AMA: Loudon Classic Celebrates 75 Years of Racing
19 June 1998
WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- The oldest motorcycle race meet in the nation celebrates its Diamond anniversary June 19-21 at Loudon International Speedway, as the American Motorcyclist Association's (AMA) MBNA Superbike Tour caps off a week-long celebration of motorcycling in New Hampshire.Coming on the final weekend of the Loudon Motorcycle Rally and Race Week, the MBNA Superbike Tour's six series races feature knee-dragging action, with the nation's top riders competing on everything from 250cc production racers to 750cc factory-backed Superbikes.
In the premier MBNA Superbike series, Australian Mat Mladin looks for his first win of the season after four podium finishes. Riding for the Yoshimura Suzuki team, Mladin holds the track record at NHIS with a time of 48 minutes 38.71 seconds, which gives him a good shot at a victory this year. To reach the top spot, though, he'll have to get around series leader Miguel Duhamel, who has pulled down four wins so far this season and seems on a charge for the title on his Honda RC45. The Honda mounted Canadian won Loudon in 1995 and 1996, but suffered a dismal 30th-place finish last year.
And it's never safe to count out second-place rider and defending Superbike Champion Doug Chandler, who sits with his Muzzy Kawasaki a mere 7 points out of first place. The rider from Salinas, Calif. is smooth, and his ability to put together series of curves could be rewarded on the tight Loudon track. Then there's third-place rider Anthony Gobert, who trails Chandler by 8 points. The flamboyant Aussie has three wins under his belt this season and has been battling hard with Duhamel lately, pulling off last weekend's race win at Road America, edging out Duhamel at the line to take the flag by a sliver--22 thousandth of a second.
In the Elf Fuels and Lubricants 250 series, Roland Sands of LaPalma, Calif., continues to dominate. The Yamaha-mounted rider has taken four wins this season and comes to Loudon with a 45-point margin. Also on a Yamaha is second-place rider Charles Sorenson of San Jose, Calif., who could close that gap with a strong finish at Loudon.
The Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport Series is turning out to be one of the most competitive classes this season, with a mere 11 points separating the top-three riders, British Colombian Steve Crevier leads the series with 199 points, with his consistency giving him the top spot despite a results card that shows not a single win. Nipping at Crevier's heels is series 1997 Champion Miguel Duhamel just a single point back. Just 10 points behind Duhamel is his Honda teammate, Ben Bostrom. Bostrom, who has come on very strong in the 600 SuperSport series this year, could definitely be a factor for the title with the series reaching its midpoint.
In the Teamline 750 SuperSport Series, reigning champion Jason Pridmore, sitting uncharacteristically in fourth place, edges closer to the series lead. Although he and his HyperCycle Suzuki have taken three wins this season, he remains 19 points out of first due to a few disappointing finishes. Leading the series is Suzuki-mounted rider Steve Rapp, who has an 18-point margin over second place rider James Randolph. With a win at Loudon, Pridmore could easily find himself in second place with a chance of sneaking up on the points lead by series end.
The Progressive Insurance Pro Thunder Series continues to be dominated by Curtis Adams of Whittier, Calif., and his Orange County Triumph. Adams, with 211 points, has won five of seven races this season, but remains 1 point behind teammate Paul Harrell, of Canyon Country, Calif., due to missing the first round of the series in Phoenix, Az. In the third spot is Tilley's Harley-Davidson rider Shawn Higbee. The Buell-mounted Higbee, 9 points out of first, has taken two wins and missed the podium only once this season, and he continues to push the leaders.
In the Pirelli Formula Extreme Series, Erion Honda teammates Eric Bostrom and Tripp Nobles III continue to battle each other for the series lead while leaving the rest of the field behind. Nobles leads with 187 points, while Bostrom is only 2 points back. In third place, 30 points out of first, is Mark Miller of Long Beach, Calif. on a Graves Motorsport's Yamaha.
MBNA SUPERBIKE SERIES' PAST WINNERS NEW HAMPSHIRE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIREYear Winner, Hometown Mach. 1976 Mike Baldwin, Darien, CT Moto-Guzzi 1977 Ron Pierce, Bakersfield, CA BMW 1978 John Bettencourt, W. Bridgewater, MA Suzuki Harry Klinzmann, Garden Grove, CA BMW 1979 Richard Schlachter, Old Lyme, CT Ducati 1980 Freddie Spencer, Shreveport, LA Honda 1981 Eddie Lawson, Ontario, CA Kawasaki 1982 Wayne Rainey, Norwalk, CA Kawasaki 1983 Mike Baldwin, Stamford, CT Honda 1984 Sam McDonald, Sapulpa, OK Honda 1985 Fred Merkel, Carson, CA Honda 1986 Wayne Rainey, Norwalk, CA Honda 1987 Kevin Schwantz, Houston, TX Suzuki 1988 Doug Polen, Denton, TX Suzuki 1989 Jamie James, Baton Rouge, LA Suzuki 1990 Doug Chandler, Salinas, CA Kawasaki 1991 Scott Russell, Jonesboro, GA Kawasaki 1992 Scott Russell, Santa Ana, CA Kawasaki 1993 Scott Russell, Monterey, CA Kawasaki 1994 Troy Corser, Willow Grove, PA Ducati 1995 Miguel Duhamel, Repentigny, PQ,CAN Honda 1996 Miguel Duhamel, Lasalle, PQ, CAN Honda 1997 Mat Mladin, Australia Ducati
