Austin Howell normally competes on a privateer Suzuki, but had an engine let go, which meant that he was on the struggle bus to get it rebuilt, as well as pay for it. The good news was, as a way to hold him over, the Blue Buffalo/Slater Skins/Yamaha team let him ride Ben LaMay's bike. (Ben was racing in the Caribbean.) The bad news? Austin didn't qualify. Southwick is one of those places that provides some surprises in the form of really fast locals). Jesse Wentland was another guy who's normally in the show that didn't make it here. Oh, and the bonus good news is that Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing helped him out with a new case.