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Estok Wins F-USA Thunderbike, Harwell Wins F-USA Formula Sportbike At Daytona

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Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Thunderbike
1. Dave Estok (Buell)
2. Bryan Bemisderfer (Buell)
3. Joespeh Rozynski (Buell)
4. Kurt Miller (Buell)
5. Brian Parriott (BMW)
6. Michael Mills (Suzuki SV650)
7. Clint Brotz (Buell)
8. Darren Danilowicz (Suzuki SV650)
9. Paul James (Buell)
10. Jason Kosco (Buell)
11. David White (Suzuki SV650)
12. Tim Hall (Suzuki SV650)
13. Joey Thomas (Suzuki SV650)
14. Mark Hamilton (Suzuki SV650)
15. Walt Sipp (Buell)
16. Scott Korol (Buell)
17. Alan Cheese (Buell)
18. Jeremy Bentz (Suzuki SV650)
19. Randy Rega (Buell), -1 lap
20. Nate Kern (BMW, -1 lap, DNF, crash
21. Chris Carr (Buell), -1 lap
22. Derek Keyes (Suzuki SV650), -5 laps, DNF
23. Dan Bilansky (Buell), -6 laps, DNF
24. Sam Rozynski (Buell), -6 laps, DNF
25. Richie Morris (Buell), -7 laps, DNF


Formula Sportbike
(All Suzuki GSX-R750 unless indicated)
1. Scott Harwell
2. Joe Ribeiro
3. Marco Martinez
4. Kevin Gordon
5. John McGarity
6. Brian Hall
7. Dave Rosno (Yam YZF-R6)
8. David Tullier
9. Jay Quick
10. John Farrell
11. Michael Casey
12. Matt Malterer
13. Gary Berbaum (Duc 916)
14. Brian Stokes


Updated Post: Haga Beats Toseland, Martin In World Superbike Race Two At Valencia

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Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

World Superbike
Valencia, Spain
Race Two Results:

1. Noriyuki Haga, Ducati 999RS, 23 laps, 37:32.364
2. James Toseland, Ducati 999F04, -1.769 seconds
3. Steve Martin, Ducati 999RS, -10.021 seconds
4. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, -10.138 seconds
5. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR1000RR, -17.064 seconds
6. Garry McCoy, Ducati 999RS, -21.140 seconds
7. Chris Walker, Foggy Petronas FP1, -21.584 seconds
8. Marco Borciani, Ducati 999RS, -21.626 seconds
9. Leon Haslam, Ducati 999RS, -33.387 seconds
10. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-10R, -33.537 seconds
11. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas FP1, -36.556 seconds
12. Sergio Fuertes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -40.458 seconds
13. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, -43.819 seconds
14. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-10R, -46.515 seconds
15. Horst Saiger, Yamaha YZF-R1, -57.694 seconds
16. Piergiorgio Bontempi, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -63.975 seconds
17. Warwick Nowland, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -67.674 seconds
18. Alessio Velini, Yamaha YZF-R1, -69.952 seconds
19. Miguel Praia, Ducati 999RS, -1 lap
20. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati 998RS, -22 laps
21. Gianluca Nannelli, Ducati 998RS, -23 laps
22. Regis Laconi, Ducati 999F04, -23 laps

Fastest Lap of Race: Noriyuki Haga, 1:36.763


More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Walker builds on podium success for Foggy PETRONAS Racing

Chris Walker completed a great opening round of the 2004 World Superbike season for Foggy PETRONAS Racing by following up his third place finish in the opening race – the first podium position for the FP1 – with seventh place in the day’s second race at Valencia, Spain.

The results left PETRONAS, Malaysia’s oil and gas giant, in second place in the manufacturers’ standings behind Ducati, who achieved two wins with James Toseland and Noriyuki Haga.

And the performance of his new rider thrilled team owner Carl Fogarty, the four-times World Superbike champion.

Carl said: “It has been a brilliant weekend for us and I never dreamed that we would be celebrating a podium position here. Maybe it will make a few people sit up and take notice and we will soon know exactly what this bike is capable of, with developments to the engine expected within a few rounds.

“It has been especially good for Chris and we were not a million miles off the pace in the second race in dry conditions. We can’t argue with seventh place, and nearly having both riders in the top ten, at this stage of the development. Maybe Troy was a little too anxious to get to the front in the first race and it’s strange to be saying that so early in the season.”

The second race was less dramatic than the opening action, with the morning’s rain having disappeared. Pre-race favourite Regis Laconi failed to complete the opening lap for the second time in the day when he suffered engine failure and Chris managed to fight off a late challenge from the Kawasaki of Marco Borciani to clinch nine more points and finish the first round fourth in the rider standings.

Chris said: “I don’t think we could have done a better job this weekend and that’s a credit to Petronas, to Carl and to the whole team. To be on the podium in the first race was more than I could have hoped for. In the second race I got a good start, which I was desperate to do, and although I was not as high as I wanted to be I was still in the pack. It took a while to get my head down and then I concentrated on consistent laps. The bike ran really well and the Pirelli tyres worked well.”

It was a less pleasing story for team-mate Troy Corser, who crashed out of the first race while challenging for second place and finished the second race in 11th. The Australian said: “I was really pleased for Chris and the team in the first race but that was not an enjoyable day for me personally. I had overheating problems in the second race and the bike was losing power. So I had to try and make up time in the corners and ran wide on a couple of occasions.”

Second race result, WSBK round one, Valencia, Spain: 1 Haga (Renegade Ducati); 2 Toseland (Ducati Fila) +1.769; 3 Martin (DFX) +10.021; 4 Chili (PSG-1) +10.138; 5 Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda) +17.067; 6 McCoy (Xerox Ducati) +21.140; 7 Walker (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) +21.584; 8 Bporciani (DFX) +21.626; 9 Haslam (Renegade Ducati) +33.387; 10 Sanchini (Kawasaki Bertocchi) +33.537; 11 Corser (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) +36.556; 12 Fuertes (MIR Racing) +40.458; 13 Pedercini (Team Pedercini) +43.819; 14 Clementi (Kawasaki Bertocchi) +46.515; 15 Saiger (Life Haus RT) +57.694




More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

MIXED FORTUNES FOR DUCATI FILA IN WORLD SUPERBIKE OPENER AT VALENCIA

Valencia (Spain), 29 February 2004: The Ducati Fila riders had a couple of eventful races in the opening round of the World Superbike Championship at Valencia, with James Toseland picking up a win and a second place and polesitter Regis Laconi failing to score a single point.

23 year-old Toseland scored his second Superbike career win in race 1, which was held on a wet but drying track. “It was a strange race, first Haga came past me and I thought I was going down when Corser crashed next to me” declared James. “For the race I chose a wet front and an intermediate rear. To be honest I’d never raced in the wet with Pirellis before, so we went a bit on the safe side, but luckily they held out to the flag”.

Toseland then chased eventual winner Noriyuki Haga for the 23 laps of race 2 before settling for second place and the points lead in the championship. “I was struggling in qualifying and practice with the set-up for the dry, but Nori rode fantastically well and we went with what we knew. It’s been a nerve-racking weekend but I’m just glad to have come out on top and get two consistent finishes in the first round. I made a bit of an aggressive move on Haslam on the first lap and lost a bit of time and then I couldn’t do anymore. It’s all turned out well.”

Frenchman Laconi crashed out on the warm-up lap of race 1 but was able to get back to the pits in time to mount his second Ducati 999. His luck ran out however as he again went down on the greasy track, this time for good, after just a couple of corners. Laconi’s misfortune continued in the second race as he parked his 999 against the barriers after just a few corners when the bike chain derailed off the rear sprocket.

“I cannot say I feel bad because that’s racing, these things happen, but for sure I’m not happy because I made a mistake in the first race and this is not good” commented Laconi. “In the second race with this problem I had to stop. I didn’t do one lap today so I hope everything finishes here and things will be better from now on.”

RACE 1: 1. Toseland (Ducati Fila); 2. 2. Chili (PSG-1 Ducati); 3. Walker (Petronas); 4. Borciani (DFX Ducati); 5. Haslam (Renegade Ducati); 6. Nannelli (Ducati) ; etc. RACE 2 : 1. Haga (Renegade Ducati) ; 2. Toseland; 3. Martin (DFX Ducati); 4. Chili; 5. Vermeulen (Honda); 6. McCoy (NCR Ducati); etc.

POINTS (after 1 of 11 rounds): Riders – 1. Toseland 45; 2. Chili 33; 3. Haga 25; 4. Walker 25; 5. Borciani 21; 6. McCoy 19; etc. Manufacturers – 1. Ducati 50; 2. Petronas 25; 3. Honda 15; 4. Suzuki 12; 5. Yamaha 8; 6. Kawasaki 8.


EXTRAORDINARY DOUBLE DEBUT FOR LANZI (DUCATI BREIL) AND 749R IN SUPERSPORT

Valencia (Spain), 29 February 2004: Italian Lorenzo Lanzi and the Ducati 749R made a superb double debut in the World Supersport Championship today with fourth place in the opening round at Valencia.

2003 European Superstock runner-up Lanzi almost powered the twin-cylinder machine to a podium finish after terminating the first lap in a lowly sixteenth position.

But the 22-year-old from Cesena, Italy used the 749R’s superb straightline speed (263 km/h on the 850 metre straight, the quickest of the day) to overhaul all the riders in the group battling for fourth place to make the position secure five laps from the end.

“I’d like to thank the engineers, Ernesto Marinelli in particular, because they helped me to chose the right tyre for the race” declared an overjoyed Lanzi. “It was a pity about the start because I got a bit left behind when the clutch jumped out slightly and then in the first curve I got bottled in and finished the first lap down in sixteenth position.

“Getting close to the podium is a fantastic result. We always said that we were working for the race and not qualifying, so you can’t ask for more than that and I really enjoyed myself out there today.”

This season Ducati have returned to the World Supersport Championship with a factory team, sponsored by Breil, for the first time in three years, and with a brand new bike that had its first real shakedown tests just two weeks ago.

RACE: 1. Van der Goorbergh (Yamaha); 2. Foret (Yamaha); 3. Fujiwara (Suzuki); 4. Lanzi (Ducati Breil 749R); 5. Chambon (Suzuki); 6. Iannuzzo (Suzuki); 7. Daemen (Honda); 8. Muggeridge (Honda); etc.

POINTS (after 1 of 10 rounds): Riders – 1. Van der Goorbergh 25; 2. Foret 20; 3. Fujiwara 16; 4. Lanzi 13; 5. Chambon 11; 6. Iannuzzo 10; etc. Manufacturers – 1. Yamaha 25; 2. Suzuki 16; 3. Ducati 13; 4. Honda 9; 5. Kawasaki 6.


More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist:

ONE TO FORGET FOR TROY

The opening round of the 2004 Superbike World Championship is not one that Troy will remember with affection. A crash in race one plus a lowly twelfth in race two – thanks to his Petronas FP1 overheating – meant that Troy’s points tally after two races is just five! It’s not the way Troy would’ve liked to have opened his 2004 campaign but, as Troy himself said afterwards, “Sometimes, that’s the way it goes.”
There was some joy though for Troy’s team mate Chris Walker in the first race, which started with a damp track and a sprinkling of rain. In a race of attrition, which only saw fifteen finishers, Walker took a superb third place, to give team Petronas FP1 something to celebrate. James Toseland (Ducati) won the race comfortably, though Frankie Chili (Ducati) was catching him towards the end of the 23-lapper. Fortunately, for all concerned, race two took place in completely dry conditions. Troy was in the top nine at the end of the first lap, but his Petronas FP1’s engine began to overheat and then started losing power. Troy didn’t want to pull in, and kept going as best he could and ended up eleventh. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) led the race from start to finish and was never troubled on the way to victory. Toseland took runner-up spot, with Steve Martin (Ducati) third.

