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Chris Martin
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AMA SBK: True Combined Weekend
Written by: Chris Martin   
07/18/2008 - 12:04 PM
Monterey, CA
 
Ben Spies and Jamie Hacking (Photo: Brian J Nelson) ยป More Photos

The combined MotoGP/AMA Superbike round at Laguna Seca is undoubtedly one of the highpoints of the AMA Superbike Championship season, the calendar's crown jewel in a number of respects.

The weekend provides the AMA stars a chance to not only shine in front of the largest crowd they'll see all year -- with three-day numbers approaching 150,000 spectators -- but also with the paddock bosses of the world's leading motorcycle racing championship casting a glance in their direction as well.

This season has an additional wrinkle as two of the AMA Superbike Championship's brightest stars, defending two-time king Ben Spies and three-time AMA support class champ Jamie Hacking, will be pulling double duty this weekend, mixing it up with the MotoGP stars and promising American fans the same type of thrill that used to be commonplace in the old 'wild card' days of World Superbike, only on an even bigger stage.

Last season Roger Hayden made the rare wild card ride at the round and came through in a huge
way, finishing in the top ten ranked as the top American. Chaz Davies joined the party when he was drafted into the Pramac squad after the weekend had already kicked off to sub for the injured Alex Hofmann and also impressed by posting some quick lap times in the race.

Despite struggling much of '07 in AMA Superbike, Hayden's ride in that single race made him a hot name in last year's MotoGP silly season rumors, while Davies parlayed his efforts into additional MotoGP rides later in the season.

Spies and Hacking are even more decorated riders and both are riding at their peak, the Texan recently establishing a record seven straight AMA Superbike wins while Hacking enters the round with six consecutive Superbike podium finishes, raising expectations for both.

The weekend is of particular importance for Spies, who is hungry to earn a full-time slot on next season's MotoGP grid, as a strong performance this weekend would be a massive help in propelling him to the world championship in 2009.
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