Motorcycle.com

We are excited to be working with Richie Morris Racing again as they compete in the AMA Daytona SportBike class, says Eric Vaden of GEICO Powersports after the signing of the three-year contract. We were involved with Richie Morris and Bruce Rossmeyers Daytona Harley-Davidson SunTrust MOTO-ST team last season and they did an outstanding job for us. This is a great opportunity with a winning team and we are very pleased with how well this all came together.

Richie Morris Racing competed in the SunTrust MOTO-ST series in 2008 with a Buell XB12R piloted by Chris Brotz and Dan Bilansky. For 2009, the team will compete in a new series on a new bike with a new rider.

Boca Raton, Fla. resident Michael Barnes will pilot the Richie Morris Buell 1125R. A veteran racer with podium finishes in AMA Superstock, Supersport, Superbike and Formula Xtreme classes, Barnes raced for Bruce Rossmeyers Daytona Buell team to a third-place finish in the 8 Hours of Daytona.

This is awesome, says Barnes. I cant wait for the season to get started.

Richie runs a great team and the 1125R is an incredible bike. Im really honored to be carrying the GEICO Powersports banner and am eager to show their colors on the podium.

Former American Honda crew chief Dave McGrath will lead Richie Morris Racings crew. McGrath served as Neil Hodgsons crew chief for the 2008 AMA Superbike season.

We have three months before the AMA Pro Racing Series begins, says Morris. Our whole crew will be working full force to make sure everything is in place and we will definitely be ready in March when the Green Flag waves at Daytona International Speedway for the famed Daytona 200.