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FIM Releases Wild Card Entries For Valencia Grand Prix

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From a press release issued by FIM:

Wild card entries for the Gran Premio Marlboro de la Comunitat Valenciana

The wild-card riders who will race in the Gran Premio Marlboro de la Comunitat Valenciana, scheduled at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana – Ricardo Tormo on October 31st next, are the following:


MotoGP class
19 – Olivier Jacque (FRA-Moriwaki)

250cc class
40 – Alvaro Molina (SPA-Aprilia)
42 – Gregory Leblanc (FRA-Aprilia)
85 – Hans Smees (NED-Aprilia)

125cc class
43 – Manuel Hernandez (SPA-Aprilia)
70 – Julian Miralles (SPA-Aprilia)
71 – Enrique Jerez (SPA-Aprilia)
88 – Michael Ranseder (AUT-KTM)
96 – Alex Espargaró (SPA-Honda)

Proton Previews Valencia MotoGP

From a press release issued by Proton Team KR:

PROTON TEAM KR CONCLUDE NINETEENTH YEAR IN SPAIN

Next Sunday’s Valencia GP brings to a close a dramatic 2004 season with a final race in front of Spain’s avid fans. New champions in all three classes will celebrate their success; the fourth in a row for racing superstar Valentino Rossi.

For independent racing manufacturers Proton Team KR, the last race of the year concludes their own 19th season as a private team in the top class of motorcycle racing. A year of difficulty, but also of progress and promise, for the England-built 990cc V5 MotoGP prototype, with its unique aero-space inspired chassis.

The progress has been clear in the recent flyaway races, four long-distance marathons over five weekends, in extreme conditions including punishing desert heat at Qatar. While other machines fell by the wayside, the maturing 2004 Proton KR V5s demonstrated impressive reliability, and continued a run of finishing in the points at two of the four events.

The promise comes from tests of a new Austrian-built KTM V4 engine in the super-accurate carved-from-solid Proton KR V5 chassis during the season. More tests are scheduled for November.

The team will be back to full strength for the first time since August, with the return of MotoGP rookie Kurtis Roberts. The son of team principal Kenny was injured in a practice crash at Brno, and missed the next five races while recuperating. His place was taken at the last three by British rider James Haydon; Kurtis will at last be fit enough to ride for the final round at Valencia.

“It will be good to have Kurtis back, especially at a track he is familiar with from pre-season testing. He’s been training and doing a lot of laps on motocross bikes back home in the USA to build up his strength and endurance. Now he feels ready to race again,” said team manager Chuck Aksland.

Regular team-mate Nobuatsu Aoki will be pushing hard as usual to try to add to his points score, in what may be the V5 Proton machine’s last race. Aoki has been with the project since the Mk1 machine was introduced after the start of the last season.

“Our engine shop has done a great job over the flyaway races, with the engines reliable, and they have found a little more horsepower,” continued Aksland.

“We will have all our best stuff at Valencia, and giving it our best shot to finish in the points again,” he said.

Valencia is the last of 16 rounds, and the fourth race this year on the Iberian peninsula, including two other Spanish races at Jerez and Catalunya, and the Portuguese GP at Estoril. Far from being sated, avid Spanish fans are expected to pack the grandstands of the tight and twisty stadium-style circuit.

NOBUATSU AOKI – ALL THE WAY TO THE END
It’s been a tough season, hard even to get in the points. But the team has worked so hard, and that motivates me always to try for the best possible result. Over the last race the bike is coming better, and the tyres. Valencia is quite a tough circuit for us, but I want to finish the year with more points for my team.

KURTIS ROBERTS – BACK FOR THE BEST
It’s been such a long time, and I want to get back on a racing bike. My wrist took longer than I expected to get healed and strong, and I’d hoped to be back earlier. While I’ve been away there’s definitely been progress with the team. I hope this will be my best race of the year.

Rapp Wins F-USA Formula Sportbike Race At Homestead-Miami Speedway

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Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional Results
Formula Sportbike
1. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R750, Michelin, 18 laps, 26:06.722, fastest lap 1:25.430
2. Rob Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, Michelin, -6.414 seconds, 1:26.436
3. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R750, Dunlop, -7.864, 1:26.847
4. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R750, Dunlop, -26.677, 1:27.818
5. Mike Niksa, Suzuki GSX-R750, -29.630, 1:27.501
6. Kevin Gordon, Suzuki GSX-R750, -66.285, 1:29.688
7. Carlos Macias, Suzuki GSX-R750, -66.632, 1:29.608
8. Joe Ribeiro, Suzuki GSX-R750, -69.768, 1:29.722
9. Brian Stokes, Suzuki GSX-R750, 17 laps, crash, 1:28.469
10. Ryan Gordon, Suzuki GSX-R750, 3 laps, DNF, crash, 1:28.943*

