Air Fence Fund contributors will have an opportunity to sign a section of Air Fence tonight, Saturday July 7, at 7:00 p.m. Those wishing to take part in the signing should gather at the Speedvision Production trailer in the paddock near the start/finish line pedestrian bridge. An up-to-date list of contributors will be on-site. Those wishing to do so will be able to make initial or additional contributions.

This Just In from Steve Reeves of Australia:

The final round of the 2001 Yamaha Xtreme Tri-State Series is shaping up as one of the closest fought rounds gauging from the lap times posted at the end of today’s two qualifying sessions.

Current Yamaha Formula Xtreme points leader, Radar’s Team Yamaha rider Robbie Baird, will start from the second position on the grid after his time was beaten in the final minutes by Honda’s Alex Gobert.

Baird had sat atop the leaders board for much of the final session with a time of 1:34.155, before being pipped by Gobert who stopped the clocks with a 1:34.197.

“It would have been great to have grabbed pole, but I’m happy with the times that we set,” said Baird. “I was a bit surprised as I was able to get into the 1:33s yesterday, but couldn’t get close to that today. I think the higher track temperature had something to do with that.”

Completing the front row were New Zealander Tony Rees on the Bikebiz Yamaha YZF-R1 and Honda-mounted Josh Brookes.

Craig Coxhell and Jamie Stauffer will start their Radar’s Team Yamaha’s off the second row of the grid after setting the sixth and seventh-fastest times respectively.

“I got caught up a lot in the traffic of the first qualifying session and that didn’t allow me to get a quick time down before the afternoon session,” said Coxhell. “In the afternoon session we tried a different tire that we haven’t used previously, but it didn’t work as planned. All I can hope for is a few good starts tomorrow to give me a chance at the leaders.”

“Everyone is going quite hard out there, showing that the pressure is on at the final round,” said Stauffer. “I felt quite good on the bike today, but my lap times didn’t reflect that. We tried a few different rear tires, but it didn’t seem to make much difference. Going by the lap times the others have set, I think we are in for one hell of a race tomorrow.”

Combined Yamaha Formula Xtreme qualifying
1. Alex Gobert,Redwing Honda1:34.155
2. Robbie Baird, Radar’s Team Yamaha 1:34.197
3. Tony Rees, Bikebiz Yamaha 1:34.239
4. Josh Brookes, Geoff’s Auto Spares Honda 1:34.273
5. Luke Phillips, Optus World Honda 1:34.687
6. Craig Coxhell, Radar’s Team Yamaha 1:34.749
7. Jamie Stauffer, Radar’s Team Yamaha 1:34.880
8. Damien Cudlin, Bikebiz Yamaha 1:34.884
9. Steven Cutting, Bar Ristretto Suzuki1:35.496
10. Jay Taylor,Taylor Racing Kawasaki1:35.820

Yamaha Formula Xtreme points after 4 of 5 events
1. Robbie Baird, 279 points
2. Jamie Stauffer, 246
3. Craig Coxhell, 239
4. Tony Rees, 203
5. Damien Cudlin, 178
6. Alex Gobert, 168
7. Josh Brookes, 130
8. Luke Phillips, 116
9. Graeme Morris, 100
10. Stephen Tozer, 84

During a pre-event press conference held during lunchtime Thursday at Laguna Seca, Superbike World Champion Colin Edwards used the word “asshole” in referring to AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin without suffering any official penalties. Things got interesting when track announcer Richard Chambers handed the microphone to Edwards and encouraged Edwards to lead the press conference.

Edwards was given the microphone after Chambers had already interviewed Honda teammates Nicky Hayden and Miguel Duhamel, Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mladin, and Edwards himself. Troy Bayliss, Peter Goddard, Ben Bostrom, Regis Laconi and others were still waiting to be interviewed.

By the time Edwards received the microphone, Mladin had quietly left the overcrowded head table, almost as if to make room for Edwards to sit down. Mladin also looked to return to his pits as the AMA Superbike racers’ one and only qualifying session was scheduled for shortly after the Thursday lunch break. As Mladin walked away from the press conference area, Edwards called to Mladin over the small, press conference P.A. system, “Where ya going, Mat?”

Mladin didn’t appear to hear Edwards and continued walking. Edwards then told the crowd consisting of national, international, and local media members, “Now I understand why you guys think he’s an asshole.” Half of the crowd laughed while the other half mumbled to one another. In addition to “asshole”, Edwards also said the word “ass’ twice during his time speaking to the press.

The next racer to be interviewed was Benelli Tornado development rider/racer Peter Goddard. Goddard asked, “I wonder if Colin is going to get fined for that?” referring to the $5000 fine Mladin received for using the word “shit” and criticizing the track and other riders during an AMA press conference at New Hampshire International Raceway.

When asked after the press conference about the possibility of AMA officials fining him for his choice of words, Edwards said, “They’re gonna have a good time getting it out of me. I don’t give a shit. I don’t care. It wasn’t an AMA press conference. For a World Superbike press conference that’s normal lingo.”

Asked if he thought that the use of curse words is detrimental to the sport of motorcycle road racing—as claimed by AMA officials–Edwards said, “I don’t care. That’s who I am. I can be a robot and get up there and say the same thing over and over, but that’s not what the fans want. The fans want to know who I am. I’ll show you my whole deck of cards right there. This is who I am. If I say a few cuss words here and there that’s part of my personality.”

When asked about his comments concerning Mladin, Edwards said, “I was just wondering where he was going. I mean, it looked like the press conference was just getting kicking and then he left. I was just saying, ‘Where the Hell are you going?’ You just don’t get up and leave a press conference normally. I think nothing less of him. Now I just understand why everyone thinks he’s an asshole.” Then Edwards clarified saying, “I didn’t call him an asshole. I just said that I understand why people think he’s an asshole.”

After the press event was over, AMA Media Relations Contractor Larry Lawrence confirmed that the press conference had not been an official AMA press conference. Lawrence later asked his World Superbike series press counterpart, Renata Nosetta, about Edwards’ conduct. According to Lawrence, he was told by Nosetta that the World Superbike series allows their riders to be more free in expressing themselves than the AMA does.

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