Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

ROAD RACE AMAIMBNA SUPERBIKE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP determination that I got to a position where I could have won the race. Last night I told them to go back, try a different rear hock and a different rear tire, I could just run the pace I wanted to. The Honda's got so much on us in top speed - it's ridiculous, reaIly. It makes it harder on me and easier on these guys, especiaIlyon these long circuits." Ba ically, Gobert was determined not to have a repeat of the day before, "It made me so angry when Miguel got me at Willow Springs, and he got me here yesterday, so I wasn't going to let that happen again," Gobert said, "I tried to slow the traffic down a bit out the back and slide through, They had to come into the corner, and I knew that would keep Miguel behind them and give me some extra fresh air. I was trying to work the traffic to my advantage today and it WOrked. "I feel good," Gobert added. "I just want to try and do it each race and hopefully get back in the championship, The bike seems to be really good and I just pray to God that it holds together." Though no one gave it much notice, Bostrom was able to dive past Chandler under braking for the chicane to take over third on the final lap, Chandler took fourth with a gap back to Hacking. Then there was more space to Yates, who had gotten the better of IUpp. Stevens was next, with Oliver in tow, Mladin struggled to 10th with a toasted rear tire, his worst finish of the season. '1 changed the bike last night (going with a different rear suspension setting) and it went pretty good this morning," Mladin explained later, "But after the fourth or fifth lap, the tire was gone, I shouldn't have changed the bike, because it just cooked the tire." Oliver had run sixth for most of the race, but he ran off in turn five on lap 19, letting the pack of Yates, IUpp and Stevens go by. '1 was up on the curb and I couldn't stop," Oliver said. "We had some problem , but my momma always aid, 'If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.' So I'm not saying anything. I'm extremely disappointed not to hold on to sixth, but it ju t kept getting worse and worse. It' kind of a depressing day, but overaII I think we howed we have the speed." Speed, though, was something his teammate Hacking needed more of. "We gotta get some ponies," Hacking said, "That Yamaha was sucking the hind tit. We also need to get the clutch problem worked out - we need to tart from pit row. I was aggressive, punting people out of the way, I was just trying to keep in Ben's (Bostrom) draft, bu t he got the best of the lappers and I'd wore my tires out just keeping up. I just sat where I was." I~ Road Atlanta Braselton, Georgia Results: May 30-31, 1998 (Rounds 6 & 7 of 14) SUPERB IKE QUALIFYING, J. Rich Olive' (1 :24.34); 2. Anthony Gobert (1 :24.490); 3. Mat MI;]din (I,24,S6S); 4. Miguel DuH.mel (1,24,936); 5, Ben Bostrom (1:24.949); 6. Doug Chandler (1:24.996); 7. Thom.u Stevens 0:25.081); 8. Jamie Hac.king (1:25.293); 9. P.sell Picotte (l25.57S); 10. A.ron V.tes (1,26,076); II. Torn Kipp (U6.21S); 12 Jomie Jomes (U6,846); 13. Mike Hale 0:26.932); 14. Jason Pridmore (1:27.087); 15. G,ont Lopez (H7.156); 16. Tommy Hoyden (H7.316); 17. Larry Pegram (1:27.443); lB. Thomas Wilson 0,27.619); 19, Chris Ronkin ([~ .167); 20. Steve Grigg 0,zs.279); 21. Rod G"",ves (I,zs. 96); 22 Steve Crevier 0,29.479); 23. Morio DuH.mel 0,29.984); 24, Dovid McG'ath (UO.610); 25, Jomie Bowmon 0,30.791); 26. Steve. Teschke (1,)1.106); 27. Dol Kieffe, (UI.273); 28. Rich Alexander (1:31.278); 29. jonathan Bolton (UI.301); 30. Brion Gibbs 0,31.547); 31. Cleon Mizd.1 (U2.070); 32. John Jocobi (1;32.926); 33. Tv..n Shone Howo'd (1,33.169); 34. Doug G,oss (1,)4.725); 35. Jeff jennings 0:35.866); 36. Rick Shaw (1:36.305); 37. Devin Bnttley 0,56.566); 38. Stephen Tuel 0'36.633). RACE ONE: 1. Miguel DuHamel (Hon); 2. Anthony Gobert (Duc); 3. Ben Bostrom (Hon); 4. Rich Oliver (Yam); 5. Doug ChandJer (Kaw); 6. Mat Mladin (Suz); 7. Jamie Hacking (Yam); 8. Tom Kipp (Dud; 9. Aaron Yates (5uz); 10. Thomas Stevens (Duc); 11. Steve Crevier (Suz); 12. Mike Hale (Dudi 13. Jason Pridmore (SU7.); 14. Brieflv... Opinions varied on the AMA',s first attempt at running a Superbike National doubleheader. Most were happy to have two opportunities to race, especially those who didn't fare well on Saturday and were given a do-over on Sunday. Still. there waS some controversy surrounding the purse, with the riders basically racing two times for the price of one. "I'm happy to have two races, especially at a great facility like Road Atlanta, - Miguel DuHamel said, "But I'm hoping this isn't a precedent where we run two races for the same prize money as one. I understand that this is like a test. and that's okay, But there's no way we would stand for another race where the prize money was almost divided in two. I understand that they are trying hard, and for us (the factory riders) it's not a big thing - but we are still putting on a hell of a show and deserve everything we get. There's no way the priva· teers can afford the tires and the gas for $150. I think this is a good format, and there's nothing against the promoters here, because I know this is just a test. Hopefully, if we do this again in the future... I think we're doubling their fun, they can double our prize money." DuHamel's teammate Ben BO

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