TROY

That’s the way it goes sometimes, I guess. Tyre choice was a bit of a lottery in the first race because of the dampness of the track, so we went for full wets – the same choice as most of the other riders. I thought that the track would dry out as the race progressed, so I tried to keep with the leaders. After two laps I was in second place and then out! I was chasing James (Toseland) and went a bit wide and off line and then slid on the side of the track. I ran out of space, so just lay the bike down in the gravel, but the slide happened so fast, I couldn’t do anything about it. Luckily I wasn’t injured, but I was a bit disappointed – to say the least! In the second race, the bike’s engine overheated, which means it loses power. It was the engine I had used in Superpole and in the first race and. Once it overheated, I knew that I would be struggling. I could’ve pulled in, but I decided to keep going and see how many points I could salvage. I guess today, my team mate got lucky and I did not.

RESULTS

Race 1:
1. Toseland (GB-Ducati), 2. Chili (I-Ducati), 3. Walker (GB-Petronas FP1), 4. Borciani (I-Ducati), 5. Haslam (GB-Ducati), 6. Nannelli (I-Ducati), TROY CORSER (AUS-PETRONAS FP1) DNF

Race 2:
1. Haga (J-Ducati), 2. Toseland, 3. Martin (AUS-Ducati), 4. Chili, 5. Vermeulen (AUS-Honda), 6. McCoy (AUS-Ducati), 11. TROY CORSER (AUS-PETRONAS FP1)

Points: 1. Toseland 45, 2. Chili 33, 3. Haga 25, 4. Walker 25, 5. Borciani 21,6. McCoy 19, 15. TROY CORSER 5


More, from a press release issued by Ten Kate Honda:

Vermeulen Goes 12th and 5th In Valencia Opener

Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR rider Chris Vermeulen secured a 12th place in the first 23 lap Superbike race, and a superb fifth in race two on what was a sometimes confusion and drama-filled first Superbike raceday of the year.

In race one, the damp weather hardened into real rainfall at mid-race distance but the event was not halted to allow those riders who had picked slick tyres to continue. Vermeulen, with a slick rear and wet front, struggled on the damp track, and experienced problems with the ignition system of his machine, later traced to the rider accidentally hitting he kill switch and resetting the engine computer settings.

He came into pitlane, stopped and restarted his machine, which cleared the problem, and carried on at high pace to finish 12th. In race two, which was held in fully dry conditions, Vermeulen got an atrocious start, but came back to finish a fine fifth place.

“I don’t know what happened in race one but I was out of the seat and over the screen a couple of times and then the bike started to give me a strange engine response, burbling and not revving properly,” said Chris. “I came into the pits, the bike restarted so I went back out. In the second race I got a terrible start, probably the worst ever, and that was a real nightmare. I really had to play catch up from then on but it worked out pretty well, as I got fifth place. Once I got there I didn’t want to push too much any more. I’m pretty pleased with that ride on my Superbike debut.”

Team Manager Ronald Ten Kate declared himself happy with the first race experience on the CBR1000RR. “Fifth place was a great finish for us, especially as Chris got such a bad start. He must have been in 20th place on the first lap! To make a fifth place was good for us and we are looking forward to the next race in Australia.”

The combination of Vermeulen’s points places him ninth in the championship, which is headed by James Toseland (Ducati) the winner of race one. Race two was taken by Ducati rider Noriyuki Haga.

The next round for the Ten Kate Honda Superbike squad is in Australia, at Phillip Island on 28 March.


WK Superbike
Race 1 – Valencia
27 – 29 Februari
Race Resultaten


Race 1
1. J. Toseland, GBR, Ducati 999 F04
2. P. Chili, ITA, Ducati 999 RS
3. C. Walker, GBR, Petronas FP1
4. M. Borciani, ITA, Ducati 999 RS
5. L. Haslam, GBR, Ducati 999 RS
6. G. Nannelli, ITA, Ducati 998 RS
7. G. Mccoy, AUS, Ducati 999 RS
8. S. Fuertes, ESP, Suzuki GSX 1000R
9. H. Saiger, AUT, Yamaha YZF R1
10. J. Mrkyvka, CZE, Ducati 998 RS


12. C. Vermeulen, AUS, Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR


Race 2
1. N. Haga, JPN, Ducati 999 RS
2. J, Toseland, GBR, Ducati 999 F04
3. S. Martin, AUS, Ducati 999 RS
4. P. Chili, ITA, Ducati 999 RS
5. C. Vermeulen, AUS Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR
6. G. Mccoy, AUS, Ducati 999 RS
7. C. Walker, GBR, Petronas FP1
8. M. Borciani, ITA, Ducati 999 RS
9. L. Haslam, GBR, Ducati 999 RS
10. M. Sanchini, ITA, Kawasaki ZX10


More, from a press release issued by Xerox Ducati Nortel Networks – Scuderia Caracchi:

TWICE IN THE POINTS McCOY AT VALENCIA

Garry McCoy makes a very successfully debut today in the first race of World Superbike on Valencia’s circuit “Ricardo Tormo”. After the two days of practices with cold, but sunny, the weather changed this morning again and a big dark cloudy covered Valencia’s circuit a few minutes before the start of race-1. The Race Direction haven’t show the board “Wet race”, so Garry preferred to use slick tyres, because he knows that, following the FIM Sporting Rules, when the grip become worst the Race Direction must stop the race. Even if that didn’t happen when it started raining, Garry hadn’t the possibility to change the tyres, and the other riders with rain or intermediate tyres got an advantage. When rain stopped and the track become dry, for McCoy was very hard to earn some position, then he finished seventh making the fastest lap of the race at the last one. The start of race-2 was better, Garry went of with Haga, Haslam and Toseland. Early his rear tyre started sliding and he wasn’t able to fight to the leader, so McCoy lost some position, ad he finished in the sixth place.

“I’m a bit disappointed for race-1” – Mc Coy says after the race – “I decided to start with slick tyre because I was sure that the race will be stopped if it’s raining, but the Race Direction didn’t it, and actually it was very difficult to drive in those conditions during four-five laps. When the rain stopped and the track dried, but it was too late to recover. In fact only in the last lap I could push as I like. On race-2 I started quite well, but the rear tyre started sliding and I’ve been forced to close the throttle. We didn’t understand if the cause has been the tyre or the setting, we must look at the data recording to see what could happen. Despite all I’m pretty satisfied. All other riders have been able to cover more test kilometers as us, but the gap is going to close. We clinched the sixth position in the championship, it’s a good debut.”

Miguel Praia reached the seventh heaven: at his racing debut in World Superbike arena, finishing both the legs and earning three points for the championship, despite his physical problems and the pains in the left foot.

“I’m very happy, to finish 13th in race-1 it has been fantastic, especially because with wet track and slick tyres it was very very difficult to stand” – said Miguel at the end of the day – “I had big pains in my foot, as pushing on the footrest as using the gear lever. Earning the three points today I’m the first Portuguese rider earning points for World Championship, that a great honour for me.”

Small, Pegram, Bemisderfer Win CCS Races Sunday Morning At Daytona

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Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Heath Small, Larry Pegram and Bryan Bemisderfer each won a CCS race Sunday morning at Daytona International Speedway.

HAS/Shogun Motorsports’ Small came from row five and led most of the Expert Middleweight Grand Prix, but was passed by Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Vincent Haskovec, coming from row nine on the the grid, in the late going. Small played his cards well on the last lap and drafted Haskovec to the line to take the win. First-year-Expert William Meyers, III finished third.

Harding Harley-Davidson/Buell’s Bryan Bemisderfer rode his XB9R Firebolt Superbike to narrowly defeat Honda RS250-mounted John France in the Expert Lightweight Grand Prix.

The best race of the morning was Expert Unlimited Grand Prix, which saw Hooter’s Suzuki’s John Haner and Eric Wood, Triangle Cycles Yamaha’s Larry Pegram, Millennium Suzuki’s Shawn Higbee and Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp racing to the line.

Wood, who was still suffering from injuries sustained in a crash on Friday, dropped out of the lead group, to fifth, on the last lap. Rapp, who started on row nine of the grid, turned the fastest lap of the race, a 1:50.706, to move into fourth on the last lap but couldn’t catch the lead draft.

Haner led Pegram and Higbee into the chicane on the final circuit. The three riders raced elbow-to-elbow through NASCAR Turn Four. Then in the last few hundred yards to the flag, Pegram’s 2004-model YZF-R1 inched forward to cross the line first. Higbee took second with Haner happy in third.

Haner, Higbee, Pegram and Wood started on the front row of the grid.

Pegram rode on Pirelli DOT-labeled tires; Higbee and Haner rode on 17-inch Dunlop slicks; Rapp used “grooved, non-DOT-labeled” Michelins; and Wood used 16.5-inch Dunlop slicks.


Updated Post: Rapp Wins F-USA Sportbike At Daytona

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Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Steve Rapp and his Valvoline EMGO Suzuki GSX-R600 held off Michael Barnes and his Prieto Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 to win the featured F-USA Sportbike race at Daytona International Speedway Sunday afternoon.

Temperatures rose dramatically today at the Speedway and racing was held on a dry track despite some threatening clouds late in the afternoon.

The race initially featured a four-bike breakway including Rapp, Barnes, Butler Machinery’s Robert Jensen and Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Chris Peris. Jensen crashed out to set up a three-bike battle in the closing laps. When Peris was held up by traffic, it came down to Rapp leading out of the chicane and Barnes drafting.

Barnes’ bike hit the rev limiter just as he was going by Rapp on the high side in the tri-oval and Rapp beat him across the line by about 12-18 inches.

“I needed more gearing,” said Barnes.

Peris finished third with Jeff Wood a lonely fourth on his Bettencourts’ Yamaha YZF-R6 and Scott Greenwood charging up from the back of the grid to finish fifth on his Argo Cycles Yamaha YZF-R6.

Rapp and Peris ran Michelin tires with Barnes on Pirelli tires and Wood and Greenwood on Dunlop tires.

Larry Pegram served a stop-and-go penalty for jumping the start and finished 15th.

