AMA Press Release: Superbike at Sears Point, Friday and Saturday Notes

08/26/96

AMA Superbikes Series from Sears Point: Friday Notes

Half-way through Friday's Superbike qualifying session and several
interesting developments.

-- Aaron Yates (Yoshimura Suzuki), who has never been close to earning
a Superbike pole, is the early leader.

-- Doug Polen looks very strong on his Suzuki GSXR750. He is currently
third fastest in his first AMA Superbike race of the season.

-- Doug Chandler and Miguel Duhamel have only turned in the 13th and
14th fastest times respectively, so far.

-- Harley-Davidson teammates Tom Wilson and Chris Carr are fifth and
sixth in qualifying.

Late news! Polen jumps to the pole with 20 minutes to go.


SEARS POINT AMA SUPERBIKE SERIES SATURDAY NOTES

ON THE TEAMLINE POLE:  Yoshimura Suzuki's Aaron Yates won the pole for
the Teamline 750cc SuperSport final with a lap of 1:45.413, almost two
seconds faster than James Randolph (1:47.386) who qualified with a
tweaked bike from an earlier practice crash.  Series leader Pascal
Picotte qualified 21st at 1:51.607. His Suzuki was later found to have
gas line problems. Mark McDaniel and Jim Leslie round out the front
row. Yates was also the fastest rider in the morning Superbike
practice session.

POLEN CRASHES IN PRACTICE:  Doug Polen crashed his Suzuki in Superbike
practice this morning. The bike was pretty banged up, but Polen is
okay. Polen said that James Randolph rammed into the back of him as
they crested the hill heading into the carousel turn.  Randolph also
fell in the accident and was unhurt. Polen's weekend may be in
jeopardy after qualifying second in Friday's session. His crew, headed
by former AMA 250GP star Danny Walker, has a long road ahead of them
to get the bike raceable.


SEARS POINT AMA SUPERBIKE SERIES SATURDAY NOTES

DUHAMEL ON PRO HONDA OILS POLE: Smokin' Joe's Honda rider Miguel
Duhamel took the pole for the Pro Honda Oils 600cc SuperSport final
with a time of 1:47.158 (84.660 mph). Thomas Stevens (Kinko's
Kawasaki), Gerald Rothman, Jr. (Moto Liberty Honda) and Andrew Stroud
(Erion Racing Honda) round out the front row. Doug Toland (Erion
Racing Honda) injured his knee in a dirt bike crash last week and is
hobbling around with a full-length leg brace. Toland qualified 12th.

1. Duhamel	1:47.158
2. Stevens	1:47.664
3. Rothman	1:47.967
4. Stroud	1:48.104

BOSTROM ON POLE FOR HARLEY SUPERTWINS: Ben Bostrom put his Bartel's
Harley on the pole for the Progressive Insurance Harley-Davidson
SuperTwins final. Series leader Matt Wait qualified second, followed
by David Estok and Micheal Amalric.