Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

There may be only seven fully-fit, factory Superbike pilots lined up on the grid for round eight of the AMA Superbike Championship June 2 at Pike’s Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colorado.

“I won’t be 100% but I’ll be there,” said three-time AMA Superbike Champion Doug Chandler, via cell phone from his motorhome in New Mexico Tuesday. “I’ve got a hip pointer and it feels like I have about 50 pounds strapped to my (left) foot every time I try to lift it up. It feels like I’ve stretched everything in the front of my thigh. My (right) thumb’s still kind of crooked, but I’ve still gotta give it a go.”

When asked if the short, tight Pike’s Peak infield road course would play for or against his injuries, Chandler said, “I think the esses are going to be the toughest (for me), but it’s hard to say until I get on the bike.”

“We’re still not sure,” said American Honda Racing Teams Manager Chuck Miller when asked if Kurtis Roberts would ride at Pike’s Peak. “We’re waiting for a call back right now from his group, and as soon as we get something, we’ll issue it to everyone this week, hopefully late today or early tomorrow. They’re (the team) there prepping, getting everything ready as if he’s going to ride, but as of late last week, there was still some question as to whether he would make it or not.”

With Yamaha’s Anthony Gobert definitely out, Roberts questionable and Chandler ailing, AMA Superbike privateers like HSA Racing’s Brian Livengood and Rich Conicelli, White Tip Racing’s Brian Parriott and Woody’s Auto Service’s Andrew “Woody” Deatherage could be racing for seventh place and $2500 and maybe more, in terms of the next Championship points fund pay out after the Road America double-header.

Here are the Superbike point standings heading into Pike’s Peak:

1. Nicky Hayden, 253 points
2. Eric Bostrom, 173 points
3. Aaron Yates, 172 points
4. Pascal Picotte, 155 points
5. Mat Mladin, 154 points
6. Miguel Duhamel, 146 points
7. Brian Livengood, 138 points
8. Jamie Hacking, 131 points
9. Brian Parriott, 127 points
10. Anthony Gobert, 118 points
11. Andrew Deatherage, 108 points
12. Rich Conicelli, 107 points
13. Doug Chandler, 99 points