Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Highlights of the AMA Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme and Repsol Superstock races at Brainerd International Raceway (June 24-25) will be aired Sunday, July 4 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Speed Channel.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The daily schedule posted on the official AMA Superbike series website for the July 9-11 AMA/World Superbike event at Laguna Seca Raceway includes an error.

The AMA schedule for the afternoon of Friday, July 9 includes:

3:25 – 3:55 p.m. Repsol Superstock Qualifying, Group 1

4:05 – 4:35 p.m. Repsol Superstock Qualifying, Group 2

4:45- 5:15 p.m. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying, Group 1

5:25 – 5:55 p.m. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying, Group 2

3:50 – 4:20 p.m. Chevrolet Superbike Qualifying, Group 1

4:30 – 5 p.m. Chevrolet Superbike Qualifying, Group 2

The Chevrolet Superbike Qualifying sessions on the Friday schedule are “clearly an error,” according to AMA Pro Racing Kerry Graeber, who told Roadracingworld.com that he would check into the situation and see that it is corrected.

The AMA/World Superbike event at Laguna Seca is a three-day event for 2004, where it had been a four-day event in the past.

From a press release:

Noted designer Tony Foale is holding a seminar on suspension Monday and Tuesday, July 19-20 at the AMA museum in Pickerington, Ohio (a suburb of Columbus).

That is the week between the AMA Vintage
Days/AHRMA races and AMA Superbike events at Mid-Ohio in Lexington, Ohio (about 45 minutes north).

The price will be $250 for both days, or $390 with a copy of Tony’s book on PDF disk, and suspension kinematics software included.

Here is the Internet address for information on the seminar, including how to sign up:

www.tonyfoale.com/seminar/ohiosem.htm

The seminar is open to anyone, and we currently have many engineers from within the industry signed up, and are hoping for many more. The conference room is limited to 35 people, and we are reserving spaces on a first-come basis. If there is enough interest, we may hold a 2nd seminar later in the week.

From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

RIVALS LOCKED ON POINTS AS TITLE RACE HITS RIO

With Sete Gibernau (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) and Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) both sharing 126 points at the top of the table after six races, the MotoGP circus now heads to Brazil for an intriguing contest over the 4.933km of the Circuit Nelson Piquet, 20km south of central Rio de Janeiro.

Coming just after the pulsating Dutch TT where Rossi beat Gibernau and posted his third straight win over the Spaniard, Sete is determined to halt the Italian’s progress here in Brazil – neither rider will be lapping up the party atmosphere of this race until the flag on Sunday.

Max Biaggi (Camel Honda RC211V) also needs a result here – but for different reasons. The Italian is 33 points adrift of the leading pair and has yet to achieve a win this season. He’s scored points at every race (as have Rossi and Gibernau), but two second places and two thirds are not enough to keep him in the hunt while the main men share wins. He needs a victory in Brazil.

But Rossi has ruled Rio. He has won the last four races here and will be out to make a fifth win this weekend a signal to Gibernau that his rival’s title challenge has stalled. Gibernau will want to use this race to demonstrate to Rossi that the ten races remaining will not follow the same pattern as the last three where Rossi has shadowed him for most of the race and then pounced in the closing stages to snatch a win.

Gibernau has scored points at 19 consecutive races now, but consistency is of little value in this intense title struggle if it doesn’t feature a consistent visit to the top step of the podium. Both riders rarely drop points and yet neither can afford to wait for one another to make a mistake – this year the psychological impact of beating the other into second would seem to be the most important tool available.

This is why the re-emergence of Biaggi is such a factor. He is a proven race winner and after a run of mediocre results, the 12 times winner in the premier class is overdue a return to winning ways. The canny Italian knows he can’t leave it much later than now to put the squeeze on the two men in front of him.

The track features the third fastest straight in the MotoGP calendar and the 1000m chute with its wide entry and exit is where much of the overtaking is done here. But the track, built on reclaimed land, is bumpy. Subsidence, despite massive rebuilding efforts in 1995, is still a problem. The surface is not very grippy and is rippled in many key areas.

