Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

250cc Grand Prix Results:

1. Daniel PEDROSA, Honda, 20 laps, 43:03.507
2. Sebastian PORTO, Aprilia, -13.513 seconds
3. Toni ELIAS, Honda, -13.585 seconds
4. Alex DE ANGELIS, Aprilia, -25.027 seconds
5. Randy DE PUNIET, Aprilia, -49.978 seconds
6. Franco BATTAINI, Aprilia, -62.582 seconds
7. Fonsi NIETO, Aprilia, -62.670 seconds
8. Hugo MARCHAND, Aprilia, -69.360 seconds
9. Chaz DAVIES, Aprilia, -69.492 seconds
10. Naoki MATSUDO, Yamaha, -80.994 seconds

21. Hiroshi AOYAMA, Honda, -5 laps, DNF, crash
22. Alex DEBON, Honda, -11 laps, DNF, crash
23. Taro SEKIGUCHI, Yamaha, -15 laps, DNF, mechanical
24. Anthony WEST, Aprilia, -20 laps, DNF, crash
25. Roberto ROLFO, Honda, -20 laps, DNF, crash
26. Erwan NIGON, Aprilia, -20 laps, DNF, crash
27. Sylvain GUINTOLI, Aprilia, -20 laps, DNF, crash


250cc World Championship Standings:

1. PEDROSA, 279 points
2. PORTO, 231 points
3. DE PUNIET, 198 points
4. ELIAS, 168 points
5. DE ANGELIS, 127 points
6. AOYAMA, 119 points
7. NIETO, 114 points
8. ROLFO, 101 points
9. WEST, 88 points
10. BATTAINI, 80 points

From a press release issued by Kawasaki Racing Team:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHINYA!

Shinya Nakano got something of a surprise when he returned to the pit box after morning warm-up ahead of this afternoon’s Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang.

The Fuchs Kawasaki rider, who celebrates his 27th birthday today, arrived back in the box to find a huge birthday cake filling the space where he’d normally park his Ninja ZX-RR.

But even a birthday couldn’t distract Nakano from thinking about this afternoons 21-lap Malaysian Grand Prix; the Fuchs Kawasaki rider insisted on debriefing his crew chief on the warm up session before getting down to the task of blowing out candles and slicing up the cake for his crew.

“We had a few problems with one of the bikes in warm-up, so I was thinking about that as I turned into the pit box,” commented Nakano. “As you can imagine, I wasn’t expecting to come face to face with a giant birthday cake!”

“It was a nice surprise after a warm-up session that was interrupted by a minor electrical problem with the bike. This afternoon’s race is sure to be tough, but I’ll be trying as hard as I can to repeat the success we had in Motegi, because champagne is easily the best drink to have with birthday cake!” continued the Japanese ace.

The Kawasaki Racing Team also presented Nakano with a souvenir of his Motegi podium, in the form of a framed photograph of the Fuchs Kawasaki rider spraying the enthusiastic Japanese crowd with victory champagne.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional AMA Superbike Race One Results:

1. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 28 laps
2. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, -0.126 second
3. Ben Bostrom, Honda, -15.333 seconds
4. Lorenzo Lanzi, Ducati, -19.679 seconds
5. Regis Laconi, Ducati, -30.885 seconds
6. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, -40.983 seconds
7. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki, -49.063 seconds
8. Jake Holden, Suzuki, -59.019 seconds
9. Geoff May, Suzuki, -71.338 seconds
10. Mike Smith, Suzuki, -76.813 seconds
11. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki, -78.203 seconds
12. Jeremy Toye, Yamaha, -1 lap
13. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, -1 lap
14. Marty Craggill, Suzuki, -1 lap
15. Cory West, Suzuki, -1 lap
16. Matt Lynn, Suzuki, -1 lap
17. Roger Bell, Suzuki, -1 lap
18. Scott Jensen, Suzuki, -1 lap
19. Heath Small, Yamaha, -1 lap
20. Eric Wood, Suzuki, -1 lap
21. Andy Deatherage, Suzuki, -1 lap
22. Jesse Janisch, Suzuki, -1 lap
23. Byron Barbour, Suzuki, -1 lap
24. Dean Mizdal, Suzuki, -1 lap
25. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki, -1 lap
26. Marco Martinez, Suzuki, -1 lap
27. David Bell, Suzuki, -1 lap
28. James Kerker, Honda, -1 lap
29. Anthony Fania, Suzuki, -1 lap
30. Chuck Sorensen, Yamaha, -2 laps
31. Roland Williams, Suzuki, -2 laps
32. Greg Fryer, Yamaha, -2 laps
33. Steve Scott, Yamaha, -2 laps

