Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

From Formula Xtreme Qualifying:

1. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 186 mph
2. Mike Hale, Honda CBR954RR, 185 mph
3. Tom Kipp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 184 mph
4. Marty Craggill, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 183 mph
5. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R1, 182 mph
6. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR954RR, 182 mph
7. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 182 mph
8. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR954RR, 180 mph
9. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 180 mph
10. Josh Hayes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 179 mph
11. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 178 mph
12. Lance Isaacs, Yamaha YZF-R1, 176 mph
13. Jason Curtis, Yamaha YZF-R1, 172 mph


From Friday’s Superbike Qualifying Session:

1. Kurtis Roberts, Honda RC51, 184 mph
2. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, 183 mph
3. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 183 mph
4. Doug Chandler, Ducati 998RS, 182 mph
5. Pascal Picotte, Ducati 998RS, 181 mph
6. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 181 mph
7. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R750, 178 mph
8. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 178 mph
9. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R750, 176 mph
10. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki GSX-R750, 170 mph
11. Pedro Valiente, Suzuki GSX-R750, 170 mph
12. Michael Barnes, Suzuki GSX-R750, 169 mph
13. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R750, 169 mph
14. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSX-R750, 169 mph
15. Ty Howard, Suzuki GSX-R750, 169 mph
16. Brian Livengood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 169 mph
17. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R750, 168 mph
18. Andy Deatherage, Suzuki GSX-R750, 168 mph
19. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, 168 mph
20. Jason DiSalvo, Suzuki GSX-R750, 168 mph
21. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 166 mph
22. Robert Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, 166 mph
23. Scott Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, 166 mph
24. Shawn Conrad, Suzuki GSX-R750, 165 mph
25. Shane Clarke, Suzuki GSX-R750, 165 mph
26. Randall Mennenga, Suzuki GSX-R750, 165 mph
27. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 165 mph
28. Justin Blake, Suzuki GSX-R750, 165 mph
29. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 164 mph


From Friday Afternoon Supersport Practice:

1. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 161 mph
2. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 160 mph
3. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600F4i, 159 mph
4. Andrew Nelson, Honda CBR600F4i, 159 mph
5. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R600, 158 mph
6. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 158 mph
7. Michael Hannas, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 157 mph
8. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R6, 156 mph
9. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR600F4i, 156 mph
10. Mike Hale, Honda CBR600F4i, 156 mph
11. Jimmy Filice, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 155 mph
12. Tom Kipp, Suzuki GSX-R600, 154 mph

From Saturday morning Formula Xtreme practice:

1. Ben Spies, 183.8 mph
2. Tom Kipp, 183.7 mph
3. Marty Craggill, 183.4 mph
4. Mike Hale, 182.7 mph
5. Jason Pridmore, 182.1 mph
6. Josh Hayes, 181.6
7. Damon Buckmaster, 181.1 mph
8. Adam Fergusson, 181.1 mph
9. Jake Zemke, 179.7 mph
10. Steve Rapp, 179.7 mph
11. Lance Isaacs, 176.6 mph
12. Jason Curtis, 170.4 mph

From Saturday’s Superstock practice session:

1. Chris Ulrich, 168.3 mph
2. Jimmy Moore, 167.2 mph
3. Adam Fergusson, 167.1 mph
4. Craig Connell, 166.7 mph
5. Lee Acree, 166.4 mph
6. Brian Livengood, 163.7 mph
7. Chris Caylor, 159.3 mph

From a press release:

The Swiss Wet-Motos World Superbike Team will field French rider Bertrand Stey and American Mark Miller on Dunlop equipped HRC RC51s for the Laguna Seca round of the World Superbike Championships. The Honda satellite team will be title sponsored by U.S. company Wood-Ease Hand Cleaner for the July event.

As an official SBK replacement rider, Miller will not have to compete for a US wildcard slot.

“This will be a one-off ride for me,” says the former Erion Honda rider. “I am looking forward to the weekend and welcome the opportunity to compete on a proper superbike.”

