Times from Pro Thunder Friday afternoon practice at Virginia International Raceway:

1. Mike Ciccotto, Buell, 1:31.429
2. Tripp Nobles, Buell, 1:32.861
3. Dave Estok, Buell, 1:32.998
4. Tom Montano, Ducati, 1:33.484
5. Jeff Nash, Ducati, 1:33.744
6. Dr. Dave Kieffer, MD, Ducati, 1:38.172
7. Steve Keener, Suzuki, 1:39.157
8. Tom Fournier, Ducati, 1:40.709
9. Michael Dube, Ducati, 1:41.737
10. Charles Walker, Ducati, 1:43.160
11. Paul March, Ducati, 1:50.859
12. Mark Gardiner, MuZ, 1:52.678
13. Josh Bryan, Buell, 1:52.891
14. Deborah Venega, Ducati, 1:52.993

Times from Pro Thunder Friday morning practice at Virginia International Raceway:

1. Ciccotto, 1:31.897
2. Nobles, 1:33.834
3. Estok, 1:34.236
4. Montano, 1:38.470
5. Keener, 1:39.908
6. Kieffer, 1:1.167
7. Dube, 1:42.186
8. Walker, 1:43.870
9. Fournier, 1:46.489
10. Bryan, 1:51.756
11. Venega, 1:53.821
12. Gardiner, 1:54.777

Friday Afternoon 600cc Supersport Practice Times:
1. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha, 1:29.003
2. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:29.147
3. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:29.180
4. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:29.392
5. Kurtis Roberts, Honda, 1:29.438
6. John Hopkins, Suzuki, 1:29.527
7. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha, 1:29.550
8. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, 1:30.221
9. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, 1:30.281
10. Josh Hayes, Honda, 1:30.398
11. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda, 1:30.658
12. Chris Caylor, Suzuki, 1:30.686
13. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:30.834
14. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, 1:31.322
15. Jake Zemke, Honda, 1:31.703


Friday Morning 600cc Supersport Practice Times:
1. Anthony Gobert, 1:29.390
2. Hacking, 1:30.012
3. Yates, 1:30.084
4. Bostrom, 1:30.315
5. Hopkins, 1:30.364
6. Duhamel, 1:30.531
7. Roger Hayden, 1:30.707
8. Caylor, 1:30.788
9. Acree, 1:30.831
10. Aaron Gobert, 1:30.843
11. Hayden, 1:31.116
12. Pridmore, 1:31.422
13. Roberts, 1:31.521
14. Zemke, 1:31.768
15. Jimmy Moore, 1:31.781
16. Grant Lopez, 1:31.868
17. Hayes, 1:31.965
18. Vince Haskovec, 1:32.310
19. Robert Jensen, 1:34.568
20. Charles Neighoff, 1:34.841
21. Daigoro Suzuki, 1:35.255
22. Tyler Wadsworth, 1:35.570
23. Mark Simon, 1:36.794
24. David Ortega, 1:36.885
25. Justin Blake, 1:37.867
26. Scott Vanscoik, 1:38.948
27. Frank Wiot, 1:39.229
28. Kevin Lehman, 1:39.461
29. Kurt Marmor, 1:41.036
30. Caesar Gonsales, 1:41.172
31. John Trautmann, 1:41.478
32. Mitch Baghdoian, 1:42.421
33. Pedro Valiente, 1:50.908

Friday Afternoon 750cc Supersport Practice Times:
1. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:29.174
2. Ben Spies, 1:29.350
3. John Hopkins, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:29.503
4. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:29.559
5. Mike Ciccotto, 1:29.615
6. Lee Acree, 1:30.418
7. Kurtis Roberts, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:30.515
8. Chris Ulrich, 1:30.533
9. Josh Hayes, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:30.573
10. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:30.761
11. Michael Barnes, 1:30.769
12. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:30.864
13. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:30.865
14. Robert Jensen, 1:31.224
15. Scott Harwell, 1:31.322
16. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:31.453
17. Rich Conicelli, 1:31.490
18. Mauro Cereda, 1:31.839
19. Richie Alexander, 1:32.138
20. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:32.228
21. Tony Meiring, 1:32.317
22. Steve Grigg, 1:32.715
23. Tyler Wadsworth, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:34.518
24. Daigoro Suzuki, 1:34.684
25. Andy Caldwell, 1:34.812
26. Chris Rankin, 1:34.890
27. Justin Blake, 1:34.960
28. David Ortega, 1:34.972
29. Billy Etheridge, 1:35.046
30. Mark Simon, 1:35.426
31. Jamie Thompson, 1:35.490
32. John McGarity, 1:35.669
33. Jeremy Barker, 1:38.676
34. Mitch Baghdoian, 1:39.081
35. Scott Vanscoik, 1:40.417

All riders on Suzuki GSX-R750 unless noted.


