New AMA Pro Racing Superbike Operations Manager Gary Mathers was asked at Laguna Seca Friday about the new chain of command since he was hired. In response, Mathers said, “I work for Merrill (Vanderslice, AMA Pro Racing Director of Competition), and Ron (Barrick) reports to me.”

Barrick formerly held the title of AMA Superbike Operations Manager. Barrick’s new title has not been determined yet.

1. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:29.480
2. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:29.670
3. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 1:30.181
4. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha, 1:30.203
5. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:30.309
6. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda, 1:30.424
7. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, 1:30.524
8. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha, 1:30.567
9. John Hopkins, Suzuki, 1:30.723
10. Josh Hayes, Honda, 1:30.776
11. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:31.214
12. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, 1:31.846
13. Lance Isaacs, Honda, 1:31.974
14. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, 1:31.974
15. Tom Kipp, Suzuki, 1:32.022
16. Jake Zemke, Honda, 1:32.669
17. Takaharu Kishida, Kawasaki, 1:32.969
18. Marc Palazzo, Honda, 1:33.019
19. Grant Lopez, Suzuki, 1:33.112
20. Daigoro Suzuki, Kawasaki, 1:33.540

Czech Republic immigrant Vaclav “Vincent” Haskovec earned the new 750cc Supersport lap record at Laguna Seca with a 1:29.429 on his Corona-Extra-sponsored EBSCO Suzuki GSX-R750 and Dunlop DOT-labeled qualifying tires. Haskovec’s teammate and current class points leader Jimmy Moore made it an Corona EBSCO Suzuki 1-2 in qualifying with a 1:29.916. Roadracingworld.com’s Chris Ulrich turned a time of 1:29.922, also under the old class record of 1:29.970 set by Damon Buckmaster in 2000. Attack Suzuki’s Richie Alexander, Jr. completed the front row with a 1:30.348.

At the last moment, the one, 40-minute 750cc Supersport qualifying session was split into two, 20-minute sessions. Haskovec’s time was turned in the second session. The next-fastest rider in the second session turned a 1:35.

Final Genuine Suzuki Accessories 750cc Supersport Qualifying Results:

1. Vincent Haskovec, 1:29.429
2. Jimmy Moore, 1:29.916
3. Chris Ulrich, 1:29.922
4. Richie Alexander, 1:30.348
5. James Randolph, 1:30.886
6. Josh Hayes, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:30.940
7. Ben Spies, 1:31.010
8. Daigoro Suzuki, 1:31.361
9. Andrew Deatherage, 1:31.602
10. Lance Isaacs, Honda CBR600F4, 1:31.643

All riders were on Suzuki GSX-R750s except where noted.

World Superbike Qualifying Session #1 Results:

1. Ben Bostrom, Ducati, 1:25.248
2. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:25.556
3. Troy Bayliss, Ducati, 1:26.075
4. Colin Edwards II, Honda, 1:26.112
5. Neil Hodgson, Ducati, 1:26.163
6. Troy Corser, Aprilia, 1:26.235
7. Doug Chandler, Kawasaki, 1:26.287
8. Pierfrancesco Chili, Suzuki, 1:26.539
9. Regis Laconi, Aprilia, 1:26.605
10. James Toseland, Ducati, 1:26.612
11. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki, 1:26.779
12. Gregorio Lavilla, Kawasaki, 1:26.985
13. Tadayuki Okada, Honda, 1:27.031
14. Ruben Xaus, Ducati, 1:27.050
15. Steve Martin, Ducati, 1:27.134
16. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati, 1:27.192
17. Akira Yanagawa, Kawasaki, 1:27.372
18. Robert Ulm, Ducati, 1:27.415
19. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati, 1:27.437
20. Marco Borciani, Ducati, 1:27.507
21. Peter Goddard, Benelli, 1:27.550

Ruben Xaus crashed unhurt in turn two in the second half of the qualifying session.

Ten of the top 12 qualifiers were on Dunlops with only Colin Edwards and Troy Bayliss on Michelin.

Troy Corser recorded the highest trap speed (by 7 km/hr over the next fastest bike) at 246 km/hr, or 152 mph, on the front straight.

1. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:29.40
2. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.45
3. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:30.55
4. Josh Hayes, Honda CBR600F4I, 1:31.19
5. John Hopkins, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:31.33
6. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.40
7. Richie Alexander, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.54
8. Daigoro Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.52
9. James Randolph, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.53
10. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.65
11. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.77
12. Lance Isaacs, Honda CBR600F4, 1:33.02
13. Tony Meiring, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.15
14. Takaharu Kishidu, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:33.37
15. Marc Palazzo, Honda CBR600F4, 1:33.49
16. Anthony Lupo, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.57
17. Grant Lopez, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:33.59
18. Stuart Stratton, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:33.84
19. John Dugan, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:34.063
20. Kim Nakashima, 1:34.163

Munroe Motors’ Tom Montano won the shortened Buell Pro Thunder race on a Dunlop-equipped Ducati 748 over Tilley Buell’s Tripp Nobles and Dean Mizdal on a Ducati 748.

