Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Tommy Hayden made a last-lap, last-corner pass on Josh Hayes to take the lead in the Superstock race at Laguna Seca, but Hayes repassed him in the run to the flag and won.

Hayes, Adam Fergusson and Hayden escaped a first-lap, second-corner crash melee that delayed the rest of the field and left several riders running off or upside down in the dirt.

Tony Meiring finished fourth. Steve Rapp took to the dirt in the turn two incident and was 27th at the end of the first lap, but recovered to finish fifth, with black tire marks on the left side of his bike’s fairing.

Vincent Haskovec, who led the points into Laguna Seca, finished ninth; the points now are led by Hayes ahead of Hayden and Haskovec.

The victory was Hayes’ first since he won at Daytona in 1999.

Crashers included Jason DiSalvo, John Dugan and Opie Caylor.

Results
1. Josh Hayes, Suzuki
2. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, -0.028 second
3. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki, -5.820 seconds
4. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, -13.287
5. Steve Rapp, Suzuki, -19.708
6. Jeremy Toye, Suzuki, -27.185
7. Jake Holden, Suzuki, -29.093
8. Jason Perez, Suzuki, -38.724
9. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, -39.734
10. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki, -39.957
11. Chris Peris, Honda, -49.642
12. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki, -52.830
13. John Haner, Suzuki, -60.190
14. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki, -63.670
15. Tom Wertman, Suzuki, -66.217
16. Cory Eaton, Suzuki, -66.630
17. Jeff Bostrom, Suzuki, -67.577
18. Opie Caylor, Suzuki, -70.944
19. Brian Stokes, Suzuki, -75.335
20. Matt Furtek, Suzuki, -77.285
21. Hawk Mazzotta, Suzuki, -77.619
22. Doug Pitcock, Suzuki, -1 lap
23. Nathan Hester, Suzuki, -1 lap
24. Chad Rolland, Suzuki, -1 lap
25. Mickey Lane, Suzuki, -1 lap
26. Eric Haugo, Suzuki, -1 lap
27. Martin Sims, Suzuki, -1 lap
28. Crash Lowe, Suzuki, -1 lap
29. Corey Sarros, Suzuki, -1 lap
30. Jeremy Chisum, Suzuki, -1 lap
31. David Lambert, Suzuki, -1 lap
32. John Dugan, Suzuki, -8 laps, DNF, crash
33. Mark Simon, Szuuki, -8 laps, DNF
34. Kenan Rappuchi, Suzuki, -9 laps, DNF
35. David Bell, Suzuki, -11 laps, DNF
36. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha, -17 laps, DNF
37. Jason Chisum, Suzuki, DNS


Provisional AMA Superstock Point Standings:

1. Hayes, 228 points
2. Tommy Hayden, 227 points
3. Haskovec, 226 points
4. Fergusson, 206 points
5. Meiring, 196 points
6. Caylor, 175 points
7. DiSalvo, 166 points
8. Ciccotto, 162 points
9. Rapp, 151 points
10. Jimmy Moore, 142 points


More, from a press release issued by Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki:

RAPP FIFTH FOR TEAM VALVOLINE EMGO SUZUKI

While Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp’s two-race Superstock victory streak was snapped at Laguna Seca on Sunday, he still managed to impress. Rapp was the innocent victim of a first-lap incident in the Andretti Hairpin and was forced off track — spoiling his hard-earned front row starting position — but finished fifth in the AMA National held between World Superbike races.

The 30-year-old refused to give in despite being dropped to the back of the field on the opening lap, and proceeded to charge through the field to an eventual top five placing. Rapp worked his Michelin-shod GSX-R750 up to 27th by the end of lap one and picked up more than 20 additional places over the next ten laps.

“It was unfortunate that I got pushed off course there at the start,” Rapp commented. “But it was a great race after that. The bike was really working, and I was putting in lap times as fast as the guys at the front. We’ll just have to try to start up a new streak at Mid-Ohio.”

Teammate Chris Ulrich put a second Valvoline-backed GSX-R750 in the top ten. Ulrich was hampered by his injured shoulder once again and will see Dr. Ting immediately after the race weekend concludes. Despite the pain, Chris fought through to claim tenth.

Matt Furtek came home 20th in his Laguna Seca debut weekend. The teenager essentially used the visit as an extended practice, learning the difficult northern Californian circuit.

Team manager Keith Perry reflected on the Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki riders’ days. “That was a heck of a charge by Steve,” he said. “He really had nothing to gain, being at the back of the pack. But he wouldn’t quit and got us back to fifth. He’s got a lot of heart, and you can always count on him giving 100%.

“Chris rode a pretty strong race. He’s still fighting the shoulder injury, but he was generally happy with the bike and the tires. For Matt, it was learning experience. It was another track he’d never seen before, and he only got around 45 laps all weekend to learn this difficult track.”


More, from a press release issued by Proforma:

HANER FIGHTS BACK AFTER FIRST LAP MELEE

HAS/Shogun Racing’s John Haner fought back to 13th place in the AMA Genuine Accessories Superstock event today at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca after a fist lap, turn two melee that saw one rider crash and several front runners,
including John, take to the gravel to avoid crashing themselves. John returned to the track in 33rd position and passed 20 riders before the 17 lap race was finished.

“I was sixth going into turn two,” said Haner. “I saw (Jason) Disalvo fall and I steered right to miss his bike, and it kept coming and I had to keep going to the right, and I got out in the deep gravel. The bike was stuck, I had to paddle and work it hard to get out, I saw (Steve) Rapp and Opie (Caylor), I guess Disalvo was still on the ground. I finally got out and started charging, and just tried to put in some good laps.”

“My hand felt really good,” said John, who had carpal tunnel surgery on June 13th. “It’s perfect, it’s completely fixed. None of the problems like I had earlier in the year.”

Haner remains 11th in the point standings in AMA Genuine Accessories Superstock after this event, and has earned points in all seven rounds that he has attended.