AMA Prostar: Antron, Rice and Lombardi Claim Top Qualifiers for Friday
12 September 1998
ATCO, New Jersey - Steve Rice is the top qualifier in the Funnybike category so far at the 34th annual AMA/Prostar U.S. Motorcycle Nationals, held at Atco Raceway.Also currently qualified on top is Dave Lombardi (Pro Modified), Antron Brown (Pro Stock), Rob McCraw (Pro Super Bike), Hugh Vineyard (Super Comp), Kevin Adams (Super Gas), Ryan Schnitz (Top Gas), and Keith Dennis (600 Super Sport).
The hottest guy in town may be Lombardi, who in his Pro Mod rookie season has taken the class by storm. Teaming up with last years champion Bill Vose, Lombardi qualified number one with a 6.96-second in the first qualifying session, only to have Tony Sabino come out seconds later and steal it away but .03-second.
During the second session, Lombardi loaded up his bike and shot out a 6.92-second, 191 MPH blast which held through the round as the quickest run.
In Funnybike, Steve Rice is currently seated in the top spot with a 7.27-second, 198 MPH run. Wendel Douthat is seated second, Ribert Giard and Ron Bonitatis claimed the three and four spots.
NFL superstar Troy Vincent's Team 23 Pro Stock Suzuki ridden by Antron Brown currently claims the Pro Stock Top Qualifier with a fine 7.33-second, 183 MPH run by his Greg Cope-powered entry. Pro Stock rookie Shawn Gann claimed number two, Paul Gast and NHRA champion Matt Hines claimed number three and four.
In the Pro Superbike category, Robert McCraw, who is filling in for Ben Koch, who suffered a severly broken leg a few weeks back in a streetbike accident, claimed the number one position on his second run ever on the bike. His 9.52-second, 138 MPH blast put him 1.3-seconds ahead of Team Kawasaki rider Rickey Gadson who is currently qualified at the bottom of the pack.
Top qualifiers in other classes include Hugh Vineyard (Super Comp), Kevin Adams (Super Gas), Keith Dennis (600 Supersport) and Ryan Schnitz (Top Gas).
Qualifying resumes tomorrow at 9:00 a.m., final eliminations and opening ceremonies begin Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
Atco Raceway is located off Exit 4 of the NJ Turnpike. South on route 73 South to Jug Handle Route 534 East (Jackson Road), to track.
