From a press release issued by LRRS:

LRRS Round 2: Pre-Season for the 81st Loudon Classic

Round 2 of the 2004 Loudon Road Racing Series was held on May 15-16 at New Hampshire International Speedway. The round is important for club teams looking to make their mark in the up-coming 81st Loudon Classic. With mild weather, the track is faster making it the first good chance for teams to see where they are for the big one on Father’s Day.

The Loudon Classic will be a Formula USA National, coupled with a combination Can-Am 125GP and USGPRU National. New Hampshire International Speedway is notorious for favoring local club racers as well. It’s a homer’s track, and the homer’s took shape last weekend.

The Michelin Dash for Cash
On the F-USA Sportbike and Superbike front, the first test for aspiring spoilers was the ‘Michelin Dash for Cash’ feature. As the money event, it was scheduled for the last race on Saturday and uses the CCS Middleweight GP format. Unfortunately, a torrential thunderstorm rolled through just before the start so the race had to be postponed until Sunday Noon. The rain persisted though Sunday morning. With expectations for a dry afternoon, wet practice sessions were thinly tended. Defending F-USA Champ, Scott Greenwood, never wetted a tire. Team Celtic’s Des Conboy ran only one session. That left a few club hopefuls casing each other for what they hoped would be a wet race. Most ran low 1:30’s in the wet but veteran, John Scheehser, was all alone in the mid-20’s on his Michelin-shod Baccarossa CBR600RR. At the 5 minute board the rain had stopped, but the track was still fully soaked.

Gus Holcomb took the best launch on his Dunlop equipped Concord Honda CBR600, while Scott Greenwood led them out of turn 1 with his Argo Cycles/Dunlop R6. John Scheehser followed with Steve Giacomaro bringing up 4th on his Pirelli mounted R6. On lap 2, Greenwood was down in T1, handing the lead to Holcomb over Scheehser and Giacomaro with a second separation each. On lap 4, Holcomb grabbed one too many gears entering the ‘Bowl’ and nearly crashed. Scheehser took over, while Giacomaro made a charge on Holcomb. On lap 5, Giacomaro had a huge ‘moment’ and made a miraculous save, while attempting to get Holcomb on the brakes in T1. Meanwhile, riders were going down everywhere and the race was finally called on lap 7 for a red flag. Scheehser took the win by 3 seconds over Holcomb with Giacomaro adrift another five seconds back. Scheehser went on to win the Unlimited Supersport race as well. Holcomb went on to win Middleweight Supersport, Middleweight Superbike and GTU, while Giacomaro won the Heavyweight Superbike race on his R6.

Supertwins; a tire gamble
The most interesting race was Supertwins; featuring defending champ, Chris Rockwell on his Michelin equipped Duc 998, Jesse Sandoz on the Seacoast/Dunlop Aprilia ‘Factory’, Robert Nigl on his BCM Duc 998, and Tommy Eckfeldt on his Dunlop/ Nault’s Ducati 998. The wild card was New Zealander and 1999 Aprilia Cup champ, Aaron Clark. Clark surfaced in LRRS at round 1 after joining Jesse Sandoz at Seacoast Cycle in Derry, NH. He brought his Apilia Superbike secrets as well, having been a development rider for Aprilia USA. Clark was riding his 2001 F-USA development Aprilia, but he was new to the track, and it was still wet, but drying.

On the grid, Rockwell and Eckfeldt showed up with full rain tires. Sandoz ran a wet front and slick rear combo. Both Nigl and Clark ran slicks. Rain-tire drivers, Rockwell and Eckfeldt took the early lead with combo-driver, Sandoz in 3rd. Slick-mounted Nigl and Clark ran 4th and 5th, as the lead five dropped off the remainder of field. After 4 laps the track was drying quickly. Rockwell still held the lead, but Sandoz moved up to pass Eckfeldt, while Nigl and Clark started a charge from the back of the lead pack. On lap 5, Sandoz went to the front but was passed himself by Nigl and Clark coming fast. Meanwhile, the two rain-tire riders started struggling. On the penultimate lap, Clark took over the lead from Nigl. Sandoz was fading, while Rockwell was having a hard time even staying upright with his melted rain tires. At the flag it was Clark over Nigl, Sandoz, Eckfeldt and Rockwell.

