From the Fogi Racing Development Team
LEXINGTON, OH – Thornbury, ON’s Ben Young overcame numerous challenges to earn another top 10 finish in AMA Superstore.com SuperSport action at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Sunday.
Despite being forced to start from the back of the field due to a last minute technical mishap the rider of the Fogi Racing Development Team Yamaha YZF-R6 charged to a 10th place finish in the 17-lap race. Under similar circumstances the 18-year-old class rookie had finished 10th in his previous outing at Barber Motorsport Park.
“I think we’ve shown we have the ability to run at the front in this series,” Young said. “If some of these gremlins would just leave us alone I’m confident we could make a major step forward with our results.”
Set-up challenges and a lack of track knowledge kept Young down the timesheets during qualifying for the weekend’s two races and he lined up 18th on the grid.
A steady run in Saturday’s 17-lap race brought him home in 16th.
“I’m a little disappointed with that result,” Young admitted, “but I took two seconds off my qualifying time in that race so it shows we’ve been moving in the right direction.”
A change in tire choice and suspension settings had Young and the Fogi Racing Development Team in a confident mood heading into Sunday’s race. But disaster struck when the fuel line disconnected just before the start and the bike would not fire. The problem was quickly rectified but Young missed the sighting lap and was put at the back of the grid.
As at Barber, however, the teenager was able to make impressive progress through the field and was rewarded with a 10th place finish. He also turned his fastest lap of the weekend in that race.
“It’s nice to be able to reward the team with another top 10 result after a challenging weekend,” Young said. “The fact that I kept dropping my lap times proves to me that once I get familiar with a track I can be very competitive, and that we are making the right decisions in set-up with our Yamaha YZF-R6.”
Young left Mid-Ohio 12th in the SuperSport East point standings and within easy reach of the top 10.
Ben Young and Fogi Racing Development Team would like to thank Lean Angle, Motul, Arai, EBC Brakes, K&N, TechSpec Gripsters, MICS (Medical Information Carrier System), Turn2 Sportbike School, Arlen Ness, Vortex, Goodridge, AirTrix Paint Store, BCL Motorsports, Renthal, Infinet Designs, GP Tech, The Awning Company, Scot-Build Developments and Armour Bodies.