Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.


The MidCities Motorsports 1 team of Calvin Martinez, Dave Ebben and Brian Baker won the F-USA 200-mile Team Challenge race at Daytona International Speedway Thursday afternoon, by nearly two minutes. The winning team ran a Suzuki GSX-R1000.

The track dried out for the 200-miler after a day plagued by rain.

New England Motorsports finished second overall, second in the GTO class, with Mark Reynolds and Chad Healy riding an Aprilia Mille, crossing the finish line 1 minute, 45 seconds behind.

The King’s Fitness team of Dennis King and Mike Swank was originally credited as finishing third overall, first in the GTU class, but revised results gave the GTU class win to I&E Homes Racing’s Thomas Pfuner and Darren Mulvaney. Third overall went to the GTO entry of Shaw Racing (Rick Shaw, Brian Shaw), consisting of Daytona veteran Rick Shaw and his nephew Brian.

CornerSpeed’s Aaron Stevenson and Eric Gray won in the GT Lights class at 17th overall on a Suzuki SV650.


Offical Revised Results:

1. MidCities Motorsports (Calvin Martinez/Dave Ebben/Brian Baker), GTO, Suz GSX-R1000, 56 laps; 2. New England Motorsports (Mark Reynolds/Chad Healy), GTO, Apr RSV1000R, 56 laps; 3. Shaw Racing (Brian Shaw/Rick Shaw), GTO, Suz GSX-R750, 55 laps; 4. BAI Racing (Joe Bennardi, Sr./Joe Bennardi, Jr./Mike Ciccotto), GTO, Suz GSX-R1000, 55 laps; 5. I&E Homes Racing (Thomas Pfuner/Darren Mulvaney), GTU, Suz GSX-R600, 54 laps; 6. Racerhouse.com (Andrew Nelson/Bill Card), GTU, Hon CBR600RR, 54 laps.

GTO: 1. MidCities Motorsports; 2. New England Motorsports; 3. Shaw Racing; 4. BAI Racing; 5. Big Valley Honda (Rich Thorwaldson, Jim Gronshong), Hon CBR929RR, 53 laps; 6. Performance Cycle (Arthur Wagmer, Jr./Michael Wingen/Thomas Aquino), Suz GSX-R750, 53 laps.

GTU: 1. I&E Homes Racing; 2. Racerhouse.com; 3. Team Hooters Suzuki (Nathan Kern/Michael Himmelsbach), Suz GSX-R600, 54 laps; 4. King’s Fitness (Dennis King), Suz GSX-R600, 53 laps; 5. Hooter’s Northeast (Tom Bibeau/Brian Cushing/Vincent Haskovec), Suz GSX-R600, 53 laps; 6. TTR Racing (John Briody/Aaron Aaronsen), Yam YZF-R6, 52 laps.

GT Lights: 1. CornerSpeed Racing (Aaron Stevenson/Eric Gray), Suz SV650, 50 laps; 2. Naked Boy Racing (Harold Jordan/Pete Butler), Buell XB9R, 49 laps; 3. Irish Bike Racing (Mark Hamilton/Richard Britton), Suz SV650, 49 laps; 4. SB Racing (Tim Hall/Robert Stellfox), Suz SV650, 48 laps; 5. Bad Monkey Racing (Ray Silika/Brian McClain), Suz SV650, 48 laps; 6. Great White Racing (Steve Del Grasso/Matthew Eaton/Thomas Deloriea), Suz SV650, 46 laps.


More, from a press release issued by Daytona International Raceway:

Team Challenge Lands First-Time Winners

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The first checkered flag from motorcycle racing has waved at Daytona International Speedway as two-wheel thunder got underway on Thursday with the 200-mile Team Challenge event.

The No. 93 Midcities Motorsports Suzuki 1000, with Wisconsin’s Calvin Martinez and David Ebben aboard, put on a dominating performance to capture the overall victory. It was the first win for both riders at the “World Center of Racing.”

“Not a single problem the whole day,” said the 28-year-old Ebben, who started the race and took the lead immediately. “This is my fifth time at Daytona and my first win. It’s awesome. It hasn’t hit me just yet.”

Said the 39-year-old Martinez: “The bike handled great. The tires never gave out on us. It ran all day long. The tires are still good for maybe another 20 laps, but that might be pushing it. It’s my first win at Daytona and this is my second year. It’s real special.”

Rounding out the podium was the No. 1 New England Motorsports Aprilia 1000 with riders Mark Reynolds and Chad Healy and finishing third overall was the No. 205 King’s Fitness Suzuki 600 and riders Dennis King and Mike Swank.

King and Swank also took top honors in the GTU class. Winning the GTL class was the No. 88 entry from CornerSpeed Racing with riders Aaron Stevenson and Eric Gray.

Formula USA and Championship Cup Series events continue through the weekend at the Speedway.

SPEED Channel: Daytona 200 Week will garner plenty of television coverage from SPEED Channel as the fastest growing sports cable network will broadcast 11 hours motorcycle racing from Daytona International Speedway.

Included in SPEED Channel’s 11 hours of coverage are live broadcasts of the Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock and the Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport on March 7 and the MBNA Grand Prix, the inaugural BMW BoxerCup and the Daytona 200 By Arai on March 9.

SPEED Channel will also broadcast the Daytona Supercross By Honda same-day tape delayed on March 8 and the AMA Flat Track action at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium on March 11.

Of course, there’s nothing like being able to watch Daytona 200 Week in person. Tickets for the Daytona 200 and the Daytona Supercross are available by logging on to http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or calling the Speedway ticket office at (386) 253-7223.