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1999 MBNA Superbike Tour presented by Parts Unlimited results
Round 6 of 13
June 4-6, 1999
Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA

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Daily News & Notes
(All info will be posted at the end of each day local time.)

Go to the Results page for the MBNA Superbike points system breakdown.

 Sunday, June 6

Video of the start of today's Superbike race (394K)

Course conditions: mostly sunny, humid, with temperatures in the high eighties.

The MBNA Superbike Tour presented by Parts Unlimited races at Road Atlanta will air live on Speedvision, Sat., June 5 at 3pm EST, and Sun., June 6 at 3pm EST. Repeat broadcasts of the MBNA Superbike Race, Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport and Sunoco Formula Xtreme races will air on Fox Sports Net.

MBNA SUPERBIKE PRESENTED BY PARTS UNLIMITED - RACE TWO
Vance & Hines Ducati rider Anthony Gobert led every lap and won race two of the Big Kahuna MBNA Superbike races at Road Atlanta. The two wins bumped Gobert up a notch in the point standings, placing him in series third-place with 196 points --20 points behind series leader Mat Mladin. "It was fun," said Gobert. "The second part wasn't too much fun though. Ben was pushing me pretty hard, and I nearly crashed one time under the bridge... I thought Ben was going to get me, but luckily I had enough gas, and after that I just tried to stay real smooth."

Ben Bostrom took second-place today after taking second in race one yesterday. Bostrom remains ranked in series second-place with 200 points. "Anthony rode really well. I tried as hard as I could the whole time, I just got beat. We'll try again next week," Bostrom said.

Yoshimura Suzuki's Mat Mladin managed a dramatic comeback in today's race. Mladin ran off track on lap two to avoid an ambulance which was entering the track, and fell back to 13th place. After the lap 13 restart, Mladin steadily climbed back to the front for third-place, preserving his series lead.

Riders Joseph Fletcher and Gabriel Henning crashed in turn ten on lap two of today's race. Henning was transported to the hospital with a suspected back injury. Fletcher was transported with a possible broken clavicle. The race was later red-flagged on lap 13, when Yamaha rider Rich Oliver crashed in the turn four exit. Oliver was transported with a suspected broken left arm, a large bruise and possible fracture to his right elbow.

PRO HONDA OILS 600 SUPERSPORT - RACE
Erion Honda's Nicky Hayden won today's Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport race after taking the lead from Yamaha's Jamie Hacking on lap nine. "Me and Jamie had a moment over there, and I'm sorry about that, but I was in too hot too," Nicky said. "I thought I was going to run off the track, and I feel bad that I ran him off the track. It's one of those things. After that I ran a little bit tight, and was hesitant, I didn't want to screw up." Nicky also won the Phoenix and Sears Point races, and today's victory preserved his series lead.

Tommy Hayden -- who won the last race in the rain at Laguna Seca -- took second-place today aboard the factory Yamaha. Tommy trails Nicky by eight points in the standings, with 179 points.

Tommy's Yamaha teammate, Jamie Hacking, led laps three through nine of today's race and finished in third place. Hacking will remain ranked in series third-place, with 150 points.

American Honda rider Miguel Duhamel suffered a hard high-side crash in turn six on the second lap of today's race. Duhamel was transported to Northeastern Georgia Regional Hospital, with a possible fracture of the left tibia. Medics on the scene suspected it to be a re-injury of the leg Duhamel injured last season. The race was red-flagged when Duhamel went down, and restarted at lap two.

The race was red-flagged again on lap 13, and called final at 80% completion, when Graves Motorsports teammates Takahito Mori and Paul Harrell crashed in the exit of turn five. Mori declined transport to the hospital, but medics on the scene suspected he had a possible broken tibia. Harrell had a possible wrist fracture, and was transported for evaluation.

PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE PRO THUNDER - RACE
Penguin Racing Ducati rider Eric Wood took his first AMA national win in today's Progressive Insurance Pro Thunder race. The win is especially sweet for Wood. This weekend's race was his first in the series.

