While reading this Evan Williams article at superbikeplanet.com, I started to ponder upon whether the winds of change are blowing once again in AMA roadracing. Josh Hayes, the talented, satellite-supported privateer on the new ZX-10R is currently leading in points over several factory riders, forming the dreaded "Hayes Line" that you definitely don't want to be behind unless you're also a privateer. At the same time, American Honda seems poised to finally dethrone Yoshimura Suzuki with their outstanding new CBR1000RR (piloted by riders such as Zemke and DuHamel). All in all, 2004 is shaping up to be a much more interesting year than anyone thought. Heck, Ducati even won a race this year.

Magnificent Seven, Brainerd-Style
by evan williams [superbikeplanet.com]
Wednesday, June 30, 2004

1. Jake Zemke, Erion Honda -- Jake got his first career Superbike win at Brainerd, emerging victorious in the controversial race after finishing in second place six times this year. Zemke came up huge to win pole in Superbike despite only a handful of laps due to a crash and was a close second in FX.

2. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha -- Hacking led every practice and qualifying session he was in at Brainerd and won the Superstock race to ease his points lead back to a healthier margin. Hacking wasn't able to capitalize in Superstock after choosing the wrong tire during the red flag and was passed by Jason DiSalvo for third in the last corner of the final.

3. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki -- Tom consolidated his Supersport points lead with a tight win over his brother and teammate Roger Hayden. Tom said he wasn't going to break until after Rog did the final time through Brainerd's turn ten, even if he couldn't make the move stick on the way out. The result was a win.

4. Josh Hayes, Attack Kawasaki -- Hayes was very tough at Brainerd, leading a Superbike session, and qualifying fifth in Superbike. Hayes qualified and finishing second in Superstoc, having proved to be the toughest competitor to Hacking on Sunday despite not having a factory machine.

5. Miguel DuHamel, Honda -- Miguel closed the gap further to Mladin and now the Superbike points race is down to 6 points with seven races to go. Miguel won Formula Xtreme at Brainerd and finished second in Superbike. Some thought it should have been a win, given the red flag on the final lap of the race and the language of the rulebook.

6. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha -- DiSalvo was on the podium in both Superstock and Supersport. It was his first podium in Superstock for the young rider in his second year with Yamaha.

7. Mat Mladin, Suzuki -- Mladin came into Brainerd outgunned again but in better shape than he was at Elkhart. Like at Road America, Mladin lost points to the Hondas but minimized the bleeding by pushing hard through turn one and two, plus the infield. The result was Mladin retains the points lead after three Nationals at Honda tracks because he finished a close third.