Ben Bostrom beat his Graves Yamaha teammate Josh Herrin to the line by a wheel, or 0.012 second, to win the 22-lap AMA Supersport race Thursday at Daytona International Speedway. Bostrom and Herrin exchanged the lead throughout the race, which was run under threatening rain clouds. Defending Supersport Champion Roger Hayden joined the battle for the lead in the second half of the race, but his bid for the win was thwarted by a lapped rider on lap 19. That left Bostrom and Herrin to decide the winner. Bostrom led the last lap with Herrin close behind, but Bostrom used every trick in the book to hold Herrin off and took the win from the front. The victory was only the second Supersport win of Bostrom’s career, and it was his first-ever AMA race win at Daytona. Hayden, who rode with a broken left hand suffered in a crash during practice, finished third, 3.2 seconds behind the Yamaha duo. Attack Kawasaki’s Chaz Davies came out on top of a four-way battle for fourth among fellow Pirelli riders Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Blake Young and Martin Cardenas and Davies’ teammate Steve Rapp. Pro Honda Oils AMA Supersport Championship Presented by Shoei Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida March 6, 2008 Provisional Race Results: 1. Ben Bostrom (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 22 laps 2. Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, -0.012 second 3. Roger Hayden (Kaw ZX-6R), Dunlop, -3.221 seconds 4. Chaz Davies (Kaw ZX-6R), Pirelli, -12.146 seconds 5. Blake Young (Suz GSX-R600), Pirelli, -12.199 seconds 6. Martin Cardenas (Suz GSX-R600), Pirelli, -12.254 seconds 7. Steve Rapp (Kaw ZX-6R), Pirelli, -12.409 seconds 8. Jake Zemke (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -22.829 seconds 9. Tommy Hayden (Suz GSX-R600), Dunlop, -34.482 seconds 10. Danny Eslick (Suz GSX-R600), Dunlop, -45.121 seconds 11. Bobby Fong (Suz GSX-R600), Michelin, -45.156 seconds 12. Aaron Gobert (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -47.567 seconds 13. Josh Day (Yam YZF-R6), Pirelli, -53.691 seconds 14. Garrett Carter (Suz GSX-R600), Dunlop, -59.519 seconds 15. Nicky Moore (Kaw ZX-6R), Pirelli, -67.080 seconds 16. Michael Beck (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, -67.209 seconds 17. Josh Hayes (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -67.329 seconds, pitted/mechanical 18. Rob Frost (Hon CBR600RR), -67.519 seconds 19. Cory West (Suz GSX-R600), Pirelli, -73.982 seconds, crash 20. Rickey Corey (Yam YZF-R6), -78.666 seconds 21. Fernando Amantini (Kaw ZX-6R), -89.472 seconds 22. Gabor Rizmayer (Suz GSX-R600), Michelin, -89.483 seconds 23. Dominic Jones (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, -93.251 seconds 24. Eduard Alberts (Hon CBR600RR), -97.233 seconds 25. Chris Siebenhaar (Suz GSX-R600), Dunlop, -97.978 seconds 26. Josh Galster (Kaw ZX-6R), -1 lap 27. Bostjan Skubic (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap, 0.001 second 28. Ryan Patterson (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap, 1.934 seconds 29. Matt Hall (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap, 1.971 seconds 30. Eric Pinson (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap, 7.460 seconds 31. Jonas McCluskey (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap, 11.070 seconds 32. Matthew Layt (Hon CBR600RR), -1 lap, 11.224 seconds 33. Payton Sassaman (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, -1 lap, 12.408 seconds 34. James Digiandomenico (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap, 25.515 seconds 35. Lance Yeager (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap, 35.629 seconds 36. Dan Ortega (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap, 35.635 seconds 37. Dr. Jeffrey Purk (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap, 35.747 seconds 38. Skip Salenius (Suz GSX-R600), -1 lap, 45.794 seconds 39. Blake Kelly (Hon CBR600RR), -1 lap, 63.993 seconds 40. Patrick Johnson (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap, 88.862 seconds 41. Misti Hurst (Kaw ZX-6R), -1 lap, 93.903 seconds 42. Brett Sassaman (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, -2 laps 43. Scott Decker (Suz GSX-R600), -8 laps, DNF 44. Bostjan Pintar (Yam YZF-R6), -9 laps, DNF 45. Taylor Knapp (Kaw ZX-6R), Pirelli, -12 laps, DNF, mechanical 46. Ryan Clay (Yam YZF-R6), -16 laps, DNF 47. Shea Fouchek (Hon CBR600RR), -21 laps, DNF, mechanical 48. John Orchard (Yam YZF-R6), DNS AMA Supersport Championship Point Standings (After 1 of 12 races): 1. Ben Bostrom, 37 points 2. Herrin, 33 3. Roger Hayden , 29 4. Davies, 