Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Morning AMA 250cc GP Practice Times:

1. Rich Oliver, Yamaha, 1:28.720
2. Chuck Sorensen, Aprilia, 1:29.549
3. Jason DiSalvo, Honda, 1:30.317
4. Simon Turner, Yamaha, 1:30.554
5. Chris Pyles, Yamaha, 1:32.912
6. Ed Sorbo, Yamaha, 1:34.013
7. Perry Melneciuc, Yamaha, 1:35.090
8. Steve Scott, Yamaha, 1:35.884
9. Colin Jensen, Aprilia, 1:35.908
10. Ty Piz, Yamaha, 1:36.515
11. John France, Honda, 1:36.685
12. Greg Esser, Honda, 1:37.160
13. Chad Healy, Yamaha, 1:38.034
14. Barret Long, Yamaha, 1:38.143
15. Jeremy Bonnett, Yamaha, 1:38.469
16. Bryan Hoelzer, Honda, 1:40.368
17. Joji Tokumoto, Honda, 1:40.587
18. Michael Deblanco, Yamaha, 1:40.723
19. Richard Marencin, Honda, 1:40.852
20. Gert Van Der Merwe, Yamaha, 1:41.278

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

1. Michael Taylor, Yamaha, 1:08.949
2. Jordan Szoke, Suzuki, 1:09.048
3. Kevin Lacombe, Honda, 1:09.291
4. Owen Weichel, Kawasaki, 1:09.660
5. Jean-Francois Cyr, Yamaha, 1:10.536
6. Jeff Williams, Suzuki, 1:10.896
7. Ugo Levert, Suzuki, 1:11.304
8. Clint McBain, Suzuki, 1:11.640
9. Francis Martin, Suzuki, 1:11.714
10. Frank Trombino, Honda, 1:12.059
11. Philip Onisto, Suzuki, 1:12.401
12. Benoit Pilon, Yamaha, 1:12.475
13. Joel McDonald, Yamaha, 1:13.064
14. Darryn Wilbur, Yamaha, 1:13.921
15. Francis Dubuc, Suzuki, 1:14.010
16. Gaston Labrie, Suzuki, 1:15.533

Bruce McDonald, Yamaha, no time

Steve Crevier, Honda, no time

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Four of the six AMA Superbike Championship series class titles are still up for grabs this weekend at Virginia International Raceway. Advanced Motor Sports Ducati’s Kirk McCarthy clinched the AMA Pro Thunder Championship at the fifth and final round of that series at Laguna Seca, and Team Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates wrapped up his first AMA (600cc) Supersport Championship two weeks ago at Mid-Ohio. But the winners of the AMA’s Superbike, Formula Xtreme, Superstock and 250cc Grand Prix classes will be decided in the next three days.

In Superbike, American Honda’s Nicky Hayden comes to VIR with a 35-point lead over Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom. Since there are only 37 points available in Sunday’s race, if Hayden can gain two points on Bostrom in Saturday’s race, Hayden will clinch his first AMA Superbike Championship.

In the unlikely event of a tie in points between Hayden and Bostrom at the end of the weekend, Hayden will win the title by virtue of his higher number of race wins.

In AMA Superstock, three riders have a mathematical chance of winning the class crown, but Corona Extra Suzuki’s Jimmy Moore holds his fate in his own hands. With a 26-point lead over his closest rival, Arclight Suzuki’s Lee Acree, Moore only needs to finish 19th or better in Saturday’s Superstock final to clinch his second consecutive title. Trailing by 36 points, Kawasaki’s Tommy Hayden has a very remote chance of winning the 750cc class Championship on his 600cc racebike, feat never before accomplished.

Three racers also hold a theoretical chance of winning the MBNA 250cc Grand Prix number one plate. Team America Grand Prix Racing’s 18-year-old Jason DiSalvo is third, 34 points behind the class leader. Meanwhile, Team Oliver Yamaha’s Perry Melneciuc is second, 31 points out of first. Class leader Chuck Sorensen has only to finish 24th or better in Sunday’s race to finish out his third Championship in the 250cc class.

The possible scenarios for potential title winners in the Formula Xtreme category are far too many to document. Four racers backed by three different manufacturers could become Champion. Graves Yamaha’s Damon Buckmaster leads the Formula Xtreme standings by two points over Bruce Transportation Group Honda’s Jake Zemke. Attack Suzuki’s Jason Pridmore lies third in the standings, five points behind Buckmaster, and Erion Honda’s Mike Hale has a mathematical chance at the title, 36 points behind the leader.

