Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By Michael Hannas
James Randolph fired the first shot in the battle for the 2003 AFM Championship, taking the AFM Mach One Motorsports Formula Pacific season opener Sunday at Infineon Raceway (Sears Point) on a Dunlop slick-shod Suzuki GSX-R1000. In what looks to be shaping up as the year of the 1000 in AFM, Mike Raab and Rob Mesa followed Randolph home in the final two podium spots, both Suzuki GSX-R1000-mounted. 2003 Kawasaki ZX-6R-mounted Ken Hill and Suzuki GSX-R750-mounted Dave Stanton were in the 1000 parade early on, but a admittingly impatient Stanton ran off the track while attempting a pass on Hill in the narrow new turn one section, and came back to finish seventh. Hill and the 636 eventually succumbed to the GSX-R1000s of Raab, Mesa, and Jeff Tigert, who said he was “conducting research” for his employer (American Honda R&D) as well as racing. Mark Foster powered his ancient ex-Muzzy WSB-framed Kawasaki ZX-7RR ahead of Hill to finish fifth.
AFM Formula Pacific, Round One
Sears Point, March 23
1. James Randoph, Suzuki GSX-R1000
2. Mike Raab, Suzuki GSX-R1000
3. Rob Mesa, Suzuki GSX-R1000
4. Jeff Tigert, Suzuki GSX-R1000
5. Mark Foster, Kawasaki ZX-7RR