500cc
1. Valentino Rossi, Honda, 1:43.113
2. Norike Abe, Yamaha, 1:43.831
3. Shinja Nakano, Yamaha, 1:43.848
4. Loris Capirossi, Honda, 1:43.894
5. Max Biaggi, Yamaha, 1:43.971
6. Alex Barros, Honda, 1:43.983
7. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki, 1:44.033
8. Garry McCoy, Yamaha, 1:44.072
9. Tohru Ukawa, Honda, 1:44.193
10. Alex Criville, Honda, 1:44.282

250cc
1. Roberto Locatelli, Aprilia, 1:44.564
2. Marco Melandri, Aprilia, 1:44.688
3. Marcellino Lucchi, Aprilia, 1:44.838
4. Jeremy McWilliams, Aprilia, 1:44.878
5. Emilio Alzamora, Honda, 1:45.131
6. Daijiro Katoh, Honda, 1:45.162
7. Franco Battaini, Aprilia, 1:45.378
8. Alex Bebon, Aprilia, 1:45.566
9. Roberto Rolfo, Aprilia, 1:45.720
10. Naoki Matsudo, Yamaha, 1:45.747

125cc
1. Max Sabbatani, Aprilia, 1:49.170
2. Youichi Ui, Derbi, 1:49.287
3. Steve Jenker, Aprilia, 1:49.782
4. Lucio Cecchinello, Aprilia, 1:49.844
5. Stefano Perugini. Italjet, 1:49.898
6. Angel Nieto, Jr., Derbi, 1:49.962
7. Manual Poggiali, Gilera, 1:50.014
8. Toni Elias, Honda, 1:50.015
9. Simone Sanna, Aprilia, 1:50.030
10. Masao Azuma, Honda, 1:50.039

Graves Yamaha’s Damon Buckmaster used a Dunlop qualifying tire to take pole on his YZF-R1/R7 hybrid in the final moments of Formula Xtreme qualifying Friday at Sears Point.

Buckmaster’s lap jumped him from fourth to first in qualifying order, with Josh Hayes also jumping up in the closing moments of the session after fitting a qualifying tire. Sticky qualifying tires also boosted the fortunes of Buckmaster’s teammate Aaron Gobert. As the men with Dunlop qualifying tires advanced late in the session, Michelin man Grant Lopez, second for most of the session, fell back to fifth-fastest, on race tires.

Buckmaster and Gobert recently tested at Sears Point.

Not only is Buckmaster’s pole position-winning lap time a new Formula Xtreme lap record and nearly a full second faster than his next competitor, Buckmaster’s time would put him second on the Superbike grid on a track that
favors handling over horsepower.

Top Formula Xtreme qualifying times follow:

1. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R1/R7, 1:34.572
2. Josh Hayes, Honda CBR929RR, 1:35.530
3. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R1/R7, 1:35.889
4. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:36.110
5. Grant Lopez, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:36.136
6. Richie Alexander, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:36.364
7. Mark Miller, Honda CBR929RR, 1:36.622
8. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR929RR, 1:36.994
9. John Hopkins, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:37.227
10. Mark Foster, Yamaha YZF-R7, 1:37.640
11. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR929RR, 1:37.809
12. Chris Voelker, Honda CBR900RR, 1:38.665
13. Joe Gill, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:39.234
14. Kim Nakashima, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:40.543
15. Kenyon Kluge, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:41.002

1. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:36.796
2. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:37.028
3. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR929RR, 1:37.136
4. Grant Lopez, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:37.715
5. Damon Buckamster, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:37.877
6. Josh Hayes, Honda CBR929RR, 1:38.332
7. John Hopkins, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:38.335
8. Mark Miller, Honda CBR929RR, 1:38.502
9. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR929RR, 1:39.040
10. Richie Alexander, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:39.944

Factory Harley-Davidson rider Jennifer Snyder made racing history April 28 in Richmond, Virginia during the opening round of the Formula USA National Dirt Track series. On that night, 17-year-old Snyder set the fastest time in qualifying, won her heat race, and then became the first woman to win a professional dirt track race with a victory in the Pro Singles class. Snyder, who has six years of racing experience, beat her factory Harley-Davidson teammate Rich King along with Mike Hacker, Will Davis, and Bryan Smith.

Snyder now leads the point standings with the next Formula USA dirt track race scheduled for June 8 at Sheboygan County Fair Grounds in Plymouth, Wisconsin, less than an hour’s drive from Road America, site of AMA Pro road races scheduled for the same weekend.

Several riders on 600cc Supersport bikes led the way in the Friday afternoon 750cc Supersport practice session during the AMA National weekend at Sears Point. The fastest riders actually riding a 750 were Rich Alexander and Chris Ulrich.