Series leader Shawn Conrad took second-place on his HMC Ducati. The podium is Conrad's fourth this season, and he has finished in the top-four at every race to date.

Shawn Higbee took third place aboard the Tilley's Buell. Higbee won the Phoenix and Laguna Seca rounds, and also took second at Sears Point. Higbee is ranked in series second place with 158 points, trailing Conrad by 21 points.

Next week's Pro Thunder race is sure to be a shootout, when Wisconsin residents Conrad, Higbee and series third-place rider Billy Graef take to their home track at Road America in Elkhart Lake.

Team Motorcycle Online Buell rider Dave Estok won heat race one, capturing his first pole of the season today.

MAZDA TRUCKS 250 GRAND PRIX - RACE
World Sports Yamaha rider and series leader Chuck Sorensen won today's race - his fourth win of the season. "We're trying to stay consistent," said Sorensen. "I'd like to keep on winning races. We're trying to keep our focus on the championship. I've been doing this for several years, and I'd like to have that number-one plate."

If Sorensen can maintain the series points lead, he'll have the number-one plate and a brand-new, Mazda B-Series Troy Lee Edition four-door pickup, to be awarded to the series champ at season's end.

1998 series Champion Roland Sands, who missed the first four rounds of the season after incurring a wrist injury in the Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport race at

Daytona, returned to the podium today for the second race in a row. Sands took second-place at the last Mazda Trucks 250 Grand Prix race at Laguna Seca.

Team Kids! Don't Smoke Yamaha rider Chris Ulrich took third-place today -- the first AMA national podium finish of his career.

Today's race was red-flagged on the first lap, when riders George Taylor, Jeffrey Maloney and Michael Myers crashed in turn three. Taylor was transported to Northeastern Georgia Hospital with suspected facial injuries. Myers was treated and released from track medical facility. Maloney returned to the pits under his own power.

Listen to Nicky Hayden's pos-race press conference describing his Formula Xtreme victory (800K)
Listen to Anthony Gobert's post-race press conference thoughts about his win (1.3MB)

Course conditions: hazy, humid, with temperatures in the high 80s.

The MBNA Superbike Tour presented by Parts Unlimited races at Road Atlanta will air live on Speedvision, Sat., June 5 at 3pm EST, and Sun., June 6 at 3pm EST. Repeat broadcasts of the MBNA Superbike Race, Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport and Sunoco Formula Xtreme races will air on Fox Sports Net. Go to the AMA Pro Racing TV schedule.

MBNA SUPERBIKE PRESENTED BY PARTS UNLIMITED - RACE ONE
Vance & Hines Ducati rider Anthony Gobert -- who won round two of last year's MBNA Superbike races at Road Atlanta -- won today's race. Gobert took the lead on the final lap from his teammate and reigning MBNA Superbike Champ Ben Bostrom. "I was kind of hoping that he (Bostrom) would cook his tire and he would start falling back at the end," Gobert said. The victory is Gobert's third this season. He also won the Pheonix and Laguna Seca rounds.

Ben Bostrom led laps 9 through 24 of today's race. His second-place today is his third podium finish of the season. "I couldn't ride any harder than I rode," said Bostrom. "I rode good, but these guys rode great."

Yamaha's Jamie Hacking took his second series podium finish of the season today with a third-place result. Hacking was in second-place for laps 12-21 of the race, but was overtaken during Gobert's late-race charge.

Yoshimura Suzuki's Mat Mladin won the Interstate Batteries Pole Award today during this morning's final qualifying session -- his second pole of the year. His fastest qualifying lap set a new track record at Road Atlanta with a time of 1:23.890. Mladin will have pole for both rounds this weekend, but will earn just one extra pole point in accordance with the doubleheader weekend points structure.

LOCKHART PHILLIPS USA 750 SUPERSPORT - RACE
Team Chaparral Mazda Suzuki's Tom Kipp took his fifth series win in a row in today's Lockhart Phillips USA 750 SuperSport race, further establishing his series lead. "These guys rode great today. They kept the pressure on. There were probably three or four guys who could've won today," said Kipp.

