AMA-SBK: Fontana Preview

The weekend will features five races on the 2.36-mile speedway road course. The American Superbike and Daytona Sportbike classes will each compete a double-header while up-and-coming racers will show their talent in the AMA Pro SuperSport West race.

Mat Mladin tops the AMA American Superbike standings after extending Suzukis winning streak to 46 with a victory at the March 5 opener in Daytona, Fla. Mladins Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammates also finished in the top five in Daytona with Tommy Haydens third- and Blake Youngs fifth-place results, but the race showed signs that Suzukis competitors are narrowing the gap.

Corona Hondas Neil Hodgson and Foremost Ducatis Larry Pegram each held the lead for several laps. Hodgson beat out Hayden in a photo finish for second while problems with his Ducati 1098Rs traction control prevented Pegram from being in the final mix.

Hodgson wont be able to build on his second-place Daytona finish however due to a serious accident he suffered during training. The Corona Honda rider fell after hitting a fallen rider while training on his Motocross bike. Hodgson suffered a collapsed lung as well as rib and shoulder injuries in the fall and will not race in Fontana. Jake Holden will ride in Hodgsons place for Corona Honda.

The Daytona Sportbike races in Fontana should be much different from the season-opening Daytona 200, a confusing race held under the lights. Several Daytona 200 entrants including race winner Ben Bostrom will shift their focus to the American Superbike class but the Daytona Sportbike class will still feature 47 entrants.

Graves Yamahas Josh Herrin and Team M4 Suzukis Jason DiSalvo finished on the podium in the Daytona 200 and will look to continue their success. Buell 1125R riders Shawn Higbee and Danny Eslick, Factory Aprilia rider Chaz Davies and Erion Hondas Jake Zemke will also be in action.

The SuperSport West race will feature riders aged 16-21 on 600cc sportbikes. Erion Hondas Tyler Odom took the victory in the class debut in Daytona.