Team Corser took the win the in the first-ever BigM Weekend Superbike Super Celebrity Mega Kart Showdown
The racing at Miller Motorsports Park got underway on Friday, but it was four wheels, not two, burning laps at the Utah circuit. The first-ever BigM Weekend Superbike Super Celebrity Mega Kart Showdown featured 60-plus participants. A total of 15 four-rider quads were comprised of professional racers pulled from the
World Superbike and AMA Pro Racing ranks – the racers then teamed up with a media celebrity, racing fan and member of the military.
Team Corser took top honors in the inaugural karting event. The former SBK champ and current BMW rider shared the credit with: Rick Aaron, a correspondent with the local Fox television affiliate; racing fan Kellen Birch, of Rexburg, Idaho; and Ryan Whitehouse, who is stationed at the nearby Deseret Chemical Depot.
Runner up was Team Paris, with AMA Pro Racing competitor Melissa Paris getting bragging rights over her husband – AMA SuperBike’s Josh Hayes. Team Checa took third, the SBK points leader figuring to be the favorite heading into Monday.
Checa and Corser weren’t the only SBK riders to participate, with Aprilia’s Max Biaggi, Castrol Honda’s Jonathan Rae, BMW’s Leon Haslam and Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes also turning laps on the kart track and imparting tips to their teammates. Members of the armed services were in uniform, with Utah home to numerous military instillations including the Dugway Proving Grounds, Hill Air Force Base and other facilities.
Green Beret Jensen campaigning on Team Hayden in the BigM Weekend Superbike Super Celebrity Mega Kart Showdown. The MMP SBK round runs in conjunction with the Memorial Day Weekend, a now annual tradition in Utah.
One military participant, Tyler Jensen, was there following direct orders – “fun orders” he noted. Stationed in nearby Camp Williams (southeast over the Oquirrh Mountains that separate Tooele from Salt Lake Valley), Jensen found himself teamed with AMA rider Roger Hayden on the Kart track - the Las Vegas native having a ball in his first-ever track time. A Green Beret, Jensen has served constant deployments during his 15 years in the service, saying only: “They keep us pretty busy out there.”
It’s a serious note to the fun festivities, and a reminder of the Memorial Day Holiday which runs in conjunction with the BigM Weekend. Like last year, the MMP Memorial Day infield features a Tribute Field of 2011 American flags. Active duty military and veterans are eligible for 50% discounts at MMP events, including the BigM Weekend.
The actual two-wheeled racing action commences Saturday morning, with practice and qualifying sessions for World Superbike and the four AMA Pro Racing classes. Follow the SBK and AMA Pro Racing action at
www.motorcycle-usa.com and get updates via the
MotoUSA Twitter Feed.
BigM Weekend Superbike Super Celebrity Mega Kart Showdown kicked off the racing festivities at Miller.
Jonathan Rae giving some pointers on how to go fast round the kart track to a teammate.
Melissa Paris got the better of hubby Josh Hayes, with Team Paris second overall in the kart races.
Carlos Checa nabbed some new hardware with a fun effort in the celebrity kart race.
Mr. Daytona flashing a grin after stepping out of his kart.
Uh, Mr. Ciabatti, I'm afraid I must penalize you for cutting that chicane... No, Max didn't say that, but Paolo Ciabatti and his Team Russell comrades did in fact get disqualified and stripped up third-place in the kart race after their four-rider combo was deemed ineligible.
