Team Suzuki Press Office – March 13. The 2013 AMA Pro Superbike season kicks off this weekend and new rider Martin Cardenas and Chris Clark are eager to go racing at the season-opening round of the series at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Leading the charge for the Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000-mounted squad is two-time AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion Cardenas, who won the 600cc title in 2012 and also picked up eight wins in the process. In 2011, Cardenas raced the premier Superbike class, finishing sixth and fourth at the Daytona races and now, the Colombian racer is looking forward to returning to the Superbike class and to the first race of the season – Daytona in particular.
Says Cardenas: “We’re working really hard to get ready for the first race at Daytona. I’ve been getting familiar with the Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 and I’ve found it to be incredibly powerful. My goal for Daytona – and also for the year – is to try to fight for the win or podium positions in each race. Right now I have, if not the best team in the paddock, then one of the best teams behind me; and that gives me a lot of confidence going into the season-opening round.”
Like Cardenas, returning Yoshimura Suzuki rider Clark is looking forward to this weekend with enthusiasm and anticipation. In 2012, Clark captured his best qualifying time of the season at Daytona. He also picked up two top-10 finishes in the Superbike races. In the weekend’s second race, Clark celebrated a season’s best seventh-place result.
“Every year I’ve felt like I’ve improved and I want to keep that going, starting with Daytona,” says Clark. “I think that my new fitness regime will help elevate that. This year, the AMA Pro Superbike field is really stacked with top-level riders. At Daytona, I’d love to get on the podium and be battling with those guys up front. It’s definitely going to be a challenge but it’s one I’m up to and look forward to.”