Results follow:

1. Steve Rapp (Suz GSX-R600)
2. Michael Barnes (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Chris Peris (Suz GSX-R600)
4. Jeff Wood (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Scott Greenwood (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Mike Himmelsbach (Yam YZF-R6)
7. Shawn Conrad (Yam YZF-R6)
8. Jesse Janisch (Yam YZF-R6)
9. Des Conboy (Yam YZF-R6)
10. Danny Eslick (Suz GSX-R600)
11. Dave Rosno (Yam YZF-R6)
12. Nick Cummings (Hon CBR600RR)
13. John-o Bowman (Yam YZF-R6)
14. Hilton Hincks (Yam YZF-R6)
15. Larry Pegram (Yam YZF-R6)
16. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R600)
17. Ben Walters (Yam YZF-R6)
18. William Card (Hon CBR600RR)
19. Scott Ackerman (Kaw 636 ZX-6R)
20. Richard Britton (Suz GSX-R600)
21. William Meyers (Yam YZF-R6)
22. Nahun Alvarez (Hon CBR600RR)
23. Jason Smith (Yam YZF-R6)
24. Dave Ebben (Yam YZF-R6)
25. Hector Moreno (Hon CBR600RR)
26. Brian Stokes (Suz GSX-R600)
27. Kevin Mays (Yam YZF-R6)
28. Derek Keyes (Yam YZF-R6)
29. Justin Mark (Yam YZF-R6)
30. Greg Ludt (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap
31. Darrin Klemens (Kaw 636 ZX-6R), -1 lap
32. Chad Smith (Suz GSX-R600), -1 lap
33. Dafan Zhang (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap
34. Caesar Gonzales (Kaw ZX-6RR), -1 lap
35. Pat Barnes (Kaw ZX-6RR), -1 lap
36. Dwayne Lang (Kaw 636 ZX-6R), -1 lap
37. Kyle Tseng (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap
38. Daniel Convertino (Kaw ZX-6RR), -1 lap
39. William Stoltz (Suz GSX-R600), -1 lap
40. Dirk Sanchez (Kaw ZX-6RR), -1 lap
41. Dan Ortega (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap
42. Brian Baker (Suz GSX-R600), -1 lap
43. Barrett Long (Yam YZF-R6), -2 laps
44. Robert Jensen (Yam YZF-R6), -3 laps, DNF, crash
45. Bobby Hilliard (Yam YZF-R6), -5 laps, DNF
46. Jared Ross (Suz GSX-R600), -7 laps, DNF

More, from a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway’s Public Relations Department:

Valvoline EMGO Suzuki Shines At Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (Feb. 29, 2004) – Valvoline EMGO Suzuki riders turned in excellent rides Sunday in the Formula USA finals at historic Daytona International Speedway.

Team rider Steve Rapp of Perris, Calif., won the Sportbike final in the closest race of the day over Floridian Michael Barnes. His new teammate Chris Peris was third. Valvoline’s Vincent Haskovec took the win in the Formula USA Superbike final.

The Sportbike race turned into a typical Daytona last-lap draft-fest. Three riders were in the lead pack as they took the white flag. Peris got stuck behind a lapped rider going into Turn 6, but was able to get back into the draft made by Rapp and Barnes. Peris lost his chance at the victory when another lapper got between him and the leaders going into the chicane.

It was then a two-rider battle to the flag.

“On the last lap I just decided to get out front and go,” Rapp explained. “Sometimes if you’re not in front you can get stuck behind lappers, you never know. If you’re leading at least you can see what’s happening in front of you. I just went for it and it worked. I knew he (Barnes) was there. I’m glad I beat him. This is his home track so it feels good to beat Barney here.”

Barnes said he was in the perfect position to draft to the lead, but when he made his move his bike hit the rev limiter. “In hindsight we should have gone taller two teeth (on the sprocket).”

Haskovec, a native of the Czech Republic who resides in Lake Elsinore, Calif., won the red-flag shortened Formula USA Superbike race. He was thrilled to get a victory for his new team.

“It was like our first official big race and the first outing on the beautiful new Suzuki,” said an enthusiastic Haskovec.” I had some power on those guys. A lot of riders were right there and it was exciting, like it always is in a 600 race.”

All three Valvoline riders are expected to be leading contenders in the AMA Pro Honda Oils Supersport and Repsol Superstock races this week during the AMA portion of Daytona 200 Week.

David Estok, of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., won the Thunderbike final on a Harding Harley-Davidson Buell. He nipped teammate Bryan Bemisderfer at the line. North Carolinian Scott Harwell won the Formula Sportbike race.

Next up at Daytona International Speedway is the two-day schedule of American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) races on Monday, March 1 and Tuesday, March 2. Tickets for all motorcycle races at Daytona International Speedway are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Sunday’s Results

Expert Middleweight Grand Prix: 1. Heath Small, Houston, Texas, Yamaha 600; 2. Vincent Haskovec, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki 600; 3. William Meyers, Jacksonville, Fla., Yamaha 600.

Amateur Middleweight Grand Prix: 1. James Ptak, Huntley, Ill., Yamaha 600; 2. Ernie Dix, Lake Hiawatha, N.J., Yamaha 600; 3. Kenny Rodriguez, Summerville, S.C., Honda 600.

Am Speedscreen Unlimited GP: 1. Brian McCormack, Ireland, Suzuki 600; 2. Carl Cohen, Tamaracq, Fla., Suzuki 1000; 3. Kevin Shreve, West Grove, Pa., Suzuki 750.

Ex Speedscreen Unlimited GP: 1. Larry Pegram, Hebron, OH, Yamaha 600; 2. Shawn Higbee, Big Bend, Calif., Suzuki 1000; 3. John Haner, Pearland, Texas, Suzuki 1000.

Amateur Lightweight Grand Prix: 1. James Hillis, East Ridge, Tenn., Aprilia 250; 2. William Baragona, Raleigh, N.C., Suzuki 650; 3. Dave Ellis Maney, Orlando, Fla., Ducati 900.

Expert Lightweight Grand Prix: 1. Bryan Bemisderfer, Greencastle, Pa., Buell 998; 2. John France, West Melbourne, Fla., Honda 250; 3. Kurt Miller, Baton Rouge, La., Buell.

Formula USA Superbike: 1. Vincent Haskovec, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki 600; 2. Steve Rapp, Perris, Calif., Suzuki 600; 3. Robert Jensen, Chafee, N.D., Yamaha 600.

Formula USA Thunderbike: 1. Dave Estok, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Buell 1200; 2. Bryan Bemisderfer, Greencastle, Pa., Buell 1126; 3. Joseph Rozynski, Newton, N.J., Buell 1200.

Formula USA Sportbike: 1. Steve Rapp, Perris, Calif., Suzuki 600; 2. Michael Barnes, Boca Raton, Fla., Yamaha 600; 3. Chris Peris, Calgary, Alberta, Suzuki 600.

Formula USA Formula Sporbike: 1. Scott Harwell, Lincolnton, N.C., Suzuki 750; 2. Joe Ribeiro, Newark, N.J., Suzuki 750; 3. Marco Martinez, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Suzuki 750.

Barnes, Pegram, Stokes, Haner, Morris Earn Formula USA Pole Positions At Daytona

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Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Formula USA Qualifying Results:

Sportbike:

1. Michael Barnes, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.824
2. Larry Pegram, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.936
3. Chris Peris, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:55.473
4. Robert Jensen, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:56.042
5. Michael Himmelsbach, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:56.107
6. Jeff Wood, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:56.203
7. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:56.476
8. Shawn Conrad, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:57.329
9. Hilton Hinks, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:58.260
10. Des Conboy, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:58.260
11. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:58.519
12. Jesse Janisch, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:58.673
13. John-O Bowman, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:59.014
14. Richard Britton, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:59.101
15. Brian Stokes, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:59.176
16. Nick Cummings, Honda CBR600RR, 1:59.215
17. Danny Eslick, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:59.477
18. Dave Ebben, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:59.547
19. Willliam Card, Honda CBR600RR, 1:59.998
20. Jason Smith, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:00.132

40. Scott Greenwood, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:07.585, crash

Formula Sportbike:

1. Brian Stokes, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:56.487
2. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:56.730
3. Brian Hall, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:59.044
4. John McGarity, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:59.645
5. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:59.730
6. Kevin Gordan, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:00.179
7. Joe Ribeiro, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:00.873
8. David Tullier, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:00.968
9. Matt Malterer, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:01.976
10. Dave Rosno, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:02.242

Superbike:

1. Larry Pegram, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:55.876
2. Scott Greenwood, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:55.913
3. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:55.997
4. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:56.118
5. Jeff Wood, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:56.122
6. Robert Jensen, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:56.218
7. Michael Himmelsbach, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:56.811
8. Des Conboy, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:57.310
9. Shawn Conrad, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:57.755
10. Heath Small, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:57.813
11. William Card, Honda CBR600RR, 1:59.137
12. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:59.325
13. Jesse Janisch, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:59.472
14. Dave Rosno, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:59.481
15. Hilton Hinks, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:59.578
16. Nick Cummings, Honda CBR600RR, 1:59.776
17. Bobby Hilliard, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:00.679
18. Brian Baker, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:01.819
19. Kevin Mays, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:02.027
20. Rodolfo Raminez, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:03.354

Unlimited Grand Prix:

1. John Haner, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:52.952
2. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:53.085
3. Larry Pegram, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:53.194
4. Eric Wood, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:56.171
5. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:57.777
6. Brian Hall, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:58.331
7. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:58.423
8. Roger Bell, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:58.972
9. Joe Ribeiro, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:59.789
10. Rick Shaw, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:59.859

Thunderbike:

1. Richie Morris, Buell X1, 2:03.537
2. Dan Bilansky, Buell XB9R, 2:04.400
3. Dave Estok, Buell XB9R, 2:04.707
4. Derek Keyes, Suzuki SV650, 2:06.057
5. Joseph Rozynski, Buell X1, 2:06.481
6. Bryan Bemisderfer, Buell XB9R, 2:06.554
7. Brian Parriott, BMW R1100S, 2:07.661
8. Nate Kern, BMW R1100S, 2:07.685
9. Kurt Miller, Buell XB9R, 2:08.124
10. Randy Rega, Buell XB12R, 2:08.433
11. Darren Danilowicz, Suzuki SV650, 2:10.149
12. Michael Mills, Suzuki SV650, 2:10.386
13. David White, Suzuki SV650, 2:10.934
14. Joey Thomas, Suzuki SV650, 2:11.774
15. Mark Hamilton, Suzuki SV650, 2:11.800
16. Jason Kosco, Buell XB9R, 2:12.295
17. Sam Rozynski, Buell X1, 2:12.477
18. Clint Brotz, Buell, 2:12.538
19. Tim Hall, Suzuki SV650, 2:12.809
20. Paul James, Buell XB12R, 2:12.956

More, from a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway:

Despite Qualifying Spill, Greenwood Set To Open Formula USA Title Defense At Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (Feb. 28, 2004) – Despite an untimely spill during qualifying, Scott Greenwood looks to defend his 2003 Formula USA Sportbike Championship at Daytona International Speedway. The veteran racer from Dunbarton, N.H., is riding an Argo Cycles Yamaha R6. After a spill on the track during qualifying, Greenwood qualified 40th for Sunday’s Formula USA Sportbike Final.

Despite his fall, Greenwood is ready for a repeat run says “I’ll have to have a good start to make up as many positions on the first lap as possible.”

Greenwood has scratched out a career racing in Formula USA Series, motorcycle racing’s version of Triple-A baseball. He’s been on the cusp of getting a call to a factory-support ride for years, but so far the phone hasn’t rang.

His one victory in AMA Pro Racing came at the Loudon Supersport National in 2001. Factory riders boycotted the race that year at New Hampshire International Speedway due to wet conditions. And even though Greenwood is in the record books as an AMA Supersport winner, he never reaped the benefits that such an accomplishment would normally bring a privateer rider.

“I think that win might have hurt my career more than helped it,” admitted Greenwood. “The only two positives that came out of winning Loudon that year was the fact that I qualified sixth and ahead of a lot of the factory riders and the money I won.

“I think some of factories sort of held it against me that I raced, but I had spent several thousand dollars up to that point that weekend and I was in the hole financially. Later I had a few of the factory guys tell me privately that if they had been in the same position they would have done the same thing.”

At the time Greenwood still hoped that he could earn a factory ride, but now at 31, he’s racing simply for the enjoyment of it. And with the Formula USA Series he’s been able to make it payoff, albeit modestly.

Last year Greenwood won the Formula USA Sportbike race at Daytona by some 12 seconds. He doesn’t expect it to be that easy this year.

