Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies rode his Dunlop-shod GSX-R600 to a dominant victory in the 17-lap AMA Supersport race Sunday at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California.

Starting from pole, Spies grabbed the holeshot, set a blistering pace early to build a comfortable lead then maintained his advantage to win his first AMA Supersport race of the 2004 season.

Yamaha’s Jamie Hacking, the defending series Champion, got away second at the start but could not put a dent in Spies’ lead until it was too late.

Kawasaki’s Tommy Hayden recovered from a bad start, seventh after the first lap, set the fastest lap of the race (1:39.147) to close on right on Hacking’s tail late but could not do better than third at the checkered flag.

Jason DiSalvo ran at the front early before fading to fourth. Aaron Gobert took fifth on his Yamaha YZF-R6. Kawasaki’s Roger Lee Hayden finished sixth after a terrific start. Aaron Yates placed seventh in his first race back since Daytona. Australian Ben Attard brought his Corona Extra Suzuki GSX-R600 home eighth. The fourth factory Yamaha rider Damon Buckmaster struggled through the race to finish ninth. Attack Kawasaki’s Tony Meiring rounded out the top 10 on his ZX-6RR.

Provisional AMA Supersport Race Results:

1. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 17 laps
2. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha, -1.324 seconds
3. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, -2.971 seconds
4. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha, -13.487 seconds
5. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, -20.929 seconds
6. Roger Lee Hayden, Kawasaki, -21.194 seconds
7. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, -21.916 seconds
8. Ben Attard, Suzuki, -30.223 seconds
9. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, -30.931 seconds
10. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, -36.429 seconds
11. Michael Barnes, Yamaha, -36.739 seconds
12. Steve Rapp, Suzuki, -38.270 seconds
13. Lee Acree, Suzuki, -41.283 seconds
14. Chris Siglin, Yamaha, -45.714 seconds
15. Clint McBain, Suzuki, -51.007 seconds
16. Jason Perez, Yamaha, -59.120 seconds
17. Darren Luck, Yamaha, -60.044 seconds
18. Chris Peris, Suzuki, -62.552 seconds
19. Scott Jensen, Honda, -71.927 seconds
20. Grant Riggs, Yamaha, -75.807 seconds
21. Andy Carman, Yamaha, -77.919 seconds
22. Craig Connell, Suzuki, -83.2280 seconds
23. John-O Bowman, Yamaha, -92.284 seconds
24. Scott Jackson, Suzuki, -92.621 seconds
25. Nathan Hester, Yamaha, -1 lap
26. Brad Hendry, Yamaha, -1 lap
27. Chris Siebenhaar, Honda, -1 lap
28. Giovanni Rojas, Yamaha, -1 lap
29. Pedro Valiente, Yamaha, -1 lap
30. Jeremy Haiduk, Yamaha, -1 lap
31. Richard Ford, Yamaham -1 lap
32. Doug Venezia, Yamaha, -1 lap
33. Matthew Weathers, Honda, -1 lap
34. Eric Pinson, Triumph, -2 laps
35. Heath Small, Yamaha, -8 laps
36. Montez Stewart, Yamaha, -8 laps
37. Charlie Hewitt, Triumph, -12 laps
38. Darren Murrey, Yamaha, -13 laps
39. Danny Eslick, Suzuki, DNS, mechanical
40. Darin Eli Edwards, Suzuki, DNS
41. Craig McLean, Honda, DNS

Provisional Supersport Point Standings:

1. Tommy Hayden, 95
2. DiSalvo, 89
3. TIE, Hacking/Roger Lee Hayden, 86
5. Aaron Gobert, 80
6. Spies, 70
7. Barnes, 67
8. Rapp, 65 points
9. Meiring, 63
10. Acree, 57