*First race weekend as Expert

Jensen Wins F-USA Sportbike Race In Florida

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Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

F-USA Sportbike
Provisional Results
1. Robert Jensen, Yamaha YZF-R6, Michelin, 18 laps, 26:06.301, fastest lap 1:26.155
2. Jeff Wood, Suzuki GSX-R600, Dunlop, -2.346 seconds, 1:26.379
3. Michael Barnes, Yamaha YZF-R6, Pirelli, -11.830, 1:26.514
4. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R600, Dunlop, -16.412, 1:27.056
5. Scott Greenwood, Yamaha YZF-R6, Dunlop, -16.760, 1:27.225
6. Mike Himmelsbach, Yamaha YZF-R, -16.881, 1:27.386
7. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R600, -30.749, 1:27.752
8. Tristan Schoenewald, -47.480, 1:28.573
9. Barrett Long, Yamaha YZF-R6, -47.812, 1:28.713
10. Brian Stokes, Suzuki GSX-R600, -48.116, 1:28.696

May Retakes Homestead-Miami Lap Record With Unlimited GP Race Win

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Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Geoff May retook the Homestead-Miami Speedway motorcycle lap record while winning the CCS Unlimited GP race Sunday morning, turning a 1:24.373 lap at an average speed of 94.296 mph aboard his GSX-R1000 Superbike on Pirelli 16.5-inch slicks.

May lowered the record set yesterday at 1:25.084 by Steve Rapp aboard a Formula Sportbike-legal Superstock GSX-R750 on DOT-labeled treaded Michelin tires during Unlimited GP qualifying. May had qualified second-fastest on his Superbike at 1:25.125.

Rapp finished second in the Unlimited GP race on his Formula Sportbike GSX-R750, again on DOT-labeled Michelin tires, turning a fastest lap of 1:24.812.

Between them, May and Rapp have set the Homestead-Miami Speedway motorcycle lap record 7 times since Thursday.

The next-fastest rider in the Unlimited GP race was former CCS Florida Overall Champion Marco Martinez, who turned a 1:26.017 and finished third despite riding his Superbike with a shoulder broken during a recent race in Venezuela. Robert Jensen was fourth fastest at 1:26.473 aboard his Formula Sportbike GSX-R750 but DNF.

Provisional Results
CCS Unlimited GP
Rider, Bike, Fastest Lap
1. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:24.373
2. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:24.812
3. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:26.017
4. Heath Small, Yamkaha YZF-R1, 1:27.035
5. Jim Pihokken, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:27.613
6. Ryan Gordon, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:28.250
7. Hector Jimenez, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:28.856
8. David McEnery, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:28.753
9. Kevin Gordon, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:28.250
10. Jorge Rodriguez, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:29.263


Jensen Wins Formula USA Sportbike, Superbike Championships At Homestead

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Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

A second place in Superbike and a win in Sportbike at Homestead-Miami Speedway Sunday earned Butler Machinery’s Robert Jensen Formula USA National Championships in both classes.

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Vincent Haskovec rode a GSX-R600 AMA Formula Xtreme bike shod with Michelin DOT-labeled tires to victory in the 18-lap Superbike final, but Jensen’s conservative second place on his Michelin-shod Yamaha YZF-R6 was more than enough for him to claim the title.

Later, Jensen took to the track for the main event, the Sportbike race and Championship showdown with Arclight Suzuki’s Jeff Wood. Though there were several Championship scenarios, the situation essentially boiled down to the rider who beat the other would be Champion.

After passing early leader Michael Barnes, Jensen and Wood (who ride a Dunlop-sponsored GSX-R600) had a private duel for the remainder of the 18-lap sprint. Jensen led from lap six, but Wood was only a few bikelengths behind throughout the event. The critical moment of the race came late when Wood was held up by backmarkers. Jensen gained a comfortable cushion, won the race and his second Championship of the day.

Earlier in the day, Hotbodies/Prieto Racing’s Geoff May, riding a Suzuki GSX-R1000 with 16.5-inch Pirelli slicks, lowered the track record from 1:25.0 to 1:24.373 en route to winning the Unlimited Grand Prix over Steve Rapp, who rode a Formula Sportbike-restricted GSX-R750 on DOT-labeled Michelin tires.

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Rapp came back on the same machine to dominate the Formula Sportbike final, winning by six seconds after leading by as much as 20 seconds during the race. Jensen took second after a race-long fight with Arclight Suzuki’s Scott Harwell, who clinched the Formula Sportbike National Championship at the penultimate round.

