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1999 MBNA Superbike Tour presented by Parts Unlimited results
Round 7 of 13
June 11-13, 1999
Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI

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

Pro Thunder Rolls into Green Bay...

 Sunday, June 13

Course conditions: continuous rain through the morning and into the early afternoon, with temperatures in the mid-70s.

Tape-delay and repeat broadcasts of the MBNA Superbike Race, Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport and Sunoco Formula Xtreme races will air on Fox Sports Net. Race notes, results and broadcast dates and times can be found on AMADirectlink, at www.amaproracing.com.

MBNA SUPERBIKE PRESENTED BY PARTS UNLIMITED - RACE
Today's race was red-flagged on lap 3, when Ferracci Ducati rider Matt Wait crashed in the kink (corner 11). Wait was air transported to Froedert Memorial Hospital in Milwaukee with suspected broken left and right collarbones, and closed head and chest trauma.

The restart was a disappointment for Yamaha's Jamie Hacking, who had obviously made the correct tire choice, and pulled away from the pack to gain a 20-second lead. The race was regridded at the original starting grid, as is called for early in a race with unusual conditions (wet track).

Vance & Hines Ducati rider Anthony Gobert took his fifth win of the season -- his fourth win in a row -- today at Road America. The Australian earned enough points to move up to series second-place, with 234, just eight points behind series leader and fellow Australian Mat Mladin and his Yoshimura Suzuki team. Mladin finished in fifth-place.

"I though for a while that Ben (Bostrom) was going to beat me," Gobert said. "But fortunately we had what it took again, and I couldn't be happier."

Gobert's teammate, Ben Bostrom, of Granada Hills, Calif., took second-place for the third race in a row. The 1998 MBNA Superbike Champion, Bostrom has finished on the podium five times this season. He now trails Gobert by two in the series points chase.

Yamaha's Jamie Hacking took third-place today. The podium is Hacking's third this year, he also took third-place at the Willow Springs race, and at round one of the Road Atlanta MBNA Superbike doubleheader.

PRO HONDA OILS 600 SUPERSPORT - RACE
Factory Yamaha rider Jamie Hacking took his first career series win in today's Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport race. "I said I'd win," Hacking said, referring to a comment he had made earlier in the day during the MBNA Superbike press conference. "I don't mean to sound cocky, but I ran a great race, I didn't make any mistakes.' Hacking, of Boiling Springs, S.C., has finished on the podium at all but two series races this year, and is ranked third in season points.

Series point leader, and Erion Honda rider Nicky Hayden, of Owensboro, Ky., took second-place today. Nicky has three series wins to date this year.

Hacking's Yamaha teammate, and Nicky's older brother, Tommy Hayden, took third-place today. Tommy has won two series races this year and now has an additional three podium finishes. He will remain ranked in series third-place.

MAZDA TRUCKS 250 GRAND PRIX - RACE
Today's Mazda Trucks 250 Grand Prix race started in the rain, which dissipated as the race ran on. Early in the race, 1998 Champion Roland Sands took to the course dirt-track style, upright, and dragging his foot through the slower left-hand turns. The technique worked, leading Sands to victory aboard his Performance Machine Yamaha.

The victory is the first this year for Sands, who has run a limited 1999 season after incurring a wrist injury during a crash in the Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport season-opener at Daytona International Speedway. Sands resides in LaPalma, Calif.

Semi-retired GP veteran Randy Renfrow, of Fredericksburg, Va., took second-place today on his Performance Machine Honda. Renfrow, who won the 1983 AMA 250 Grand Prix, 1986 AMA Formula One and 1989 AMA Pro Twins championships, finished last season ranked fourth in the 250 Grand Prix point standings.

Series leader Chuck Sorensen took third-place today for the World Sports Yamaha team. Sorensen, of Sunnyvale, Calif., has four victories to his credit this season, and has missed the podium just once this year, with a sixth-place finish at Laguna Seca.

PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE PRO THUNDER - RACE
Monte Nichols took the victory aboard his MCC Ducati in today's Progressive Insurance Pro Thunder race. The race is the first of the season for Nichols, of Aurora, Ill., and is his first AMA National career win.

Points leader Shawn Conrad took second-place in today's Progressive Insurance Pro Thunder race. Conrad led all but the last lap of today's race, when electrical problems dulled his Ducati's performance. Conrad, of nearby Sheboygan Falls, Wis., will retain the series lead.

Jeffrey Nash took third-place aboard the Silverman Ducati. Nash, of Mansfield, Tex., has steadily improved over the course of the season, taking fifth-place at Sears Point, fourth last weekend at Road Atlanta, and his first AMA national podium today at Road America.

Course conditions: overcast, scattered showers in the morning, with temperatures in the low 80s.

The MBNA Superbike Tour presented by Parts Unlimited races at Road America will air live on Speedvision, Sun., June 13 at 3pm EDT. Tape-delay and repeat broadcasts of the MBNA Superbike Race, Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport and Sunoco Formula Xtreme races will air on Fox Sports Net. Race notes, results and broadcast dates and times can be found on AMADirectlink, at www.amaproracing.com.

LOCKHART PHILLIPS USA 750 SUPERSPORT - RACE
Valvoline Emgo Suzuki rider Grant Lopez, of Mobile, Ala., took his first AMA National win today at Road America. Lopez took the lead on lap two and cruised on to the win.

"It was a really good race, and it feels good to beat Tom Kipp," said Lopez. "He's been around a while."

Lopez took his first career AMA National podium finishes last weekend at Road Atlanta, placing second in both the 750 SuperSport and Formula Xtreme races.

1-800-CYCLE-GEAR rider Jake Zemke, of Paso Robles, Calif., took second-place, his third series podium finish of the season. Today's race was especially fast, and Zemke set a new record lap time during the race (2:16.546) while attempting to catch and overtake series leader Tom Kipp.

Team Chaparral Mazda Suzuki rider Kipp, of Chardon, Ohio, took third-place today. Kipp--the 1994 and 1995 series champion--will remain the season points leader with five wins to date this season. Kipp captured the pole for today's race with a time of 2:17.680 and average speed of 104.590 mph.

SUNOCO RACE FUELS FORMULA XTREME - RACE
Erion Honda rider Kurtis Roberts, of Frederick, Md., took his third series win of the season in today's Sunoco Formula Xtreme race. Roberts entered today's race as the series points leader, and the win further established his lead.

"I didn't have the qualifying time I thought we were good for," said Roberts. "I knew we had our work cut out for us. I just did what I had to do."

Roberts also won the Pheonix International Raceway and Laguna Seca rounds. Attack Performance Yamaha rider Mark Miller, of Long Beach, Calif., took second-place in today's race. The podium finish bumped Miller up to series second-place. He also took second-place at the Sears Point and Laguna Seca races.

Graves Yamaha team owner Chuck Graves climbed onto the bike of team rider Paul Harrell -- who injured his wrist last weekend at Road Atlanta -- and put it on the podium today for a third-place finish. The race is Graves' third in the series this year. Graves resides in Van Nuys, Calif.

MBNA SUPERBIKE PRESENTED BY PARTS UNLIMITED - QUALIFYING
Vance & Hines Ducati rider Anthony Gobert won the Interstate Batteries Pole Award today at Road America. The Australian Gobert shattered Canadian Miguel Duhamel's 1998 track record of 2:11.024 with a time of 2.09.682 and average speed of 111.109 mph. "I'm comfortable, and my confidence is building," said Gobert. Asked about the dramatic difference between his fast lap and everyone else's, Gobert replied, "I was surprised. I don't know what I was aiming for, I was just trying to beat my time yesterday."

Gobert's teammate Ben Bostrom, of Granada Hills, Calif., was second fastest and will take the number-two spot on tomorrow's race grid with a time of 2:10.283. Both Gobert and Bostrom have started on the front row at every MBNA Superbike race this season.

