TPL Racing brings home three Championships in 2009!
TPL RACING INFORMATION
Sunday Sept 13, 2009Manitoba Road Racing Association Round #5.
Gimli Motorsports Park, Gimli, Manitoba, Canada.
Weather: 26C warm and sunny Sunday
TPL racing brings home three Championships in year end battles!
TPL Racing finished the year in fine form with team riders Garry Murray and Bruce Macaulay bringing home championships in their respective classes.
Garry Murray #66 Expert: The last round is complete and it ended early for me. Eight laps into the second sprint of the day I was taken out by another racer who had no control over his bike. I was going through a slow tight decreasing radius turn when another bike hit me in the back of my left shoulder dislocating it. Next stop, the hospital. This accident did not mean the season was a total loss it just meant it ended on a bad note.
I won the 600SS CMA expert championship for the team. I didn’t win it in one weekend and I didn’t win it all on my own. I had my team members as a constant source of motivation and inspiration, with them everything and anything is possible, there was no obstacles that could not be overcome.
Thank you Team Members
Rod Snyder, for all the time you put in off the track so the team has everything it needs, on time and ready. You juggle so many things at one time, I have no idea how you do it.
Jason Morell, for being so unselfish and putting the team first. When you should have been getting ready to run your own race and improve your own results your were changing tires, mounting tires and helping us get things right.
Fred Marriot, for bringing all the speed to the team. Sharing all his riding techniques with us, has made us all faster, smoother safer riders. I must mention Fred’s special skill, the power wheelie. He is hooked.
Bruce Macaulay, for the enthusiasm, discipline and respect you have for the sport. You were patient enough to listen to us and practice different skills as the year went on. You only got faster and smoother. Congratulations on your first championship. There will be many more in your future.
Danny St. Jean, for bringing everything to the track that I thought I forgot and for not quitting. You crashed, denied you were ever injured and just carried on as soon as you could. You are fast consistent and smooth; your championship will come next year.
Wayne Macaulay, for providing endless amounts of help and knowledge, you are the team mill right. You were always there to help work on a bike, find a blown fuse in the trailer, set up our pits or tear it down. Most importantly you got Bruce to the track on time.
My Wife, thank you for supporting this passion I have for motorcycles. For understanding that it is part of my life, knowing I wouldn’t be the same if I was not riding at the track, working on a bike or dreaming of a new motorcycle. Without you the championship would not have been possible.
Bruce Macaulay #63 Novice: This has certainly been an amazing season; it feels great winning the novice championship! The championship was a long hard fought battle and I need to thank Andy for all the great battles we had this year. Having that close competition made for some exciting racing but most importantly it has given me more confidence on the track and improved my riding tremendously. I'm looking forward to some more close races next year Andy! I was able to lower my personal best lap time this weekend and feel like I'm close to where I should be for next season. I absolutely could not have done this without the team and all our sponsors.
Rod Snyder, for bringing the race trailer out every weekend, planning trips, finding bikes and parts, letting us use and borrow all of your stuff. Whether you were injured or not you were always there giving us a hand.
Jason Morell, new tires, flipping tires, it didn't matter you were always there for us anytime we needed last minute help. You not only do lots for the team but you also keep the club running too.
Garry Murray, you've definitely been my riding coach over the past few seasons. When I didn't feel like going out for the last practice session of the day you we're always the one pushing me to go out and practice. Whenever I've felt stuck, you've given me something to work on. My lap times improved far beyond my goal for this season and that can be attributed to you.
Fred Marriot, huge thanks on the launching technique! I think I got the holeshot every race this year. No matter what the situation you're always easy going, joking keeping the team spirit up.
Danny St. Jean, looking up parts, ordering parts, always being there helping in the pits riding or not. We had some good close racing this year; it’s your turn next year. Oh and thanks for not taking me out, it made for good footage lol.
