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1999 MBNA
Superbike Tour presented by Parts Unlimited
results |
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Go to: Results | Daily schedule
Daily News &
Notes
(All info will be posted at the end of each
day local time.)
Course length and characteristics: 1.315 mile, 7-turn infield/oval road course.
Family affair makes for great Rocky Mountain media tour
Course conditions: mostly cloudy with temperatures in the low sixties.
MBNA SUPERBIKE PRESENTED BY PARTS
UNLIMITED-RACE
AMA Pro Racing penalized Yoshimura Suzuki rider Mat Mladin
for interfering with Vance & Hines rider Ben Bostrom's
qualifying attempt during Saturday's MBNA Superbike
qualifying session.
Mladin had set the fastest lap mid-way through Saturday's qualifying session, and was sitting on the provisional pole, when he interfered with Bostrom's late-session qualifying lap.
Mladin was penalized one point, which he had received for capturing pole in yesterday's session. Mladin remained in pole position for today's race start.
Mladin's penalty was leveled in accordance with the AMA Pro Racing Rulebook, pg. 67, (I): Engaging in any unfair practice, misbehavior or action detrimental to the sport of motorcycling in general, whether or not related to a specific competition.
When it came race time, Mladin showed his trademark determination, taking the holeshot and running away from the rest of the pack. Mladin held the lead until just after the halfway point, when he was assured that Ben Bostrom -- who had fallen back to 5th-place as a result of tire worries -- had little chance for the championship. Mladin then relinquished the lead to Harley-Davidson's Pascal Picotte, and a terrific race for the finish began. Picotte was chased by Erion Honda's Nicky Hayden and Muzzy Kawsaki's Doug Chandler.
After repeated dicing for the lead among the three riders, in the end it was Chandler for the win, Picotte in second and Hayden in third. Mladin finished fourth, winning the championship with a 10-point lead. "We had the best bike, the best team and probably the best rider," Mladin said, laughing. "Everything went well. We had a strategy to be as conservative as possible. Hopefully there won't be too many guys going faster next year, and that strategy will work again."
PRO HONDA OILS 600 SUPERSPORT- RACE
Nicky Hayden cruised to a comfortable fifth-place finish
today, which was good enough to wrap up the 1999 Pro Honda
Oils 600 SuperSport title. Hayden earned the championship
with five wins and two additional podium finishes.
Muzzy Kawasaki rider Aaron Yates won today's Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport race. Yates has made it to the podium four times this season, but today's victory is his first in the series this year. Yates now has five career AMA 600 SuperSport wins. "It was a pretty long race," Yates said. "I was trying to save mine for the end. Once they got held up in traffic I decided to go for it."
Yamaha's Tommy Hayden finished second. Hayden has three wins this year and an additional six podium finishes, and will finish the season ranked in series second-place.
Erion Honda's Kurtis Roberts took third-place -- his fifth podium of the season. He'll finish the season ranked in series third-place.
MAZDA TRUCKS 250 GRAND PRIX - RACE
1998 Mazda Trucks 250 Grand Prix Champ Roland Sands took the
race win today at Pikes Peak. The win is Sands' second this
season, though he missed most of the year after incurring an
injury at Daytona.
1999 Champ Chuck Sorensen took second-place today aboard the World Sports Yamaha. Sorensen clinched the title at the last race at Brainerd International Raceway, and was presented with a very sharp 1999 Mazda B-Series Troy Lee Edition truck on today's podium.
AMA 250 Grand Prix vet Randy Renfrow finished in third-place today, but was stripped of the podium finish and bumped back to 11th-place after it was determined that he jumped the light after a red-flag and re-started at lap 20. Renfrow has appealed the decision. Renfrow's penalty moved Broward Motorsports rider Quenni King up to third-place.
PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE PRO THUNDER - RACE
BMC Ducati rider Eric Wood took his fourth 1999 Progressive
Insurance Pro Thunder series win today. Wood was injured at
the season-opener at Daytona and did not return to race
until late in the season. Since then, he has won four of the
last six races.
1994 Harley-Davidson Supertwins series Champ Shawn Higbee took second-place today aboard his Tilley's Buell. With three wins this year and two additional podium finishes, Higbee will end the season as the runner-up for the championship -- second to HMC Ducati rider and 1999 Champ Shawn Conrad, who clinched the title at the last race at Brainerd.
Mark Ledesma took third-place aboard his Coyle Brothers Suzuki SV650. Both Wood and Higbee commended Ledesma on his race effort, put forth on a bike with just over half the displacement of Higbee's 1200cc Buell.
Saturday, Sept. 18
Course conditions: sunny with temperatures in the high 70s.
