AMA Formula Xtreme - Gobert takes second FX win in 07 finale

AMA Formula Xtreme: Gobert takes second FX win in 2007 finale

(AMA Pro Racing Release) Erion Honda’s Aaron Gobert finished his bounce-back season in fine style on Sunday afternoon at Laguna Seca, claiming the final Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme race of the season.

The Australian, who has struggled to recapture his Superstock-title winning form in recent years, showed renewed strength in ’07, compiling three victories across his FX and Supersport duties.

Gobert, who opened the race from pole, battled past Attack Kawasaki’s Ben Attard on lap 3 and then overtook early race leader Larry Pegram on the Leo Vince Ducati on the following lap to move into first.

At that point Gobert proved to be in control of the race and scored the Erion Honda squad’s ninth straight FX win after their season-opening disappointment in the Daytona 200.

The Aussie’s win also saw him jump up from fifth to third in the final standings, trailing only his teammate, Josh Hayes, who earlier secured his second straight class crown, and Daytona winner Steve Rapp.

After the race Gobert said, “I had some issues yesterday afternoon and it just turned out to be the compound of tire I chose. I came back this morning and went two seconds a lap quicker. From that point on I knew it was going to be a good day.

“It was a little bit frustrating coming off the start; I thought I’d get the holeshot but it kind of popped a little bit and I didn’t get the acceleration I thought I get. Larry out-drove everyone to Turn 1 and that was kind of it. I knew I had to take a lap or two and feel out my strengths. That was it. I got Ben pretty easily on the brakes in Turn 2. I had a go at Larry a lap later. I had a big run on him going into 5 and that was it really. I felt good. The Parts Unlimited Pro Honda Oils Erion Honda has been strong all weekend and strong all year. It was great to ride it properly and have a good finish to the season.”

Behind Gobert an exciting dogfight developed to determine the bottom two steps on the podium. Attard made several goes at Pegram but often found himself falling behind teammate Rapp when he came up short in his bids to take over second. Ultimately Attard ran off in Turn 2 and crashed after a lengthy ride through the gravel.

Pegram held on for second in the race and finished a fine fourth in the 2007 points standings while series runner-up Rapp grabbed yet another podium for Attack Kawasaki by finishing in third.

Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas took fourth followed by Topline Printing’s Chris Peris. Celtic Racing’s Chaz Davies finished in sixth, with Rockwall Honda’s Ryan Andrews, Team Hunter’s Cory West, Andrews’ teammate, Ryan Elleby, and a remounted Attard completed the race’s top ten.

Late-season frontrunner Marty Craggill exited the contest as 12 laps when his Boulder Motorsports Ducati went up in flames with the Australian still at its controls.