Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Fresh off of his three-win performance at Road America three weeks ago, American Honda’s Miguel Duhamel had another grand day Friday at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota.

After taking pole position for the AMA Formula Xtreme class, Duhamel turned a 1:35.819 on his CBR1000RR Superbike to take the provisional AMA Superbike pole, heading into Saturday’s final qualifying session.

“We need to make the bike a little bit better,” Duhamel told reporters in a post-qualifying press conference. “It’s been better, but we’re just a bit off. The cold weather caught us a little off-guard. As far as suspension goes, we can definitely make the bike better.”

Well into the second half of the 18-round AMA Superbike schedule, Duhamel was asked if he would push hard Saturday in order to get the pole position and the bonus Championship point that comes with it.

“For sure, the pole position and the point is very important for the Championship,” said Duhamel, who trails Championship leader Mat Mladin by 10 points with eight races remaining. “The thing I am pretty enthusiastic about is the bike isn’t 100 percent now and we got pole today. I’m extremely confident that Al Ludington and the rest of my crew will make the bike better for tomorrow. The point is extremely important, and with the way the points are structured you need to try and get them all.”

Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke was second-fastest with a 1:36.054 on his CBR1000RR, but Josh Hayes continued to be the surprise of the event thus far.

After leading Friday morning Superbike practice on his Attack Kawasaki ZX-10R, Hayes went out in qualifying and almost immediately burned up his clutch, the first clutch failure the Attack team has seen on the Kawasaki. In fact, the team had to go all the way back to their truck in the paddock (a great distance at Brainerd) just to get their spare clutch and clutch tools.

Hayes got back out in the session with time for one flying lap on a qualifying tire and turned the third-fastest time of 1:36.525.

“We can do better,” Hayes was overheard telling his team.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin earned the final spot on the provisional front row with a lap of 1:36.594 on his GSX-R1000.

Fifth-fastest Ben Bostrom (1:36.758) recorded the fastest top speed during the session, a tail-wind-aided 197.1 mph on Brainerd’s almost-mile-long front straightaway.

Friday’s Provisional AMA Superbike Qualifying Results:

1. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:35.819
2. Jake Zemke, Honda, 1:36.054
3. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki, 1:36.525
4. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, 1:36.594
5. Ben Bostrom, Honda, 1:36.594
6. Eric Bostrom, Ducati, 1:37.757
7. Pascal Picotte, Yamaha, 1:38.386
8. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:38.646
9. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki, 1:39.215
10. Eric Wood, Suzuki, 1:39.707
11. John Haner, Suzuki, 1:39.918
12. Larry Pegram, Yamaha, 1:40.096
13. Geoff May, Suzuki, 1:40.453
14. Jake Holden, Suzuki, 1:40.524
15. Jeremy Toye, Yamaha, 1:40.731
16. Cory West, Suzuki, 1:41.441
17. Jack Pfeifer, Honda, 1:41.880
18. Greg Fryer, Yamaha, 1:42.110
19. Andy Deatherage, Suzuki, 1:42.178
20. Jason Curtis, Suzuki, 1:42.626
21. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki, 1:42.766
22. David Bell, Suzuki, 1:42.886
23. Dean Mizdal, Suzuki, 1:43.591
24. C. R. Gittere, Suzuki, 1:44.054
25. James Kerker, Honda, 1:44.114
26. Scott Jensen, Honda, 1:44.128
27. A.J. Ammann, Suzuki, 1:44.192
28. Roger Hendricks, Suzuki, 1:44.878
29. Eric Haugo, Suzuki, 1:45.300
30. Lenny Beckman, Suzuki, 1:46.128
31. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, no time

Unofficial Top Speeds (at turn one, as measured by radar gun):

1. Ben Bostrom, 197.1 mph
2. Miguel Duhamel, 195.3 mph
3. Jake Zemke, 195.1 mph
4. Eric Bostrom, 194.9 mph
5. Mat Mladin, 191.0 mph
6. Aaron Yates, 189.0 mph
7. Josh Hayes, 188.5 mph
8. Larry Pegram, 185.8 mph
9. Jake Holden, 185.6 mph
10. Pascal Picotte, 184.5 mph
11. Jeremy Toye, 184.1 mph
12. Geoff May, 183.0 mph
13. Shawn Higbee, 182.4 mph
14. Eric Wood, 180.8 mph
15. John Haner, 178.5 mph


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

2004 American AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship

Round 11 – Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minnesota, USA

First Qualifying Session Report

PROVISIONAL FRONT ROW FOR MLADIN AT BRAINERD AMERICAN SUPERBIKE ROUND

Brainerd, Minnesota, USA (Friday, June 25) – Qualifying for this weekend’s eleventh round of the American AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship got underway in cooler than average conditions at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota, with defending champion Mat Mladin completing the opening session with the fourth fastest time and a place on the provisional front row of the grid for Sunday’s race.

