The following is from Motorrad Suzuki…
Kenny Noyes took his first Spanish 1000cc Extreme victory at Jerez de la Frontera today. The Spanish-born American, riding for Motorrad Suzuki of Madrid, made his move during the final laps passing L’Oreal Laglisse Yamaha riders, Javier del Amor, and eventual series champion, Carmelo Morales.
Noyes led the opening laps, but was relegated to second when Morales came by on lap 5 and then when del Amor did the same on lap 7.
“We knew the rear was going to start sliding early. For some reason the Yamaha can get more out of the rear, but we spent most of qualifying setting the bike up to work when the bike got loose. I was having some really long slides, a really scary one at the left-hander before the stadium section, but I was able to stay close. Then I saw what I was hoping for…del Amor and Carmelo were starting to slide with about five to go and they were coming back to me. I got by del Amor on the brakes for the final corner and started pushing hard to catch Morales. When I caught him I almost ran into the back of him a couple of times…my drive with the bike sliding was better than his, so I knew I needed to pass him and show him that it was no use…that I had him. He’s done that to me a couple of times. I can’t remember where I passed him…but once I was in front I lit it up a couple of times on the fast right-handers back of the pits…like to say, “Do you really want some of this?” I mean, I knew he was fighting for the title with del Amor and Cardoso, so I knew he’d think twice before trying to stick a wheel in. I knew I had him covered today. This one has been a long time coming…it is the first real win I’ve had for a while…I mean we won a Spanish Superstock title a few years back, but this one feels like the real thing…like when we won the Manzanita Half Mile in Phoenix! Now I think we are starting to get this roadracing thing figured out!”
Morales, by winning, extended his final points total to 130, taking his first Spanish National title by 14 points over his teammate del Amor, who was third, and by 23 over former champion Jose Luis Cardoso (Blussens BQR Suzuki), who had traction problems all weekend and finished only ninth in the final.
Morales agreed with Kenny’s summation. “The way Kenny’s Suzuki was sliding and driving out of the corners today, I don’t think I could have done much. Fortunately for us we didn’t need to win to take the title!”
Del Amor said, “When Kenny came by I thought I’d sit back and look for a way to pass…then he passed Carmelo and starting pulling away.”
Noyes, this season, made wild card appearances in three other championships…winning his only ride in the European GSX-R1000 Suzuki Cup, finishing second (with Bernat Martinez) in the Spanish round of the World Endurance Championship (Six Hours of Albacete), and even scoring two top ten finishes in AMA Superbike riding a Celtic Racing GSX-R1000 Superstock bike for Barry Gilsenan.
Motorrad Suzuki team owner Manuel Alonso was elated. “Kenny has made a big step forward, starting from the last race of 2007 when he was fourth here at Jerez. This was a big win for Kenny and for the team and for Suzuki Spain.”
