Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMAIChevy T r u c k s U . S . Superbike S e r ie s F in a l R o u n d : B a r b e r Motorsports Park win .' Th ere wa s nothing rea lly to lose if he was goi ng t o be o ut. I put m y he ad d o wn and put in so me really fast lap times and got back up to th e back o f M i g u el , and Miguel at t h e same ti me was closi ng on the lead ers . I got it ba ck to tw o , tw o and a hal f seconds , and I rea ll y wanted to ha ve a good race of it and try to get a w in. Th en I loo ked over my sho ulde r, and A aron was th ere. I figu red m aybe he figu red out w hat was going on, and I p ull ed over and let hi m go by . I told him I wou ldn 't hol d him up, and if he wa s in the rac e, I didn't want to go for a race win b ec au se I did n 't wa nt to m ix it up with th ese guys and end up lay ing on the track in tha t left ha n de r w he re a ll th e crazy peo ple co me up the in sid e of yo u. A lap later I re ali zed he stil l had th e prob lem , and I went ba ck pa st him. Migu el was alrea dy go ne, so I let Giovanni [B us sei ] go by bec ause I reall y did n 't wa nt him beh ind me goi ng throug h the lap pers and stuff - yo u just never know what th e la ppe rs ar e going to do. I did n't want to get ru n over in the middle of a corner. Lu ckil y , we ended up w ith a p od i u m . Bu t , yeah , I fu lly inte nde d after Aa ron had a pr o b lem to try and win the race. That 's wh y I put my head down and st arted c atch ing back up." Bussei was happy w ith his second p lace finish, the best of h is AMA season . ba ckward attacks. Mladin , th in k in g that Yat es was in some sort of trou ble , ac tua lly considered going for the rac e win , as he co uld see th e Hon da s no t too f a r ah ea d of h im . T he n he thou gh t t he b etter o f it, ultim at el y allow in g Bu ssei t o pass and settling for wh at looke d t o be fi ft h p l ac e . un t il th e H ond a s d ep o s it ed th em selves in th e kitty litter . "I said to Aaron [Yat es) befor e the rac e, 'Mate, I'll ge t out of your wa y . I wo n 't go for it , and I ho p e you ca n reall y win it ," M ladin said . "I wasn' t goi ng t o go a nd r a c e w i t h them t od a y . W e o bvio usly go t th e firs t rest art , and A ar on was b eh ind m e , and I pu lled ove r and just let him go co m ing up ov er the hill here. I didn't want t o get in his way , and I wanted t o tr y and ge t a Suzu k i up th ere on th e box, on th e top of th e bo x . In th e m ain rac e th ere at th e end, I was just sittin g there, and I saw Aa ron was up beh ind these co u ple of g u y s, and I wa s a co up le of seconds back just sitting and seein g wha t was going o n . Then Aaron st a r te d co mi ng ba ck wa rds , and I thought he had a prob lem. By that time th ey pr obabl y had about plus five or p lus fo ur and a half on m e at th e t im e , and Miguel had just got past Bussei. After Aaron had the p roblem and st art ed going ba ck wards , I looked over m y sho ulder and di dn 't see him . So I thought. 