Including a bonus point for fastest qualifier and another bonus point for the leader, a total of 38 points are available in every AMA class except Superbike, where a grand total of 75 points are up for grabs, due to there being two races on the weekend.

Race winners receive 36 points, second-place finishers get 32 points, third gets 29, fourth gets 27, fifth gets 26, sixth gets 25, and so on down to the 30th finisher receiving one single point, provided they complete at least half of the race distance.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Morning AMA Formula Xtreme Practice Times:

1. Marty Craggill, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:27.647
2. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:27.879
3. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:28.217
4. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:28.283
5. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR954RR, 1:28.473
6. Josh Hayes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:28.480
7. Mike Hale, Honda CBR954RR, 1:29.103
8. Lance Isaacs, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:29.105
9. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:29.259
10. Tom Kipp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:29.499
11. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR954RR, 1:29.692
12. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:29.761
13. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:29.924
14. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR954RR, 1:30.940
15. James Compton, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.641
16. Jason Curtis, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:32.858
17. Jeff Bostrom, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.007
18. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.883
19. Kenyon Kluge, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:35.829
20. Michael Fitzpatrick, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:37.252

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Aaron Yates answers the question of whether or not he will ride at VIR by leading the time sheets for the first Supersport practice session at VIR, Friday morning.

Friday Morning AMA Supersport Practice Times:

1. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:28.76
2. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, 1:29.33
3. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha, 1:29.41
4. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:29.47
5. Jake Zemke, Honda, 1:29.88
6. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, 1:30.24
7. Tom Kipp, Suzuki, 1:30.37
8. Josh Hayes, Suzuki, 1:30.48
9. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda, 1:30.76
10. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, 1:30.83
11. Alex Gobert, Honda, 1:31.39
12. Andrew Nelson, Honda, 1:31.60
13. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 1:31.84
14. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, 1:31.98
15. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, 1:32.25
16. Kevin Pate, Suzuki, 1:34.38
17. Tyler Wadsworth, Yamaha, 1:34.50
18. Mickey Lane, Kawasaki, 1:34.85
19. Michael Hannas, Suzuki, 1:35.27
20. Andy Caldwell, Suzuki, 1:36.13

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Afternoon AMA Supersport Practice Times:

1. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:28.894
2. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha, 1:29.267
3. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:29.524
4. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, 1:29.622
5. Jake Zemke, Honda, 1:29.851
6. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, 1:29.862
7. Tom Kipp, Suzuki, 1:30.049
8. Josh Hayes, Suzuki, 1:30.220
9. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda, 1:30.317
10. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, 1:30.343
11. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 1:30.580
12. Andrew Nelson, Honda, 1:30.936
13. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, 1:31.056
14. Alex Gobert, Honda, 1:31.304
15. Mike Hale, Honda, 1:31.368
16. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, 1:31.725
17. Michael Hannas, Suzuki, 1:33.536
18. Kevin Pate, Suzuki, 1:33.579
19. Giovanni Rojas, Triumph, 1:33.750
20. Matt Furtek, Yamaha, 1:33.827
21. Tyler Wadsworth, Yamaha, 1:34.123
22. Michael Garofalo, Suzuki, 1:34.328
23. Jeff Muskopf, Suzuki, 1:34.503
24. C. R. Gittere, Suzuki, 1:35.807
25. Raymond Bowman, Honda, 1:35.963
26. James Kerker, Honda, 1:36.063
27. Justin Blake, Suzuki, 1:36.400
28. Anthony Cammack, Suzuki, 1:38.076
29. Marcus Winfree, Suzuki, 1:40.004
30. Frank Wiot, Yamaha, 1:40.433
31. Hector Romero, Yamaha, 1:41.222

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Morning Canadian Superbike Practice Times:

1. Michael Taylor, Yamaha, 1:09.399
2. Frank Trombino, Honda, 1:09.436
3. Jordan Szoke, Suzuki, 1:09.660
4. Kevin Lacombe, Honda, 1:09.712
5. Owen Weichel, Kawasaki, 1:10.412
6. Francis Martin, Suzuki, 1:10.766
7. Steve Crevier, Honda, 1:10.766
8. Jeff Williams, Suzuki, 1:11.118
9. Clint McBain, Suzuki, 1:11.440
10. Philip Onisto, Suzuki, 1:12.026
11. Ugo Levert, Suzuki, 1:12.124
12. Benoit Pilon, Yamaha, 1:12.238
13. Bruce McDonald, Yamaha, 1:12.766
14. Jean-Francois Cyr, Yamaha, 1:13.338
15. Joel McDonald, Yamaha, 1:14.224
16. Darryn Wilbur, Yamaha, 1:15.570
17. Gaston Labrie, Suzuki, 1:16.602
18. Francis Dubuc, Suzuki, 1:17.089