Mladin piloted his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 to a best time of 1-min 36.594-secs around the ultra-fast 4.828km (3.00miles) Brainerd circuit.

Fastest rider in today’s opening qualifying session was Honda’s Miguel DuHamel, with a lap of 1:35.819, who was the only rider to dip below the 1:36 barrier. Jake Zemke (Honda) recorded the second fastest time, with a 1:36. 054, ahead of Josh Hayes (Kawasaki) who stopped the clocks with a 1:36.525, edging out Mladin’s time by just 0.069 of a second.

At this early stage of the weekend’s round, Mladin is happy with the times that he posted today, preferring to concentrate of race setup rather that single fast lap times.

“We spent the session concentrating on our race set up, more than trying to post any single lap flying times,” said Mladin. “It’s a bit early for that just yet.

“We‘re down on top speed as we expected, but I think we are a lot closer to our rivals than we were at the last race at Road America. I think the nature of the track has contributed a bit towards that. This place has a very long and fast straight where you do need top speed, but the first two corners on the track are equally as fast and you can make up some time through there. So that’s what we’ve been doing today, just concentrating on what we will need for the race and where we can gain an advantage.

“Tyre wise, I think we’ll be in good shape. Dunlop are continuing with developing and supplying new tyres for us to try, so that’s a great boost knowing that they are right there behind you, supplying the best tyres they can.

“We didn’t go for a soft qualifier tyre during today’s session. I know that the three guys ahead of us did, so we have gained some encouragement from the fact that they did and that our times aren’t that far away. We’ll see if we need to throw one in tomorrow or not.”

Mladin arrives at this weekend’s round of the championship holding a 10-point break over DuHamel at the top of the point’s table, with Zemke third another eight points in arrears. The trio have been the standouts in this year’s championship, with Mladin taking five wins to DuHamel’s four, while Zemke has been ultra consistent with a string of second place finishes.

As the championship digs deep into the second half of the season, the additional points for pole position and the most laps led during a race will become vitally important to each of the top three, as will the large haul of points for a race victory.

AMA Superbike Qualifying concludes tomorrow, with Sunday’s program featuring the 21-lap Superbike national.

QUALIFYING, 2004 AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship, Friday Top 10
1. Miguel DuHamel (American Honda) 1:35.819 mins
2. Jake Zemke (Erion Honda) 1:36.054
3. Josh Hayes (Attack Kawasaki) 1:36.525
4. Mat Mladin (Yoshimura Suzuki) 1:36.594
5. Ben Bostrom (American Honda) 1:36.758
6. Eric Bostrom (Ducati Austin) 1:37.757
7. Aaron Yates (Yoshimura Suzuki) 1:38.336
8. Pascal Picotte (Yamaha Canada) 1:38.644
9. Shawn Higbee (KWS Suzuki) 1:39.215
10. Eric Wood (Hooters Suzuki) 1:39.707

2004 AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship (Points after 10 of 18 rounds) 1. Mat Mladin (329, 5 wins); 2. Miguel DuHamel (319, 4 wins), 3. Jake Zemke (311), 4. Eric Bostrom (235, 1 win), 5. Geoff May (220); 6. Ben Bostrom (184), 7. John Haner (183), 8. Aaron Yates (165), 9. Eric Wood (161), 10. Lee Acree (156).


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

BOSTROM ON PROVISIONAL SECOND ROW AT BRAINERD

Brainerd (Minnesota) – June 25, 2004: Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin’s Eric Bostrom qualified sixth in Friday’s session, putting him on the provisional second row for Sunday’s race. After a promising opening session that saw the 27-year-old rider in a close third position, the afternoon wasn’t as kind to the popular race winner.

“This morning things went well and we were close to the pace. But this afternoon, we had a few things happen and it didn’t go as well as we wanted,” said Bostrom, who won his first-ever AMA Superbike race at Brainerd in 1998. “Part of it was me and part of it was the bike, but we really didn’t have the time in the session to get the bike just the way it needed to be. Tomorrow, I know we’ll have a good bike because the team knows what we need to do, and I’m confident I can get on and go fast from the start.”

