Rally Pan Am

NEWS

April 25th, 2008

Press Release: Jonah Street and Team Top 1 Oil / Rally Pan Am in 8^th place overall entering the final Stage

Lake Balaton, Hungary. With one day remaining in the Central Europe Rally, Top 1 Oil / Rally Pan Am’s Jonah Street holds on to 8^th place overall. Today and yesterday saw terrain better suited to the team and Jonah’s open desert experience, with a series of solid top 5 and top 10 finishes. Were it not for two minor penalties, Street would be in contention for a podium finish.

Yesterday the team was saddled with 35 minutes in time penalties; 10 for using an un-approved rear tire, and 25 for missing one of the many GPS waypoints on the course. Team manager Charlie Rauseo reacts to the news, “The tire penalty is not really justified. Jonah gained no advantage by using that tire. Only one approved tire works well in the terrain of this rally, and since these tires are in very short supply, we were forced to substitute for another tire on one stage. The tire we used was no better than those used by most other teams. Regarding the waypoint, this event has had issues with GPS and roadbook accuracy and other details since the beginning. Over a third of the field missed waypoints yesterday, so I think there is some doubt as to whether this was due to rider error or a technical glitch. Even so, Jonah is riding exceptionally well, and we are very happy with the results.”

Team mechanic Niles Follin is happy with the bike, “Thanks in part to the support of many great sponsors, the new KTM 690 Rally is working perfectly. We have not had to replace any major components, which qualifies us for a good finish in the Marathon class.”

The Central Europe Rally finishes tomorrow.

This rally is the first of the new Dakar Series, with US Television coverage on Direct TV Channel 101. Following success in this event, Rally Pan Am hopes to compete in the entire series, including the 2009 Dakar Rally in South America.

Team Top 1 Oil / Rally Pan Am is the only American motorcycle team now competing in rallies, and is backed by Top Oil Company, Klim gear, Scuderia West, Rally Management Services, Gore-Tex, APL, Motion Pro, Baja Designs, Transfer Flow, Ready Racing, Scott Goggles, Renazco Racing, MX1West, ICW, DP Brakes, Megla Designs, Aladdin Freight, KTM Twins.com, JJE Constructors, Michelin, Linkfinity, Iridium, JoeHauler, SPS Suspension, and Harry’s Custom Paint.

web design by RM

all photos courtesy Robb McElroy, Charlie Rauseo or Maindru Photo except where noted