“Aaron is a former Champion and regular race winner. If we can give him the right machine, I am confident we will be able to run with the factory teams this year.”
After a hasty preparation for the first two races of the 2009 season, AMA newcomer Trifoglio Racing has now firmly established itself as strong contender in the American Superbike Series. The new team fields 2004 AMA Superstock Champion Aaron Gobert on 2009 Honda CBR1000RR machines.
Seasoned AMA Superstock competitor and established Seattle developer Lash Mullen, along with former World Superbike and Corona Honda AMA Superbike Crew Chief Dwayne McCracken, formed Trifoglio Racing. Mullen and McCracken created the team to leverage Mullen’s strong racing and business background and McCracken’s race-winning technical skills to make a competitive run in the fastest Series in American roadracing.
To ensure strong performances on track, Trifoglio Racing has employed former Yamaha and Honda factory rider, Aaron Gobert. Gobert has excelled and won a Championship on Superstock equipment, so the new, more-limited modifications of the American Superbike class made him a good choice for the lightly modified 1000cc machine.
With a near-stock, ten-day-old motorcycle at the first race at Daytona, Gobert came home 12th, getting more comfortable on the new bike with each lap. Due to a late entry for the Auto Club Speedway round, Gobert was forced to compete on Jake Holden’s Honda CBR1000RR, and overheating problems held Gobert to 10th and 11th in Fontana, CA.
With time back at the team’s California headquarters, McCracken, Lee’s Cycle’s Jeremy Toye and FMF Racing have been able to coax nearly 200 rear-wheel horsepower out of the big Honda. That increase in speed along with Gobert’s experience at the flowing Road Atlanta track has the team eyeing a top eight finish at the next round of the Series. And as the year progresses, Team Manager, Mullen hopes to break into the top five and even reach the podium.
Mullen claims, “Aaron is a former Champion and regular race winner. If we can give him the right machine, I am confident we will be able to run with the factory teams this year.”
Look for Trifoglio Racing at Road Atlanta April 3-5 and in the remainder of the AMA American Superbike Championship.
For more information on the team and sponsorship opportunities, contact Lash Mullen at Lash@TrifoglioRacing.com
About Trifoglio Racing
Formed in March 2009, Trifoglio Racing is a new AMA American Superbike team focused on hard work and strong results. The team is owned by real-estate developer Lash Mullen and accomplished Crew Chief Dwayne McCracken. In 2009 they will contest the American Superbike Series with 2004 AMA Superstock Champion Aaron Gobert riding a Honda CBR1000RR. Trifoglio Racing is supported by FMF, Galfer Brakes, Vortex, American Honda and Lee’s Cycle.
