Official Team Release
Contact: Michelle Petroff, Tony Stewart/Eric Saunders Racing, (618) 406-6842 or michelle@michellepetroff.com
ERIC SAUNDERS REPEATS WITH TRIPLE 1st PLACE OVERALL HONORS AT MOTOLAND FOR TONY STEWART RACING
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (May 28, 2007) – Same name. Same game. Eric Saunders, the fourteen year-old motocross ace from Tony Stewart Racing, once again has bested the field in three out of four class wins during a busy weekend of racing. The only difference is in the venue. After a dominating performance at Trojan Raceway’s “Ponca City Qualifier”, Saunders and team trekked to Motoland in Kingsbury, IN, on May 19th-20th.
Eric competed in the 14-24 class and 125cc Youth classes on Saturday. He was beat into the corner and outpowered by the 450cc bikes in the 14-24 class but still fought his way back through the pack for a respectable 7th place in the first moto. He struggled with the same disadvantage to the bigger bikes in the second moto with 4th place finish and overall 5th place standing. Once back on a level playing field in the 125cc Youth class, action picked back up as the Hoosier native blasted from the gate taking the lead that he never relinquished en route to both moto wins and the 1st place honors.
On Sunday, Saunders returned to both divisions rejuvenated and on his mark. After a disappointing 5th place ranking the previous day in the 14-24 class, Eric was determined to make it thrilling for the staff of Cycle USA Magazine that was on tap for the event. He was able to finish a very strong 2nd place in moto #1 against the larger bored bikes and had a costly tangle with a fellow rider in moto #2 but was able to charge back through the pack making the most of his TORCO Race Fuels/Race Tech Suspension/Fiber Wise Pasta powered Suzuki before crossing the stripe in third. Eric’s consistent performance notched top overall honors before the tackled a repeat in the 125cc Youth division which came with ease.
This weekend the Tony Stewart Racing/Eric Saunders Racing MX team is not involved in competition and is participating in various tests before preparing for action next weekend at the “Loretta Lynn Qualifier” at Sunday Creek, OH.
The Tony Stewart/Eric Saunders Racing MX Team would like to thank their loyal sponsors - Tony Stewart Racing, Bass Pro Shops, American Suzuki, TORCO Race Fuels, Race Tech Suspension, Troy Lee Designs, K&N Filters, Oxtar Boots, Scott USA, Skorbords, Wiseco Pistons, Rims Plus and Kenda Tires. For more information on Eric Saunders, check out http://www.ericsaundersmx.com
May 18, 2007
Official Team Release
Contact Info: Michelle Petroff, Tony Stewart/Eric Saunders Racing, (618) 406-6842 or michelle@michellepetroff.com
SAUNDERS & TONY STEWART RACING TEAM SNAG TRIFECTA IN “PONCA CITY QUALIFIER”
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (May 18, 2007) – Tony Stewart Racing’s young motocross rider Eric Saunders once again dominated a potent field in multiple classes during an action packed weekend of racing at Trojan Raceway’s “Ponca City Qualifier”. The team traveled to the popular North Webster, IN, raceplex for the special event with the hopes of qualifying for the prestigious “Ponca City Grand National” event later this fall. Saunders not only earned a reserved spot but also captured the spotlight with anything but a conservative performance.
Saunders, 14, started his weekend off strong with a start to finish lead in the 125cc Youth class. He repeated that debut performance with yet again more sweeps in the 125cc Youth as well as we the 14-24 class, 125 B class and Supermini division. Eric’s finally credits include holeshotting all six motos and three overall wins.
“We had a great weekend for Tony Stewart racing and all of our sponsors,” commented Saunders. “We have worked as a team from everyone at American Suzuki and suspension testing with Race Tech to communicating with sponsors like TORCO Race Fuels and Kenda Tires to help get any little advantage we can out of our bikes and working as a team, we found something. During the off-season I also started getting more mental and physical training to keep up with the demands of multiple classes and tough competition. A nutritionist recommended loading up on carbs to help boost energy and I’m lucky enough to have a relationship with Fiber Wise Pasta so that’s what’s for dinner every day before a race.”
Whatever formula for success the Saunders’ team is using, it is clearly working! After returning to their hometrack at Trojan, it was evident how far they have come. “Its nice to come back and race at my local track against people that I started competing with years ago,” Saunders added. “When you come back to the places you cut your teeth on, you can really see how you matured and developed as a racer. We still have a lot to work on but with my current program and sponsors, we are up front for a reason.”
Saunders plans to return to action next this weekend at Kingsbury, Indiana’s Motoland for the Cycle USA Magazine season opener. to attend Motoland in Kingsbury, Indiana for their first race of the season.
The Tony Stewart/Eric Saunders Racing MX Team would like to thank their loyal sponsors - Tony Stewart Racing, Bass Pro Shops, American Suzuki, TORCO Race Fuels, Race Tech Suspension, Troy Lee Designs, K&N Filters, Oxtar Boots, Scott USA, Skorbords, Wiseco Pistons, Rims Plus and Kenda Tires. For more information on Eric Saunders, check out http://www.ericsaundersmx.com
May 9, 2007
Official Team Release
Contact Info: Michelle Petroff, Tony Stewart/Eric Saunders Racing, (618) 406-6842 or michelle@michellepetroff.com
ERIC SAUNDERS PROPELS TONY STEWART RACING TEAM TO THE FRONT… AGAIN!