34. Jake Zemke, Honda, -8 laps, DNF, retired
35. David Weber, Suzuki, -12 laps, DNF
36. Larry Pegram, Yamaha, -28 laps, DNF, crash


Provisional AMA Superbike Championship Point Standings:

1. Mladin, 557 points
2. Duhamel, 514 points
3. Zemke, 490 points
4. Ben Bostrom, 393 points
5. May, 366 points
6. Eric Bostrom, 336 points
7. Aaron Yates, 331 points
8. John Haner, 312 points
9. Eric Wood, 295 points
10. Josh Hayes, 291 points


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

MLADIN WINS 5TH SUPERBIKE TITLE!
Team Suzuki Press Office – October 10, 2004.

Mat Mladin has taken a record fifth AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship with a sixth place finish in the first race of the Superbike double-header at Virginia International Raceway today as five Suzukis filled the top-ten places.

The Yoshimura Suzuki rider needed to finish second if Honda’s Jake Zemke took maximum points, but he raced for the win while Zemke fell back, pitting at one point and eventually pulling out with about five laps remaining.

The race ended with Mladin holding an insurmountable 557 points. Race winner Miguel Duhamel took over second with 510 and Zemke dropped to third on 490.

The race was a thriller to the flag with Duhamel passing Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates on the final lap to take the win by 0.126 seconds. Ben Bostrom was 15 seconds back in third ahead of Lorenzo Lanzi and Regis Laconi.

Josh Hayes was seventh well in front of Lion Racing’s Jacob Holden on a Suzuki. Then came Prieto Racing’s Geoff May (Suzuki) and Mike Smith on a Junkyard Special Suzuki.

Yates took the lead on lap two with young Italian Lanzi going with him. Mladin and Zemke were close behind but ahead of Duhamel and Laconi with Ben Bostrom further back in front of Hayes, May and Holden.

Mladin closed on Lanzi on the third lap and was up to second by the time they hit the stripe. And on the fifth lap, he forced ahead of team-mate Yates just past the start-finish line to take the lead as Duhamel closed on Lanzi. Zemke was now 3.614 seconds behind the leader with Ben Bostrom in his shadow and his hopes were fading fast.

Mladin’s lead was 0.735 ending the sixth lap, Yates holding a similar gap to Duhamel – who was now up to third. Lanzi was about the same distance back in fourth. Then there was a gap of over two seconds to Ben Bostrom who’d just made his way past Zemke, but only for a lap.

Duhamel was past Yates and up to second and on Mladin early on lap eight, taking the lead later in the lap. Yates also made his way past, so when they crossed the stripe, it was Duhamel, Yates, Mladin and then a gap to Lanzi.

Bostrom took fourth from Lanzi on the 10th lap and was now 2.54 seconds behind Mladin who, in turn, was nearly two from the leader Duhamel.

Halfway into the race and the top three – Duhamel, Yates and Mladin – were together covered by 0.673 seconds, then four more to Bostrom, with Lanzi alone in front of team-mate Laconi. Hayes was having a lonely ride in seventh, as was May and Holden.

Zemke pitted ending his 14th lap and when he came around ending the 16th lap, he was a lap down.

Mladin had his bad luck on the 18th lap when he dropped from third to a distant sixth, nearly 20 seconds back. The championship was still his but the race win was out of reach: Yates had taken the lead from Duhamel on the same lap and with Mladin’s drop, Bostrom was now up to third. Lanzi and Laconi were next, then Mladin followed at some distance by Hayes, then Holden and May.

Mladin raced past Laconi on the 21st lap but at a distance of nine seconds to Lanzi. Not that it mattered… The AMA’s live points update showed Mladin with 556 to Duhamel’s 510 and Zemke’s 490.

The leaders were on the 23rd lap when Zemke pulled out of the race.

The drama would be whether Yates could take his first win of the year and first in over a year.

Taking the white flag, Duhamel drafted by Yates and took the lead holding it to the line to win by 0.126 seconds.

