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Team Release- Schouten Fastest Kawasaki in AM600

Shannonville, May 4- This weekend marked Round #2 of the RACE Superseries at Shannonville Motorsport Park near Belleville , Ontario . Despite the cold weather, rainy conditions and constantly changes weather patterns, it was an exciting weekend for Kahuna Kawasaki’s Vicki Schouten aboard her 2008 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R.

With the skies threatening to open at any moment, Schouten managed to get in some fast laps in Saturday’s qualifying for the competitive AM600 field before the rains fell. Qualifying in 3^rd position of the even numbered riders, with a career best time of 59.87 on the Nelson track, this was enough to put Schouten and her Kahuna Kawasaki ZX-6R on the third row for Sunday’s AM600 race grid.

By Sunday afternoon Mother Nature was slightly more cooperative and brought about some sunshine. The AM600 race was the first race of the afternoon and Schouten got off to a great start. Hanging with the lead group for some time, and negotiating her way past a few minor yellow flag incidents, Schouten was eventually able to steer her Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R to a career best 7^th place finish in AM600, the top placed Kawasaki rider in the entire field.  “I was really ecstatic about my finish!” exclaimed an excited Schouten, “there are some really competitive and talented riders in AM600 and it is a great feeling to be able to be in that mix!”

The second race of the day was the RACE Women’s Open class. Schouten started from the back of the Expert grid as her transponder was not functioning during Saturday’s qualifying. However, eventually she was able to manoeuvre her way up to third place position and was having a pressing battle with the second place rider when a red flag came out ending the session before the half way marker. The race was restarted with the original grid; Schouten again had to start from the back despite being in third position when the red flag was drawn. Unfortunately, passing proved difficult the second time around and a 5^th place finish was all that could be mustered up. The women’s field is quite competitive and while a podium finish would have been her preference, Schouten had a fun battle with the other riders and expects to be stronger next time.

The final race of the day was AM Superbike. Once again, Schouten qualified on the third row of the grid. Off to a great start on her ZX-6R, Vicki was once again able to hang with a fast group of riders, making some solid passes to move her way into a top 8 position. Eventually a few riders came from behind and Schouten managed an 11^th place finish in AM Superbike with another career best time of 59.53, less than 3 seconds off the winning time of  Pro Superbike winner and fellow Kawasaki rider Karl Daigle, and narrowly missing a top 10 finish by one position.

Overall it was a great weekend for Kahuna Kawasaki’s Vicki Schouten and her ZX-6R racebikes. “I am starting to feel really comfortable on the bike,” continues Schouten, “my Kawasaki ZX-6R’s are running excellent, and I have a great team of people behind me which is really helpful as well. I am looking forward to more top 10 finishes in the Amateur ranks soon!”

Vicki would like to extend a huge thank you to her mechanic, Brad Clarke and suspension tuner, John Sharrard, for all the help and advice and set-up over the weekend. Thanks too to John Chemello for the wonderful helping hand with everything!

She would also like to give a big thanks to Canadian Kawasaki Motors and Kahuna Kawasaki to standing behind me all the way and for making her racing efforts possible!

Thanks so much as well to her wonderful sponsors who have stood behind her including: Canadian Kawasaki Motors, Kahuna Kawasaki, Bell Helmets, Accelerated Technologies, Compulsion Racing, Performance Under Gear, Komodo Gear, Vortex, Giro, Bickle Racing and Auto Trim Designs.

Come and see Vicki at the next RACE Regional from May 16-18 at Shannonville Motorsport Park !

For further information please visit www.canadianracergirl.com