“I got a little bit of an early break in last year’s race,” he explained. “Then all the guys behind me were banging on each other and I was able to gap the field. This year it’s an even deeper field and my bikes seem to be down on horsepower to some of the others so it should be interesting.”

Next week Greenwood will compete in the AMA Supersport and Formula Xtreme races. He’s realistic about his chances. “A top-10 finish would be like winning.”

Sunday’s schedule of motorcycle races is dominated by Formula USA Finals. Tickets for all motorcycle races are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Saturday’s Results

Amateur Middleweight SuperSport: 1. Jason Lewis, Johnson City, Tenn., Honda 600; 2. Ernie Dix, Lake Hiawatha, N.J., Yamaha 600; 3. James Ptak, Huntley, Ill.

Expert Middleweight SuperSport: 1. Jeff Wood, Mansfield, Mass., Yamaha 600; 2. Robert Jensen, Chafee, N.D., Yamaha 600; 3. Scott Greenwood, Dunbarton, N.H., Yamaha 600.

Expert Lightweight SuperSport: 1. John Linder, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki 650; 2. Darren Danilowicz, Warrington, Penn., Suzuki 650; 3. Paul James, Waukesha, Wis., Buell 1200.

Amateur Lightweight SuperSport: 1. Guenther Weickert, Bonn, Germany, Suzuki 650; 2. Robert Taylor, Leesburg, Va., Suzuki 650; 3. Mike Arrington, Sheboygan, Wis., Buell 1169.

Amateur Heavyweight SuperSport: 1. Ernie Dix, Lake Hiawatha, N.J., Yamaha 600; 2. Hilton Geartner, Winter Park, Fla.; 3. Jose Moreau, Weston, Fla., Suzuki 750.

Expert Heavyweight SuperSport: 1. John McGarity, DeCatur, Ga., Suzuki 750; 2. Joe Ribeiro, Newark, N.J., Suzuki 750; 3. Scott Harwell, Lincolnton, N.C., Suzuki 750.

Expert Lightweight Superbike: 1. Derek Keyes, Jacksonville, Fla., Suzuki 650; 2. Randy Rega, Bridgewater, N.J., Buell 900; 3. Michael Mills, Weston, Fla., Suzuki 650.

Amateur Lightweight Superbike: 1. William Baragona, Raleigh, N.C., Suzuki 650; 2. Dave Ellis Maney, Orlando, Fla., Ducati 900; 3. Alan Cheese, Gettysburg, Penn., Buell 984.

Expert Middleweight Superbike: 1. Michael Barnes, Boca Raton, Fla., Yamaha 600; 2. Robert Jensen, Chafee, N.D., Yamaha 600; 3. Scott Greenwood, Dunbarton, N.H., Yamaha 600.

Amateur Middleweight Superbike: 1. Jason Lewis, Johnson City, Tenn., Honda 600; 2. James Ptak, Huntley, Ill., Yamaha 600; 3. Brian McCormack, Ireland, Suzuki 600.

Expert Heavyweight Superbike: 1. John McGarity, Decatur, Ga., Suzuki 750; 2. Scott Harwell, Lincolnton, N.C., Suzuki 750; 3. Marco Martinez, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 750 Suzuki.

Amateur Heavyweight Superbike: 1. Hilton Geartner, Winter Park, Fla., Suzuki 750; 2. Jose A. Moreau, Weston, Fla., Suzuki 750; 3. Carlos Vargas, Davie, Fla., Suzuki 750.

Expert SuperTwins: 1. Roberto Conception, Rey San Juan, PR; Ducati 748; 2. Eric L. Moucatel, Orlando, Fla., Ducati 748; 3. John Dierick, Miami, Fla., Ducati 996

Amateur SuperTwins: 1. Richard Downer, Berryville, Va., Ducati 996; 2. Dennis Espinosa, W. Milford, N.J., Honda 1000; 3. William Baragona, Raleigh, N.C., Suzuki 650.

Saturday Qualifying

SuperBikes: 1. Larry Pegram, Yamaha, (1:55.876); 2. Scott Greenwood, Yamaha, (1:55.913); 3. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, (1:55.997)

ThunderBikes: 1. Richie Morris, Buell, (2:03.537); 2. Daniel Bilansky, Buell, (2:04.400); 3. David Estok, Buell, (2:04.707)

SportBikes: 1. Michael Barnes, Yamaha, (1:54.824); 2. Larry Pegram, Yamaha, (1:54.936); 3. Chris Peris, Suzuki, (1:55.473)

Formula SportBikes: 1. Brian Stokes, Suzuki, (1:56.487); 2. Scott Harwell, Suzuki, (1:56.730); 3. Brian Hall, Suzuki, (1:59.044)

Expert Unlimited GP: 1. John Haner, Suzuki, (1:52.952); 2. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki, (1:53.085); 3. Larry Pegram, Yamaha, (1:53.194)

Parkes, Muggeridge Fastest Saturday Morning In World Supersport Practice In Valencia

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Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Saturday Morning World Supersport Practice Times:

1. Broc Parkes, Honda CBR600RR, 1:38.040
2. Karl Muggeridge, Honda CBR600RR, 1:38.239
3. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:38.916
4. Fabien Foret, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:38.967
5. Kevin Curtain, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:39.009
6. Alessio Corradi, Honda CBR600RR, 1:39.030
7. Sebastien Charpentier, Honda CBR600RR, 1:39.038
8. Jurgen Vd Goorbergh, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:39.178
9. Christian Kellner, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:39.299
10. Werner Daemen, Honda CBR600RR, 1:39.345
11. Lorenzo Lanzi, Ducati 749R, 1:39.627
12. Tobias Kirmeier, Honda CBR600RR, 1:40.063
13. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:40.084
14. Max Neukirchner, Honda CBR600RR, 1:40.284
15. Stefano Cruciani, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:40.294
16. Vittorio Iannuzzo, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:40.405
17. Victor Carrasco, Honda CBR600RR, 1:40.435
18. Craig Jones, Triumph Daytona 600, 1:40.470
19. Denis Sacchetti, Honda CBR600RR, 1:40.542
20. Sebastien Le Grelle, Honda CBR600RR, 1:40.641

26. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati 749R, 1:41.268

Suzuki Announces 2004 U.S. Contingency, World GSX-R Cup Program

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Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

An American Suzuki official announced details of the company’s 2004 road race contingency and World GSX-R Cup Finals program today during a riders’ meeting for CCS/Formula USA races at Daytona International Speedway.

According to Sports Promotion Senior On-road Specialist Morgan Broadhead, American Suzuki has expanded its contingency program, paying $2000 for each race win in four different classes at each of 61 designated events.

Classes with Suzuki contingency available will be 600cc/Middleweight Supersport, 750cc/Heavyweight Supersport, 1000cc/Open Supersport and Formula One/Unlimited Grand Prix.

New for 2004, American Suzuki will allow racers to “bump up” one class on their motorcycles, allowing, for instance, a GSX-R600 racer to race and collect contingency in a Middleweight and Heavyweight class. The new program will allow GSX-R600 and GSX-R1000 racers to potentially earn $4000 with two wins on one motorcycle and GSX-R750 racers to collect $6000 with three wins on one motorcycle.

“There’s more money on the table than ever before so come and get it,” Broadhead told the CCS/F-USA racers.

In addition, the 2004 Suzuki World GSX-R Cup finals, which pits Suzuki racers from 15 different countries against each other on identical GSX-R750s, will be held at Road Atlanta in October in conjunction with the American Suzuki Cup Finals and the WERA Grand National Finals (GNF).

In the past, American Suzuki appointed winners of special qualifying races as its three World Cup Final team members, but a new qualification program will be used in 2004. This season the top eligible rider in the Formula USA Formula Sportbike class standings after the Barber Motorsports Park round will earn a spot on the team, the top eligible Suzuki “privateer” in the AMA Superstock standings after the Road Atlanta round will earn a spot on the team, and the third team member will be earn their spot at a to-be-announced qualifying race.

Broadhead defined “privateer” as a rider who doesn’t have a contract with Suzuki.

As in the past, the top-finishing American in the Suzuki World Cup Finals will earn a Team Suzuki support ride in the following season (2005), which this year will include the use of a 2005 Suzuki and a parts allowance.

For more information, go to www.suzuki.com.



Saturday Afternoon World Superbike Practice Times From Valencia

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Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Saturday Afternoon World Superbike Practice Times:

1. Regis Laconi, Ducati 999F04, 1:36.157
2. James Toseland, Ducati 999F04, 1:36.997
3. Noriyuki Haga, Ducati 999RS, 1:37.113
4. Leon Haslam, Ducati 999RS, 1:37.210
5. Sergio Fuertes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:37.632
6. Marco Borciani, Ducati 999RS, 1:37.707
7. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:37.765
8. Chris Walker, Foggy Petronas FP1, 1:37.839
9. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas FP1, 1:37.893
10. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 999RS, 1:38.008
11. Steve Martin, Ducati 999RS, 1:38.023
12. Gianluca Nannelli, Ducati 998RS, 1:38.176
13. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, 1:38.185
14. Garry McCoy, Ducati 999RS, 1:38.203
15. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:38.494
16. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:38.524
17. Alessio Velini, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:38.974
18. Horst Saiger, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:39.029
19. Warwick Nowland, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:39.958
20. Piergiorgio Bontempi, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:40.423
21. Miguel Praia, Ducati 999RS, 1:41.277

McGarity, Barnes, Jeff Wood Win CCS Races Saturday At Daytona

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Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

John McGairty, Michael Barnes and Jeff Wood were the big winners Saturday during CCS sprint racing action at Daytona International Speedway.

McGarity was impressive, taking wins in Heavyweight Supersport and Heavyweight Superbike on his Michelin-equipped RRR Cycles Atlanta Suzuki GSX-R750.

In the Heavyweight Supersport race, McGarity pulled away late to beat Joe Riberio and Arclight Suzuki’s Scott Harwell by over two seconds. It was a bit closer in the Heavyweight Superbike final as McGarity had to draft Harwell and Marco Martinez from the chicane to the finish line to collect win number two.

Bettencourts’ Wood did McGarity one better, going from fourth to first with a triple draft on the final run to the checkered flag in the Middleweight Supersport sprint. Robert Jensen finished second, Argo Cycles’ Scott Greenwood got third, Larry Pegram was fourth and Shawn Conrad took fifth. The first non-Yamaha in the race was Harwell, who finished 13th on his 2004 Suzuki GSX-R600.

Barnes missed the Middleweight Supersport race after another rider knocked his brake lever off in a pre-race collision on the starting grid. Barnes made up for his misfortune, however, by winning the six-lap Middleweight Superbike race from row seven of the grid.

Barnes rode a Pirelli-shod Prieto Racing/GMD Computrack Yamaha YZF-R6 to the win. Butler Machinery’s Jensen finished second to Barnes and inches ahead of Greenwood, third. Jeff Wood took fourth well clear of Triangle Cycles Yamaha’s Larry Pegram.

Other race winners Saturday included: Jason Lewis in Amateur Middleweight Supersport and Amateur Middleweight Superbike, John Linder in Expert Lightweight Supersport, Ernie Dix in Amateur Heavyweight Supersport, Derek Keyes in Expert Lightweight Superbike, Robert Taylor in Amateur Lightweight Supersport, Hilton Geartner in Amateur Heavyweight Superbike, Roberto Concepcion in Expert SuperTwins and Richard Downer in Amateur SuperTwins.

