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AMA Suberbike Report from Sears Point

2 September 1997

DUHAMEL ADDS TO SUPERBIKE WINNING STREAK


	SONOMA, Calif., -- Canadian Miguel Duhamel continued his AMA MBNA Superbike winning streak Sunday in Sonoma, Calif., taking his fourth-straight win and moving into second in the series standings. Duhamel, riding a Honda RC45, led from start to finish after holding off an early challenge from last year's winner Aaron Yates. Yates suffered a flat rear tire on his Suzuki and finished 14th after his crew made a the unscheduled tire change.
	With the win, Duhamel moved past Australian Mat Mladin and to within 20 points of series leader Doug Chandler. Chandler, the defending AMA Superbike champion from Salinas, Calif., rode a conservative race on his Kawasaki, finishing fourth. He needs only to finish 13th or better in the season finale in Las Vegas to clinch his third AMA Superbike title.
	Duhamel's Honda teammate, Steve Crevier, rode to second, his best finish in over two years. Despite his excellent finish, Crevier was told earlier in the weekend by Honda that he would not be part of its Superbike team in 1998. Crevier said in the post-race press conference that he hoped his Sears Point ride would prove to people he still has the ability to run up front.
	Suzuki's Pascal Picotte rounded out the top three Superbike finishers making it an all Canadian podium. It was the first Superbike podium finish of the season for Picotte, who won the Pro Honda Oils 600cc SuperSport race earlier in the day.
	Rich Oliver won his 19th-straight Elf 250cc Grand Prix race. Oliver said the 250cc GP final was an exhausting race, having just completed his return to AMA Superbike racing. Just prior to the 250cc race, Oliver finished ninth in the Superbike final -- his first time on a Superbike since 1985.
	Eric Bostrom won the Progressive Insurance Harley-Davidson SuperTwins final over Dave Estok and Nate Wait.
	
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