MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA TEST DAY JUNE 23 2008 Hard work for the riders, fun for the fans Riders from top AMA teams tested at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on Monday, preparing for the big show next month when the MotoGP circus comes to town with AMA Superbike and Supersport as support classes, and for the AMA season finale with all four classes in September. The America Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Yoshimura Suzuki Superbike squads tested, joined by Attack Kawasaki Supersport riders Steve Rapp and Chaz Davies and Graves Yamaha Supersport riders Ben Bostrom, Josh Herrin and Tommy Aquino. Tests at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca early in the year frequently offer iffy weather with track temperatures that do not match subsequent race conditions. Dunlop, supplying most of the teams, brought race skins for the test day that will be the ones the teams will use in the two upcoming events. Fan lunch-hour activities included a parade lap and Q&A with local legend and three-time 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Wayne Rainey, plus a Supermoto demonstration. Benign weather in the high 60s, after a cool morning, greeted the teams and the estimated 1000 fans attending free, courtesy of Yamaha, which had rented the track for the day. After the previous two years’ roasting discomfort on race weekend, visitors hoped that the weather gods would smile a month from now–stay tuned. Certainly track and ambient temperatures in July and September will affect tire choice. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca track-surface condition in high heat remains a question mark after the disintegration two years ago that disrupted the race schedule, while causing riders to roost tarmac and deviate from their preferred lines, especially down the Corkscrew and through Rainey Curve. Track conditions on Monday were ideal by the afternoon. Lap times reflected this, vs. the existing AMA Superbike lap record of 1:23.104 (Ben Spies, Suzuki, 2007). Mat Mladin, not expectedly, was quickest in unofficial timing with a best lap in the low 1:24s., with most of the other Superbike riders in the 1:25s and 1:26s. Spies, away at Donington the previous day to ride the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP machine into 14th place, and possibly again at Assen next weekend, could not attend. Roadracingworld.com talked to some of the riders: Mat Mladin (Yoshimura Suzuki): “The bike is virtually the same as last year’s, so we’re working on refining the set-up and trying the Dunlops we’ll use later. The track is quite bumpy.” Neil Hodgson (American Honda): “Our goal was to get into the 24s. The track seems less bumpy than before, to me. I had some chatter and was having a little problem entering the corners, shutting [the throttle] earlier than I would like. The bike is still evolving but we’re pleased with our progress.” Jamie Hacking (Monster Energy Kawasaki): “You know Laguna: Test in the fog, race in the heat. But we’re making progress with our set-up, and getting our power to the track, though coming out of [slow] Turn 11 is ‘interesting.'” (Hacking wheelied more than any other rider.) Current Superbike Point Standings: 1. Ben Spies (Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki), 378; 2. Mat Mladin (Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki), 338; 3. Neil Hodgson (American Honda), 293; 4. Jamie Hacking (Monster Energy Kawasaki), 292; 5. Jason DiSalvo (Yamaha), 265; 6. Eric Bostrom (Yamaha), 264. In the Supersport group, addressing the current Supersport lap record of 1:26.706 (set by Josh Hayes on a Honda, 2007), Ben Bostrom was on track, along with Graves Yamaha teammate Herrin, Graves Yamaha support rider Aquino, and Attack Kawasaki’s Rapp and Davies. Current Supersport Point Standings: 1. Ben Bostom (Graces Yamaha), 191; 2. Jake Zemke (Erion Honda), 187; 3. Blake Young (M4 EMGO Suzuki), 156; 4. Josh Herrin (Graves Yamaha), 153; 5. Josh Hayes (Erion Honda), 152; 6. Cory West (M4 EMGO Suzuki), 139. Ben Bostrom was good for one of his usual lighthearted quotes: “The track is very bumpy [because of the cars], especially coming into Turn Six and through the Corkscrew. But the MotoGP riders will come in next month and cry about it like little baby girls. Me, I love it.” Wayne Rainey: Ambassador To The Sport In a question-and-answer period that attracted dozens of fans, Wayne Rainey answered questions with his usual candor. On traction control: “I think they should take away traction control. Racing has lost