125GP
The Loudon Classic will host combined Nationals of the Can-Am 125GP and USGPRU series. More then fifty top 125GP racers from Canada and the USA are expected to make the trek to Loudon for what should be the largest 125 grid in years. LRRS round 2 would reveal the local contenders likely to send the National riders packing.

The 2002 and 2003 LRRS 125GP champs top the list, but three others surfaced with enough early speed to do the job. 20 weedwhackers took the grid to test their racing packages. Defending champ, Eric Yoo, grabbed the holeshot followed by 2002 champ, Dale Greenwood. Brian Yoo, Todd Puckett and Zach Courts followed (all on Honda RS125’s). After allowing an early break, Greenwood reeled Yoo in. Meanwhile Brian Yoo was a second back with Courts all over him. After a slow start, Puckett made a charge and caught the lead group by lap 3. On lap 5, Greenwood began showing Eric Yoo a wheel. Meanwhile Puckett pushed past both Courts and Brian Yoo to take 3rd. On the penultimate lap, Courts took over 3rd while Greenwood tried every trick to get past Eric Yoo for the lead. By the white flag, Brian Yoo was shuffled to 5th, while Courts and Puckett fought tooth and tong for 3rd. This allowed the front two to pull a gap. On that last lap, Brian Yoo spotted a hole and forced his way back into 3rd. At the stripe it was Eric Yoo over Greenwood by .04 seconds. Brian Yoo beat Courts by another .04 for 3rd, with Puckett another .01 back. All ran deep in the 1:17 lap times. Another second may steal the show in June.

Thunderbikes
Thunderbikes will be prominent at the Classic. With big contingency money from Buell American Motorcycles, Loudon will be invaded on Father’s Day by the top Buell teams in the country. It is a good track for the new XB Buells too, but once again, NHIS is a homer’s track. The Buell teams will have their hands full with the best of the local Suzuki SV650 and Ducati Desmodue riders. The Lightweight Supersport sprint would reveal some of them.

Jeff Wood lined up back in the pack aboard a Ducati 900SS Penguin School rental bike with plastic number plates ziptied on. Meanwhile defending champ, Rich Doucette lined up on the pole aboard his trusty Plaistow/Dunlop Suzuki SV650. Ted Temple took the holeshot on his Pirelli equipped SV, but by the end of the first lap, Wood had the Ducati in the lead. By lap 3, Wood had a gap on Doucette, with a similar gap over Temple where they ran to the finish. Wood turned a fast 1:16.4 on his Penguin School bike, setting the standard for all comers.

Lightweight Superbike revealed a similar pattern, but without Wood. Temple took the holeshot only to be passed by Doucette, with Bob Poetzch bringing up 3rd on his SV. Later, Temple got a win over Doucette so it was looking like the top contenders to take on the Buells would be Doucette, Temple, Poetzch and maybe Wood, if he runs it. But then in Formula Forty Lights, Jerry Wood surfaced with a strong ride on another Ducati SS clocking in with a 1:17.8 for a 2nd place finish behind Poetzch. The elder Wood will get faster before the Buells land, and he’ll be ready to show them the fast way around.

Motards
Ever since Bob Robbins showed up in 2000 aboard a motarded YZ426F, the LRRS paddock has been filling with them. Round two saw more then 30, and they are starting to dominate several small bike classes. The Loudon Classic will have a purse paying Supermoto support event, complete with a dirt section. Supersingles was the best race to showcase the contenders for the Supermoto in June.

Jeff Wood took the holeshot on his Bettencourts Honda over defending champ, Joe Kessler (YZF). Meanwhile, Jason Routhier was coming from way back on his Nault’s CRF. Kessler took the point for lap 2 with Routhier still not in the top 5. By lap 4, Wood had a solid lead over Kessler and Routhier had caught them for 3rd. Kessler led across the stripe one more time, but they finished with Wood in front followed by Kessler and Routhier. All of them ran high teens for lap times, with Wood the best with a 1:17.9.

