Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
John Haner, John Dugan, Chris Siglin and Bradley Champion each won their respective Suzuki Cup qualifying heat races Saturday afternoon at Road Atlanta.
Riding a Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki on Michelin tires, Haner seemed like the man to beat in the GSX-R1000 heat race, winning by 1.9 seconds over Jeff Tigert and John Dugan. Mark Junge and Greg Moore both retired from the race because they are regional point leaders and are guaranteed a starting spot at the front of the final grid.
EDR Racing’s Dugan came back to win the GSX-R750 heat over Tray Batey and Jake Holden, but Batey was found to be over the 135-horsepower limit in post-heat checks and will have to start from the back of the grid Sunday. Reuben Frankenfield, a regional point leader, retired before the completion of the race.
Team Hammer Talent Search finalist Siglin won a fierce battle in the GSX-R600 heat, beating Brian Stokes, Logan Young, David Weber and Scott Greenwood by a narrow margin; Siglin, Stokes, Young, Weber and Greenwood crossed the finish line within 0.6 second of each other. Mark Junge and John Jacobi retired before the end of the race due to their status as regional point leaders.
Champion, the defending SV650 Cup Champion, won his qualifying heat, just ahead of Jeff Walker, Steve Atlas and 16-year-old Jesse Janisch. In weight checks performed after the race, Janisch’s Suzuki was found to be below the 365-pound minimum weight limit, and he will start Sunday’s final from the back of the grid.
The TL1000/SV1000 heat race was not run. Only three riders entered the race, and all three will be gridded on the front row. The TL1000/SV1000 Cup final will be combined with the SV650 final on Sunday.
Provisional Suzuki Cup Heat Race Results:
GSX-R1000:
1. John Haner, 6 laps
2. Jeff Tigert, -1.974 seconds
3. John Dugan, -3.196 seconds
4. John Jacobi, -10.299 seconds
5. Byron Barbour, -11.990 seconds
6. Scott Carpenter, -16.136 seconds
7. Tom Wertman, -19.365 seconds
8. Chris Greer, -19.913 seconds
9. C.R. Gittere, -25.770 seconds
10. Telly Steimel, -31.162 seconds
11. Shane Stoyko, -31.236 seconds
12. Billy Ethridge, -35.397 seconds
13. Russell Masecar, -35.549 seconds
14. Jeff Selbert, -37.640 seconds
15. Marcus McBain, -47.655 seconds
16. Fritz Kling, – 1 lap, DNF, retired
17. Greg Moore, -4 laps, DNF, retired
18. Mark junge, -5 laps, DNF, retired
GSX-R750:
1. John Dugan, 6 laps
2. Tray Batey, -0.426 seconds*
3. Jake Holden, -0.482 seconds
4. Scott Greenwood, -3.549 seconds
5. Greg Moore, -6.141 seconds
6. Brian Stokes, -6.615 seconds
7. David Weber, -6.916 seconds
8. John Jacobi, -7.240 seconds
9. Ben Attard, -8.261 seconds
10. Jason Peters, -9.139 seconds
11. Michael Sanchez, -14.237 seconds
12. Dirk Sanchez, -14.237 seconds
13. Chris Siglin, -14.916 seconds
14. Chuck Ivey, -15.174 seconds
15. Byron Barbour, -15.965 seconds
16. Matt Furtek, -16.660 seconds
17. Tom Wertman, -16.964 seconds
18. Scott Carpenter, -17.218 seconds
19. Michael Niksa, -18.757 seconds
20. A.R. Hashmandy, -27.126 seconds
21. Matt Elliot, -27.233 seconds
22. Mike deBrabant, -52.838 seconds
23. Shannon Johnston, -53.063 seconds
24. Reuben Frankenfield, -5 laps, DNF, retired
*Disqualified from heat for being over horsepower limit.
GSX-R600:
1. Chris Siglin, 6 laps
2. Brian Stokes, -0.087 second
3. Logan Young, -0.385 second
4. David Weber, -0.504 seconds
5. Scott Greenwood, -0.676 second
6. Reuben Frankenfield, -1.563 seconds
7. Matt Furtek, -1.671 seconds
8. Michael Sanchez, -12.657 seconds
9. Michael Garofalo, -12.771 seconds
10. Michael Niksa, -12.874 seconds
11. Tom Wertman, -13.454 seconds
12. Chuck Ivey, -18.793 seconds
13. Jason Trowbridge, -23.184 seconds
14. Russell Masecar, -25.523 seconds
15. Kris Wall, -30.093 seconds
16. John Lemak, -30.914 seconds
17. Wrenn Smith, -46.183 seconds
18. John Jacobi, -3 laps, DNF, retired
19. Mark Junge, -4 laps, DNF, retired
20. Brad Hendry, -5 laps, DNF
SV650:
1. Bradley Champion, 6 laps
2. Jeff Walker, -0.495 second
3. Steve Atlas, -0.608 second
4. Jesse Janisch, -0.914 second*
5. Martin Musil, -9.329 seconds
6. Brad Duncan, -9.822 seconds
7. Andrew Trevitt, -9.930 seconds
8. Craig Montgomery, -10.638 seconds
9. Jeff Tigert, -11.746 seconds
10. Brian Suffridge, -16.591 seconds
11. Michael Killingsworth, -16.690 seconds
12. John Linder, -17.651 seconds
13. Edward Repkoe, -18.104 seconds
14. Philip Chapin, -18.132 seconds
15. Avery Clark, -18.540 seconds
16. Lee Fields, -22.414 seconds
17. Philip Fortune, -31.251 seconds
18. Michael Roberson, -40.637 seconds
19. Michael Lively, -54.732 seconds
20. Vero Anderson, -60.417 seconds
21. Laura Perry, 101.772 seconds
*Disqualified from heat race for being underweight.