The race was stopped after six laps when Cycle World Contributing Editor Nick Ienatsch ran into the back of a lapped rider while running in second place behind Montano. The red flag came out to remove Ienatsch’ BCM Motors’ Ducati 748 from the middle of the track between turns three and four. Ienatsch was able to make the re-start from the back of the grid and managed to finish eighth.

The race was finally stopped again and declared complete on lap 14 of 17 for an oil spill in turn five.

Buell Pro Thunder Unofficial Results:

1. Thomas Montano, Ducati
2. Tripp Nobles, Buell
3. Dean Mizdal, Ducati
4. Mike Ciccotto, Buell
5. Jeff Nash, Ducati
6. Mike Sullivan, Ducati
7. John Dugan, Ducati
8. Nick Ienatsch, Ducati
9. Rich Thorwaldson, Ducati
10. Dr. David Kieffer, M.D.

36. David Estok, 11 laps, DNF

Buell Pro Thunder Unofficial Points (before worst two finishes are dropped):

1. Montano, 155 points
2. Ciccotto, 130 points
3. Nash, 121 points
4. David Estok, 97 points
5. Mike Krynock, 87 points

Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom grabbed the holeshot in Friday’s Pro Honda Oils 600cc Supersport final and ran away to an impressive 9.747-second margin of victory over Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates and Jamie Hacking.

Yamaha’s Anthony Gobert fought through the pain in his wrist and shoulder to stay near the front but faded toward the end to eventually finish seventh.

Unofficial 600cc Supersport Results:

1. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki
2. Aaron Yates, Suzuki
3. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki
4. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha
5. Nicky Hayden, Honda
6. John Hopkins, Suzuki
7. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha
8. Josh Hayes, Honda
9. Miguel Duhamel, Honda
10. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda
11. Tom Kipp, Suzuki
12. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki
13. Jake Zemke, Honda
14. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha
15. Lance Isaacs, Honda
16. Grant Lopez, Suzuki
17. Daigoro Suzuki, Kawsaki
18. Stuart Stratton, Yamaha
19. Marc Palazzo, Honda
20. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki

Unofficial 600cc Supersport Point Standings Following Laguna Seca:

1. Bostrom, 163 points
2. Anthony Gobert, 142 points
3. Duhamel, 130 points
4. Tommy Hayden, 129 points
5. Yates, 125 points

Attack Suzuki’s Richie Alexander, Jr. will sit out most of the remaining AMA Formula Xtreme rounds as of Laguna Seca and concentrate on the Genuine Suzuki Accessories 750cc Supersport Championship.

“It was a tough decision,” said Alexander in the Laguna Seca paddock Thursday, July 5. “Riding in both 750 Supersport and Formula Xtreme was even tougher. There are times during these weekends where I would have to ride, between the two classes, for two hours straight. I wasn’t able to totally focus on any 750 race since Daytona, and that’s hurt me and the team. The team needs some wins, and I want to be winning like I should.”

Attack Suzuki’s Richard Stanboli hates to have one of his racebikes go unused and offered Alexander’s empty GSX-R1000 seat to Shawn Higbee for the Laguna Seca round. With only one practice session to learn and set up the GSX-R1000 before his qualifying run, Higbee qualified 10th, three seconds off the pole-winning time of his Attack Suzuki teammate Tom Kipp.

1. Jeremy McWilliams, Aprilia, 1:34.584
2. Daijiro Katoh, Honda, 1:34.688
3. Marco Melandri, Aprilia, 1:34.942
4. Tetsuya Harada, Aprilia, 1:34.953
5. Randy De Puniet, Aprilia, 1:35.481
6. Naoki Matsudo, Yamaha, 1:35.544
7. Roberto Rolfo, Aprilia, 1:35.640
8. Roberto Locatelli, Aprilia, 1:35.965
9. Emilio Alazamora, Honda, 1:36.109
10. Sebastian Porto, Yamaha, 1:36.142
28. Jason DiSalvo, Honda, 1:39.876

Colin McRae, the current World Rally Car Championship point leader, plans to take some laps of Brands Hatch on a factory Suzuki GSX-R750 Superbike August 3 as part of the GSX-R Festival scheduled in conjunction with a round of the F.I.M. World Supersport Championship.

McRae, 32, already owns a GSX-R1000 streetbike, but his demo laps on the Crescent Suzuki GSX-R750 will only be his second time riding a bike on a racetrack. Afterwards, McRae will hold an autograph session for fans.


A number of other activities are scheduled for the GSX-R Festival including:

–The appearance of 1993 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Kevin Schwantz.

–The appearance of the Clarion Suzuki factory British Superbike team.

–A stunt show performed by European Stunt Champion Kevin Carmichael.

–A Suzuki Stunt Challenge judged by Carmichael.

–GSX-R owner parade laps of the track.

–A rock concert.

–The DR-Z Sensation for off-road riders.

–Tips from the Team Suzuki Performance Riding School.

–A bike show featuring examples of GSX-Rs from the introduction of the model in 1985 through the current model year.