Mid Ohio AMA Superbike Preview--Get it All Here! (Updated 7/16/10 w/ Live Timing and Scoring)

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Mat Mladin on the #66 Yoshimura Makita Rockstar Suzuki GSX-R1000 leads team mate Ben Spies on the #1 machine across the stripe early in AMA Superbike race two action at Mid Ohio in 2008. Just coming out of the last corner onto the front straight is Jamie Hacking on the #2 Monster Energy Team Kawasaki ZX-10. Team Honda team mates Neil Hodgson on the #100 CBR1000RR and Miguel Duhamel on the #17 lead Aaron Yates on the Michael Jordan Motorsports #20 Suzuki GSX-R1000 as they all try to keep the front group in sight.
Since the takeover of the AMA Road Racing properties and running of the racing events by the DMG-led folks, the Superbike class has gone from a fire-breathing, 240+ HP and top-of-your-game class to Superstock heavy. With control tires and control fuel being implemented to help level the field--not a bad thing by me, it's working in WSBK!--and less-then-super Superbikes in the way of stock front suspensions-albeit the internals can be changed out-to milder-tuned and less hopped-up engines. With the racing arguably closer in the premier class, but still missing the fire that a full-blown Superbike class should have (see WSBK rules). And due to other problems such as the economy, losing sponsors and teams, the AMA Road Racing series at least appears to be making somewhat of a comeback in 2010. Though they do still need to work on the television package in respect to times shown (or not).
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One of the more user-friendly tracks (in terms of fan viewing and garage-access anyway) on the AMA Road Racing schedule is the flowing 2.5+ mile track known as Mid Ohio, located just outside beautiful downtown Lexington, OH. The Trueman Family still runs the track after all these years, and their ties to one of their original Indy car sponsors in Red Roof Inns is still prominent in the building and rooftop colors.
One of the nicer advantages of viewing a race at Mid Ohio is the way they set up some of the garages on each end of the paddock with stairs and a walkway above and over-the-shoulders of the teams set up inside for the race weekend. It gives you a nice chance to view some of the teams as they prepare for the weekend-or scramble because of it, and not get in anyone's way while doing it. Overhead views seem to lay everything out for you, so to speak, as well, in giving you an idea of where everything is.
In this shot you can see Josh Herrin's Graves Motorsports Yamaha 600 Supersport machine and his team as they prepare for the day's events in the summer of 2007. Herrin can be seen at the bench in the tan cap. Herrin will be looking to extend his lead in the 2010 AMA Daytona SportBike Championship at M.O. this weekend with two races on tap. Herrin won the Daytona 200 back in March riding for Team Graves and has gradually over the course of the last four seasons proved to be a seasoned-veteran with the team on and off the track. Winning multiple races the last couple of years it's just a matter of time before he bags a championship for Yamaha and for Graves Motorsports.
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Coming out of the keyhole onto the back straight at Mid Ohio, several riders run together during the first qualifying session for the AMA Formula Xtreme class in 2004.
Just outside the keyhole area the track offers camping and motorhomes and is a good high-speed vantage to watch from as the riders roll it on through the gears. The track also offers shower facilities just behind the paddock area where the safety garages and cars are. You can't miss that, just look for all the Honda's set up in racing school gear!
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Mid Ohio Sports Car Course, one of the oldest tracks on the current AMA Road Racing schedule that has been an annual stop since the early '80s, hosts round six of the AMA Superbike and AMA Daytona SportBike races this weekend. Also on hand will be the AMA Supersport races and the new Vance and Hines H-D XR1200 race on Sunday.

Honda Supercycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tires is the hosting sponsor for the races that will kick off with practice sessions tomorrow at Noon EDT and continue into Saturday for race one and wrap up with race two on Sunday for the top three classes.

Links to all you need to know to follow action at Mid Ohio can be found below!

Mid Ohio has been hosting double-race Superbike rounds since the 2000 season, and this track is a great place to see a race in terms of viewing and bang-for-the-buck happenings. If you can't get excited about watching the races anywhere around this place you don't have a pulse.....

Of note for the race weekend, Eric Bostrom #32 will be returning to AMA Superbike action riding for the Cycle World/Attack Suzuki team and Doug Polen, the '91-'92 WSBK Champion and '93 AMA Superbike Champion, will also be riding a Ducati for DucShop Racing in the Daytona SportBike class. Unfortunately, Aaron Yates' leg is not mended enough for him to ride for Michael Jordan this weekend, but Canadian sensation Brett McCormick is scheduled to fill the seat of the #23 Superbike entry again after filling in for the last few rounds on Aaron's bike.
Also, #79 Blake Young is out after a massive crash in testing after the Road America round in early June, and the rider that was slated to be his replacement on the Yoshimura Suzuki squad, Josh Waters, an Australian Superbike fenom, was also injured in a testing crash a couple of weeks ago, and will not fill the seat as planned. No word if anyone will be in the seat tomorrow when first practice rolls out at 1 P.M. EDT for the Superbike class.

AMA Road Racing Honda Supercycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tires Mid Ohio event info:
http://amaproracing.com/rr/events/event.cfm?eid=2010011030

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Various AMA Road Racing Mid Ohio event press releases courtesy of RoadRacingWorld.com:

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=41118

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=41101

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=41082

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=41169

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=41150

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Lexington, OH. weather thanks to the Weather Underground:
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=44904

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Google Maps link to Lexington, OH.:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&g=7721+Steam+Corners+Road,+Lexington,+OH+44904-0108&q=lexington,+oh&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Lexington,+Richland,+Ohio&ll=40.678815,-82.580624&spn=0.06405,0.110035&t=h&z=13

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Mid Ohio Official track link:

http://www.midohio.com/Home

Official Mid Ohio Track Map (pdf version):

http://www.midohio.com/Assets/Images/Pictures/TS-GenTrackMap-09

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AMA Live Timing and Scoring Mid Ohio event Link--UPDATED Fri. 7/16/10:

http://laptraxtg.racersites-cluster.com/LapTraxTG/AMA/livescoring.html?LAPTRAXID=2010011030
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