Superbike Race 1 Results:

1. Miguel Duhamel (Honda)
2. Aaron Yates (Suzuki)
3. Ben Bostrom (Honda)
4. Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati)
5. Regis Laconi (Ducati)
6. Mat Mladin (Suzuki)
7. Josh Hayes (Kawasaki)
8. Jacob Holden (Suzuki)
9. Geoff May (Suzuki)
10. Mike Smith (Suzuki)

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional Second AMA Supersport Practice Session Times:

1. Damon Buckmaster, Yam, 1:27.413
2. Jason DiSalvo, Yam, 1:27.792
3. Jamie Hacking, Yam, 1:27.884
4. Ben Spies, Suz, 1:27.908
5. Aaron Gobert, Yam, 1:28.287
6. Tommy Hayden, Kaw, 1:28.741
7. Steve Rapp, Suz, 1:28.843
8. Roger Lee Hayden, Kaw, 1:29.292
9. Michael Barnes, Yam, 1:29.479
10. Ben Attard, Suz, 1:29.564
11. Tony Meiring, Kaw, 1:29.707
12. Danny Eslick, Suz, 1:30.350
13. Chris Peris, Suz, 1:30.453
14. Chris Ulrich, Suz, 1:30.480
15. Blake Young, Suz, 1:30.658
16. Giovanni Rojas, Yam, 1:31.066
17. Taylor Knapp, Yam, 1:31.089
18. William Meyers, III, Yam, 1:31.508
19. Darin Eli Edwards, Suz, 1:31.789
20. Nathan Hester, Yam, 1:31.793

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional Saturday Morning AMA Supersport Practice Times:

1. Damon Buckmaster, Yam YZF-R6, 1:28.233
2. Jason DiSalvo, Yam YZF-R6, 1:28.322
3. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R6, 1:28.870
4. Ben Spies, Suz GSX-R600, 1:29.247
5. Jamie Hacking, Yam YZF-R6, 1:29.329
6. Roger Lee Hayden, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:29.539
7. Steve Rapp, Suz GSX-R600, 1:29.708
8. Chris Ulrich, Suz GSX-R600, 1:30.206
9. Tony Meiring, Kax ZX-6RR, 1:30.220
10. Ben Attard, Suz GSX-R600, 1:30.270
11. Michael Barnes, Yam YZF-R6, 1:30.302
12. Tommy Hayden, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:30.681
13. Darin Eli Edwards, Suz GSX-R600, 1:31.444
14. Chris Peris, Suz GSX-R600, 1:31.586
15. Blake Young, Suz GSX-R600, 1:31.590
16. Giovanni Rojas, Yam YZF-R6, 1:32.067
17. Taylor Knapp, Yam YZF-R6, 1:32.088
18. Darren Luck, Suz GSX-R600, 1:32.154
19. C. Klock, Hon CBR600RR, 1:32.952
20. Barrett Long, Yam YZF-R6, 1:33.262

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional Lap Times From The Second AMA Superbike Practice, Saturday at VIR:

1. Mat Mladin, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:25.345
2. Miguel Duhamel, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:26.012
3. Ben Bostrom, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:26.292
4. Jake Zemke, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:26.684
5. Aaron Yates, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:26.735
6. Lorenzo Lanzi, Duc 999F04, 1:26.766
7. Josh Hayes, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:27.305
8. Regis Laconi, Duc 999F04, 1:27.365
9. Eric Bostrom, Duc 999F04, 1:27.426
10. Geoff May, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:27.638
11. Marty Craggill, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:27.660
12. Jake Holden, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:27.849
13. Larry Pegram, Yam YZF-R1, 1:28.115
14. Jeremy Toye, Yam YZF-R1, 1:28.088
15. Mike Smith, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.091
16. Eric Wood, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.384
17. Shawn Higbee, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.471
18. Chuck Sorensen, Yam YZF-R1, 1:29.871
19. Byron Barbour, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.458
20. Jesse Janisch, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.531

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

1. Miguel Duhamel, Honda CBR600RR, 1:26.821
2. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:27.663
3. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:27.880
4. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600RR, 1:28.036
5. Doug Chandler, Ducati 748R, 1:28.103
6. Opie Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:29.184
7. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR600RR, 1:29.696
8. Larry Pegram, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:29.865
9. Michael Barnes, Buell XB12R, 1:30.135
10. Mike Ciccotto, Buell XB12R, 1:30.706
11. Blake Young, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:31.185
12. Heath Small, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:31.437
13. Taylor Knapp, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:31.668
14. Nicky Cummings, Honda CBR600RR, 1:31.679
15. Darin Edwards, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:31.941
16. Derek Keyes, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:32.156
17. Nate Hester, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:32.339
18. Joe Arico, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:33.387
19. Carlo Gagliardo, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:33.535
20. Tim Knutson, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:33.840
21. Donny Kelley, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:34.304
22. Jeremy Haiduk, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:34.570
23. Randy Rega, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:34.815
24. Nicky Moore, Honda CBR600RR, 1:34.977
25. Jeremiah Johnson, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:36.198
26. Lance Yeager, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:37.702
27. Dafan Zhang, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:38.435
28. Adam “Webcrush” Vella, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:38.922

