Loudon F-USA Preview

Loudon F-USA Preview

© 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. From a press release issued By LRRS.

From a press release issued by Bob Holcomb for LRRS:

LRRS Preview of the Loudon Classic

The 80th Running of the Loudon Classic

Formula USA Showdown

On Father’s day weekend the Formula USA National Road Race Series will make the Loudon Classic its third round as a bookend to New Hampshire’s ‘Bike Week’. So far California’s Matt Wait and his Kneedraggers.com/Yamaha/Pirelli R6 have dominated the series. That could change when the top teams take their first practice session next Friday.

The Track – New Hampshire International Speedway

The road course at NHIS has been steadily improved over the years. The 2003 version is faster and safer then ever before. It is 1.6 miles of short chutes between twelve turns and set among elevation changes. It is the ultimate ‘street fighter’ track. Nowhere else on tour will riders more fiercely test a motorcycle’s total character. They slam it in, drag the lowers, stand it up and pull the trigger. Not only that, but fans can get themselves up close to the action almost everywhere around the track.

Pro Honda Oils Sportbike Feature: The Visitors

Sam Lehrfeld, owner of Kneedraggers.com, runs the remarkable 2003 Kneedraggers Yamaha team. As a young businessman and club racer, Sam signed former World GP rider, Matt Wait, to ride his company colors late last season. They went on to win the Formula USA Grand National Title. Sam and Matt were rewarded with a whole new Yamaha program to put Wait on top again in 2003. It’s a great story and the strategy is paying off. Wait has been the class of the field since Daytona last March.

With little experience at Loudon, Wait will need a steep learning curve when he takes the grid. However, he is an accomplished dirt tracker. Wait could be spectacular at Loudon. Look for the #1 Yamaha to ‘back it in’ turn 1 like a half miler.

Arclight Suzuki/Pirelli is fielding yet another powerful team in 2003. With California’s Dave Stanton and North Carolina’s Scott Harwell, they expect big things at Loudon. The Arclight riders are fast everywhere they run. Look for the #2 and #6 Suzukis at the top of the time charts. They are stout and will be crisp.

Pro Honda Oils Sportbike Feature: The Home Teams

Assembled by New Hampshire’s Scott Greenwood, the Bettencourt’s/Argo Cycles/Dunlop Team is new for 2003. They’ll field Greenwood and Mansfield’s Jeff Wood; the two fastest riders at Loudon so far this season. Both are challenging for the points lead in the National Road Race Series as well. The Loudon Classic should be their chance to dominate.

Greenwood is aboard a well-developed Suzuki GSXR600, while Wood is running the radical new Honda CBR600RR. So far both have been faster then ever before. Look for the #28 Suzuki to sit on the pole and the #9 Honda to take the holeshot.

New Jersey’s Des Conboy is back in a big way. After many seasons on big bore machines, Conboy is quickly coming to terms with his Suzuki GSXR600s in the Formula USA Series. Team Celtic Racing is new for 2003, assembled by Conboy and crewed by former racer, Mark Rozema. They should be dialed in by Father’s Day and expect to be on the box. Look for the green #8 Suzuki to cruise among the front pack early and press for the win late.

Pro Honda Oils Sportbike Feature: The Buell Attack

The Buell American Motorcycle Company will be big at the Loudon Classic. No track on the National tour is better suited for the radical new Buell XB9. Buell will field Massachusetts ace, Eric Wood, and Florida’s Mike Ciccotto, to bring it home first.

Wood will be a favorite. Not only does he own the fastest race lap ever turned on a Superstock machine at Loudon, but he won the 2002 Loudon Classic on a Buell XB9. Look for Eric Wood’s #4 Buell to qualify on the front row and challenge for the win late. Wood will be on Dunlop tires.

Mike Ciccotto is a Buell test rider and their go-to guy on the race track. He is particularly adept at making the pushrod V-twin from the Motor Company run with the exotics. Look for the #13 Buell to make a start like a top fuel dragster and try to gap the field. Ciccotto will run Pirellis.

Pro Honda Oils Sportbike Feature: The Spoilers

Fast Loudon regulars looking to hijack the podium at this year’s Classic:

Jim Lester; Cycles128/Pirelli Honda F4i.
John Sheeser; Boccarossa Insurance Racing Honda CBR600RR.
Brian Kent; Greater Boston Motorsports Kawasaki ZX636.
Steve Giaccomaro Suzuki GSXR600.
Carlo Gagliardo; Maximum Motorsports/Razor Unlimited Yamaha R6.
Chris McNeil; Argo Cycle/Dunlop GSXR600.
Gus Holcomb; Legg Mason/Best Cycle/Dunlop Honda CBR600RR.
Mike Martire; GMD New York Kawasaki ZX636.

Thunderbike Feature: Earplugs Required

No other Formula USA class has a more fascinating grid. The mix of machines and rider profiles will prove challenging for any fan to pick a winner. Most machines will be V-twins, but there will be other configurations. No fewer than ten roaring Buell’s will take the grid with the intent of sweeping the podium. Once again, local track knowledge should be a major factor and prove challenging to the Buell riders. The Thunderbike favorites are:

Bryan Bemisderfer, PA – Harding H-D Buell 1200 (Bryan is the 2002 Buell Lightning National Champion).
Jerry Wood, ME – Penguin Road Racing School Ducati Desmodue (Jerry won it in 2002).
Richie Morris, WI – Hoban/Appleton H-D Buell 1200 (Morris may have the fastest bike and he is in top form).
David Estok, FL – KOSCO Buell 1200.
Dan Bilanski, WI – Hal’s H-D Buell XB9.
Jeff Johnson, WI – Hoban/Appleton H-D Buell 1200 (Jeff is the defending Thunderbike National Champion).
Rick Doucette, NH – Plaistow Suzuki SV650.
Jason Smith, TN – Smith Brothers Buell 1200.
John Donald, Suzuki SV650.
Bart Chamberlain, Kawasaki EX Special.

Diablo Can Am 125 Grand Prix: The Maple Leaf Invasion

On Formula USA weekend, no racing motorcycle will rail the Loudon corners like the purpose-built 125GP machines. The Diablo Can Am Grand Prix will feature a high quality 125 field.

Canada’s best will make the trek south to take on some of America’s best. Meanwhile the Loudon regulars are looking forward to sending them all packing. Local favorites include: Dale Greenwood, Eric Yoo, Brian Yoo, Todd Puckett, Tony Pagliaroli, Chris Cosentino and Paul Duval.

Don’t miss the 125GP. Where the big bikes drag their lowers, these guys drag their elbows! Look for it in turn 9.

The Loudon 250K National Team Challenge

On Friday, June 13 at 3pm; three classes of multi-rider endurance teams will wrestle their machines for 250 kilometers of speed, fuel stops and tire changes. Victory requires the right balance of consistent track speed, fast pit stops and machine conservation.

Coming into the Loudon Classic, the defending GTO champion Team New England Motorsports (Webster, MA) is 2nd in the points. Mid-Cities Motorsports, out of Wisconsin has the series lead with back-to-back wins. New England Motorsports field Mark Reynolds and Chad Healy on an Aprilia Mille R. They’ll be on Michelin tires. Mid-Cities will be on a Suzuki GSXR1000 piloted by Calvin Martinez, David Ebben and Brian Baker.

The Loudon Classic will run June 13-15 at New Hampshire International Speedway.

It’s the oldest professional motorcycle race in the country.

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