photo by John Thawley (Saukville, Wisc.) Friday, October 31, 2008 – B-K Motorsports announced today that they will be closing their doors effective October 31, 2008 in conjunction with the retirement of owner Bob Bach.

B-K Owner, Bob Bach, was quick to thank Mazda and all of their partners for the tremendous support since the program was established in March of 2005, “I cannot begin to thank Robert Davis, John Doonan, and the entire Mazda staff for their amazing support. We have been so proud to represent Mazda on and off the track. Recently, we also had the special chance to represent BP, Castrol, SPARCO, ASG, Peirspeed, Staubli, AER, Lola, BBS, Mother’s Polishes-Waxes-Cleaners, Piloti, and Nike Hydraulics. All of these Mazda partners have the same WILL TO NEVER GIVE UP attitude as Mazda and our team has had for the last four seasons. We thank them for their continuous support, as we could not have done it without them.”

The BK team has been managing the American Le Mans Series program for Mazda North American Operations and MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development since 2005. BK scored Mazda’s first American Le Mans Series victory in 2005 at Mid-Ohio and accomplished a total of ten podium finishes. In addition, BK raced in the Star Mazda Championship and Mazda’s Club Racing programs since 2000, scoring the 2002 SCCA Runoffs National Championship in Formula Mazda.

Mazda statement regarding the retirement of Bob Bach/closing of B-K Motorsports

“Retirements always leave mixed feelings. We’re happy for Bob, but we’re sad that we won’t be seeing him at the track on a regular basis. Bob and the entire B-K team were a part of the MAZDASPEED family for almost a decade and will be missed on both a professional and personal level. B-K was a great example of a team moving up the ranks with Mazda. I remember when Bob was racing in the Star Mazda series before moving up to the ALMS. B-K will forever have a place in Mazda history having scored our first ALMS win in 2005. They have also been a tremendous help in developing the new Mazda MZR-R engine. We wish Bob the best in retirement, but suspect he’ll still come out to watch us race at Road America,” said Robert Davis, Senior Vice President, Product Development and Quality, and the man responsible for Mazda’s North American motorsports operations under the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development banner.

Mazda will announce their 2009 ALMS plans later this year.