Zemke clinches Formula Xtreme title

From AMA Pro Racing

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- Bridesmaid no more, Jake Zemke won the 2008 AMA Formula Xtreme championship in an epic race at Road Atlanta last weekend.

Zemke's successful season wrapped with his last-lap dogfight for the win with Erion Honda teammate Josh Hayes. In a final-corner nail-biter, Zemke decided to back off rather than risk a pass that could have put them both off the track.

Showing good sense and true grit Zemke, from Paso Robles, CA, only had to stay in front of Steve Rapp -- who finished more than seven seconds arrears in fourth place -- to clinch his first AMA Pro Racing series title after nine of 10 rounds one race early.

In his 12-year AMA professional road racing career Zemke, 32, has finished championships in the top five 11 times, the top three nine times, been runner-up five times and this year, the Erion Honda Racing star has finally secured his first crown.

"I'm happy to bring the championship home today," said the new champ. "Josh has been a great teammate. We've been friends for a long time, so congratulations to him and to our team, as well, for getting back up on the podium."