Motorcycles and news

Bilansky Set to Defend ASRA Pro Thunderbike Title at Daytona February 28, 2007

Buell racer Dan Bilansky opens the 2007 American Sportbike Racing Association (ASRA) season at Daytona International Speedway the weekend of March 2-4, 2007, looking to keep his Buell Firebolt XB12R in one piece and get a jump on repeating his 2006 ASRA Pro Thunderbike Championship.

“Daytona’s always been one of those tracks that I hope to get out of with all of my equipment intact and some points. The track is hard on equipment, so even though you always need to go to a track with the attitude that you can win, I try to take it a little easier every time I’m at Daytona,” Bilansky said. “I’m sure the BMW teams did their homework over the winter, and with [Canadian Thunder champion] Darren James coming down to run most of the schedule here in the US this season, I think it’s going to be an even better season for the spectators. There should be some good racing, and hopefully I will be able to repeat last year’s championship for my Hal’s Speed Shop team.”

Bilansky, who wrapped up the 2006 ASRA Pro Thunderbike title in dramatic fashion with a one-point margin at the ASRA finale at Daytona last October, will also compete in the SunTrust MOTO-ST season opening Daytona 500K endurance race on March 4. His teammate will be Shawn Higbee on the Daytona H-D/Buell-sponsored Richie Morris Racing entry in the Grand Sport Twins class.

Six additional Buell teams will join them on MOTO-ST’s Grand Sport Twins class grid aboard Firebolt XBs: Canadians Darren James and Steve Crevier riding for Deeley H-D/Buell Canada/Ruthless Racing; Justin Garvin and Bobby Stellfox for Team All-American; Anthony Caligiuri and James Delk, Jr. for Liberty H-D/Buell; Paul James and Greg Avello of James Gang Racing/Hal’s Speed Shop; Jeff Johnson and Jess Roeder of Hoban Brothers Racing/Appleton H-D/Buell; and Tim Hall and Robert Johnson for Motorsports MG/Jim’s H-D/Buell of St. Petersburg.