Yamaha Champions Riding School to Sponsor AMA’s SGA Racing Team

February 13, 2012

The Yamaha Champions Riding School (YCRS) has announced it will sponsor Bloomington, store Indiana-based SGA Racing team for the 2012 AMA Pro Road Racing Daytona 200 on March 17 and the 2012 WERA Endurance Series. 

The joint venture will be called the SGA Racing/Yamaha Champions Riding School team, and the team will enter AMA racer Tommy Aquino on its No. 827 SGA Racing/Yamaha Champions Riding School Yamaha YZF-R6 for his return to the iconic Daytona 200, the season opener for the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Championship. The team will also field Phil Horwitz on the No. 26 SGA Racing/Yamaha Champions Riding School Yamaha YZF-R6 in the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport West championship. 

The SGA Racing/Yamaha Champions Riding School team’s WERA National Endurance Series program will be a two-bike campaign, including a variety of riders, running in two four-hour races and two six-hour races. World Superbike Champion Scott Russell, championship-winning racer Dale Kieffer and AMA Pro racers Aquino and Chris Peris are rotating members of the first team. The other is currently an all-women’s team, with AMA Pro racer Melissa Paris and Katharin Zimpel doing the majority of the riding. 

SGA Racing owner Charlie Grannon has attended numerous Yamaha Champions Riding Schools and has first-hand knowledge of the school’s professionalism and dedication to developing better riders and racers. 

“I can’t believe how lucky I am to have the support of such a first-rate riding school,” he said. “I look forward to competing in and winning races with our Graves-prepared Yamaha YZF-R6s, our professional crew and these experienced riders.” 

YCRS Lead Instructor Nick Ienatsch is excited to have the school supporting SGA Racing. Grannon and Zimpel are graduates of the school, and Russell, Kieffer, Peris, Aquino, Paris and Horwitz have served the school as instructors, so it was a natural fit. 

“When SGA approached the Yamaha Champions Riding School about sponsorship, we saw a great way to back this new team,” said Ienatsch. “Tommy Aquino finished 2011 with a win, and the SGA team simply has to deliver reliable support at Daytona; Aquino has the talent and desire to win the 200. In addition to Tommy’s debut with the team, it’s great to have Phil Horwitz on an SGA R6 in the SuperSport West championship. 

“SGA also plans to run the WERA Endurance Series, and we jumped at the chance to back this program because endurance racing is the heart of our sport. Bike setup and horsepower takes a second seat to rider input, and that’s what our school is all about: the rider.”

by Ismail Uddin