Motorcycles: Chevy Trucks US Suuperbikes, Road Atlanta, Saturday Notes
4 June 2000
Course conditions: sunny, humid, with temperatures in the low nineties. Course length and characteristics: 2.54 mile, 12-turn road course. Complete race results and broadcast times can be found on amaproracing.conm CHEVY TRUCKS U.S. SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP - RACE ONE Yoshimura Suzuki's Mat Mladin took his eighth career Superbike victory today at Road Atlanta and his second in a row this year, following his win at Daytona last March. "The first six laps we had a seven-second lead," Mladin said regarding his race. "I wasn't that aggressive through traffic, because I didn't need to be." Asked about his thoughts on doubleheader rounds, Mladin said,"I think it's a good thing. There aren't many tracks we can race at to put a championship together." Honda's Nicky Hayden took second-place after overtaking Eric Bostrom on the last lap of the race. Hayden and Bostrom diced again during the last lap, but Hayden was able to hold the lead. "I didn't get the start I wanted," said Hayden. "I saw Mat getting away. But the race went good. I started eighth and finished second." Kawasaki's Eric Bostrom took third after holding second-place for most of the race. "The team is busting their butts and it's paying off," said Bostrom. "We're almost where we want to be. Just a little bit more and we're gonna be there." Mladin won the Interstate Batteries pole award for today's race, earned with a time of 1:23:782 and breaking his own 1999 track record of 1:23.890. 1997 World Superbike Champ and Vance & Hines Ducati replacement rider John Kocinski finished in seventh place. LOCKHART PHILLIPS USA 750 SUPERSPORT - RACE John Hopkins took his second Lockhart Phillips USA 750 SuperSport victory in a row aboard the Valvoline Suzuki. Hopkins was also on the podium earlier today, taking second place in the eSportbike.com Formula Xtreme race. "I got behind Grant (Lopez), just when he tucked it in turn six," said Hopkins. "After that I just tried to conserve tires and nurse them." Chaparral Suzuki rider Damon Buckmaster took his first series podium of the season. "It was good at the start. I felt really comfortable, then I had some tire problems. The track temperature was right up there and I knew the tires would go away." Mike Ciccotto took third place on the Hooters Suzuki, his first AMA career podium. "It feels good," said Ciccotto. Grant Lopez was leading the race at the halfway point, when he went down in turn six. He got back on the bike and returned to the race, finishing eighth. ESPORTBIKE.COM FORMULA XTREME - RACE Kurtis Roberts won the first eSportbike.com Formula Xtreme race of the 2000 season aboard his Erion Honda. Roberts, the reigning series champ, took three Formula Xtreme series victories in 1999 "I'm down on horsepower," said Roberts. "I think I was geared a little tall. I could get in John's (Hopkins) draft and pick up 500 rpms, and then it would go. But this is the first race, and we're working on it." Valvoline Suzuki rider John Hopkins took second place today in the first AMA Formula Xtreme race of his career. "Me, Kurtis and Josh (Hayes) were going back and forth. On the last lap I was behind Kurtis and getting a good drive, I tried to shoot by, but I had a big slide and Kurtis got away," said Hopkins. Hopkins first AMA career podium appearance was last March, when he won the AMA Lockhart Phillips USA 750 SuperSport opener at Daytona. Valvoline Suzuki's Grant Lopez took third today. Lopez finished second in last year's Esportbike.com Formula Xtreme race at Road Atlanta. "I got a bad start," said Lopez. "I let the clutch out and bogged it. When I caught up to them towards the end, I was on to John (Hopkins) and we had a good battle there." PRO HONDA OILS 600 SUPERSPORT - QUALIFYING "Double A Ron" Yates has pole for tomorrow's Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport race. Yates Yoshimura Suzuki was clocked at 1:27.538. Kurtis Roberts has the number-two spot on the front row reserved for his Erion Honda with a time of 1:27.633. Kawasaki's Eric Bostrom has the third spot on the front row with a time of 1:27.638, and Tommy Hayden has the last spot reserved for his Yamaha with a time of 1:27.947 MBNA 250 GRAND PRIX - HEAT RACES/GRID Multi-time AMA 250 Grand Prix Champ Rich Oliver won heat race one aboard his Yamaha, and has pole for tomorrow's race. Reigning MBNA 250 Grand Prix Champ Chuck Sorensen won heat race two on the World Sports Yamaha, and has the number-two spot on the front row. 1998 series Champ Roland Sands has the number-three spot in the front row for the Performance Machine Yamaha, and Quenni King has the last spot for his Broward Motorsports Yamaha.