Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Vincent Haskovec and Steve Rapp rode a Michelin-shod GSX-R600 to the overall and GTU class wins in Thursday’s Formula USA 200-kilometer Team Challenge on the 2.2-mile infield road course at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. It was the first time Haskovec and Rapp have raced at Homestead, and the team entered the race as part of a durability test in its AMA Formula Xtreme GSX-R600 development program.
Haskovec rode all but 15 laps of the 69-lap race; Rapp rode a single 15-lap stint because F-USA rules require the use of two riders in Team Challenge events. The bike Haskovec and Rapp rode was the same bike Haskovec raced in the AMA Formula Xtreme season finale at VIR, and “the engine hasn’t been touched since,” said Crew Chief Keith Perry.
Coming into the season-ending round, Yochum Motorsports (formerly known as Mid-Cities Motorsports) needed to beat Baker Race Gear and Himmelsbach Racing to win its second consecutive overall and GTO class Team Challenge Championships, and it did just that by finishing second overall with Scott Greenwood and Kevin Gordon riding a Dunlop-shod Suzuki GSX-R750. Team Owner Calvin Martinez, Dave Ebben and others have ridden with Yochum Motorsports through the year but rode on Yochum Motorsports’ secondary teams at Homestead.
Baker Race Gear Team Owner Brian Baker was injured when he crashed the team’s endurance-set-up Suzuki GSX-R1000 Thursday morning. Andy Feuersthaler continued on with fill-in rider Michael Barnes on the team’s back-up bike, which did not have an endurance fuel tank or quick change, but a last-minute pit stop and tire change resulted in the finishing fifth overall, behind Yochum Motorsports in the race and the Championship.
Himmelsbach Racing’s Mike Himmelsbach, Bill Himmelsbach and Chris Rich finished seventh overall on their Pirelli-shod Yamaha YZF-R6, missing out on the overall title. Himmelsbach Racing clinched the GTU class Championship earlier in season, however.
Roaring Toys’ Robert Fisher and John Linder took the GT Lights class win on a Pirelli-fitted Suzuki SV650.
Provisional Overall Team Challenge Results:
1. Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki (Vincent Haskovec/Steve Rapp), Suz GSX-R600, GTU, 69 laps
2. Yochum Motorsports (Scott Greenwood/Kevin Gordon), Suz GSX-R750, GTO, 68 laps
3. Vallely Racing (Joe Ribeiro/Joe Spina), Suz GSX-R750, GTO, 68 laps
4. Longevity Racing (Barrett Long/Leon Cortes), Yam YZF-R6, GTU, 67 laps
5. Baker Race Gear (Michael Barnes/Andy Feuersthaler), Suz GSX-R750, GTO, 67 laps
6. Florida Motorsports (Darren Luck/David Suskevich), Suz GSX-R600, GTU, 66 laps
7. Himmelsbach Racing (Mike Himmelsbach/Bill Himmelsbach/Chris Rich), Yam YZF-R6, GTU, 66 laps
8. Fast Lane Cycles (Rick Beggs/Kevin Tate/Pete Moravek), Kaw ZX-6R, GTU, 65 laps
9. Roaring Toys (Robert Fisher/John Linder), Suz SV650, GTL, 64 laps
10. Team Desmo (Pedro Valiente/Edward Henriquez), Yam YZF-R6, GTU, 64 laps