Honda sources say Miguel DuHamel will definitely race the Honda Supersport machine at Laguna. Why? Exposure. Honda wants to win in front of the huge Laguna Seca crowd, perhaps over 100,00 strong this year.

DuHamel, the all-time leader with 40 Supersport wins, tested at VIR on board one of the team's previously-mothballed Daytona Supersport bikes in preparation and was turning competitive laps in short order.

One goal for the Miguel camp is earning the 50th win on Supersport machines tuned by lead mechanic Al Ludington.

Miguel was recently honored at a Dunlop press launch for his accomplishments for the tire company. Jim Allen and his crew tallied the total number of tires used by DuHamel over the years at 4573. If the average tire costs $175, DuHamel would have a tire bill of $800,275 if he didn't get them for free.

Corona Suzuki team owner Landers Sevier says that all is a go for the team's Suzuka Eight Hour race entry for riders Adam Fergusson, Jordan Szoke and a Japanese alternate rider. The team is currently building a GSX-R for the team to use in Japan.

Honda's Kurtis Roberts is at Brainerd and ready to race. He's still sore from his Fontana injuries and not as limber as he'd like to be on the motorcycle, necessitating a few changes to his bike for comfort reasons.

Other riders returning from injury at Brainerd include Josh Hayes and Steve Rapp.

You-can't-blame-them-for-trying Department -- Word is that Aaron Yates's "bark busters" were disallowed by AMA tech. Yates and Blimpie Suzuki are 55 points ahead of Tommy Hayden and Kawasaki for the lead in the Supersport title chase.