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Afternoon Yoshimura 600cc Sport Bike Practice Times From Atlantic Motorsports Park:

1. Jeff Williams, Suzuki, 1:10.811
2. Jean-Francois Cyr, Yamaha, 1:11.117
3. Owen Weichel, Kawasaki, 1:11.341
4. Kevin Lacombe, Honda, 1:11.674
5. Clint McBain, Suzuki, 1:11.920
6. Ugo Levert, Suzuki, 1:12.063
7. Bruce McDonald, Yamaha, 1:13.005
8. Matthew McBride, Honda, 1:13.107
9. Chris Peris, Honda, 1:14.297
10. Joel McDonald, Yamaha, 1:14.414
11. Francis Dubuc, Suzuki, 1:15.788

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

(All on Suzuki GSX-R750 unless noted)

1. Vincent Haskovec, 1:29.015
2. Jimmy Moore, 1:29.183
3. Jason DiSalvo, 1:29.324
4. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:29.336
5. Adam Fergusson, 1:29.446
6. Chris Caylor, 1:29.613
7. Lee Acree, 1:29.701
8. Josh Hayes, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:29.789
9. Eric Wood, 1:29.877
10. Robert Jensen, 1:29.940
11. Ty Howard, 1:30.508
12. Chris Ulrich, 1:30.532
13. Jeremy Toye, 1:30.642
14. Chris Rankin of Maryland, 1:30.765
15. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:30.814
16. John Jacobi, 1:30.921
17. Jake Holden, 1:30.987
18. Brian Livengood, 1:31.091
19. John Dugan, 1:31.137
20. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:31.144
21. Alan Schmidt, 1:31.424
22. Andrew Nelson, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:31.453
23. Christopher S. Rankin of Texas, 1:31.464
24. Ton Kipp, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:31.604
25. Brian Parriott, 1:31.927
26. Kevin Pate, 1:31.947
27. Michael Hannas, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:32.326
28. C.R. Gittere, 1:32.608
29. Jeff Bostrom, 1:32.674
30. Shane T. Clarke, 1:32.687
31. J.J. Roetlin, 1:32.712
32. Matt Furtek, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:32.743
33. Andy Caldwell, 1:32.926
34. Justin Blake, 1:33.224
35. Michael Garofalo, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:33.235
36. Scott Jensen, 1:33.577
37. Chuck Ivey, 1:33.590
38. Tyler Wadsworth, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:33.958
39. Jeff Muskopf, 1:34.024
40. John McGarity, 1:34.160
41. Tim Falcone, 1:35.325
42. Anthony Ian Cammack, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:35.938
43. James Kerker, Honda CBR600F4, 1:35.954

(112 percent of fast time = 1:39.697)

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Afternoon AMA Superstock Practice Times (all Suzuki GSX-R750s unless noted:

1. Chris Caylor, 1:29.15
2. Craig Connell, 1:29.78
3. Adam Fergusson, 1:29.89
4. Jimmy Moore, 1:30.10
5. Lee Acree, 1:30.29
6. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:30.32
7. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:30.36
8. Eric Wood, 1:30.44
9. Tom Kipp, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:30.52
10. Josh Hayes, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:30.53
11. Chris Ulrich, 1:30.66
12. Vincent Haskovec, 1:30.70
13. Mike Hale, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:30.79
14. Robert Jensen, 1:30.94
15. Jeremy Toye, 1:31.40
16. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:31.45
17. John Jacobi, 1:31.51
18. Andrew Nelson, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:31.55
19. Alan Schmidt, 1:31.93
20. Brian Livengood, 1:32.03
21. Jason DiSalvo, 1:32.03
22. Brian Parriott, 1:32.34
23. Michael Hannas, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:32.69
24. J.J. Roetlin, 1:33.01
25. Jake Holden, 1:33.03

Annandale Racing’s Ty Howard did not ride in practice Friday due to injury. Howard was riding in promoter practice Thursday when he caught his knee in a relief cut in the concrete rumble strips on the inside of turn seven. Howard’s knee slider was knocked off, his leathers ripped completely open and his knee twisted backwards, the impact almost pulling him off his bike. Instead of riding Friday, Howard went to have his knee examined by a local doctor.

At Friday’s riders’ meeting, AMA Pro Racing’s Ron Barrick said that he hoped the track would “do some grinding on the concrete there” to help ease the problem.