Miss
Great Britain Lends a Hand: FastDates.com Calendar girl Nicki Lane
was crowned Miss Great Britain 2003 back in May and in doing so
became the first girl ever to win the title twice. The professional
model, aerobics instructor, and dancer from Reading in England had
a photoshoot on Neil’s Ducati Fila 999F03 at Laguna for our
next Fast Dates Racebike Pinup Calendar and remained at the circuit
on Sunday to be the Ducati Corse umbrella girl for Neil Hodgson.
Tough job you got Neil!
SBK
World Superbike Laguna Seca Round 8
Frankie
Chili and Ruben Xaus pull off popular
wins at Exciting Laguna Seca Superbike Weekend
A weekend total of 92,000 sportbike fans jam pack the Monterey
peninsula
Monterey, CA, July 13th: Pier
Francesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati) scored a hugely popular win over
SBK Championship Series Neil Hodgsen (Team Ducati Fila Corse) in
Race 1 at Laguna Seca Raceway in California as the World Superbike
Championship made its annual pilgramige to America. This was Frankie's
first race win since Donington 2001, after a first lap crash involving
Hodgson, Frankie, Bostrom, Yates and Corser had forced a restart,
while the victory in race 2 went to Ruben, who took control on lap
4 to lead to the flag for his third win of the year.
Ruben
Xaus (Ducati Fila) put the seal on a great days’ racing at
Laguna Seca circuit in California with a win in race 2 after crashing
out of the lead in the first race. Championship leader Neil odgson
twice finished runner-up to increase his lead in the standings over
his team-mate to 122 points.
Ruben
Xaus on the podium at Laguna for Race Two, flanked by points leader
and team mate Neil Hodgson and HM Plants James Toseland.
Ruben Xaus (11)
led the first Superbike race before sliding off, turning the lead
and a very popular race win over to Frankie Chili (7), shown here
persued by James Toseland (52).
A claimed
92,000 spectators attended the event, which was more realistically
a total count for the 3-day AMA National roadrace and SBK Superbike
weekend, recounting the returning weekend pass holding spectators
and participants each day. Saturday's race schedule with the AMA
Superbike and other National rounds appeared to be the most crowed
spectator wise, with possibly 35,000 people for the day being a
more realistic total attendance count .All in all, it was still
one of the biggest motorcycle roadrace events ever held in America.
The Manufacturers
and Venders infield area was sold out a packed with fans throughout
the weekend. The AMA Red Bull Supermoto National Series opening
round race was held on a special built special course in the infield
and proved to be a big hit with spectators as well with many top
stars like Jeremy McGrath and Mike Metzger racing. And Saturday
night on Cannery Row in downtown Monterey saw the biggest ever turnout
of sportbike fans with the street closed off and packed with parked
bikes for a quarter mile.The event promoters Dan Murphy and Cameron
Grey from RACE continued to do excellent job in puting together
a great race weekend.
SUPER
POLE SATURDAY
Regis Laconi 998RS – 2nd: Regis Laconi and his Ducati 998RS
Caracchi NCR Nortel Network was once again consistently fast around
Laguna, kept out of pole position only by wildcard rider Mat Mladin.
“We know that on this track the presence of wildcard riders
like top qualifier Mat Mladin will made things more difficult. Mladin,
at least in qualifying set-up, was just ripping. I wasn’t
able to grab pole, but everyone in the team is really satisfied
because in those conditions second fastest still amounts to a pole
among the WSBK riders. This morning’s crash happened because
I was riding too hard for a last fast lap; my front end washed out
in turn 3. For tomorrow's race we worked a lot on the set-up and
tyres and at the end we found a good solution. I did a 20-lap long
run and the tyre performed perfectly.”
SUNDAY
RACE DAY
“I
think that the races offered us a different scenario from qualifying,
where we suffered a little, but in the end the Ducati 999 F03 performed
really well” declared Ducati Corse CEO, Claudio Domenicali.
“The
bikes have benefited from the depth of development which goes into
the Michelin tyres and the Shell Advance motorcycle oils supplied
to the team. With Michelin we have often found Laguna Seca a difficult
track, but in the last two years their tyres have been well up to
the situation, while the oils Shell Advance supplied us with this
weekend are designed to excel under the hot and dry conditions of
this track”.
“I
was leading the first race pretty easy and my lap times were consistent”
declared Ruben Xaus, “but I had a really hard tyre and I pushed
it too much at the slowest corner of the track and crashed. Races
are like that, but the second race I wanted to show everyone I am
the fastest and the winner here. I found in the morning warm-up
that I had the right tyre to last 28 laps and be capable of running
26 lows and that gave me the power for the race. I could have won
two races but that’s OK, I know I’m getting better and
better all the time”.