SUNOCO RACE FUELS FORMULA XTREME-RACE
Erion Honda's Nicky Hayden won today's Pro Honda Oils 600
SuperSport race at PPIR. The win was Hayden's seventh of the
season and his fourth in a row, but left him short of the
points he needed to win the championship. Hayden will finish
the year in series second-place.
The championship title went to Hayden's Erion Honda teammate, Kurtis Roberts, who finished sixth today, clinching the title with four wins and three podium finishes. 'I've basically been trying to conserve my championship lead," said Roberts. " Nicky, Josh (Hayes) and Mark (Miller) did a great job, I just did what I had to do." The 1999 Sunoco Formula Xtreme Championship is the third consecutive series title for the Erion Honda team.
Valvoline Suzuki rider Josh Hayes took second-place in today's race. The podium finish is his fifth this year, and he'll finish the season ranked third overall.
Attack Performance Yamaha rider Mark Miller took third-place, his fifth podium finish this season. Miller will end the season ranked fourth in Sunoco Formula Xtreme series points.
LOCKHART PHILLIPS USA 750 SUPERSPORT - RACE
1999 Lockhart Phillips USA 750 SuperSport Champ Tom Kipp
took his sixth win of the season at PPIR. Chaparral Mazda
Suzuki pilot Kipp put a mathematical lock on the title at
the last series race at Brainerd International Raceway in
Brainerd, Minn., and went all-out for the win this weekend.
Said Kipp, "I was riding a little more aggressive, but these
guys were behind me the whole time. I kept looking at my pit
board and it always said zero-zero," (indicating that there
was a negligible distance between Kipp and his
pursuers).
1998 Australian 600 SuperSport Champ Damon Buckmaster took third-place today for the Chaparral Mazda Suzuki team. Buckmaster won the last series race at Brainerd International Raceway. He'll finish the season well back in the standings, the result of missing the first half of the season due to a motocross training accident.
MBNA SUPERBIKE PRESENTED BY PARTS
UNLIMITED-QUALIFYING
Yoshimura Suzuki's Mat Mladin has the pole for tomorrow's
MBNA Superbike race. Mladin's fast lap was clocked at
00.54.009 with an average speed of 87.652 mph.
Contention surrounded Mladin's pole effort, and most members of the media agreed that he left the pits after his fast lap and intentionally blocked Ben Bostrom as Bostrom went out for his last qualifying effort. AMA Pro Racing officials are reviewing session tapes and meeting with Yoshimura Suzuki team management to determine if any penalties are in order. Mladin is currently on probation for conduct violations earlier this season.
Bostrom has the number-two spot on tomorrow's race grid. TheVance & Hines Ducati rider's fastest lap was timed at 00.54.186. Bostrom displayed his displeasure with the Yoshimura Suzuki team by making an obscene hand gesture while passing the team's pit area, and later apologized for the gesture in the post-qualifying press conference. Referring to the alleged blocking maneuver by Mladin, Bostrom said, "It's something some riders do because they're desperate. I just want to say that I never, ever, want to win anything like that. I wouldn't feel good about it for the rest of my life."
Muzzy Kawasaki rider Aaron Yates was third-fastest in today's qualifying sess ion with a time of 00.54.519, and will take the number-three spot on the front row. Yates' teammate, three-time MBNA Superbike Champion Doug Chandler, has the last spot on tomorrow's race grid, earned with a time of 00:54.578.
PRO HONDA OILS 600 SUPERSPORT- QUALIFYING
Series second-ranked rider Tommy Hayden has the pole for
Sunday's Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport race. Tommy's best
qualifying lap on the factory Yamaha was clocked at
00.56.844 with an average speed of 83.281. He set a new
track record in the process, breaking Larry Pegram's 1998
record of 00.57.087.
Tommy's pole sets the stage for tomorrow's championship shootout with his younger brother Nicky, who leads the Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport series. Nicky has the number-two spot on the front row of tomorrow's race grid, earned with a time of 00.56.866.
Nicky's Erion Honda teammate Kurtis Roberts has the number-three spot with a time of 00.57.100, and Muzzy Kawasaki rider Aaron Yates has the last spot on the front row with a time of 00.57.424.
MAZDA TRUCKS 250 GRAND PRIX -GRID
1999 Mazda Trucks 250 Grand Prix Champ Chuck Sorensen won
heat race one and has the pole for tomorrow's race. 1998
Champ Roland Sands has the number-two spot on the grid. 1983
Champ Randy Renfrow has the number-three spot, and series
fourth-ranked rider Quenni King has the last spot on the
front row.
PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE PRO THUNDER -GRID
Shawn Higbee won heat race one and has the pole for
tomorrow's race. Dave Estok has the number-two spot. Mark
Ledesma has the number-three spot on the grid, and Eric Wood
has the last spot on the front row.
