Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The AMA Superbike race at Barber Motorsports Park was stopped for a second time Sunday when it began raining on the seventh lap of the 28-lap race.

The race was stopped earlier, on lap three, when Scott Jensen highsided at the exit of turn 13 and his motorcycle was lying in the track.

In the first segment, Ben Bostrom was racing for the lead with Aaron Yates. In the second portion, Bostrom was fighting at the front with Kurtis Roberts.

In both parts of the race, Mat Mladin seemed content to cruise around in sixth place, behind all of the factory bikes and ahead of the privateers.

Mladin only needs to finish 23rd or better to win his fourth AMA Superbike Championship.

The race has been declared a “wet” event, meaning it will not be stopped again for changes in the weather. It is up to the riders to determine what type of tires to use for the remaining 24 laps.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Supersport Practice Times:

1. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:43.585
2. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 1:44.135
3. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, 1:44.307
4. Darren Luck, Suzuki, 1:44.591
5. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha, 1:46.795
6. Jake Zemke, Honda, 1:47.096
7. Alex Gobert, Honda, 1:47.137
8. Jeff Wood, Yamaha, 1:47.348
9. Ty Howard, Honda, 1:47.523
10. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda, 1:47.749
11. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:48.121
12. Lee Acree, Yamaha, 1:48.384
13. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, 1:49.677
14. Matt McBride, Kawasaki, 1:50.464
15. Marty Craggill, Honda, 1:50.542

23. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, 1:59.231

According to AMA Pro Racing’s media relations contractor Stacey Jones, the Supersport and 250cc Grand Prix races will still be broadcast live on SPEED.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Kurtis Roberts won the second AMA Superbike race of his career Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama

Mat Mladin, however, was the bigger winner, taking home a record fourth AMA Superbike Championship with third in the twice-red-flagged final race of the season.

After rain interrupted the race, it was finished in basically dry conditions.

Erion Honda’s Roberts had a terrific battle with American Honda’s Ben Bostrom and Miguel Duhamel until lap 25 of 28. Bostrom hit John Jacobi and crashed going into tight turn four and, in a domino effect, Jacobi hit Dean Mizdal, who hit Miguel Duhamel.

Duhamel was lapping Jacobi and Mizdal on the outside of the corner.

All four riders crashed but appeared to be relatively uninjured in the pile-up.

From there, Roberts was free to collect his second win of the season and his career.

Ducati Austin’s Giovanni Bussei spent the majority of the race in fourth and was elevated to second by the Bostrom/Duhamel incident.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mladin finished a conservative third, and Aaron Yates, who was the only other rider that could have won the 2003 AMA Superbike Championship, appeared to suffer intermittent problems with his machine and finished fourth.

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp finished fifth on a Michelin-shod GSX-R1000.

AMA Superbike Race Results:

1. Kurtis Roberts, Honda, 28 laps
2. Giovanni Bussei, Ductai, -5.237 seconds
3. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, -18.829 seconds
4. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, -20.420 seconds
5. Steve Rapp, Suzuki, -42.227 seconds
6. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki, -46.339 seconds
7. Tom Kipp, Kawasaki, -62.150 seconds
8. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, -64.951 seconds
9. Eric Wood, Suzuki, -70.299 seconds
10. Michael Barnes, Suzuki, -80.931 seconds
11. Jake Holden, Suzuki, -82.581 seconds
12. John Haner, Suzuki, -1 lap
13. Marco Martinez, Suzuki, -1 lap
14. Brian Stokes, Suzuki, -1 lap
15. Jeremy Toye, Suzuki, -1 lap
16. Andrew Deatherage, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap
17. Byron Barbour, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap
18. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
19. Robert Christman, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap
20. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap
21. Michael Sanchez, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
22. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap
23. Reuben Frankenfield, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
24. Tom Wertman, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap
25. Scott Carpenter, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap
26. Chris Voelker, Ducati 996, -1 lap
27. Kevin Hanson, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap
28. Monte Nichols, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap
29. Chuck Ivey, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
30. James Kerker, Honda CBR929RR, -1 lap
31. Dean Mizdal, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap, crash
32. John Jacobi, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -2 laps, crash
33. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, -2 laps
34. Ben Bostrom, Honda RC51, -4 laps, DNF, crash
35. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, -4 laps, DNF, crash
36. Scott Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -6 laps, DNF, crash
37. C.R. Gittere, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -9 laps, DNF
38. Chris Greer, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -25 laps, DNF

