Crash spoils final AMA weekend for Young

Crash spoils final AMA weekend for Young

Fogi Racing Development Team

THORNBURY, Ont. (September 6) – Thornbury, Ont. motorcycle road racer Ben Young had a trying finish to the AMA Pro Road Racing season at New Jersey Motorsport Park in Millville, N.J. last weekend.

An unlucky crash during qualifying left the Fogi Racing Development Team rider with a suspected fractured shoulder, although he bravely elected to compete in the final two SuperSport races of the season aboard his Yamaha YZF-R6.

Young went down in the second of the SuperSport qualifying sessions after running over debris from another rider’s crash and losing traction just seven laps into the session. In addition to injuring his shoulder Young was left 28th on the starting grid for the two races.

The opening 19-lap contest was held just a few hours after Young’s fall on Saturday and the demanding 12-turn, 2.2-mile track took its toll, but the Yamaha rider persevered for a 25th place finish.

On Sunday Young was feeling less encumbered by his injury and in the opening stages of the race he made the sort of charge from the back of the grid that has distinguished his season. He was up to 20th spot after only four laps but then his R6 developed a clutch problem that forced him out of the race after five laps.

“This has been my toughest weekend of the season,” admitted Young, who wound up 14th in the final SuperSport East point standings. “I so wanted to finish my rookie AMA season in the top 10.

“The team has worked so hard throughout the season but we’ve been dogged with something at each event. With all the bad luck and the steep learning curve of racing in the AMA Championships, I think we will be better prepared for the 2012 season and in a position to really make an impact.

“I can’t thank all my sponsors enough for their support. 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 have all played a big role in giving me the opportunity to compete this season.”

Young and the Fogi Racing Development Team will be out at the final round of the RACE SuperSeries at Shannonville Motorsport Park September 23-25. This will mark the first time Young has raced a 600cc motorcycle in Canada.