Ruben
Xaus (11) returned in Race Two to take the win, with Toseland (52)
being passed for 2nd by points leader Hodgsen (just behind) as they
dive down into the Corkscrew.
“My
second place in race 1 is one of the best I’ve ever earned
because it was a really difficult race” declared Neil. “I’ve
not felt comfortable all weekend with the set-up but in the race
I just took my time. It’s difficult to pass round here and
you have to wait for people to make mistakes, so thankfully people
made mistakes! Race 2 was probably the most eventful race in my
career, I’ve never seen so many crazy things happening, especially
on the first lap. I nearly crashed then Frankie somersaulted and
then James crashed in front of me and I ran off the track into the
gravel. Thankfully I finished second, points are everything because
I want to win the championship”.
American Suzuki
wildcard rider Mat Mladin, winner of Saturday's AMA SuperbikeNational
which earned him the series points lead over Kawaski 's Eric Bostrom,
also came back late on Saturday afternoon to claim the Superpole
for Sunday's 2 World Superbike rounds. Mat got away with a slow
start in race one, dropping to 6th place on the opening lap. He
circulated there for about 8 laps before pulling into the pits and
retiring for the rest of the day. Six hours of racing and practice
throughout the 3-day weekend had taken their toll on the Aussie
and he was just too fatigued to run a competivie race. Mat felt
it safer and wiser to pull in then risk crashing or a poor finish
after prooving earlier he was the fastest rider on the track.
The two other
American wildcard hopefulls never got through turn one of the first
race. Aaron Yates lowside his Yoshimura GSX1000 going into turn
2 off the start and took out crowd favorite Eric Bostrom on the
800cc Kawasaki ZX7RR. Eric was put out of action for more than a
few weeks with a seriously dislocated shoulder and other injuries,
while yates was able to remount and finish the first race in 6th,
then crash out again in race Two.
\Pierfrancesco
Chili 998RS – 1st – DNF: Race 1 started out in the worst
possible way for the Team PSG-1 rider when Chili was knocked down
by wildcard Aaron Yates’ sliding bike at the entrance of turn
2. After the half-hour delay for the restart, Chili shook off the
crash and came back strong for the win. “I had a very good
start, and when I went in I tried to stay more inside so a rider
could not push me out. But I I felt somebody hit me from the back
– I fell down, and afterward, everybody came over me. Neil’s
bike was sure to not start again, because it was on me! But it’s
ok. We were able to restart with the second bike, and we made a
very great race.” Race Two did not see a podium repeat as
Chili crashed out early in the race.
Giovanni
Bussei 998RS – 7th – 6th: Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin’s
Giovanni Bussei finished seventh and sixth in today's Laguna Seca
Superbike races. Bussei's excellent results saw him building up
confidence and lowering his lap times. The Italian rider held his
own against the World Superbike stars he used to compete against
before coming to the U.S. to race for the Texas-based Ducati Austin
team. Explained Bussei, “I had a little problem at the start
when I lost a few positions. Then I said to myself, “Just
ride and relax” and I caught Laconi. He’s very difficult
to pass. I tried at the Corkscrew but ran wide. After that, I couldn't
catch up but we had a good result so I'm happy with it.”
Regis Laconi 998RS – DNF – 4th: French rider Regis Laconi
leaves California disappointed as he felt he could have achieved
better results on his Caracchi NCR Nortel Network Ducati 998RS were
it not for some misfortune. “In race 1, after Xaus was out
of the race, I was in front and managing Chili’s attack, when
at the Andretti Hairpin – where the multiple-bike crash happened
– I found a fairing screen piece and I lost the front end.”
In race
2, a bad tyre selection forced him to settle for fourth. “I
selected a tire we tested in Friday’s practice and I was sure
it could give me what I wished. On the contrary, it was a disaster,
with the warmer afternoon temperature. At every right corner I was
losing the front end so I was accepting of the result.”
RACE
1: 1. Chili (PSG-1 Ducati); 2. Hodgson (Ducati
Fila); 3. Toseland (HM Plant Ducati); 4. Mladin (Suzuki); 5. Walker
(HM Plant Ducati); 6. Yates (Suzuki); etc.
RACE 2 : 1. Xaus (Ducati Fila) ;
2. Hodgson (Ducati Fila); 3. Walker (HM Plant Ducati); 4. Laconi
(NCR Ducati); 5.Lavilla (Suzuki); 6. Bussei (Ducati Austin); etc.