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional Saturday Morning AMA Superstock Practice Times:

1. Ben Spies, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:26.970
2. Jamie Hacking, Yam YZF-R1, 1:27.224
3. Jason DiSalvo, Yam YZF-R1, 1:27.411
4. Damon Buckmaster, Yam YZF-R1, 1:27.517
5. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R1, 1:27.526
6. Jake Holden, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:28.433
7. Josh Hayes, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:28.608
8. Steve Rapp, Suz GSX-R750, 1:28.870
9. Jason Pridmore, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.047
10. Eric Wood, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.138
11. Tommy Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:29.578
12. John Haner, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.964
13. Roger Lee Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:30.384
14. Jimmy Moore, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.568
15. Alex Gobert, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:30.802
16. Jesse Janisch, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:31.237
17. Scott Greenwood, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:31.409
18. J.J. Roetlin, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:36.389
19. Montez Stewart, Yam YZF-R1, 1:36.585
20. Sean Wray, Yam YZF-R1, 1:39.584

The current AMA Superstock lap record for VIR is 1:27.637 set by Tommy Hayden in 2003 on a 636cc Kawasaki ZX-6R.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Pole sitter Jason DiSalvo took a flag-to-flag victory in Saturday’s AMA Superstock race at Virginia International Raceway, leading every lap and winning the 17-lap race by seven seconds on his Dunlop-equipped Graves Yamaha YZF-R1.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies and DiSalvo’s teammate Jamie Hacking finished second and third, respectively.

It was another one of DiSalvo’s teammates, fourth-place Aaron Gobert, who won the AMA Superstock Championship, the first AMA Championship of his young career.

Provisional AMA Superstock Race Results:

1. Jason DiSalvo, Yam YZF-R1, 17 laps
2. Ben Spies, Suz GSX-R1000, -7.064 seconds
3. Jamie Hacking, Yam YZF-R1, -10.417 seconds
4. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R1, -21.719 seconds
5. Jake Holden, Suz GSX-R1000, -25.887 seconds
6. Tommy Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R, -26.291 seconds
7. Damon Buckmaster, Yam YZF-R1, -26.704 seconds
8. Josh Hayes, Kaw ZX-10R, -37.126 seconds
9. Steve Rapp, Suz GSX-R750, -37.562 seconds
10. Jason Pridmore, Suz GSX-R1000, -51.491 seconds
11. Scott Greenwood, Suz GSX-R1000, -52.691 seconds
12. Alex Gobert, Hon CBR1000RR, -56.564 seconds
13. James Kerker, Hon CBR1000RR, -1 lap
14. Montez Stewart, Yam YZF-R1, -1 lap
15. Roland Williams, Suz GSX-R1000, -1 lap
16. Sean Wray, Yam YZF-R1, -1 lap
17. Jesse Janisch, Suz GSX-R1000, -4 laps, DNF
18. Vincent Haskovec, Suz GSX-R750, -5 laps, DNF
19. Roger Lee Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R, -13 laps, DNF
20. Jimmy Moore, Suz GSX-R1000, -16 laps, DNF
21. J.J. Roetlin, Suz GSX-R1000, -16 laps, DNF, crash
22. Eric Wood, Suz GSX-R1000, DNS, crash

Provisional AMA Superstock Championship Point Standings:

1. Aaron Gobert, 320 points
2. Jamie Hacking, 317 points
3. Tommy Hayden, 313 points
4. Jason DiSalvo, 312 points
5. Ben Spies, 297 points
6. Roger Lee Hayden, 268 points
7. Steve Rapp, 244 points
8. Josh Hayes, 235 points
9. Jake Holden, 232 points
10. Alex Gobert, 204 points


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

HASKOVEC SECOND IN VIRGINA FORMULA EXTREME PRACTICE

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki is aiming to end their 2004 AMA roadracing season on a high note. On Saturday at Virginia International Raceway, the team opened the final American Motorcyclists Association race weekend of the year with some promising performances towards that end.