From a press release issued by Radar’s Team Yamaha:

2002 Yamaha Xtreme Tri-State
Event 4, Queensland Raceway, Queensland
Race report

CURTAIN ON THE BOIL AT QUEENSLAND RACEWAY

Three times Formula Xtreme champion Kevin Curtain proved to be the man to beat at the fourth round of the 2002 Yamaha Xtreme Tri-State held at Queensland Raceway on June 29 & 30.

The Radar’s Team Yamaha rider was on a mission in both the Formula Xtreme and Supersport classes, taking out three race wins in Formula Xtreme and two in Supersport.

His pace in each class was such that he left the circuit with new lap records in each class. More importantly it moved the Newcastle rider to the top of the points table in each category. With a total of 316 points, Curtain now leads teammate and defending champion Robbie Baird by 46 points with two rounds (eight races) remaining.

Curtain took victory in races one, two and four, but was given a 20-second penalty for jumping the start in race three, which dropped him back to tenth overall, even though he was the first rider past the chequered flag.

“It was definitely a great result out there today,” said Curtain. “The Dunlop tyres were just perfect out there, with the front being especially good. I’m just feeling so good at the moment. Having a good crew around you such as the Radar’s Team Yamaha boys is a great advantage. We have a very good understanding at the moment which makes it a lot better when you are trying to relate information to them about the bike and that it gets changed to how you really want it. With the exception of the jump start problem in race three, the Yamaha YZF R1 was just perfect out there today.”

After qualifying second fastest to Curtain in Formula Xtreme, Baird’s day got off to a poor start when he crashed during the morning warm up session and injured his right wrist. The resulting damage to his number one bike meant that he had to revert to the team’s spare bike until his was repaired. The Queenslander finished the day with a sixth, fifth, crash, sixth from the four 8-lap races. The race three crash occurred at turn three on the final lap of the race as he outbraked Josh Brookes with the two making contact and going down.

“We came here with a lot of good intentions, but left with very little to show for it,” said Baird. “Qualifying was good, but the crash during the warm up definitely ruled us out of contention today. My wrist is very sore and it was affecting how hard I could get onto the front brakes. I lost a few points to Kevin today, but there is still time to get ground back on him.”

The weekend proved to be a equally frustrating for Craig Coxhell on the third Radar’s Team Yamaha YZF R1, but the Victorian teenager was rewarded for his perseverance with a win in the third Formula Xtreme race. The victory came alongside a ninth in race one, sixth in race two and a fifth in the final.

“The win was definitely the highlight of what was a very frustrating weekend for me,” said Coxhell. “Our problems started in qualifying when we lost a lot of time when my number one bike developed an engine problem and I had to switch to the spare. This meant that we were basically chasing a suitable suspension set up for the rest of the weekend and we were even trying things right through to the last race. It’s been hard, but I really do need to thank the guys in the team for putting in such a strong effort to get me out there for each race.”

Curtain was in the thick of the action in the Supersport class and was a standout in today’s two 6-lap sprints aboard his Yamaha YZF R6. His two wins today plus his second and third from yesterday have him holding a commanding lead in the Supersport series with a total of 345 points, well clear of Jamie Stauffer (Bio Magnetics Sport Yamaha) who has 222.

“Every day that we’ve been here we have been able to make progress,” said Curtain. “I have been getting more confident with the bike and the circuit all weekend. On Friday the bike felt terrible across the bumps, especially at turns one and two, but today it’s that good that I can’t even feel them. The speed of the new YZF R6 showed as I was able to break the Supersport lap record on four separate occasions today. That just about says it all.”

The 2002 Yamaha Xtreme Tri-State heads to Sydney’s Oran Park Raceway for round five of the series on August 17 & 18.