Harding Harley-Davidson/Buell’s Dave Estok closed out his 2004 season with a flag-to-flag win in Thunderbike on a Pirelli-equipped Buell Firebolt. Motorcycle Performance’s Ed Key finished second, just holding off Estok’s teammate-for-the-weekend Tim Bermisderfer, brother of 2004 F-USA Thunderbike Champion Bryan Bemisderfer, who DNF the race Sunday.

Final Race Results:

Sportbike:

1. Robert Jensen, Yamaha YZF-R6, 18 laps
2. Jeff Wood, Suzuki GSX-R600
3. Michael Barnes, Yamaha YZF-R6
4. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R600
5. Scott Greenwood, Yamaha YZF-R6
6. Mike Himmelsbach, Yamaha YZF-R6
7. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R600
8. Tristan Schoenewald, Suzuki GSX-R600
9. Barrett Long, Yamaha YF-R6
10. Brian Stokes, Suzuki GSX-R600

Superbike:

1. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R600, 18 laps
2. Robert Jensen, Yamaha YZF-R6
3. Jeff Wood, Suzuki GSX-R600
4. Michael Barnes, Yamaha YZF-R6
5. Scott Greenwood, Yamaha YZF-R6
6. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R600
7. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R600
8. Mike Himmelsbach, Yamaha YZF-R6
9. Heath Small, Yamaha YZF-R6
10. David McPherson, Yamaha YZF-R6

Formula Sportbike:

1. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R750, 18 laps
2. Robert Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750
3. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R750
4. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R750
5. Michael Niksa, Suzuki GSX-R750
6. Kevin Gordon, Suzuki GSX-R750
7. Carlos Eduardo Macias, Ducati 996
8. Joe Ribeiro, Suzuki GSX-R750
9. Brian Stokes, Suzuki GSX-R750
10. Ryan Gordon, Suzuki GSX-R750, DNF, crash

Thunderbike:

1. Dave Estok, Buell XB9R, 12 laps
2. Ed Key, Suzuki SV650
3. Tim Bemisderfer, Buell XB9R
4. Michael Niksa, Suzuki SV650
5. Jeff Johnson, Buell XB9R
6. Walt Sipp, Buell XB9R
7. Joseph Rozynski, Buell XB9R
8. John Costa, Buell XB9R
9. Jerry Wood, Ducati Supermono
10. Darren Danilowicz, Suzuki SV650

Unlimited Grand Prix:

1. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 5 laps
2. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R750
3. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R1000
4. Heath Small, Yamaha YZF-R1
5. Jim Pihokken, Suzuki GSX-R1000
6. Ryan Gordon, Suzuki GSX-R750
7. Hector Jimenez, Suzuki GSX-R750
8. David Mcenery, Suzuki GSX-R1000
9. Kevin Gordon, Suzuki GSX-R750
10. Jorge Rodriguez, Suzuki GSX-R1000

Final Formula USA Championship Point Standings:

Sportbike:

1. Robert Jensen, 137
2. Jeff Wood, 136
3. Scott Greenwood, 105

Superbike:

1. Robert Jensen, 144
2. Jeff Wood, 116
3. Mike Himmelsbach, 90

Formula Sportbike:

1. Scott Harwell, Suzuki, 141
2. Robert Jensen, Suzuki, 117
3. Brian Stokes, 100

Thunderbike:

1. Bryan Bemisderfer, 105
2. Dave Estok, 93
3. Jeff Johnson, 73

Estok Wins F-USA Thunderbike Race At Homestead-Miami Speedway

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Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional Results
F-USA Thunderbike

1. Dave Estok, Buell XB12R, Pirelli, 12 laps, fastest lap 1:32.041
2. Ed Key, Suzuki SV650, -4.705 seconds, 1:32.626
3. Tim Bemisderfer, Buell XB12R, Dunlop, -5.822, 1:32.288
4. Mike Niksa, Suzuki SV650, -6.906, 1:32.794
5. Jeff Johnson, Buell XB9R, -9.432, 1:32.868
6. Walt Sipp, Buell XB9R, -26.670
7. Joseph Rozynski, Buell XB12R, -26.828
8. John Costa, Buell XB12R, -27.398
9. Jerry Wood, Ducati 900, -28.099
10. Darren Danilowicz, Suzuki SV650, -28.558
11. Josh Guyer, Buell XB12R
12. David McEnery, Suzuki SV650
13. Joey Thomas, Suzuki SV650
14. Duane DeSouza
15. John Linder, Suzuki SV650, 11 laps
16. Allen Orozco, Suzuki SV750, 11 laps
17. Chris Young, Buell XB12R, 11 laps
18. Mark Bernard, Buell XB12R, 11 laps
19. Robert Fisher, Suzuki SV650, 7 laps, DNF
20. Kurt Miller, Buell XB9R, 7 laps, DNF
21. Jeff Harding, Buell XB12R, 7 laps, DNF
22. Chris Boy, Bimota 944, 6 laps, DNF
23. Stephen Servis, Suzuki SV650, 3 laps, DNF
24. Bryan Bemisderfer, Buell XB12R, 2 laps, DNF

