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VIR Report Day 3.

What a weekend at VIR!! Jamie Hacking clinching the SuperSport Championship, with Roger Hayden's DNF, was a huge surprise! This is why it pays to talk to everyone you can in the paddock about the race weekend. I was not even thinking Jamie could clinch until I was speaking with Jamie's crew chief Jefferson on Friday about the points situation. He off handedly said that he though Hacking could "clinch" given X and Y and Z situation. So I checked out the points myself and low and behold Jefferson was correct. Armed with that knowledge we, as a commentating team, talked about it before the race and decided it was a good story. Thank goodness we did! As the race got underway we talked about the fact that Jamie could clinch, but thought it would take a miracle… and then it happened. Roger Hayden got a horrible start, but then started to rip off some laps times. After the race Roger told me that he has not ridden that aggressively in a long time. Roger pushed just a little too hard and lost the front in the same spot he crashed in qualifying. He wadded up his ZX-6R and could not continue. Jamie Hacking's pit board came out with a 95 on it signaling to Hack that Rog was out. The #2 Yamaha then proceeded to rip trough traffic and log another victory on the season and clinch the championship. What a show!

I have some pictures from the weekend I will share with you this week. They outline what kind of creature comforts different riders on the same bike need to make them go fast. I think you will find it interesting. I am to tired right now to mess with the camera and getting them posted on the web.

It was very hot this weekend. A lot of the riders are not used to the heat with high humidity. I was speaking with Eric Bostrom as I rolled in this morning. Eric told me that after his win in yesterdays Formula Xtreme race he was a bit more dehydrated that he originally thought. When Eric was signing autographs after the race last night, his biceps started to "lock up a little bit." That is a good sign you need some more hydration. He felt lucky to learn about it last night so he could make sure he had enough fluids in him for the race today…   which he won. And speaking of that, there was a question of why Jamie Hacking had to race his own teammate Eric Bostrom when Hacking needed the extra points in his battle for his second 2006 Championship in the SuperStock class. There were not many answers in winners circle, except what Eric had to say in the interview he did with me. EBoz said he was supposed to get a pit board signal to tell him to move aside… he never got that pit signal, so he did not move. Jamie Hacking, who finished second, was not a happy guy. Well, not until he wrapped up his second AMA Championship later in the day.

Before I left the track tonight Jake Zemke's crew was building a brand new Superbike for JZ. They have been having some problems with his Number 1 bike, so they broke out the spares and started fresh for the next two races. I should have taken some pictures, but I thought it was rude. I can tell you that those frames are 100% stock, from show room CBR1000RR's. There is nothing trick about the Factory Honda Superbike frames…   they are the same as any 2006 model you may own. I thought that was pretty cool. But I am a geek like that.

Tommy Hayden and Jake Zemke had a good laugh tonight. After everything was over when guys just chit chat, the old racing mates had some words about their race today. Tommy was on Jake's ass when he (Tommy) kicked his shift lever a bit to hard and broke the bolt that connects the lever to the shift shaft. Tommy had to come in and get a new one. He finished 24th. When Tommy and Jake crossed paths Tommy looked at Jake all serious like and said, "It's all your fault Jake…   It's all your fault I broke my lever." Tommy then said, "I was trying so hard to out drive you and needed to grab a shift, so I kicked it too hard and broke the bolt, it's all your fault Jake." Tommy did this with such a straight face…   then they both broke out in laughter and had a chat about the race that each guy ran.

Rumor Mill:

There were some rumors that Miguel Duhamel's crew chief Al Ludington would replace AMA race director Ron Barrick for the next race and next year. However, I did not hear that Ron was leaving and I asked Al directly if he was interested in doing that job. Al told me straight up that he is half way through a two year deal with Honda and could not, even if he wanted to, do that job. I also asked if he did not have that contract would he be interested in doing the demanding job of race director. He looked at me and said, "maybe." So a big NO on that rumor.

Ducati pulling out of the AMA for 2007? The announcement will be made on Tuesday of this week. I cannot say for sure, but it is not looking good. More details on that after the announcement.

Yamaha joining Superbikes for 2007? I think I know the answer to this, but out of respect for Yamaha, any announcements, if they need to have one, will be made in due time. That stuff goes all the way up the latter, so hopefully we will know one way or another. I do know this, Yamaha has a new R1 coming out for 2007.

Jordon Suzuki pulling out of AMA competition? NO! Micheal Jordon is still loving AMA Superbike racing and will field a team for next season. On what brand of motorcycle I don't know. The rumor mill has them staying with Suzuki. I think that is a good call.

Yoshimura Supersport only ride? A huge rumor about a Supersport only ride at Yosh and who will ride it. There are several riders who want it, but only one who deserves it, Geoff May. We'll see if there is indeed a spot or it is just a rumor. Suzuki with a new GSX-R 1000 next year? Yup.

Honda gives bikes away? Honda may have up to 6 different support teams in the paddock next year. Honda Factory, Erion Honda, Rockwall Honda, Pegram Racing and a couple new ones. Honda would like to give the official word, so I won't give up anything I know. But with a new CBR600RR on the way, expect to see a lot more Honda's on the grid in 2007.

There are so many more good rumors around, but that is all I have time for. I am headed to Carolina Motorsports Park tomorrow morning for a track day. Again, I will try and get some pictures up this week when I have them. I will also talk about more rumors as they develop.

Thanks for reading.

L8R - G