American Honda’s Jake Zemke lapped under the current AMA Formula Xtreme lap record for California Speedway during Friday’s first practice session. Riding his CBR600RR, Zemke turned a 1:26.792, quicker than his pole position time of 1:27.376 from 2004 and nearly a second quicker than his teammate Miguel Duhamel (1:27.749). Zemke turned his quick time on a 21-turn, 2.3-mile infield road course that was slightly revised since last season. The temporary curbing on the inside of turn 11, the left-hand portion of the fast turn 10/11 chicane on the infield straightaway, has been removed and replaced with a flat, painted curbing that is flush with the racing surface. Traffic cones and “roughed up” concrete inside of the curbing deters riders from short-cutting the bend. According to AMA Pro Racing Superbike Series Manager Ron Barrick, the change was made for safety. “It allows riders to go over the painted curb more straight up and down, so they aren’t turning so hard there, reducing the potential for a crash,” said Barrick. Barrick added that AMA Pro Racing has proposed adding asphalt on the inside of turn 10 in the future to make the turn 10/11 chicane more of a straight shot. The start of Formula Xtreme practice, the first official practice session of the weekend, was delayed approximately 18 minutes while track workers installed additional hay bales at the request of AMA Pro Racing. Erion Honda’s Alex Gobert, 13th-fastest with a 1:32.306 Friday morning, suffered a concussion in a big crash during Thursday’s promoter practice. “I don’t remember anything from the time I was riding until I woke up in the ambulance on the way to the hospital,” Gobert told Roadracingworld.com. Gobert underwent a CT scan at the hospital, was cleared to ride but stopped early during Friday morning practice due to a bad headache. He is hoping to feel better for Formula Xtreme qualifying Friday afternoon. Provisional Friday Morning AMA Formula Xtreme Practice Times: 1. Jake Zemke, Honda, 1:26.793 2. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:27.749 3. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, 1:28.520 4. Ben Attard, Kawasaki, 1:28.528 5. Robert Jensen, Yamaha, 1:29.566 6. Chris Peris, Yamaha, 1:29.882 7. Chris Caylor, Suzuki, 1:29.885 8. Ryan Andrews, Ducati, 1:30.582 9. Danny Eslick, Suzuki, 1:30.590 10. Heath Small, Yamaha, 1:30.669 11. Nicky Moore, Yamaha, 1:31.170 12. Alex Gobert, Honda, 1:32.306 13. Tim Knutson, Yamaha, 1:32.521 14. Nathan Hester, Yamaha, 1:33.026 15. Matt Furtek, Kawasaki, 1:33.154 16. Armando Ferrer, Yamaha, 1:33.309 17. Jeremiah Johnson, Suzuki, 1:33.397 18. Cory Neuer, Suzuki, 1:34.490 19. Taylor Knapp, Yamaha, 1:34.531 20. Jay Tanner, Yamaha, 1:34.632
Zemke Under Formula Xtreme Lap Record During First Practice At California Speedway
Zemke Under Formula Xtreme Lap Record During First Practice At California Speedway
© 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. By David Swarts.