Friday Morning 750cc Supersport Practice:
1. Spies, 1:29.518
2. Bostrom, 1:29.829
3. Ciccotto, 1:30.246
4. Tommy Hayden, 1:30.516
5. Pridmore, 1:30.550
6. Ulrich, 1:30.616
7. Hayes, 1:30.863
8. Acree, 1:31.058
9. Moore, 1:31.212
10. Harwell, 1:31.227
11. Zemke, 1:31.391
12. Barnes, 1:31.666
13. Roger Hayden, 1:31.906
14. Jensen, 1:32.159
15. Steve Grigg, 1:32.248
16. Haskovec, 1:32.281
17. Lupo, 1:33.026
18. Meiring, 1:33.203
19. Caldwell, 1:33.771
20. Alexander, 1:33.986
21. Etheridge, 1:34.287
22. Ortega, 1:34.314
23. McGarity, 1:35.612
24. Blake, 1:35.621
25. Thompson, 1:36.239
26. Simon, 1:36.617
27. Kurt Marmor, 1:37.366
28. Vanscoik, 1:37.871
29. Baghdoian, 1:39.027
30. Barker, 1:39.625
31. Suzuki, 1:54.097

Times from Friday afternoon’s first AMA Superbike qualifying session:

1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, 1:25.689
2. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 1:26.075
3. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha, 1:26.197
4. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:26.613
5. Kurtis Roberts, Honda, 1:26.625
6. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha, 1:26.667
7 Doug Chandler, Kawasaki, 1:26.841
8. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:26
9. Steve Rapp, Ducati, 1:26.897
10. Larry Pegram, Ducati, 1:27.110
11. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:27.112
12. Andreas Meklau, Ducati, 1:27.148
13. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, 1:27.239
14. Mike Smith, Harley-Davidson, 1:28.840
15. Pascal Picotte, Harley-Davidson, 1:28.146
16. Jordan Szoke, Harley-Davidson, 1:28.756
17. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:29.657*
18. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:29.849*
19. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki, 1:30.197*
20. Mauro Cereda, Suzuki, 1:30.749*
21. Robert Jensen, Suzuki, 1:30.843*
22. Rich Conicelli, Suzuki, 1:30.869*
23. Vince Haskovec, Suzuki, 1:31.181*
24. Tony Lupo, Suzuki, 1:31.299
25. Wade Buffington, Suzuki, 1:31.538*
26. Andy Deatherage, Suzuki, 1:31.561
27. Scott Carpenter, Suzuki, 1:32.537
28. Rich Alexander, Suzuki, 1:32.790
29. Tony Meiring, Suzuki, 1:32.888*
30. Tony Fania, Suzuki, 1:32.954*
31. Greg Fryer, Yamaha, 1:32.957
32. Chris Normand, Suzuki, 1:33.042
33. Dean Mizdal, Suzuki, 1:34.207
34. Mike Fitzpatrick, Suzuki, 1:34.869*
35. Brandon Bashore, Aprilia, 1:35.552
36. Scotty Vanscoik, Suzuki, 1:36.289*


* = rider on 750cc Supersport bike

36 riders are entered in the Superbike race.

Maldin said he had to get out of the throttle exiting the last corner on his flying lap after he pushed wide and off the track, and so thinks a 1:25.5 or 1:25.2 will be possible in final qualifying tomorrow.

A press release from Eric Bostrom’s manager, Norm “Lawdog” Viano, detailing Bostrom’s view of the final round of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Series:

ERIC BOSTROM HEADS TO VIRGINIA

Atlanta, GA. Eric Bostrom heads into the last round of the AMA Superbike Championship this weekend, at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), feeling confident and anxious to hit the track. Often regarded as one of the most fit athletes in the paddock, Eric used the long break (caused by the Willow Springs cancellation) to resume his heavy regimen of cross-training. “I’ve been doing a lot of mountain biking, surfing, and rock climbing with my cousin Jeff and also with Mike (Ciccotto). I’m ready to go! A month off the bike is a long time. And always being really motivated to ride, it feels like it’s been an eternity to me since we’ve raced, so I’m excited to get back on the bike and put on a good show for the new Virginia fans.”