2002 Yamaha Xtreme Tri-State – RESULTS

FORMULA XTREME

Race 1 / 8 laps
1. Kevin CURTAIN / Radar’s Team Yamaha / Yamaha YZF-R1, 9:35.5970 mins

2. Daniel STAUFFER / Bio Magnetic Sport Yamaha / Yamaha YZF-R1, 9:38.3723

3. Josh BROOKES / Team Honda / Honda CBR954RR, 9:43.8351

4. Jamie STAUFFER / Bio Magnetic Sport Yamaha / Yamaha YZF-R1, 9:44.2834

5. Craig McMARTIN / Ducati 996R, 9:46.1549

6. Robbie BAIRD / Radar’s Team Yamaha / Yamaha YZF-R1, 9:47.1998

7. Robert BUGDEN / Gold Coast Suzuki / Suzuki GSX-R1000, 9:47.3282

8. Tony REES / Bikebiz Yamaha / Yamaha YZF-R1,
9:48.1537

9. Craig COXHELL / Radar’s Team Yamaha / Yamaha YZF-R1, 9:48.5664

10. Kurt PERCY / Yamaha YZF-R1, 9:51.8512

Fastest Lap: Kevin Curtain (Yamaha) 1:10.9020 on lap 3


Race 2 / 8 laps
1. Kevin CURTAIN / Radar’s Team Yamaha / Yamaha YZF-R1, 9:32.8835 mins

2. Daniel STAUFFER / Bio Magnetic Sport Yamaha / Yamaha YZF-R1, 9:35.8490

3. Josh BROOKES / Team Honda / Honda CBR954RR, 9:39.6901

4. Jamie STAUFFER / Bio Magnetic Sport Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1 9:39.7475

5. Robbie BAIRD / Radar’s Team Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1 9:39.9914

6. Craig COXHELL / Radar’s Team Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1 9:43.4795

7. Robert BUGDEN / Gold Coast Suzuki / Suzuki GSX-R1000 9:47.2910

8. Kurt PERCY / Yamaha YZF R1 9:48.6227

9. Nicholas BARTON (Frankston Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1 9:49.8999

10. Steven CUTTING / Suzuki GSX-R1000 9:57.5947

Fastest Lap: Kevin Curtain (Yamaha) 1:10.4643 on lap 4 (New Lap Record)


Race 3 / 8 laps
1. Craig COXHELL / Radar’s Team Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1 9:42.4323

2. Robert BUGDEN / Gold Coast Suzuki / Suzuki GSX-R1000 9:45.5230

3. Jamie STAUFFER / Bio Magnetic Sport Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1 9:45.6517

4. Nicholas BARTON (Frankston Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1 9:46.7490

5. Tony REES / Bikebiz Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1
9:47.4576

6. Jay TAYLOR / Redwing Honda / Honda CBR954RR
9:53.5343

7. Steven CUTTING / Suzuki GSX-R1000 9:54.9425

8. Kurt PERCY / Yamaha YZF R1 9:55.1701

9. Roland KRUCK / Doin Bikes / Yamaha YZF R1
9:55.5729

10. Kevin CURTAIN / Radar’s Team Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1 9:56.3943

Fastest Lap: Kevin Curtain (Yamaha) 1:10.8694 on lap 3


Race 4 / 8 laps
1. Kevin CURTAIN / Radar’s Team Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1 9:34.5489

2. Daniel STAUFFER / Bio Magnetic Sport Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1 9:37.3172

3. Josh BROOKES / Team Honda / Honda CBR954RR
9:39.0616

4. Jamie STAUFFER / Bio Magnetic Sport Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1 9:39.1601

5. Craig COXHELL / Radar’s Team Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1 9:41.2147

5. Robbie BAIRD / Radar’s Team Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1 9:43.4763

7. Robert BUGDEN / Gold Coast Suzuki / Suzuki GSX-R1000 9:44.5907

8. Kurt PERCY / Yamaha YZF R1 9:44.8372

5. Tony REES / Bikebiz Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1
9:46.5388

10. Nicholas BARTON (Frankston Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1 9:48.8396
Fastest Lap: Kevin Curtain (Yamaha) 1:10.6815 on lap 4


Yamaha Formula Xtreme, points after 4 of 6 rounds (Provisional)

1, K Curtain 316; 3. R Baird 290; 3, J Stauffer 198; 4, C Coxhell 190; 5, D Stauffer 189;
6, J Brookes 163; 7. T Rees 124; 8. R Bugden 101; 9. C McMartin 82; 10. N Henderson 67.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sunday Morning AMA Superbike Practice Times:

1. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, 1:37.114
2. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:37.130
3. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 1:37.762
4. Kurtis Roberts, Honda RC51, 1:37.810
5. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:37.981
6. Doug Chandler, Ducati 998RS, 1:38.282
7. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:38.414
8. Jason DiSalvo, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:41.929
9. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:42.430
10. Robert Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:42.597
11. Brian Livengood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:42.970
12. Michael Barnes, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:43.127
13. Ty Howard, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:43.158
14. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:43.188
15. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:44.018
16. Shawn Conrad, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:44.049
17. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:44.078
18. Greg Fryer, Yamaha YZF-R7, 1:44.091
19. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:44.166
20. Pascal Picotte, Ducati 998RS, 1:44.337
21. John Dugan, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:44.556
22. Rich Conicelli, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:44.565
23. Robert Christman, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:44.598
24. Shane Clarke, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:44.633
25. Randall Mennenga, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:44.747
26. Dean Mizdal, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:44.749
27. Christopher Rankin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:44.916
28. Giovanni Rojas, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:45.071
29. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:45.112
30. Pedro Valiente, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:45.265
31. Justin Blake, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:46.069
32. Steve Johnson, Aprilia RSV1000R, 1:46.449
33. Scott Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:46.645
34. Mike Luke, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:46.715
35. DR. Jeff Purk, DDS, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:47.932
36. Eric Haugo, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:48.284
37. James Doerfler, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:48.464
38. Eric Dooyema, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:48.776
39. Roger Hendricks, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:50.506
40. Jacob Holden, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:51.034

Team Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki’s Jamie Hacking pulled off-course with mechanical problems during the Sunday morning Superbike practice session.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Pro Thunder Results:

1. Kirk McCarthy, Ducati 748RS, 13 laps
2. Mike Ciccotto, Buell Firebolt XB9R, -10.707 seconds
3. Thomas Montano, Ducati 748R, -14.291 seconds
4. David Estok, Buell Firebolt XB9R, -40.337 seconds
5. Reagan Jobe, Ducati 748, -57.364 seconds
6. Josh Bryan, Ducati 748, -65.119 seconds
7. Clark Freatman, Ducati 748, -66.995 seconds
8. Charlie Hewett, Ducati 748, -87.941 seconds
9. Jessica Zalusky, Ducati 748, -107.297 seconds
10. Brett Donahue, Yamaha/Rotax, -1 lap
11. Alex Freeman, Suzuki SV650, -1 lap
12. Tripp Nobles, Buell X-1, -6 laps, DNF, mechanical
13. Regan Jobe, Ducati 748, -13 laps, DNF
14. Charles Sipp, Buell 1200, -13 laps, DNF
15. Michael Handegard, Suzuki SV650, -13 laps, DNF

Provisional Point Pro Thunder Standings:

1. McCarthy, 151 points
2. Ciccotto, 122 points
3. Montano, 102 points
4. Bryan, 97 points
5. Freatman, 87 points
6. Estok, 82 points
7. Hewett, 70 points
8. Small, 68 points
9. Zalusky, 60 points
10. Nobles, 56 points

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Supersport Results:

1. Jake Zemke, Honda, 13 laps
2. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, -0.243 second
3. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, -4.733 seconds
4. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, -5.004 seconds
5. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, -5.100 seconds
6. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, -5.408 seconds
7. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda, -6.231 seconds
8. Ben Spies, Suzuki, -9.550 seconds
9. Tom Kipp, Suzuki, -16.107 seconds
10. Mike Hale, Honda, -25.709 seconds
11. Ty Howard, Suzuki, -26.177 seconds
12. Andrew Nelson, Honda, -32.911 seconds
13. Jimmy Filice, Kawasaki, -51.157 seconds
14. Jason Hobbs, Suzuki, -53.832 seconds
15. Tyler Wadsworth, Yamaha, -53.899 seconds
16. Michael Hannas, Kawasaki, -54.058 seconds
17. Scott Ruehle, Yamaha, -54.558 seconds
18. David Wappler, Honda
19. Sean Mowry, Yamaha
20. Kevin Pate, Suzuki
21. Kevin Lehman, Honda
22. Matt Prentice, Yamaha
23. Justin Blake, Suzuki
24. Hector Romero, Yamaha
25. Tim Mitchell, Suzuki
26. Martin Sims, Suzuki
27. Jessica Zalusky, Yamaha
28. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, -9 laps, DNF, crash
29.

