Local Rider Rapp Ready for Success in Sonoma Valley during AMA Weekend SONOMA, Calif. Local rider Steve Rapp is enjoying the best start of his career in the AMA Series, and he hopes that run continues at the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown at Infineon Raceway, May 18-20. The weekend is presented by Supercuts. Rapp, a graduate of Acalanes High School in Lafayette in the East Bay, recorded the biggest win of his career earlier this year in the 66th running of the prestigious Daytona 200. Honda was expected to dominate the race, but Rapp and teammate Ben Attard shocked the field by finishing 1-2 in Daytona Beach (Fla.) for Attack Kawasaki. “I was with a new team and on a new bike, and this was the first time where I came and started the year off with a win,” said Rapp. “To top it off with it being the Daytona 200 was pretty special.” Rapp demonstrated his victory in Daytona was no fluke as he sits near the top of the points standings for Pro Honda Oils Supersport and Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme. Rapp is second in Formula Xtreme after three races. He won in Daytona, was third at Barber Motorsports Park (Ala.) and sixth at California Speedway. He is also third in Supersport, with three top-seven efforts to begin the season. He is simply enjoying the best season of his AMA career, which began in 1996. “There were a lot of unknowns coming into the season, and to start off as good as it has been was beyond what anyone could have expected,” said Rapp. “I wanted it, but I couldn’t have expected it.” The 35-year-old hopes that roll continues at Infineon Raceway, which he considers his home track. He has never won on the Sonoma Valley road course, and last year he placed ninth in both Superbike races and seventh in Superstock. “Hopefully Infineon Raceway will be the turning point for me,” said Rapp. “I’m 10 points behind Josh (Hayes) in the Formula Xtreme championship, so hopefully I can start earning some points there. It is my home track. I started racing there, and I feel comfortable there. Hopefully it’ll be a great turning point for us.” Rapp will ride in the Formula Xtreme main event on Saturday, May 19, at 4:30 p.m., and the Supersport final on Sunday, May 20, at 2 p.m. Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown WHAT: Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Supercuts WHEN: May 18-20 CIRCUIT: 12-turn, 2.22-mile road course 2006 SUPERBIKE POLE WINNER: Ben Spies (Suzuki) 2006 SUPERBIKE WINNER: Ben Spies (Suzuki) NOTABLE: The race weekend will feature a doubleheader of AMA Superbike racing, as well as Supermoto and SBFreaks Freestyle. TICKETS: $15-$35 single day/$60 weekend; 12-and-under FREE and parking FREE INFORMATION: 800-870-RACE, www.infineonraceway.com, www.ticketmaster.com