Haskovec Wins F-USA Superbike Race At Homestead-Miami Speedway

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Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.


F-USA Superbike
Provisional Results
1. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R600, Michelin, 18 laps, 26:05.658, fastest lap 1:26.143
2. Robert Jensen, Yamaha YZF-R6, Michelin, -3.514 seconds, fastest lap 1:26.190
3. Jeff Wood, Suzuki GSX-R600, Dunlop, -7.765, fastest lap 1:26.800
4. Michael Barnes, Yamaha YZF-R6, Pirelli, -9.349, fastest lap 1:26.874
5. Scott Greenwood, Yamaha YZF-R6, Dunlop, -20.557, fastest lap 1:27.306
6. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R600, -20.857, fastest lap 1:27.340
7. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R600, -23.797, fastest lap 1:27.478
8. Mike Himmelsbach, Yamaha YZF-R6, -36.655, fastest lap 1:27.599
9. Heath Small, Yamaha YZF-R6, -52.036, fastest lap 1:28.845
10. Barrett Long, Yamaha YZF-R6, -53.014, fastest lap 1:28.550*
11. David McPherson, Yamaha YZF-R6
12. Rodolfo Ramirez
13. Brian Johnson, Yamaha YZF-R6, 17 laps
14. Javier Picon, Yamaha YZF-R6, 15 laps
15. Hector Jimenez, Kawasaki 636cc ZX-6R, 13 laps
16. Simon Turner, Yamaha YZF-R6, 4 laps, DNF

*Disqualified for running wrong competition number


There’s Plenty Of Blame To Go Around In World Cup Controversy, But One Fact Stands Out

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Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sorting out the truth from the BS is difficult when the subject is the controversy at last weekend’s GSX-R World Cup Final, simply due to the number of conflicting stories told by various participating or interested parties.

But one uncontested fact stands out: No racer participating in the 2004 GSX-R World Cup Final at Road Atlanta turned a wheel on the racetrack with suspension parts known to be illegal. The controversy over alleged fork and shock modifications took place prior to the start of GSX-R World Cup practice, and the suspect pieces were replaced before any of the GSX-R World Cup riders went on track.


Key, Rapp, Wood, Jensen, Lis Win CCS Races Saturday At Race Of Champions In Homestead

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Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Ed Key, Steve Rapp, Jeff Wood, Robert Jensen and Edward Lis won races and CCS National Championships Saturday at the Race of Champions at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.

Motorcycle Performance’s Key, 49, won two more winner-take-all run-offs, bringing his total for the weekend to five races and five CCS National Championships won. In the Lightweight Supersport race, pole-sitter Key held off Robert Fisher, who started from row six of the grid, to win by 0.8-second on his Pirelli-equipped Suzuki SV650. Riding his SV650 Superbike, Key later withstood another strong challenge, this one from Stephen Servis, to win in Lightweight Superbike.

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp rode Michelin’s newest DOT-labeled production race tires, the “Power Race,” to victory in the Heavyweight Superstock final, the tires’ debut event. Starting on row nine of the grid, Rapp passed Wood, Scott Harwell, Jensen, Geoff May and several others on his way to a 0.5-second margin of victory.

Wood won the twice-restarted Middleweight Supersport sprint by three seconds on his Dunlop-equipped Arclight Suzuki GSX-R600, beating Jensen, Harwell, Scott Greenwood and Michael Barnes.

Butler Machinery’s Jensen rode his Michelin-fitted Yamaha YZF-R6 to his first win of the weekend in the Yamaha-contingency-paying Middleweight Superbike contest, topping Barnes, Greenwood, Mike Himmelsbach and teen Tristan Schoenewald.

Riding a Dunlop-slick-shod Suzuki GSX-R750, East Coast Superbikes’ Edward Lis, 46, won his first-ever National Championship in the controversial Heavyweight Superbike final. Former track record holder Marco Martinez won the race on the track, but because he failed to acknowledge a black flag (brought about by his machine smoking), Martinez lost the win.