Final AMA Superbike Point Standings:

1. Mladin, 550 points, 10 wins
2. Yates, 519 points, 3 wins
3. Roberts, 474 points, 2 wins
4. Ben Bostrom, 462 points
5. Duhamel, 417 points, 1 win
6. Higbee, 396 points
7. Eric Bostrom, 350 points, 2 wins
8. Jason Pridmore, 339 points
9. Haskovec, 285 points
10. Jordan Szoke, 283 points
11. May, 249 points
12. Barnes, 238 points
13. Ciccotto, 229 points
14. Larry Pegram, 211 points
15. Scott Jensen, 210 points
16. Bussei, 186 points
17. Holden, 179 points
18. Toye, 175 points
19. Mizdal, 168 points
20. Anthony Gobert, 131 points

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Pro Racing is planning to hold a small test on the infield road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The test is tentatively scheduled for October 1, the Wednesday following the September 28 FIA Formula One car race at the famed “Brickyard.”

Austin Ducati and Erion Honda are the only teams expected to attend.

“We’ve said we will,” said Erion Honda team owner Kevin Erion Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park, “but we’re waiting for the AMA to come back and say OK. There are still a few ducks they had to get in their row to make sure it could happen, but we agreed to go.”

Erion said only Jake Zemke would ride at the test, and he would only ride his Honda CBR954RR Formula Xtreme bike. “Because they are only interested in big-bike feedback,” said Erion.

“They want to see if it is doable, if it’s safe enough,” said Ducati Austin’s Vic Fasola.

AMA Pro Racing CEO Scott Hollingsworth, who is at Barber Motorsports Park, declined to comment on the test prior to post time.


Update: Hollingsworth has confirmed plans for a limited feasibility test on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s infield road course.

“We’ve been working with the facility now for two or three years,” said Hollingsworth Sunday in the media center at Barber Motorsports Park. “We went there before they laid it out. We’ve been watching its progress. We made comments at the time they designed it to make sure that it was adequate for motorcycles.

“There will be some issues that we’ve got to look at. We want to see bikes on the track to make sure it’s suitable. Most of the interior road portion we expect to be fine, and we’ve got plans to address the one kind of known issue.”

Hollingsworth said the “known issue” was the first turn on the speedway oval, which is taken in the opposite direction when the road course is utilized. The outside of the high-speed turn is lined with retaining walls.

Hollingsworth said a chicane has been designed and would be installed for any race at Indy but no chicane will be used during the proposed test.

“We just want to get them out there, take a look and make sure it’s something we can do if we’re presented the opportunity to,” said Hollingsworth.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Barber Motorsports Park announced the following as its official attendance figures:

Friday – 8000
Saturday – 17,000
Sunday – 23,000

Three-day total – 48,000

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Supersport Race Results:

1. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, 17 laps
2. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, -0.626 second
3. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, -0.637 second
4. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, -1.777 seconds
5. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha, -5.300 seconds
6. Jake Zemke, Honda, -8.238 seconds
7. Alex Gobert, Honda, -8.296 seconds
8. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda, -8.758 seconds
9. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, -8.981 seconds
10. Blake Young, Honda, -14.031 seconds
11. Lee Acree, Yamaha, -14.290 seconds
12. Jamie Stauffer, Suzuki, -15.513 seconds
13. Ty Howard, Honda, -19.359 seconds
14. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha, -20.235 seconds
15. Greg Myers, Yamaha, -27.994 seconds
16. Marty Craggill, Honda, -28.020 seconds
17. Dirk Sanchez, Kawasaki, -28.303 seconds
18. Logan Young, Yamaha, -32.380 seconds
19. Chris Peris, Honda, -32.450 seconds
20. Steven Breckenridge, Triumph, -33.444 seconds
21. Matt McBride, Kawasaki, -39.577 seconds
22. Hector Romero, Yamaha, -39.907 seconds
23. James Stroud, Honda, -47.832 seconds
24. Chad Klock, Kawasaki, -1 lap
25. Michael Sanchez, Yamaha, -1 lap
26. Chris Rankin, Honda, -1 lap
27. Jeremy Haiduk, Yamaha, -1 lap
28. Greg White, Yamaha, -1 lap
29. Scotty Van Scoik, Suzuki, -1 lap
30. Anthony Ian Cammack, Suzuki, -1 lap
31. Taylor Knapp, Yamaha, -2 laps
32. Michael Morgan, Suzuki, -3 laps
33. Nathan Dressman, Yamaha, -4 laps
34. Chris Siebenhaar, Honda, -6 laps
35. Nathan Hester, Yamaha, -7 laps
36. Jeff Wood, Yamaha, -10 laps, DNF
37. Ben Spies, Suzuki, DNS