Bostrom, who recently tested tires in France for Michelin, set his best time of 1:37.757 in the cool weather of the afternoon session. Wind, especially in the turn two area, slowed riders somewhat on the 3.1-mile (4.58 km) Minnesota course. “I’m not sure about going for pole position because we’ve been off the leaders this year, but I hope we can continue to make improvements tomorrow and get ready to fight for the win on Sunday.”

“This is an important race for us – just as every race in the series is – but we’d like to do well here at Brainerd because Ducati is sponsoring the race and there are a lot of Ducati fans here,” said team owner Terry Gregoricka. “All of the crew is working hard to give Eric what he needs to do well and we’re looking forward to tomorrow.”

Final qualifying takes place tomorrow with the 21-lap (100 km) race to be contested on Sunday.

TIMES: 1. Duhamel (Honda) 1:35.819; 2. Zemke (Honda) 1:36.054; 3. Hayes (Kawasaki) 1:36.525; 4. Mladin (Suzuki) 1:36.594; 5. B Bostrom (Honda) 1:36.758; 6. E Bostrom (Ducati) 1:37.757; etc.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Long-time AMA race announcer Richard Chambers is not at Brainerd to call the races, breaking a long tradition of service at the Minnesota track.

Chambers was forced to miss the Brainerd event due to an incident in the paddock last weeked during the Loudon Classic at New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS).

On Saturday, June 19, Chambers (riding his pit scooter) collided with a racebike coming off the track. Chambers suffered several bruises, abrasions, a black eye and a laceration to his right knee (believed to be from a footpeg) that required stitches.

“The good thing about bleeding is you know you’re not dead,” Chambers joked with a Roadracingworld.com reporter at Loudon, although it was clear that he was in considerable pain.

Chambers continued working and finished announcing the event at NHIS but called to cancel his appearance at Brainerd in the days before the event.

From a press release issued by Brainerd International Raceway:

Ride the Track fundraiser to benefit Kinship Partners

Ducati owners to circle BIR racetrack during this weekend’s Superbike race

BRAINERD, Minn. ­ Kinship Partners, a non-profit agency serving children in Crow Wing and southern Cass counties, will benefit from a fundraiser at Brainerd International Raceway this weekend during the Trofeo Ducati U.S. Superbike AMA Championship, sponsored by Ducati North America and presented by Michelin.

BIR and Ducati will raise funds for Kinship Partners during Ride the Track, which is an opportunity for Ducati motorcycle owners to take a lap on BIR’s world-class 3-mile road course. Those who participate are asked to make a donation to Kinship Partners.

Participants will have two opportunities to ride on the track: at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, after the conclusion of racing, and 2 p.m. Sunday, just before the Superbike finals. The group of riders will be led by a pace car.

The first vehicle on the track for this event will be carrying more than 20 kids and adults from the Kinship Partners program, which matches disadvantaged children with adult mentors. Currently, Kinship has 153 partnerships, with an additional 60 kids on a waiting list. Kinship Partners has been in business since 1986 and regularly sees tremendous change in the behavior and self esteem of the kids involved.

“We are just thrilled to have this opportunity for our kids to experience the races and the fun atmosphere at BIR,” said Pat Johnston, executive director of Kinship Partners. “To have a fundraiser attached to the day’s events just adds icing to the cake. We are so grateful to BIR and Ducati for organizing this special event for the Kinship kids.”

“Ducati owners are naturally generous, and many will jump at the chance to both do good and have the experience of a lifetime,” said John Porter, Ducati North America’s director of marketing.

“Rarely do we let anyone on our race track other than racers, so this is a fantastic opportunity for Ducati owners,” BIR General Manager Scott Quick said. “But more importantly, we see it as another chance for BIR to give back to the community by helping kids. Over the years, many kids have discovered their passion here at the track, so we enjoy the opportunity to introduce kids to motorsports.”

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

A June 18, 2004 rules “clarification” issued by AMA Pro Racing regarding fork braces on Superstock (and Supersport) machines was still unclear to Tom Houseworth, Ben Spies’ Yoshimura Suzuki Crew Chief, following the first official Superstock practice session held Friday morning at Brainerd.

Originally, the rule permitted the replacement or addition of fork braces in the class with no stipulation on the design. The clarification, however, stipulated that any fork brace “must function solely as a strengthening device for the front fork structure” and not incorporate “any air management qualities such as downforce producing deflectors or ducts that redirect incoming air…The determination of air management qualities will be at the sole discretion of the Race Manager and the Chief Technical Inspector.”

