---

Duhamel Nabs First AMA/MBNA Superbike Win of the Season

30 June 1997

BRAINERD, Minn. -- It took longer than he expected, but Miguel Duhamel
finally came through with a satisfying victory Sunday in the AMA/MBNA
Superbike Series at Brainerd International Raceway. Duhamel took over
the lead half way through the first lap and never looked back. The
diminutive French Canadian rode his Honda RC45 to a 10-second lead
midway into the 21-lap race, then cruised to an easy 3.450 second
margin of victory over Tom Kipp. Mat Mladin took third and closed to
within 15 points of series leader Doug Chandler with four races left
on the schedule.

The fact that Duhamel won at Brainerd wasn't so much of a surprise --
he won here in 1995 -- it was the way in which he won that caught
those trackside a bit off guard. After moving by Mladin and pole
winner Pascal Picotte on the first lap, the 1995 AMA Superbike champ
simply walked away from the field.

"We made some changes to the bike before the race and I happened to
pick the perfect tire compound," explained Duhamel. "I was a little
surprised I opened up such a gap, but I've always felt we could do
it. It's about time."

Kipp had his best finish of the year, making a late charge on his
Yamaha and passing both Picotte and Mladin with two laps to
go. Mladin, who held off Picotte to finish third, said even though he
didn't win, he was happy have gained four points on Chandler.

Defending AMA Superbike champ, Chandler, finished fifth, his worst
result of the season.

Duhamel's victory was the 14th of his career, placing him in a tie
with Eddie Lawson for fourth on the all-time AMA Superbike win list.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day came in the Pro Honda Oils
600cc SuperSport final. Three-time AMA 250cc Grand Prix Champion Rich
Oliver led nearly every lap, but was passed on the final turn by
Pascal Picotte who took the win on his Suzuki. It was by far the best
SuperSport performance turned in by Oliver, who runs his own racing
team, Team Oliver Yamaha, and is in his first year of SuperSport
racing.

Later in the day Oliver went on to win his 16th straight Elf 250cc
Grand Prix, his third straight win in the class at Brainerd.

Eric Bostrom took his sixth consecutive win in the Progressive
Insurance Harley-Davidson SuperTwins race, tying a mark set twice by
former champion Scott Zampach.

By Larry Lawrence