Laconi Retains Provisional World Superbike Pole Heading Into Superpole In Spain

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Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Final World Superbike Qualifying Results:

1. Regis Laconi, Ducati 999F04, 1:36.323
2. James Toseland, Ducati 999F04, 1:36.489
3. Noriyuki Haga, Ducati 999RS, 1:36.759
4. Steve Martin, Ducati 999RS, 1:36.778
5. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:37.107
6. Garry McCoy, Ducati 999RS, 1:37.208
7. Marco Borciani, Ducati 999RS, 1:37.212
8. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas FP1, 1:37.254
9. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 999RS, 1:37.601
10. Leon Haslam, Ducati 999RS, 1:37.617
11. Chris Walker, Foggy Petronas FP1, 1:37.718
12. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, 1:37.778
13. Sergio Fuertes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:37.863
14. Gianluca Nannelli, Ducati 998RS, 1:37.897
15. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:38.117
16. Piergiorgio Bontempi, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:38.246
17. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:38.510
18. Warwick Nowland, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:39.057
19. Horst Saiger, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:39.307
20. Alessio Velini, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:39.399
21. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati 998RS, 1:41.302
22. Miguel Praia, Ducati 999RS, 1:42.074

Estok Wins F-USA Thunderbike, Harwell Wins F-USA Formula Sportbike At Daytona

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Thunderbike
1. Dave Estok (Buell)
2. Bryan Bemisderfer (Buell)
3. Joespeh Rozynski (Buell)
4. Kurt Miller (Buell)
5. Brian Parriott (BMW)
6. Michael Mills (Suzuki SV650)
7. Clint Brotz (Buell)
8. Darren Danilowicz (Suzuki SV650)
9. Paul James (Buell)
10. Jason Kosco (Buell)
11. David White (Suzuki SV650)
12. Tim Hall (Suzuki SV650)
13. Joey Thomas (Suzuki SV650)
14. Mark Hamilton (Suzuki SV650)
15. Walt Sipp (Buell)
16. Scott Korol (Buell)
17. Alan Cheese (Buell)
18. Jeremy Bentz (Suzuki SV650)
19. Randy Rega (Buell), -1 lap
20. Nate Kern (BMW, -1 lap, DNF, crash
21. Chris Carr (Buell), -1 lap
22. Derek Keyes (Suzuki SV650), -5 laps, DNF
23. Dan Bilansky (Buell), -6 laps, DNF
24. Sam Rozynski (Buell), -6 laps, DNF
25. Richie Morris (Buell), -7 laps, DNF


Formula Sportbike
(All Suzuki GSX-R750 unless indicated)
1. Scott Harwell
2. Joe Ribeiro
3. Marco Martinez
4. Kevin Gordon
5. John McGarity
6. Brian Hall
7. Dave Rosno (Yam YZF-R6)
8. David Tullier
9. Jay Quick
10. John Farrell
11. Michael Casey
12. Matt Malterer
13. Gary Berbaum (Duc 916)
14. Brian Stokes


Updated Post: Haga Beats Toseland, Martin In World Superbike Race Two At Valencia

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

World Superbike
Valencia, Spain
Race Two Results:

1. Noriyuki Haga, Ducati 999RS, 23 laps, 37:32.364
2. James Toseland, Ducati 999F04, -1.769 seconds
3. Steve Martin, Ducati 999RS, -10.021 seconds
4. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, -10.138 seconds
5. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR1000RR, -17.064 seconds
6. Garry McCoy, Ducati 999RS, -21.140 seconds
7. Chris Walker, Foggy Petronas FP1, -21.584 seconds
8. Marco Borciani, Ducati 999RS, -21.626 seconds
9. Leon Haslam, Ducati 999RS, -33.387 seconds
10. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-10R, -33.537 seconds
11. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas FP1, -36.556 seconds
12. Sergio Fuertes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -40.458 seconds
13. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, -43.819 seconds
14. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-10R, -46.515 seconds
15. Horst Saiger, Yamaha YZF-R1, -57.694 seconds
16. Piergiorgio Bontempi, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -63.975 seconds
17. Warwick Nowland, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -67.674 seconds
18. Alessio Velini, Yamaha YZF-R1, -69.952 seconds
19. Miguel Praia, Ducati 999RS, -1 lap
20. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati 998RS, -22 laps
21. Gianluca Nannelli, Ducati 998RS, -23 laps
22. Regis Laconi, Ducati 999F04, -23 laps

Fastest Lap of Race: Noriyuki Haga, 1:36.763


More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Walker builds on podium success for Foggy PETRONAS Racing

Chris Walker completed a great opening round of the 2004 World Superbike season for Foggy PETRONAS Racing by following up his third place finish in the opening race – the first podium position for the FP1 – with seventh place in the day’s second race at Valencia, Spain.

The results left PETRONAS, Malaysia’s oil and gas giant, in second place in the manufacturers’ standings behind Ducati, who achieved two wins with James Toseland and Noriyuki Haga.

And the performance of his new rider thrilled team owner Carl Fogarty, the four-times World Superbike champion.

Carl said: “It has been a brilliant weekend for us and I never dreamed that we would be celebrating a podium position here. Maybe it will make a few people sit up and take notice and we will soon know exactly what this bike is capable of, with developments to the engine expected within a few rounds.

“It has been especially good for Chris and we were not a million miles off the pace in the second race in dry conditions. We can’t argue with seventh place, and nearly having both riders in the top ten, at this stage of the development. Maybe Troy was a little too anxious to get to the front in the first race and it’s strange to be saying that so early in the season.”

The second race was less dramatic than the opening action, with the morning’s rain having disappeared. Pre-race favourite Regis Laconi failed to complete the opening lap for the second time in the day when he suffered engine failure and Chris managed to fight off a late challenge from the Kawasaki of Marco Borciani to clinch nine more points and finish the first round fourth in the rider standings.

Chris said: “I don’t think we could have done a better job this weekend and that’s a credit to Petronas, to Carl and to the whole team. To be on the podium in the first race was more than I could have hoped for. In the second race I got a good start, which I was desperate to do, and although I was not as high as I wanted to be I was still in the pack. It took a while to get my head down and then I concentrated on consistent laps. The bike ran really well and the Pirelli tyres worked well.”

It was a less pleasing story for team-mate Troy Corser, who crashed out of the first race while challenging for second place and finished the second race in 11th. The Australian said: “I was really pleased for Chris and the team in the first race but that was not an enjoyable day for me personally. I had overheating problems in the second race and the bike was losing power. So I had to try and make up time in the corners and ran wide on a couple of occasions.”

Second race result, WSBK round one, Valencia, Spain: 1 Haga (Renegade Ducati); 2 Toseland (Ducati Fila) +1.769; 3 Martin (DFX) +10.021; 4 Chili (PSG-1) +10.138; 5 Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda) +17.067; 6 McCoy (Xerox Ducati) +21.140; 7 Walker (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) +21.584; 8 Bporciani (DFX) +21.626; 9 Haslam (Renegade Ducati) +33.387; 10 Sanchini (Kawasaki Bertocchi) +33.537; 11 Corser (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) +36.556; 12 Fuertes (MIR Racing) +40.458; 13 Pedercini (Team Pedercini) +43.819; 14 Clementi (Kawasaki Bertocchi) +46.515; 15 Saiger (Life Haus RT) +57.694




More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

MIXED FORTUNES FOR DUCATI FILA IN WORLD SUPERBIKE OPENER AT VALENCIA

Valencia (Spain), 29 February 2004: The Ducati Fila riders had a couple of eventful races in the opening round of the World Superbike Championship at Valencia, with James Toseland picking up a win and a second place and polesitter Regis Laconi failing to score a single point.

23 year-old Toseland scored his second Superbike career win in race 1, which was held on a wet but drying track. “It was a strange race, first Haga came past me and I thought I was going down when Corser crashed next to me” declared James. “For the race I chose a wet front and an intermediate rear. To be honest I’d never raced in the wet with Pirellis before, so we went a bit on the safe side, but luckily they held out to the flag”.

Toseland then chased eventual winner Noriyuki Haga for the 23 laps of race 2 before settling for second place and the points lead in the championship. “I was struggling in qualifying and practice with the set-up for the dry, but Nori rode fantastically well and we went with what we knew. It’s been a nerve-racking weekend but I’m just glad to have come out on top and get two consistent finishes in the first round. I made a bit of an aggressive move on Haslam on the first lap and lost a bit of time and then I couldn’t do anymore. It’s all turned out well.”

Frenchman Laconi crashed out on the warm-up lap of race 1 but was able to get back to the pits in time to mount his second Ducati 999. His luck ran out however as he again went down on the greasy track, this time for good, after just a couple of corners. Laconi’s misfortune continued in the second race as he parked his 999 against the barriers after just a few corners when the bike chain derailed off the rear sprocket.

“I cannot say I feel bad because that’s racing, these things happen, but for sure I’m not happy because I made a mistake in the first race and this is not good” commented Laconi. “In the second race with this problem I had to stop. I didn’t do one lap today so I hope everything finishes here and things will be better from now on.”

RACE 1: 1. Toseland (Ducati Fila); 2. 2. Chili (PSG-1 Ducati); 3. Walker (Petronas); 4. Borciani (DFX Ducati); 5. Haslam (Renegade Ducati); 6. Nannelli (Ducati) ; etc. RACE 2 : 1. Haga (Renegade Ducati) ; 2. Toseland; 3. Martin (DFX Ducati); 4. Chili; 5. Vermeulen (Honda); 6. McCoy (NCR Ducati); etc.

POINTS (after 1 of 11 rounds): Riders – 1. Toseland 45; 2. Chili 33; 3. Haga 25; 4. Walker 25; 5. Borciani 21; 6. McCoy 19; etc. Manufacturers – 1. Ducati 50; 2. Petronas 25; 3. Honda 15; 4. Suzuki 12; 5. Yamaha 8; 6. Kawasaki 8.


EXTRAORDINARY DOUBLE DEBUT FOR LANZI (DUCATI BREIL) AND 749R IN SUPERSPORT

Valencia (Spain), 29 February 2004: Italian Lorenzo Lanzi and the Ducati 749R made a superb double debut in the World Supersport Championship today with fourth place in the opening round at Valencia.

2003 European Superstock runner-up Lanzi almost powered the twin-cylinder machine to a podium finish after terminating the first lap in a lowly sixteenth position.

But the 22-year-old from Cesena, Italy used the 749R’s superb straightline speed (263 km/h on the 850 metre straight, the quickest of the day) to overhaul all the riders in the group battling for fourth place to make the position secure five laps from the end.

“I’d like to thank the engineers, Ernesto Marinelli in particular, because they helped me to chose the right tyre for the race” declared an overjoyed Lanzi. “It was a pity about the start because I got a bit left behind when the clutch jumped out slightly and then in the first curve I got bottled in and finished the first lap down in sixteenth position.

“Getting close to the podium is a fantastic result. We always said that we were working for the race and not qualifying, so you can’t ask for more than that and I really enjoyed myself out there today.”

This season Ducati have returned to the World Supersport Championship with a factory team, sponsored by Breil, for the first time in three years, and with a brand new bike that had its first real shakedown tests just two weeks ago.

RACE: 1. Van der Goorbergh (Yamaha); 2. Foret (Yamaha); 3. Fujiwara (Suzuki); 4. Lanzi (Ducati Breil 749R); 5. Chambon (Suzuki); 6. Iannuzzo (Suzuki); 7. Daemen (Honda); 8. Muggeridge (Honda); etc.

