Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies won his fifth (third consecutive) AMA Formula Xtreme race of the 2003 season Monday at Virginia International Raceway.

Spies was second behind Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke and just ahead of Graves Motorsports’ Damon Buckmaster during the initial portion of the race, before it was stopped for a crash in turn four.

Jason Pridmore collided with Roger Lee Hayden entering the tight fourth turn, and both riders fell. Pridmore was taken to a local hospital with a suspected broken lower left leg, and Hayden could not make the restart on his Honda.

On the re-start, Spies got the holeshot followed by Buckmaster and Zemke. Buckmaster stayed close to Spies for the first four laps, but slowly faded backwards and was passed by Zemke on the run to turn seven with only a few laps to go.

Spies won from Zemke and Buckmaster and goes into the final round of the series with a 30-point lead. Unofficially, Spies only needs to finish 23rd or better at Barber Motorsports Park to clinch his first AMA Championship.

Jamie Hacking was closing on the leaders toward the end of the 11-lap restart but finished fourth after passing Josh Hayes mid-race. Marty Craggill looked strong in the first start but encountered problems in the second portion of the race and finished sixth. Corey Eaton finished seventh on a Superstock-spec GSX-R750 in the small, 15-rider field. Doug Duane, David Bell and Rick Narup filled the remaining top-10 positions.

Jason Curtis crashed two laps from the end and went to a local hospital by car to have his wrist X-rayed.

Adam Fergusson did not race in the Formula Xtreme event due to an injury he suffered in Saturday’s Superstock race. Ty Howard also did not start the Formula Xtreme race Monday.

Steve Rapp, who was sixth in Formula Xtreme points before the race, did not start due to new AMA restrictions on riders racing in both the Superbike and Formula Xtreme classes. The same restrictions also kept Vincent Haskovec out of the race.


AMA Formula Xtreme Results:

1. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 11 laps
2. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR954RR, -1.066 seconds
3. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R1, -2.268 seconds
4. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha YZF-R1, -3.062 seconds
5. Josh Hayes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -10.215 seconds
6. Marty Craggill, Honda CBR954RR, -23.630 seconds
7. Corey Eaton, Suzuki GSX-R750, -52.109 seconds
8. Doug Duane, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -58.402 seconds
9. David Bell, Suzuki GSX-R750, -74.243 seconds
10. Rick Narup, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -81.745 seconds
11. Heath Small, Yamaha YZF-R1, -1 lap
12. James Bonner, Yamaha YZF-R1, -1 lap
13. Nate Kern, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap
14. Jason Curtis, Honda CBR954RR, -2 laps, DNF, crash
15. Shane Gonyea, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -2 laps
16. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -11 laps, DNF, crash
17. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR954RR, -11 laps, DNF, crash
18. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki GSX-R1000, DNS
19. Ty Howard, Honda CBR954RR, DNS
20. James Ellison, Suzuki GSX-R750, DNS
21. Danny Eslick, Suzuki GSX-R750, DNS
22. Bob Siebenhaar, Suzuki GSX-R1000, DNS


AMA Formula Xtreme Point Standings:

1. Spies, 288 points
2. Buckmaster, 258 points
3. Zemke, 249 points
4. Hayes, 241 points
5. Fergusson, 212 points
6. Craggill, 192 points
7. Hacking, 181 points
8. Steve Rapp, 176 points
9. Pridmore, 172 points
10. Hayden, 135 points