The EEL goes to Barber but doesn’t get cut.


Birmingham, AL. In a pre-season testing effort Elie headed to Birmingham Alabama to get some track time at Round 2 of the AMA Superbike Championship at Barber Motorsport Park.

"It really has been a dream of mine to get to an AMA event and qualify!" Elie exclaimed.

Elie got to mix it up with the AMA national stars in Friday practice and got down to his previous best lap of 1:35 but struggled with the side grip of the Pirelli tires. "I had a good tire on but the side grip just wasn’t there- the bike would slide and slide as I got on the gas coming up to turn three. For qualifying I needed a softer tire."

In Saturday practice Elie was able to take off 2 seconds in only 10 laps. "I was stoked! Friday wasn’t that great for me since I was still really tired from the drive up and struggled with my tire choice. I’m glad we got into a 1:33.1 this morning it puts me 29th out of 47, I think there are 32's or even 31's during qualifying this afternoon because with the right tire this 1:33 came so easily! Josh Hayes passed me going into the hairpin and I did everything I could to stay with him. His corner speed is fantastic - I didn't know I could rail my bike through there that fast! Thanks Josh!"

On Saturday when SuperSport qualifying began Elie went out with the first group to try some new suspension settings. 4 laps into the session Elie posted a 1:34.215 and was on a hot lap to bring his time down even further. "I really was just scrubbing in my tires and getting a feel for the bike with the stiffer settings we put in. As I was exiting the hairpin I poured on the gas and I must have hit the sealer or I spun the tire up. I couldn’t save this slide and I went down with the bike and my qualifying was over."

"When I came back to the pits with my broken bike Andres Onu, my mechanic, seemed sort of down but had a smirk on his face. He told me a 1:34.215 was good enough to qualify for the race!” However, with a sore elbow and hip Elie opted out of staying for the final.

"I did what I came here to accomplish (qualify for the race and practice). I know what my potential is and I've learned from my mistake -- I need more coaching and understanding of the bike setup but with my limited resources I think I am up against a brick wall. For now, Andres and I have to head home to prepare for the Regionals and the first national round at Calabogie."

"The Calabogie round is very special for me since it is only 45 minutes from my home in Ottawa. I'm representing my dealer, Ottawa Goodtime Centre because without their help I would not be on such a good bike. Since it is the only national round I plan to do due to budgetary constraints I plan on putting on a good show!"

Elie wishes to congratulate all the Canadians that went to the Barber round, Jordan Szoke, Brett McCormick, Matt McBride, and Francis Martin!!
Thanks also go to Andres Onu, Taylor Knapp and his dad, Jeff Comello, Rob Egan and Harald Surian.

Thanks to my sponsors for getting me to the track and for their help in 2008, Ottawa Goodtime Centre, Kanata Collision, VORTEX.