AMA: Superbike Series at Brainerd, Report, Results, and Standings

07/16/96

GRAMIGNI VICTORIOUS AT BRAINERD

BRAINERD, Minn. -- Alessandro Gramigni, starting from the
pole, led flag to flag in the AMA Superbike Series race at Brainerd
International Raceway to take the win on his Ferracci Ducati. Gramigni
blistered the three-mile Brainerd circuit setting a new race record of
107.985 miles per hour and winning by over six seconds. It was
Gramigni's second AMA Superbike victory in only four starts for the
1992 125cc Grand Prix World Champion. Defending series champion,
Miguel Duhamel, finished second on a Honda and took over the series
lead. Chardon, Ohio rider Tom Kipp took third riding a Yamaha.

Doug Chandler, the Salinas, California who led the series
coming into Brainerd, pulled out of the race after nine laps his
Kawasaki billowing smoke from the tailpipe after a cooling line
broke. Chandler, the 1990 AMA Superbike Champion, now trails Duhamel
by 10 points with two races remaining.

Gramigni blasted away from the line on his bright red Ducati
and was followed closely by teammate Larry Pegram and Chandler. The
two Ducatis gradually began pulling away from the rest of the
field. On lap five Pegram's Ducati quit with electrical problems. That
left Gramigni all alone in front with Chandler, Duhamel and Suzuki's
Mat Mladin battling for second.

In the closing laps Kipp moved up as high as second after
Chandler's retirement. Duhamel outbraked Kipp on the final lap to
secure second, Australian Mladin was close, but couldn't improve his
spot due to overheated tires.

"I very much like this track," said Gramigni in broken
English. "It reminds me of the European circuits with its fast
turns. I look at my pit board and see I was pulling away, it made me
very happy. I think I'm learning finally to ride Superbikes."

In other racing Duhamel extended his lead in the Pro Honda
Oils 600cc SuperSport Series by winning a dramatic race which had
eight different lead changes between five riders. Thomas Stevens and
Todd Harrington, both on Kawasakis, rounded out the top three.

Ben Bostrom won the Progressive Insurance Harley-Davidson
SuperTwins race in a tight battle over Matt Wait, Dave Estok and
defending champ Scott Zampach.  Bostrom's margin of victory was
one-hundreth of a second.

Rich Oliver keep his 250cc Grand Prix winning streak alive at
Brainerd, winning easily over Randy Renfrow and Kristian Kass. Oliver
needs only to win at Sears Point and Las Vegas to finish with a
perfect season.

BRAINERD, Minn. -- Results Sunday in the AMA Superbike Series race
over the three-mile Brainerd International Raceway with rider,
hometown or country, make of motorcycle and winner's average speed:

 1. Alessandro Gramigni, Italy, Ducati, 107.985 mph.
 2. Miguel Duhamel, Canada, Honda.
 3. Tom Kipp, Chardon, Ohio, Yamaha.
 4. Mat Mladin, Australia, Suzuki.
 5. Michael Smith, Canton, Ga., Kawasaki.
 6. Thomas Wilson, Oregon, Ohio, Harley-Davidson.
 7. Aaron Yates, Milledgeville, Ga., Suzuki.
 8. Steve Crevier, Canada, Honda.
 9. Shawn Higbee, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Ducati.
10. Chris Carr, Valley Springs, Calif., Harley-Davidson.
11. Pascal Picotte, Canada, Suzuki.
12. Michael Taylor, Canada, Kawasaki.
13. Andrew Deatherage, Cleveland, Kawasaki.
14. Mark Miller, Long Beach, Calif., Suzuki.
15. Frank Wilson,Canda, Suzuki.
16. Daniel Bailey, Navarre, Ohio, Suzuki.
17. Mark Junge, Burlington, Wis., Suzuki.
18. Steve Patterson, Detroit, Mich., Suzuki.
19. Jim Dickenson, Canada, Suzuki.
20. Roger Hendricks, Brooklyn Park, Minn., Suzuki.
21. Dan Wade, Lowell, Ind., Suzuki.
22. Mike Walsh, Canada, Yamaha.
23. Dave Estok, Daytona Beach, Fla., Ducati.
24. Doug Chandler, Salinas, Calif., Kawasaki.
25. James Milroy, Jr., Omaha, Neb., Kawasaki.
26. Larry Pegram, Baltimore, Ohio, Ducati.
27. Tripp Nobles, Macon, Ga., Harley-Davidson.
28. Eric Wood, Mansfield, Mass., Kawasaki.
29. Al Salaverria, San Francisco, Harley-Davidson.
30. James Randolph, Santa Rosa, Calif., Suzuki.
31. Eric Moe, Spring Lake, Mich., Kawasaki.
Margin of victory: 6.076 seconds.
Lap leaders:       Gramigni led all laps.

AMA Superbike point standings
(after 8 of 10 rounds)

Pos Driver             Points
-----------------------------
 1. Duhamel               230
 2. Chandler              220 
 3. Kipp                  215 
 4. Picotte               199 
 5. Mladin                193 
 6. Higbee                163 
 7. Pegram                153 
 8. Yates                 145 
 9. Wilson                125 
10. Crevier               124