Calgary, Alberta- Monday, June 30, 2008- The NCR-Ducati travelled across to Alberta for the second round of the Parts Canada Thunder Championship.



Early testing showed that the NCR-Ducati 848 was able to handle the numerous bumps and holes of the Race City Motorsport Park.



Saturday morning practice showed that Andrew Nelson managed the best time of the morning with a 1:19.972 with Valter Bartolini close behind with a best of 1:20.170. Darren James on of the first of the 1125R Buells in third with a 1:22.170 and Davve Estok with a 1:22.193.



Under a beautiful sunny sky, Andrew managed to win pole position with  Valter in the second slot.



The race saw a great start by Valter and local ace Chad Pasowisty shooting towards the front while Andrew stumbled momentarily and found himself 5th in the first turn. The previous lap record was quickly broken by the new Thunder Class while Valter Bartolini was leading with an incredible 1:19.362 but it was Andrew Nelson with a 1:19.093 that was on a quick pursuit to pass Chad and to then hunt down the leading Valter Bartolini. Andrew quickly set an incredible pace because he didn’t want Valter to pull away while Andrew battled to get by Chad. Andrew set the days best time but had plenty in reserve to do better if needed. By the half way point of the 16 lap race, the trio of Ducati’s of Valter, Andrew and Chad were pulling away from the field. Valter and Andrew were setting up for the much anticipated battle of the NCR-Ducati teammates but then on the 10th lap, Valter was setting up to do his usual rear end slide into the bumpy left hander after the “Bus-Stop” when his engine locked up and pushed him off the course and onto the grass when he managed to slide off before the tire barrier. Thankfully, he only sustained a sprained ankle during his off-road excursion. Andrew saw the whole event unfold before him but kept his eyes on the task at hand and continued to put down some very fast laps while staying just far enough ahead of Chad in order not to be drafted by him down the longest straight of the series.



Andrew finished first, 2.5 seconds ahead of second lace Chad Pasowisty and 25 seconds ahead of Dave Estok.



This leaves Andrew Neslon with a series lead for NCR-Ducati. Next round is in three weeks at the double header at Mosport Ontario. Join us there for what will surely be an exciting time.



For more team information or to explore sponsorship and marketing opportunities, visit www.ducatiusa.com <http://www.ducatiusa.com/> , www.ncrfactory.com <http://www.ncrfactory.com/>  or contact Joe Ippoliti at 613-936-3579 or Jim McKenna at 404-394-2094.





 

Thanks for the post. I wish I could have been at the race. It sounds like it was an exciting event. As cool as these NCR bikes are, some day, I might be convinced to sell my PS, my freshly custom painted Ape, and my KTM to buy a cheapo Jap street bike and an NCR to run on the track. I never thought I'd say that, but NCR's quality and the results that they produce can be pretty compelling. I wonder what it would take to turn a Millona or a New Blue into "gray market street-legal" bike? Maybe I need to keep my PS so that I can graft the headstock and other parts that have serial numbers onto an NCR.... HMMMM. Possibilities. Possibilities.

Dale