Eric comes to Virginia leading the Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport Championship over Miguel Duhamel by 31 points, and trailing leader Mat Mladin in the Superbike Championship by 15 points. Since he is leading one championship and trailing in the other, he will implement a dual strategy this weekend. “In the 600 race, we’re going to have to run a calculated race. Obviously when I go out I want to win, but this weekend I’m going to take it as it comes and do what’s in the best interest of Kawasaki and my Championship-title chase. For the Superbike race, I’m just going to go out and win. I’m expecting tough competition from the usual guys, particularly Nick (Nicky Hayden) because he’s been ON the last few races. Also Doug (Chandler), because he’s been fast at the previous VIR tests. Gobert should go well at this track too, since it’s more of a European-style track. But basically, it’s all the normal guys. I don’t think about just one guy, I go out there and try to beat all of them!” And the fact that this race will be only the second race in the 2001 AMA Superbike Championship that will require a pit stop doesn’t affect his attitude one bit. “I’m always game to ride some extra laps.”

As a small gesture of compassion for those affected by the tragedy that hit the United States (and the World) on September 11th, Eric will donate all of his potential VIR race winnings to the Red Cross (1-800-HELP-NOW).


And now another press release from Viano, with Mike Ciccotto’s view (Ciccotto is also represented by Viano):

MIKE CICCOTTO TO VIR

Atlanta, GA. Mike Ciccotto arrived in Virginia today to stamp his name on the final AMA round at Virginia International Raceway (VIR). While the Floridian normally only runs the AMA series in Pro Thunder with his Hal’s Performance Advantage Buell, Mike has asked that his Hooters Suzuki Team (which normally only runs the Formula USA series) attend VIR so he can race in the 750cc Supersport class, as well. The last two events that Ciccotto has raced in the 750 Supersport class have been extremely successful – he won both convincingly (Road Atlanta and Loudon, this season). So he’s understandably feeling confident about his chances this weekend. “I feel stronger than ever, stronger than I started the season, for sure. I’m amped up to go out there and show ’em what I got.

“I definitely want to be fast right out of the box, but at the same time, me and Manny (Otman, his Hooters mechanic) have our little routine when we get there and – going fast out of the box is good – but if you don’t get going any faster as the weekend progresses, it kind of hurts you, so we’re going to go out there and put in our laps. The times will come. I’m going to ride the racetrack and not worry about anyone else and I’m sure that’ll put us up front.

“On the Buell, I want to put it out front like I did at Sears Point (where he started at the back of the pack and ended up catching and passing the ENTIRE field before winning the race). I haven’t been able to ride like I did at Sears since then due to some mechanicals and the wrist injury I had, but I want to go out there this weekend and dominate that class like we did in the beginning of the year. Especially because my wrist is back to about 90-95 percent. It doesn’t bother me much racing anymore. In fact, in Portland, I won the 2nd Superbike leg on it (before being DQ for being slightly over HP), so I’ll have no excuse. I mean, the wrist might bug me a little bit but I was able to win races since I hurt the wrist, so there is no reason it should prevent me from winning both classes this weekend.”

Like many Americans, Mike is anxious to resume living after the September 11th tragedy. “After Portland, I flew to California to race at Willow the following weekend. The next day is when the tragedy hit. Willow Springs was cancelled, so I just stayed out there (in CA) to train with Eric (Bostrom) for about a week. We trained pretty hard and had a lot of fun rock climbing, surfing, and mountain biking. I’m bummed that Willow was cancelled, but we didn’t lose anything compared to them (the families of victims)”.

Rich Oliver was fastest in 250cc Grand Prix practice at VIR Friday, recording his fastest time in the first of two sessions.

Chuck Sorensen was fastest in the second session ahead of Oliver and Jimmy Filice; Filice crashed late in the session in turn one, when his Corbin Yamaha seized. Filice declined treatment at the track medical center but was later complaining of neck pain, nausea and dizziness and was taken to the local hospital by his father, to get precautionary X-rays.