Corner speeds are high here and stability under braking at the end of the straight is a key area engineers will look at when setting-up these 220bhp machines. Top-end power is also critical and any changes to engine-mapping will factor-in the need to have plenty of power available in the higher registers of engine rpm.

The track, like Welkom in South Africa, is never used for testing, so riders tend to come to it ‘raw’ and speed from riders and crews in assessing the exact machine requirements is essential if teams are to get to grips with conditions early on. As we have seen this season, the pressure is such that even the first free training session on Friday morning will be an intense affair.

Alex Barros (Repsol Honda RC211V) who will start his 201st Grand Prix on Sunday has never won here. The Brazilian was on better form in Holland last weekend than he has been in for a while and if he can build on that here, the veteran cannot be ruled out for a win. But he remains a long shot while Rossi and Gibernau carve up the wins between them.

“I’m ready for a new battle with Valentino,” said Gibernau. “I’m going to fight for the win again here and I’m sure it will be a great show. I like the track and I love the atmosphere but it will be strictly business here.”

His team-mate Colin Edwards (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) who has been consistent if not spectacular so far this year is close to recapturing the form that made him such hot property and the Texan will be keen to taste a rostrum after so many races without real success. “I’m confident,” he said. “Last year the Hondas were good here. Sure, the Yamaha has improved a lot but I’m ready. I need to qualify well and get onto the first two rows of the grid. If I can do that then I know I can stay with the front runners. I’ve just been too far down the grids in these first races this season.”

Barros is feeling the pressure – but liking it. “I actually enjoy it,” he said. “The fans are really passionate and I know I’ll get huge support. The last few results have been disappointing for me, but I’ve been encouraged by the balance my crew has now found with the bike. The team has worked hard to get me to the front of the field – and now I need a result. After my crash at Assen I’m fit to ride although my shoulder is maybe not quite 100% yet.”

His team-mate Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) is ready for action too. “It should suit the Honda,” he said. “It’s bumpy but not too bad and not too technical either. I’m glad this race is coming up now because I need to string a few results together after my recent disappointments and need to be mixing it with the guys up front. I’m also going to visit a Honda factory in the jungle – it’s all pretty mad at the moment.”

Max Biaggi is ready to go and starts his 101st premier class Grand Prix here. “Honda gave us massive support in Assen, doing some great work after the qualifying, giving me confidence for the race and demonstrating that with collaboration, even the most difficult situations can be resolved. This is what gives me a big lift to be able to take on the Rio race in confident mood.”

Makoto Tamada (Camel Honda RC211V) riding on Bridgestone tyres said, “In Rio last year I ended up on the podium for the first time. So naturally, I’ve got some good memories of this Grand Prix. But it’s not just for that reason that I’m happy to go there. I like the track layout, it’s very dynamic and has a long straight like the one in Mugello. I want to be at the front and fight for the top positions and I think that in Brazil we have the chance to meet our objectives.”

In the 250cc class things are just as tight as in the MotoGP category with two riders separated at the top by just one point but with two lurking below ready to jump into contention with one good result or a slip by the front runners. Frenchman Randy de Puniet (Aprilia) on 111 points leads Dani Pedrosa (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW by just one point with Sebastian Porto, who won in Holland last weekend, in the frame with 88. Tony Elias (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) is in contention with 70.

Elias is yet to score a win while Porto has two so far, Pedrosa two and de Puniet one. Roberto Rolfo (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) scored a win at Jerez in Spain, but the Italian needs to find form quickly is he is to become a factor in the title race – he currently lies seventh with 48 points.

Pedrosa, fresh from his superb race at Assen where he charged from16th place on lap one to finish second, said of Rio. “I like Rio but the track is getting very bumpy and it’s my first time there with the 250 so maybe it will be difficult to set up the bike on the first day. The weather can also be changeable at Rio, I don’t know what to expect with the race so early in the season. First practice on Friday will be hard work. The race will be tough but the bike is working really well, its fast and I will need the speed on the long straight. One thing for sure, I will need a better start than the one I made at Assen!”

Tony Elias said, “I’m looking forward to Rio. I’m now feeling about 90% right with the bike. At Assen I was only five seconds behind the winner, not 10 or12 like earlier races. Rio doesn’t really have good memories for me because last year a difficult overtaking move went wrong and I (maybe) lost my chance of the title. But I do like the track and now the bike is near where I need it to be I’m sure to have a good race.”