FIM Releases Wild Card Entries For Valencia Grand Prix


From a press release issued by FIM:

Wild card entries for the Gran Premio Marlboro de la Comunitat Valenciana

The wild-card riders who will race in the Gran Premio Marlboro de la Comunitat Valenciana, scheduled at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana – Ricardo Tormo on October 31st next, are the following:


MotoGP class
19 – Olivier Jacque (FRA-Moriwaki)

250cc class
40 – Alvaro Molina (SPA-Aprilia)
42 – Gregory Leblanc (FRA-Aprilia)
85 – Hans Smees (NED-Aprilia)

125cc class
43 – Manuel Hernandez (SPA-Aprilia)
70 – Julian Miralles (SPA-Aprilia)
71 – Enrique Jerez (SPA-Aprilia)
88 – Michael Ranseder (AUT-KTM)
96 – Alex Espargaró (SPA-Honda)

Proton Previews Valencia MotoGP

From a press release issued by Proton Team KR:

PROTON TEAM KR CONCLUDE NINETEENTH YEAR IN SPAIN

Next Sunday’s Valencia GP brings to a close a dramatic 2004 season with a final race in front of Spain’s avid fans. New champions in all three classes will celebrate their success; the fourth in a row for racing superstar Valentino Rossi.

For independent racing manufacturers Proton Team KR, the last race of the year concludes their own 19th season as a private team in the top class of motorcycle racing. A year of difficulty, but also of progress and promise, for the England-built 990cc V5 MotoGP prototype, with its unique aero-space inspired chassis.

The progress has been clear in the recent flyaway races, four long-distance marathons over five weekends, in extreme conditions including punishing desert heat at Qatar. While other machines fell by the wayside, the maturing 2004 Proton KR V5s demonstrated impressive reliability, and continued a run of finishing in the points at two of the four events.

The promise comes from tests of a new Austrian-built KTM V4 engine in the super-accurate carved-from-solid Proton KR V5 chassis during the season. More tests are scheduled for November.

The team will be back to full strength for the first time since August, with the return of MotoGP rookie Kurtis Roberts. The son of team principal Kenny was injured in a practice crash at Brno, and missed the next five races while recuperating. His place was taken at the last three by British rider James Haydon; Kurtis will at last be fit enough to ride for the final round at Valencia.

“It will be good to have Kurtis back, especially at a track he is familiar with from pre-season testing. He’s been training and doing a lot of laps on motocross bikes back home in the USA to build up his strength and endurance. Now he feels ready to race again,” said team manager Chuck Aksland.

Regular team-mate Nobuatsu Aoki will be pushing hard as usual to try to add to his points score, in what may be the V5 Proton machine’s last race. Aoki has been with the project since the Mk1 machine was introduced after the start of the last season.

“Our engine shop has done a great job over the flyaway races, with the engines reliable, and they have found a little more horsepower,” continued Aksland.

“We will have all our best stuff at Valencia, and giving it our best shot to finish in the points again,” he said.

Valencia is the last of 16 rounds, and the fourth race this year on the Iberian peninsula, including two other Spanish races at Jerez and Catalunya, and the Portuguese GP at Estoril. Far from being sated, avid Spanish fans are expected to pack the grandstands of the tight and twisty stadium-style circuit.

NOBUATSU AOKI – ALL THE WAY TO THE END
It’s been a tough season, hard even to get in the points. But the team has worked so hard, and that motivates me always to try for the best possible result. Over the last race the bike is coming better, and the tyres. Valencia is quite a tough circuit for us, but I want to finish the year with more points for my team.

KURTIS ROBERTS – BACK FOR THE BEST
It’s been such a long time, and I want to get back on a racing bike. My wrist took longer than I expected to get healed and strong, and I’d hoped to be back earlier. While I’ve been away there’s definitely been progress with the team. I hope this will be my best race of the year.

Rapp Wins F-USA Formula Sportbike Race At Homestead-Miami Speedway

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional Results
Formula Sportbike
1. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R750, Michelin, 18 laps, 26:06.722, fastest lap 1:25.430
2. Rob Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, Michelin, -6.414 seconds, 1:26.436
3. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R750, Dunlop, -7.864, 1:26.847
4. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R750, Dunlop, -26.677, 1:27.818
5. Mike Niksa, Suzuki GSX-R750, -29.630, 1:27.501
6. Kevin Gordon, Suzuki GSX-R750, -66.285, 1:29.688
7. Carlos Macias, Suzuki GSX-R750, -66.632, 1:29.608
8. Joe Ribeiro, Suzuki GSX-R750, -69.768, 1:29.722
9. Brian Stokes, Suzuki GSX-R750, 17 laps, crash, 1:28.469
10. Ryan Gordon, Suzuki GSX-R750, 3 laps, DNF, crash, 1:28.943*

