Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Team Hooters Mountain Dew Suzuki’s Michael Barnes ran away to a win on his Pirelli-equipped GSX-R600 in the 47-entry Formula USA Pro Honda Oils 600cc Sportbike contest Sunday At Pocono International Raceway.

Barnes took the holeshot, inched away to a small lead over teammate Larry Pegram and gained an even larger advantage through heavy, lapped traffic. In the end, Barnes coasted under the checkered flag 4.2 seconds in front of Pegram.

Third place went back-and-forth between defending F-USA Sportbike Champion Lee Acree and Matt Wait. Wait, riding a Kneedraggers.com-sponsored Yamaha YZF-R6 on Pirellis, passed Arclight Suzuki’s Acree coming out of the final corner to take third at the line.

Acree’s teammate Craig Connell took fifth, good enough to retain his lead in the Sportbike point standings.

Bettencourt Suzuki’s Jeff Wood turned the fastest lap of the race on lap two and was third and pressuring Pegram and Barnes on lap five when he lowsided in turn two. Wood rejoined the race to finish out of the points, 20th.

Pro Honda Oils 600cc Sportbike Results:

1. Michael Barnes, Suzuki-GSX-R600, 18 laps
2. Larry Pegram, Suzuki GSX-R600
3. Matt Wait, Yamaha YZF-R6
4. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R600
5. Craig Connell, Suzuki GSX-R600
6. Scott Greenwood, Suzuki GSX-R600
7. Andrew Nelson, Honda CBR600F4i
8. Tim Bemisderfer, Honda CBR600F4i
9. Ray Bowman, Honda CBR600F4i
10. Jim Lester, Honda CBR600F4i
11. Eric Wood, Buell Firebolt XB9R
12. Cory West, Honda CBR600F4i
13. Eoin Smith, Yamaha YZF-R6
14. Morgan Broadhead, Suzuki GSX-R600
15. Kevin Warner, Suzuki GSX-R600
16. Gregory Faiella, Yamaha YZF-R6
17. Keith Marquez, Yamaha YZF-R6
18. Nathan Kern, Yamaha YZF-R6
19. Carlo Gagliardo, Yamaha YZF-R6
20. Jeff Wood, Suzuki GSX-R600


Pro Honda Oils 600cc Sportbike Point Standings:

1. Connell, 90 points
2. Barnes, 88 points
3. TIE, Acree/Pegram, 74 points
5. Wait, 45 points
6. Greenwood, 42 points
7. Jeff Wood, 38 points
8. Bowman, 34 points
9. Eric Wood, 30 points
10. Nelson, 26 points