MRP/BIREL FINISH STRONG:

ALEX SPEED CLINCHES STARS CHAMPIONSHIP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 21, 2005

Birel teams finish STARS series on high notes

AUSTIN, TX – MRP Birel and Team Speed/MRP Birel finished off the 2005 STARS of Karting Championship season on top with four Birel drivers finishing in the top 10 of the headlining ICC class at the Mini cooper National Finals at Austin, TX’s Iron Rock Raceway. Birel pilot, Alex Speed finish third in the final, clinching the STARS championship for the second consecutive season while Wesley Boswell, Ryan Phinny and Collin Lynn finished 4th, 6th and 10th showing that the Birel contingent was a dominant force at the front of the grid. “This has been a great season,” said Speed. “Of course it would have been nice to come away with a win in the final, we ran consistent all weekend and still ended up on the podium and the championship. The Birel chassis have been amazing this year. We have worked with a lot of karts and so far the Birel has been the easiest to make work.” Speed, who started the final from the third position, battled hard to finish 1.3 seconds behind the eventually winner, David Jurca.
MRP Birel driver, Wesley Boswell was strong all weekend and finished 4th behind Speed to end up 3rd overall in the final points tally and second in the STARS Eastern championship. Photo shows Wesley Boswell making the most of the Iron Rock Raceway Airport track with all four wheel in the air!

In the ICA class, both Birel drivers, Tony Loniewski and Joey King ran in the top 10 all weekend until an accident on the first lap of the final put both drivers out of the competition, wrecking the duo’s chances for top-5 finishes.

The hotly contested Cadet class had three young Birel racers finish in the top eleven with Kyle Shriver, Brendan Phinny and Taylor Miinch placing well in 5^th, 9^th and 11^th in the 28-kart field.

“We are very proud of every Birel driver for their hard work and great results this season,” said Chris Lobaugh, MRP Competition Team Manager. “Congratulations to Alex and Team Speed / MRP Birel for their success as well as everyone one of our teammates. We are looking forward to begin testing again for 2006.”

MRP Competition is currently seeking interested drivers for the 2006 racing season. Email us at chris@mrpmotorsport.com for information regarding our testing programs for this winter.

For more information regarding North America’s largest importer of Birel chassis and Freeline accessories, contact MRP Motorsport by phone (269-756-9133) or via the web at www.mrpmotorsport.com.