Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

1. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600RR, 55.812
2. Doug Chandler, Ducati 749R, 55.903
3. Miguel Duhamel, Honda CBR600RR, 56.082
4. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR600RR, 56.365
5. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R600, 56.466
6. Jake Holden, Suzuki GSX-R600, 56.660
7. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 56.983
8. Michael Barnes, Buell XB9R, 57.373
9. Larry Pegram, Yamaha YZF-R6, 57.392
10. Mike Ciccotto, Buell XB9R, 57.404
11. Mickey Lane, Yamaha YZF-R6, 57.491
12. Danny Eslick, Suzuki GSX-R600, 57.673
13. Heath Small, Yamaha YZF-R6, 57.751
14. Nicky Moore, Suzuki GSX-R6000, 57.775
15. Marty Sims, Yamaha YZF-R6, 58.625
16. Perry Melneciuc, Yamaha YZF-R6, 58.775
17. Nathan Hester, Yamaha YZF-R6, 58.844
18. Bob Siebenhaar, Honda CBR600RR, 59.048
19. Hector Romero, Honda CBR600RR, 59.288
20. Shannon Moham, Suzuki GSX-R600, 59.518
21.David Lamber, Suzuki GSX-R600, 59.708
22. Chad Rolland, Yamaha YZF-R6, 60.311
23. Tim Knutson, Yamaha YZF-R6, 60.532
24. Michael Applehans, Suzuki GSX-R600, 61.018
25. Charles Sipp, Buell XB12R, 61.835

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Kawasaki’s Tommy Hayden outlasted Yamaha’s Aaron Gobert to win a race-long duel in AMA Supersport Sunday at Pikes Peak International Raceway.

Gobert controlled most of the race with daredevil braking moves into turn three, the tight left-hander at the end of the back straight, but seemed to run out of rear traction in the final laps.

Tommy Hayden passed Gobert several times going into fast turn one during the race but was only able to make the pass stick on lap 28 of 29.

The win, the second in Supersport for Tommy Hayden this season, extends his provisional Championship points lead to 14 over his brother and teammate Roger Lee Hayden, who finished fourth behind Gobert’s teammate Jason DiSalvo.

Two-time PPIR Supersport race winner Jamie Hacking had problems at the start that put him well back in the field and forced him to work hard to score fifth.

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp passed Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies late in the race to be the first Suzuki rider home, sixth. Spies, former AMA Supersport Champion Aaron Yates, Corona Extra Suzuki’s Ben Attard and Attack Kawasaki’s Tony Meiring rounded out the top 10.


Provisional AMA Supersport Race Results:

1. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, 29 laps
2. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, -0.672 second
3. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha, -6.070 seconds
4. Roger Lee Hayden, Kawasaki, -8.087 seconds
5. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha, -20.584 seconds
6. Steve Rapp, Suzuki, -23.984 seconds
7. Ben Spies, Suzuki, -24.180 seconds
8. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, -24.506 seconds
9. Ben Attard, Suzuki, -28.196 seconds
10. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, -36.112 seconds
11. Michael Barnes, Yamaha, -39.301 seconds
12. Danny Eslick, Suzuki, -44.572 seconds
13. Nicky Moore, Suzuki, -47.928 seconds
14. Chris Peris, Suzuki, -50.056 seconds
15. Darren Luck, Suzuki, -1 lap
16. Pedro Valiente, Yamaha, -1 lap, -5.589
17. Marty Sims, Yamaha, -1 lap, -16.203
18. Gio Rojas, Yamaha, -1 lap, -24.950
19. John Bowman, Yamaha, -1 lap, -25.201
20. Daniel Doty, Yamaha, -1 lap, -25.392
21. Nathan Hester, Yamaha, -1 lap, -25.512
22. Brad Hendry, Yamaha -1 lap, -27.337
23. Jason Mathiason, Yamaha, -1 lap, -27.927
24. Nathan Dressman, Yamaha, -1 lap, -34.706
25. Tyler Jones, Yamaha, -1 lap, -36.088
26. Elton Curry, Kawasaki, -1 lap, -41.547
27. Justin Meyer, Yamaha, -1 lap, -42.763
28. David Lambert, Suzuki, -1 lap, -45.056
29. Chris Siebenhaar, Honda, -1 lap, -49.162
30. Nathun Alvarez Gonzalez, Honda, -2 laps
31. Heath Small, Yamaha, -2 laps, -14.579
32. Mike Shreve, Yamaha, -2 laps, -23.467
33. Jason Perez, Yamaha, -2 laps, -23.961
34. Tamer Kekhia, Yamaha, -13 laps
35. Lee Acree, Suzuki, -17 laps
36. Hector Romero Moreno, Honda, -17 laps
37. Montez Stewart, Yamaha, DNF



