AMA Barber

CyBeR929 · 05-14-2004, 12:48 PM

Superbike Practice 1 is happening now. You can follow on "Live @ the Wire" from

USSuperbike

Right now, same story...Suzy's up top, then Honda's, then some privateers (GO HANER!!! (local guy)), then EBoz languishing in setupland

Mladin's setting the ealry pace 1/2 second faster than anyone else.

CyBeR929 · 05-14-2004, 1:19 PM

Practice is over with Yates and Zemke both stepping up to join Mladin as the only folks in the 26's:

Yates 1:26.431
Mladin 1:26.673
Zemke 1:26.712
Miguel
Ben
Haner
Hayes
EBoz 1:29.219

CBRGuy · 05-14-2004, 2:05 PM

Zemke's gonna surprise everyone tomorrow w/ his 1st win.

CyBeR929 · 05-14-2004, 2:34 PM

I could see that....Zemke taking one race and Yates the other. I think they're both incredibly hungry (Miguel's probably still full from stealing Jakes Infineon burger

). Mladin's not in conservation mode yet, but he's not going to go out there with a win or bin attitude either. I can see him being happy to finish 2nd or 3rd while Jake and Yates scrap for first.

In a different year, I would pick BBoz for a double since this is his type of track, but I don't know what's happened to that guys head....

Skully · 05-14-2004, 2:42 PM

I'm going up tomorrow, anyone else?

BDA116 · 05-14-2004, 2:55 PM

I can see Yates taking out all three Honda riders, then duking it out with Benny.

CyBeR929 · 05-14-2004, 3:04 PM

Whoa...Ben's the one with the Bowling for Honda's history at Barber

Miguels Bogus Adventure

CyBeR929 · 05-14-2004, 4:50 PM

WHOA! Ben musta heard I was bagging on him! He jsut ran a 1:26.847 on a mostly dry track!

CyBeR929 · 05-14-2004, 4:54 PM

Whoops...spoke too soon. Qualifying just ended and Jake pipped him on the last lap:

Jake 1:26.38
BBoz 1:26.847
Mladin 1:27.392
Yates 1:27.692
Miguel 1:28.133
Hayes 1:28.305
EBoz 1:28.462
Pegram, etc 1:30+

*Mo Noyz* · 05-17-2004, 7:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyBeR929

Whoops...spoke too soon. Qualifying just ended and Jake pipped him on the last lap:

Jake 1:26.38
BBoz 1:26.847
Mladin 1:27.392
Yates 1:27.692
Miguel 1:28.133
Hayes 1:28.305
EBoz 1:28.462
Pegram, etc 1:30+

So are we allowed to talk about the results of this race yet? I'm too damn lazy to read the rules of this BBS.

CyBeR929 · 05-17-2004, 7:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mo Noyz

So are we allowed to talk about the results of this race yet? I'm too damn lazy to read the rules of this BBS.

I think so....both Superbike races have been on TV at this point. Let me see if I can add spoiler to the title....

Sowaddididathink?

Ehh, the spoiler part didn't update on the main page...just that reply. In any event, I would think it's safe to talk about now.

*Mo Noyz* · 05-18-2004, 12:44 AM

Alright, but if I get in trouble it's ALL your fault!!!

I thought both races were excellent. Racing has gotten much tighter these last two series.

Looks like Zemke is learning that it's not so easy to beat the big boys at their own game. Just like everyone else, I think that he WILL eventually win one this year. But it was impressive watching Mladin, and then Duhamel, take him at the end of each race.

I was disappointed that Zemke acted like such a baby after the second race, but I'll chalk it up as sheer frustration and give him a pass.

I was impressed to see Yates keep up his current low-side streak. He has yet to run a race without one this year. The only one he didn't low side at was California.

CyBeR929 · 05-18-2004, 1:07 AM

I agree...great racing....and very parallel to Infineon where Mladin was well in command on day one, but by the time day two rolled around, Honda had things figured out. I think it's great watching Mladin and Miguel go back and forth slugging it out for the all time superbike wins title.

As far as Zemke, I knew that great awwwww-shucks attitude could only last so long. Don't get me wrong, I think he's a phenominal rider and he's causing Miguel and Mladin to raise there game, but there's only so many times that you can dominate a race and lose it on the last lap before you get really frusterated. That being said, the AMA has a huge problem with backmarkers. I realize that some of these guys are fighting for positions, but (to me) when they see the blue flag being waved in their face, they should immediatly get out of the way to let the leaders through. So many races are determined by who gets balked and who doesn't. The bikes are so even horsepowerwise between the full factory bikes and the privateer bikes that passing them is difficult at best. But if you're a privateer and you see the blue flag, to me, it's time to move over. Wanna prove you can race with the big boys? Move over, let them by, and try to hang on their tails, but don't try to beat them into every corner....

Jake will win one...I agree...just a matter of time. I'm glad to see Honda stepping up though...at least Miguel and Jake that is.

Yates? Well, I really thought he'd take a win this weekend...what a disaster. It must really suck for his season to effectively be over after 4 rounds

BigDawg · 05-18-2004, 11:04 AM

Spent the entire weekend there

Long drive but a great trip. I think Jake is close. Honestly I think he's struggling with tire management a little. Guy basically runs away early and then gets reeled in at the end. Just rides the rear off. You could tell he was on all weekend even in practice. He'll get his.

