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Superbikes: Duhamel Crashes Out; Championship Races Tighten Up

25 June 1998

LAGUNA SECA RACEWAY: "Aaron" was a great name to have last weekend. That's if you were one of the superbikers who will be here for the Dunlop World Superbike Championship event on the weekend of July 10-12.

Aaron Slight, riding a Honda RC-45, won rounds 11 and 12 of the SBK Superbike World Championship in Misano, Italy, on Sunday. The points earned moved him up to second in the title race, just six points back of Troy Corser. A handful of points covers the series' leaders. Their next event, featuring championship rounds 13 and 14, is in South Africa on July 5. Right after, they fly over 27 hours to the Monterey Peninsula for the once-a-year USA against the rest of the world races here.

Aaron Yates won the eighth round of the AMA National Superbike Championship, at New Hampshire Speedway the same day, on a Yamaha. Unfortunately, during a practice session two days earlier, there was a stark reminder of just how dangerous motorcycle racing can be. Points leader Miguel DuHamel crashed heavily, suffering a compound fracture of his left leg and a shattered knee cap, injuries which will probably keep him out of competition for the rest of the year.

During the race, DuHamel's Honda team mate, rookie sensation Ben Bostrom, also crashed while leading, but got back up to finish seventh. Reigning champion Doug Chandler led after Bostrom went off until he too crashed and came back, to wind up ninth.