Motorcycles: Chevy Trucks US Suuperbikes, Road Atlanta, Saturday Notes

4 June 2000

Course conditions: sunny, humid, with temperatures in the low nineties.


Course length and characteristics: 2.54 mile, 12-turn road course.


Complete race results and broadcast times can be found on amaproracing.conm


CHEVY TRUCKS U.S. SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP - RACE ONE


Yoshimura Suzuki's Mat Mladin took his eighth career Superbike victory
today at Road Atlanta and his second in a row this year, following his win
at Daytona last March.


"The first six laps we had a seven-second lead," Mladin said regarding his
race. "I wasn't that aggressive through traffic, because I didn't need to
be." Asked about his thoughts on doubleheader rounds, Mladin said,"I think
it's a good thing. There aren't many tracks we can race at to put a
championship together."


Honda's Nicky Hayden took second-place after overtaking Eric Bostrom on the
last lap of the race. Hayden and Bostrom diced again during the last lap,
but Hayden was able to hold the lead. "I didn't get the start I wanted,"
said Hayden. "I saw Mat getting away. But the race went good. I started
eighth and finished second."


Kawasaki's Eric Bostrom took third after holding second-place for most of
the race. "The team is busting their butts and it's paying off," said
Bostrom. "We're almost where we want to be. Just a little bit more and
we're gonna be there."


Mladin won the Interstate Batteries pole award for today's race, earned
with a time of 1:23:782 and breaking his own 1999 track record of 1:23.890.


1997 World Superbike Champ and Vance & Hines Ducati replacement rider John
Kocinski finished in seventh place.


LOCKHART PHILLIPS USA 750 SUPERSPORT - RACE


John Hopkins took his second Lockhart Phillips USA 750 SuperSport victory
in a row aboard the Valvoline Suzuki. Hopkins was also on the podium
earlier today, taking second place in the eSportbike.com Formula Xtreme
race.


"I got behind Grant (Lopez), just when he tucked it in turn six," said
Hopkins. "After that I just tried to conserve tires and nurse them."


Chaparral Suzuki rider Damon Buckmaster took his first series podium of the
season. "It was good at the start. I felt really comfortable, then I had
some tire problems. The track temperature was right up there and I knew the
tires would go away."


Mike Ciccotto took third place on the Hooters Suzuki, his first AMA career
podium. "It feels good," said Ciccotto.


Grant Lopez was leading the race at the halfway point, when he went down in
turn six. He got back on the bike and returned to the race, finishing
eighth.


ESPORTBIKE.COM FORMULA XTREME - RACE


Kurtis Roberts won the first eSportbike.com Formula Xtreme race of the 2000
season aboard his Erion Honda. Roberts, the reigning series champ, took
three Formula Xtreme series victories in 1999


"I'm down on horsepower," said Roberts. "I think I was geared a little
tall. I could get in John's (Hopkins) draft and pick up 500 rpms, and then
it would go. But this is the first race, and we're working on it."


Valvoline Suzuki rider John Hopkins took second place today in the first
AMA Formula Xtreme race of his career.  "Me, Kurtis and Josh (Hayes) were
going back and forth. On the last lap I was behind Kurtis and getting a
good drive, I tried to shoot by, but I had a big slide and Kurtis got
away," said Hopkins.


Hopkins first AMA career podium appearance was last March, when he won the
AMA Lockhart Phillips USA 750 SuperSport opener at Daytona.


Valvoline Suzuki's Grant Lopez took third today. Lopez finished second in
last year's Esportbike.com Formula Xtreme race at Road Atlanta. "I got a
bad start," said Lopez. "I let the clutch out and bogged it. When I caught
up to them towards the end, I was on to John (Hopkins) and we had a good
battle there."


PRO HONDA OILS 600 SUPERSPORT - QUALIFYING


"Double A Ron" Yates has pole for tomorrow's Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport
race. Yates Yoshimura Suzuki was clocked at 1:27.538. Kurtis Roberts has
the number-two spot on the front row reserved for his Erion Honda with a
time of 1:27.633. Kawasaki's Eric Bostrom has the third spot on the front
row with a time of 1:27.638, and Tommy Hayden has the last spot reserved
for his Yamaha with a time of 1:27.947


MBNA 250 GRAND PRIX - HEAT RACES/GRID


Multi-time AMA 250 Grand Prix Champ Rich Oliver won heat race one aboard
his Yamaha, and has pole for tomorrow's race. Reigning MBNA 250 Grand Prix
Champ Chuck Sorensen won heat race two on the World Sports Yamaha, and has
the number-two spot on the front row.


1998 series Champ Roland Sands has the number-three spot in the front row
for the Performance Machine Yamaha, and Quenni King has the last spot for
his Broward Motorsports Yamaha.