Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
AMA Superbike Race Two Results:
1. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, 26 laps
2. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R750, -2.715 seconds
3. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, -3.753
4. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -5.796
5. Pascal Picotte, Ducati 998RS, -34.321
6. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R750, -35.955
7. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R750, -36.121
8. Doug Chandler, Ducati 998RS, -43.832
9. Brian Livengood, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
10. Tom Montano, Ducati 998S, -1 lap
11. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
12. Jeremy Toye, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
13. Ed Milhausen, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
14. Robert Mesa, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
15. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
16. Andy Deatherage, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
17. Doug Pitcock, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
18. Dean Mizdal, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
19. Owen Richey, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
20. Justin Blake, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
21. John Dugan, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
22. James King, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
23. Robert Christman, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
24. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki GSX-R750, -2 laps
25. Rich Conicelli, Suzuki GSX-R750, -2 laps
26. Garry Combs, Suzuki GSX-R750, -2 laps
27. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R750, -2 laps
28. Shawn Reilly, Suzuki GSX-R750, -2 laps
29. James Doerfler, Suzuki GSX-R750, -4 laps
30. Eric Haugo, Suzuki GSX-R750, -7 laps
31. Scott Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, -11 laps
32. Kim Nakashima, Suzuki GSX-R750, -15 laps
33. Robert Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, -16 laps
34. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki GSX-R750, -17 laps
35. Pedro Valiente, Suzuki GSX-R750, -19 laps
36. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R7, -23 laps, DNF, mechanical
37. Mark Foster, Kawasaki ZX-7R, -26 laps, DNF
Unofficial Superbike Point Standings:
1. Hayden, 178 points
2. Gobert, 118 points
3. Yates, 116 points
4. Bostrom, 114 points
5. Hacking, 107 points
6. Picotte, 104 points
7. Mladin, 103 points
8. Livengood, 100 points
9. Chandler, 99 points
10. Andy Deatherage, 92 points
11. Parriott, 86 points
12. Duhamel, 85 points
More, from an American Honda press release:
HONDA RACING NEWS
Hayden Dominates at Sears Point Raceway
American Honda’s Nicky Hayden and Miguel DuHamel dominated the Supercuts AMA Superbike Challenge double-header at Sears Point Raceway in northern California, with Hayden winning both Saturday’s and Sunday’s races, while DuHamel finished second on Saturday, then third on Sunday after a small shifter problem.
The double victory at the twisty track just north of San Francisco fortified Hayden’s already dominant position at the top of the championship charts. After five of 16 rounds of the AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship, the 22-year-old from Kentucky has 178 points, 60 more than second-placed Anthony Gobert of Yamaha.
Of the 52 laps run over the two days, Hayden led 44 of them, from lap nine onward on Saturday and all 26 on Sunday. Once out front, he was untouchable, his margins of victory were almost exactly the same, 2.775 secs. on Saturday, and 2.715 on Sunday.
DuHamel was a steady second over both days until the shifter problem hit with six laps to go on Sunday. The tip of shifter fell off, forcing the French-Canadian to improvise his shifting method. As the checkered flag approached, he was run down and passed by Aaron Yates of Suzuki.
On Saturday DuHamel had a problem only a Honda rider can have. Regulations allow the riders to communicate with their teams during the race. Only Honda uses this technology, which is especially helpful at the longer races, like the Daytona 200, where pit stop strategy and tire wear can be discussed. It’s of less use in a sprint race, but DuHamel and his team still carried on an amiable conversation until the radio wire came unplugged.
Hayden set a new race record average speed of 96.623 mph on Saturday, then raised it to 96.798 mph on Sunday.
The two wins meant that he’s won four out of five races this year, and 12 in his AMA Superbike career. He has a long way to go to catch DuHamel, the winningest rider in AMA Superbike history with 23.
Taking it all in from the Honda pits was the third member of the team, Erion Honda’s Kurtis Roberts. Roberts continues to recover from knee surgery after crashing during practice at the previous race at California Speedway, the same weekend as the Suzuka Grand Prix.
In the Formula Xtreme race, Erion Honda’s Mike Hale just missed out on a podium position when he bobbled in the final turn, ending up fourth. The race was won by Yamaha’s Damon Buckmaster.
The Pro Honda Oils Supersport race went to Suzuki’s Aaron Yates, with Bruce Transportation Group’s Jake Zemke finishing sixth, one spot in front of Hale.
Nicky Hayden, First Place, Day One
Everything went really smooth except for one time with about three laps to go, I kind of came up on some lappers and they made a pass over there in 3 and 3A kind of like they were really going. I mean it was the first time I lapped these guys. It wasn’t like the guys were lapping second. They were going fast. I mean it was a good move. The guy went for it but it kind of held me up a little bit. They were scrapping hard and I didn’t want to get in the middle of them.
Day Two
The first few laps were really good, except I couldn’t read my pit board. I didn’t know I was pulling out a gap. With all the boards are out there, I couldn’t pick my board out for nothing. Once I seen that I had a little bit of a lead, I felt real good. Once race went on, I picked up a little bit of a chatter. Last few laps it was a handful. I seen the guys coming back toward me. Couldn’t go any faster. It feels really good to be winning another race, a double header, it’s awesome.
Miguel DuHamel, Second Place, Day One
At the end there with about ten laps to go, I put my head down and started clicking off some decent laps and making sure Nicky didn’t have to much of an easy go at it. In case he picked a different tire or had some different problem or if he got in some lapped traffic. He got a little bit towards the end and I was able to get it close but closing is one thing and passing is a whole different deal. I could do it though, put those laps together. It feels really good. We’re making some giant progress to be up here on the podium.
I was just trying to keep Nicky honest all day. He was running off his pit board and I was just trying to make sure I didn’t get too overenthusiastic.
I was trying to keep the gap the same. He caught some good traffic, but he caught some bad ones too. That’s fair. About six laps to go I radioed in to my crew chief. It seemed like Nicky had some sort of problem because he seemed to be riding sort of tentative and I thought I could give him a run for his money. Then I went to shift a gear, and there was no longer a shift lever thing, the actual shifting nub was gone. That really messed me up. Aaron (Yates) was already on his way when that happened.
Erion Honda’s Kurtis Roberts
I’m doing some physical therapy and trying to get back as soon as possible. For sure it was Elkhart Lake (on June 8-9) but it could be sooner. The right knee is still stiff. It’s really sore. They took out a lot of fluid and some muscle.