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (May 9, 2007) – Yet another week has passed of wheel-to-wheel, high-flying motocross action for young Eric Saunders and the 14 year-old two-wheel dynamo has yet again earned his stripes against some of the brightest young motocross riders.
In fact, Saunders, who comes out of the stables of two-time NASCAR Nextel Cup champ Tony Stewart, once again notched six holeshots and was earned first place overall honors in three different divisions. The Suzuki protégé took top brass in the 85cc – 14-15, 125cc Youth and Supermini classes at Michigan’s Red Bud MX.
Eric and his Tony Stewart Racing/Fiber Wise Pasta/TORCO Race Fuels/Kenda Tire Suzuki team came out of the gate strong and made short work of the competitive field of riders present for the “Suzuki Spring Classic”. Saunders holeshotted and never relinquished nearly a twenty second lead in both the 125cc Youth and Supermini classes. The young throttle-stomper was looking for another sweep of the 85cc 14-15 year-old class and notched a holeshot but hopes were soon dashed after a rear brake malfunction.
“I can’t say enough about how great our Suzuki bikes were all day,” commented triple-duty Saunders. “After working with Race Tech, our performance improved last weekend and we just continued that at Red Bud. I’m so thankful for all of our sponsors but definitely, those two and TORCO Race Fuel, Wiseco Pistons and Kenda Tires really made the difference for us today. Our bikes were just fierce out of the gate and the Kenda Millville tires hooked up better than my competitors so we were able to get a strong lead and keep it rather than fading near the end of each race.”
Indeed Saunders didn’t fade. Other than the faulty braking system that was quickly swapped out in time for another 17-second margin win in the second 85cc 14-15 moto, the teen phenom was the one all the other riders were chasing.
“Redbud is one of my home tracks and the Richie family always put on a great program,” Saunders added. “They ran extra laps, which was perfect for me because I had been working with my trainer, Bryan McDonald from Longshot Racing, all of last week and had a chance to put some of our lessons into action. It was awesome to race with the immense amount of talent that Redbud attracts and to support American Suzuki.”
Next weekend, Saunders will compete at the “Ponca City Qualifier” at Trojan Raceway in North Webster, IN.
The Tony Stewart/Eric Saunders Racing MX Team would like to thank their loyal sponsors - Tony Stewart Racing, Bass Pro Shops, American Suzuki, TORCO Race Fuels, Race Tech Suspension, Troy Lee Designs, K&N Air Filters, Oxtar Boots, Scott USA, Skorbords, Wiseco Pistons, Rims Plus and Kenda Tires. For more information on Eric Saunders, check out http://www.ericsaundersmx.com
May 3, 2007
Official Team Release
Contact Info: Michelle Petroff, Tony Stewart/Eric Saunders Racing, (618) 406-6842 or michelle@michellepetroff.com
TRIPLE THREAT PERFORMANCE FOR ERIC SAUNDERS/TONY STEWART RACING
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (May 3, 2007) - Eric Saunders, the fourteen year-old Hoosier motocross protégé from the Tony Stewart Racing stables, came out swinging with a strong weekend performance in three divisions at the 62 acres of natural terrain at the D&D Motorsports Complex in Rochester, IN. Saunders earned a pair of first place honors in the Supermini and 125 - 12-15 Youth classes and a runner-up finish in the Open - 14-24 classes.
Eric and his Tony Stewart Racing Suzuki team came out of the gate strong on Saturday earning four wins in six moto events. He poised himself at the top of the standings and swept the Supermini class as well as the 125 - 12-15 Youth class before tackling the Open 14-24 classes.
“The disadvantage I currently have in racing the bigger bored bikes like in the Open - 14-24 class is the start,” noted Saunders who is in his first year of eligibility for the division. “I came out of the gate about fourth and 20 seconds down but by the fourth lap, I was only about three seconds down so its just a matter of getting a better start so we can go home with a clean sweep.”
Sunday was yet another repeat performance of Saturday’s events for the Saunders’ camp. Eric once again swept the Supermini and 125 - 12-15 Youth fields and picked up four moto wins. Later in the day, he struggled to find the number one spot in the Open - 14-24 class but dug deep and came home with an impressive second place finish.
“All in all this has been a great weekend for me. I learned some things but I also came out on top in two classes,” Eric added at the closing ceremonies. “Todd from Race Tech Suspension and I spent all of last week testing my suspension and getting my bikes tuned up for this weekend. Because of that, I felt great about what was underneath me today.”
Next weekend, Saunders will compete at the “Suzuki Spring Classic” at Red Bud USA in Buchanan, MI. The young Indiana rider hopes to carry the momentum forward to Red Bud and come home with a clean sweep.
The Tony Stewart/Eric Saunders Racing MX Team would like to thank their loyal sponsors - Tony Stewart Racing, Bass Pro Shops, TMC Transportation, Pilot Travel Centers, American Suzuki, Race Tech Suspension, Troy Lee Designs, TORCO Race Fuels, K&N Air Filters, Oxtar Boots, Scott USA, Skorbords, Wiseco Pistons, Rims Plus and Kenda Tires. For more information on Eric Saunders, check out http://www.ericsaundersmx.com |
