From Pirelli

A Close Second by Cardenas in AMA Supersport on Pirelli Diablos

Una chimba! Columbian sensation Martin Cardenas showed the sensation at Virginia International Raceway, finishing second in AMA Supersport for the M4 EMGO Suzuki team, teaching us how to say "Cool!" in Columbian at the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals.

Cardenas had qualified in eighth for Supersport on his Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa-shod Suzuki GSX-R600. Quickly into fifth place in the race, Cardenas was credited with a fourth-place grid position on the front row after a mid-race red flag. Nailing the hole shot for the final nine laps, Cardenas led into turn one and out of turn three, marking the first time for Cardenas to unofficially lead an AMA Superbike series race, giving up the lead before crossing the start-finish line. Cardenas hounded eventual race-winner Josh Hayes to the checkered flag, finishing just 1.4 seconds behind. This was Cardenas' first time at VIR and it's Pirelli's 17th podium in the AMA Superbike series in 2007, starting off with Pirelli's sweep of the Daytona 200 podium.

Finishing in fifth in Supersport was Geoff May, Cardenas' teammate at M4 EMGO Suzuki, who coach Cardenas on the technical VIR circuit. Also finishing near the front of the pack on Pirelli's were Steve Rapp on his Attack Kawasaki in seventh, and Nicky Moore and Taylor Knapp in 10th and 11th.

In Sunday's Superstock race, M4 EMGO Suzuki's Geoff May was holding third until his motorcycle became undynamic at mid-point in the race. Meanwhile, Chris Ulrich took another top ten with his seventh-place finish on his GSX-R1000, while British rider Gary Mason, new to Chris Ulrich's Roadracingworld.com team, finished tenth, each using Pirelli's Superbike Slicks on the big bikes. Team HALOF's Scott Jensen earned ninth on his GSX-R1000. Jensen also competed in AMA Superbike, finishing in 11th