Over the course of two separate free practice sessions, Vincent Haskovec posted the second fastest Formula Xtreme lap of the day. The charismatic Czech Republic-born rider hustled his GSX-R600-based “mini-Superbike” around the 2.25-mile circuit with a best time of 1:27.663 on Saturday. Haskovec was the fastest man on a 600cc-based machine in the session.

He’ll look to carry that momentum into Sunday with hopes of claiming a front row starting position and a podium finish in the afternoon’s 17-lap season ender.

“Things are going well in Formula Xtreme,” said Haskovec. “The team has given me some more power from the Suzuki GSX-R600 for this weekend as we continue to develop our bike. We qualified the bike on the front row once again, now I’m out to achieve my goal for the year — to win a race. We’ve been on the podium this year and seen a few other chances get away from us. I will be riding hard on Sunday, just like I always do.”

Meanwhile, Steve Rapp and Chris Peris gave the squad even more reason to be optimistic for Sunday, putting in solid qualifying runs aboard their Michelin-shod GSX-R600 Supersport racers.

Rapp picked up a grid position on the second row, qualifying eighth best with a 1:28.091 lap time. His young Canadian teammate will line up directly behind him in twelfth at 1:29.745.

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki also concluded their season-long experiment of fielding nimble and tire-friendly 750s in the 1000-dominated Superstock class on Saturday in that championship’s final race.

Rapp picked up another top-ten result for the team, taking the checkered flag in ninth. Meanwhile, Haskovec had an exciting if ultimately unrewarding outing; he fought his way up from twelfth into seventh while scrapping with a number of frontrunners before a crash ruled him out on lap 13 of 17.

“Sometimes when you are in a tight pack like we were, one rider will make a mistake by missing his mark and it will go right down the line to all the other riders,” said Haskovec, who was unhurt in the crash.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Superbike Qualifying Results:

1. Miguel Duhamel, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:24.404
2. Mat Mladin, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:24.542
3. Ben Bostrom, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:24.574
4. Aaron Yates, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:25.263
5. Jake Zemke, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:25.746
6. Josh Hayes, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:25.866
7. Lorenzo Lanzi, Duc 999F04, 1:25.891
8. Regis Laconi, Duc 999F04, 1:26.556
9. Geoff May, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:26.921
10. Larry Pegram, Yam YZF-R1, 1:27.551
11. Jake Holden, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:27.652
12. Marty Craggill, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:27.856
13. Eric Wood, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:27.984
14. David Weber, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:28.165
15. Shawn Higbee, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:28.213
16. Jimmy Moore, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:28.867
17. Chuck Sorensen, Yam YZF-R1, 1:29.081
18. Matt Lynn, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.543
19. Jesse Janisch, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.570
20. Jeremy Toye, Yam YZF-R1, 1:29.660
21. Byron Barbour, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.848
22. Cory West, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.069
23. Mike Smith, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.072
24. Heath Small, Yam YZF-R1, 1:30.140
25. Dean Mizdal, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.374
26. J.J. Roetlin, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.480
27. Roger Bell, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.501
28. Anthony Fania, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.552
29. Marco Martinez, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:31.150
30. Roland Williams, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:31.394
31. Scott Jensen, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:31.496
32. David Bell, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:31.519
33. Andy Deatherage, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:31.610
34. James Kerker, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:31.881
35. Greg Fryer, Yam YZF-R1, 1:32.061
36. Steve Scott, Yam YZF-R1, 1:32.725

110 percent of fast time: 1:32.845

37. Rick Narup, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:33.942
38. Sean Wray, Yam YZF-R1, 1:34.543
39. John Haner, Suz GSX-R1000, no time
40. Jeremiah Johnson, Suz GSX-R1000, no time
41. Scott Greenwood, Suz GSX-R1000, no time
42. Eric Bostrom, Duc 999F04, no time


More, from a press release issued by Mat Mladin Motorsports:

MLADIN QUALIFIES ON FRONT ROW FOR AMERICAN SUPERBIKE FINALE AT VIRGINIA

Alton Virginia, USA (Saturday, October 9) – Four-times and defending American Superbike champion Mat Mladin, will start from the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s season Finale double header round of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship after recording the second fastest time in today’s single qualifying session at Virginia International Raceway.

Mladin figured prominently throughout the session and led for much of it, but was denied his fifth pole position of the season after Miguel DuHamel jumped from third to first in the final moments of the session to set the fastest time and take pole for tomorrow’s two 28-lap Superbike nationals.