Dad, big thanks for all the help in the pits and hauling all my gear to the track. I probably would've never been able to start racing if it wasn't for all your help and support. Huge thanks to all our sponsors, Freightliner Manitoba, Formula Suzuki, Morell Racing, Sportbike Track Gear, Knox, DP Pads, Vortex, Shell
Now lets plan a winter training trip!
Fred Marriot #97 Expert: Saturday was a beautiful day and I was looking forward to the races. The TPL management made the decision to try a set of Dunlop slicks that I used the past couple of seasons. I wasn't able to do much practice with the tires but they felt very familiar to me.
Time for the Freightliner FX race. I had a good start and challenged for second all race but was unable to make a pass and was now struggling for rear wheel grip. I lowered the tire pressure in the rear and got ready for the Open race. Another good start and I slotted into second again close but not able to pass, I finished in second. I was able to go a second a lap quicker despite not making changes to accommodate the different tires.
Sunday shapes up to be another nice day. Novice champ Bruce did a little research and discovered that the Dunlop rear only requires seventeen pounds of air, a far cry from the twenty four I had in it. I guess that's why the tire looked shagged after only two races. I tried the rear for the Dash for Cash anyway. Bad choice I finish a distant third. Time to try the front Dunlop and rear Bridgestone combo. We all lined up for the Superbike race and I'm a little unsure of the tires but it actually worked pretty well. I finished third.
The Freightliner race was much the same except that I ran wide in turn nine and lost a place finishing in fourth. Time for the last race of the year, the Open race. I didn't have much rear tire so I was unable to challenge for second and settled for third.
I would like to thank all of the TPL sponsors for all the support this year. Freightliner, Formula Suzuki, Capital Motosports, Morell Racing, Vortex, Knox, DP Pads, Sportbike Track Gear, Shell oils and Knox. I would also like to thank all the guys from the TPL team. Rod, Garry, Danny, Jason and Bruce you guys make it all worthwhile going to the track. Despite my on track frustrations it was always a lot of laughs off the track
Rod Snyder #121 Expert: Hot Damn it was good to be back out there! I already dismantled my 09 race bike thinking I would not be back racing this season with the thumb injury. Instead I was lucky enough to ride a customer’s bike in the Freightliner FX race. Riding a 600cc bike was a real learning experience for me. You work like a dog to catch up to another racer and then you miss one shift and you are miles behind again. I ended up fourth which was great!
I was also able to ride my 2010 ride the Ducati 1198S in track day which was really fun. I think the bike will be a wicked ride once it’s set up for racing!! Can’t wait for 2010!!
Jason Morell #43 Expert: It was nice to finish off the year with some nice weather. Saturday we ran the postponed races from Round 4. In the Freightliner Formula Extreme race I had a poor start but was able to gain back a few positions by the end of the race. In the Open race my start was worse but again was able to finish the race in good position. Sunday was a very busy day as I had entered 7 races using one of my RZ350's to enter the smaller classes. What a difference it is riding the RZ then jumping on the GSXR you really have to acknowledge what talent the guys had racing bikes in past decades and how much progress the manufacturers have made for today’s bikes. In the races my starts were no better than Saturdays but the weather brought out lots of riders which made for a good day of racing with guys I haven't seen in a while.
I have to thank my family for supporting me and all the companies that make TPL Racing possible (Freightliner Manitoba, Formula Suzuki, DP pads, Galfer, Shell, Superbike Toy Store, Vortex, Hotbodies, Chad @ MCProPainting, Capitol Motosports ,Bridgestone Tires, Morell Racing)and I can't forget Wayne and Matt who's help in the pits keeps this all glued together.
