Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
In spite of having his Suzuki debit card, all of his credit cards, his identification and $600 cash stolen along with his wallet during Friday practice, Vesrah Suzuki’s Brian Stokes went on to win three CCS races Saturday on the Las Vegas Classic Course in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Stokes’ best win of the day came in the Suzuki-contingency-paying Unlimited Supersport sprint over Robert Jensen, who had broken the track record earlier in the day during Formula USA qualifying.
Jensen and Stokes swapped the lead several times during the first laps, before Jensen seemed to take control through the middle of the seven-lap event. Running a fast pace of high-1:18s/low-1:19s through traffic, Jensen tried to get underneath a backmarker with less than two laps to go and didn’t quite make it.
“I got in too deep and ran out of talent,” joked Jensen, who was uninjured in the crash. “I got underneath him and made it past him, but I started drifting out wide at the exit. I think he must have been committed to his line, and his front wheel clipped my rear wheel. He was a good sport about it. He came over to me and said, ‘F—king lappers, huh?'”
“I sat down with Freddie Spencer a few days ago with a track map and he gave me a few pointers,” said Stokes. “So I felt like I had something for him. He was actually slowing me up in a few areas. And I feel good about that, because he just set the track record.”
After Jensen’s crash, Stokes went on to win comfortably over Arclight Suzuki’s Scott Harwell, Racers Edge’s Dale Kieffer, Chris Ulrich and Kevin Gordon.
Stokes also won in Unlimited Grand Prix and Middleweight Supersport on his Pirelli-shod Suzukis.
As far as his wallet being stolen, Stokes said, “Someone who knew what they were doing came through the pits and only stole wallets of even-numbered 600cc racers while that group was on the track. I’m just wondering how I’m going to (fly) home without my ID. Luckily, my dad and my family are here to support me.”
Seven wallets were stolen from the Las Vegas Classic Course paddock Friday. Several were recovered in the trash can of a nearby retail store, after the thief attempted to use one of the stolen credit cards there. Police were called to investigate the incident, according to CCS officials.
Friday and Saturday’s CCS Race Results:
Expert Unlimited GP (Saturday):
1. Brian Stokes (Suz GSX-R750)
2. Joseph Dawson (Suz GSX-R1000)
3. Ivan Garza (Suz GSX-R750)
4. Tristan Schoenewald (Suz GSX-R600)
5. Scott Greenwood (Suz GSX-R600)
6. Rickey Herd (Hon CBR600)
Amateur Unlimited GP (Saturday):
1. R. Bryan Land (Suz GSX-R750)
2. Lyle Brown (Suz GSX-R1000)
3. Steven Weir (Kaw ZX-10R)
4. Ted Rich (Suz GSX-R750)
5. Neil Polland (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Brian Kirkland (Hon 999)
Expert Unlimited Supersport (Friday):
1. Brian Stokes (Suz GSX-R750)
2. Robert Jensen (Suz GSX-R750)
3. Kane Lasky (Suz GSX-R750)
4. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R750)
5. Chris Ulrich (Suz GSX-R750)
6. Ivan Garza (Suz GSX-R750)
Expert Unlimited Supersport (Saturday):
1. Brian Stokes (Suz GSX-R750)
2. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R750)]
3. Dale Kieffer (Suz GSX-R750)
4. Chris Ulrich (Suz GSX-R750)
5. Kevin Gordon (Suz GSX-R750)
6. Ivan Garza (Suz GSX-R750)
Amateur Unlimited Supersport (Friday):
1. Lyle Brown (Suz GSX-R1000)
2. R. Bryan Land (Suz GSX-R750)
3. Steven Weir (Kaw ZX-10R)
4. Trevor Gilreath (Hon CBR954RR)
5. Danny Demel (Hon CBR600)
6. Brian Short (Yam YZF-R6)
Amateur Unlimited Supersport (Saturday):
1. R. Bryan Land (Suz GSX-R750)
2. Lyle Brown (Suz GSX-R1000)
3. Steven Weir (Kaw ZX-10R)
4. Quillar Nealy (Hon CBR600)
5. Eric Pelley (Kaw ZX-6R)
6. Robert Szawich (Suz GSX-R750)
Expert Heavyweight Supersport (Saturday):
1. Ivan Garza (Suz GSX-R750)