*First race weekend as Expert

Jensen Wins F-USA Sportbike Race In Florida

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

F-USA Sportbike
Provisional Results
1. Robert Jensen, Yamaha YZF-R6, Michelin, 18 laps, 26:06.301, fastest lap 1:26.155
2. Jeff Wood, Suzuki GSX-R600, Dunlop, -2.346 seconds, 1:26.379
3. Michael Barnes, Yamaha YZF-R6, Pirelli, -11.830, 1:26.514
4. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R600, Dunlop, -16.412, 1:27.056
5. Scott Greenwood, Yamaha YZF-R6, Dunlop, -16.760, 1:27.225
6. Mike Himmelsbach, Yamaha YZF-R, -16.881, 1:27.386
7. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R600, -30.749, 1:27.752
8. Tristan Schoenewald, -47.480, 1:28.573
9. Barrett Long, Yamaha YZF-R6, -47.812, 1:28.713
10. Brian Stokes, Suzuki GSX-R600, -48.116, 1:28.696

May Retakes Homestead-Miami Lap Record With Unlimited GP Race Win

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Geoff May retook the Homestead-Miami Speedway motorcycle lap record while winning the CCS Unlimited GP race Sunday morning, turning a 1:24.373 lap at an average speed of 94.296 mph aboard his GSX-R1000 Superbike on Pirelli 16.5-inch slicks.

May lowered the record set yesterday at 1:25.084 by Steve Rapp aboard a Formula Sportbike-legal Superstock GSX-R750 on DOT-labeled treaded Michelin tires during Unlimited GP qualifying. May had qualified second-fastest on his Superbike at 1:25.125.

Rapp finished second in the Unlimited GP race on his Formula Sportbike GSX-R750, again on DOT-labeled Michelin tires, turning a fastest lap of 1:24.812.

Between them, May and Rapp have set the Homestead-Miami Speedway motorcycle lap record 7 times since Thursday.

The next-fastest rider in the Unlimited GP race was former CCS Florida Overall Champion Marco Martinez, who turned a 1:26.017 and finished third despite riding his Superbike with a shoulder broken during a recent race in Venezuela. Robert Jensen was fourth fastest at 1:26.473 aboard his Formula Sportbike GSX-R750 but DNF.

Provisional Results
CCS Unlimited GP
Rider, Bike, Fastest Lap
1. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:24.373
2. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:24.812
3. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:26.017
4. Heath Small, Yamkaha YZF-R1, 1:27.035
5. Jim Pihokken, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:27.613
6. Ryan Gordon, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:28.250
7. Hector Jimenez, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:28.856
8. David McEnery, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:28.753
9. Kevin Gordon, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:28.250
10. Jorge Rodriguez, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:29.263


Jensen Wins Formula USA Sportbike, Superbike Championships At Homestead

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

A second place in Superbike and a win in Sportbike at Homestead-Miami Speedway Sunday earned Butler Machinery’s Robert Jensen Formula USA National Championships in both classes.

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Vincent Haskovec rode a GSX-R600 AMA Formula Xtreme bike shod with Michelin DOT-labeled tires to victory in the 18-lap Superbike final, but Jensen’s conservative second place on his Michelin-shod Yamaha YZF-R6 was more than enough for him to claim the title.

Later, Jensen took to the track for the main event, the Sportbike race and Championship showdown with Arclight Suzuki’s Jeff Wood. Though there were several Championship scenarios, the situation essentially boiled down to the rider who beat the other would be Champion.

After passing early leader Michael Barnes, Jensen and Wood (who ride a Dunlop-sponsored GSX-R600) had a private duel for the remainder of the 18-lap sprint. Jensen led from lap six, but Wood was only a few bikelengths behind throughout the event. The critical moment of the race came late when Wood was held up by backmarkers. Jensen gained a comfortable cushion, won the race and his second Championship of the day.

Earlier in the day, Hotbodies/Prieto Racing’s Geoff May, riding a Suzuki GSX-R1000 with 16.5-inch Pirelli slicks, lowered the track record from 1:25.0 to 1:24.373 en route to winning the Unlimited Grand Prix over Steve Rapp, who rode a Formula Sportbike-restricted GSX-R750 on DOT-labeled Michelin tires.

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Rapp came back on the same machine to dominate the Formula Sportbike final, winning by six seconds after leading by as much as 20 seconds during the race. Jensen took second after a race-long fight with Arclight Suzuki’s Scott Harwell, who clinched the Formula Sportbike National Championship at the penultimate round.

