Them damn Yankee's are a comin' Yeee Hawww!

[Sully60]

Fresh from the Soup Kitchen http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2007/Dec/071209ski.htm

Sadowski Brothers To NZ
"Kiwi" Steve Vlasblom backs them
by staff
Sunday, December 09, 2007
This just in from Dave Sadowski:

Sadowski Brothers to Compete in New Zealand 600cc Supersport Championships

David and Matthew Sadowski, sons of former Daytona 200 winner David Sadowski Sr., are set to compete in New Zealand's upcoming 600cc Supersport Championships. Long considered one of the South Pacific's premiere road race series, it begins in late December and includes five stops over consecutive weekends.

"Kiwi" Steve Vlasblom, whom the Sr. Sadowski was teamed up with for the AMA Pro Superbike series in the '90s, has put up the initial funding to secure the Sadowski brothers top-tier R-6 Yamahas specially prepared by Bernard Racing Motorsports Ltd. in New Zealand. With Vlasblom by his side Sadowski won the 1994 and 1997 Formula USA championships together and "Ski" regularly finished in the top five in the AMA Superbike series as privateers.


"David and I were a strong pairing able to overcome all the odds as privateers to achieve what we did in motorsports," said Vlasblom. "This will be no different, except we are now older and wiser and can coach David's already very fast boys through what we learned together."

David Sadowski Jr., 19, has two seasons in AMA pro road race competition under his belt, while his brother Matthew, who recently turned 18, has just received his AMA Pro license after a very successful 2007 season in AMA amateur events, as well as AFM, ASRA and WERA events. Both have also logged thousands of track miles as instructors for the Pacific Tracktime track day events. They're looking forward to a move internationally during the U.S. off-season.


New Zealand's series has long been a popular venue for many top GP riders during the winter off season. GP greats like Pat Hennen, Randy Mamola and Greg Hansford credited it with having served as am important steppingstone to their careers in what is now called MotoGP. Hennen, recently inducted into the AMA's Hall of Fame, won the series three consecutive years in the mid-'70s before joining the MotoGP circuit and is still a legendary sports figure in New Zealand to this day. He went on to become the first American to win a MotoGP event, the '76 Finnish GP, finishing 3rd overall in World GP that season and again in '77. Kenny Roberts joined Hennen on the MotoGP circuit in '78 and the two competed head to head for the championship until a serious accident on the Isle of Man forced Hennen's retirement from racing. MotoGP historians credit his many successes as having paved the way for all the American GP champions that followed him on to greatness.

Mamola got his first taste of international-level competition in NZ, shortly after he turned 18. He credits it with having taught him the basic road racing skills that helped him to go on and record numerous MotoGP wins during his long and illustrious GP career.


"We can't wait to get on the plane and go racing in New Zealand," said Sadowski Jr. "We owe many thanks to Pat Hennen's brother Chip who set this deal up, our Dad, and especially Steve Vlasblom for making this possible. I hope to win it all down under on Brian Bernard's team. To win the New Zealand championship and come back to the U.S. a lot stronger is now my goal."


Commented Matthew Sadowski, "I see this as a steppingstone to where we are already headed. This will help accelerate the process. I'm sure my brother and I will give the locals fits for the title. I want to ride at the World level as soon as possible and think this will help me get there."


Sadowski Sr. and Vlasblom helped to organize the Sadowski brothers trip to NZ and are seeking interested sponsors/individuals to help support the two young American riders. Our objective is to find these two star bound athletes the support to continue on this path and accomplish more Championships on their way to a World title. With secure media coverage and existing interest to follow their teams accomplishments we will gain worldwide product exposure from their heritage that everyone involved with them can capitalize on. This can be a guaranteed "Win Win" homerun for the marketing of any related product or service the Sadowski's can endorse on their path of success.


"Right now we have a few pledges for support, but we need some more help for the other team payments due in January and expenses like travel and insurance," says Sadowski Sr. "This trip came about very quickly, so we are pressed for time. We'd love to see Matthew or David Jr. come out on top in the NZ Championships in their first season there. The racing environment will be quite different in New Zealand I'm told by those who have competed there. Yamaha NZ team owner Brian Bernard, who raced against Sadowski Sr. and Vlasblom in America for 8 years, tells me it's extremely competitive, with nearly all the top riders in the South Pacific competing in it. I'm very grateful for all the support we've received so far," he added.

Sponsorship or individual support inquiries/pledges should be sent to ski25@msn.com

ENDS

[slowpoke]

Hmmm, I wonder if the young 'uns really know what they are in for. The era of Hennen and Mamola competing down here is a far cry from the current road racing scene.....Manfeild has probably got the exact same surface it had way back then and it doesn't half show.
It's great that Brian Bernard has put this together and fantastic that the young Kiwi up and comers have got overseas riders to measure themselves against, but it's also a bit embarrassing that the NZ road racing scene and general infrastructure is at such a low ebb. I mean who have we got in the 6 hundy's this season? As I understand it Stroudy and Craig Shirriffs are parking up the 6's this season and concentrating on the big bikes so the elite group is going to be a bit thin.
I know Brian is trying to talk the place up to get these guys down here but statements like this are just completely misleading:
"Yamaha NZ team owner Brian Bernard, who raced against Sadowski Sr. and Vlasblom in America for 8 years, tells me it's extremely competitive, with nearly all the top riders in the South Pacific competing in it."
The Sadowski family is a big name in the states so whatever stories the boys go back with are going to travel far and wide, and coming here with false expectations is not going to help the cause.