Friday, Sept. 17
Course conditions: partly sunny with rain showers in the afternoon. Temperatures in the high 70s.
The MBNA Superbike Tour presented by Parts Unlimited races at PPIR will air live on Speedvision, Sunday, Sept. 19th at 4p.m. EST.
MBNA SUPERBIKE PRESENTED BY PARTS
UNLIMITED-QUALIFYING
The big news at Pikes Peak on Friday morning: Vance &
Hines Ducati rider Anthony Gobert will not compete in the
MBNA Superbike season finale. Team owner Terry Vance
reported that Gobert suffered a shoulder injury while
training on a motocross bike, and was advised by his doctor
not to race this weekend.
Gobert was 18 points out of first-place--10 points behind teammate Ben Bostrom. With 38 points available at Pikes, and considering the sometimes serendipitous nature of racing, Gobert still had a shot at the MBNA Superbike title.
Canton Ga., native Mike Smith will ride in Gobert's place this weekend for the Vance & Hines team. Smith also replaced Harley-Davidson rider Scott Russell earlier this season, after Russell sustained a fractured cheekbone just prior to the1999 season-opener at Daytona International Speedway.
Today's MBNA Superbike qualifying session was shortened to 40 minutes as a result of rain and the impending sunset.
Vance & Hines Ducati rider Ben Bostrom set a new track record during today's qualifying session. Bostrom turned a lap time of 00.54.168 with an average speed of 87.366mph, beating his own 1998 record time of 00.54.661.
Yoshimura Suzuki's Mat Mladin was second-fastest with a time of 00.54.199. Muzzy Kawasaki rider Doug Chandler was third-fastest with a time of 00.54.578, and Harley-Davidson pilot Pascal Picotte was fourth-fastest with a time of 00.54.786.
MBNA Superbike qualifying resumes tomorrow at 2:30pm.
SUNOCO RACE FUELS FORMULA XTREME-QUALIFYING
Erion Honda's Kurtis Roberts has the pole for tomorrow's
Sunoco Race Fuels Formula Xtreme race. Series points leader
Roberts turned a lap time of 00.55.674 and average speed of
85.031 mph. Roberts' time sets a new track record, breaking
Eric Bostrom's 1998 record of 00.55.852.
Robert's Erion teammate and series second-place rider Nicky Hayden was second-fastest with a time of 00.55.826, and will take the number-two spot on the front row of the race grid. Canadian Michael Taylor was third-fastest aboard his Canada Kawasaki, with a time of 00.56.299. Valvoline Emgo Suzuki rider Grant Lopez earned the last spot on the front row with a time of 00.56.392.
PRO HONDA OILS 600 SUPERSPORT-PRACTICE
Erion Honda's Kurtis Roberts was fastest in today's Pro
Honda Oils 600 SuperSport practice session. Roberts turned a
lap time of 00.57.185 with an average speed of 82.787 mph.
Roberts' Erion teammate and series points leader Nicky
Hayden was second-fastest with a time of 00:57.234. Yamaha's
Jamie Hacking was third-fastest with a time of
00:57.272.
MAZDA TRUCKS 250 GRAND PRIX - PRACTICE
Three champions past and present were fastest in today's
Mazda Trucks 250 Grand Prix practice session. 1998 Champ
Roland Sands was fastest with a time of 00:57.231 and
average speed of 83.373 mph. Chuck Sorensen -- the 1999
series champ-- was second fastest with a time of 00:57.144.
Veteran racer and 1989 Champ Randy Renfrow was third
quickest with a time of 00:57.320.
FAMILY AFFAIR MAKES FOR GREAT ROCKY
MOUNTAIN MEDIA TOUR
by Bill
Nordquist
In the weeks preceding the Pikes Peak round of the MBNA Superbike Tour, Earl Hayden -- father of young guns Tommy and Nicky -- and I make arrangements to get the brothers to Colorado for the pre-race media tour. The tale of the Brothers Hayden is a great story, and will be an easy sell to the media. In this ultimate contest of sibling rivalry, the Pikes Peak race will decide which of the brothers will be named champion of the highly competitive 1999 Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport series.
There are a few logistical concerns to contend with for the media tour. Nicky has entered his senior year of high school, and he needs to spend as much time as possible in class. Nicky's high school principal frowns if he's pulled out of school for even one extra day -- and Earl shares the principal's concerns. Tommy is still recovering from a wrist injury incurred while training, and his therapy schedule is critical to his race weekend at Pikes Peak. Nonetheless, Earl and I manage to work it out so that Tommy and Nicky will arrive in Colorado Springs the afternoon of the Thursday before the race. Just when it seems that we've got everything straightened out, Earl and I get a surprise. Seven days before the event, PPIR announces an open practice session for Thursday, which means Nicky and Tommy will need to be on-track that day. This throws a wrench into the media tour plans, and will make the principal very unhappy, since Nicky will miss yet another day of school.