'If he' s going to be out, we 'll go for a race " I ' m very ha pp y ab o ut toda y b e c a u se this gi ve m e b a c k wha t I t hrew away t w o weeks ago in Vir gi nia : Bussei said. "Today I was ve ry luck because of the crash in th e fro nt with B e n [ Bo st ro m ] an d [M ig u e l l Duh am e l , a n d I 'm h e r e a n d ve ry happy. I wa nt to thank th e team and all the sponsors and Du c ati for g iving m e th e ch a nc e t o co me h er e. I'm very hap py to be no w here. I had a very good ti me since J uly . It' s been a very nice experience. I don't k now if I will come bac k he re next year , bu t in an y ca se this will be a part of my li fe that I'm very hap py about." Yates co uldn' t do anyth ing w ith h is b ik e surgi ng back and fo rth, and he ende d up fo urt h, cl o se but no ciga r in th e rac e for the Superbike title. Rapp ended up fifth , h is best o f th e y ea r, w ith Hi gb ee fi nishing b eh in d eN him in si xth . Barber Motarsparts Par1l Binningham, Alabama Results: Sep1ember ZO , Z003 (Final Round] -Zl SUPERBI KE QUA LIFYING : I. Mat M la din ( 1:2 5. 176 ); 2 . Aa ron Ya tes ( 1:25. 6 12 ); 3 . Migu el Duhamel (1 :26 . 100) ; 4. Giova nni Busset (I :26. 43 7) ; 5 . Be n Bo s t rom (I :2 6. 5 4 2 ) ; 6 . Kur t is Rober ts ( 1:2 6 .5 6 0): 7 . Steve Repp (1 :28.4 95) ; 8 . Sh awn Higbee ( 1:26.49 8); 9. Vincent Heskc vec (1 :28 .77 4): 10 . Op ie C ay lo r ( I :2 8 . 8 6 3) ; I I . G eoff May (I :28.867 ): 12 . Micha el B a rn es ( I :2 9. 1 18 ); 13 . Jo rdan Szok e ( 1:29 . 15 1); 14 . Tom Kipp ( 1:29 .306) ; 15 . Brian St okes ( 1:2 9 .7 5 2) ; 16 . J a c o b Ho ld en ( 1:29. 8 59 ); 17 . Mike Ciccon e ( 1:29 .9 19 ); 18. J ohn Han er ( 1:3 0 .02 8) : 19 . Eric Woo d ( 1:30 . 148) ; 2 0 . Jere my Toye ( I :30 .58 1); 2 1. Chri s Ulr ich ( I :30 .669 ); 22. J o hn Ja c obi ( t :3 0. 6 7 5 ); 23 . Sc o tt J en sen ( I :30 .700); 24 . Rebert Christman (I :3 0. 78 I ); 25 . M ic hael San c hez ( 1:3 0 .9 16 ) ; 26 . B yr on Ba rbour ( 1'3 1.1 25 ); 27 . Marco Martinez ( 1:31.226 ): 28 . C.R. Gi ttere (1 :3 1.3 38) ; 29 . J .J . Reetlin ( 1:3 1.4 15 ); 30 . M ik e Su ll iv a n ( I :3 1.45 1) ; 31 . Ch ri s Vo e lker ( I :3 1.5 86 ): 3 2 . An dy Death era g e (I :3 1.6 0 6 ); 3 3 . Tom We rtman ( 1:3 1.6 74) : 34 . Reuben Frankenfield ( 1:31.67 5) : 35. Chuck Ivey ( 1:3 1.78 3) ; 3 6 . Dean Mi,dal ( 1:3 1.8 16 ); 37 . Kevin Hanson (1 :32. 156 ); 38 . Sco tt Carpent er (1 :3 2 .2 10 ) ; 39 . M ar k Ledesma ( I :3 2 .289 ); 4 0 . Chris Gree r ( I :32 .32 0); 4 1. James Kerker ( 1:3 2 .363) ; 4 2. Mon te Nichol s ( 1:32 .384); 4 3. T r o y Gree n (1 : 3 2 . 