Press Release

Team Babbits Race Report - Toledo

MUSKEGON ,
Mi. (February 6, 2011) – Babbitts Motor Sports Racing returns to
Toledo, Ohio for two incredable nights of racing in hopes of taking
over the points lead. Tyler Bowers comes away with a win on Friday
night.  


Weekend race report brought to you by Maxxis.




Returning to Ohio and another double header weekend of racing, Team
Babbitt’s Monster Energy Kawasaki TiLUBE presented by Maxxis Tires Team
had mega momentum on their side from the wins they garnered at the
previous round in Denver.  Friday night in Toledo’s Huntington Center
saw Tyler Bowers track down early leader Jeff Gibson, make the pass,
and then gap the field to take his second win of the season. 
Overcoming poor starts; teammates Gray Davenport and Chad Johnson would
battle through the pack and finish fifth and sixth.  When the checkers
flew Saturday night, Tyler Bowers took second, Chad Johnson just missed
nabbing a podium with fourth, and Gray Davenport finished sixth.

Friday
night’s main began great for Tyler Bowers as he rounded turn one in
second.  Not quite as fortunate were teammates Chad Johnson (who had
earlier won his Heat Race), and Gray Davenport - both barely cracking
the top ten.   Within just a few laps though, Davenport and Johnson had
worked up into battling for a top five spot.  Johnson moved by
Davenport, and attempted another pass; unfortunately clipping that
rider’s bike.  Johnson then went down; which allowed Davenport back
by.  As Chad would comment “I had passed Gray and was moving forward
until I clipped my handlebars on (Dave) Ginolfi’s rear fender, and went
down.  It wasn’t the night that I wanted, but the night that I had”. 
With laps winding down, Bowers passed Gibson for the lead, and began to
check out.  “The night actually started horrible, as it was the first
time that I had not set the fastest lap times in practice” said Tyler. 
Johnson would regroup from his crash, and by race end would catch up to
the rear wheel of Davenport, and the duo would finish in fifth and
sixth.   “All in all the night turned out pretty decent.  I had a poor
gate pick, and started from the second row, so to get a top five finish
from that is okay” added Davenport.   “I’m pretty happy; in particular
I’m very happy with Tyler’s ride, as he rode patient and kept pressure
on Jeff.  Tyler waited until Jeff made a mistake, and rode very smart. 
Chad also rode well; in spite of hitting the rear fender of Ginolfi and
going down.  He pushed to recover the best that he could.  Then
Davenport finished just ahead of Chad, so he did well too” added Team
manager Denny Bartz.

Saturday
night’s main event saw the Team Babbitt’s guys recover from poor gate
picks to still be close to the front going into turn one – especially
Gray Davenport, who said “ I had a good start, and was actually right
behind leader Cole Siebler, but then fell back some.  My bike was
awesome, but I just struggled with the whoop section – that was my weak
point in Toledo”.  Still, Davenport would finish sixth for the night.  
“I had a pretty good start in the main, but then stuck my foot in
someone’s wheel.  I later battled with Gibson for third, but just
couldn’t get by him, and finished fourth” added Chad Johnson.  After a
crash in his heat race, Tyler Bowers was forced to go to the LCQ; which
he easily won.  Despite a poor gate pick, Tyler still made moves
through the pack to battle past main rival Jeff Gibson to finish an
impressive second overall!   “It’s all about the main event; both
night’s I rode smart, and pressured Gibson” said Bowers.

Noteworthy
in Toledo was the fact that Gray Davenport has a new mechanic; his name
is Ken Lile, who has previously been a member of the Babbitt’s Team. 
Also, Team Owner Eddie Babbitt and his family were in attendance. 
“It’s really great being here; this is the closest race to our home
base in Muskegon, Michigan and there are a lot of fans from home here. 
It was great to see Tyler get the win Friday; I think that he’s very
relaxed and happy with things – I hope we’ll see many more of these
(wins)” added Babbitt.   

Now
ranked second, third, and fourth in the Championship points, the team
travels south to Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky for round 6.  
For more on the team, check out www.teambabbitts.com 

February 6, 2011
Jim Kimball
0 comments

The Latest