Yoshimura Suzuki's Steve Rapp, of LaFayette, Calif., will take the number-three spot on the front row with a time of 2:11.406. Rapp also started on the front row at the Willow Springs race. Ferracci Ducati rider Larry Pegram, of Baltimore, Ohio, takes the last spot on the front row with a time of 2:11.452.

PRO HONDA OILS 600 SUPERSPORT - QUALIFYING
Yoshimura Suzuki rider and 1998 Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport Champion Steve Crevier has the pole for tomorrow's race. The Canadian Crevier qualified with a time of 2:19.201 and an average speed of 103.451 mph.

The results of today's Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport qualifying sessions were folded together--akin to the way heat race results are--due to the different track conditions during the two sessions. Even-numbered riders, who qualified in the first session, did so on a damp surface. When the second session of odd-numbered riders came out, the track had dried. The fastest rider of the two sessions, Crevier, was awarded the pole. The fastest rider in the first session, American Honda's Eric Bostrom, has the number-two spot on the front row of the race grid.

Bostrom, of Granada Hills, Calif., turned a lap time of 2:19.427. Erion Honda's Nicky Hayden, of Owensboro, Ky., has the number-three spot on the grid with a time of 2:19.225. Yamaha's Jamie Hacking, of Boiling Springs, S.C., has the last spot on the front row, earned with a time of 2:19.530.

MAZDA TRUCKS 250 GRAND PRIX - HEAT RACES/GRID
Veteran GP racer Randy Renfrow--who announced his retirement at the end of last season--refuses to stand still. Renfrow, of Fredericksburg, Va., raced last weekend at Road Atlanta and came back this weekend to Road America. He won heat race one today, putting his Honda on the pole for tomorrow's Mazda trucks 250 Grand Prix race.

Brazilian Quenni King won heat race two on his Broward Motorsports Yamaha, and has the number-two spot on tomorrow's race grid. World Sports Yamaha rider Chuck Sorensen, of Sunnyvale, Calif., has the number-three spot on the front row, and team Fieldsheer Yamaha's Edward Sorbo, of Redlands, Calif., has the last spot on the front row for tomorrow's race.

PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE PRO THUNDER - HEAT RACES/GRID
Hometown-boy Shawn Conrad has the pole for tomorrow's Progressive Insurance Pro Thunder race. Conrad, of nearby Sheboygan Falls, Wis., won heat race won today on his HMC Ducati. Conrad leads the series with 179 season points.

Jeff Nash, of Mansfield, Tex., won heat race two on his Silverman Ducati and will have the number-two spot on the front row of the race grid. Monte Nichols, of Aurora, Ill., has the number-three spot on the front row reserved for his MCC Ducati, and Shawn Higbee, of Waterford, Wis., has the last spot on the front row held for his Tilley's Buell. Higbee is ranked second in series points, with 158.

Course conditions: partly cloudy, humid, with temperatures in the high-80s.
Course length and characteristics: 4 mile, 11-turn road course, with an elevation change of 175ft. Turn one is the highest point on the track, turn 11A is the lowest.

The MBNA Superbike Tour presented by Parts Unlimited races at Road America will air live on Speedvision, Sun., June 13 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-QUALIFYING
Australian Anthony Gobert was fastest during today's MBNA Superbike qualifying session. Gobert was clocked at 2:11.126 on his Vance & Hines Ducati, with an average speed of 109.818 mph. Gobert's teammate and 1998 Superbike Champ Ben Bostrom, of Granada Hills, Calif., was second-fastest with a time of 2:11.214.

1991, 1996 and 1997 Superbike Champ Doug Chandler, of Salinas, Calif., was third-fastest with a time of 2:11.472 aboard his Muzzy Kawasaki. Ferracci Ducati rider Larry Pegram, of Baltimore, Ohio, was fourth-fastest with a time of 2:11.606.