Times from Friday morning practice:
1. Rich Oliver, Yamaha, 1:29.778
2. Simon Turner, Yamaha, 1:30.586
3. Chuck Sorensen, Yamaha, 1:31.116
4. Randy Renfrow, Honda, 1:31.318
5. Jim Filice, Yamaha, 1:31.554
6. Mike Himmelsbach, Aprilia, 1:33.567
7. Monty Warsing, Yamaha, 1:34. 182
8. Ed Sorbo, Yamaha, 1:34.244
9. Bill Himmelsbach, Yamaha, 1:34.511
10. Cory West, Yamaha, 1:34.590
11. Perry Melneciuc, Yamaha, 1:34.780
12. Chris Pyles, Yamaha, 1:35.457
13. Ty Piz, Yamaha, 1:35.933
14. Greg Esser, Honda, 1:36.115
15. Mike Hannas, Yamaha, 1:36.388
16. Shane Breeding, Honda, 1:36.951
17. John France, Honda, 1:38.497
18. Eric Stephens, Honda, 1:38.974
19. Ed Marchini, Yamaha, 1:39.480
20. Jim Bonner, Yamaha, 1:40.233
21. Alain Brault, Yamaha, 1:40.686
22. Sean Wray, Yamaha, 1:41.222
23. Mike DeBlanco, Yamaha, 1:47.903
24. Jim Worthington, Aprilia, 1:48.088
25. Chris Holske, Yamaha, 1:48.595
26. Glen Christianson, Yamaha, 1:50.476


Times from Friday afternoon practice:
1. Sorensen, Yamaha, 1:29.876
2. Oliver, 1:30.241
3. Filice, 1:31.071
4. Mike Himmelsbach, 1:31.487
5. Turner, 1:31.523
6. Renfrow, 1:31.675
7. Melneciuc, 1:33.379
8. Sorbo, 1:35.548
9. Hannas, 1:33.598
10. Pyles, 1:34.610
11. West, 1:34.737
12. Bill Himmelsbach, 1:34.843
13. Warsing, 1:35.449
14. Esser, 1:35.800
15. Breeding, 1:36.852
16. Piz, 1:37.318
17. Brault, 1:37.607
18. France, 1:38.278
19. Bonner, 1:39.467
20. Stephens, 1:40.759
21. Wray, 1:41.885
22. Worthington, 1:43.265
23. Holske, 1:44.687
24. Christianson, 1:46.890
25. Deblanco, 2:09.243

By Glenn Le Santo

Bostrom flies the flag in Imola

Ben Bostrom, sporting the Stars and Stripes on his fairing in memory of the tragic events of September 11th, powered his way into provisional pole in hot and sunny conditions at the historic circuit in Imola, Italy Friday afternoon. The Californian, who struggled at the last round in Holland, was fastest in Friday morning free practice and kept his momentum in the afternoon, holding off a strong challenge from on-form Ruben Xaus. The two factory Ducati riders, who are both confirmed to ride again for the factory team in 2002, jostled for pole in the final minutes of the round. Xaus looked to have clinched it, but then Bostrom dug deep and grabbed back that all-important provisional pole with a time of 1:49.218. Xaus held onto second, lapping at 1:49.369.

Colin Edwards was next in the running, but back a little from the front pair with a best lap of 1:49.681. He had been fastest for much of the session before the two Ducati boys got dialed in and upped the pace by half-a-second. The Castrol Honda team has been to Imola already this year for testing, so at least Edwards knows his way around the circuit, unlike many riders who have never raced here before. The factory Ducati teams have also tested at Imola already, hardly surprising, as it’s only a few kilometers from the Ducati factory, just up the road in Bologna!

Troy Bayliss, who already has the championship in the bag, was fourth-fastest on his silver painted bike and black leathers. The Ducati factory men decided to paint his bike silver to celebrate Paul Smart’s historic victory at Imola 29 years ago-–on a silver Ducati. In 1972 the Italian manufacturer took a sensational 1-2 win in the Imola 200-Mile race with Paul Smart claiming victory on a special twin-cylinder Ducati 750 Imola Desmo bike. The race changed the destiny of Ducati, which redefined its approach to racing and focused its attention almost exclusively on production-based competition machines.

