Crozier Hopes To Deliver Another Win For Vallely Racing

In Sunday’s Daytona 300 SunTrust MOTO-ST Series Race

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 1, 2008) -- Mark Crozier, a competitor in Sunday’s SunTrust MOTO-ST Series Daytona 300 race and next Saturday’s Formula Xtreme 67th Daytona 200 By Honda, hopes to maintain his title of “Mr. Consistency” throughout Daytona 200 Week by Honda.

Finishing third in the 2007 SunTrust MOTO-ST Series rider points standings, Crozier was one of the most consistent riders on circuit, not finishing lower than sixth place in any SunTrust MOTO-ST series race.

Crozier and the Flagler Beach, Fla.-based Vallely Racing team are confident about the upcoming events at the Daytona International Speedway, including Sunday’s season-opening SunTrust MOTO-ST Series Daytona 300, scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m.

“I think its going to be a good race,” Crozier said. “I have a really good shot at possibly doing really well, being on the podium in the MOTO-ST class. Mr. Vallely’s racing team has got great equipment and he’s given us a great opportunity.”

Crozier will be sponsored in a joint effort by Vallely Racing and Augusta Triumph for the main event at DIS -- the historic Daytona 200 By Honda on Saturday, March 8.

“Daytona is a special place,” Crozier said. “We should do well here. I’ve finished top 15 in the last three years in the Daytona 200.

“We’re definitely one of the teams to watch and one of the teams to beat. If everything goes good, we should be doing well.”

Crozier began racing motorcycles at age three, competed in his first race at age five, and clinched his first championship title at age six. He has ventured into all types of racing including dirt, motocross, drag racing and road racing.   He made the switch to road racing in 1998, but experienced an injury setback and was forced to take a few years off. He revved up again in 2001 and has been riding non-stop.

As an endurance rider, Crozier enjoys being on the bike as long as he possibly can. He loves everything there is to love about motorcycles.

“The endurance racing is a lot of fun to me because you get a lot of seat time, so you’re on the bike a lot,” Crozier said. “Sprint racing is fun but it’s really quick.

“I like the whole endurance side because there are so many different critical areas in endurance racing--pit stops, the durability of the motorcycle, physical condition, mental conditions, that kind of stuff. It plays in to my hands a lot because I do very well in it.”

Although a day in the life of Crozier consists of strictly training and riding, he does find some time for himself and his family.

“Racing is my job,” Crozier said. “It’s a full-time job, but in my spare time I do enjoy working out and spending time with my five-year-old daughter.”

Crozier was born and raised in the Georgia area, but moved to the sunny side of Jacksonville, Florida in 2002, and later moved to the Daytona Beach area in 2003. He just recently moved to Charlotte, N.C., but still thinks of the Daytona Beach area as home. Bouncing back and forth between Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina, Crozier jokingly admits he’s not quite sure where he lives.

“I’m floating,” Crozier said. “Depends on where the weather’s good.”

Quick hits: SunTrust MOTO-ST Series teams participated in their lone practice session on Saturday afternoon … Former Daytona 200 By Honda winner John Ashmead captured the Expert Formula 40 on Saturday morning aboard a Suzuki 750 … Winning the Saturday afternoon ASRA Finals were Cory West (Superbike), Chris Ferris (Superstock), Nate Kern (Thunderbike) and Blake Young (Factory Pro Sportbikes).

Results -- Expert Unlimited GP: 1. Carol Fahean Suzuki 1000; 2. Kevin Nolde, Kawasaki 1000; 3. Bradly Graham, Yamaha 6000; Amateur Unlimited GP:  1. Dennis Espinosa, Suzuki 1000; 2. James Cohrs, Yamaha 998; 3. Jeremy Bennett, Yamaha 1000; Amateur Middleweight Superbike:  1. Rafael Ferrer, Kawasaki 6000; 2. Robert Cloutier, Kawasaki 600; 3. Larry Karpinsky, Yamaha 600; Expert Middleweight Superbike: 1. Martin Cardenas, Suzuki 600; 2. Eric Wood, Ducati 848; 3. Blake Young, Suzuki 600; Amateur Formula 40:  1. Dennis Espinose, Ducati 1098; 2. Stuart Zuckerman, Kawasaki 600; 3. Kurt Roll, Honda 1000; Expert Formula 40:  1. John Ashmead, Suzuki 750; 2. Robert Dougherty, Suzuki 750; 3. David McPherson, Yamaha 600; Amateur Lightweight Superbike:  1. Carl Reid, Buell 1203; 2. Fernando Barbosa, Bim 1000; 3. Jorge Arana, M 650; Expert Lightweight Superbike:  1. Jason Edmonds, Bimo 1000; 2. Kevin Mendez, Bim 1000; 3. Ryan O’Donnell, Suzuki 650; Expert SuperTwins: 1. Eric Wood, Ducati 848; 2. Barrett Long, Ducati 1098; 3. Christopher Boy, Ducati 999; Amateur SuperTwins: 1. Roberto Conception, Ducati 749; 2. Dennis Espinose, Ducati 1098; 3. Yoshio Kasai, Ducati 996; Amateur Lightweight Grand Prix: 1. Carl Reid, Buell 1203; 2. Fernando Barbosa, Ducati 1000; 3. Jorge Arana, Um 650; Expert Lightweight Grand Prix: 1. Pete Friedland, NCR 1000; 2. Kevin Mendez, BIM 1000; 3. Joseph Rozynski, Buell 1200; Amateur Heavyweight Superbike:  Rafael Ferrer, Kawasaki 600; Christopher Maher, Kawasaki 600; 3. Larry Karpinski, Yamaha 600; Expert Middleweight Grand Prix: 1. Martin Cardenas, Suzuki 600; 2. Sean Dwyer, Yamaha 600; 3. Ryan Patterson, Yamaha 600; Amateur Middleweight Grand Prix: 1. Larry Karpinsky, Yamaha 600; 2. Jay Scott Quick, Kawasaki 600; 3. Christopher Maher, Kawasaki 600; Expert Heavyweight Superbike: 1. Darren Luck, Suzuki 600; 2. Sean Dwyer, Yamaha 600; 3. Greg Melka, Yamaha 600; Superbike: 1. Cory West, Suzuki 600; Jeff Wood, Yamaha 600; 3. Barrett Long, Ducati 848; Superstock: 1. Chris Feris, Suzuki 1000; 2. Michael Barnes, Suzuki 1000; 3. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki 1000;  Thunderbike: 1. Nate Kern; 2. Richard Cooper, BMW 1200; 3. Dave Estok. Buell 986; Factory Pro SportBike: 1. Blake Young, Suzuki 600; 2. Barrett Long, Ducati 848; 3. Jeff Wood, Yamaha 600.

Tickets: Ticket information for any of the upcoming motorcycle races at Daytona International Speedway are available online at www.racetickets.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.