MBNA Superbike qualifying resumes tomorrow at 3:30pm local time

SUNOCO RACE FUELS FORMULA XTREME-QUALIFYING
Erion Honda rider Nicky Hayden, of Owensboro, Ky., has the pole for tomorrow's Sunoco Formula Xtreme race. Hayden captured the pole with a time of 2:14.151 and an average speed of 107.342 mph.

Attack Performance Yamaha rider Mark Miller, of Long Beach, Calif. earned the number-two spot on the front row of the race grid with a time of 2:14.414.

Valvoline Emgo Suzuki rider Josh Hayes, of Gulfport, Miss., has the number-three spot with a qualifying lap time of 2:14.540. Hayes' teammate Grant Lopez, of Mobile, Ala., has the last spot on the front row of the race grid with a time of 2:14.846.

PRO HONDA OILS 600 SUPERSPORT-PRACTICE
Erion Honda rider Nicky Hayden, of Owensboro, Ky., was fastest during this afternoon's Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport practice session. Hayden's time of 2:18.877 and average speed of 103.689 mph set a new series track record, breaking Doug Chandler's 1998 record of 2:19.123.

American Honda's Eric Bostrom, of Granada Hills, Calif., was second-fastest with a time of 2:19.567. Nicky's older brother Tommy Hayden was third-fastest with a time of 2:19.892 on his factory Yamaha ride, and Tommy's teammate Jamie Hacking, of Boiling Springs, S.C., was fourth-fastest with a time of 2:20.185.

LOCKHART PHILLIPS USA 750 SUPERSPORT-PRACTICE
Chaparral Mazda Suzuki rider Damon Buckmaster was fastest during this afternoon's Lockhart Phillips USA 750 SuperSport practice session. The Australian Buckmaster turned a lap time of 2:18.842 at an average speed of 103.715 mph.

Buckmaster's teammate Tom Kipp, of Chardon, Ohio, was second-fastest with a time of 2:19.210. Valvoline Emgo Suzuki rider Grant Lopez, of Mobile, Ala., was third-fastest with a time of 2:19.663. Jimmy Moore, of Eugene, Ore., was fourth-fastest on his Ricci Suzuki with a time of 2:19.859.

Pro Thunder Rolls into Green Bay...

An inside account of the pre-race Media Tours for the MBNA Superbike Tour presented by Parts Unlimited at the Coca Cola Super Cycle weekend at Road America, in Elkhart lake, Wisconsin, as told by AMA Pro Racing Communications Manager Bill Nordquist.

We have a two-pronged approach for this year's Road America media blitz. Track Media Director Roger Jaynes has taken to the south, on a two-day stint in Milwaukee and Chicago with Harley-Davidson Superbike rider Scott Russell. On Thursday I'll take the great northern route, traveling along the shore of Lake Michigan to the city of Green Bay.

The day begins in the Road America paddock, where for the second week in a row teams are enduring record-high temperatures and humidity. At 10am I begin a sweep of the steaming paddock, searching through a maze of team transporters for Progressive Insurance Pro Thunder riders Shawn Conrad, Billy Graef and Shawn Higbee. They'll be the stars of the Green Bay Tour, and their story has made my pitch to the Green Bay media relatively easy.

Conrad leads the Pro Thunder series in season points, Higbee is ranked second, and Graef third. Higbee and Graef are Buell pilots--their bikes powered by motors from Milwaukee's own Harley-Davidson--and they're chasing Conrad and his Italian Ducati. To top it off, all three riders live in Wisconsin, within an hour's drive of Road America, their home track

I find Shawn Conrad at the HMC Ducati team encampment, where things are not what they should be. Shawn is concerned about the gearing on the Ducati, and his mechanics are working on the bike as we talk. He reluctantly backs out of the media tour, opting to stay with the team to get the bike dialed in and to get some track time during the afternoon open testing session. I'm disappointed, but understand. Conrad has a championship on the line, and wants to do especially well this weekend with sponsors, friends and family coming in.