Earl scrambles to change flights and winds up paying a bunch of extra charges, but we work it out so that the brothers will now arrive on Wednesday afternoon. The TV appointments are reshuffled, and thankfully, everything falls back into place.
Meanwhile, Denver Post sportswriter Mike Chambers is interested in doing a feature on the MBNA Superbike Championship battle. Mike wants to interview Mat Mladin, and after a few phone calls I find Mat, who is already in Colorado Springs adjusting to the altitude. Mat and I arrange a time when Mike can call via cell phone, and we FedEx action photos of Mat, Ben Bostrom and Anthony Gobert to the paper's graphics staff. Mike will do a full preview for the Thursday paper, and he'll also cover the race throughout the weekend. Special thanks go to AMA Pro Racing Public Relations Administrator Connie Fleming back at the Ohio headquarters, who, in her typical lightning-quick fashion, faxed, FedEx and e-mailed everything Mike needed for his story.
Back in Colorado Springs the Wednesday before the race, Chris Bradley -- AMA Pro Racing's newest hire and the man responsible for sponsorship development -- and I meet Nicky and Tommy at the hotel. We jump into the Taurus rental and trek up the mountain sides in search of KRDO ABC 13, where we'll meet sportscaster Vince Greco. When we get there at 3:30 p.m., Vince is waiting for us in the lobby, and he ushers us through a maze of hallways to the studio set.
Vince interviews Nicky first, and he asks about the on-track action and the sibling rivalry issue. Vince asks good questions for someone who knows relatively little about our sport, and Nicky makes the interview easier by giving great answers. Tommy is next on the set, and he also does a great job, so much so that Vince expresses his approval. "You guys are great, you're really articulate," he says. "A heck of a lot better than some of the pre-programmed car guys we get in here." That brings a smile to all of our faces.
We've also brought race tapes of last year's Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport race at Pikes Peak. Vince takes the tapes with plans to integrate them into the show. He'll run the segment on Wednesday's six and 10 o'clock news shows, and then again on Thursday and Friday evenings. Vince also plans to send a crew out to the track on Sunday for a follow-up story.
Media tours can be a lot of hurry-up-and-wait, and this tour is no different. We have two hours to kill until our next appointment at KOAA NBC 5, which will be a live interview with Lee Douglas on the six o'clock news. We decide to find someplace for dinner, and the consensus is to head to the Outback Steakhouse at the I-25 exit 138.
We all order the same meal: victoria filet, caesar salad and loaded bake potato. We talk about the hip new Ford F-150 crew cab, and the outcomes of the silly season. The conversation then turns to the overall business of racing. Tommy and Nicky already know a lot about the big business picture, but they're interested in discussing the track/sanctioning body relationship -- who pays what and who gets paid for what. I offer a quick explanation of what's actually a complex but very boring deal: AMA Pro Racing receives a fee for licensing and registering the riders; arranging pre-event media coverage; officiating the race and distributing the results. The track owners cover the expenses of operating the race course.They pay the purse money, buy advertising and sell tickets, t-shirts and hot dogs.
We leave the Outback full and tired, and head back up the mountainside to KOAA. We arrive in plenty of time, and Nicky gets hooked up for the interview, which will be conducted remotely. KOAA also operates an NBC station in Pueblo, Colo., and sportscaster Lee Douglas is actually at that location. He talks to Nicky through an earpiece while the camera at the Colorado Springs station is trained on Nicky's face. Lee also has our race footage, and as Nicky describes the upcoming race, a split screen shows an on-board camera shot of last year's Pikes Peak race. Very Cool.
Once again, Nicky does a great job, explaining to Lee that while the Superbike series is what every rider aspires to, 600cc bikes are the best-selling segment of the sportbike market, and the 600 SuperSport Championship is extremely important to the manufacturers.
Since there was only so much time alotted for the live broadcast, Tommy does a taped interview in the KOAA studio. His interview will be spliced in with portions of Nicky's, along with the race footage, and be featured on the 10 o'clock news.
We leave the station and head back to the hotel, driving downhill through a cold drizzle. We talk about the potential for rain during Sunday's 600 SuperSport race, and Tommy's reputation as "The Rainmaster," earned after his runaway win earlier this year in the rain at Laguna Seca. The rain question adds even more dramatic twist to the battle of the Brothers Hayden.
As we pull up in front of the hotel, a young man and a girl are playing basketball in the hotel's recreation area. "Looks like Rog finally found someone he can beat," Nicky says, laughing. The young man is the youngest of the racing Haydens, 16 year-old SuperSport rider Roger Lee. He's playing ball with his 13-year old sister, Kathleen.
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