Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Hooters Suzuki’s Vaclav “Vincent” Haskovec came from behind to beat Attack Suzuki’s Josh Hayes in the run to the last corner to win the AMA Superstock race at Road Atlanta Saturday. It was 29-year-old Haskovec’s first AMA National race win, and the Czech Republic immigrant now leads the Superstock point standings.
Hayes got the holeshot and led every lap except for the last lap.
Haskovec was sixth after lap one; passed Adam Fergusson, John Haner and Tommy Hayden on the first lap; and battled with Chris “Opie” Caylor through the middle of the race.
Haskovec turned the fastest lap of the race, 1:26.801 on lap five, passed Caylor in turn one on lap six, pulled within striking distance of Hayes on lap 12 and even sized up Hayes for a pass in turn 10 on lap 14. Haskovec spun up his rear at the exit of turn seven on the final lap, allowing Hayes to pull an advantage down the back straight. Hayes still protected the inside of turn 10, while Haskovec set up for a drive out of 10 and up the hill. Haskovec got the power down up the hill, and Hayes spun up and ran wider over the hill than he wanted. Haskovec rubbed up inside Hayes coming down the hill to turn 12 and took the win by less than a bikelength.
Caylor finished a close third.
Hayden’s 636cc Kawasaki ZX-6R was overpowered by the 750cc machines down Road Atlanta’s straightaways. The situation became worse in lapped traffic, but Hayden held on to finish fourth.
Haskovec’s teammate Mike Ciccotto put in a late-race charge to move from eighth up to finish fifth.
Eric Wood, Fergusson, Jimmy Moore, Haner and Yamaha YZF-R6-mounted Jason DiSalvo rounded out the top 10.
Mike Smith and Jordan Szoke both pulled out of the race with mechanical problems. Smith was third when he slowed on the back straight on lap two. Szoke was ninth when his engine apparently blew on the front straight on lap 13.
AMA Superstock Race Results:
1. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 15 laps
2. Josh Hayes, Suzuki GSX-R750, -0.108 second
3. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R750, -0.851 second
4. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6R, -7.654 seconds
5. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki GSX-R750, -10.716 seconds
6. Eric Wood, Suzuki GSX-R750, -11.310 seconds
7. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki GSX-R750, -12.255 seconds
8. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, -14.657 seconds
9. John Haner, Suzuki GSX-R750, -15.885 seconds
10. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha YZF-R6, -15.961 seconds
11. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R750, -17.139 seconds
12. Matt Furtek, Suzuki GSX-R750, -17.812 seconds
13. John Dugan, Suzuki GSX-R750, -20.178 seconds
14. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6R, -25.809 seconds
15. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, -30.569 seconds
Provisional AMA Superstock Point Standings:
1. Haskovec, 120
2. Hayden, 118
3. Fergusson, 109
4. Hayes, 100
5. Meiring/Caylor, TIE, 93
7. DiSalvo, 92
8. Moore, 90
9. Haner/Ciccotto, TIE, 77
11. Ulrich, 65
12. Furtek, 56
13. Wood/Szoke, TIE, 54
15. Acree, 52
More, from a press release issued by Marietta Motorsports:
1-888-FASTLAP’S CAYLOR FINISHES 3RD IN 750 SUPERSTOCK AT ROAD ATLANTA
BRASELTON, Ga.- 1-888-FASTLAP rider Opie Caylor stood on the podium in front of his friends and family at his home track of Road Atlanta after taking third in the 750 Superstock race on his 1-888-FASTLAP/Team EMGO Taiwan Suzuki GSX-R750.
Caylor started the race from the second row after qualifying sixth. In the opening two laps, he worked his way into second. For the remainder of the 15-lap race, Caylor battled with Vincent Haskovec as the two tried to chase down race leader Josh Hayes.
Haskovec passed Caylor on lap six, but the two slowly began to close the gap that Hayes had gotten. The three riders stayed close to each other for the remainder of the race in what many fans declared the most exciting race of the day.
Caylor was able to pull away from Kawasaki’s Tommy Hayden, who tried to challenge him for third. Caylor ran unchallenged in the closing laps, earning his first podium of the season.
“It seems like it’s always hardest to do good at your home track,” reflected Caylor. “I went to California Speedway and qualified with a better position than I did here. But we ended up on the box today and it’s great.”
1-888-FASTLAP rider Brian Stokes finished 16th on the Team Embry Suzuki GSX-R750. He battled with Rich Conicelli for the entire race. “Conicelli is a good rider and we had fun. It gave me something to do. I hit a couple of false neutrals on the back straight, so my speed back there wasn’t as high as the other bikes. But we did well today and it was a fun time.”
More information about 1-888-FASTLAP, including information about Caylor and Stokes, can be found on the Internet at www.1888FASTLAP.com.
Updated Post: Haskovec Takes First AMA Win In Superstock At Road Atlanta
Updated Post: Haskovec Takes First AMA Win In Superstock At Road Atlanta
© 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
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