POINTS: Riders – 1. Hodgson
355; 2. Xaus 233; 3. Toseland 201; 4. Laconi 187; 5. Lavilla 166;
6. Walker 156.
Manufacturers – 1. Ducati 400; 2. Suzuki 206; 3. Kawasaki
78; 4. Petronas 75; 5. Yamaha 45; 6. Honda 25.
Mladin
takes AMA Superbike Race Win
and Points lead at Laguna
Monterey, California, USA (Saturday, 12 July) –
Three-times American Superbike champion, Australia’s Mat Mladin
stormed away from the field to take a flag to flag victory in today’s
twelfth round of the AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship
being held at Laguna Seca Raceway, California.
Today’s victory was Mladin’s seventh aboard his Yoshimura
Suzuki GSX-R1000 this year and surprisingly was his first at the
3.610km (2.2miles) Monterey circuit in his eight year AMA career
that has seen him extend his win tally to 21. More importantly,
today’s win has moved Mladin back to the head of the AMA Superbike
points table where he now has a six-point advantage over Team Kawasaki’s
Eric Bostrom (356 - 350).
Mladin had been the dominant rider throughout practice and qualifying,
setting pole position for the 28-lap AMA Superbike national and
lapped under the existing class record in the final two practice
sessions.
Carrying his qualifying form into the race, Mladin quickly jumped
to the race lead and held that position till the end. Teammate Aaron
Yates, who sat alongside Mladin on the starting grid overcame a
race long battle with Eric Bostrom to claim second, 8.132 seconds
behind Mladin.
“It’s been a long time coming to get a win here at Laguna
(Seca), but more importantly for us it was another win for the season
and it puts us back in front on the points table,” said Mladin.
“I pushed it hard throughout the race. It’s been quite
warm here today, so it gave us a great opportunity to see what the
new Dunlop’s would do in these conditions as well as giving
us an indication as to what we can expect from the World Superbike
races tomorrow.”
“I think everyone here knows how much importance we have placed
on winning this race this weekend. It has been difficult for all
of us preparing two machines for the two different championships,
so to take that win was fantastic for all of us, so now we can turn
our attention to the SWC races and see if we can do the same there.”
RESULTS: AMA Chevy Trucks
US Superbike Championship, Rd 12 – Saturday (28 laps)
Pos. No. Rider name Hometown Bike Lap Pts Sponsors
1 66 MATHEW MLADIN RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA SUZ 28 38***AMERICAN SUZUKI
/ YOSHIMURA / MOTOREX / ELF
2 20 AARON W YATES MILLEDGEVILLE, GA SUZ 28 32 AMERICAN SUZUKI /
YOSHIMURA / DUNLOP / MOTOREX / ELF /
3 32 ERIC BOSTROM LAS VEGAS, NV KAW 28 29 KAWASAKI / LP USA / MAXIMA
/ DUNLOP
4 155 BEN D BOSTROM LAS VEGAS, NV HON 28 27 HONDA / ALPINESTARS
/ ARLEN NESS / SUOMY / BERICK DESIGNS /
5 43 JASON R PRIDMORE VENTURA, CA SUZ 28 26 SUZUKI / ATTACK / DUNLOP
/ HJC / HELIMOT / STAR / HELD
6 17 MIGUEL DUHAMEL LAS VEGAS, NV HON 28 25 AMERICAN HONDA / UNIVERSAL
/ DUNLOP / JARDINE / JOE ROCKET
7 101 JORDAN M SZOKE BRANTFORD, ON SUZ 28 24 CORONA EXTRA SUZ /