Harding Harley-Davidson/Buell’s Dave Estok closed out his 2004 season with a flag-to-flag win in Thunderbike on a Pirelli-equipped Buell Firebolt. Motorcycle Performance’s Ed Key finished second, just holding off Estok’s teammate-for-the-weekend Tim Bermisderfer, brother of 2004 F-USA Thunderbike Champion Bryan Bemisderfer, who DNF the race Sunday.

Final Race Results:

Sportbike:

1. Robert Jensen, Yamaha YZF-R6, 18 laps
2. Jeff Wood, Suzuki GSX-R600
3. Michael Barnes, Yamaha YZF-R6
4. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R600
5. Scott Greenwood, Yamaha YZF-R6
6. Mike Himmelsbach, Yamaha YZF-R6
7. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R600
8. Tristan Schoenewald, Suzuki GSX-R600
9. Barrett Long, Yamaha YF-R6
10. Brian Stokes, Suzuki GSX-R600

Superbike:

1. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R600, 18 laps
2. Robert Jensen, Yamaha YZF-R6
3. Jeff Wood, Suzuki GSX-R600
4. Michael Barnes, Yamaha YZF-R6
5. Scott Greenwood, Yamaha YZF-R6
6. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R600
7. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R600
8. Mike Himmelsbach, Yamaha YZF-R6
9. Heath Small, Yamaha YZF-R6
10. David McPherson, Yamaha YZF-R6

Formula Sportbike:

1. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R750, 18 laps
2. Robert Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750
3. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R750
4. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R750
5. Michael Niksa, Suzuki GSX-R750
6. Kevin Gordon, Suzuki GSX-R750
7. Carlos Eduardo Macias, Ducati 996
8. Joe Ribeiro, Suzuki GSX-R750
9. Brian Stokes, Suzuki GSX-R750
10. Ryan Gordon, Suzuki GSX-R750, DNF, crash

Thunderbike:

1. Dave Estok, Buell XB9R, 12 laps
2. Ed Key, Suzuki SV650
3. Tim Bemisderfer, Buell XB9R
4. Michael Niksa, Suzuki SV650
5. Jeff Johnson, Buell XB9R
6. Walt Sipp, Buell XB9R
7. Joseph Rozynski, Buell XB9R
8. John Costa, Buell XB9R
9. Jerry Wood, Ducati Supermono
10. Darren Danilowicz, Suzuki SV650

Unlimited Grand Prix:

1. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 5 laps
2. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R750
3. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R1000
4. Heath Small, Yamaha YZF-R1
5. Jim Pihokken, Suzuki GSX-R1000
6. Ryan Gordon, Suzuki GSX-R750
7. Hector Jimenez, Suzuki GSX-R750
8. David Mcenery, Suzuki GSX-R1000
9. Kevin Gordon, Suzuki GSX-R750
10. Jorge Rodriguez, Suzuki GSX-R1000

Final Formula USA Championship Point Standings:

Sportbike:

1. Robert Jensen, 137
2. Jeff Wood, 136
3. Scott Greenwood, 105

Superbike:

1. Robert Jensen, 144
2. Jeff Wood, 116
3. Mike Himmelsbach, 90

Formula Sportbike:

1. Scott Harwell, Suzuki, 141
2. Robert Jensen, Suzuki, 117
3. Brian Stokes, 100

Thunderbike:

1. Bryan Bemisderfer, 105
2. Dave Estok, 93
3. Jeff Johnson, 73

Estok Wins F-USA Thunderbike Race At Homestead-Miami Speedway

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional Results
F-USA Thunderbike

1. Dave Estok, Buell XB12R, Pirelli, 12 laps, fastest lap 1:32.041
2. Ed Key, Suzuki SV650, -4.705 seconds, 1:32.626
3. Tim Bemisderfer, Buell XB12R, Dunlop, -5.822, 1:32.288
4. Mike Niksa, Suzuki SV650, -6.906, 1:32.794
5. Jeff Johnson, Buell XB9R, -9.432, 1:32.868
6. Walt Sipp, Buell XB9R, -26.670
7. Joseph Rozynski, Buell XB12R, -26.828
8. John Costa, Buell XB12R, -27.398
9. Jerry Wood, Ducati 900, -28.099
10. Darren Danilowicz, Suzuki SV650, -28.558
11. Josh Guyer, Buell XB12R
12. David McEnery, Suzuki SV650
13. Joey Thomas, Suzuki SV650
14. Duane DeSouza
15. John Linder, Suzuki SV650, 11 laps
16. Allen Orozco, Suzuki SV750, 11 laps
17. Chris Young, Buell XB12R, 11 laps
18. Mark Bernard, Buell XB12R, 11 laps
19. Robert Fisher, Suzuki SV650, 7 laps, DNF
20. Kurt Miller, Buell XB9R, 7 laps, DNF
21. Jeff Harding, Buell XB12R, 7 laps, DNF
22. Chris Boy, Bimota 944, 6 laps, DNF
23. Stephen Servis, Suzuki SV650, 3 laps, DNF
24. Bryan Bemisderfer, Buell XB12R, 2 laps, DNF

