After making six solid passes on the GEICO Powersports Suzuki during the weekend at the O’Reilly Super Start Batteries Fall Nationals and advancing to the second round, Karen Stoffer gave her team’s overall effort an above average grade.
“I thought we’d be able to make a run for the money,” Stoffer said. “The riding was good, the tune-ups were good, it’s just that change in the weather that threw us for a curve.
“I think the GEICO Powersports Suzuki has turned the corner. Overall it was pretty good. I’m going to give the weekend a ‘B.'”
Stoffer started race day with a solid win over Jim Underdahl. Even though Stoffer was a tic slower off the line, she cruised to a 7.039 second pass at 182.95 mph. Underdahl crossed line finish line with a 7.188 at 193.49 mph.
In the second round, Stoffer drew LE Tonglet, one of the hottest riders in the Full Throttle Series. Stoffer left first that race, but a strong crosswind slowly pushed her toward the center line during the pass. Tonglet finished with a 6.920 second pass at 187.73, while Stoffer wrestled the GECIO Powersports Suzuki to a 7.247 at 152.71 mph.
“They told me after the race that they threw something wild at their bike and it stuck,” Stoffer said. “That’s a great bike and a great team. Unfortunately at the top end we got pushed over a bit by the wind. But that was still a good run for us.”
Stoffer moved up to eighth in the season standings with her efforts.