2. Jason Catching (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Tristan Shoenewald (Suz GSX-R600)
4. Walter Reeves (Hon CBR600)
5. Matthew Buck (Apr RSV1000)
6. Scott Greenwood (Suz GSX-R600)
Amateur Heavyweight Supersport (Saturday):
1. R. Bryan Land (Suz GSX-R750)
2. Ed Oporto (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Brian Short (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Shawn Harris (Suz GSX-R750)
5. Brian Kirkland (Hon 999)
6. Pat Bushell (Duc 999)
Expert Heavyweight Superbike (Saturday):
1. Kevin Gordon (Suz GSX-R750)
2. Ivan Garza (Suz GSX-R750)
3. Jason Catching (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Matthew Buck (Apr RSV1000)
5. Jason Godwin (Hon CBR600)
Amateur Heavyweight Superbike (Saturday):
1. R. Bryan Land (Suz GSX-R750)
2. Shawn Harris (Suz GSX-R750)
3. Ted Rich (Suz GSX-R750)
4. Brian Short (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Danny Demel (Hon CBR600)
6. Tom Trainer (Suz GSX-R600)
Expert Middleweight Supersport (Saturday):
1. Brian Stokes (Suz GSX-R600)
2. Jason Catching (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Jon Blaylock (Hon CBR600RR)
4. Chad Rolland (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Roddy Cooper (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Jonathan Schendel (Suz GSX-R600)
Amateur Middleweight Supersport (Saturday):
1. Michael Queen (Hon CBR600)
2. Ed Oporto (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Dustin Ohara (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Danny Demel (Hon CBR600)
5. Sam Bass (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Neil Pollard (Yam YZF-R6)
Expert Middleweight Superbike (Saturday):
1. Michael Himmelsbach (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Jason Catching (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Tristan Schoenewald (Suz GSX-R600)
4. Chad Rolland (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Jon Blaylock (Hon CBR600RR)
6. Joseph Dawson (Yam YZF-R6)
Amateur Middleweight Superbike (Saturday):
1. Michael Queen (Hon CBR600)
2. Ed Oporto (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Brian Short (Yam YZF-R6)
4. David Jones (Kaw ZX-6)
5. Dustin Ohara (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Danny Demel (Hon CBR600)
Expert Lightweight Supersport (Saturday):
1. Darren Danilowicz (Suz SV650)
2. Steve Fukiage (Suz SV650)
3. David Appelof (Suz SV650)
4. Ray Hymer (Suz SV650)
5. Matthew Buck (Hon 650)
Amateur Lightweight Supersport (Saturday):
1. Al Harris (Suz SV650)
2. Dirk Harden (Suz SV650)
3. Jim Herron (Suz SV650)
4. Mike Arrington (Buell XB9R)
Expert Lightweight Superbike (Saturday):
1. Tom Gentry (Suz SV650)
2. Steve Fukiage (Suz SV650)
3. Matthew Buck (Suz SV650)
4. Ray Hymer (Suz SV650)
Amateur Lightweight Superbike (Saturday):
1. Dirk Harden (Suz SV650)
2. Al Harris (Suz SV650)
3. Tommy Boge (Suz SV650)
4. Eric Pelley (Suz SV650)
5. Billy Pedro (Suz SV650)
Expert Ultra Lightweight Superbike (Friday):
1. Matthew Buck (Hon 650)
Expert Ultra Lightweight Superbike (Saturday):
1. Matthew Buck (Hon 650)
Amateur Ultra Lightweight Superbike (Friday):
1. Chris Curnen (KTM 640)
2. Joel Dennis (Yam 350)
Amateur Ultra Lightweight Superbike (Saturday):
1. Chris Curnen (KTM 660)
2. Joel Dennis (Yam 350)
Expert Middleweight GP (Saturday):
1. Jason Catching (Kaw ZX-6R)
2. Joseph Dawson (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Brent Wyffles (Suz GSX-R600)
4. Jason Godwin (Hon CBR600)
5. Walter Reeves (Hon CBR600)
6. Matthew Buck (Suz SV650)
Amateur Middleweight GP (Saturday):
1. Ed Oporto (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Dustin Ohara (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Michael Queen (Hon CBR600)
4. David Jones (Kaw ZX-6)
5. Eric Pelley (Kaw ZX-6R)
6. Neil Pollard (Yam YZF-R6)
Expert Lightweight GP (Saturday):
1. Jason Catching (Suz SV650)
