The leading trio of Jason DiSalvo, Josh Hayes and Eric Bostrom will bring their spirited battle for the 2006 AMA Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series title to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Saturday, Aug. 5. A mere 11 points separate the top three riders coming into this weekend’s round eight of 11.
Yamaha’s DiSalvo has been consistent throughout the season, finishing on the podium in all but one race. The 22-year-old rider from Stafford, N.Y., scored a victory at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., and he’s eager to earn a second win.
“I’m really excited about coming to Mid-Ohio,” said DiSalvo, who won an AMA Superstock race at the track in 2004. “I’ve gone through a bit of a tough time in the class, but I was right there at Laguna Seca. I just caught some tough breaks in lapped traffic. Even though I didn’t win there I’m encouraged with the way our program is going. We still have the points lead and I think we’ll be ready to contend for the win at Mid-Ohio.”
Hayes is trying to keep the AMA Formula Xtreme title in the Honda camp. The Erion Racing Honda rider moved to within a couple of points of the series lead after winning at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah last month. He slipped a bit in his charge for the title with a third at Laguna Seca, but believes the championship remains in play.
“I think it’s still going to be a good race to the end of the year,” Hayes said. “I have a great bike and a great team behind me. I made a little mistake at the start of the Laguna race, but I think we’ll be able to get back on track in the last few races. We’re all so close now no one can afford to slip up. Mid-Ohio should be an exciting race.”
Eric Bostrom is hot off a win at Laguna Seca and is the only rider among the top three who has won an AMA Formula Xtreme race at Mid-Ohio. Bostrom started slowly this year but has won four of the last five races and moved himself into championship contention.
A victory at Mid-Ohio would make Bostrom the all-time AMA Formula Xtreme wins leader.
Ohio fans will have a local rider to root for in the Formula Xtreme race. Honda-backed James Kerker is ranked 17th nationally and could move up with a good result at Mid-Ohio.
Graves Yamaha’s Jamie Hacking is the points leader in the AMA Repsol Lubricants Superstock Series. Hacking is trying to become only the second rider in history to win both the AMA Supersport and Superstock titles in the same season. Doug Polen accomplished the feat in 1988.
This weekend Hacking will have to fend off Yoshimura Suzuki rider Aaron Yates, who is a two-time and defending Mid-Ohio Superstock winner. Yates will try to match Scott Russell this weekend as a three-time winner of the event.
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