Danny St Jean #34 Novice: Final round and a half of racing Sept 12 & 13.A beautiful weekend ahead sunny mid 70's what more could you ask for. Saturday we had 2 races to complete from the previous round, FX & OPEN. After missing the last two weekends due to a crash and some aches & pains I was ready to go. FX started with Bruce taking the holeshot, I didn't quite get the start I wanted so I was at the back of the pack pushing hard to move to the front. By the third lap I was in 5th place moving my way up getting more and more comfortable with the corner I had crashed in round 3. Lap six I gained another spot to 4th and on the last lap I achieved third place. It was good to get back into the swing of things with a decent finish. Open was a better start for me, I was up into second place on the first turn right behind Bruce. I had it in my head that I was going for first but Bruce had gotten a little bit quicker since I last raced and could not keep up with him. Eventually Andrew passed me as well, not quite in race shape I faded a little towards the end of the race to take third again. Not bad I figured since I was still on the podium. Sunday started off a little foggy so we didn't get on the track very early, going to make for a long day.First race of the day Dash for Cash, started off well again but faded quickly, not sure what happened by mid race I was cramping and just couldn't push very hard. Faded back to sixth place by mid race and couldn't push my way back up. Disappointing for sure. Superbike, great start again right behind Bruce, this time I was on him for about the first three laps when rookie racer Alex came flying by on his R1. (Where did this guy come from)? I just put my head down and kept pushing; Andrew again came past with three laps to go. Turn five, the slowest corner on the track, and the deadliest took Alex out going too hot into the corner trying to make up time on the only corner that you cannot (did I say Rookie). Unfortunately he also took out expert racer and teammate Dr. Garry Murray and dislocated his shoulder in the incident. A hard third to take given the circumstances. Dr G. Murray could have won the 600 expert championship had he finished top 4 for the rest of the day. FX race again great start couldn't stay with Bruce but held onto second until the last lap when Andrew Nichol passed me around the outside into turn three (nice pass).Another third. Open, final race of the year, just want to have another good start, and did 2nd place again for the first half of the race. Same story Andrew passes me, kind of slow down a bit thinking third should be easy.Not so much Steve Reuchert shows me a wheel with 2 laps to go going into three. Not happening you are not going to pass me. Pushed hard the rest of the race and held onto third place.For my first season of racing it was very fun, - the crash in the third round.
I would like to thank all my sponsors, (Formula Suzuki, Freightliner Manitoba., Morrell racing, Vortex, DP pads, Galfer brake lines, Hot Bodies racing, Shell Oils, team T.P.L., Rod Snyder for all you do for this team, Jason for always mounting tires when needed, and of course my wife Carla for coming out and supporting my habit and all that goes with it. Cheers Danny St Jean
Team Principal Rod Snyder: I would like to thank everyone involved with our team in 2009 for providing the much needed support that allows each of us to live our dream. Collectively the members of TPL racing would like to thank the MRA executive for giving us a safe affordable series to race in. To all of the volunteers who give their time so that we can race we all say thank you, thank you, thank you. To our sponsors, thank you so much for seeing the value in what we are trying to build. I hope that our sportsmanship and professionalism have helped each of your companies market of your fine products. 2010 is just around the corner and we look forward to increasing our foot print and raising the bar even higher next season.
TPL Racing would like to thank our sponsors for helping us race!
Freightliner Manitoba Ltd, Formula Suzuki, Superbike Toy Store, Sportbike Track Gear, Knox Body Armor, Capitol Motosports, DP brake pads, Galfer Brake Lines, Hot Bodies race bodies, MC Pro Design paint, Morell Racing, Bridgestone Racing Tires, Medical Grant Services.
TPL 2010 Season Schedule
April 10-April 11 Mid America
May 14-May 16 Gimli MRA Round 1
May 31 (Memorial Day)- Brainerd Comp Course
June 10- Brainerd Long Track Course
June 11-13 Gimli MRA Round 2
June 19th Ducati Revs Mid-America - Mid America
June 20th Ducati Revs Mid-America - Mid America
July 9-July 11 Gimli MRA Round 3
Aug 6-Aug 8 Gimli MRA Round 4
Sept 6 (Labor Day)- Brainerd Comp Course
Sept 11-Sept 13- Gimli MRA Round 5
October 9th- Motorsports Park Hastings
October 10th Motorsports Park Hastings NE
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