Haskovec Wins F-USA Superbike Race At Homestead-Miami Speedway

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.


F-USA Superbike
Provisional Results
1. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R600, Michelin, 18 laps, 26:05.658, fastest lap 1:26.143
2. Robert Jensen, Yamaha YZF-R6, Michelin, -3.514 seconds, fastest lap 1:26.190
3. Jeff Wood, Suzuki GSX-R600, Dunlop, -7.765, fastest lap 1:26.800
4. Michael Barnes, Yamaha YZF-R6, Pirelli, -9.349, fastest lap 1:26.874
5. Scott Greenwood, Yamaha YZF-R6, Dunlop, -20.557, fastest lap 1:27.306
6. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R600, -20.857, fastest lap 1:27.340
7. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R600, -23.797, fastest lap 1:27.478
8. Mike Himmelsbach, Yamaha YZF-R6, -36.655, fastest lap 1:27.599
9. Heath Small, Yamaha YZF-R6, -52.036, fastest lap 1:28.845
10. Barrett Long, Yamaha YZF-R6, -53.014, fastest lap 1:28.550*
11. David McPherson, Yamaha YZF-R6
12. Rodolfo Ramirez
13. Brian Johnson, Yamaha YZF-R6, 17 laps
14. Javier Picon, Yamaha YZF-R6, 15 laps
15. Hector Jimenez, Kawasaki 636cc ZX-6R, 13 laps
16. Simon Turner, Yamaha YZF-R6, 4 laps, DNF

*Disqualified for running wrong competition number


There’s Plenty Of Blame To Go Around In World Cup Controversy, But One Fact Stands Out

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sorting out the truth from the BS is difficult when the subject is the controversy at last weekend’s GSX-R World Cup Final, simply due to the number of conflicting stories told by various participating or interested parties.

But one uncontested fact stands out: No racer participating in the 2004 GSX-R World Cup Final at Road Atlanta turned a wheel on the racetrack with suspension parts known to be illegal. The controversy over alleged fork and shock modifications took place prior to the start of GSX-R World Cup practice, and the suspect pieces were replaced before any of the GSX-R World Cup riders went on track.


Key, Rapp, Wood, Jensen, Lis Win CCS Races Saturday At Race Of Champions In Homestead

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Ed Key, Steve Rapp, Jeff Wood, Robert Jensen and Edward Lis won races and CCS National Championships Saturday at the Race of Champions at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.

Motorcycle Performance’s Key, 49, won two more winner-take-all run-offs, bringing his total for the weekend to five races and five CCS National Championships won. In the Lightweight Supersport race, pole-sitter Key held off Robert Fisher, who started from row six of the grid, to win by 0.8-second on his Pirelli-equipped Suzuki SV650. Riding his SV650 Superbike, Key later withstood another strong challenge, this one from Stephen Servis, to win in Lightweight Superbike.

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp rode Michelin’s newest DOT-labeled production race tires, the “Power Race,” to victory in the Heavyweight Superstock final, the tires’ debut event. Starting on row nine of the grid, Rapp passed Wood, Scott Harwell, Jensen, Geoff May and several others on his way to a 0.5-second margin of victory.

Wood won the twice-restarted Middleweight Supersport sprint by three seconds on his Dunlop-equipped Arclight Suzuki GSX-R600, beating Jensen, Harwell, Scott Greenwood and Michael Barnes.

Butler Machinery’s Jensen rode his Michelin-fitted Yamaha YZF-R6 to his first win of the weekend in the Yamaha-contingency-paying Middleweight Superbike contest, topping Barnes, Greenwood, Mike Himmelsbach and teen Tristan Schoenewald.

Riding a Dunlop-slick-shod Suzuki GSX-R750, East Coast Superbikes’ Edward Lis, 46, won his first-ever National Championship in the controversial Heavyweight Superbike final. Former track record holder Marco Martinez won the race on the track, but because he failed to acknowledge a black flag (brought about by his machine smoking), Martinez lost the win.