Valvoline Emgo Suzuki rider Grant Lopez took second-place - his first series podium and the second AMA podium finish of his career. Lopez also took second-place in today's Sunoco Formula Xtreme race.

1-800 Cycle Gear rider Jake Zemke took third-place. Zemke took second-place at the Willow Springs rounds earlier this year.

SUNOCO RACE FUELS FORMULA XTREME - RACE
Erion Honda's Nicky Hayden took his third win of the season in the Sunoco Formula Xtreme series, leading all 15 laps of today's race. "This year I've been kind of getting a slow start and working my way up, and today I thought I might try something a little bit different," said Hayden. The 17-year old also won the Willow Springs and Sears Point rounds.

Valvoline Emgo Suzuki riders Grant Lopez and Josh Hayes took second and third-place in today's Sunoco Formula Xtreme race. The second-place finish is Lopez' first career AMA podium finish. Hayes has now finished on the podium three times this year, having taken second-place at the season-opener at Pheonix, and third at the Willow Springs round.

PRO HONDA OILS 600 SUPERSPORT - QUALIFYING
Yamaha's Tommy Hayden captured the pole for tomorrow's Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport race with a time of 1:28.274. His younger brother Nicky -- and the current series points leader -- was second-fastest during qualifying aboard the Erion Honda. Muzzy Kawasaki rider and local favorite Aaron Yates, of Milledgeville, Ga., was third-fastest, and will start tomorrow's race in the number-three spot on the front row. Josh Hayes was fourth fastest, and has reserved the last spot on the front row of the race grid for his Valvoline Emgo Suzuki.

MAZDA TRUCKS 250 GRAND PRIX - HEAT RACES/GRID
Series leader Chuck Sorensen won heat race one aboard his World Sports Yamaha, and has pole position for tomorrow's race. 1998 series Champion Roland Sands won heat race two aboard his Performance Machine Yamaha, and will take the number two spot on the front row of the race grid. Semi-retired veteran GP racer Randy Renfrow returned to race today aboard his privateer Honda, taking second-place in heat race one, and will take the number-three spot. Chris Ulrich and his Kids! Don't Smoke team Honda finished second in heat race two, and will have the last spot on the front row.

APRILIA CUP CHALLENGE - RACE
John Hopkins was the winner of round one of the four-race Aprilia Cup Challenge series. Mike Himmelsbach took second-place, and Tracy McIntyre finished third.

Local favorite Ann Yates, of Milledgeville, Ga., crashed out on lap 8 of the 12 lap race, and walked away. Australian Alex Gobert -- younger brother of today's Superbike race winner Anthony Gobert -- took fifth-place.

Cycle News Editor Paul Carruthers finished a dismal 26th-place, but his spirits were not dimmed, having taken the victory the night before in the non-sanctioned GoldSpeed Go Kart Challenge in nearby Gainesville, Ga.

Check out some photos from Friday's action!

Course conditions: sunny, humid, with temperatures in the low 90s.
Course length and characteristics: 2.52 mile, 12-turn road course.

The MBNA Superbike Tour presented by Parts Unlimited races at Road Atlanta will air live on Speedvision, Sat. June 5 at 3pm EST, and Sunday, June 6 at 3pm EST. Repeat broadcasts of the MBNA Superbike Race, Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport and Sunoco Formula Xtreme races will air on Fox Sports Net. Go to the AMA Pro Racing TV schedule.

MBNA SUPERBIKE QUALIFYING
Australian Mat Mladin has the provisional pole for this weekend's MBNA Superbike races. Mladin, who rides with the Yoshimura Suzuki team, turned a lap time of 1:24.305 on the rolling 2.52 mile Road Atlanta course at an average speed of 108.463 mph. The time set a new track record for motorcycles, breaking Yamaha rider Rich Oliver's 1998 record time of 1:24.344. Mladin has one pole to his credit this season, captured at round two of the series, held last March at Phoenix International Raceway.

Riegning MBNA Superbike Champion Ben Bostrom was second-fastest in today's qualifying session with a time of 1:24.778 aboard his Vance & Hines Ducati. A resident of Granada Hills, California, Bostrom has started on the front row of every race this season but has yet to take the pole. 

