Press Release

AMA Arenacross Series Interview of the Week: GPF/Babbitt’s Kawasaki’s Daniel Aulsaybrok






AURORA, Ill.
(March 17, 2010) It’s
been a memorable couple of weeks and an even more memorable year for the
Georgia-based GPF/Babbitt’s Kawasaki team. Two weeks ago in Reno, Ray
and Josh
Woods witnessed their rookie rider A.J. Catanzaro dominate two nights of
racing
to take full control of the AMA Arenacross Lites Western Regional
Championship.
Last weekend in Council Bluffs, the Woods’ second-year rider Daniel
Aulsaybrook
captured his first-career victory to go along with a runner-up result.
Now, as
the AMA Arenacross Lites Eastern Regional Championship finale commences
this weekend
from Dayton, Ohio and the Nutter Center, Aulsaybrook sits just four
points
behind Chad Wages at the top of the standings.





It’s been a
solid year for Aulsaybrook, who
has been a front-runner at each and every round. After suffering an
injury
prior to the start of the 2009 season, he wasn’t able to compete and as a
result, entered 2010 rejuvenated and with something to prove to not only
his
competitors and his team, but himself as well.





We
caught up with the kid they call “Dano” to get his thoughts on his
breakthrough
victory as well as his chances at grabbing the title on Saturday night.




Dano, you were
finally able to break through and get that elusive first-career victory
last
weekend. You’ve experienced some ups and downs since making the move
into the
AMA Arenacross Series. How does it feel to finally achieve that goal?

It
feels amazing. Last year I didn’t really get much of a chance to show
myself
and I didn’t really come in prepared either. For me, this year, I went
down to
GPF in October and put two to three months of hard work in. I think it
has
really showed. It took me a while to get that win, but coming into the
season I
kind of felt like I should be there the whole time.



You got hurt last
year heading into your first season in the series and with the Georgia
Practice
Facility (GPF) team. What did you learn from that to help you understand
more
about yourself, the sport and what it takes to win?

Basically,
arenacross is just a totally different beast. From supercross to
motocross,
arenacross is just totally different. Basically, the biggest thing I’ve
learned
from being around arenacross is experience. You have to put your time
in. It’s
too hard to just jump into it. So learning how everything goes, getting
used to
the track and the flow of the race is totally different too. Basically,
I’ve
just learned to become familiar with everything and I guess that’s it.




Your teammate, A.J.,
has also had a phenomenal year. You’ve both ridden up front pretty much
the
entire season. Does it allow the two of you to feed off each other and
try to
beat one another each week?



Oh yeah, definitely.
A.J. is a great rider and he’s a young guy too. I really didn’t know too
much
about him coming in because he was a last-minute decision (for GPF).
When he
came down to GPF we started riding together and I was like ‘wow.’ We
have the
same riding style and we both almost have the same speed so I believe we
pushed
each other to go faster right away. There’s definitely a bit of
competition between
us two and, I don’t know, I think it’s really good for the both of us.
We enjoy
racing with each other and it’s awesome to have him on my team for sure.




The GPF squad really
tries to take riders under their wings and help them become elite
arenacross competitors.
What has the commitment from the team meant to you, especially after
going down
with an injury last season?



Oh man, Team GPF has been everything. The Woods family is so awesome –
Ray,
Josh, Terry – the whole program. Just having the Georgia Practice
Facility and
to be a part of that is amazing and I’m glad they’ve stuck with me. I
showed
last year that I was a hard worker so they knew coming into this year
that I
work hard for what I do and they knew I wasn’t scared to put in the laps
and
become a better rider and I believe I did that. Josh is obviously a
former
professional motocross rider and has a pretty nice resume, so working
with him,
he knows a lot. I have all the right tools around me and I believe I’ve
become
a much better arenacross racer and all around racer.



You’re a competitor
in the AMA Arenacross Lites Eastern Regional Championship but you have
also
raced in the Western Regional rounds, winning your first race at one.
How has
that been an asset to you?



It’s amazing. The west rounds are more of a practice but we still take
them
seriously. For me to get that win on Saturday was amazing. It was also my best
weekend so far. That weekend right there – a huge confidence booster for
rolling into this weekend in Dayton. I know where I should be and I know
my
speed. I took a couple weeks off before Council Bluffs and did some
riding with
Ryan Sipes and I believe that just talking to him has really boosted my
confidence. I’m just ready to get to the race.



You have a chance to
win the title this weekend and now you have a huge momentum boost. Do
you feel
like that championship is up for grabs? Maybe yours for the taking?



Totally. 100 percent. I mean, the beginning of my season started out
inconsistent. I came out swinging in Grand Rapids the first night, but I
had a
bit there where I was pretty inconsistent.  Now, Tyler Bright is in the
top 10
of the Arenacross class so he’s out of the hunt and I’m only four points
behind
Chad Wages. I’m going for the championship. Just go out there and race
for the
win. It’s the best I can do.



What’s the plan for
the future of Dano Aulsaybrook? Do you come back to defend the title
should you
win it?



What is next? Basically, I’m going to go out and race some nationals
this
summer but a far as arenacross goes, if I do get that title it would be
awesome
to defend it. However, I’m kind of leaning towards jumping into the
(Arenacross) class. I love the lites class and I think it’s a great
experience,
but I believe I belong in the (Arenacross) class and I think I could
really
come out with some good results.



Advance
tickets are available for this weekend’s Dayton Arenacross at the Nutter
Center
Box Office, Ticketmaster charge by phone and ticketmaster.com. Tickets cost $2
more the day of the race.





Fans
in attendance also can take part in the Track Party on Saturday from 5-6 p.m.
for the chance to meet the riders and get autographs. Simply recycle
any MONSTER
ENERGY can
at the gate entrance for FREE admission.
Must
have valid Saturday event ticket to enter.





Tickets
for all rounds of the 2010 season can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com
and www.arenacross.com.





For more
information on the AMA Arenacross Series log on to www.arenacross.com.





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