May earns breakthrough victory

From amasuperbike.com

After years of knocking on the door, Jordan Suzuki's Geoff May finally claimed his first-career AMA victory on Saturday at Miller Motorsports Park with a dominating effort in the nine-lap Superstock final.

Despite a somewhat difficult transition to the high-profile team early in the season, May was confident the season would come his way once the tour hit his preferred style of wide-open, fast racing venues.

He proved his prediction correct with Saturday's performance.

Once working past holeshot winner Blake Young (who was judged to have rolled at the start and was issued a stop-and-go penalty) and Team ESP's Chris Peris on the race's opening lap-and-a-half, the Georgian cleared off and had to battle his nerves more than his opponents on his way to the checkered flag.

After surviving one big moment late in the race, the ecstatic May crossed the stripe with a stand-up wheelie before shaking his fists in a combination of joy and relief.

Points leader Aaron Yates gave the Jordan Suzuki squad a 1-2 result, working past polesitter Jake Holden on the Corona Honda CBR1000RR and building up some separation before taking the flag as the runner-up.

Afterwards, May was a bit teary-eyed as he said, "Man, it's been so long. It hasn't even sunk in yet. I've been there so many times when I've seen +2.5 on my board, leading the race, and it's come down to the end of the race and this guy next to me (Yates) inevitably, seems like he always gets me somehow.

"I was having flashbacks out there for the last three laps. I was watching the board and I was wanting to go faster. They weren't catching me but I felt like I was going slow. I brought it home for Jordan Suzuki today."

Asked exactly how long he's been waiting for this win since it became a realistic possibility, May said, "It's been three years this weekend. I had a 2.5-second gap at Road America and Aaron beat me. He ran me down and passed me on the last lap. Three years."

While he's fighting and uphill battle, May feels he's still in this title fight, currently trailing teammate Yates 170-141 (with Holden splitting the Jordan runners at 156), especially with Road America next up on the season slate.

Holden held on for third while Peris and Californian David Anthony rounded out the top five. Holden said the afternoon weather conditions caught him a bit off guard.

Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki's Robertino Pietri and Chris Ulrich finished sixth and seventh, respectively, while Foot & Leg Healthcare' s Ryan Elleby, KWS Motorsports' Ben Thompson, and HALOF Racing's Hawk Mazzotta completed the top 10.

Race Results (9 laps)
1. Geoff May Suzuki GSX-R1000 25:32.516/94.842 mph
2. Aaron Yates Suzuki GSX-R1000 +2.553
3. Jake Holden Honda CBR1000RR +5.248
4. Chris Peris Suzuki GSX-R1000 +18.541
5. David Anthony Suzuki GSX-R1000 +24.694
6. Robertino Pietri Suzuki GSX-R1000 +30.364
7. Chris Ulrich Suzuki GSX-R1000 +31.485
8. Ryan Elleby Suzuki GSX-R1000 +31.841
9. Ben Thompson Suzuki GSX-R1000 +35.588
10. Hawk Mazzotta Suzuki GSX-R1000 +41.267
11. Blake Young Suzuki GSX-R1000 +46.404
12. Seth Starnes Suzuki GSX-R1000 +51.848
13. Zac Chapman Suzuki GSX-R1000 +54.241
14. Davie Stone Suzuki GSX-R1000 9 laps
15. Chad Lewin Suzuki GSX-R1000 9
16. Eric Haugo Suzuki GSX-R1000 9
17. Martin Szwarc Suzuki GSX-R1000 9
18. Scotty Van Hawk Suzuki GSX-R1000 9
19. Talmage R. Thornton Suzuki GSX-R1000 9
20. C. R. Gittere Suzuki GSX-R1000 9
21. J. B. Layman Suzuki GSX-R1000 9
22. Brad Puetz Suzuki GSX-R1000 9
23. Joshua Ellingson Suzuki GSX-R1000 9
24. Johnny Rock Page Yamaha YZF-R1 8
25. Santiago Villa Suzuki GSX-R1000 7
26. Scott Jensen Suzuki GSX-R1000 5
27. Guy Tomlinson Suzuki GSX-R1000 9-DQ
28. Andrew Carruthers Suzuki GSX-R1000 9-DQ
29. Kevin Boisvert Suzuki GSX-R1000 9-DQ