Monster Energy Kawasaki's Jamie Hacking captured a third-place finish after an intense battle that was decided on the final lap during the first of two AMA Superbike races at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va.

Hacking, who qualified third, earned a season-best start as he lead the pack of riders into the first set of turns. Making sure he didn't make any mistakes, he kept a fast pace and fought for the third position. Going into the last lap in fourth, Hacking made an exciting pass for third that would stick until the checkered flag.

"This was by far the best start I have had all season long," said Hacking. "This track is one of the few that actually had a long enough straightaway for our bike. It has a really tall first gear and it works better if you don't have to get going and immediately stop. The team is doing a great job and I am ready to see what we can do during Sunday's race."

Teammate Roger Hayden got a mid-pack start and worked hard to move up several positions aboard his Kawasaki ZX™-10R. After 10 laps he made his way up to fifth, but didn't have enough time to catch the fourth-place rider and finished with a respectable fifth place.

"It was a pretty good day considering the start I got," said Hayden. "I worked my way up to fifth, but the other guys battling for the podium got too big of a gap and I couldn't reel them in. The bike worked really well and I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's race."

In the AMA Formula Xtreme race, Attack Kawasaki's Ben Attard fought for another great finish as he came across the finish line in fourth.

"The race started off all right," said Attard. "The Kawasaki ZX™-6R was running great but after about the fifth lap, I started to slide around. Hopefully tomorrow we can make some adjustments and do well in the supersport race."

Teammate Steve Rapp got a ninth-place start and quickly moved up seventh where he would eventually cross the finish line.

"I got stuck behind the group at the start," said Rapp. "In the first few laps, I was behind slower people and by the time I got to seventh, I couldn't find any edge grip. I just did what I could to maintain my position and was happy I could keep seventh."

The AMA Supersport and second AMA Superbike races are set to race Sunday afternoon at Virginia International Raceway.

AMA Superbike Championship
Virginia International Raceway ­ Alton, Va.
August 18, 2007

AMA Formula Xtreme Results
1. Joshua Hayes, Gulfport, Miss., Honda
2. Larry Pegram, Pataskala, Ohio, Ducati
3. Martin Craggill, Boulder, Colo., Ducati
4. BEN ATTARD, MURIETTA, CALIF., ATTACK KAWASAKI
5. Martin Cardenas, Medellin, Columbia, Suzuki
6. Chaz Davies, Nyack, N.Y., Yamaha
7. STEVE RAPP, MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIF., ATTACK KAWASAKI
8. Aaron Gobert, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
9. Cory West, Eureka Springs, Ariz., Yamaha
10. Jeff Wood, Winchendon, Mass., Yamaha

AMA Formula Xtreme Standings
1. Joshua Hayes, Gulfport, Miss., Honda, 286
2. STEVE RAPP, MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIF., ATTACK KAWASAKI, 223
3. Aaron Gobert, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 209
4. Larry Pegram, Pataskala, Ohio, Ducati, 188
5. BEN ATTARD, MURIETTA, CALIF., ATTACK KAWASAKI, 178
6. Chaz Davies, Nyack, N.Y., Suzuki, 156
7. Bobby Fong, Stockton, Calif., Suzuki, 136
8. Ryan Andrews, Robinson, Texas, Honda, 132
9. Martin Craggill, Boulder, Colo., Ducati, 131
10. Ryan Andrews, Robinson, Texas, Honda, 116

AMA Superbike Results
1. Mathew Mladin, Henderson, Nev., Suzuki
2. Ben Spies, Longview, Texas, Suzuki
3. JAMIE HACKING, DENVER, N.C., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
4. Aaron Yates, Milledgeville, Ga., Suzuki
5. ROGER HAYDEN, OWENSBORO, KY., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
6. Eric Bostrom, Las Vegas, Nev., Yamaha
7. Jason Disalvo, Stafford, N.Y., Yamaha
8. Jake Zemke, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda
9. Tommy Hayden, Owensboro, Ky., Suzuki
10. James Ellison, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., Suzuki

AMA Superbike Standings
1. Ben Spies, Longview, Texas, Suzuki, 519
2. Mathew Mladin, Henderson, Nev., Suzuki, 507
3. Jake Zemke, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda, 360
4. Miguel Duhamel, Las Vegas, Nev., Honda, 360
5. Tommy Hayden, Owensboro, Ky., Suzuki, 358
6. Aaron Yates, Milledgeville, Ga., Suzuki, 353
7. Jason Disalvo, Stafford, N.Y., Yamaha, 324
8. JAMIE HACKING, DENVER, N.C., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 318
9. Eric Bostrom, Las Vegas, Nev., Yamaha, 299
10. James Ellison, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., Honda, 277
11. ROGER HAYDEN, OWENSBORO, KY., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 272