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Team Suzuki Yoshimura readies for season opener
Chino, CA (2/1/06)
- Team Suzuki Yoshimura is completing final track
testing on the new LT-R450 Suzuki Quads in preparation
for the coming season. Both Doug Gust and Jeremiah
Jones have been putting countless laps on these awesome
new machines developing race settings.
"This new quad is awesome,"
Digger Doug said during testing at Glen Helen Raceway,
"It's as advertised... clearly a new level in
quad performance." Doug performed double duties
at a recent Glen Helen test day. After heavy rains
made the track impassible, Doug hopped on a dozer
and helped track personnel cut a rideable path. The
likeable Wisconsin racer then hopped onto his LT-R450
for a 35-minute moto.
Jeremiah Jones has been squeezing testing
in between taking care of a new baby. "My son is
sleeping pretty good through the night now so it's not
so bad to come out here and test. At least we had a
little time together as a family before testing started
up in earnest. I bought a new motor home so I'll be
able to be with the family at races this year. That
will make it a lot nicer."
Jeremiah was positively scorching the
test tracks around California these last few months.
He feels confident that he can win this year. "I'm
going into the season healthy and this new quad is
unreal," Jones said. "Suzuki really did
their homework on this thing, it is really fast and
handles better then anything I've ever ridden. I can
win on this quad for sure."
Team Manager Wayne Hinson feels good
going into the new season. The veteran of multiple
championship winning teams from Gary Denton to Doug
Gust, feels that the LTR is good. "I'm pretty
happy with this new quad," said Wayne, "You
never know till the first race, but I think we are
going to have something really competitive with this
new LTR. I am looking forward to the first race to
see where we stand."
When asked about how testing has been
going, Wayne responded, "Really good. We have a
lot of hours on the machine and have not had any significant
problems... that's unusual for a new bike." Wayne
went on, "We have the suspension sorted out for
both riders. They run very different settings but they
are both happy at this point. Motor wise we have no
issues at all. We were concerned about the fuel injection
initially as we had never run anything but carbs. But
now, I'll never go back, this EFI works so smooth and
easily. We did a lot of testing initially but we keep
getting back to the fact that you just get on it and
ride. It works awesome!"
The team itself goes into the season much
the same as last year. Paul Turner will be twisting
wrenches for Doug Gust. Ryan Cox for Jeremiah Jones.
John Lawson will also be working on the Gust machines
while Billy Griner has been brought in to drive the
truck. Wayne Hinson returns as Team Manager while Don
Sakakura oversees the entire effort for Yoshimura.
"We have had good feedback so far
with this new machine and feel that it will be very
competitive." Yoshimura racing boss Sakakura
says, "The Suzuki engineers did an excellent
job with this unit, and we anticipate good results."
One thing for sure, With Jones and Gust
behind the handlebars, the
throttle will be used to it's fullest extent.
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