The rule clarification was clearly directed at Spies’ Superstock GSX-R1000, which has worn two different versions of a carbon-fiber fork brace that mounts at the front fender mounting points and arches over the top of the fender. The original brace had a more triangulated profile with a raised trailing edge, and the revised design has a more rounded profile but still has a raised trailing edge.

Spies’ GSX-R1000 passed technical inspection with the spoiler in place Thursday evening at Brainerd, but AMA tech officials told Houseworth that a final decision on the fork brace would have to be made by AMA Pro Racing Superbike Series Manager Ron Barrick. As of Friday morning – after the first and only Superstock practice session of the day, Barrick had yet to inspect Spies’ brace and make a ruling.

“No one can make a decision without Ron, and Ron can’t come over and look at it until after we’ve had a practice session? It doesn’t seem right to me,” said an agitated Houseworth. “I can see why they clarified it (rule). But in our case, Ben (Spies) could actually look down and see the fork flex fore and aft. And it’s complicated with the inverted forks. You can’t just go out and buy a fork brace. So we made something up. We’re just trying to do whatever we can to make our rider feel comfortable.

“Jeez! It actually overheats the bike a little bit. As far as downforce, how much do you need to get through a corner? Who has the degree in fluid dynamics or air management to tell us if it works or not? Who is going to take it to a wind tunnel? Nobody really knows. We don’t know. The AMA doesn’t know. They’re all going by looks. It’s not like we’re setting the world on fire with that bike right now, you know?

“You think they would just be timely about it. You know we’ve had a problem with it. Just come and tell us good or bad.”

“I told them I would be there to look at it when I get a minute,” said AMA Pro Racing Superbike Series Manager Ron Barrick. “There was a re-think on the whole matter (fork brace rule clarification), internally. Our ultimate recommendation to our (AMA Pro Racing) Board will be to remove the rule allowing fork braces on Supersport and Superstock bikes. That rule’s been in existence since the start of Supersport, when forks on bikes had a need for additional bracing. We currently don’t feel bracing is needed on current production bikes.”

Asked what evidence they have whether Spies’, or any racer’s fork brace, has “air management qualities,” Barrick said, “By the educated opinion of a number of people inside the business. An educated assumption, I suppose. Clearly we don’t have a wind tunnel to roll the thing in.”

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional AMA Formula Xtreme Qualifying Results:

1. Miguel Duhamel, Honda CBR600RR, 1:38.148
2. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600RR, 1:38.702
3. Doug Chandler, Ducati 749R, 1:39.980
4. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR600RR, 1:40.065
5. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:40.425
6. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:40.481
7. Pascal Picotte, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:41.404
8. Heath Small, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:41.496
9. Michael Barnes, Buell XB9R, 1:41.717
10. Larry Pegram, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:41.796
11. Blake Young, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:42.369
12. Mike Ciccotto, Buell XB9R, 1:42.443
13. Nicky Moore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:42.945
14. Perry Melenciuc, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:44.370
15. Nathan Hester, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:45.166
16. Eric Haugo, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:45.845
17. Matt Prentice, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:47.074
18. Josh Bryan, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:48.936

112 percent of fast time: 1:49.926

19. Jim Davis, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:50.113
20. Darin Eli Edwards, Suzuki GSX-R600, no times


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

PERIS FIFTH AT BRAINERD

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki was greeted today by brisk and windy conditions at Brainerd, Minnesota, site of the seventh stop on the 2004 AMA roadracing calendar. Regardless of the unseasonably cool weather, the squad quickly got up to speed quickly to post some impressive times on Friday.

Particularly notable was the performance of rising star Chris Peris. The Canadian teenager made the most of the single sixty-minute Supersport practice session on the day, posting a top five result in the session.

Peris registered a best lap of 1:40.850 around the 3.0-mile circuit, which placed him fifth fastest in the free practice and within striking distance of the leaders.

Afterwards he said, “We’re getting our GSX-R600 closer and closer to where we want it all the time. Michelin has been working hard and they’ve come through with some good tires. We’re able to get everything clicking together easier at this point — the team’s working great together and we all have a better feel for each other now.”

“I’m hoping to finish inside the top five, and I think that’s a realistic goal this weekend.”

Steve Rapp, last year’s race winner in Superstock at Brainerd, was ninth in Supersport on the day, just behind his younger teammate. Rapp, who earned his ride with the team partly due to a strong performance at Brainerd in 2002, crossed the line with a time of 1:41.313.