[deanohit]

Just have to do what we can to make them remember it well then.

[jrandom]

Er, yes. Seems odd that they're here, really.

Burglars go home!



Oh well, it'll be fun to watch.

[k14]

I mean who have we got in the 6 hundy's this season? As I understand it Stroudy and Craig Shirriffs are parking up the 6's this season and concentrating on the big bikes so the elite group is going to be a bit thin.

Midge Smart from the UK is riding Sam's R6 from last year. Then you've got Chris Seaton, pretty good auzzie. Possibly Scott Charlton again and then the likes of Jay Lawrence, Chris Sucich, Nick Cole and the likes. I would by no means class that as second rate. Our tracks however are, but having some yanks over here can only be good as far as I'm concerned.

[Bren_chch]

this is fantastic news for road racing NZ, a good way to upscale the publicity, i mean come on... how many people outside of KB know we even have a motorcycle championship!

Dont forget Dennis Charlott is riding suzuki 600 this year, he almost broke the 600cc lap record on the weekend for ruapuna at a club day, was something like 400th of a second off it. we also have James Smith suzuki 600 who runs near on the same pace as Dennis, last time he raced at timaru he was a hole 2 seconds per lap faster than any other 600cc rider inc Jay etc, we have plenty of hot tallent!

[k14]

Dont forget Dennis Charlott is riding suzuki 600 this year, he almost broke the 600cc lap record on the weekend for ruapuna at a club day, was something like 400th of a second off it. we also have James Smith suzuki 600 who runs near on the same pace as Dennis, last time he raced at timaru he was a hole 2 seconds per lap faster than any other 600cc rider inc Jay etc, we have plenty of hot tallent!

Yeah I knew there were some I was forgetting. 600's are definately the class to watch still. The thou's will be good with 5 or 6 top quality guys fighting for the championship but the 600's will probably throw up a few surprises. Probably be more crashes too, hehe.

[Shaun]

.
I know Brian is trying to talk the place up to get these guys down here but statements like this are just completely misleading




"Yamaha NZ team owner Brian Bernard, Should be educated for not helping a new zealand rider in this Yamaha New Zealand team

[Bren_chch]

.
I know Brian is trying to talk the place up to get these guys down here but statements like this are just completely misleading




"Yamaha NZ team owner Brian Bernard, Should be educated for not helping a new zealand rider in this Yamaha New Zealand team

WHO?........

[Shaun]

WHO?........

There are Kiwi riders out there who could do very well with Brian's expert advise and set up!

WHO?

He would have to go to the tracks and watch for himself,and choose one to help!


Just one KIWI out of 3 riders would be nice

[k14]

Yeah I see where you're coming from shaun but its a hard call to make at the same time. The overseas (reading between the lines) guys are all paying for the rides and I'm sure if a kiwi could stump up the cash brian would have no issues running one of them in his team. The sad fact is that not many young kiwi kids have that sort of money. Still it is undeniable that in bringing overseas riders to NZ has a positive effect on the kiwi racing scene. Ups the anti for all involved. Bring on this season I say!

[Riff Raff]

There are Kiwi riders out there who could do very well with Brian's expert advise and set up!

WHO?

He would have to go to the tracks and watch for himself,and choose one to help!


Just one KIWI out of 3 riders would be nice

Yep gotta agree with you there Shaun. There's some great young talent emerging at each race meeting we go to, who could go far with Brian's expertise behind them.

[limbimtimwim]

Then some local-yokel will just have to beat these yankee boys then eh?

[Shaun]

Yeah I see where you're coming from shaun but its a hard call to make at the same time. The overseas (reading between the lines) guys are all paying for the rides and I'm sure if a kiwi could stump up the cash brian would have no issues running one of them in his team. The sad fact is that not many young kiwi kids have that sort of money. Still it is undeniable that in bringing overseas riders to NZ has a positive effect on the kiwi racing scene. Ups the anti for all involved. Bring on this season I say!

Most definately great for NZ bike racing promotion K14, and as I said, Brian has great skills to offer, but is a true shame there is no Kiwi in the team!

Ummmm, but sorry, BOLLOCKS to the lease fee being to much either if any at all for these riders, and if a Kiwi rider was offered the opportunity, they would have to be mad ( in my true oppinion ) if not super rich and fast them self already (?) to pass up on the opportunity

A fast dedicated Kiwi, could do well in this team enviroment- ( so get fighting ya bastuerds)

[Dom]

I just see on roadracingworld.com that Damien Cudlin is coming over to ride for Brian in place of Scott Charlton apparently. O if NZ racing couldn't get any better.

I ran into the Sadowski's at Laguna Seca and they a good bunch of people. I think they underestimate NZ racing abit as Dave Sadowski Jr is a good rider but I think will need abit more time before he is up to the pace of the front of a NZ 600 race. But more overseas riders the merryer is the way I see it. It's all good advertising for the NZ championship.