POINTS (after 1 of 10 rounds): Riders – 1. Van der Goorbergh 25; 2. Foret 20; 3. Fujiwara 16; 4. Lanzi 13; 5. Chambon 11; 6. Iannuzzo 10; etc. Manufacturers – 1. Yamaha 25; 2. Suzuki 16; 3. Ducati 13; 4. Honda 9; 5. Kawasaki 6.


More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist:

ONE TO FORGET FOR TROY

The opening round of the 2004 Superbike World Championship is not one that Troy will remember with affection. A crash in race one plus a lowly twelfth in race two – thanks to his Petronas FP1 overheating – meant that Troy’s points tally after two races is just five! It’s not the way Troy would’ve liked to have opened his 2004 campaign but, as Troy himself said afterwards, “Sometimes, that’s the way it goes.”
There was some joy though for Troy’s team mate Chris Walker in the first race, which started with a damp track and a sprinkling of rain. In a race of attrition, which only saw fifteen finishers, Walker took a superb third place, to give team Petronas FP1 something to celebrate. James Toseland (Ducati) won the race comfortably, though Frankie Chili (Ducati) was catching him towards the end of the 23-lapper. Fortunately, for all concerned, race two took place in completely dry conditions. Troy was in the top nine at the end of the first lap, but his Petronas FP1’s engine began to overheat and then started losing power. Troy didn’t want to pull in, and kept going as best he could and ended up eleventh. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) led the race from start to finish and was never troubled on the way to victory. Toseland took runner-up spot, with Steve Martin (Ducati) third.

TROY

That’s the way it goes sometimes, I guess. Tyre choice was a bit of a lottery in the first race because of the dampness of the track, so we went for full wets – the same choice as most of the other riders. I thought that the track would dry out as the race progressed, so I tried to keep with the leaders. After two laps I was in second place and then out! I was chasing James (Toseland) and went a bit wide and off line and then slid on the side of the track. I ran out of space, so just lay the bike down in the gravel, but the slide happened so fast, I couldn’t do anything about it. Luckily I wasn’t injured, but I was a bit disappointed – to say the least! In the second race, the bike’s engine overheated, which means it loses power. It was the engine I had used in Superpole and in the first race and. Once it overheated, I knew that I would be struggling. I could’ve pulled in, but I decided to keep going and see how many points I could salvage. I guess today, my team mate got lucky and I did not.

RESULTS

Race 1:
1. Toseland (GB-Ducati), 2. Chili (I-Ducati), 3. Walker (GB-Petronas FP1), 4. Borciani (I-Ducati), 5. Haslam (GB-Ducati), 6. Nannelli (I-Ducati), TROY CORSER (AUS-PETRONAS FP1) DNF

Race 2:
1. Haga (J-Ducati), 2. Toseland, 3. Martin (AUS-Ducati), 4. Chili, 5. Vermeulen (AUS-Honda), 6. McCoy (AUS-Ducati), 11. TROY CORSER (AUS-PETRONAS FP1)

Points: 1. Toseland 45, 2. Chili 33, 3. Haga 25, 4. Walker 25, 5. Borciani 21,6. McCoy 19, 15. TROY CORSER 5


More, from a press release issued by Ten Kate Honda:

Vermeulen Goes 12th and 5th In Valencia Opener

Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR rider Chris Vermeulen secured a 12th place in the first 23 lap Superbike race, and a superb fifth in race two on what was a sometimes confusion and drama-filled first Superbike raceday of the year.

In race one, the damp weather hardened into real rainfall at mid-race distance but the event was not halted to allow those riders who had picked slick tyres to continue. Vermeulen, with a slick rear and wet front, struggled on the damp track, and experienced problems with the ignition system of his machine, later traced to the rider accidentally hitting he kill switch and resetting the engine computer settings.

He came into pitlane, stopped and restarted his machine, which cleared the problem, and carried on at high pace to finish 12th. In race two, which was held in fully dry conditions, Vermeulen got an atrocious start, but came back to finish a fine fifth place.

“I don’t know what happened in race one but I was out of the seat and over the screen a couple of times and then the bike started to give me a strange engine response, burbling and not revving properly,” said Chris. “I came into the pits, the bike restarted so I went back out. In the second race I got a terrible start, probably the worst ever, and that was a real nightmare. I really had to play catch up from then on but it worked out pretty well, as I got fifth place. Once I got there I didn’t want to push too much any more. I’m pretty pleased with that ride on my Superbike debut.”

Team Manager Ronald Ten Kate declared himself happy with the first race experience on the CBR1000RR. “Fifth place was a great finish for us, especially as Chris got such a bad start. He must have been in 20th place on the first lap! To make a fifth place was good for us and we are looking forward to the next race in Australia.”

The combination of Vermeulen’s points places him ninth in the championship, which is headed by James Toseland (Ducati) the winner of race one. Race two was taken by Ducati rider Noriyuki Haga.

The next round for the Ten Kate Honda Superbike squad is in Australia, at Phillip Island on 28 March.


WK Superbike
Race 1 – Valencia
27 – 29 Februari
Race Resultaten


Race 1
1. J. Toseland, GBR, Ducati 999 F04
2. P. Chili, ITA, Ducati 999 RS
3. C. Walker, GBR, Petronas FP1
4. M. Borciani, ITA, Ducati 999 RS
5. L. Haslam, GBR, Ducati 999 RS
6. G. Nannelli, ITA, Ducati 998 RS
7. G. Mccoy, AUS, Ducati 999 RS
8. S. Fuertes, ESP, Suzuki GSX 1000R
9. H. Saiger, AUT, Yamaha YZF R1
10. J. Mrkyvka, CZE, Ducati 998 RS


12. C. Vermeulen, AUS, Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR


Race 2
1. N. Haga, JPN, Ducati 999 RS
2. J, Toseland, GBR, Ducati 999 F04
3. S. Martin, AUS, Ducati 999 RS
4. P. Chili, ITA, Ducati 999 RS
5. C. Vermeulen, AUS Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR
6. G. Mccoy, AUS, Ducati 999 RS
7. C. Walker, GBR, Petronas FP1
8. M. Borciani, ITA, Ducati 999 RS
9. L. Haslam, GBR, Ducati 999 RS
10. M. Sanchini, ITA, Kawasaki ZX10


More, from a press release issued by Xerox Ducati Nortel Networks – Scuderia Caracchi:

TWICE IN THE POINTS McCOY AT VALENCIA

Garry McCoy makes a very successfully debut today in the first race of World Superbike on Valencia’s circuit “Ricardo Tormo”. After the two days of practices with cold, but sunny, the weather changed this morning again and a big dark cloudy covered Valencia’s circuit a few minutes before the start of race-1. The Race Direction haven’t show the board “Wet race”, so Garry preferred to use slick tyres, because he knows that, following the FIM Sporting Rules, when the grip become worst the Race Direction must stop the race. Even if that didn’t happen when it started raining, Garry hadn’t the possibility to change the tyres, and the other riders with rain or intermediate tyres got an advantage. When rain stopped and the track become dry, for McCoy was very hard to earn some position, then he finished seventh making the fastest lap of the race at the last one. The start of race-2 was better, Garry went of with Haga, Haslam and Toseland. Early his rear tyre started sliding and he wasn’t able to fight to the leader, so McCoy lost some position, ad he finished in the sixth place.

“I’m a bit disappointed for race-1” – Mc Coy says after the race – “I decided to start with slick tyre because I was sure that the race will be stopped if it’s raining, but the Race Direction didn’t it, and actually it was very difficult to drive in those conditions during four-five laps. When the rain stopped and the track dried, but it was too late to recover. In fact only in the last lap I could push as I like. On race-2 I started quite well, but the rear tyre started sliding and I’ve been forced to close the throttle. We didn’t understand if the cause has been the tyre or the setting, we must look at the data recording to see what could happen. Despite all I’m pretty satisfied. All other riders have been able to cover more test kilometers as us, but the gap is going to close. We clinched the sixth position in the championship, it’s a good debut.”

Miguel Praia reached the seventh heaven: at his racing debut in World Superbike arena, finishing both the legs and earning three points for the championship, despite his physical problems and the pains in the left foot.

“I’m very happy, to finish 13th in race-1 it has been fantastic, especially because with wet track and slick tyres it was very very difficult to stand” – said Miguel at the end of the day – “I had big pains in my foot, as pushing on the footrest as using the gear lever. Earning the three points today I’m the first Portuguese rider earning points for World Championship, that a great honour for me.”

Small, Pegram, Bemisderfer Win CCS Races Sunday Morning At Daytona

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Heath Small, Larry Pegram and Bryan Bemisderfer each won a CCS race Sunday morning at Daytona International Speedway.

HAS/Shogun Motorsports’ Small came from row five and led most of the Expert Middleweight Grand Prix, but was passed by Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Vincent Haskovec, coming from row nine on the the grid, in the late going. Small played his cards well on the last lap and drafted Haskovec to the line to take the win. First-year-Expert William Meyers, III finished third.

Harding Harley-Davidson/Buell’s Bryan Bemisderfer rode his XB9R Firebolt Superbike to narrowly defeat Honda RS250-mounted John France in the Expert Lightweight Grand Prix.

The best race of the morning was Expert Unlimited Grand Prix, which saw Hooter’s Suzuki’s John Haner and Eric Wood, Triangle Cycles Yamaha’s Larry Pegram, Millennium Suzuki’s Shawn Higbee and Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp racing to the line.

Wood, who was still suffering from injuries sustained in a crash on Friday, dropped out of the lead group, to fifth, on the last lap. Rapp, who started on row nine of the grid, turned the fastest lap of the race, a 1:50.706, to move into fourth on the last lap but couldn’t catch the lead draft.

Haner led Pegram and Higbee into the chicane on the final circuit. The three riders raced elbow-to-elbow through NASCAR Turn Four. Then in the last few hundred yards to the flag, Pegram’s 2004-model YZF-R1 inched forward to cross the line first. Higbee took second with Haner happy in third.

Haner, Higbee, Pegram and Wood started on the front row of the grid.

Pegram rode on Pirelli DOT-labeled tires; Higbee and Haner rode on 17-inch Dunlop slicks; Rapp used “grooved, non-DOT-labeled” Michelins; and Wood used 16.5-inch Dunlop slicks.


Updated Post: Rapp Wins F-USA Sportbike At Daytona

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Steve Rapp and his Valvoline EMGO Suzuki GSX-R600 held off Michael Barnes and his Prieto Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 to win the featured F-USA Sportbike race at Daytona International Speedway Sunday afternoon.

Temperatures rose dramatically today at the Speedway and racing was held on a dry track despite some threatening clouds late in the afternoon.

The race initially featured a four-bike breakway including Rapp, Barnes, Butler Machinery’s Robert Jensen and Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Chris Peris. Jensen crashed out to set up a three-bike battle in the closing laps. When Peris was held up by traffic, it came down to Rapp leading out of the chicane and Barnes drafting.

Barnes’ bike hit the rev limiter just as he was going by Rapp on the high side in the tri-oval and Rapp beat him across the line by about 12-18 inches.

“I needed more gearing,” said Barnes.

Peris finished third with Jeff Wood a lonely fourth on his Bettencourts’ Yamaha YZF-R6 and Scott Greenwood charging up from the back of the grid to finish fifth on his Argo Cycles Yamaha YZF-R6.

Rapp and Peris ran Michelin tires with Barnes on Pirelli tires and Wood and Greenwood on Dunlop tires.

Larry Pegram served a stop-and-go penalty for jumping the start and finished 15th.