EBSCO / JOE ROCKET / SHOEI / SIDI / YOSH
8 114 SHAWN M HIGBEE BIG BEND, WI SUZ 28 23 MILLENIUM / KAUFMAN
/ KWS / HSA SUZUKI / DUNLOP / ARAI / TEKNI
9 34 MICHAEL F BARNES BOCA RATON, FL SUZ 27 22 PRIETO RACING / PRIORITY
/ PIRELLI / MOTUL / GMD / SHOEI / TIF
10 311 JAMES B RANDOLPH SAN JOSE, CA SUZ 27 21 LION RACING / DUNLOP
/ SHOEI / EMA / ZUNI / GALFER / TCN
11 80 KURTIS L ROBERTS HICKMAN, CA HON 27 20 AMERICAN HONDA / PARTS
UNLIMITED / PJ1 / ERION / DUNLOP
12 33 VINCENT HASKOVEC LAKE ELSINORE, CA SUZ 27 19 HOOTERS / SUZUKI
/ PIRELLI / HAULMARK / TIFORCE / TORCO
13 13 MIKE D CICCOTTO SEBASTIAN, FL SUZ 27 18 HOOTERS SUZ / ARAI
/ CORSA / TORCO / PIRELLI / ALPINESTARS
14 143 OPIE CAYLOR MARIETTA, GA SUZ 27 17 EMGO / FASTLAP / PIRELLI
/ FREE WHEELIN / M4 / PITBULL / EBC
15 199 GEOFF MAY ALPHARETTA, GA SUZ 27 16 TEAM EMBRY / PIRELLI /
ARAI / VORTEX / OHLINS / SBS
16 57 JEREMY TOYE SAN DIEGO, CA SUZ 27 15 LEES CYCLES / DUNLOP /
WINDTEK / ARAI / MAXIMA / AIRTECH / WSM
17 38 DEAN MIZDAL HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA SUZ 27 14 STAR SCHOOL / AIRTECH
/ MOTUL / SHOEI / HELIMOT / LP USA
18 74 MIKE SULLIVAN CENTRALIA, WA SUZ 27 13 THE BROTHERS PWRSPRTS
/ MVR / DUNLOP / BARNETT / ARAI / ALPI
19 12 RICKY ORLANDO ERIE, CO SUZ 27 12 COLORADO POWERSPORTS / DUNLOP
/ ARAI / HINDLE /
20 53 JOHN DUGAN WASHOUGAL, WA SUZ 27 11 EDR-NIC / DUNLOP / TEKNIC
/ ARAI / LP / EBC / SILKO / CENEPORT / L
21 59 JACOB L HOLDEN PUYALLUP, WA SUZ 27 10 RICCI MTRSPRTS / DUNLOP
/ BARDAHL SUZUKI / ARAI / FACTORY /
22 56 THOMAS G MONTANO BERKELEY, CA DUC 27 9 MUNROE MOTORS / ARAI
/ PERFORMANCE FRICTION / MOTUL / VEHI
23 83 CHRIS M VOELKER TEMPLETON, CA DUC 27 8 GREENFIELDS TURF /
DUNLOP / MONROE MOTORS / HMC / ARAI /
24 61 SCOTT JENSEN PHOENIX, AZ SUZ 27 7 WEST VALLEY MACHINE / PIRELLI
/ ARAI / ARROW / GERICKE / EBC
25 42 ROB MESA SANTA CLARA, CA SUZ 27 6 G-FORCE / JIM&JIMS SUZUKI
/ DUNLOP / AFTERSHOCKS / MICRON /
26 194 TOM WERTMAN PUYALLUP, WA SUZ 27 5 EDR PERF / DUNLOP / ARAI
/ EBC / BARDALL / APE / VP / PERF COATI
27 121 ALAN SCHMIDT CLEARWATER, BC SUZ 27 4 HESTER / PIRELLI / MAXIMA
/ RPM / GERICKE / FLEX-GLASS / SMI / E
28 44 JOHN HANER PEARLAND, TX YAM 26 3 MOTION / SHOGUN / PIRELLI
/ YOSHIMURA / HELIMOT / RK / LP /
29 88 KIM NAKASHIMA HONOLULU, HI SUZ 26 2 EMA-USA / MICHELIN / EBC
/ AK COMPOSITE / JOE ROCKET / LP / RA
30 128 JEFF BOSTROM CEDAR RIDGE, CA SUZ 26 1 GP TECH / SMS / SUZUKI
/ OZ / TEKNIC / AP / VALTER MOTO / AIRTEC
RACE TIME: 40:53.59 min. , WINNER'S AVG. SPEED: 91.943 mph , WINNER'S
AVG. LAP TIME: 01:27.6
SECOND PLACE AVG. SPEED: 91.639 mph, SECOND PLACE AVG. LAP TIME:
01:27.9
*Pole Position: #66 – Mathew Mladin, 1:25.549, 94.178 mph
(earns 1 additional point) **Lap Leader (earns 1 additional point)
2003
AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship (points after 12 of 18
rounds)
1. M Mladin (356); 2. E Bostrom (350); 3. A Yates
(345); 4. K Roberts (321); 5. B Bostrom (320); 6. M DuHamel (303);
7. S Higbee (252); 8. J Pridmore (251); 9. L Pegram (211); 10. V
Haskovec (199).