5 7 2 ); 44 . Sha wn Conr ed (1 :32.63 5) . RAC E ONE: I . A aron Yates (SUI): 2 . Kurtis Roberts (Han) : 3. Ben Bo strom (Han ); 4. Mat Mladin (SUI) : 5. Giovanni Bussei (Duc) ; 6. Sha wn Hig bee (Suz ); 7. Migu el Duhern et (Ha n): 8. J orda n Slak e (SUI ); 9 . To m Kipp (SUI) ; 10 . Vinc ent Hesk o vee (S uz) ; 1 1. Jerem y T o y e (SUI) ; 12. .Jeco b Ho ld en (SUI); 13. Micha el Barn es (SUI); 14 . Mik e Cicco tto (S uz) ; 15 . Scott J en sen (Su z); 16 . Bri a n Stokes (Suz): 17. Robert Christman (Suz); 18. Joh n Ja cobi (SU I ); 19 . Byr on Bar bo ur (SUI ) : 20 . Mike Sulliva n (SUI) ; 21. Dean Ma dal (SUI ); 22 . Mich o!l el Sanchez (SU ); 23 . Rueben Frank enfield (Suz); 24. J .J . Roetlin I (Suz); 25 . Marco Martinez (Suz); 26 . Chri s Voe lke r ( Duc) ; 2 7 . C.R. Gitte re ( Suz ) : 28 . Kev in Han son (Sua): 29 . Geoff May (S ua): 30 . Tem Wertm an (S uz): 31. Scott Carp enter (Suz): 32 . J am es Kerker (Ho n ). Tim e: 40 m in .• 46.4 62 sec . Distan ce: 28 lap s. 64 .4 mi les Average speed: 94.8 m ph Margin of victory: 5.93 1 sec. RACE TWO: 1. Kurt is Robert s (Hon ); 2. Giovan ni Bu sse! (Duc) ; 3. Mat Mili din (SUI ); 4. Aa ro n Yates (Suz); 5. Steve Repp (Suz); 6. Shawn Higbee (Suz); 7. To m Kipp (Kaw): 8. Vincent Hasko vec (Suz) ; 9. Er ic Wood (S uz) ; 10 . Mi c hae l Barn es (S uz ); 11. J ac o b Ho ld en (Suz); 12. J o hn Haner (Ya m) ; 13 . Marco Mart inez (Suz); 14. Brian Stoke s (Suz) ; 15. Je remy Toye (SUI ); 16. Andy Deathera ge (Suz); 17. B yr on B arb our (Suz) ; 18 . J .J . Ro etli n (S uz); 19. Ro bert Christ m an (Suz) ; 20 . Geo ff May (Suz); 21. Michael Sanchez (Suz); 22. Mik e Ciccott o ( Suz); 23 . Reuben Frankenfield (Suz); 24 . Tom Wertma n (Suz); 25 . Scott Carpente r (Suz): 26 . Chri s Voelk er (Duc) ; 2 7. Kev in Hanson (Suz) ; 28 . Monte Nicho ls (Suz) ; 29 . Chuck lvey (Suz); 30 . J am es Kerk er (Hon) : 31. Dean Mi zdal (Suz); 3 2. J ohn .Jeco bl (Suz). TIme : 1 hou r. 2 1 m in .• 14 .550 sec. Distan ce: 28 taps. 64 .4 m iles Av erage speed: 47 .6 mph Margin of victory: 5.23 7 sec. AMA S U PERB I K E NATIONAL C'SHIP POINT STA.NDINGS (A fter 18 of 18 rounds ): 1. ~t M1adin (5 50/1 0 wins); 2. Aaron Yates (5 19/ 3 wins); 3. Kurti s Ro b erts (4 74 / 2 win s) ; 4 . B en Bo str om (4 6 2 ); 5. Mi gu el D uh am el ( 4 17/1 win ) ; 6 . Sha w n Higbee ( 39 6); 7 . Eric Bo str om (3 5 0 ): 8 . Ja son Pridmor e (339) ; 9. Vincent Heskc vec (285) ; 10. J ordan Szoke (2 6 3) ; 1 1. Geoff Ma y (2 4 9); 12 . Mi c ha el B arn es (238); 13 . Mike Ci cc one (229); 14 . Larry Pegram (2 1 1); 15. Scott Jens en (2 10 ); 16. Gio vanni Bussei ( 18 6 ): 17. Ja cob Ho lden ( t 79 ); 18. J eremy Toy e ( 175) ; 19. Deen Mizdal ( 168); 20. Anthon y Gobert ( 13 1). P r o H o n d a Oils S u p e r spo rt R o u n d 1 1 : Barber Motors p o rt P a r k --------- tra ck, so th ere was danger in th e slick spo ts , especially the tar patch es, and espec ially wh en th e ra c e beg an . By th e tim e th e fina l sprint w as run , it was m ostl y dry , and the race wou ld be free of traffi c . Out fr ont , Kawas aki ' s T ommy Hayd en was on his wa y to w innin g hi s second race of the weekend , and fi rst Sup ersport su ccess of the ye a r. pressed hard to the end by Bu ckmas te r a nd Amer ican Hond a 's Migu el Duham el. T h en cam