DuHamel edged Mladin off pole with a lap record-breaking time of 1-min 24.404-secs as opposed to Mladin’s 1:24.542 set aboard his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R 1000. The front row is completed by Ben Bostrom (1:24.574) and Mladin teammate Aaron Yates (1:25.263).

Mladin’s main championship rival Jake Zemke had a difficult day, crashing in one of the earlier practice sessions and finished with the fifth fastest time of 1:25.746 in the 25-minute qualifying session.

“Qualifying went well for us and to be honest I couldn’t tell you what any of the others were up to as we were focussed on what we need to do over the weekend,” said Mladin.

“We’ve got a job to do this weekend, so that’s our focus and we’ll take it as it comes. I wasn’t too perturbed about producing a fast lap today and sticking my neck out to get pole. We went out and posted a good time early in the session, but were unable to get under that mark later on, but we’re still in good shape. I’m not going to risk throwing away a championship just to get pole position during qualifying.”

Due to the rescheduling of this weekend’s final round (as a result of the threats of Hurricane Ivan) the AMA made a number of changes to the event structure of the weekend. The event was trimmed back to a 2-day meeting, with two practice sessions and a single qualifying session assigned to the Superbike competitors.

“The format seemed to work alright, but if they (the AMA) are going to run so many classes, then it may not work. You really don’t have a lot of time to do anything as far as figuring out tyres that will last the race, let alone which offer the best grip. Depending on how many classes they plan to run, will determine if the 2-day format could work or not. We’re down significantly on track time compared to our regular schedule.”

And in another first, both 100km (28-lap) Superbike races will be held on Sunday, giving riders and teams approximately one and a half hours to turn their machines around for the final race of the championship.

With qualifying now complete, Mladin has his full attention focussed on tomorrow’s races where he will be aiming for a history breaking fifth American Superbike Championship.

“The bike is exactly the same as how we left it after the test here a couple of months back. We knew what we were going to have for a motorbike and didn’t really have enough time to spend changing too many settings today and just concentrated on sorting through our tyre options. Dunlop have brought some new tyres for us to try again and it looks like we’ll use one of those on the rear. All in all we’re looking alright for tomorrow.”

The Australian holds a 42-point buffer over Zemke and only needs to finish in the top 24 in the opening race to secure the title.


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

ROW 2 START FOR EUROPEANS LANZI AND LACONI – BOSTROM OUT OF EVENT

Alton (Virginia) – October 9, 2004: Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin’s three-rider team kicked off the Virginia International Raceway weekend with promising performances from Europeans Regis Laconi and Lorenzo Lanzi, but also with the unfortunate withdrawal of American Eric Bostrom from the event.

Laconi and Lanzi, racing for the first time in AMA Superbike competition, qualified on the second row for tomorrow’s races. The Ducati 999 pilots saw a hectic day, with two 30-minute practice sessions and one qualifying period held in cool and clear fall conditions at the scenic Virginia track.

World Supersport rider Lorenzo Lanzi qualified seventh with a time of 1:25.892, despite a late crash that left him unhurt. “Lorenzo was doing really well. He was up in fourth place with just a few minutes to go,” explained Racing Manager Tom Bodenbach. “Unfortunately, they had to bring his bike back on the crash truck.”

Despite never haven ridden at Virginia International Raceway before, World Superbike rider Regis Laconi qualified eighth with a time of 1:26.556. “Regis was doing well for his first time on the track. He hit the curb with his knee so we ended his qualifying session a little early,” said Bodenbach.

“With the short practices, we have to go step-by-step to make sure we don’t go too far or do something wrong,” commented Laconi. “I am new to this track and these tires, and we had only 30 minutes in each session. For the race, I think I will be happy. We will see tomorrow, but we have changed some small things on the bike for the warm-up. This track is a lot like the European tracks. We are still learning, trying to get a bike that will run in the 1:25s.”

“The knee is okay,” continued the Frenchman. “At first we were a little worried but it is not a problem.”

Eric Bostrom attempted to come back from injuries sustained in his Road Atlanta crash, but the Pikes Peak winner is out after declaring himself unfit to race.

“I’m really disappointed not to be racing this weekend,” said Bostrom. “I just didn’t have the strength to ride fast laps. What makes it even worse is that we really improved the bike for Atlanta. The Michelin tires were working great and they really suit the Ducati well. The team had made some progress with the handling and I was looking forward to getting the results I think we are capable of earning.”

The 28-lap (100 km) races are scheduled to take place tomorrow at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. EDT.