Provisional AMA Supersport Championship Point Standings:

1. Tommy Hayden, 164
2. Roger Lee Hayden, 150
3. Aaron Gobert, 143
4. Hacking, 139
5. TIE, DiSalvo/Spies, 118
7. Rapp, 116
8. Barnes, 110
9. Meiring, 106
10. Yates, 96

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

After struggling in most of practice and in qualifying, Eric Bostrom took the lead at the start of the 48-lap Superbike race at Pikes Peak International Raceway, then held off Jake Zemke in a daring battle through lapped traffic.

Mat Mladin pitted for a new rear Dunlop tire on lap 38 while running third, dropped back to seventh, and finished sixth.

Eric Bostrom’s win was the first in AMA Superbike for the Ducati 999R and the first for Michelin since Larry Pegram won on a Ducati running Michelins, at Willow Springs in 1999. It was Bostrom’s fifth AMA Superbike race win at PPIR, and Ducati’s first win since Ben Bostrom, Eric’s older brother, won on a Vance & Hines Ducati at Brainerd in August of 2000.

Eric Bostrom first showed competitive speed in the final practice of the PPIR weekend, on Sunday morning.

1. Eric Bostrom, Ducati 999R
2. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR1000RR, -1.135 seconds
3. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSXR-R1000, -20.892
4. Miguel Duhamel, Honda CBR1000RR, -20.924
5. Ben Bostrom, Honda CBR1000RR, -31.540
6. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -37.057
7. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki ZX-10R, -1 lap
8. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap, -7.695
9. Ricky Orlando, Kawasaki ZX-10R, -1 lap, -10.196
10. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap, -11.250
11. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap, -11.460
12. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap, -11.742
13. Dan Turner, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap, -25.038
14. Eric Wood, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap, -35.013
15. John Haner, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap, -36.759
16. Darren Luck, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap, -40.489
17. Mike Sullivan, Yamaha YZF-R1, -1 lap, -46.861
18. Cory West, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap, -50.906
19. Opie Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap, -51.260
20. Rob Christman, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -2 laps
21. Mark Ledesma, Honda CBR1000RR, -2 laps, -0.273
22. David Bell, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -2 laps, -19.674
23. Dean Mizdal, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -2 laps, -19.834
24. Lenny Beckman, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -2 laps, -51.508
25. Jack Pfeifer, Honda CBR1000RR, -2 laps, -56.711
26. Kevin Hanson, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -3 laps
27. Larry Pegram, Yamaha YZF-R1, -5 laps, DNF, mechanical



Provisional AMA Superbike Point Standings:
1. Mat Mladin, 268
2. Jake Zemke, 249
3. Miguel Duhamel, 245
4. Eric Bostrom, 184
5. Geoff May, 175
6. Lee Acree, 156
7. John Haner, 148
8. Josh Hayes, 136
9. Ben Bostrom, 131
10. Cory West, 122
11. Larry Pegram, 121
12. Eric Wood, 119
13. Aaron Yates, 114
14. Opie Caylor, 97
15. David Bell, 90

From a press release issued by d’Antin Ducati:

Hodgson is recovering and Xaus visit The Motorshow

Neil Hodgson left right away for England after suffering a fall during France GP. This situation has prevented him from attending the World Ducati Week which will take place this weekend in Misano, but his partner Ruben Xaus will be there ending a week full of activities for the Spanish rider.

Neil Hodgson left right away for England after suffering a fall during France GP. On arrival, he went through a medical examination that confirmed that two of his ribs were broken, but he’s developing well and during these days back home on the Isle of Man he will spend his time resting in order to heal as soon as possible. He is optimistic “I feel fine. It bothers me a bit and it is too soon to say if I will be in shape for the next GP in Italy, but I’m following the doctors recommendations and hope to be well by then”.