Roberto Rolfo’s results in recent races have been below his usual excellent best, two dnf’s and a ninth place at Assen have left him trailing the points leaders. “I have done well at Rio in the last two years so I obviously like the track but the bumpy sections might give us set up problems. We shall have to wait for the first practice session to know where we stand. The engine is now very good, we just have to get the front end to turn into the corners better.” Explained Rolfo.

Andrea Dovizioso (Team Scot Honda RS125R) heads the 125cc points table with 109 to Roberto Locatelli’s 93 with Hector Barbera (both Aprilia) and Casey Stoner (KTM) tied in third with 84 points apiece.

Dovizioso said, “Rio is OK for me, I finished 6th last year and I know I can do better this time. The team has worked hard to get the bike where it is. I need a little more top speed because KTM have found something extra these last couple of races. The others are more or less the same as the Honda.”

From a press release issued by Telefonica Movistar Honda/Gresini Racing:

THE 7TH ROUND AT NELSON PIQUET

The 7th round of the MotoGP championship will be held next Sunday, the 4th of July at the Rio circuit, which bears the name of the “carioca” F1 legend, Nelson Piquet.

Built in 1975 and extremely modified in 1995, the carioca track is fixed appointment of the Motorcycle championship. A technical circuit, difficult to interpret as even though the tarmac is quite new, there is still major unevenness, cause of a major challenge for both engineers and riders. Fast and technical, the Piquet – with its many corners to connect – puts the riders talent to the test, while its long straightaway, (1000 meters of boiling surface) praises the qualities of the engine.

The secret to a good lap is first of all a correct line when connecting all the corners. This is very important for a good time, however a good setting to follow the numerous potholes is also needed.


SETE GIBERNAU, DETERMINED AND CONCENTRATED

Sete Gibernau is ready for the 7th round of the MotoGP to be held at Rio on Sunday the 4th of July . The Spaniard is now sharing the same points with Valentino Rossi but maintening his status as the only rider to make the podium in each and every one of the opening six rounds of the MotoGP World Championship. Rio will be another hard fought battle for the win.

“Assen and Rio are two races in a row so there is no time to work on the bike, but I’m confident that my team will do a great job. I’m also confident in myself, in Honda and Michelin so you will see me in Rio fighting in the front for the podium.”


COLIN EDWARDS, CONFIDENT FOR RIO

“Before last year I didn’t know this track. The atmosphere here is completely different than from the European races. There is no pressure from the spectators, the whole environment is more relaxed, but you always fight for the 25 points and for this goal us riders always put in the same amount of effort. I’m determined to do well and this means that I need to improve my qualifying because in MotoGP is absolutely important to start from the first two rows in order to do a good race. In assen I started from the fifth row and finished 6th, it was a good race but I need to qualify better if I want to fight for the podium.”

From a press release issued by HMC Milwaukee Ducati:

HMC DUCATI MILWAUKEE RACING BIT BY ELECTRONIC GREMLINS

HMC Ducati Milwaukee Racing – June 29, 2004

HMC Ducati Milwaukee Racing, located at www.hmcracing.com, experienced the first bad break of the season, which derailed the team’s outstanding results of late.

The Ducati Motor Holding (DMH) factory-backed Formula Xtreme 749R Dark racer found the mark right off the transporter by running an outstanding 1:39.576 in practice. Radar guns stopped Doug Chandler at 173mph and change; good enough for second quickest in class.

“We are showing gains with our program week in and week out, and then the electronic gremlins bite us.” stated Mitch Hansen, team owner. “When we qualified on Friday the bike wasn’t 100%; even so, Doug placed the race bike on the front row in third position. During the race the bike wouldn’t pull. We were down 3,000 revs so Doug pulled it in. There wasn’t any reason for us to stay out.”

Electronic bugs wrecked havoc on the team the entire weekend. After the race the team packed up the ECU (computer brains), wiring harness, and sensors and sent them off to Ducati for analysis.

“We have not had time to workout all the bugs,” Hansen commented. “We expect that we will be ready for our next race at Laguna Seca and give them a run for their money.”

