Chandler Launches 4th Consecutive MBNA Superbike Title Attempt in Phoenix
13 January 1998
R98001 January 12, 1998 For Immediate Release CHANDLER TO OPEN MBNA SUPERBIKE TITLE DEFENSE IN PHOENIX WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- Defending MBNA Superbike Series Champion Doug Chandler will begin his quest to become the first four-time champ in the history of American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Superbike racing when the 1998 series kicks off Feb. 13-15 at the Cruise America Arizona Superbike Challenge at Phoenix International Raceway. The MBNA Superbike event will culminate the week-long Arizona Bike Week celebration. Chandler's third-place finish at Phoenix last year began a string of top-three finishes that earned the Salinas, Calif., racing veteran his third-career AMA Superbike title. Chandler continues in '98 riding for Muzzy Kawasaki, his team for all three previous titles (1990, '96, & '97). This year could prove to be the most exciting season of MBNA Superbike Series racing since its inception in 1976. Chandler is expected to face a tough challenge from his arch-rival, Honda's Miguel Duhamel, the 1995 Superbike champ. Duhamel has battled Chandler tooth and nail for the Superbike championship for the last two seasons, falling just short of his quest and finishing a close second both years. Duhamel, who edged out Chandler for second at the Phoenix season opener last year with a dramatic last-lap pass, will be teamed with the Superbike newcomer Ben Bostrom. Australian Mat Mladin has to be a favorite coming into Phoenix. Mladin turned in a dominating performance on the 1.5-mile PIR road course last year en route to a nine-second victory in the Superbike race. Mladin has returned to the Yoshimura Suzuki team after a season riding for Fast by Ferracci Ducati. Mladin will be part of a huge Suzuki effort to win the Superbike title. The Suzuki factory will field two separate teams, one campaigning the established GSXR750 and the other running the new TL1000R V-twin race bike. Suzuki has won the MBNA Superbike title three times, but the most recent championship came in 1989 with Jamie James. Mladin, along with Aaron Yates, Steve Crevier, Larry Pegram and Jason Pridmore should give the manufacturer its best shot at winning the title in years. Ducati riders have won all three previous MBNA Superbike previous races at Phoenix, making the Ducati the Superbike of choice on the tight circuit. Ferracci Ducati will be strong again with Mike Hale returning from the World Superbike ranks and joining 11-year AMA veteran Tom Kipp. In its first full season of racing Vance & Hines Ducati has a formidable line- up with former MBNA Superbike champion Thomas Stevens and Australian star Anthony Gobert, who is fresh from World Championship Grand Prix racing. After four years of dominating Elf Race Fuels & Lubricants Grand Prix like no other rider in history, Rich Oliver is switching to Yamaha's Superbike team. Oliver will team with young Jamie Hacking who made a big splash in his first year of AMA Pro racing last season. Another youngster, 1997 AMA Superbike Rookie of the Year Tommy Hayden, 19, will team with Doug Chandler for Kawasaki. Hayden's younger brother, Nick, made his AMA pro debut last year and will ride with HyperCycle Suzuki. Harley-Davidson is still looking for its first Superbike victory and have brought in three-time Superbike National winner Pascal Picotte. Picotte will be joined by Tom Wilson, who is in his third year with Harley and gave the team its best Superbike finish with a second at Mid-Ohio in 1996. In addition to the MBNA Superbike Series, racing fans will get a full menu of support races such as the Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport and Teamline 750 SuperSport series, which features street bikes; Elf Race Fuels & Lubricants Grand Prix which gives the fans a taste of European-style GP racing; Pirelli Formula Xtreme, where riders try to master 1,000cc and bigger monsterbikes; and the Progressive Insurance Pro Thunder Series, which will feature a variety of unique single-, twin-, and three cylinder machinery. For tickets and information about the Cruise America Arizona Superbike Challenge at Phoenix International Raceway call (602) 252-2227. Arizona Bike Week begins Feb. 7 and includes nearly a dozen events including bike shows, dances and tours. For details about Arizona Bike Week call (602) 970-3757. -30- Connie Fleming American Motorcyclist Association Public Relations Administrator http://www.ama-cycle.org 614-891-2425
