Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128111
Although this marks the seventh straight World Superbike round at Laguna Seca, if you weren't from Australia. the United States or Japan, you didn't win one of the previous 12 races held at the famous racing venue on the Monterey Peninsula. Here's a look at the previous race winners. 1995 Anthony Gobert (Kawasaki){Troy Corser (Ducati) 1996 John Kocinski (Ducati)/Anthony Gobert (Kawasaki) 1997 John Kocinski (Honda)/John Kocinski (Honda) 1998 Troy Corser (Ducati)/Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) 1999 Anthony Gobert (Ducati);Ben Bostrom (Ducati) 2000 Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha){Troy Corser (Aprilia) In AMA Superbike competition, the list of winners dates back to 1976. 1976 Reg Pridmore (BMW) 1977 Steve Mclaughlin (Kawasaki) 1978 Wes Cooley (Suzuki) 1979 Freddie Spencer (Kawasaki) 1980 Freddie Spencer (Honda) 1981 Eddie Lawson (Kawasaki) 1982 Eddie Lawson (Kawasaki) 1983 Wayne Rainey (Kawasaki) 1984 Fred Merkel (Honda) 1985 John Ashmead (Honda) 1986 Wayne Rainey (Honda) 1987 Bubba Shobert (Honda) 1988 Bubba Shobert (Honda) 1992 Doug Polen (Ducati) 1993 Doug Polen (Ducati) 1994 Pascal Picotte (Suzuki) 1995 Freddie Spencer (Ducati) 1996 Doug Chandler (Kawasaki) 1997 Doug Chandler (Kawasaki) 1998 Miguel DuHamel (Honda) 1999 Anthony Gobert (Ducati) 2000 Nicky Hayden (Honda) With two different series racing at Laguna Seca, there are currently two different lap records - an AMA Superbike lap record and a World Superbike lap record. • The outright World Superbike lap record dates back to 1999 when Anthony Gobert recorded a 1:25.185 lap on a Vance & Hines Ducati around the 2.23-mile racetrack. • The World Superbike qualifying lap record is held by Ben Bostrom, with the Califomian lapping the circuit in 1:25.770 last year on his factory Ducati. • The World Superbike Superpole lap record was set last year by Troy Bayliss on another factory Ducati, with the Australian circulating at 1:26.273. • The outright AMA Superbike record was also set in 1999 by Anthony Gobert at 1 :25.5. Ben Bostl'om and Troy Corser - fast last year. certain to be fast this year. Eric Bostrom vs. Ben Bostrom. Mat MJadin vs. Everyone. Colin Edwards vs. Troy Bayliss and Troy Corser. Michelin vs. Dunlop. There are more than just a few storylines that will unfold from the World/AMA Superbike weekend at Laguna Seca. Here are just a few. • With Eric Bostrom set to race a factory Kawasaki in both the AMA and World Superbike events, that means he will face off again with his brother Ben, the factory Ducati World Superbike racer and the older of the two siblings. Naturally, Ben should have the upper hand, but Eric has been on a tear lately in both AMA Superbike and 600cc Supersport. He should be highly motivated to perform well in front of an intemational crowd - not to mention the World Superbike team owners - in this, his final season under contract with Kawasaki. • The big story in the AMA Series is really Mat Mladin. Or, more fittingly, who can beat the gritty Australian. This year, only three riders other than Mladin have won AMA Nationals • Eric Bostrom, Anthony Gobert and Jamie Hacking. In addition to battling his foes on the track, Mladin also has his hands full with what seems to be an ongoing war between the two-time AMA Superbike Champion and the AMA - as strange as that may seem. Mladin is always highly motivated. He will be even more so at Laguna Seca since he has just been handed a $5000 fine and a one-point penalty for voicing his opinion on the recent round at New Hampshire Intemational Speedway. • Naturally, the battie for the World Superbike Championship is foremost in those riders minds as they come to Laguna Seca. Currently there are three riders in with a real shot at taking the title: Ducati Infostrada's Troy Bayliss, Castrol Honda's Colin Edwards and Aprilia's Troy Corser. All three have performed well in the past, though Corser has fared better than the other two. This race will likely prove pivotal in the battle for the crown. • Tires. Michelin vs. Dunlop. Dunlop vs. Michelin. It's a battle that's played out each and every weekend in World Superbike racing. Many feel that Dunlop has the upper hand at Laguna Seca because of the fact that they test and race here often with the AMA Super· bike teams. Of the 12 World Superbike races run at Laguna, Dunlop leads the battle· but it's close - 7-5. MatMladin tries to chase down Nicky Hayden in last year's AMA Superbike National at Laguna Seca. cue I _ n __ S • JULY 4.2001 18