2. Darren Danilowicz (Suz SV650)
3. Tom Gentry (Suz SV650)
4. Greg Avello (Buell XB9R)
5. Steve Fukiage (Suz SV650)
6. Matthew Buck (Suz SV650)
Amateur Lightweight GP (Saturday):
1. Mike Lytle (Yam TZ250)
2. Dirk Harden (Suz SV650)
3. Al Harris (Suz SV650)
4. Jim Herron (Suz SV650)
5. Tommy Boge (Suz SV650)
125cc Grand Prix (Saturday):
1. Brian Heess (Hon RS125)
Expert SuperTwins (Saturday):
1. Bryan Bemisderfer (Buell XB9R)
2. Matthew Buck (Apr RSV1000)
3. Kiyo Watanabe (Suz SV650)
4. Ray Hymer (Hon RC51)
Amateur SuperTwins (Saturday):
1. Brian Kirkland (Hon 999)
2. Thomas Savoca (Hon 999)
3. Pat Bushell (Duc 999)
4. Benjamin Ingram (Duc 999)
5. Dirk Harden (Suz SV650)
6. Jim Herron (Suz SV650)
Expert Thunderbike (Friday):
1. Dave Estok (Buell XB12R)
2. Jeff Johnson (Buell XB12R)
3. Walt Sipp (Buell XB9R)
4. Darren Danilowicz (Suz SV650)
5. Kurt Miller (Buell XB9R)
6. John Cadreact (Suz SV650)
Expert Thunderbike (Saturday):
1. Jeff Johnson (Buell XB9R)
2. Tom Gentry (Suz SV650)
3. Greg Avello (Buell XB9R)
4. Matthew Buck (Suz SV650)
5. Jeff Harding (Buell XB9R)
6. Kiyo Watanabe (Suz SV650)
Amateur Thunderbike (Friday):
1. Al Harris (Suz SV650)
2. Dirk Harden (Suz SV650)
3. Jim Herron (Suz SV650)
4. Chris Curnen (KTM 640)
5. Tommy Boge (Suz SV650)
6. Nicholas Adams (Suz SV650)
Amateur Thunderbike (Saturday):
1. Dirk Harden (Suz SV650)
2. Al Harris (Suz SV650)
3. Jim Herron (Suz SV650)
4. Billy Pedro (Suz SV650)
5. Tommy Boge (Suz SV650)
Expert Formula 40 (Friday):
1. Roddy Cooper (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Rickey Herd (Hon CBR600)
3. Terry Embury (Hon CBR600)
4. Calvin Martinez (Suz GSX-R750)
Expert Formula 40 (Saturday):
1. Joe Ribeiro (Suz GSX-R750)
2. Roddy Cooper (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Rickey Herd (Hon CBR600)
4. Terry Embury (Hon CBR600)
5. Jim Davis (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Calvin Martinez (Suz GSX-R750)
Amateur Formula 40 (Friday):
1. Clif Sands (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Thomas Savoca (Hon 999)
3. Tom Trainer (Suz GSX-R600)
4. Thomas Boge (Suz GSX-R600)
5. Roy Eder (Hon CBR600)
6. Joe Jackson (Suz GSX-R750)
Amateur Formula 40 (Saturday):
1. Clif Sands (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Tom Trainer (Suz GSX-R600)
3. Thomas Savoca (Hon 999)
4. Mel Pelley (Kaw ZX-6)
5. Joe Jackson (Suz GSX-R750)
Expert Lightweight Formula 40 (Friday):
1. Jeff Johnson (Buell XB9R)
2. Jim Davis (Suz SV650)
3. David Appellof (Suz SV650)
4. Steve Fukiage (Suz SV650)
5. Ray Hiner (Suz SV650)
Expert Lightweight Formula 40 (Saturday):
1. Steve Fuliage (Suz SV650)
2. David Appellof (Suz SV650)
3. Charles Burnett (Hon 650)
4. Ray Hymer (Suz SV650)
Amateur Lightweight Formula 40 (Friday):
1. Jim Herron (Suz SV650)
Amateur Lightwieght Formula 40 (Saturday):
1. Jim Herron (Suz SV650)
Expert GTO (Friday):
1. Joseph Dawson (Suz GSX-R1000)
2. Chris Ulrich (Suz GSX-R750)
3. Ivan Garza (Suz GSX-R750)
4. Jason Catching (Kaw ZX-6R)
5. Robert Jensen (Suz GSX-R750)
6. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R750)
Amateur GTO (Friday):
1. R. Bryan Land (Suz GSX-R750)
2. Lyle Brown (Suz GSX-R1000)
3. Vincent Rolleri, II
4. Ted Rich (Suz GSX-R750)
5. Brian Short (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Quillar Nealy (Hon CBR600)
Amateur GTU (Friday):
1. Michael Queen (Hon CBR600)
2. Ed Oporto (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Danny Demel (Hon CBR600)
4. Dustin Ohara (Yam YZF-R6)
5. David Jones (Kaw ZX-6)
6. Sam Bass (Yam YZF-R6)
Expert GT Lights (Friday):
1. Darren Danilowicz (Suz SV650)
2. Steve Fukiage (Suz SV650)
3. Jeff Harding (Buell XB12R)
4. Matthew Buck (Suz SV650)
5. Ray Hymer (Suz SV650)
6. Greg Avello (Buell XB9R)
Amateur GT Lights (Friday):
1. Dirk Harden (Suz SV650)
2. Al Harris (Suz SV650)
3. Chris Curnen (KTM 640)
4. Eric Pelley (Suz SV650)
5. Tommy Boge (Suz SV650)