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Team Suzuki/Yoshimura Rider
Doug Gust Preps for Upcoming Gatorback Event
 February 28, 2006 - Gainesville,
FL - After the first few rounds of the GNC
series, Team Suzuki/Yoshimura rider Doug Gust
has headed to Florida to train for the next
round of the series in Gainesville. The
multi-time champion from Wisconsin is getting
acclimated to the heat and humidity of the south
before the March 12 Pro Open event at Gatorback
Cycle Park.
Gust is coming off of a 5th place finish at the
Texas round. This last event could have been a
"Texas Massacre" for Gust. After winning the
first moto in a convincing fashion, he tangled
with another rider in moto two. He was over a
minute behind the pack before he got going
again. He managed to work his way up from last
place to 10th and card 5th overall on the day.
Just ask Gust how he keeps focused when bad luck
happens in a race and he'll tell you: "I just
have to focus on going as hard as I can, hope
for the best, and get into the top ten," Gust
explains. It also helps that Doug consistently
had the fastest lap times of the day. With his
speed, Doug makes his own luck.
Looking forward to Gatorback, the "Digger" has a
better strategy: "I just gotta get a better
start and get out in front so I don't get in a
tangle with anyone." Gust showed in Texas that
the combination of the new Suzuki QuadRacer
LT-R450 coupled with his riding skills are a
hard combination to beat. As any novice racer
knows the start is all important. It's much
easier racing from the front then coming through
the pack.
Team Manager Wayne Hinson concurs. "The strategy
is all about getting a strong start...or at
least a decent one. Both Doug and Jeremiah can
both blitz through the pack if they get a
mid-pack start, but coming from dead last after
a pile-up is tough. So we need to get out there
and get in front and let the riders do their
jobs. Both riders are excited to be on the new
LT-R's and that's a big advantage."
Gust and his teammate Jeremiah Jones are riding
Suzuki's 2006 QuadRacer LT-R450. Gust had a lot
to do with the design of this revolutionary quad
and even went to Japan to work with engineers.
"I helped work out the way the handlebars, footpegs and seats were, so the quad would be
comfortable to ride. I also tested the chassis
and suspension. I really like the bike and the
fuel injection system is really easy and
reliable. You don't have to do anything - it's
like being automatically jetted right and ready
to go all the time."
 The quad that Team Suzuki/Yoshimura is riding
isn't much different than what can be bought
right off of the showroom floor. "Yoshimura
made some engine mods; they've got their engine
management system in it and Hinson's clutch but
that's about it on the inside. The chassis
sports Walsh A-arms, Fox shocks, Tag handlebars, Blingstar's nerfs and Galfer brakes. Compared
with other bikes, though, this bike hardly needs
anything. It comes out of the box almost race
ready. I'm even riding on stock Dunlop tires."
Gust enthusiastically remarks.
Gust is entering his third season as a factory
rider for Team Suzuki/Yoshimura. How does he
feel about being part of a factory team? "The
best thing is the attention and support I get.
All these guys are working to help me be number
one. It puts a lot of pressure on me to
deliver... It's one thing to disappoint
yourself, but I mean I've got this whole team
busting their butts. I'm really looking forward
to this season. I've got a great bike in the
'R450 and my whole crew is just doing an awesome
job. I'm really lucky." As previously stated...
luck has nothing to do with it.
Team Suzuki/Yoshimura Programs Partners
American Suzuki - Yoshimura R&D of America -
Hinson Clutch Components - Dunlop Tires - Motul
- Fox Racing Shox - Galfer - Blingstar - BMC
Filters - Tag - Regina - RPM - Walsh Racecraft -
Quad Tech - Douglas Wheel - Motion Pro -
Precision Steering Stabilizer - VP Fuels -
Mechanix Wear - Pro Design.
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