Rispoli's First of the Year

Henny Ray Abrams | June 19, 2011

BIRMINGHAM, AL, JUNE 18 – ANT-Racing.com/STAR School’s James Rispoli took over the SuperSport East points lead by holding off a determined Benny Solis (Red Bull/Roadracing.world.com Honda) over 17 laps at Barber Motorsports Park.Rispoli bolted at the start, but Solis, a Californian who isn’t contesting the East championship, eventually reeled him in and parked on his tail.

The pair circulated in tandem for the duration with Solis looking for an opening that finally came at the end of the 12th lap. Solis went up the inside in the left-hander leading onto the front straight to lead across the stripe. But Rispoli got a better drive out of the turn nine kink and passed Solis on the brakes going into the turn 10 chicane.

From there to the end, Solis never found another chance, though he made one final run to the flag that came up short.The margin of victory was .064 sec.Hayden Gillim earned his first podium by finishing third on his Honda, putting two Hondas on the podium for the first time in recent memory.Vesrah Suzuki’s Corey Alexander was fourth, by himself, after passing Elena Myers (SuzukiScoopFans Suzuki) on the 11th lap. Myers finished alone in fifth. By winning his first race of the year, and LTD Racing’s Tomas Puerta having an off weekend-DNF and eighth-Rispoli took over the championship points lead. After four of ten races Rispoli has 92 points to 69 for Puerta. Ricky Parker, seventh today, is third with 53.

SuperSport Results:

1. James Rispoli (Suzuki)

2. Benny Solis (Honda)

3. Hayden Gillim (Honda)

4. Corey Alexander (Suzuki)

5. Elena Myers (Suzuki)

6. Dustin Dominguez (Triumph)

7. Ricky Parker (Yamaha)

8. Tomas Puerta (Yamaha)

9. James Dellinger (Yamaha)

10. Ben Young (Yamaha)
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Rispoli’s First of the Year