Results follow:

1. Steve Rapp (Suz GSX-R600)
2. Michael Barnes (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Chris Peris (Suz GSX-R600)
4. Jeff Wood (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Scott Greenwood (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Mike Himmelsbach (Yam YZF-R6)
7. Shawn Conrad (Yam YZF-R6)
8. Jesse Janisch (Yam YZF-R6)
9. Des Conboy (Yam YZF-R6)
10. Danny Eslick (Suz GSX-R600)
11. Dave Rosno (Yam YZF-R6)
12. Nick Cummings (Hon CBR600RR)
13. John-o Bowman (Yam YZF-R6)
14. Hilton Hincks (Yam YZF-R6)
15. Larry Pegram (Yam YZF-R6)
16. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R600)
17. Ben Walters (Yam YZF-R6)
18. William Card (Hon CBR600RR)
19. Scott Ackerman (Kaw 636 ZX-6R)
20. Richard Britton (Suz GSX-R600)
21. William Meyers (Yam YZF-R6)
22. Nahun Alvarez (Hon CBR600RR)
23. Jason Smith (Yam YZF-R6)
24. Dave Ebben (Yam YZF-R6)
25. Hector Moreno (Hon CBR600RR)
26. Brian Stokes (Suz GSX-R600)
27. Kevin Mays (Yam YZF-R6)
28. Derek Keyes (Yam YZF-R6)
29. Justin Mark (Yam YZF-R6)
30. Greg Ludt (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap
31. Darrin Klemens (Kaw 636 ZX-6R), -1 lap
32. Chad Smith (Suz GSX-R600), -1 lap
33. Dafan Zhang (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap
34. Caesar Gonzales (Kaw ZX-6RR), -1 lap
35. Pat Barnes (Kaw ZX-6RR), -1 lap
36. Dwayne Lang (Kaw 636 ZX-6R), -1 lap
37. Kyle Tseng (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap
38. Daniel Convertino (Kaw ZX-6RR), -1 lap
39. William Stoltz (Suz GSX-R600), -1 lap
40. Dirk Sanchez (Kaw ZX-6RR), -1 lap
41. Dan Ortega (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap
42. Brian Baker (Suz GSX-R600), -1 lap
43. Barrett Long (Yam YZF-R6), -2 laps
44. Robert Jensen (Yam YZF-R6), -3 laps, DNF, crash
45. Bobby Hilliard (Yam YZF-R6), -5 laps, DNF
46. Jared Ross (Suz GSX-R600), -7 laps, DNF

More, from a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway’s Public Relations Department:

Valvoline EMGO Suzuki Shines At Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (Feb. 29, 2004) – Valvoline EMGO Suzuki riders turned in excellent rides Sunday in the Formula USA finals at historic Daytona International Speedway.

Team rider Steve Rapp of Perris, Calif., won the Sportbike final in the closest race of the day over Floridian Michael Barnes. His new teammate Chris Peris was third. Valvoline’s Vincent Haskovec took the win in the Formula USA Superbike final.

The Sportbike race turned into a typical Daytona last-lap draft-fest. Three riders were in the lead pack as they took the white flag. Peris got stuck behind a lapped rider going into Turn 6, but was able to get back into the draft made by Rapp and Barnes. Peris lost his chance at the victory when another lapper got between him and the leaders going into the chicane.

It was then a two-rider battle to the flag.

“On the last lap I just decided to get out front and go,” Rapp explained. “Sometimes if you’re not in front you can get stuck behind lappers, you never know. If you’re leading at least you can see what’s happening in front of you. I just went for it and it worked. I knew he (Barnes) was there. I’m glad I beat him. This is his home track so it feels good to beat Barney here.”

Barnes said he was in the perfect position to draft to the lead, but when he made his move his bike hit the rev limiter. “In hindsight we should have gone taller two teeth (on the sprocket).”

Haskovec, a native of the Czech Republic who resides in Lake Elsinore, Calif., won the red-flag shortened Formula USA Superbike race. He was thrilled to get a victory for his new team.

“It was like our first official big race and the first outing on the beautiful new Suzuki,” said an enthusiastic Haskovec.” I had some power on those guys. A lot of riders were right there and it was exciting, like it always is in a 600 race.”

All three Valvoline riders are expected to be leading contenders in the AMA Pro Honda Oils Supersport and Repsol Superstock races this week during the AMA portion of Daytona 200 Week.

David Estok, of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., won the Thunderbike final on a Harding Harley-Davidson Buell. He nipped teammate Bryan Bemisderfer at the line. North Carolinian Scott Harwell won the Formula Sportbike race.

Next up at Daytona International Speedway is the two-day schedule of American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) races on Monday, March 1 and Tuesday, March 2. Tickets for all motorcycle races at Daytona International Speedway are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Sunday’s Results

Expert Middleweight Grand Prix: 1. Heath Small, Houston, Texas, Yamaha 600; 2. Vincent Haskovec, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki 600; 3. William Meyers, Jacksonville, Fla., Yamaha 600.

Amateur Middleweight Grand Prix: 1. James Ptak, Huntley, Ill., Yamaha 600; 2. Ernie Dix, Lake Hiawatha, N.J., Yamaha 600; 3. Kenny Rodriguez, Summerville, S.C., Honda 600.

Am Speedscreen Unlimited GP: 1. Brian McCormack, Ireland, Suzuki 600; 2. Carl Cohen, Tamaracq, Fla., Suzuki 1000; 3. Kevin Shreve, West Grove, Pa., Suzuki 750.

Ex Speedscreen Unlimited GP: 1. Larry Pegram, Hebron, OH, Yamaha 600; 2. Shawn Higbee, Big Bend, Calif., Suzuki 1000; 3. John Haner, Pearland, Texas, Suzuki 1000.

Amateur Lightweight Grand Prix: 1. James Hillis, East Ridge, Tenn., Aprilia 250; 2. William Baragona, Raleigh, N.C., Suzuki 650; 3. Dave Ellis Maney, Orlando, Fla., Ducati 900.

Expert Lightweight Grand Prix: 1. Bryan Bemisderfer, Greencastle, Pa., Buell 998; 2. John France, West Melbourne, Fla., Honda 250; 3. Kurt Miller, Baton Rouge, La., Buell.

Formula USA Superbike: 1. Vincent Haskovec, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki 600; 2. Steve Rapp, Perris, Calif., Suzuki 600; 3. Robert Jensen, Chafee, N.D., Yamaha 600.

Formula USA Thunderbike: 1. Dave Estok, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Buell 1200; 2. Bryan Bemisderfer, Greencastle, Pa., Buell 1126; 3. Joseph Rozynski, Newton, N.J., Buell 1200.

Formula USA Sportbike: 1. Steve Rapp, Perris, Calif., Suzuki 600; 2. Michael Barnes, Boca Raton, Fla., Yamaha 600; 3. Chris Peris, Calgary, Alberta, Suzuki 600.

Formula USA Formula Sporbike: 1. Scott Harwell, Lincolnton, N.C., Suzuki 750; 2. Joe Ribeiro, Newark, N.J., Suzuki 750; 3. Marco Martinez, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Suzuki 750.

Barnes, Pegram, Stokes, Haner, Morris Earn Formula USA Pole Positions At Daytona

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Formula USA Qualifying Results:

Sportbike:

1. Michael Barnes, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.824
2. Larry Pegram, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.936
3. Chris Peris, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:55.473
4. Robert Jensen, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:56.042
5. Michael Himmelsbach, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:56.107
6. Jeff Wood, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:56.203
7. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:56.476
8. Shawn Conrad, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:57.329
9. Hilton Hinks, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:58.260
10. Des Conboy, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:58.260
11. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:58.519
12. Jesse Janisch, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:58.673
13. John-O Bowman, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:59.014
14. Richard Britton, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:59.101
15. Brian Stokes, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:59.176
16. Nick Cummings, Honda CBR600RR, 1:59.215
17. Danny Eslick, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:59.477
18. Dave Ebben, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:59.547
19. Willliam Card, Honda CBR600RR, 1:59.998
20. Jason Smith, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:00.132

40. Scott Greenwood, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:07.585, crash

Formula Sportbike:

1. Brian Stokes, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:56.487
2. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:56.730
3. Brian Hall, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:59.044
4. John McGarity, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:59.645
5. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:59.730
6. Kevin Gordan, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:00.179
7. Joe Ribeiro, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:00.873
8. David Tullier, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:00.968
9. Matt Malterer, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:01.976
10. Dave Rosno, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:02.242

Superbike:

1. Larry Pegram, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:55.876
2. Scott Greenwood, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:55.913
3. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:55.997
4. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:56.118
5. Jeff Wood, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:56.122
6. Robert Jensen, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:56.218
7. Michael Himmelsbach, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:56.811
8. Des Conboy, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:57.310
9. Shawn Conrad, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:57.755
10. Heath Small, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:57.813
11. William Card, Honda CBR600RR, 1:59.137
12. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:59.325
13. Jesse Janisch, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:59.472
14. Dave Rosno, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:59.481
15. Hilton Hinks, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:59.578
16. Nick Cummings, Honda CBR600RR, 1:59.776
17. Bobby Hilliard, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:00.679
18. Brian Baker, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:01.819
19. Kevin Mays, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:02.027
20. Rodolfo Raminez, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:03.354

Unlimited Grand Prix:

1. John Haner, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:52.952
2. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:53.085
3. Larry Pegram, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:53.194
4. Eric Wood, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:56.171
5. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:57.777
6. Brian Hall, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:58.331
7. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:58.423
8. Roger Bell, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:58.972
9. Joe Ribeiro, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:59.789
10. Rick Shaw, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:59.859

Thunderbike:

1. Richie Morris, Buell X1, 2:03.537
2. Dan Bilansky, Buell XB9R, 2:04.400
3. Dave Estok, Buell XB9R, 2:04.707
4. Derek Keyes, Suzuki SV650, 2:06.057
5. Joseph Rozynski, Buell X1, 2:06.481
6. Bryan Bemisderfer, Buell XB9R, 2:06.554
7. Brian Parriott, BMW R1100S, 2:07.661
8. Nate Kern, BMW R1100S, 2:07.685
9. Kurt Miller, Buell XB9R, 2:08.124
10. Randy Rega, Buell XB12R, 2:08.433
11. Darren Danilowicz, Suzuki SV650, 2:10.149
12. Michael Mills, Suzuki SV650, 2:10.386
13. David White, Suzuki SV650, 2:10.934
14. Joey Thomas, Suzuki SV650, 2:11.774
15. Mark Hamilton, Suzuki SV650, 2:11.800
16. Jason Kosco, Buell XB9R, 2:12.295
17. Sam Rozynski, Buell X1, 2:12.477
18. Clint Brotz, Buell, 2:12.538
19. Tim Hall, Suzuki SV650, 2:12.809
20. Paul James, Buell XB12R, 2:12.956

More, from a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway:

Despite Qualifying Spill, Greenwood Set To Open Formula USA Title Defense At Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (Feb. 28, 2004) – Despite an untimely spill during qualifying, Scott Greenwood looks to defend his 2003 Formula USA Sportbike Championship at Daytona International Speedway. The veteran racer from Dunbarton, N.H., is riding an Argo Cycles Yamaha R6. After a spill on the track during qualifying, Greenwood qualified 40th for Sunday’s Formula USA Sportbike Final.

Despite his fall, Greenwood is ready for a repeat run says “I’ll have to have a good start to make up as many positions on the first lap as possible.”