Look for Doug Chandler signing autographs at the HMC Ducati Milwaukee Racing transporter at Laguna Seca. Fans can win a Doug Chandler t-shirt by registering at www.hmcracing.com

More, from a press release issued by Buell:

BARNES PUTS BUELL SIXTH AT BRAINERD AMA FORMULA XTREME

Kosco Buell Rider Cracks Top-Ten in Season Points Despite Missing First Two Rounds



BRAINERD, Minn. (June 26, 2004) – Kosco Buell/Innovative Motorcycle Research rider Michael Barnes had his best result of the season with a sixth-place finish aboard his Buell Firebolt at the Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme race during the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship Series at Brainerd International Raceway. The strong showing moved him into ninth in points.

Barnes qualified ninth for the event and despite a bad start in the 13-lap race, moved up steadily on the high-speed, three-mile-long road course as others faltered.

“We’ve got good momentum right now,” said Kosco Buell race manager Rich Cronrath. “We’ve finally got a good baseline and we’ve made some real progress. Consistency is the key and our best finishes are ahead of us.”

Hal’s Performance Advantage Buell rider Mike Ciccotto had a disappointing weekend at Brainerd. Mike qualified 12th due to some fuel injection mapping issues, but had the bike dialed in for the race. He got a fantastic start, and had moved up to fifth place by lap four, but a cracked oil fitting caused a leak that made Mike pull off for a DNF. The race was won by American Honda factory rider Miguel Duhamel, who leads the series after seven rounds with 250 points. Erion Honda rider Jake Zemke is second with 235 points. With his steady performance at Brainerd, Barnes is now ninth with 111 points.

“It’s great to see the Kosco team crack the top-ten in overall points, especially since they didn’t even compete in the first two rounds,” said Erik Buell, chairman and chief technical officer at Buell Motorcycle Company. “Both the Hal’s and Kosco dealer teams are racing hard in a very competitive national class, and they have gained the respect of all their competitors.”

AMA Formula Xtreme is a class open to highly-modified motorcycles with 600cc four-cylinder engines or larger-displacement V-Twin engines. The next stop on the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship schedule is July 9-11 at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca near Monterey, Calif.

To learn more about Buell Motorcycles, visit your local Buell dealer today and experience the pure streetfighter attitude, style, and performance only found on board a Buell. For the Buell dealer nearest you, pull into www.buell.com

From a press release issued by Buell:

BEMISDERFER PILOTS BUELL TO VIR WIN, PADS THUNDERBIKE POINTS LEAD

Bilansky Tied for Second; Defending Champ Estok in Deep Points Hole



DANVILLE, Va. (June 27, 2004) – Harding Harley-Davidson rider Bryan Bemisderfer rode a Buell Firebolt to victory in the Formula USA National Thunderbike event at Virginia International Raceway and increased his series points lead as other contenders for the title failed to mount a challenge to the rider from Greencastle, Pa. After five of eight events on the 2004 Thunderbike series, Bemisderfer enjoys a healthy 39-point lead.

“My team did their job in giving me a good bike and I was really happy with the set up,” said Bemisderfer. “We’ve got a nice points lead, but we’re not going to lay back. We’re going to three new tracks and we want to win ‘em all.”

Tripp Nobles, riding a Buell Firebolt backed by Tilley’s Buell took the pole in qualifying for the 16-lap Thunderbike national, but finished 17th after leaving the race on lap six with a mechanical problem. Bemisderfer qualified fourth aboard his back up bike, while his teammate and defending Thunderbike champion, David Estok, started the race in sixth position but crashed just before the race was red-flagged and later restarted. Estok took the restart from the back of the grid and set the fastest lap of the race as he worked his way forward. He retired from the race on lap seven with a mechanical problem and finished in 16th position.

Bemisderfer battled with Suzuki riders Derek Keys and David Yaakov, with the lead changing hands every lap. Bemisderfer took the lead for good on the last lap while Keys finished second and Yaakov third. Hal’s Performance Advantage Buell rider Dan Bilansky finished sixth, Appleton Buell/Hoban Brothers rider Jeff Johnson was seventh and Josh Guyer of Buell of Bloomington was eighth, all were aboard Buell Firebolts.