Fastest times follow:

1. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:38.278
2. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:38.354
3. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:38.787
4. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:38.978
5. Josh Hayes, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:39.172
6. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:39.467
7. Rich Alexander, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:39.477
8. Roger Hayden, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:39.498
9. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:39.702
10. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:40.018
11. James Randolph, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:40.300
12. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:40.319
13. Tony Lupo, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:40.463
14. Owen Richey, Suzuki, 1:42.398
15. Stuart Stratton, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:42.527
16. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki, 1:42.940
17. Jim Nakashima, Suzuki, 1:43.075
18. David Ortega, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:43.076
19. Tony Meiring, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:43.087
20. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:43.121
21. Owen Weichel, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:43.215
22. Gary Hatfield, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:43.229
23. Ed Milhausen, Suzuki, 1:43.732
24. Jeff Bostrom, Suzuki, 1:44.107
25. Kenyon Kluge, Suzuki, 1:44.291
26. Scott Gooch, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:44.315
27. Kevin Carter, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:44.543
28. Robert Bussey, Suzuki, 1:45.527
29. Mark Simon, Suzuki, 1:46.043
30. Tyler Wadsworth, Yamaha, 1:46.308

Buells led the way in AMA Pro Thunder practice Friday afternoon at Sears Point, with Mike Ciccotto and Tripp Nobles first and second in times. Top times follow:
1. Mike Ciccotto, Buell, 1:40.397
2. Tripp Nobles, Buell, 1:40.508
3. Tom Montano, Ducati, 1:41.735
4. Dave Estok, Buell, 1:42.221
5. Jeff Nash, Ducati, 1:43.302
6. Dean Mizdal, Ducati, 1:43.303
7. Cal Sprenger, Ducati, 1:43.427
8. Zoran Vujasinovic, Suzuki, 1:44.139
9. David White, Honda, 1:45.195
10. Justin McReynolds, Buell, 1:46.955
11. Brain Long, Suzuki, 1:47.383
12. Ricky Lundgren, Ducati, 1:47.590
13. Michael Ellsworth, Suzuki, 1:48.590
14. Dale Palmer, Suzuki, 1:49.177
15. Michael Hardin, Ducati, 1:49.222

In the Friday morning Pro Thunder session, times looked like this:
1. Tripp Nobles, Buell, 1:42.858
2. Thomas Montano, Ducati, 1:44.003
3. Jeff Nash, Ducati, 1:44.939
4. Mike Ciccotto, Buell, 1:45.033
5. Justin McReynolds, Buell, 1:46.377
6. Chris Lacruze, Ducati, 1:46.644
7. Zoran Vajasinovic, Suzuki, 1:47.491
8. Mike Krynock, Ducati, 1:47.872
9. Dean Mizdal, Ducati, 1:48.521
10. Brian Long, Suzuki, 1:49.503

1. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:38.796
2. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:38.954
3. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:39.010
4. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:39.165
5. Josh Hayes, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:39.192
6. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:39.194
7. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:39.475
8. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:39.475
9. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:40.210
10. Owen Weichel, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:40.352
11. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:40.498
12. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:40.648
13. Richie Alexander, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:40.713
14. Anthony Lupo, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:42.696
15. Tony Meiring, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:42.934

If the 600cc Supersport machines are removed from the timing sheet, Roadracing World’s Chris Ulrich is the fastest 750-mounted rider by three seconds over Ricci Motorsports Anthony Lupo and Corona Ebsco Suzuki’s Tony “The Tiger” Meiring.

Competitors who run both 750cc and 600cc Supersport racers use the 600cc and 750cc Supersport practice sessions for their 600 bikes only and then use the much longer Superbike sessions to set up their 750cc Supersport weapons. Riders who follow this agenda include Richie Alexander, Lee Acree, Brian Parriott, Vincent Haskovec, and Jimmy Moore. Ulrich, Meiring and Lupo will also bring their 750cc Supersport bikes out in the longer Superbike sessions.
Riders have found it easier to get around the tight, tricky Sears Point racetrack on 600s rather than on 750s, perhaps due to the heavier rotating crankshaft mass of the 750 and the 750’s tendency to spin the rear tire more at the exit of corners.

During the mandatory riders’ meeting held during Friday’s lunch break at Sears Point, several issues were covered by AMA Superbike Operations Manager Ron Barrick.

The first issue on Barrick’s agenda was a proposed change to turn one. In the past, AMA officials have always used cones to create a false apex in turn one to keep speeds down in the corner, which has historically had minimal run-off. With the new turn 11 offering a shorter run to the corner and more run-off room now available outside the turn, Barrick proposed changing the apex of turn one to open up the turn to a configuration that the local club, AFM, runs.