e Yamaha ' s Aaron Gobert a nd Ha c k in g , r id in g sens ib ly and ca utio usly and nerv ou sIy , but with pl enty of cushion to take the title , his fir st as a pr o. " I w on seve n a ma teur n ati onal titles , but th ose don't m ean noth in g to t his ," H ac k in g said . " T h is i s a drea m . Ever y bod y wants to win a 600 Su perspo rt Cha mpionship, an d th en they wa nt to m ove o n from th ere. So I've completed one goal. I know now I c an c o me back next ye ar and compete . I want to ho ld that number -on e plate again . I want to be back on top . S T O RY AND P HO T O S B Y H E N N Y R A Y A B RA M S BIRMINGHAM, AL, SEPT. 21 I leven race s over 6 t, m onths, and th e Pro Hond a Oil s Supersp ort Championship c am e down to a sixlap sprint. A red flag on the 12th of 17 laps meant the race would be rest art ed , w ith the work of the fi rst two-thi rds disc arded. "When I had to think a bout it, I t houg h it was a pretty good dea l ," Yam aha's Damon Buck m ast er , in th e hunt for the title, said . Teammate Jamie Hack ing had th e strong er hand, coming to B a rb e r Motorsports Park with a health y po int s lead. Bu ckma st er was on the pole, taking th e po int that goes with it a nd shri nki ng H a c k in g ' s l e ad , his o nly hope th at Hacking wo uld finish worse tha n eig hth if Bu ckmaster wo n and led th e most laps. Given Ha ck ing 's success this year, that wa sn 't li k ely . Bu t there was an X- facto r: th e tra ck. Rain in th e m orn ing coated th e E 12 O C T O B ER 1, 2003 ' cue I e n & vv S And we ' ve got the bike to do it." Hack ing proved th e Yamaha R6 was th e best of the m idd leweigh ts, as did Buck m aster, who finished second i n th e c h a m pio ns hi p, ei g h t points bac k , 334 to 326. Kawa saki's Hay den m oved by Gobert, another Yama ha, for th ird with 250. " J am ie [Hacki ng] did what he had to d o , " Bu ckmas ter said . " H e was o bv io usly running comfortable enough at that pace. He stayed up there . I was like, 'J ust try to wi n this race .'" It lo o ked like he m ight in the firs t seg ment. B u c km a st er l ed t he fir st th ree laps of the origi na l 17 , m uch of th e p os iti oning d ecid ed b y ti res . Some we nt w it h DOTs , so m e we nt with ra ins , som e hard , so m e soft , Tommy Hayden (22) managed t o hold off Damon Bu c kma ste r (6) and Miguel Duhamel (h idden) to w in the 600cc Supersport race at Barber. more care be ing given to the front on the abrasive Barber surface , which was wet in pa tches. The lead pack was five in the early going, Buckmaster in front, Hacking at t he rear. Hayden , Duham e l and Go bert m ixin g it up in the m iddl e. "I was leadin g , but it seemed like I was n 't setting a fast enough p ac e anyway," Bu ck m ast er said. "I di dn't exactl y fee l that c om fort able p ushi ng that hard. T he tra ck was a bit patchy, which is always a question mark on tha t sort of th ing :

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