Bemisderfer leads the Thunderbike National series with 85 points. Bilansky is tied for second with Suzuki rider Darren Danilowicz at 46 points, while Estok has faded to fifth with 41 points. The next stop on the Formula USA National Thunderbike Series is Aug. 13-15 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala.

The Formula USA National Thunderbike series is a horsepower-to-weight ratio restricted class, open to a variety of production-based motorcycles. Buell-mounted riders competing in the eight-event 2004 Thunderbike series are racing for a share of the $70,500 contingency fund posted by Buell Motorcycle Company and Buell Riders Adventure Group (BRAG).

To learn more about Buell Motorcycles, visit your local Buell dealer today and experience the pure streetfighter attitude, style, and performance only found on board a Buell. For the Buell dealer nearest you, pull into www.buell.com.

From a press release issued by Camel Honda Racing Information:

Camel Honda jet to Rio in search of some sunshine

After a weekend in Holland dealing with the ups and downs of both the changeable weather and the team’s luck, the Camel Honda team fly to Rio de Janeiro this week hoping for clear skies to be able to make the most of all four practice sessions before the race. After big improvements in the set-up of Max Biaggi’s RC211V, which in Holland allowed the Roman star to battle superbly for the podium after some tough practice sessions, the objective is simply to keep making steps forward. Equally for Makoto Tamada, who took a first MotoGP podium in Brazil last year, and is expecting nothing less than repeating the feat.

Sito Pons – Camel Honda (Team Principal)

“The Rio race is really important for us, because it comes after two races where despite a few problems the team has been able to react quickly and successfully, keeping all our options open with Max. Our objective in Rio is to get back the positive rhythm we had going in the first four races of the year and to fight for victory once more. The weather could once again be a factor, with it being the winter months currently in Brazil but if it is clear, conditions will be perfect, with temperatures not too cold and not too hot. Last year Makoto took his best result of the year, Max up to now, misfortunes aside, has done some great races there: so we hope to battle for the win this weekend.”

Max Biaggi #3: (Michelin Tyres)

“I like the design of the Nelson Piquet circuit and since they resurfaced the track you can also get good grip there. The weather conditions in Brazil don’t worry me too much, because whatever unknown factors there are in Brazil, it would be similar to the problems we dealt with in Holland. Honda also gave us massive support in Assen, doing some great work after the qualifying, giving me confidence for the race and demonstrating that with collaboration, even the most difficult situations can be resolved. This is what gives me a big lift to be able to take on the Rio race in confident mood.”

Luca Montiron – Camel Honda (Makoto Tamada Team Manager)

“Last year in Rio, Makoto had a superb race which we hope to repeat again this Sunday. All the pieces are there so we can do it again. It’s important for us to take a good result there, because so far this year we haven’t quite lived up to our expectations. We’re trying to get the bike package set up perfectly, with tyres at a level where they can handle performances like that of Mugello. We are working flat out together with Bridgestone to get Makoto in shape to express himself to the limit.”

Makoto Tamada #6: (Bridgestone Tyres)

“In Rio last year I ended up on the podium for the first time, so naturally, I’ve got some good memories of this Grand Prix.. But it’s not just for that reason that I’m happy to go there. I like the track layout, it’s very dynamic and has a long straight like the one in Mugello. I want to be at the front and fight for the top positions and I think that in Brazil we have the chance to meet our objectives.”


Podium 2003
1. V. Rossi (Honda)
2. S. Gibernau (Honda)
3. M. Tamada (Honda)


Pole Position
V. Rossi (Honda – 2003)
1:49.038

Official Lap Record
V. Rossi (Honda – 2002)
1:50.453

No. of Laps
24 ( 118.392km)

MotoGP timetable:
11.30 (GMT -3)
*Three hours behind Greenwich Mean Time


Track Characteristics
Length: 4,933 m
Width: m 18
Right corners: 4
Left corners: 8
Constructed in: 1978
Last modified:1995

From a press release issued by American Honda:

Honda Red Rider Weekend Report

Zemke and Duhamel dominate Brainerd road race national.