Muzzy Kawasaki rider Doug Chandler, of Salinas, Calif., was third-fastest with a time of 1:24.899. Mladin's Yoshimura Suzuki teammate Steve Rapp, of LaFayette, Calif., was fourth-fastest with a time of 1:24.953.

Local favorites Aaron Yates, of Milledgeville, and Scott Russell, of Conyers, did not fare as well in today's qualifying session. Yates was 10th fastest on his Muzzy Kawasaki, and Russell was 14th fastest aboard his Harley-Davidson VR1000. But Yates and Russell have another shot, when MBNA Superbike Qualifying resumes tomorrow at 11:40am.

SUNOCO FORMULA XTREME QUALIFYING
Attack Performance Yamaha rider Mark Miller has the pole for Saturday's Sunoco Formula Xtreme race with a time of 1:25.601 and avergae speed of 106.821 mph. The pole is the second this season for Miller, who resides in Long Beach, Calif. He also took the pole at the Sears Point race last April.

Asheville, N.C., resident Steve Grigg has the number-two spot on the front row reserved for his Kawasaki with a time of 1:25.76. Owensboro, Ky., resident Nicky Hayden has the number-three spot, earned with a time of 1:26.187 on his Erion Honda. Valvoline Emgo Suzuki rider Josh Hayes, of Gulfport, Miss., has the last spot on the front row with a time of 1:26.598.

LOCKHART PHILLIPS 750 SUPERSPORT QUALIFYING
Mobile, Ala., resident Grant Lopez has the pole for tomorrow's Lockhart Phillips 750 SuperSport race. Lopez and his Valvoline Emgo Suzuki were clocked at 1:28.551 with an average speed of 103.263 mph.

Torco Suzuki rider Mike Ciccotto, of Sebastien, Fla., has the number-two spot on the grid with a time of 1:28.636. Tom Kipp, of Chardon, Ohio, was third-fastest aboard his Chaparral Mazda Suzuki with a time of 1:28.751. Yamaha's Tommy Hayden, of Owensboro, Ky., has the last spot on the front row with a time of 1:29.023.

PRO HONDA OILS 600 SUPERSPORT PRACTICE
17-year old, Owensboro, Ky. resident Nicky Hayden was fastest during today's Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport practice session with a time of 1:29.234 on his Erion Racing Honda. American Honda rider Eric Bostrom was second-fastest in practice with a time of 1:29.321. Bostrom's Honda teammate, Canadian Miguel Duhamel, was third fastest with a time of 1:29.394. Josh Hayes, of Gulfport, Miss., was fourth-fastest with a time of 1:29.414 on his Valvoline Emgo Suzuki.

APRILIA CUP CHALLENGE QUALIFYING
Mike Himmelsbach has the pole for Saturday's Aprilia Cup Challenge race. Himmelsbach's fastest lap was clocked at 1:37.969. Milledgeville, Ga., resident Ann Yates--whose older brother Aaron is a front-runner in the MBNA Superbike series--was fifth-fastest with a time of 1:40.376. Alex Gobert, who also has an older brother running in Superbike--Vance & Hines Ducati rider Anthony Gobert--was sixth-fastest with a time of 1:40.447.

Yates Family Winners in Media Marathon
A true story by Bill Nordquist

Aaron Yates and sister, Ann, starred in Wednesday's Atlanta area media tour to promote the Dunlop Big Kahuna round of the MBNA Superbike Tour presented by Parts Unlimited at Road Atlanta. Aaron and Ann tag-teamed local reporters for 11 hours of interviews and television appearances. Following is an inside account of the whirlwind tour, prepared by AMA Pro Racing Communications Manager Bill Nordquist.

Our media tour begins at noon in the Road Atlanta paddock, where Aaron and Ann are interviewed by Atlanta Journal Constitution motorsports writer Kent Mitchell. Aaron and Ann then endure a 45-minute photo session with Journal Constitution photographer David Tulis.

