Pro Thunder icon Don Tilley said Friday evening he was extremely disappointed at the treatment of the class at the hands of AMA Pro Racing officials. Specifically, Tilley points to the fact that last weekend’s Road America AMA National included sidecars on the program, after the Pro Thunder class had to be dropped, competitors were told, due to time constraints on doubleheader Superbike weekends. Sidecars are not normally part of an AMA Superbike weekend, and the class was added to the program of AMA National classes run at Road America.

Adding sting to the removal of Pro Thunder from the race at Road America is that fact the Buell and parent company Harley-Davidson are both based in nearby Milwaukee, making the Road America National the “home” race for the companies.

Tilley also pointed out that the AMA Pro Thunder race scheduled with a WERA National Challenge Series weekend in Portland, Oregon two weeks from now pays $600 to win, dramatically less than, for example, the $2500 that a win this weekend at Loudon pays.

Tilley currently campaigns two Buells in the Pro Thunder class with riders Tripp Nobles and David Estok.

In the second Pro Thunder practice in Friday, local hero Eric Wood was fastest on a Ducati at 1:14.928 while Nobles was second-fastest on Tilley’s Buell at 1:16.172. Estok was third-fastest at 1:16.812 followed by Ducati riders Robert Nigl (1:16.963), Tom Montano (1:17.310) and Jeff Nash (1:18.081).

John Hopkins was fastest in the 600cc Supersport qualifying session for odd-numbered machines. Hopkins did his time on a Michelin Pilot race tire.

Times follow:

1. John Hopkins, Suzuki, 1:12.592
2. Josh Hayes, Honda, 1:12.967
3. Scott Greenwood, Suzuki, 1:13.335
4. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda, 1:13.414
5. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:13.541
6. Grant Lopez, Suzuki, 1:13.683
7. Tom Kipp, Suzuki, 1:13.751
8. Vince Haskovec, Suzuki, 1:14.539
9. John Salemi, Honda, 1:15.399
10. Tyler Wadsworth, Yamaha, 1:15.790

Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom took the pole and set a new class track record in the 600cc Supersport qualifying session for even-numbered machines at Loudon. Bostrom’s time was a 1:12.127 set on a qualifying tire.

But despite the best efforts of Aaron Yates and Tommy Hayden on Dunlop qualifying tires, John Hopkins’ time from the odd-number session on Michelin race tires held up for second on the grid for tomorrow’s 600cc Supersport race.

Jamie Hacking crashed during the session and ended up sixth-fastest. Jake Zemke also crashed and ended up fifth-fastest.

Even-session Times follow:

1. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:12.127
2. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:12.602
3. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha, 1:12.865
4. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, 1:13.568
5. Jake Zemke, Honda, 1:13.701
6. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, 1:14.101
7. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:14.237
8. Daigoro Suzuki, Kawasaki, 1:15.246
9. Paul Hopkins, Yamaha, 1:16.241
10. Roland Williams, Suzuki, 1:16.363

As told in a press release issued by his manager, Norm Viano:

“After a successful ride at Brands Hatch last weekend, American Mike Ciccotto finds himself back home, ready to win in Loudon this weekend. Ciccotto and Michael Barnes rode Superbike-spec machines at Brands for the FIM World Endurance Championship for the Belgium-based Herman Verboven Suzuki team. And although this was Mike’s first trip abroad, he had no problem adjusting to the culture, and more importantly, to the new track: ‘In the very first practice session, I went out and just tried to learn the track. I ended up being 5th quickest right out of the box. In the second and third practice sessions I just kept dropping my times. By qualifying, I was ready to go.’ But luck wasn’t on their side, unfortunately. ‘During qualifying, Barnie went out before I did, got highsided, and hurt his shoulder. We didn’t know if he was going to be able to ride the next day. So I went out in my qualifying session a little bit apprehensive; just making sure everything was put back together right and the bike wasn’t going to throw me off. So I took it easy. But after awhile, I put my head down and did a 31.3, which qualified me 1st in the Superbike class, 4th overall. But because they average your time with your teammate’s time, and Barnie was hurt, we ended up qualifying 8th overall, but still 1st in our class. The next day, at the start of the race, I knew it was going to be a long race. It’s a six hour endurance race and I didn’t know if Barnie was going to be able to race at all.’

“The race started, and Mike went out for the first hour and five minutes, and was 1st in class, 4th overall. He handed the ‘keys’ over to his teammate, and took a breather. ‘Barnie went out hurt, so we dropped a little bit, but he did well considering his injury. For the next hour things went well, but I had a small electrical problem and had to push it back in. Then Barnie went out for about 30 minutes. When he came back, there were more than two and a half hours left in the race. Because of our problems, we were 26th overall and 8th in class. I was really bummed. So I went out for the next hour and really put my head down, and cranked out some fast laps. And when I came in, I was expecting to swap with Barnie again. But they told me that we were up to 5th in class, so I went right back out for another hour! When I came back in for a last splash of gas, they told me that I was 4th in our class, about 19 seconds off of 3rd place. I was tired, but I went out again! I caught the 3rd place guy with 4 laps to go, and we finished 3rd in class and 15th overall. We did well, but without the problems we would have easily finished top 3rd or 4th overall and 1st in Superbike.’