27 5. Young, 26 6. Cardenas, 25 7. Rapp, 24 8. Zemke, 23 9. Tommy Hayden, 22 10. Eslick, 21 More, form a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway: Bostrom Gets First Career Win at Daytona DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Yamaha’s Ben Bostrom captured his first career Daytona International Speedway win in the 22-lap AMA Supersport by a razor-thin margin of .012 seconds over his teammate Josh Herrin. Bostrom, who started from the pole, led for nine laps and kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final seconds of the photo-finish race. “It was fantastic,” Bostrom said. “I think the season’s going to be like this and it’s going to be great. “I didn’t know I had the thing won at all. Josh and I had a fantastic plan going into it, but you know a plan doesn’t really pan out all the time. At one point, we got in first and second, and I gave him a thumbs up and I told him let’s do it.” Said Herrin: “I was just really happy that our plan ended up working out. Me and Ben worked together really good as a team and ended up pulling away and getting a Yamaha 1-2.” With a banged-up wrist, the 2006 and 2007 Daytona Superstock winner Roger Lee Hayden finished third. “I’m pretty happy with third,” Hayden said. “It’s a good start to the season. These guys are definitely both riding really good. “I tore a ligament and knocked some bone off my wrist, so I just kind of taped it for the race. Once the green flag dropped I didn’t notice it. It wasn’t really a problem. My elbow is pretty swelled up–nothing too crazy. I didn’t really even notice it until I stopped, and then I said ‘my hand hurts’. I guess the adrenaline rush is the best pain medicine there is.” Kawasaki’s Chaz Davies secured the fourth place position, while Suzuki’s Blake Young placed fifth, after finishing second in the Superstock just minutes before the start of the Supersport. Tickets for the rest of Daytona 200 Week By Honda are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or at the gate. More, from a press release issued by Dunlop: Dunlop’s new D211GP, N-Tec Dominate AMA Opening Rounds at Daytona International Speedway March 6, 2008 – The debut of Dunlop’s all-new D211GP road racing tire was nothing short of spectacular as Dunlop-shod racers swept the podium at the opening Supersport round of the AMA 2008 Superbike Series at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, March 6. First place went to Graves Yamaha’s Ben Bostrom aboard a YZF-R6, who crossed the finish line a scant 0.012 seconds ahead of teammate Josh Herrin. The win was Bostrom’s first-ever AMA race win at Daytona and only his second career Supersport victory. In third was last year’s Supersport champion Roger Hayden riding for Kawasaki Road Racing. Bostrom and Herrin battled to the finish, and actually made contact within sight of the finish line when young Herrin attempted a draft-pass on Bostrom. Hayden, who rode with a fractured wrist he suffered earlier in the day in a vicious crash in Superbike qualifying, worked his way through a tight and highly competitive field to finish a credible third against the odds. The new D211GP was so dominant that the fourth place finisher on a competitive tire brand was nearly nine seconds behind Hayden. Even more remarkable is that Dunlop’s D211GP, which was officially introduced just one day earlier, can also be purchased by road racers across the country from Dunlop authorized race tire distributors. The same construction and compounding used in the D211GP — indeed everything but the treaded design — again took center stage was during the qualifying session for the Daytona 200. Honda Racing’s Neil Hodgson rode his Formula Xtreme-spec CBR600RR with N-Tec slick tires to a record time of 1:39.347 around the famed Daytona circuit, becoming the first British rider since 1974 to win the prestigious Daytona 200 pole position. The race will take place on Saturday, March 8. Dunlop’s N-Tec slicks continue to rule Superbike competition as Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin set a scorching lap record of 1:35.759 on his GSX-R1000 en route to the pole position for Saturday’s race. The next 11 slots behind him on the grid are occupied by bikes running on Dunlop N-Tec tires. If there was any doubt about Dunlop’s capabilities, Jordan Motorsports Suzuki’s Aaron Yates ended it when he took the season’s first victory in the Superstock series. Yates set a record pole time of 1:38.231 on his N-Tec shod GSX-R1000 and rode brilliantly to secure the race win. About Dunlop Tires Dunlop Tires is the largest supplier of original equipment and replacement