenging the front of the field. A detrimental mistake in one of the track's rhythm sections caused his bike to stall. By the time he was able to get it started, Hansen found himself a full lap down. Hansen's perseverance eventually got him into 15^th place by the end of the race and in 11^th in the series' points standings. Hansen’s teammate, Kyle Partridge, found luck in the Last Chance Qualifier, put in consistent laps for an eventual 17^th place finish in the main event and 16^th in the series' standings. 

The Supercross series continues this weekend in St. Louis, Missouri at the Edward Jones Dome.

The 2012 World Superbike Series got under way in Melbourne, Australia. The Althea Ducati team of Carlos Checa and Davide Giugliano are Bel-Ray’s entrants into the competition this season. The series features two races for each event, both offering valuable points toward the World Championship. The defending series champion, Carlos Checa, found himself in the lead of race one after the 2^nd lap, but lost traction from the rear wheel during the 6^th lap and spectacularly crashed his Ducati. Although he was uninjured, he could not rejoin the race. Checa bounced back in the second race, gaining the lead on the 4^th lap and holding on for the race victory.  Checa’s teammate, Davide Giugliano, stepped up into the World Superbike class for the 2012 season and finished 9^th and 13^th, respectively, for each race. Both racers are in the top 15 in the series' points standings, with Checa in 4^th and Giugliano in 12^th. The series continues April 1^st in Italy.

Follow all of Bel-Ray’s racers in action each week on www.belray.com and www.belrayracing.com.

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