With the title already decided, Sunday’s race promises to be an exciting display of all-out racing. There will be no team orders and many riders will be going to the absolute limit of their machines and abilities to try to retain their team places or impress team owners for new positions in the 2002 season.


Superbike Qualifying Session #1
1. Ben Bostrom, USA, Ducati, 1:49.218
2. Ruben Xaus, Spain, Ducati, 1:49.368
3. Colin Edwards, USA, Honda, 1:49.681
4. Troy Bayliss, Australia, Ducati, 1:49.708
5. Regis Laconi, France, Aprilia, 1:49.755
6. Neil Hodgson, Great Britain, Ducati, 1:50.150
7. Tadayuki Okada, Japan, Honda, 1:50.261
8. Stephane Chambon, France, Suzuki, 1:50.466
9. James Toseland, Great Britain, Ducati, 1:50.501
10. Troy Corser, Australia, Aprilia, 1:50.528
11. Akira Yanagawa, Japan, Kawasaki, 1:50.695
12. Lucio Pedercini, Italy, Ducati, 1:50.745
13. Steve Martin, Australia, Ducati, 1:50.794
14. Juan Batista Borja, Spain, Yamaha, 1:51.277
15. Pierfrancesco Chili, Suzuki, 1:51.438

Supersport Qualifying #1
1. Pere Riba, Honda, 1:54.135
2. Paolo Casolia, Yamaha, 1:54.436
3. Vittoriano Guareschi, Ducati, 1:54.516
4. Fabien Foret, Honda, 1:54.624
5. Piergorgio Bontempi, Yamaha, 1:54.683
6. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Suzuki, 1:54.813
7. Jamie Whitham, Yamaha, 1:54.857
8. Christian Kelner, Yamaha, 1:54.882
9. Vittorio Iannuzzo, Suzuki, 1:54.957
10. Andrew Pitt, Kawasaki, 1:54.968

Attack Racing’s Jason Pridmore qualified fastest in AMA Formula Xtreme Friday at Virginia International Raceway; the race will be held Saturday. Times follow:

1. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, 1:27.073
2. John Hopkins, Suzuki, 1:27.114
3. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, 1:27.400
4. Josh Hayes, Honda, 1:27.421
5. Tom Kipp, Suzuki, 1:27.447
6. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, 1:27.797
7. Grant Lopez, Suzuki, 1:27.847
8. Francis Martin, Suzuki, 1:28.630
9. Roger Hayden, Honda, 1:28.757
10. Jake Zemke, Honda, 1:28.910
11. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki, 1:29.562
12. Mark Miller, Honda, 1:29.683
13. Michael Barnes, Suzuki, 1:29.828
14. Scott Harwell, Suzuki, 1:30.109
15. Steve Grigg, Kawasaki, 1:30.168
16. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki, 1:30.365
17. Tim Bemisderfer, Suzuki, 1:30.650
18. Geoff May, Suzuki, 1:30.977
19. Rich Alexander, Suzuki, 1:31.024
20. Mauro Cereda, Suzuki, 1:31.207
21. Jeff Nash, Ducati, 1:31.794
22. Tom Montano, Ducati, 1:31.930
23. Scott Carpenter, Suzuki, 1:32.920
24. Jamie Thompson, Suzuki, 1:33.607
25. Mike Fitzpatrick, Suzuki, 1:33.609

From a press release:

ARAI TO HOST A “CONSUMER SERVICE PAVILION” WITH LOCAL DEALER AT AMA RACE EVENT THIS WEEKEND AT VIR


(Bethlehem, PA) Arai Helmets is making an unprecedented move to help its consumers this weekend at AMA Pro Racing’s final 2001 event at Virginia International Raceway. The company will host and man a Consumer Service Pavilion in conjunction with Arai retailer Motorcycle Factory, Inc. of Woodbridge, VA.

Arai is a regular presence at pro race events, providing helmet tech service to its many road race, dirt track and MX/off-road racers. This weekend, however, the company is expanding its effort to include street riders who own Arai helmets. Arai technical personnel will be on hand to provide various services like helmet inspections, hard-to-find parts and accessories, answers to questions of fit and features on the entire Arai line, among other things. There will also be a large display of current Arai models, and Motorcycle Factory Inc. will have a large selection of helmets available for purchase.

This new Consumer Service Pavilion will be available to all race fans and consumers attending the event. It will be located in the Vendor area of the infield midway.