Kawasaki’s young gun Tony Meiring held a two-second lead on lap four when he crashed unhurt in turn eight. From that point, Zemke and Tommy Hayden dueled all the way to the finish line.

Provisional AMA Supersport Point Standings:

1. Yates, 234 points
2. Tommy Hayden, 183 points
3. TIE, Buckmaster/Pridmore, 168 points
5. Kipp, 160 points
6. Hale, 156 points
7. Hacking, 155 points
8. Zemke, 148 points
9. Spies, 145 points
10. Roger Lee Hayden, 139 points
11. Tony Meiring, 138 points
12. Howard, 117 points
13. Alex Gobert, 86 points
14. Filice, 84 points
15. Wadsworth, 77 points
16. Anthony Gobert, 66 points
17. TIE, Nelson/Pate, 56 points
19. Jimmy Moore, 51 points
20. Blake, 43 points

Note: After the race, AMA officials tore down the primary racebikes and the spare racebikes of the first four riders. At post time, the results of that teardown were not available.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sunday Morning AMA 250cc Grand Prix Practice Times:

1. Rich Oliver, Yamaha, 1:42.438
2. Chuck Sorensen, Aprilia, 1:43.135
3. Simon Turner, Yamaha, 1:43.879
4. Jason DiSalvo, Honda, 1:44.283
5. Chris Pyles, Yamaha, 1:46.015
6. Perry Melneciuc, Yamaha, 1:46.822
7. Ed Sorbo, Yamaha, 1:47.251
8. Colin Jensen, Aprilia, 1:48.136
9. John Williams, Yamaha, 1:49.584
10. John France, Honda, 1:49.658
11. Glen Christianson, Yamaha, 1:51.501
12. Ty Piz, Yamaha, 1:52.386
13. Jeff Japs, Yamaha, 1:52.777
14. Mark Dargis, Yamaha, 1:53.204
15. Mark Vanderwerf, Yamaha, 1:53.368
16. Stephen Bowline, Honda, 1:53.885
17. Darren Fulce, Yamaha, 1:54.727
18. Jamie Worthington, Aprilia, 1:55.433
19. Andy Edwards, Yamaha, 1:58.110

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Superbike Results:

1. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, 21 laps
2. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -0.188 second
3. Doug Chandler, Ducati 998RS, -9.599 seconds
4. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, -10.058 seconds
5. Kurtis Roberts, Honda RC51, -14.799 seconds
6. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R750, -44.430 seconds
7. Pascal Picotte, Ducati 998RS, -65.960 seconds
8. Robert Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, -97.130 seconds
9. Jason DiSalvo, Suzuki GSX-R750, -98.866 seconds
10. Brian Livengood, Suzuki GSX-R750, -99.366 seconds
11. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSX-R750, -110.263 seconds
12. Ty Howard, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
13. Michael Barnes, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
14. Christopher Rankin, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
15. John Haner, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
16. John Dugan, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
17. Andrew Deatherage, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
18. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
19. Rich Conicelli, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
20. Greg Fryer, Yamaha YZF-R7, -1 lap

35. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R750, DNF, mechanical

37. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R750, DNF, mechanical

Provisional AMA Superbike Point Standings:

1. Hayden, 349 points
2. Bostrom, 307 points
3. Duhamel, 272 points
4. Yates, 260 points
5. Picotte, 252 points
6. Parriott, 212 points
7. Hacking, 208 points
8. Mladin, 207 points
9. Livengood, 201 points
10. Chandler, 180 points

Sunday’s win at Brainerd is Nicky Hayden’s seventh AMA Superbike win of the season and the 15th of his career. With the win, Hayden passes Mat Mladin on the all-time AMA Superbike win list and moves into a tie for fourth with Freddie Spencer.

Second place at Brainerd gives Eric Bostrom his seventh podium finish of the 2002 season.

Third place marks Doug Chandler’s first AMA Superbike podium finish since Pikes Peak in 2001. Chandler’s finish also gives Ducati its first AMA Superbike podium finish since Steve Rapp finished third at Willow Springs International Raceway in 2000.