Cruising on through the paddock, I find Shawn Higbee looking over his Buell with team owner Don Tilley. Shawn and I agree to meet at the AMA Tech station at 12 noon, and I leave him and Don to their work. A few minutes later Hal's H-D rider Billy Graef pulls up in his Celica Supra. Billy--the 1998 Buell Lightning Series Champ--is good to go.

We meet at Tech, and load up this week's choice rental, a Mazda 626 with very good AC. Billy is Mr. Organization, he has his own press kits and a detailed Wisconsin map. He shows me how we'll get to Green Bay, and we head out the front gates of the track into the emerald Wisconsin countryside.

On the road Billy tells Shawn and I about his flight to Atlanta the week before. Billy is a pilot, and owns his own plane, which he flew down to Atlanta for the races. Billy has a few other nice toys, too. He's got a Honda XR100 and a works YZ250. He and Shawn trade XR100 set-up secrets, and Billy invites Shawn to his house to race his dirt oval.

Billy just bought the YZ250 from Yamaha Superbike rider Jamie Hacking, and he's been playing with the bike on the motocross course he's laid out at his place. He tells us about the tractor and watering system he's using to keep the course in top condition. I'm a little jealous.

At 2pm we arrive at WGBA NBC 2 for our appointment with Bill Pikus. Bill has a lot of questions about the series, and the three of us explain everything we can before we start taping. Bill understands that it's important for sponsors to get their due, and makes sure the cameraman sets the shot so the Buell logos on Billy and Shawn's shirts are visible.

We leave WGBA for our 3pm with Mike Counter at WBAY ABC 2. As usual, I get us lost, but Billy quickly takes charge with his maps and gets us there in the nick of time. Unfamiliar with our sport, Mike Counter is nonetheless very interested in learning about motorcycle racing, and he interviews Shawn and Billy for 15 minutes each. He asks good questions, and Billy and Shawn are pleased with the session. We leave Mike with race footage from Road Atlanta, to be dubbed into the interviews.

Our next appointment is at 4pm, with Tom Oates at WLUK Fox 11. The station is just around the corner from Lambeau field, home of the Green Bay Packers. Billy's been there--he has season tickets--so he provides expert guidance and we arrive six minutes early. Tom does separate interviews with Shawn and Billy, and tells us he'll run the interviews and race footage during today's six and ten o'clock news shows.

At 4:45pm we're done with our appointments, and food is now our priority. Billy directs us about a block away from WLUK to Brett Favre's steak house, where we'll chow on Cajun cuisine. Billy orders the tuna steak. Shawn and I get the filet, which comes with a crawfish on top. "I think I'll pass on the critter," says Shawn, flipping the crustacean to the side. We talk about the latest video games and GPS systems. Shawn describes some of the engineering work he does at Buell, and his experiences as their full-time factory test pilot.

After dinner we point the Mazda south toward Elkhart Lake, and on the way back the conversation is all business. Billy and his dad have a home remodeling business, and are purchasing the statewide distributorship to a motorized retractable porch screening system. I've never heard of such a thing, but Billy has all kinds of applications in mind. "You can put it in the garage, so you can work on hot nights with the door open," says Billy. "When you're done, you just hit the button and it rolls up out of the way." Billy believes the product is just what Wisconsin needs for its pleasant but often buggy summers.

Billy describes his marketing plans for his business, and Shawn has some suggestions for an internet site. Aside from being a racer, Higbee--the1994 AMA Harley-Davidson SuperTwins Champ--also runs a computer consultancy and created his own website at www.higbee-racing.com.

As we're on final approach to the track, the two riders are sharing the life lessons they've learned from their racing careers. They talk about leadership, focus, perseverance, and the ability to shift gears quickly, both on and off the track. As I drop them off and thank them for a good day's work on behalf of the sport, the point sticks in my mind that these two-wheeled renaissance guys will be successful at any endeavor they choose.

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