Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Pihokken Wins Shootout, Martinez Wins Most

CCS Florida Region
Moroso Motorsports Park
West Palm Beach, Florida
August 29, 2004

By Lisa Theobald

CCS Florida’s Number One rider, Jim Pihokken, won the featured Unlimited Grand Prix race at Moroso Motorsports Park after nailing the holeshot and leading every lap of the race. His main challenger during the race was Marco Martinez, who got a bad start, but worked his way up to second place by the middle of lap two. Michael Barnes was expected to be a major competitor, but didn’t even make it to the grid. After crashing his “A” bike during the Middleweight Supersport event, Barnes decided to pack it up and not risk any damage to his “B” bike in preparation for the upcoming AMA races at Road Atlanta next weekend.

Pihokken was on the gas from the drop of the green flag and had secured a 20-bikelength lead over second place with his GSX-R1000 very early on the first lap of the Shootout. Behind him, GSX-R750 pilot Ed Lis was being challenged by Martinez, who had worked his way up to third place by the end of the first lap. Halfway through lap two, Martinez maneuvered his GSX-R1000 around Lis to take over second place and started to reel in Pihokken. By lap three, he was a mere five bikelengths behind the leader. Martinez was able to catch the leader with a late-braking maneuver into turn seven and challenged Pihokken in every corner thereafter. The two would run wheel-to-wheel down the straightaways with Martinez attempting to pass Pihokken around the outside of every turn. But Pihokken was able to hold his advantage and keep the lead. On the white flag lap of the race, Pihokken was out front, all by himself. Martinez had crashed in the turn three/four chicane. He was able to re-enter the race, but could not regain his position. Pihokken continued to lead the final lap without challenge. He crossed the start finish line with a big, big gap over second-place Lis. Alvaro Toledo finished third, followed by Michael Rouleau and Martinez.

On the podium, Pihokken commented on his battle with Martinez stating, “At first, I was cruising. I thought he was on the 750. When I looked back and saw him there, I started to step it up. He ran into me twice going into turn two, but I don’t know if that caused him to go down. But, if it did, I apologize.” Pihokken went on to thank Sean Prieto and all the guys at Prieto Racing for helping get his bike ready. “They did an awesome job,” said Pihokken. “Barnes is here and I have to thank him, because he rode this bike last year and helped set it up.” He also thanked the corner workers and the entire CCS crew stating, “A couple of weeks ago, I went down pretty hard and those guys were right there. You guys do an awesome job and I really appreciate you.”

Pihokken also won the first race of the day, GTO, after taking the lead from his teammate, Lis, on lap two and dominating from that point forward.

Barnes won the GTU race after passing holeshot winner Greg Melka for the lead on the first lap. From then on, he was simply untouchable. With each lap, Barnes continued to increase the gap on the rest of the field. He had the entire back straightaway all to himself on the white flag lap and took the checkered flag without challenge. But Barnes crashed out of the lead of the Middleweight Supersport race, putting an early end to his day and any chances of taking home Yamaha contingency monies.

Martinez was, yet again, the biggest winner of the day, taking home a total of six first-place trophies. He won the Unlimited Supersport, Middleweight Supersport, Heavyweight Supersport, Middleweight Superbike, Heavyweight Superbike, and Middleweight Grand Prix races.

The next CCS Florida event is scheduled for the weekend of September 11-12 at Jennings GP in Jennings, Florida.