They say “the third time is the charm,” and Erion Racing’s Jake Zemke bears witness to this axiom, clinching his first-ever AMA Superbike victory at Brainerd International Raceway (BIR) on Sunday, June 27, the same track where he collected his first AMA Supersport and Formula Xtreme victories. Add a convincing victory by Miguel Duhamel in Formula Xtreme competition-his fifth of the season-and Honda Racing’s weekend at BIR was nothing short of spectacular.

The weekend’s first race on the seventh stop of the 2004 AMA Superbike tour was in the Formula Xtreme series. Honda Racing and Erion Racing have worked diligently throughout the season to massage Honda’s potent CBR600RR into a 600cc “Superbike” and the results are impressive. Trap speeds down the long front straightaway at BIR indicated Duhamel’s Al Ludington-tuned 600RR was topping out at an amazing 179.2 mph. Duhamel captured the pole position in Friday’s qualifying session with a blazing 1:38.148 time.

“I don’t think I had a good bike, I think I had a great bike,” said Duhamel. “The Xtreme class is still new and we’re still working at it and we’re getting faster and faster. I think we’re asserting ourselves in a really serious class; our speeds are fast, lap times and even top speed. I credit my team – Al, Trevor, Jason, Yuji, and Chris.”

At the start of the race on Saturday, Duhamel and Zemke fought tooth-and-nail throughout the race for the lead, with the duo often swapping the lead along BIR’s front straightaway and the fast right-hand sweepers in turns one and two. At one point early in the race, Duhamel’s right knee-puck slider tore away, forcing him to alter his riding style through the turns to protect his knee. No matter, Duhamel drafted past Zemke on lap 11 and then ripped off the fastest lap of the race, 1:38.083 to hold the lead, taking the win by .375 seconds over Zemke.

“We were out there racing, we had a decent pace going, but I felt like there was something more to the show,” said Duhamel. “After a while I thought, maybe I need to look back there, and I thought ‘Whoa’ I need to pick up the pace because coming out of that really tight right hander after the chicane he (Zemke) had a much better drive. There was no negotiation; if I was second coming out of that corner I was done. So I tried to lead the most laps. We were going back and forth, because I really thought he could get me there. The CBR600RR was just fantastic and my guys have been working so hard, and the Dunlop tires were working real good too. I’m really pleased. It’s a tough class to win.”

Zemke added, “I knew it was going to be tough because Miguel has some motor on us, but the boys worked pretty hard and we definitely closed the gap on him from the last race to this one. I was having to ride really hard just to stay where I was. In the end my tires were moving just a bit, because we were having to work them pretty hard just to keep up at the front. It was a good race, we’ll move on to Laguna from here and see if we can close up the points gap.”

Erion Racing’s Alex Gobert finished fourth in the race. Duhamel leads the series with 250 points to Zemke’s 235, followed by Gobert with 193.

Sunday’s Superbike race result was foreshadowed by Zemke’s pole qualifying performance on his CBR1000RR on Saturday with a time of 1:35.655. A mishap almost spelled disaster. “I went out on my first bike and had a problem with it so I came straight into the pit and went out on my second bike and did one warm-up lap. I was basically on my first good lap.” Zemke and Larry Pegram then bumped and both fell coming out of turn ten before the front straight, effectively shortening Zemke’s qualifying run to just ten minutes.

“It kind of ruined the whole session for me. I got back to the pits and they were already taking the linkage apart-I was trying a different linkage on that first bike-they were switching back to the same linkage that was on the bike I had just crashed. Basically we just threw a Q (qualifying tire) on it and I went straight out on a Q, did one lap just trying to get my mind back focused and get up to speed, then came in and threw a second Q and ran that lap. Sometimes it’s almost better if you can go out straight away like that and not get yourself into a groove because a qualifying tire is so much stickier than a race tire, sometimes you’ll get into a groove and you just don’t want to pull the trigger as hard as you should, because you are used to the tire spin that you would get with a race tire.”