Wood is clearly the favorite at this point but Kessler has owned the class, and Routhier seems to be getting pretty close to both. Since Routhier is known as a TZ rider, he was asked about his chances for the Supermoto. Routhier responded, “I hope they don’t have any jumps. I can’t do those things”…

Round 3 of the Loudon Road Racing Series will be June 12-13, one week before the Loudon Classic. It will be the official warm-up event for all comers. Complete results (including fast laps) from round 2 can be found at www.lrrsracing.com.

GTU Expert
1. Holcomb, Hon CBR600
2. Douvris, Hon CBR600
3. Dalzell, Yam R6

GTU Jr.
1. Walsh, Yam R6
2. Ruopp, Yam R6
3. Scifino, GSX-R600

GTO Expert
1. Rockwell, Duc 998
2. Eckfeldt, Duc 998
3. Carter, GSX-R1000

GTO Jr.
1. Boyd, GSX-R750

125GP Expert
1. E. Yoo, RS125
2. D. Greenwood, RS125
3. B. Yoo, RS125

125GP Jr.
1. Demetrius, RS125
2. Berks, RS125
3. Kennedy, MZ720

HWSB Expert
1. Giacomaro, Yam R6
2. Clark, Apr 1000
3. Sandoz, Apr 1000

HWSB Jr.
1. Langenfeld, Hon CBR600
2. Kreder, Hon F4
3. Walsh, Yam R6

LWSS Expert
1. Jf. Wood, Duc900SS
2. Doucette, Suz SV
3. Temple, Suz SV

LWSS Jr.
1. Cadreact, Suz SV
2. Straker, Suz SV
3. Mullin, Suz SV

LW Sports Expert.
1. Jf. Wood, Hon CRF450
2. Kessler, Yam YZF450
3. Worsham, Kaw EX500

LW Sports Jr.
1. Wolf, Yam FZR400
2. White, Hon CRF450
3. Walsh, Yam FZR400

USB Expert
1. Sandoz, Apr1000
2. Clark, Apr1000
3. Ruocco, GSX-R750

USB Jr.
1. Langenfeld, Hon CBR600
2. Kreder, Hon F4
3. Zukow, Kaw ZX6

Thunderbike Expert
1. Jeff Wood, Duc900SS
2. Temple, Suz SV
3. Doucette, Suz SV

Thunderbike Jr.
1. Ruggerio, Buell XB9
2. Cadreact, Suz SV
3. Dube, Duc 800SS

Michelin Dash for Cash Expert
1. Scheehser, Hon CBR600
2. Holcomb, Hon CBR600
3. Giacomaro, Yam R6

Michelin Dash for Cash Jr.
1. Nassar, Yam R6
2. Gonzalez, Yam R6
3. Donavon, GSX-R600

HWSS Expert
1. Silva, GSX-R750
2. Blanchette, GSX-R750
3. Recore, Hon CBR600

HWSS Jr.
1. Verdonk, Hon CBR600
2. Petrarca, GSX-R750
3. Boyd, GSX-R750

Supertwins Expert
1. Clark, Apr1000
2. Nigl, Duc998
3. Sandoz, Apr1000

Supertwins Jr.
1. Cadreact, Suz SV
2. Lian, Duc748

Ultra Light SB Expert
1. Jf. Wood, Hon CRF450
2. Buchakjian, Duc750SS
3. Barry, Hon Hawk650

Ultra Light SB Jr.
1. Dube, Duc 800SS
2. Clement, Duc 750SS
3. White, MZ720

SSIN Expert
1. Jf. Wood, Hon CRF450
2. Kessler, Yam YZF450
3. Routhier, Hon CRF450

SSIN Jr.
1. White, Hon CRF450
2. Kennedy, MZ720
3. Ruopp, Hon CRF450

Production Twins Expert
1. Worsham, Kaw EX500
2. Glick, Kaw EX500
3. Babcock, Kaw EX500

