Cardenas Wins at Road Atlanta

Henny Ray Abrams | April 17, 2010

BRASELTON, GA, APRIL 17: M4 Monster Energy Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas came out on top of a five-rider scrap to win the Daytona SportBike race at Road Atlanta, the site of his first AMA pro win one year ago.The Colombian was among the front leaders throughout the 20-lap race, held on a warm, sunny afternoon at the track north of Atlanta.As the race entered its final stages, Cardenas took the lead with a triple slingshot pass down the back straight and into the hard braking Turn 10 left.For the final two laps Cardenas stayed in front while the others battled for the final podium spots, slowing each other down.The margin of victory was .844 secs.Vesrah Suzuki’s Cory West rode a very fast GSX-R600 to second place, just edging out Geico Powersports/RMR Suzuki’s Danny Eslick.”It’s time for me to step up,” West, whose motorcycle was the second fastest in qualifying, said. “It’s just been great.”West made an inside pass of Eslick into the final 90 degree right hander and held him off on the run to the line.”Cory (West) had a moment coming onto the front straightaway and I thought I was going to get him. It was close,” Eslick said.Project 1 Atlanta’s Dane Westby (Yam) finished fourth, near the tail end of the lead pack, with Team Graves Yamaha’s Tommy Aquino a shadow fifth.Latus Motors Racing’s Steve Rapp (Duc) held off Clinton Seller (Project 1 Atlanta) for seventh.Team Graves Yamaha’s Josh Herrin was next. Herrin was part of the lead pack until he ran wide and into the gravel outside the final corner at the end of the 13th lap. Herrin dropped from fifth to eighth, which is where he finished.Results:1. Martin Cardenas (Suzuki)2. Cory West (Suzuki)3. Danny Eslick (Suzuki)4. Dane Westby (Yamaha)5. Tommy Aquino (Yamaha)6. Steve Rapp (Ducati)7. Clinton Seller (Yamaha)8. Josh Herrin (Yamaha)9. Chris Fillmore (Suzuki)10. Geoff May (Suzuki)