In Formula Xtreme qualifying, Vincent Haskovec earned a second row start for Saturday’s race, clocking the sixth best time on the day. The Czech-born rider’s test lap time on the Suzuki GSX-R600 was 1:40.481.

In Superstock, the Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki duo of Rapp and Haskovec gave up 250 cubic centimeters of engine displacement to many of their rivals as they once again raced their Suzuki GSX-R750s against the larger 1000cc bikes at the 10-turn Minnesota track. Although the circuit is known to reward the larger horsepower bikes, Vincent was ninth on the day with a time of 1:40.070, just ahead of Rapp’s 1:40.654, which was good for eleventh.

Saturday’s action will feature the Formula Xtreme race and qualifying for both Supersport and Superstock.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Pro Racing issued a statement regarding the fork brace on Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies’ GSX-R1000 Superstock bike late Friday at Brainerd International Raceway.

From the AMA Pro Racing statement:

“After a technical review by AMA Pro Racing, Yoshimura Suzuki revised the questioned fork brace per an AMA Pro Racing issued Competition Bulletin. AMA Pro Racing Director of Competition Merrill Vanderslice deemed the configuration changes to be acceptable and ruled the fork brace legal.”

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

WSMC racer Mitch Wissner married Ms. Pat Murphy on June 23rd, in Weaverville, California.

The wedding was held at 4:45 p.m., timed to match Wissner’s WSMC number, which is 445.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Final 250cc GP Qualifying Results:

1. Sebastian PORTO, Aprilia, 2:03.668
2. Daniel PEDROSA, Honda, 2:04.451
3. Randy DE PUNIET, Aprilia, 2:04.529
4. Toni ELIAS, Honda, 2:04.838
5. Manuel POGGIALI, Aprilia, 2:04.903
6. Alex DE ANGELIS, Aprilia, 2:04.959
7. Roberto ROLFO, Aprilia, 2:05.956
8. Joan OLIVE, Aprilia, 2:06.107
9. Fonsi NIETO, Aprilia, 2:06.131
10. Alex DEBON, Honda, 2:06.149
11. Anthony WEST, Aprilia, 2:06.311
12. Franco BATTAINI, Aprilia, 2:06.386
13. Alex BALDOLINI, Aprilia, 2:06.548
14. Hiroshi AOYAMA, Honda, 2:06.595
15. Naoki MATSUDO, Yamaha, 2:06.799
16. Sylvain GUINTOLI, Aprilia, 2:06.885
17. Chaz DAVIES, Aprilia, 2:07.520
18. Arnaud VINCENT, Aprilia, 2:07.546
19. Eric BATAILLE, Honda, 2:07.699
20. Hector FAUBEL, Aprilia, 2:07.869

From a press release issued by Yamaha Motor Corp., USA:

YAMAHA RIDER DAMON BUCKMASTER WILL NOT RACE BRAINERD AMA ROUND

CYPRESS, CALIF. — A slow-healing broken scaphoid in Damon Buckmaster’s left wrist means that he will miss the June 26-27th AMA round at Brainerd International Raceway.

According to Buckmaster, the wrist injury sustained in a crash during round 4 at Barber is causing him pain. “I feel really bad for Yamaha and the fans that I’m missing another race weekend. In my four years of racing for Yamaha, I’ve never missed a race due to injury,”

Yamaha Race Team Manager Tom Halverson supports the decision. “We’d rather have Damon at home healing and getting stronger, than have him come back too early and risk aggravating his wrist.”

Buckmaster says he hopes to be ready by Laguna Seca but added that it will depend on what the doctors say after examining his X-rays in a few weeks.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday’s 125cc GP Practice Times:

1. Hector BARBERA, Aprilia, 2:23.043
2. Alvaro BAUTISTA, Aprilia, 2:23.161
3. Steve JENKNER, Aprilia, 2:23.440
4. Jorge LORENZO, Derbi, 2:23.615
5. Marco SIMONCELLI, Aprilia, 2:23.731
6. Roberto LOCATELLI, Aprilia, 2:24.216
7. Gabor TALMACSI, Malaguti, 2:24.237
8. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, Honda, 2:24.292
9. Lukas PESEK, Honda, 2:24.372
10. Casey STONER, KTM, 2:24.395
11. Gino BORSOI, Aprilia, 2:24.404
12. Sergio GADEA, Aprilia, 2:25.340
13. Simone CORSI, Honda, 2:25.374
14. Pablo NIETO, Aprilia, 2:25.654
15. Mirko GIANSANTI, Aprilia, 2:25.836