Vanderkooi, Carver to race for Don's Kawasaki in 2015

Courtesy of Don's Kawasaki:

Akron, Ohio – Jarod Vanderkooi to make the jump to AMA Pro Flat Track GNC1 and Jeffrey Carver land full time rides with Don’s Kawasaki in 2015!

Don’s Kawasaki supports two riders for the 2015 GNC1 season.

“I think we have two very talented riders. Jeffery has proven he can make any bike work on the track. He really worked hard last year to make sure he had a good ride at every race. We are happy to be able to provide him with full time support in both the Twins and 450’s,” says Don Kissinger. “Dan Caulkins of DPC Racing has been a part of this effort for several years and we thank him for his continued support." He adds, “With Vanderkooi, we will also be going after the 'Rookie of the Year' title and are excited about the support we are able to give him to make that happen.”

Vanderkooi missed the 2014 season openers at the Daytona Short Track due to not meeting the minimum age requirement. Jarod didn't let his age hold him back the rest of the year. Upon turning 16, he took the IMDA Springfield Mile by storm, winning the May event. He then marched on to Grays Harbor, Wash. winning the main event against very tough competition. The Indy Mile at the Indiana State Fairgrounds was win number three on the season. Then, there was the repeat performance at the IMDA Springfield Mile in August that brought the crowd to its feet and clinched the 2014 Pro Twins Championship.

Humble and always with a smile, Vanderkooi has a great deal of respect for his fellow competitors and this to say about his 2015 season;

“I have grown up riding with J.R. Addison, Kyle Johnson, Davis Fisher and Molly Terry. They come to every race with their “A” game. Racing with such tough riders has helped me grow as a rider and prepared me for the next challenge. I'm eager to get started on this new chapter in my career. This is a huge step for me and I'm grateful for the support Don’s Kawasaki has offered, as well as our other sponsors who are returning in 2015; Woody Kyle, Ben Evans, Floyd Tapp and Spectro Oils."

Taking on that next challenge has made for a busy offseason as Vanderkooi had been one of the most sought after riders for the GNC1 ranks. After much consideration, Don’s Kawasaki will be the name on VanDerKooi’s leathers as his primary sponsor and yes, the 17f will be found on the AMA Pro Flat Track GNC1 rider roster for 2015! Vanderkooi joins Don’s Kawasaki’s other full time rider Jeffery Carver.

Carver was known in 2014 as the rider who rode six different motorcycles in the AMA Pro Flat Track races last season. While many wondered why he hadn't landed a full time ride with a team last year, Jeffery seems to have fit right in on the Don’s Kawasaki Team.

“I'm very excited for this opportunity to ride for a good group of class people. Don’s Kawasaki is the leading Kawi dealer when it comes to helping out flat track riders and teams. You see the Don’s Kawasaki logo everywhere and I’m just glad to be a part of the group. The bikes they are preparing for me are top-notch and we are looking for a strong opening year. I would also like to announce that Mike Lynch will be our crew chief and Woody Kyle will build our engines. Our recent test session proved that we have some great chemistry on the team. A lot of positive changes were made which made the bikes feel great. Also with the addition of Jarod VanDerKooi pitting with us and helping each other, I'm excited about our prospects for 2015.”

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