This situation has prevented him from attending the World Ducati Week which will take place this weekend in Misano, but his partner Ruben Xaus will be there ending a week full of activities for the Spanish rider.

Before leaving for Italy Ruben was in Madrid visitng the International Motor Show together with other Catalonian riders such as Marc Gene, Jorge Lorenzo, Emilio Alzamora o Xevi Pons, among others. All of them visited the RACC stand and there they were able to greet the King of Spain.

From a press release:

MICHAEL BARNES ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH CHAMPIONS ONLINE

Boca Raton, Florida – Michael Barnes announced an enhanced partnership with Champions Online for the 2004 AMA Pro Honda Oils Supersport series. Champions Online is an Internet based motorcycle parts and accessories store and also operates four motorcycle dealerships in the state of Florida – Champions Honda-Kawasaki in Cocoa, Champions Yamaha in Oakland, Champions Honda of Leesburg in Leesburg and soon to be Champions Yamaha (formerly The Turning Wheel Sport Center) also in Leesburg.

According to Barnes, “Champions Online has been providing support for my Supersport effort since Daytona, and has now stepped up their level of support as the primary sponsor of the team. With their additional support I am confident that we can continue what has been to date a very successful season in the AMA Pro Honda Oils Supersport championship.”

“Champions Online is excited to be partnering with Michael Barnes”, said owner Robert Mealey. “Mike’s past championships, his continued great performance in AMA Supersport this year and his winning attitude and work ethic embody the philosophy here at Champions Online and truthfully represent what we are all about. We are happy to have the opportunity to leverage our expertise in performance motorcycle components with a top AMA team, and also glad to be in a position to partner with a professional like Mike.”

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional British Superbike Qualifying Results:

1. Michael RUTTER, Honda, 1:39.548
2. John REYNOLDS, Suzuki, 1:39.743
3. Dean THOMAS, Ducati, 1:40.048
4. Scott SMART, Kawasaki, 1:40.089
5. Glen RICHARDS, Kawasaki, 1:40.322
6. Yukio KAGAYAMA, Suzuki, 1:40.424
7. Sean EMMETT, Ducati, 1:41.146
8. Tommy HILL, Yamaha, 1:41.184
9. Gary MASON, Yamaha, 1:41.676
10. James HAYDON, Yamaha, 1:41.823
11. Jon KIRKHAM, Suzuki, 1:42.340
12. Dennis HOBBS, Suzuki, 1:42.447
13. Craig COXHELL, Honda, 1:42.453
14. Sam CORKE, Suzuki, 1:42.561
15. James BUCKINGHAM, Suzuki, 1:42.686

Provisional British Supersport Results:

1. Tom SYKES, Suzuki, 1:42.649
2. Cal CRUTCHLOW, Honda, 1:42.907
3. Simon ANDREWS, Yamaha, 1:43.019
4. Michael LAVERTY, Ducati, 1:43.057
5. Adrian COATES, Suzuki, 1:43.108
6. Jay VINCENT, Honda, 1:43.300
7. Leon CAMIER, Honda, 1:43.317
8. Craig JONES, Triumph, 1:43.506
9. Karl HARRIS, Honda, 1:43.524
10. Pere RIBA, Kawasaki, 1:43.536
11. Luke QUIGLEY, Suzuki, 1:43.538
12. Matt LLEWELLYN, Ducati, 1:43.613
13. Jonathan REA, Honda, 1:43.770
14. Paul YOUNG, Honda, 1:44.335
15. Shane NORVAL, Honda, 1:44.527

From a press release issued by series organizers:

SHANNONVILLE, ON–Calgary’s Clint McBain led the way on the opening day of practice for the first round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Shannonville Motorsport Park on Friday.

Showing the benefit of an intensive off-season training program, the Coors Light Racing / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000 rider was fastest in both sessions. His morning time of 1:05.433 was marginally faster than the 1:05.528 he set in the afternoon.

“This is the first winter I’ve worked out right through and I’ve never been in better shape,” McBain said. “Our preseason has been phenomenal, really productive.”

McBain’s times were under the three-year-old track record of 1:05.746 set by Steve Crevier.

“We’re still working on some things and we made some improvements for the afternoon,” added McBain, who is still searching for his first career national Superbike win. “It was definitely easier to get to those times in the afternoon.”

