AMA Press Release: Chandler Looks For Father's Day Win
06/12/96
R96074 Contact: Larry Lawrence June 11, 1996 Phone: (614) 891-2425 For Immediate Release Fax: (614) 891-7368 FAMILY MAN CHANDLER LOOKS FOR FATHERS DAY VICTORY AT LOUDON WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- Kawasaki's Doug Chandler is hoping for a happy Father's Day at the 73rd Loudon Camel Classic this Sunday, June 16, at New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS). Chandler, a father of three, and his wife Sherry had their first child, Jet, just before winning his last race at Loudon in 1990. The 30-year-old Salinas, California rider was the first Superbike winner on the newly constructed NHIS six years ago and he returns this year reunited with the Muzzy Kawasaki team for whom he won the event. Coming into the Loudon Classic, round seven of the 10-race AMA Superbike Series, Chandler leads the Superbike standings by 19 points over defending AMA Superbike and Loudon champ Miguel Duhamel. The Chandler/Duhamel duel has been the headline story in a series that has been full of surprises this year. One surprise was the third-place finish by Newington, Connecticut rider Brett Metzger at a rainy Mid-Ohio in Lexington, Ohio on June 2. Metzger's previous best AMA Superbike finish was a 38th-place finish at Daytona in March. Metzger, who calls NHIS his home track, should be a sentimental favorite with the Loudon fans. Another big surprise was the victory by Italian Alessandro Gramigni, again in the rain, at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin last Sunday. Gramigni, the 1992 125cc Grand Prix World Champion, showed he too had excellent wet-riding skills as he gave Ducati its first AMA Superbike win in over a year. With AMA Superbike fans becoming accustomed to expecting the unexpected, the thing they can always count on are the performances turned in by Chandler and Duhamel. Duhamel began the season with a resounding win over Scott Russell in the closest Daytona 200 ever. He then went on to win convincingly at Pomona, California. While leading with three laps to go at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California, Duhamel's season took a tumble -- literally. Losing control of his Smokin' Joe's Honda out of a turn, Duhamel went crashing to the ground, leaving the way clear for Chandler to take his first AMA Superbike win in six years. Duhamel's round three crash gave Chandler the series lead, leaving Duhamel to chase the crafty California veteran ever since. In the support classes, Rich Oliver is better than halfway to his goal of winning all AMA 250cc Grand Prix races. Oliver is undefeated in six starts this year and is looking for his third straight win at Loudon. While playing catch-up in Superbike, Duhamel has a comfortable lead in the Pro Honda Oils 600cc SuperSport Series coming into Loudon. Expected to challenge Duhamel in the class is another two-time Loudon 600cc SuperSport winner, Mike Smith of Kawasaki. The Teamline 750cc SuperSport Series has been almost exclusively a Suzuki party this season. Suzuki riders own the top eight spots in the series, with Yoshimura Suzuki teammates Pascal Picotte and Aaron Yates battling for the series lead. Ben Bostrom busted the Progressive Insurance Harley-Davidson SuperTwins Series wide-open after taking third at Road America while early series leader Matt Wait failed to finish. Former Loudon SuperTwins winner Scott Zampach has a lot of experience on the 1.6-mile NHIS circuit and should give the young Bostrom tough opposition. Defending Performance Machine SuperTeams Champions Ebsco Industries Suzuki, have picked up long-time Loudon favorite Dale Quarterley. Ebsco (formerly known as Cycle Motion Racing) is leading the series again this year and should be favored to repeat at Loudon.
Larry Lawrence -- The Auto Channel