The topic was debated back-and-forth for some time. Riders in favor of a change to the AFM-style turn one were led by racers local to Sears Point like Brian Parriott and Steve Rapp. Riders against the change included riders who were already fast on the existing track, such as Anthony Gobert, along with riders who wanted to avoid a mess similar to the multiple chicane changes seen last year at Pikes Peak, such as Chris Ulrich.

The debate seemed to die out when Miguel Duhamel said that he felt turn one was the best that it’s ever been, and that if it was going to be changed, it should have been changed before Thursday promoter practice.

Some riders expressed sarcastic shock that AMA officials had actually pushed the wall back in turn one, but then asked why a wall remained in turn two’s impact area. Renovations made to Sears Point to improve rider safety and spectator viewing areas opened up more run-off room outside of turn two, the first right-hander on the track. However, as Mike Ciccotto pointed out, there is still a concrete wall in that new runoff area.

The wall is made up of portable concrete sections protected by haybales and tires. Ciccotto asked why the concrete wall was even there when haybales and tires would do the job of slowing down a rider without the unforgiving results of impacting a concrete wall. In response, Barrick promised that he would look into the situation with the wall.

The situation of overshooting turn one during qualifying was addressed and riders who do not manage to make turn one will not have their lap time counted. Mat Mladin lost his pole position at the Sears Point AMA National in 1999 when he overshot turn one on his fastest lap.

All of the Honda CBR929RR Formula Xtreme bikes fielded by Erion Honda and Bruce Transportation Group are wearing CBR600F4i bodywork at Sears Point. Bruce Transportation Group’s Josh Hayes said that the ram air inlets on the F4i bodywork are more effective and that the belly pan fits tighter against the bike, giving more ground clearance.

The first of the Suzuki GSX-R1000 Formula Xtreme bikes made their debut at Sears on Thursday. While the Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki GSX-R1000s appeared to have fairly stock chassis with the addition of Ohlins forks, a Penske shock and Performance Machine wheels, Attack Suzuki’s big GSX-Rs featured custom fabricated swingarms and rear suspension links, in addition to Ohlins forks. Attack’s Richard Stanboli said that he had left many other trick parts at his shop, including aluminum gas tanks, kit radiators, radial-mounted brake calipers, different shocks, and lighter fairing brackets because he did not receive related parts in time to mount everything for this weekend’s race.

Attack’s Jason Pridmore and Richie Alexander were unable to ride Thursday due to their points standings and the AMA’s rule banning riders who are top-10 in Superbike or 600cc Supersport points. So Attack enlisted the services of James Lickwar, a Sears Point regular and an AMA racer, to give the Attack Formula Xtreme bikes shake-down runs. Unfortunately, Lickwar crashed one of the virgin machines in Sears Point’s tight Turn 11. The crash was a lowside with minimal damage to the machine, but Lickwar suffered a broken collarbone.

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s John Hopkins crashed Thursday morning on his GSX-R1000 when he tangled bars with Frank Aragaki’s Kawasaki Superbike going into turn three. Both riders were unhurt with little damage to their bikes.

Andreas Meklau was riding Scott Russell’s HMC Ducati Superbikes Thursday at Sears Point. When asked his thoughts on the track’s layout and safety, Meklau laughed and said, “I’ve never seen anything like it before in the world.” Meklau has nearly 10 years of experience racing in World Superbike, World Grand Prix, and various European domestic series.

According to an inside source, Nicky Hayden’s RC51 suffered the same mechanical failure at Daytona that has plagued other factory Honda RC51 riders around the world, including Colin Edwards and Tadayuki Okada. According to the source, the problem was half in the engineering and half in the manufacturing of an internal engine part that he was not allowed to specify. The source said that problem had been fixed as evidenced by the RC51s’ performance at Sugo, Japan, and also pointed out that all three factory RC51s at Sears Point have new radial-mounted front brake calipers. No one at Honda had to point out Miguel Duhamel’s new leathers and paint job as part of the Universal Studios promotion of the new feature movie “The Mummy Returns.”

When riders showed up at Sears Point, they found temporary concrete barriers in turns one and two, positioned close to the racetrack with nothing behind them. The wall in turn one, which was extremely dangerous, looked like it could be moved back as much as 30-40 feet. The wall in turn two, which had already been moved back from the edge of the track following the previous weekend’s Vintage Motorcycle Days, looked like it still could be pushed back as much as 20 feet. But the walls remained in place during Thursday practice at Sear Point, which was run as a promoter practice with no official involvement by the AMA.

But the first thing AMA officials did Friday morning was to get track workers to move back the wall in turn one, adding a relatively large amount of run off room. The wall in turn two was not moved back any additional distance.