From a press release issued by Buell:

ESTOK NIPS BEMISDERFER FOR DAYTONA THUNDERBIKE WIN

Buell Racers Fill Podium At Formula USA Season Opener

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Harding Harley-Davidson rider Dave Estok rode a Buell Firebolt to a photo-finish victory in the opening round of the 2004 Formula USA Thunderbike series at Daytona International Speedway here today.

Estok, the reigning Thunderbike champion, crossed the finish line just .069 seconds ahead of his teammate Bryan Bemisderfer, also aboard a Buell Firebolt, after the pair battled throughout the final six laps of the nine-lap race. Kosco Harley-Davidson/Buell rider Joe Rozynski rode a Buell to claim the third podium position. Baton Rouge Harley-Davidson/Buell rider Kurt Miller rode a Buell Firebolt to fourth place, edging Brian Parriott on a BMW R 1100 S.

It was a triumphant conclusion to a difficult weekend for Estok, who joined the Harding team just two weeks ago and struggled though practice and qualifying with mechanical and set-up problems with the new motorcycles. “We had a lot of bad luck this weekend, and I just want to thank this Harding team for working so hard on the bikes,” said Estok. “This is a great win considering we had very little track time before the race.”

Bemisderfer took the lead in the race on lap three after Hal’s Harley-Davidson/Buell rider Dan Bilansky crashed in the dog-leg section of the course. Estok quickly passed Bemisderfer on the high-speed oval portion of the course, but Bemisderfer was faster than Estok through the tight infield section of the track. The two drafted together on the oval and pulled away from the pack, setting up a final dash for the finish line. Bemisderfer set up for a classic Daytona drafting pass and ran very low on the track apron coming out of the last turn.

“I tried to go down low to cut Brian off, but I could see that his bike was really loose down there and gave him plenty of room,” said Estok. “As it turned out I had just enough left to hold on for the win.”

Bemisderfer, who is over six feet tall and thus aerodynamically challenged at high-speed tracks like Daytona, was happy to come away with second-place points to start the season. “I’m racing for tractor money this year,” said Bemisderfer, who recently bought a small farm near his home in Greencastle, Pa. “It’s not so bad to lose to Dave when he’s on your team. He’s going to be my biggest challenger for the championship this season.”

Daytona Harley-Davidson/Milwaukee Harley-Davidson rider Richie Morris took the Thunderbike pole aboard his Buell Firebolt with a fast lap of 2:03:537 in very windy conditions for qualifying on Saturday. Morris led the first lap of the race on Sunday, but dropped out with a mechanical problem on the second lap.

The next stop on the eight-race Formula USA schedule is April 23-25 at Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.

The Formula USA Thunderbike class is open to a variety of production-based motorcycles. Buell-mounted riders competing in the eight-event 2004 Thunderbike series are racing for a share of the $70,500 contingency fund posted by Buell Motorcycle Company.

To learn more about Buell Motorcycles, visit your local Buell dealer today and experience the pure streetfighter attitude, style, and performance only found on board a Buell. For the Buell dealer nearest you, pull into www.buell.com.