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AMA SBK: Is Superbike Today’s Most Wide Open Race?
Written by: Chris Martin   
07/05/2009
Monterey, CA
 
Fiat Yamaha Team's Valentino Rossi (Photo: Brian J Nelson) ยป More Photos

PROGRAMMING NOTE: The AMA Pro Road Racing action from Laguna Seca can be seen Sunday, July 5 at 9:00pm PT (late Sunday/early Monday, July 6 at Midnight ET).

Is it possible that the most wide-open race on today's schedule at Laguna Seca is actually the AMA Pro American Superbike contest? As strange as that sounds, it might just be the case.

The MotoGP showdown was shaping up to be one for the ages with the three title contenders all hitting their stride at the opening of the weekend. Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo was looking particularly threatening, showing the type of pace required to defeat both Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner around the famed circuit -- that is until he nearly crashed himself off the grid during qualifying, getting launched high into the air like a Fourth of July firework at the tail end of Saturday's session that still saw him claim pole.

Lorenzo gritted it out and ran fifth quick in the morning
warm-up in an impressive display of toughness and courage, but his hopes of dicing for victory took a big hit when he came crashing down to earth yesterday afternoon, his right shoulder and ankle absorbing the bulk of the impact.

Stoner too has been lightning quick, and was fortune to escape a similar Superman act less severely beaten up. But the Australian is still certainly sore, which only adds to his arm pump and chronic fatigue worries in Sunday's race. The Ducati Marlboro star posted the quickest time this morning (0.080 seconds ahead of Rossi), but his ability over a single lap is not in question; the doubt remains whether or not he'll be able to mount a race-long challenge.

The process of elimination leaves Rossi as a strong favorite to run away this afternoon when less than 24 hours ago the race looked to be a three-way clash and potential epic, the likes of which have rarely been seen during the 800cc era.


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