motorcycle tires in the U.S. and the only manufacturer of motorcycle tires in North America. With North American operations headquartered in Buffalo, NY, Dunlop has been making and selling high-quality tires in the U.S. since 1923. For more information, please visit www.dunlopmotorcycle.com. More, from a press release issued by Monster Kawasaki: Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Hayden Starts Season with a Podium Finish Daytona Beach, Fla. (March 6, 2008) Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Roger Hayden rounded out the podium on his Kawasaki ZX™-6R during the first AMA Supersport race of the season at Daytona International Speedway. Attack Kawasaki rider Chaz Davies made a last lap drive to finish fourth, while teammate Steve Rapp came across the checkered in seventh. Under the Kawasaki Tent Brave After crashing during the AMA Superbike qualifying session in the morning, Hayden was unsure if he was going to be able to ride in the AMA Supersport race. When race time came, Hayden was healthy enough to mount his number one ZX™-6R and ride a remarkable race to finish third. “Coming into the race I wanted to run upfront and be able to size up the competition for the season,” said Hayden. “It was definitely a good race. I came from a little ways back to catch up with the lead pack but ended up getting held up by a lapper. Sometimes they work in your favor and even though today it didn’t, I can’t complain. I am satisfied with third by the way things were going this weekend.” Never Holding Back Davies didn’t necessarily get the start he wanted but he never stopped pushing. On the final lap he was in seventh place and was able to use the draft to slingshot himself to an impressive fourth. “I got dropped from the second group kind of early on,” said Davies “I put my head down and managed to reel them in. I ran wide going into turn one, but after a couple more laps I was able to get close. From there it was a plan of attack for the last two straights. I got into a really good position and was able to pull out the fourth.” Inside the Top-10 Rapp got a good start and was able to maintain his speed with the group. After a rider held his group up, he tried to stay as close as he could to the second pack and was able to finish in seventh. “The race went okay,” said Rapp. “The bike was running good and I was able to ride up front most of the race. We lost some time when the rider in front of us had some problems with his bike and I think that is when the front group broke off. But overall it was a good race.” Lunch Time During the busy schedule, Davies’ team members are able to briefly eat lunch on a make-shift table. Adrenaline No one knew exactly how Hayden would finish, but the whole race he rode smooth and was a contender for the lead for much of the race. “I think adrenaline is the best pain medicine,” said Hayden after the race. “Once we got going, my wrist felt fine and I was able to battle out front.” Sunlight No More During the race, rain clouds rolled in and the sky went from light to dark in a matter of one lap. Having planned ahead, Hayden had a clear visor on his helmet so he was able to have the maximum visibility compared to other riders who were riding with a tinted visor. For all the pictures, videos and most recent Kawasaki racing action, visit www.kawasaki.com/racing AMA Superbike Series Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Fla. March 6, 2008 AMA Supersport Results 1. Ben D. Bostrom, Malibu, Calif., Yamaha 2. Josh Herrin, Dublin, Ga., Yamaha 3. ROGER HAYDEN, OWENSBORO, KY., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI 4. CHAZ DAVIES, KNIGHTON, UK, ATTACK KAWASAKI 5. Blake R. Young, Waunakee, Wisc., Suzuki 6. Martin Cardenas, Medellin, Columbia, Suzuki 7. STEVE RAPP, MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIF., ATTACK KAWASAKI 8. Jake P. Zemke, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda 9. Tommy Hayden, Owensboro, Ky., Suzuki 10. Danny C. Eslick, Broken Arrow, Okla., Suzuki AMA Supersport Class Points Standings 1. Ben Bostrom, Malibu, Calif., Yamaha, 37 2. Josh Herrin, Dublin, Ga., Yamaha, 33 3. ROGER HAYDEN, OWENSBORO, KY., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 29 4. CHAZ DAVIES, KNIGHTON, UK, ATTACK KAWASAKI, 27 5. Blake Young, Waunakee, Wisc., Suzuki, 26 6. Martin Cardenas, Medellin, Columbia, Suzuki, 25 7. STEVE RAPP, MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIF., ATTACK KAWASAKI, 24 8. Jake Zemke, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda, 23 9. Tommy Hayden, Owensboro, Ky., Suzuki, 22 10. Danny Eslick, Broken Arrow, Okla., Suzuki, 21