Frank Trombino of Kleinburg, ON was second quickest on Friday with a time of 1:06.120 on his Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1 and Harrowsmith, ON rider Jeff Williams placed third overall at 1:06.261 on his Diablo Performance Suzuki GSX-R1000.

“We’ve been fiddling with gearing and suspension and it seems to be working,” said Trombino, who set his best time in the second practice session. “The bike’s been getting smoother.”

Defending Parts Canada Superbike champion Pascal Picotte had the fourth best time on his Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R1. The Granby, QC native set a time of 1:06.317.

Fellow Granby rider Kevin Lacombe placed fifth on the Lacombe Racing / Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1 with a time of 1:06.331, just ahead of Maple Ridge, BC’s Crevier, who recorded a time of 1:06.339 aboard his Diablo Performance Suzuki GSX-R1000.

In other action at Shannonville, Australian Craig Connell edged Coors Light Racing / Blackfoot Suzuki teammate McBain for the fastest practice time in Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike. Connell turned a best lap of 1:06.361 on his Suzuki GSX-R600 while McBain managed a 1:06.365 on his similar machine. Both were under Trombino’s class lap record of 1:06.704.

Trombino was third in practice on Friday with a 1:06.883 aboard his Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R6.

Eric Warren of Ballantrae, ON set the best practice time in International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike action with a time of 1:10.174 on his Corner 2 Racing / CIBI Suzuki GSX-R600. Erick Beausejour from Val D’Or, QC placed second at 1:10.253 aboard the AMI Sport Honda CBR600RR and Toronto’s Craig Atkinson was third on his Pro 6 Cycle / McBride Cycle Yamaha YZF-R6 with a 1:10.787.

Qualifying for all three national classes will take place Saturday afternoon with feature races on Sunday.

This weekend’s event will be televised on TSN this summer and later this year on the Outdoor Life Network and Quebec’s RDS.

From a press release issued by Mat Mladin Motorsports:

MLADIN THIRD FASTEST IN AMERICAN SUPERBIKE QUALIFYING AT PIKES PEAK

Fountain, Colorado, USA – Four-times American
Superbike champion Mat Mladin, will start from the front row of the grid for this weekend’s eighth round of the American AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship after recording the third fastest time during today’s qualifying session at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Colorado.

After holding down the second fastest time for much of the session, Mladin’s best time of 54.413-seconds recorded in the closing minutes of the session left the Yoshimura Suzuki Australian with the third fastest time and
was headed on the time sheet by championship rivals Jake Zemke and Miguel DuHamel.

Zemke led almost the entirety of the 30-minute session and earned his first pole position of the season with a time of 53.774-seconds. Fellow
Honda rider DuHamel moved past Mladin in the closing minutes of the session to grab second with a 54.220.

“The session didn’t turn out exactly as we wanted it to be, but it was the best we could do,” said Mladin. “We have an acceleration deficit at certain tracks at the moment that we can’t make up and this is one of those tracks. We‘re going to try a few different things tomorrow morning to try and make the bike work a bit better and go from there. Jake (Zemke) has
about half a second on everybody at the moment, so we’re a bit down on him, but it is a long race around here.”

The short 2.12km (1.315miles) Pikes Peak layout offers different challenges to those on longer circuits. A good start in tomorrow’s race
will be followed passing a large number of lapped riders while trying to get the best out of the tyres which will be heavily loaded on the left hand side.

“We have to work hard in the early part of tomorrow’s race, see if we can get up front and what pace we can run as well as planning our strategy from there. Due to the short nature of this track, we come across lapped riders quicker and more often than at other tracks. We could come across the first group after about eight laps or so, so in a 48-lap race, your management
through the traffic is important. Race management is important in any race, but this one especially, it’s one of those races where we are looking to make up time, so tomorrow if we can’t get the job done, we’ll have to manage
the points as best we can.”

“Dunlop have a few new tyres for us this weekend. Being a bowl (banked speedway), they are like Daytona-type tyres and the things don’t have that much grip, it’s like a little Daytona and the tyres are made to last the race distance.”

Mladin arrived at the famous Colorado mountains circuit holding a 25-point lead over DuHamel in the championship with Zemke now just a further
point away in third after collecting an additional point for today’s pole position.