More, from Mat Mladin’s publicist:

MAT MLADIN Racing – MEDIA INFORMATION
For immediate release
Sunday, 30 June 2002

Round 11, 2002 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship
Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minnesota, USA
Race report

ENGINE PROBLEMS FORCE MLADIN OUT OF BRAINERD SUPERBIKE RACE

Brainerd, Minnesota, USA (30 June) – After a promising start to the weekend, defending American Superbike champion Mat Mladin was forced out of today’s eleventh round of the AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship at Brainerd International Raceway with engine problems.

After qualifying third fastest for today’s 21-lap event, Mladin had been involved in a four-way battle for third place on the track when his Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R750 began to develop engine problems and slow. Mladin was lying in fifth position on the track just behind Miguel DuHamel (American Honda) and Kurtis Roberts (Erion Honda) and in front of Doug Chandler (HMC Ducati) when he was forced to retire from the race on lap eleven while holding fifth place on the track.

Today’s result was another edition to what has been a very frustrating year for the Australian who now slips to eighth position on the championship points table.

“It’s an internal problem with the engine and at the moment I’m not sure what it is,” said Mladin. “I just rode it back to the pits and parked it. It felt as though something was wrong with the bike while we were sitting on the start line before the race started. It wasn’t running right and I guess we had the problem straight away. After that it lasted about three or four laps into the race before it began to slow and from that point I was basically just waiting to see how long it would finally last. I’m not sure if it had the same problem as happened to us yesterday in qualifying, we’ll find out later when we get it back to the shop.

“It has been hard for us all weekend,” added Mladin. “We did very well to put the Suzuki GSX-R750 into third place on the grid after qualifying, but we were struggling a lot with top end speed. This place is so fast that you can’t afford to give away top end speed like that and we paid the price for it.”

With Mladin out of contention, the race developed into a battle between main championship rivals Nicky Hayden (American Honda) and Eric Bostrom (Team Kawasaki). Bostrom led for much of the race, but it was Hayden who crossed the line first to take the win. Chandler got the better of the other two Hondas to grab third from DuHamel and Roberts.

Today’s win sees Hayden further extend his lead in the championship to 42-points over Bostrom with five races remaining in this year’s championship.

The AMA Championship heads to Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, California in two weeks time (July 13 – 14) where they will be joined by the Superbike World Championship competitors in a double header round of superbike action. The AMA Superbike Championship race will be run on Saturday, with the two SWC races held on Sunday.

More, from HMC Ducati’s publicist:

Chandler scores first Superbike podium for HMC

The HMC Ducati team today celebrated their first AMA Superbike podium when their rider Doug Chandler finished in third place at Brainerd International Raceway. Chandler rode a strong steady race, running with the top five until it was safe to make his move. He passed both Miguel Duhamel and Eric Roberts with five laps to go and maintained that advantage to the checkered flag.

It was a well earned result for the factory supported team who, despite a good start with Chandler, have suffered a string of bad luck missing three races in round four and five, which severely damaged their points standing. But the HMC team have never waived in their faith for Chandler and the Californian rewarded them with a brilliant race today.

“It was a great race and I’m happy for the team,” said Chandler before mounting the rostrum. “I messed up the start and got pushed back some but I put my head down, determined not to let those guys get away. I was so focused on trying to hang with the lead guys that I almost wore myself out before mid distance and I knew I’d be junk if I kept it up. So I dropped off the pace slightly and fell into my own rhythm and with that just started picking guys off.

“Nicky (Hayden) and Eric (Bostrom) had a fair lead but I thought if I stayed close enough I had a good shot with Miguel and Kurtis. And that’s what I did! A couple of laps to go Miguel looked like he was dropping so I put my head down, put a couple of good laps in and in the end we got away.

“The team gave it their all this weekend. The bike was working the best it had all weekend and the turns I was struggling in during practice – turns one and two – I was really holding my own in [during the race]. Especially turn two; where I thought we were as good as anyone, if not better. That’s where I got both Miguel and Kurtis.

“This is a long time coming for sure.”