The shoot is staged in front of the Muzzy Kawasaki semi. Aaron and Ann are fully clad in leathers and boiling in the midday heat. But they remain patient, even laughing sometimes, as David poses them over and over again.

Following the photo session, Aaron's wife, Heather, and 3-month old son, Ashton, join the tour. The Yates and I pile into the rental car, and we tear off for WGNX CBS Atlanta, where Aaron and Ann will do separate interviews for the evening news, and a weekend feature for the WGNX website -- at www.cbsatlanta.com. Heather and Ashton stand on the sidelines, quietly observing the interview process.

Jumping back into the rental, we beat the start of the Atlanta rush hour and travel across town to meet Richard Crabbe at WXIA NBC Atlanta. A former AMA enduro racer, Richard set up our interview with sportscaster Sam Crenshaw. Aaron and Ann spend a long time with Sam, and this time Heather and young Ashton wait in the (air-conditioned) car. 

We depart WXIA, and decide to stop for dinner at an Italian restaurant in Buckhead. We pig out on the artichoke dip appetizer. Aaron orders the mixed greens salad. I get the same. Ann orders the walnut pesto salad, and splits it with Heather. Ashton sits quietly on Aaron's lap through the whole dinner.

After dinner we fight the Atlanta traffic, traveling out toward the Media One Studios in Norcross for the Sports Unlimited show. I get us lost at someplace called Spaghetti Junction, a cartoon-like tangle of freeways in the northern Atlanta suburbs. Hometown-boy Aaron takes over the navigation duties, and routes us down a side road which takes us to Norcross.

Arriving at Media One at 7:30 p.m., Aaron and I join editing tech Cheryl in the studio, where we explain the video highlight clips we brought with us.

"What's a lapper?" Cheryl asks. Aaron, a patient educator, explains the basics, and Cheryl comes back for more. "Why is your back tire wobbling like that?" Aaron blames the Laguna Seca track surface.

At 8:30, Aaron, Ann and I wait while the camera crew and host Mat Stewart prepare for the hour-long, live, Sports Unlimited show. Heather is out on the car feeding Ashton. 

While we're waiting to be called to the set, Ann says she's tired. She tells Aaron to do all the talking. We discuss the differences between a 9-to-5 job and a career as a Superbike pilot. Superbike pilot wins.

At just before 9 p.m., Aaron and Ann take their places on the set, and then the show gets rolling. Heather and Ashton come into the studio, and the three of us sit right behind the cameras, watching the drama unfold. At a commercial break, Heather tells Aaron to smile more. He gives her a giant-size grin in return. Ann joins in and smiles ear-to-ear.

The call-in segment of the show starts, and one of the callers is Aaron's friend and fellow Superbike rider Brian Gibbs. "You da man Aaron!" Brian yells into the phone. Another friend of Aaron's named Greg is staying at Brian's house and yells into the phone, "Hey Aaron, what kind of setup do you use on your XR100?" Aaron laughs, but won't give up the secret.

At 10 p.m. the show ends, and we start the drive back to the Road Atlanta paddock, where the Yates will be spending the weekend in Aaron and Heather's brand-new motor coach. The coach had developed a fuel leak earlier in the day, and as we drive Aaron wonders aloud whether the repair guys had made it out to fix the problem while we were gone.

We pull up to the coach at 11:15 p.m., and Ann's 250 Aprilia is not where we left it parked under the canopy of Aaron and Heather's coach. We frantically unlock Ann's trailer, and find the bike inside. Ann says that Dad Lucky Yates must have stopped by and locked it up sometime during the day. Heather picks up Ashton in his car seat and carries him inside the coach. As she closes the door, Heather apologizes for having brought Ashton on the tour. As if it were a problem. The little guy cried all of two minutes the whole 11 hours we were out. What a trooper.

I thank Ann and Aaron for enduring the long day, but assure them the results will be worth it. By Friday morning, people at the track are talking about how they've seen Aaron and Ann all over the TV, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution has run a half-page piece titled "Brother and Sister Act take the Stage at Road Atlanta."

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