Sunday’s Superbike race featured the most competitive action in the series this year. After Josh Hayes led briefly, Zemke, series leader Mat Mladin, and a charging Duhamel swapped positions frequently, with no rider leading by more than a half-second. The Honda pair had a power advantage on BIR’s long front straightaway but Mladin challenged the Honda riders on the circuit’s tighter infield corners. Honda’s Ben Bostrom lurked close behind in fifth position. On lap six, Zemke took over the lead for four laps and ran the fastest lap of the race, a 1:36.24, on lap eight. Lapped traffic would soon put space between the lead trio, and Duhamel stepped up to control laps 15-20, apparently headed to his fifth victory of the season. As the race wound down to the last lap, Zemke slipped into the lead as Duhamel ran wide exiting turn two. Two crashes ahead and rain falling in the last three turns made the final charge to the flag treacherous, but Zemke held on for his first-ever Superbike win.

“Brainerd’s a pretty special place for me. I won my first Formula Xtreme race here, I won my first 600 race here, and I’ve won my first Superbike race here. Miguel made a little mistake there coming out of two, and when he did that, it just opened the door wide open. Then I just came around to the finish, the last two corners were awfully wet.”

Duhamel added, “In turn two I just carried a little too much speed and went a little wide, a bit wider than I thought. Just sliding a bit and Jake jumped on the chance and passed. I was on him coming out of the tight right-hander, the bus stop, but it was raining pretty bad. He got a slide and I got a good drive on him. As you crossed the bridge and it was just pouring rain. I got in front of Jake, and going through the corner I rolled off and he went for it. I braked a bit and ran wide. We just rode really hard, everybody. For me it sure was a heartbreaker to lose the race, but I don’t think there’s a more deserving guy [Jemke] in the paddock.”

Finishing fifth was Ben Bostrom. “We had a bike that almost steered too good. I could put it anywhere, but I couldn’t get off any corners. When I caught up I thought I’d hang and cool off the tire. But the longer I was behind them the harder it was to stay there. What I noticed, though, is that my entry speed is coming back. It’s where I used to make time on everyone. I see that coming back.”

Zemke’s win gives him 348 points and bring him closer to Duhamel, with 352 points, and series leader Mladin with 358 points. Next stop for the Honda Red Riders and the AMA road racing tour will be the Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca in Monterey, California on July 9-11.

AMA Superbike Overall Results:
1. Jake Zemke – Honda
2. Miguel Duhamel – Honda
3. Mat Mladin – Suzuki
4. Eric Bostrom – Ducati
5. Ben Bostrom – Honda

AMA Superbike Point Standings:
1. Mat Mladin – Suzuki – 358
2. Miguel Duhamel – Honda – 352
3. Jake Zemke – Honda – 348
4. Eric Bostrom – Ducati – 262
5. Geoff May – Suzuki – 241
6. Ben Bostrom – Honda – 210

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Professional basketball icon Michael Jordan was ranked very highly on “The Celebrity 100” and “The World’s 50 Highest-Paid Athletes” lists, appearing in the July 5, 2004 issue of Forbes magazine.

Among the Celebrity 100 (which is based on money, fame and “relative star power”), Jordan was ranked seventh; behind Mel Gibson, Tiger Woods, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Cruise, the Rolling Stones and “Harry Potter” creator/author J.K. Rowling; and ahead of Bruce Springsteen, Steven Spielberg, Johnny Depp, David Letterman, “Lord of the Rings” director/producer Peter Jackson, Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz, Jim Carrey, Formula One car racer Michael Schumacher, Jennifer Aniston, Kobe Bryant, Barry Bonds, Tom Hanks and The Olsen Twins, among others.

Among the World’s 50 Highest-Paid Athletes (which is based on estimated income from June 2003 to June 2004), Jordan is ranked fourth with $35 million; behind golfer Tiger Woods ($80.3 million), Formula One’s Michael Schumacher ($80.0 million), football’s Peyton Manning ($42 million); and ahead of basketball’s Shaquille O’Neal ($31.9 million), basketball’s Kevin Garnett ($29.7 million), tennis’ Andre Agassi ($28.2 million) and soccer’s David Beckham ($28.0 million).

Other racers on the list were NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Jeff Gordon and Formula One’s Ralf Schumacher.

Jordan is also the driving force behind the Michael Jordan Motorsports AMA road racing team, which fields Montez Stewart.