This weekend’s round of the championship features an abbreviated 2-day schedule which has been embraced by many teams and riders, with the
Superbike competitors having just one 1-hour practice session this morning, prior to the afternoon’s 30-minute grid determining qualifying session. Tomorrow’s schedule will see the Superbikes out on the track for a 30-minute
practice in the morning, followed by the running of the 48-lap (100km) Superbike national in the afternoon.

RESULTS

QUALIFYING, Round 8, 2004 AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship, Top 10
1. Jake Zemke (Erion Honda) 53.774 secs
2. Miguel DuHamel (American Honda) 54.220
3. Mat Mladin (Yoshimura Suzuki) 54.413
4. Aaron Yates (Yoshimura Suzuki) 54.548
5. Ben Bostrom (American Honda) 54.717
6. Josh Hayes (Attack Kawasaki) 54.890
7. Eric Bostrom (Ducati Austin) 55.297
8. John Haner (Hooters Suzuki) 55.821
9. Shawn Higbee (KWS Suzuki) 55.849
10. Geoff May (Prieto Suzuki) 55.969

2004 AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship (Points after 7 of 18 rounds)
1. Mat Mladin (243, 5 wins); 2. Miguel DuHamel (218, 2 wins), 3. Jake Zemke (217), 4. Geoff May (154); 5. Eric Bostrom (147), 6. Lee Acree
(136), 7. John Haner (132), 8. Larry Pegram (117), 9. Josh Hayes (112), 10. Cory West (109).


More, from a press release issued by Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin:

BOSTROM TO START FROM SECOND ROW AT PIKES PEAK

Fountain (Colorado) – Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin’s Eric Bostrom cut nearly a second off his morning practice time in the afternoon session to finish seventh in today’s qualifying at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Bostrom’s qualifying time of 55.297 on the Ducati 999 was recorded in clear but windy conditions at the tight 1.3 mile (2.12 km) circuit.

“The bike is fast and we have a lot of grip,” Eric said after finishing his day at the mile-high venue. “Unfortunately, we didn’t do as well as we would have liked; I just can’t quite get it hooked into the corners and that’s something we’re going to work on. I think tomorrow morning we’re looking to take off another half-second or so, and then we should be ready for the race. Anything but a win here would be a real disappointment, but right now we’re hoping the changes we’re making tonight will benefit us tomorrow.”

Bostrom, four times the race winner at Pikes Peak, looks to make an impression in tomorrow’s long race. “The race is 48 laps long, but we’ll need to charge hard the whole time to stay with the lead pack,” Eric said.

Tomorrow’s 48-lap (100 km) AMA Superbike race is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. (Mountain Daylight Time).

TIMES: 1. Zemke (Honda) 53.775; 2. Duhamel (Honda) 54.220; 3. Mladin (Suzuki) 54.412; 4. Yates (Suzuki) 54.548; 5. B. Bostrom (Honda) 54.717; 6. Hayes (Kawasaki) 54.890; 7. E. Bostrom (Ducati) 55.297; etc.


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

RAPP, HASKOVEC, AND PERIS QUALIFY AT PIKES PEAK

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki got up to speed quickly at Pikes Peak International Raceway in the opening day of the fifth round of the 2004 AMA roadracing series. It was necessary to do so, as this weekend’s event follows a two-day format as opposed to the typical three-day schedule for most AMA events.

The compacted schedule meant that the squad had to be fully dialed-in for an afternoon full of final qualifying sessions in preparation of Sunday’s races.

Fresh off his Formula Xtreme pole position at Barber Motorsports Park, Vincent Haskovec put in another front row qualifying effort this weekend. His time of 56.053 seconds around the tight 1.3-mile circuit aboard his GSX-R600 was good enough to take the fourth position on the grid.

Steve Rapp continued his strong Barber form aboard his Michelin-shod GSX-R600 as well. The Californian was fourth fastest in the morning Supersport free practice and qualified as the top Suzuki-mounted rider in class with a 56.172 second lap, good for sixth.

His young teammate Chris Peris claimed a second row grid position, out-qualifying a factory Suzuki entry. The Canadian posted a time of 56.521 seconds to take eighth on the grid.