some of the excitement, even with the higher corner speeds. Without [traction control] the rider has more input and can anticipate what he needs to do [to win.] We need to see bikes on track that astound the spectators with their speed, attracting the best riders. These days we rarely see wheelies, a highside or a rider mistake [because of traction control,] but when I was racing we paid for our mistakes the hard way, running off the track or going flying. “Check out (Casey) Stoner’s throttle openings on television. He couldn’t ride like that without traction control. That said, the best riders are going to win, no matter what you do to the rules, and these days it’s (Valentino) Rossi, Stoner and (Dani) Pedrosa.” On American riders in MotoGP: “The Red Bull Rookies Cup is a great place to find potential new talent–there was nothing like it when I was racing. Kevin [Schwantz] says that the new [Red Bull] riders are being screened well, with Benny Solis a standout in the U.S. “Ben Spies could have a great future [in MotoGP] if that’s what he wants to do, and he’s a good example of the up-and-coming generation. “As for Nicky (Hayden), he’s in a difficult place right now–being beaten by privateer Hondas is tough. Looking towards 2009, he might not have a ride.” On Safety: “Riders should have the last word on safety, not the organizers. It’s not good for the sport to see riders injured, for example in the wet.” On Dorna plans for 600cc four-strokes to replace the 250cc Grand Prix machines: “The 250s have been around for a long time and the transition to the 800s is not difficult for the top 250 riders. It’s a matter of what the factories want to make and sell. But 600s can be very expensive, too. I think things are working fine the way they are, though it’s difficult for a racer to be recognized if he’s not riding for one of the big teams.” More, from a press release issued by Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca: AMA SUPERBIKE TEAMS TEST IN PREPARATION FOR RED BULL U.S. GRAND PRIX Large Crowd Attends Important Pre-Race Test MONTEREY, Calif. (June 23. 2008) A large, enthusiastic crowd turned out to watch the top teams and riders in the AMA Superbike Championship testing Monday at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in preparation for next month’s Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix (July 18-20). More than 1,000 fans ventured to the Monterey Peninsula to enjoy the day’s activities that included a fan parade lap, Supermoto USA demonstration and a Q&A session with motorcycle racing legend Wayne Rainey, in addition to the full day of testing. Ten riders were on track, with six testing 1000cc Superbikes and four others aboard 600cc Supersport-class bikes. Both series are competing at next month’s Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, featuring round 11 of the MotoGP World Championship. All times are unofficial, but among the Superbike riders, Suzuki’s Mat Mladin set a time of 1 minute, 24.2 seconds, around the 2.238-mile, 11-turn permanent road course. Honda riders Neil Hodgson and Miguel DuHamel set fast laps of 1:24.8 and 1:25.9, respectively. Kawasaki rider Jamie Hacking’s best lap was a 1:24.6. Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo turned a 1:24.9, while teammate Eric Bostrom turned a 1:25.3. The Superbike lap record belongs to Suzuki’s Ben Spies, who set a time of 1:23.1 at last season’s season finale. In Supersport, Yamaha’s Ben Bostrom set the fast lap with a 1:26.4 and his teammate Josh Herrin’s best lap was a 1:28 flat. Kawasaki rider Chaz Davies’ best time was a 1:27.3, while his teammate Steve Rapp did similar times, though he concentrated on testing new ECUs (electronic control unit). Ben Bostrom’s time today is under the official track record of 1:26.706, set by Honda’s Josh Hayes last September, but is not an official track record as it occurred during a test session. The AMA Superbike Championship will be back in Monterey in less than one month for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix. The 17-lap Supersport race is scheduled for Saturday, July 19, at 4:35 p.m. The AMA Superbike Championship will follow the MotoGP race and closes the weekend’s racing action on Sunday, July 20, at 3:45 p.m. with a 28-lap race. Tickets for next month’s Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix are available by calling 1-800-327-SECA during normal business hours (8 a.m.5 p.m. PDT) or logging onto www.laguna-seca.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Event information is also available at www.redbullusgrandprix.com.