Mladin and Yates both rode pretty well. Yates was fast all weekend but as usual, couldn't keep it on two wheels for the race. Mladin was fast all weekend as well. The zook is hooked up. Thing is loud as hell too. They have the yosh's cut down and that thing sounds like it's seriously pissed. The honda does seem to put the power down slighly better though. It's got better pull down the straights. I still think they are struggling with handling a little. The zooks were clearly faster in the corners.

B.Boz was quick again too. I didn't see the wreak but I did hear he binned it in the first race. Not too good. The final practice sunday am, he was quickest I think and looked on his game. Not sure what happened. He led for a while and they just fell right off. It was HOT so not sure how that played but I can say I don't envy any of the guys running back to back races. It has to be a long weekend.

E.Boz just can't seem to find the setup. The Duck crew is world class. What a group. Easily the most impressive crew to watch work. 5 guys plus on the bike as soon as it comes in. It has to be the baddest hot rod out there. Such great noise. Bike just doesn't seem to want to turn. It's got the steam but you seem it get closed on so quickly into the corners. It exists pretty well but just doesn't seem to get into the corner with the same speed as the honda's and zook's.

And how about Josh Hayes. Guy can ride his ass off. Looks good all weekend as well. He's still really banged up from a crash a few weeks ago. Not walking around too well still. Sure gets around the track though. Fun to watch.

All and all a great weekend. Weather was great with just a touch of a shower for the sat am stuff and then a quick little sprinkle on Sunday. If you ever get the chance to head out there, I strongly suggest it.

What a great facility. Place is beautiful.

CyBeR929 · 05-18-2004, 11:39 AM

Sounds awesome! Where'd you sit? It looked like turn 4 (the double apex downhill/uphill left hander with the ripples on the downhill slope) was the place to be. I was constantly picking my jaw up off the floor watching Jake back into the downhill portion of the turn. Even Mladin (I don't normally think of him as a slider) stuffed a couple people by backing it in. It would have been awesome to see that in person.

Hayes did awesome...but I was even more impressed with Haner on the Hooters Suzuki. Another CMRA racer moving up the ranks. I was shocked that he got up to 3rd on the red flag restart of race 2. Amazing to beat that many factory guys off the line.

One of these days I'll get out to Barber...it looks phenominal

BigDawg · 05-18-2004, 2:39 PM

Was great. We actually sat on the hill down the back straight. Best place to be. You can litterally see 75-80% of the track from there. Basically where we were was right perpendicular to the hairpin so we could see everyone come over the hill and honk on the brakes right there. Many a crash happened in that corner.

Lots of block passing right there and serveral times I saw people in way hot on the brakes with the rear in the air. The Haden boys did pretty well too

Great racing all weekend. Being a true racing fan I really enjoyed all the "behind the sence" stuff too. Great to watch practice and qualifying.

I was surprised to see the superstock 600's are faster than the FX 600's though. I guess the teams/racers think it's due to the tires. The 600's just don't like 195/70 rear slicks. Too much meat back there and they can't keep the motor spooled up exiting corners so the bike doesn't always want to steer. Wicked machines and I got to fondle Jokes Erion hot rod (was on display) and I must say, I could easily own a 600rr with some nice bits like that one. Sweet machine.

Was a great time. If ever you get the chance, do attend. Great facility....

CyBeR929 · 05-18-2004, 3:06 PM

I've been wondering about the 600SS versus FX classes. The way I understand it, the 600SS bikes are relatively bone stock and run on DOT tires right? And the FX guys can do almost anything they want plus run on slicks right? So it just doesn't add up to me why the SS guys would be as fast or faster than the FX guys. Are the FX guys precluded from running DOT tires?

I guess the same can almost be said for Superbike v Superstock...I guess the AMA has a redundant department of redundancies department to handle the redundant race classes efficiently

BigDawg · 05-18-2004, 5:00 PM

Ya, as far as I know, FX is pretty open. I'm not sure about all the details but basically the motors make like 15-20hp more than the std 600s and the weight is down plus all the nice bits suspension wise (full factory invert Showa's off the SB's) and it looked like a different swingarm. I think they have to run slicks too or at least all of them were. Amazing to me that they are slower out there though. It's sorta the factory hot rod of the 600's. They look simply awesome though. Makes me want to build a 600rr with ohlins R+T forks and ride the wheels off it.

Pretty neat to actually get up close and see all the goodies these guys have. Where do I sign??????

fl-929 · 05-18-2004, 5:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyBeR929

I've been wondering about the 600SS versus FX classes. The way I understand it, the 600SS bikes are relatively bone stock and run on DOT tires right? And the FX guys can do almost anything they want plus run on slicks right? So it just doesn't add up to me why the SS guys would be as fast or faster than the FX guys. Are the FX guys precluded from running DOT tires?

I guess the same can almost be said for Superbike v Superstock...I guess the AMA has a redundant department of redundancies department to handle the redundant race classes efficiently

One thing to consider is that maybe the Honda riders are only going as fast as they need to go. So far the only comp has been their teammates.

The SS riders are pushed much harder so their laptimes will represent that.

Just my

which is worth about