Production Twins Jr.
1. Smith, Kaw EX500
2. Dorr, Kaw EX500
3. Mercurio, Kaw EX500

MWSS Expert
1. Holcomb, Hon CBR600
2. Giacomaro, Yam R6
3. Conboy, Yam R6

MWSS Jr.
1. Langenfeld, Hon CBR600
2. Ruopp, Yam R6
3. Nassar, Yam R6

LWSB Expert
1. Doucette, Suz SV
2. Temple, Suz SV
3. Poetzsch, Suz SV

LWSB Jr.
1. Cadreact, Suz SV
2. Dube, Duc 800SS
3. Mullin, Suz SV

Unlimited SS Expert
1. Scheehser, Hon CBR1000
2. Doucette, GSX-R1000
3. Silva, GSX-R750

Unlimited SS Jr.
1. Peterson. GSX-R750
2. Zukow, Kaw ZX6
3. Bosworth, GSX-R1000

MWSB Expert
1. Holcomb, Hon CBR600
2. Scheehser, Hon CBR600
3. Martire, Kaw ZX6

MWSB Jr.
1. Ruopp, Yam R6
2. Schifino, GSX-R600
3. Walsh, Yam R6

F-40 Expert
1. Blanchette, GSX-R750
2. Dalzell, Yam R1
3. Fett, GSX-R600

F-40 Jr.
1. Donovan, GSX-R600
2. Papworth, GSX-R750

F-40 Lights Expert
1. Poetzch, Suz SV
2. Jerry Wood, Duc1000SS
3. Burbank, Suz SV

Unlimited GP Expert
1. Sandoz, Apr1000
2. Rockwell, Duc998
3. Doucette, GSX-R1000

HWSS Am
1. Manney, GSX-R750
2. Van Lenton, GSX-R750
3. Cook, GSX-R600

MWSS Am
1. Potter, Hon CBR600
2. Staback, Kaw ZX6
3. Debord, Hon CBR600

125GP Am
1. Eng, Hon RS125

LWSS Am
1. Carpinello, Suz SV
2. Drexel, Suz SV
3. Frasch, Duc 900SS

LWSptsm Am
1. M. Dages, Kaw EX500
2. Breen, Hon CRF450
3. Perkins, Yam YZF450

MWSB Am
1. Chase, Yam R6
2. Stabak, Kaw ZX6
3. Harmon, Hon CBR600

MWGP Am
1. Jacques, GSX-R600
2. Fish, Hon CBR600
3. Pelland, Yam R6

Supertwins Am
1. Sylvia, Suz SV
2. McQuarrie, Suz SV
3. Espinosa, Hon RC5

F-40 Am
1. Van Lenten, GSX-R750
2. Potter, Hon CBR600
3. Giles, Hon CBR600

Thunderbike Am
1. Manos, Buell XB9
2. Holmes, Hon F2

LWSB Am
1. Townsend, Duc 800SS
2. McQuarrie, Suz SV
3. Holloway, Suz SV

F-40 Lights Am
1. Sylvia, Suz SV
2. O’Rear, Duc 750SS

Ultra LSB Am
1. Barr, Apr RS250
2. Halder, Yam FZR400
3. Olsen, Duc 750SS

SSIN Am
1. Laviolette, Hon CRF450
2. Hanlon, Yam YZF426

PTWN Am
1. Defazio, Kaw EX500
2. Brown, Kaw EX500
3. M. Dages, Kaw EX500

GTO Am
1. Gardner, Yam R1
2. Van Lenton, GSX-R750
3. Manney, GSX-R750

GTU Am
1. Jacques, GSX-R600
2. Staback, Kaw ZX6
3. Fish, Hon CBR600

GTL Am
1. Carpinello, Suz SV
2. Drexel, Suz SV
3. Holloway, Suz SV

HWSB Am
1. Jacques, GSX-R600
2. Manney, GSX-R750
3. Van Lenton, GSX-R750

LWGP Am
1. Frasch, Duc 900SS
2. McQuarrie, Suz SV
3. Markham, Suz SV