“But Mike turned some heads with his performance and has been invited back for the remaining (non-conflicting) FIM World Endurance rounds. ‘I’m going to go back to race for the team at Spa Frankorchamps (Belgium) for the 24 hour race – that’s after Laguna. Then I’m going to do the Germany round, then I’m doing the Suzuka 8 hour with my Hooters team.’

“His first experience racing overseas has got Ciccotto excited about his racing future, in addition to providing him with a little edge over his American competitors this weekend. ‘During the last part of the race (at Brands), I practically rode for three hours straight, so riding for 30 minutes at Loudon will be easy!'”

Hooters Suzuki’s Mike Ciccotto, who was the fastest rider actually on a 750cc Supersport bike in yesterday’s 750cc Supersport practice at Loudon, crashed his Buell Pro Thunder bike Saturday morning. But contrary to what was announced in the NHIS press room, Ciccotto did not suffer a broken left collarbone.

In yesterday’s second 750cc Supersport practice, Ciccotto turned a 1:13.896 on a GSX-R750. Ciccotto did not run in Saturday morning’s 750cc Supersport practice.

Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s John Hopkins rode his GSX-R1000 to victory in the Formula Xtreme race at Loudon, beating Bruce Transportation Group’s Josh Hayes and his Honda CBR929RR by 0.553-second.

Hopkins came from third to catch and pass, then hold off Hayes for the win. Immediately after taking the checkered flag, Hopkins crashed in turn one, running wide onto a slick area of the track and locking and tucking the front wheel.

Damon Buckmaster finished third on a Graves Yamaha, 6.307 seconds behind Hopkins. Roger Lee Hayden was fourth ahead of Jake Zemke, Aaron Gobert and Grant Lopez, who is still recovering from a separated shoulder suffered at Road Atlanta.

1. John Hopkins, Suzuki GSX-R1000
2. Josh Hayes, Honda CBR929RR
3. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R1/R7
4. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR9292RR
5. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR929RR
6. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R1/R7
7. Grant Lopez, Suzuki GSX-R1000
8. Mark Miller, Honda CBR9292RR
9. Rich Alexander, Suzuki GSX-R1000
10. Des Conboy, Suzuki GSX-R1000

Point standings:
1. Buckmaster, 127
2. Gobert, 106
3. Hopkins, 105
4. Lopez, 102
5. Hayes, 90
6. Miller, 89
7. Zemke, 78
8. Alexander, 71
9. Hayden, 69
10. Jim Bonner, Yamaha, 45

Mat Maldin won the pole for tomorrow’s AMA Superbike race at Loudon, setting a new motorcycle lap record in the final qualifying session Saturday.

Times follow:

1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, 1:09.561
2. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:09.893
3. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:10.019
4. Doug Chandler, Kawasaki, 1:10.249
5. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 1:10.519
6. Steve Rapp, Ducati, 1:10.572
7. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, 1:10.575
8. Pascal Picotte, Harley-Davidson, 1:10.87
9. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha, 1:11.026
10. Larry Pegram, Ducati, 1:11.104

Mat Mladin was fastest in the Saturday morning Superbike practice session. Times follow:

1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, 1:10.060
2. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:10.538
3. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:10.657
4. Doug Chandler, Kawasaki, 1:11.062
5. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, 1:11.067
6. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 1:11.205
7. Steve Rapp, Ducati, 1:11.544
8. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha, 1:11.567
9. Pascal Picotte, Harley-Davidson, 1:11.580
10. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:11.712
11. Larry Pegram, Ducati, 1:11.834
12. Andreas Meklau, Ducati, 1:12.295
13. Jordan Szoke, Harley-Davidson, 1:12.731
14. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki, 1:13.433*
15. Eric Wood, Suzuki, 1:13.8998
16. Mike Smith, Harley-Davidson, 1:14.052
17. Rich Alexander, Suzuki, 1:14.075*
18. Michael Gallagher, Suzuki, 1:14.519*
19. Vince Haskovec, Suzuki, 1:14.742*
20. Rich Neenan, Suzuki, 1:15.300*
21. Tony Meiring, Suzuki, 1:15.976*
22. Mauro Cereda, Suzuki, 1:16.108*
23. Rich Conecelli, Suzuki, 1:16.228*

*Rider on 750cc Supersport bike