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Team Suzuki/Yoshimura Rider Doug Gust
Preps for Upcoming Gatorback Event
Chino, CA (2/28/06) - After the first
few rounds of the GNC series, Team Suzuki/Yoshimura rider
Doug Gust has headed to Florida to train for the next
round of the series in Gainesville. The multi-time champion
from Wisconsin is getting acclimated to the heat and humidity
of the south before the March 12 Pro Open event at Gatorback
Cycle Park.
Gust is coming off of a 5th place finish at the Texas
round. This last event could have been a "Texas
Massacre" for Gust. After winning the first moto
in a convincing fashion, he tangled with another rider
in moto two. He was over a minute behind the pack before
he got going again. He managed to work his way up from
last place to 10th and card 5th overall on the day.
Just ask Gust how he keeps focused when bad luck happens
in a race and he'll tell you: "I just have to focus
on going as hard as I can, hope for the best, and get
into the top ten," Gust explains. It also helps
that Doug consistently had the fastest lap times of
the day. With his speed, Doug makes his own luck.
Looking forward to Gatorback, the "Digger"
has a better strategy: "I just gotta get a better
start and get out in front so I don't get in a tangle
with anyone." Gust showed in Texas that the combination
of the new Suzuki QuadRacer LT-R450 coupled with his
riding skills are a hard combination to beat. As any
novice racer knows the start is all important. It's
much easier racing from the front then coming through
the pack.
Team Manager Wayne Hinson concurs. "The strategy
is all about getting a strong start...or at least a
decent one. Both Doug and Jeremiah can both blitz through
the pack if they get a mid-pack start, but coming from
dead last after a pile-up is tough. So we need to get
out there and get in front and let the riders do their
jobs. Both riders are excited to be on the new LT-R's
and that's a big advantage."
Gust and his teammate Jeremiah Jones are riding Suzuki's
2006 QuadRacer LT-R450. Gust had a lot to do with the
design of this revolutionary quad and even went to Japan
to work with engineers. "I helped work out the
way the handlebars, footpegs and seats were, so the
quad would be comfortable to ride. I also tested the
chassis and suspension. I really like the bike and the
fuel injection system is really easy and reliable. You
don't have to do anything - it's like being automatically
jetted right and ready to go all the time."
The quad that Team Suzuki/Yoshimura is riding isn't
much different than what can be bought right off of
the showroom floor. "Yoshimura made some engine
mods; they've got their engine management system in
it and Hinson's clutch but that's about it on the inside.
The chassis sports Walsh A-arms, Fox shocks, Tag handlebars,
Blingstar's nerfs and Galfer brakes. Compared with other
bikes, though, this bike hardly needs anything. It comes
out of the box almost race ready. I'm even riding on
stock Dunlop tires." Gust enthusiastically remarks.
Gust is entering his third season as a factory rider
for Team Suzuki/ Yoshimura. How does he feel about being
part of a factory team? "The best thing is the
attention and support I get. All these guys are working
to help me be number one. It puts a lot of pressure
on me to deliver... It's one thing to disappoint yourself,
but I mean I've got this whole team busting their butts.
I'm really looking forward to this season. I've got
a great bike in the 'R450 and my whole crew is just
doing an awesome job. I'm really lucky." As previously
stated... luck has nothing to do with it.
Team Suzuki/Yoshimura Programs Partners
American Suzuki - Yoshimura R&D of America - Hinson
Clutch Components - Dunlop Tires - Motul - Fox Racing
Shox - Galfer Blingstar - BMC Filters - Tag - Regina
- RPM - Walsh Racecraft - Quad Tech - Douglas Wheel
- Motion Pro - Precision Steering Stabilizer - VP Fuels
- Mechanix Wear - Pro Design
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