Corrected Post: Graves, Toye, Dowie Star At Willow Springs

Corrected Post: Graves, Toye, Dowie Star At Willow Springs

© 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Chuck Graves, Jeremy Toye and Robbie Dowie each won three sprint races at round 11 of the 12-round WSMC series Sunday, at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, California.

Graves, who normally runs five or more races on most WSMC weekends, only raced in three events Sunday, winning in 600cc Superstock, Open Superbike and the premier Toyota Cup Unlimited Road Race on his Dunlop-shod Yamahas. When asked why he only ran three sprints, Graves said he was concentrating on his Graves Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R1/R7 hybrid Superbike, which he said was equipped with a new, more-powerful, fuel-injected version of the AMA Formula Xtreme engine that Damon Buckmaster raced with in 2002.

Graves’ biggest challenge of the day came in the Toyota Cup race from Team Orthopedics’ Jack Pfeifer. With Graves’ new engine experiencing teething problems and Pfeifer on Dunlop’s new-for-2002 195/65-16.5 “big” slicks for the first time, the two riders raced and bumped elbows for all 12 laps. In the end, Graves used the horsepower advantage of his Yamaha Superbike to pass Pfeifer and his Superstock Suzuki GSX-R1000 between the last corner and the checkered flag. The win, combined with Toye’s DNF on lap three, resulted in Graves clinching the 2002 WSMC Toyota Cup Championship.

Pfeifer won in Open Modified Production and Open Superstock, but his engine blew up later, while Pfeifer was racing with Graves in Open Superbike.

Fastline Racing’s Jeff Stern came from behind to finish third on a Michelin-shod Suzuki GSX-R750 Superbike in the Toyota Cup event.

Concept Five’s Jason Perez finished fourth in the Toyota Cup but won the Heavyweight Battle of the Twins and Formula Twins races on Richard Headley’s 135-horsepower, back-up Ducati 955 Superbike.

Canadian teenager Andrew Nelson took fifth in the Toyota Cup on his Honda CBR600F4i ahead of Will Eikenberry, 15-year-old Corey Eaton, Stephen Hewitt, Stuart Smith and Matthias Jezek.

Riding a Suzuki GSX-R600, Dowie swept all three of his races – 650cc Superbike, 600cc Modified Production and Formula Two – and wrapped up Championships in 600cc Modified Production and Formula Two. Young lion Perez finished second to Dowie in the 600cc Modified Production and 650cc Superbike races. Perez and Dowie will decide the 650cc Superbike Championship at the final WSMC round December 14-15.

Lee’s Cycles’ Toye took victories in 750cc Superstock, 750cc Modified Production and 750cc Superbike (Toye clinched all three Championships halfway through the season.). Toye, however, left Willow Springs angry after his Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike developed electrical problems that forced him out of the Toyota Cup race while battling for the lead with Graves and Pfeifer. Unofficially, Toye still holds a 47-point lead over Graves in the overall WSMC point standings with Perez a close third.

A veteran of YSR racing, 17-year-old James Mann won the Aprilia Challenge and took a second in 550cc Superbike in his first ride on Libasci Racing’s Aprilia RS250. Mann also took third in 600cc Modified Production and fifth in 600cc Superstock on his Motoworld of El Cajon Yamaha YZF-R6.

No Limits Honda’s Jason Curtis ended his first weekend riding a Honda CBR600F4i at Willow Springs with a third-place finish in 600cc Superstock, behind winner Graves and runner-up Nelson. Curtis said he expected AMA Supersport 2003 CBR600RRs to arrive at the team’s raceshop in the coming week.

Yamaha Motor Corporation Public Relations Manager Brad Banister won the red-flag-shortened Middleweight Novice race with low-1:30 lap times on a Yamaha YZF-R6. Banister, who used to race as an Expert but hasn’t road raced for several years, was bumped down into the Novice class by WSMC officials due to his lack of verified recent road racing experience.

WSMC Toyota Cup Unlimited Road Race Final Results:

1. Chuck Graves, Yamaha YZF-R1/R7, 12 laps
2. Jack Pfeifer, Suzuki GSX-R1000
3. Jeff Stern, Suzuki GSX-R750
4. Jason Perez, Ducati 998RS
5. Andrew Nelson, Honda CBR600F4i
6. Will Eikenberry, Kawasaki ZX-9R
7. Corey Eaton, Suzuki GSX-R750
8. Stephen Hewitt, Yamaha YZF-R1
9. Stuart Smith, Yamaha YZF-R1
10. Mattias Jezek, Yamaha
11. Jeff Longbottom, Yamaha
12. John Falb, III, Suzuki
13. Morgan Broadhead, Suzuki GSX-R1000
14. Jay Avansino, Yamaha
15. Jerry Jirkovsky, Honda CBR954RR
16. Clinton Whitehouse, Suzuki, -5 laps, DNF mechanical
17. Jeremy Toye, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -10 laps, DNF, mechanical
18. Sandy Noce, Yamaha TZ250, DNF
19. Barry Burke, Yamaha, DNF

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