Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Suzuki World Cup Qualifier
Thunderhill Park
Willows, California
August 17

Young gun Corey Eaton ended as the winner of the second of three races held to qualify riders for the 2003 Suzuki GSX-R World Cup Final scheduled for Magny-Cours, France in October. The winner of each qualifying race goes to the World Cup Final in France and wins a 2004 support package from Suzuki.

The World Cup qualifier at Thunderhill was held in conjunction with a CCS weekend.

Jake Holden won the race on the track, but during the mandatory dyno run at the end of the race, Holden’s EDR Performance GSX-R was found to be 0.2 over the 135-horsepower limit. That resulted in Eaton, who finished second, being promoted to first. Eaton’s bike easily made the horsepower limit, checking in at 132.9.

In addition to the free ride to France along with his designated mechanic, Eaton won $1000, the use of a GSX-R750 for the 2004 season with a parts budget, an opportunity to win even more money in France, and, according to Suzuki’s Morgan Broadhead, “A foot in the door for the Suzuki support program. You’re instantly part of the race program, something that’s not easy to do.”

With all that was available for the win, Broadhead was surprised that the field consisted of only eight riders.

With Holden’s DQ, racing journalist Nick Ienatsch moved from third to second. Ienatsch qualified fifth and was running fifth in the race, but moved up to third when both Thunderhill veteran Ken Hill and Washington racer John Dugan both crashed out, uninjured; Dugan qualified for the 2002 Suzuki World Cup and was part of the Suzuki support program this season.

Ienatsch said that he survived the race because, “I was out two races earlier and the track was really slippery. Knowing that really helped.”

Jeremiah Johnson finished third and said, “We were lucky. I knew from the lap times (in qualifying) that it was going to be a two-pack race with Holden, Eaton, Hill and Dugan out front.”

Tray Batey won the first Suzuki World Cup Qualifying race, held at Grattan, Michigan July 20 with WERA.

The third and final qualifying race will be held at Barber Motorsports Park September 14 with WERA.

Results (All Suzuki GSX-R750s):
1. Corey Eaton
2. Nick Ienatsch
3. Jeremiah Johnson
4. Andre Castanos
5. Corey Sarros;

Ken Hill (DNF)
John Dugan (DNF)
Jake Holden (DQ)


Qualifying:
John Dugan: 1:52.924
Jake Holden: 1:53.357
Ken Hill: 1:53.669
Corey Eaton: 1:54.314
Nick Ienatsch: 1:56.931
Andre Castanos: 1:57.435
Jeremiah Johnson: 1:57.734