In Superstock, Rapp and Haskovec qualified their
GSX-R750s alongside each other on the outside of the third row. Rapp was eleventh fastest (56.222) while Haskovec was twelfth (56.305). However, their smaller displacement machines are expected to perform better under racing conditions in the 28-lap final around the
tire-eating raceway.

At the end of the day Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki Crew Chief Keith Perry said, “It wasn’t a bad day, but it could have been better. After running so well last week, we don’t feel all that good about our results today. There were some bright spots but we feel we should be even higher up than we are.”

“In Formula Xtreme, clearly we need to find a little more power,” he continued. “We’ve been pushing the development along on that bike, but we’re still waiting on a few parts.”

“I’m pretty positive about Supersport. I think we can run both our riders up with the lead guys,” Perry said.

“In Superstock, we struggled a little with the 750 at a track we thought it would be better at. The 1000s did a little better here than we thought, but our tire situation is looking good, and we usually shine a little brighter in the races than in qualifying. We did all of our laps on race tires while many others relied on qualifiers to set their best times.”


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

Print, Radio, TV: Valvoline EMGO Suzuki Two-seater Gives More Media Guest Rides At PPIR

Steve Rapp and the Valvoline EMGO Suzuki two-seat
GSX-R1000 Superbike covered all the bases during promoter practice Friday, May 21 at Pikes Peak International Raceway (PPIR), giving guest rides to reporters from newspaper, radio and television media outlets.

Liz Somers, a Copy Editor for one of Denver, Colorado’s major daily newspaper was the first guest rider on the 180-horsepower, 187 mph machine. “It was great. It was exhilarating,” said Somers. “It was fun to go around the track and feel how it feels to lean against the bike. Actually, I had my foot scrape the road a little bit. Now I know why they do it. It’s so much fun!”

Asked what she thought of the opportunity to ride on the two-seater, Somers said, “I think it’s great, especially for people who aren’t race fans, to give them an idea of what it is and how fit these guys have to be and how mentally prepared they have to be for the race. A lot of people don’t realize that. They think you just hop on a bike and go.”

Maureen “Mo” Redfern, co-host of KILO 93.4 FM’s popular morning show “Ross & Mo Mornings” in Colorado Springs rode second and said, “It was bad ass! It’s got to be the hottest thing I’ve ever done. It was unbelievably fun. The first lap was scary as hell, and then after a while I started to get into it. Actually, after nine laps I probably could have been a racer myself.

“I couldn’t believe how close we got to the ground in the turns. Oh my God! That is unbelievable. When it happened the first time, you think there’s got to be something wrong. The first thing that goes through you’re head is, ‘This is bad. This isn’t going to work.’ And it does. It’s amazing how quickly it works! So like I said the third time around I was ready. Then it quit.

“We’ve been talking about it (the two-seater ride) for two days (on the radio show), and I think we’ll be talking about it for two more days. If it was just been a promotion, we would’ve talked about just as long as we had to, and that would’ve been it, it would’ve been done. Now we’ll talk about it…in fact, I’ll talk about it for years now and how cool I am and how gay the guys (at the radio station) are because they didn’t get to do it. Yeah, we’ll talk about this a lot. It’s huge! It’s better than getting paid.”

Asked to compare her ride to other experiences in her life, Redfern gave a startling revelation. “Well, I did get to fly with the Thunderbirds once,” said Redfern. “But that was terrifying. They try to scare you and try to make you throw up. They mess with you. And Steve (Rapp) was very safe, very calm. I could feel that he was clam, and that comforted me a lot. He was just relaxed and everything was cool. Absolutely, this is much better, by far, than flying with the Thunderbirds.”

The final rider on the bike was Fox Sports Rocky Mountain television news anchor Chuck Garfien, who said, “It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced. I always look as a sport as something with a ball. This doesn’t have a ball, but there’s definitely athletics involved and the speed, the turns and the braking. It was an experience.

“I’ve always seen the races on television, and I never really knew what it was like to be on the bike. For the first time I’m now on the bike and see what these guys do, and they’re not just drivers, they’re athletes. I definitely have a new found appreciation.

“Steve (Rapp) was great, a great ambassador to the sport, and driver, as well. He made me feel comfortable, because going into it I was like a little ninny, like a little grandmother. But he and everyone on the team made it very comfortable for me, and I’m glad I did it.”