PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- When Mauro Cereda finished ninth in this year's
Daytona 200 by Arai, even the most knowledgeable racing fans were left
scratching their heads trying to figure out just who was this guy who
could finish top-10 in this country's most esteemed road race on a nearly
stock Suzuki. It was easy to understand why Cereda wasn't well known. The
Daytona 200 marked his AMA professional racing debut.
After a season of impressive finishes in the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S.
Superbike Championships, Cereda earned the 2001 AMA Superbike Rookie
of the Year Award.
Cereda, 30, a native-born Italian who now lives in Sarasota, Fla.,
followed up his impressive Daytona debut with a strong season of
consistent points-paying finishes in the Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike
Championship. In fact, Cereda scored points in all but one race this
season, finishing the season ranked 17th. He failed to score in the wet
Sunday race at Road America in Elkhart Lake in June when he suffered his
only crash of the season. He was second ranked among non-factory supported
riders in the championships.
"When I started to road race here in America I fell in love with the
sport," said Cereda in his Italian accent. "I give everything to race.
When I first saw Daytona as a fan I thought it was crazy the speeds were
so great. Then I raced there and finished ninth and it was like a dream
come true."
A privateer who hauls his own bike to the races, Cereda hopes to continue
his career next season, possibly in the Genuine Suzuki Accessories 750
SuperSport Series. He and his wife Monica are working hard to find
sponsorship for next season.
Cereda grew up racing motocross in Italy. Nine years ago he moved to
America to work as a professional chef. In 1997 he bought his first street
bike and became friends with fellow motorcyclists who raced club events in
Southern Florida.
"I went to watch a race at Homestead and I thought it was fantastic," said
Cereda. "It was funny that I grew up in Italy and only cared about
motocross. After I got into road racing here in America I studied
everything about the sport. I went back to Italy and watched a Grand Prix
and became a big fan at the same time I became a racer."
Cereda is the 19th AMA Superbike Rookie of the Year. Doug Chandler, Randy
Renfrow, Scott Russell, Miguel Duhamel and Chris Carr are just a few of
the notable former winners.
Cereda will receive his award at the AMA Pro Racing Champions Awards
Banquet, Dec. 7, at the Desert Springs Marriott Resort & Spa in
Palm Springs, Calif.
For immediate post-race results, rider information, AMA Pro Racing notes
and news, log on to www.amaproracing.com
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