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/128158
AMAIChevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Series Round B: Pikes Peak International Raceway By PAUL CARRUTHERS PHOTOS BY HENNY RAY ABRAMS FOONTAlN, CO, JUNE 2 @ n Friday, Eric Bostrom was out of it. Jet-lagged and somewhat lethargic after his run of trips to and fro for World Superbike events, the factory Kawasaki rider was way off the pace at a Pikes Peak International Raceway circuit on which he is normally dominant. By Saturday, Bostrom was better. On Sunday, he was back to normal, and dominant. The Californian got the jump from pole position, led into the first turn and was never headed over 48 ruthless laps of the tiny 1.35-mile racetrack. He was fast throughout, dealt with traffic as best he could, and was never really threatened as he rode off to a 15.283-second win in what was a stunningly boring race on a hot and windy day in Colorado. The victory was Bostrom's third AMA Superbike National win at the facility - the most of any Superbike rider - and his sixth career victory. While the race was somewhat processional, it didn't lack for drama. American Honda's Nicky Hayden hadn't put a wheel wrong in the seven races prior to this one. But no man is perfect, and Hayden proved that as he tossed his RCSI down the road in turn three, a tight left-hand hairpin. The crash was innocent enough, but the damage was sufficient as the Honda caught fire, ending any chance Hayden had of remounting. Still, a 8 JUNE 12, 2002' cue • e near-perfect season to this point has him far enough ahead in the championship to keep him in a fairly steadfast position, though it proved that really anything can happen. Hayden wasn't the only one to have an eventful afternoon. How's this for your basic day at the office? Blimpie's Yoshimura Suzuki's Aaron Yates jumped the start and was forced to come in for a stop-and-go penalty. Never one to throw in the towel over something silly - like having the entire pack on the track while he obeys a 55-mph pit-lane speed limit, then does his time in the penalty box, and rejoins the race well down the field - n .. _ s Yates simply went on a tear. He stormed around the racetrack faster than everyone but Bostrom, and by the time the white flag was thrown, he was right on his teammate Jamie Hacking's rear wheel - and Hacking was in second place! Never one to settle for anything, Yates promptly passed Hacking on the final goaround and finished second. If anyone has ever finished second after being penalized with a pit-road excursion, no one seemed to remember it. Stunning stuff from a man who never ceases to impress. That left Hacking to finish third. Not bad, considering he'd crashed out of the lead in the 600cc Supersport race earlier in the day - leaving him a tad on the disappointed side. It was Hacking's best finish since Daytona. Fourth place went to defending series champion Mat Mladin. The Australian also had an eventful time of it, running second early before tire woes forced him backward. He finished the race with a severely shredded rear tire, but was still fourth. Nicky Hayden made the first mistake of his season at Pikes Peak when he crashed the factory RC51. The bike caught fire and Hayden was unable to restart the race, but he stili leads the championship by 42 points.