Darren Luck, Suzuki, DQ, oversized engine


Final AMA Supersport Point Standings:

1. Hacking, 334 points, 4 wins
2. Buckmaster, 326 points, 1 win
3. Tommy Hayden, 250 points, 2 wins
4. Alex Gobert, 241 points
5. Zemke, 240 points, 1 win
6. Aaron Gobert, 239 points
7. Meiring, 238 points
8. Roger Lee Hayden, 230 points
9. Ben Spies, 228 points, 1 win
10. DiSalvo, 221 points
11. Duhamel, 184 points, 1 win
12. Jason Curtis, 155 points
13. Stauffer, 154 points
14. Doug Chandler, 110 points
15. Peris, 104 points
16. Craggill, 103 points
17. Howard, 99 points
18. Dirk Sanchez, 88 points
19. Giovanni Rojas, 79 points
20. Darren Luck, 57 points

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sunday Morning AMA Practice Times:

Superbike:

1. Kurtis Roberts, Honda RC51, 1:47.027
2. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 1:49.360
3. Ben Bostrom, Honda RC51, 1:50.243
4. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati 998RS, 1:51.458
5. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:51.600
6. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:53.752
7. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:55.810
8. C.R. Gittere, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:58.765
9. Tom Wertman, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:59.779
10. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 2:02.243
11. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:04.123
12. Michael Barnes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 2:11.109
13. Eric Wood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:11.949
14. Scott Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 2:13.533
15. Brian Stokes, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:22.847


Formula Xtreme:

1. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:52.766
2. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR954RR, 1:54.789
3. Marty Craggill, Honda CBR954RR, 1:55.864
4. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR954RR, 1:56.776
5. James Ellison, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:22.382


250cc Grand PRix:

1. Rich Oliver, Yamaha, 1:54.333
2. Perry Melneciuc, Yamaha, 2:05.765
3. John France, Honda, 2:05.968
4. Sandy Noce, Yamaha, 2:07.960
5. Geoffrey Maloney, Yamaha, 2:08.888
6. Steve Scott, Yamaha, 2:16.317
7. Ed Sorbo, Yamaha, 2:18.035
8. Sean Wray, Yamaha, 2:18.064
9. Shawn Murray, Honda, 2:20.658
10. Ed Marchini, Yamaha, 2:32.636
11. Mark Stiles, Yamaha, 2:34.330

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA practice at Barber Motorsports Park is currently on hold due to rain and standing water at the apexes of many corners, according to an AMA Pro Racing official.

AMA Supersport riders had already completed their Sunday morning warm-up in dry conditions when rain began to fall at the start of the 250cc Grand Prix practice.

Update: At 10:20 a.m. Central Time, the 250cc GP class was sent out on track even though it was still raining steadily.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.


Sunday Morning AMA Supersport Practice Times:

1. JASON DISALVO, Yamaha, 1:28.686
2. TOMMY HAYDEN, Kawasaki, 1:28.921
3. BEN SPIES, Suzuki, 1:28.945
4. AARON GOBERT, Yamaha, 1:29.049
5. ALEX GOBERT, Honda, 1:29.056
6. JAMIE HACKING, Yamaha, 1:29.069
7. MIGUEL DUHAMEL, Honda, 1:29.445
8. TONY MEIRING, Kawasaki, 1:29.454
9. JAKE ZEMKE, Honda, 1:29.595
10. DAMON BUCKMASTER, Yamaha, 1:29.667
11. MARTY CRAGGILL, Honda, 1:29.989
12. ROGER LEE HAYDEN, Honda, 1:30.206
13. TY HOWARD, Honda, 1:30.311
14. LEE ACREE, Yamaha, 1:30.924
15. CHRIS PERIS, Honda, 1:31.012
16. JAMIE STAUFFER, Suzuki, 1:31.029
17. JEFF WOOD, Yamaha, 1:31.118
18. HEATH SMALL, Yamaha, 1:31.467
19. CHRIS RANKIN, Honda, 1:31.526
20. BLAKE YOUNG, Honda, 1:31.888

31. GREG WHITE, Yamaha, 1:35.092