Greenwood has scratched out a career racing in Formula USA Series, motorcycle racing’s version of Triple-A baseball. He’s been on the cusp of getting a call to a factory-support ride for years, but so far the phone hasn’t rang.

His one victory in AMA Pro Racing came at the Loudon Supersport National in 2001. Factory riders boycotted the race that year at New Hampshire International Speedway due to wet conditions. And even though Greenwood is in the record books as an AMA Supersport winner, he never reaped the benefits that such an accomplishment would normally bring a privateer rider.

“I think that win might have hurt my career more than helped it,” admitted Greenwood. “The only two positives that came out of winning Loudon that year was the fact that I qualified sixth and ahead of a lot of the factory riders and the money I won.

“I think some of factories sort of held it against me that I raced, but I had spent several thousand dollars up to that point that weekend and I was in the hole financially. Later I had a few of the factory guys tell me privately that if they had been in the same position they would have done the same thing.”

At the time Greenwood still hoped that he could earn a factory ride, but now at 31, he’s racing simply for the enjoyment of it. And with the Formula USA Series he’s been able to make it payoff, albeit modestly.

Last year Greenwood won the Formula USA Sportbike race at Daytona by some 12 seconds. He doesn’t expect it to be that easy this year.

“I got a little bit of an early break in last year’s race,” he explained. “Then all the guys behind me were banging on each other and I was able to gap the field. This year it’s an even deeper field and my bikes seem to be down on horsepower to some of the others so it should be interesting.”

Next week Greenwood will compete in the AMA Supersport and Formula Xtreme races. He’s realistic about his chances. “A top-10 finish would be like winning.”

Sunday’s schedule of motorcycle races is dominated by Formula USA Finals. Tickets for all motorcycle races are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Saturday’s Results

Amateur Middleweight SuperSport: 1. Jason Lewis, Johnson City, Tenn., Honda 600; 2. Ernie Dix, Lake Hiawatha, N.J., Yamaha 600; 3. James Ptak, Huntley, Ill.

Expert Middleweight SuperSport: 1. Jeff Wood, Mansfield, Mass., Yamaha 600; 2. Robert Jensen, Chafee, N.D., Yamaha 600; 3. Scott Greenwood, Dunbarton, N.H., Yamaha 600.

Expert Lightweight SuperSport: 1. John Linder, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki 650; 2. Darren Danilowicz, Warrington, Penn., Suzuki 650; 3. Paul James, Waukesha, Wis., Buell 1200.

Amateur Lightweight SuperSport: 1. Guenther Weickert, Bonn, Germany, Suzuki 650; 2. Robert Taylor, Leesburg, Va., Suzuki 650; 3. Mike Arrington, Sheboygan, Wis., Buell 1169.

Amateur Heavyweight SuperSport: 1. Ernie Dix, Lake Hiawatha, N.J., Yamaha 600; 2. Hilton Geartner, Winter Park, Fla.; 3. Jose Moreau, Weston, Fla., Suzuki 750.

Expert Heavyweight SuperSport: 1. John McGarity, DeCatur, Ga., Suzuki 750; 2. Joe Ribeiro, Newark, N.J., Suzuki 750; 3. Scott Harwell, Lincolnton, N.C., Suzuki 750.

Expert Lightweight Superbike: 1. Derek Keyes, Jacksonville, Fla., Suzuki 650; 2. Randy Rega, Bridgewater, N.J., Buell 900; 3. Michael Mills, Weston, Fla., Suzuki 650.

Amateur Lightweight Superbike: 1. William Baragona, Raleigh, N.C., Suzuki 650; 2. Dave Ellis Maney, Orlando, Fla., Ducati 900; 3. Alan Cheese, Gettysburg, Penn., Buell 984.

Expert Middleweight Superbike: 1. Michael Barnes, Boca Raton, Fla., Yamaha 600; 2. Robert Jensen, Chafee, N.D., Yamaha 600; 3. Scott Greenwood, Dunbarton, N.H., Yamaha 600.

Amateur Middleweight Superbike: 1. Jason Lewis, Johnson City, Tenn., Honda 600; 2. James Ptak, Huntley, Ill., Yamaha 600; 3. Brian McCormack, Ireland, Suzuki 600.

Expert Heavyweight Superbike: 1. John McGarity, Decatur, Ga., Suzuki 750; 2. Scott Harwell, Lincolnton, N.C., Suzuki 750; 3. Marco Martinez, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 750 Suzuki.

Amateur Heavyweight Superbike: 1. Hilton Geartner, Winter Park, Fla., Suzuki 750; 2. Jose A. Moreau, Weston, Fla., Suzuki 750; 3. Carlos Vargas, Davie, Fla., Suzuki 750.

Expert SuperTwins: 1. Roberto Conception, Rey San Juan, PR; Ducati 748; 2. Eric L. Moucatel, Orlando, Fla., Ducati 748; 3. John Dierick, Miami, Fla., Ducati 996

Amateur SuperTwins: 1. Richard Downer, Berryville, Va., Ducati 996; 2. Dennis Espinosa, W. Milford, N.J., Honda 1000; 3. William Baragona, Raleigh, N.C., Suzuki 650.

Saturday Qualifying

SuperBikes: 1. Larry Pegram, Yamaha, (1:55.876); 2. Scott Greenwood, Yamaha, (1:55.913); 3. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, (1:55.997)

ThunderBikes: 1. Richie Morris, Buell, (2:03.537); 2. Daniel Bilansky, Buell, (2:04.400); 3. David Estok, Buell, (2:04.707)

SportBikes: 1. Michael Barnes, Yamaha, (1:54.824); 2. Larry Pegram, Yamaha, (1:54.936); 3. Chris Peris, Suzuki, (1:55.473)

Formula SportBikes: 1. Brian Stokes, Suzuki, (1:56.487); 2. Scott Harwell, Suzuki, (1:56.730); 3. Brian Hall, Suzuki, (1:59.044)

Expert Unlimited GP: 1. John Haner, Suzuki, (1:52.952); 2. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki, (1:53.085); 3. Larry Pegram, Yamaha, (1:53.194)

Parkes, Muggeridge Fastest Saturday Morning In World Supersport Practice In Valencia

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Saturday Morning World Supersport Practice Times:

1. Broc Parkes, Honda CBR600RR, 1:38.040
2. Karl Muggeridge, Honda CBR600RR, 1:38.239
3. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:38.916
4. Fabien Foret, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:38.967
5. Kevin Curtain, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:39.009
6. Alessio Corradi, Honda CBR600RR, 1:39.030
7. Sebastien Charpentier, Honda CBR600RR, 1:39.038
8. Jurgen Vd Goorbergh, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:39.178
9. Christian Kellner, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:39.299
10. Werner Daemen, Honda CBR600RR, 1:39.345
11. Lorenzo Lanzi, Ducati 749R, 1:39.627
12. Tobias Kirmeier, Honda CBR600RR, 1:40.063
13. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:40.084
14. Max Neukirchner, Honda CBR600RR, 1:40.284
15. Stefano Cruciani, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:40.294
16. Vittorio Iannuzzo, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:40.405
17. Victor Carrasco, Honda CBR600RR, 1:40.435
18. Craig Jones, Triumph Daytona 600, 1:40.470
19. Denis Sacchetti, Honda CBR600RR, 1:40.542
20. Sebastien Le Grelle, Honda CBR600RR, 1:40.641

26. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati 749R, 1:41.268

Suzuki Announces 2004 U.S. Contingency, World GSX-R Cup Program

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

An American Suzuki official announced details of the company’s 2004 road race contingency and World GSX-R Cup Finals program today during a riders’ meeting for CCS/Formula USA races at Daytona International Speedway.

According to Sports Promotion Senior On-road Specialist Morgan Broadhead, American Suzuki has expanded its contingency program, paying $2000 for each race win in four different classes at each of 61 designated events.

Classes with Suzuki contingency available will be 600cc/Middleweight Supersport, 750cc/Heavyweight Supersport, 1000cc/Open Supersport and Formula One/Unlimited Grand Prix.

New for 2004, American Suzuki will allow racers to “bump up” one class on their motorcycles, allowing, for instance, a GSX-R600 racer to race and collect contingency in a Middleweight and Heavyweight class. The new program will allow GSX-R600 and GSX-R1000 racers to potentially earn $4000 with two wins on one motorcycle and GSX-R750 racers to collect $6000 with three wins on one motorcycle.

“There’s more money on the table than ever before so come and get it,” Broadhead told the CCS/F-USA racers.

In addition, the 2004 Suzuki World GSX-R Cup finals, which pits Suzuki racers from 15 different countries against each other on identical GSX-R750s, will be held at Road Atlanta in October in conjunction with the American Suzuki Cup Finals and the WERA Grand National Finals (GNF).

In the past, American Suzuki appointed winners of special qualifying races as its three World Cup Final team members, but a new qualification program will be used in 2004. This season the top eligible rider in the Formula USA Formula Sportbike class standings after the Barber Motorsports Park round will earn a spot on the team, the top eligible Suzuki “privateer” in the AMA Superstock standings after the Road Atlanta round will earn a spot on the team, and the third team member will be earn their spot at a to-be-announced qualifying race.

Broadhead defined “privateer” as a rider who doesn’t have a contract with Suzuki.

As in the past, the top-finishing American in the Suzuki World Cup Finals will earn a Team Suzuki support ride in the following season (2005), which this year will include the use of a 2005 Suzuki and a parts allowance.

For more information, go to www.suzuki.com.



Saturday Afternoon World Superbike Practice Times From Valencia

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Saturday Afternoon World Superbike Practice Times:

1. Regis Laconi, Ducati 999F04, 1:36.157
2. James Toseland, Ducati 999F04, 1:36.997
3. Noriyuki Haga, Ducati 999RS, 1:37.113
4. Leon Haslam, Ducati 999RS, 1:37.210
5. Sergio Fuertes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:37.632
6. Marco Borciani, Ducati 999RS, 1:37.707
7. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:37.765
8. Chris Walker, Foggy Petronas FP1, 1:37.839
9. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas FP1, 1:37.893
10. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 999RS, 1:38.008
11. Steve Martin, Ducati 999RS, 1:38.023
12. Gianluca Nannelli, Ducati 998RS, 1:38.176
13. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, 1:38.185
14. Garry McCoy, Ducati 999RS, 1:38.203
15. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:38.494
16. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:38.524
17. Alessio Velini, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:38.974
18. Horst Saiger, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:39.029
19. Warwick Nowland, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:39.958
20. Piergiorgio Bontempi, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:40.423
21. Miguel Praia, Ducati 999RS, 1:41.277

McGarity, Barnes, Jeff Wood Win CCS Races Saturday At Daytona

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

John McGairty, Michael Barnes and Jeff Wood were the big winners Saturday during CCS sprint racing action at Daytona International Speedway.

McGarity was impressive, taking wins in Heavyweight Supersport and Heavyweight Superbike on his Michelin-equipped RRR Cycles Atlanta Suzuki GSX-R750.

In the Heavyweight Supersport race, McGarity pulled away late to beat Joe Riberio and Arclight Suzuki’s Scott Harwell by over two seconds. It was a bit closer in the Heavyweight Superbike final as McGarity had to draft Harwell and Marco Martinez from the chicane to the finish line to collect win number two.

Bettencourts’ Wood did McGarity one better, going from fourth to first with a triple draft on the final run to the checkered flag in the Middleweight Supersport sprint. Robert Jensen finished second, Argo Cycles’ Scott Greenwood got third, Larry Pegram was fourth and Shawn Conrad took fifth. The first non-Yamaha in the race was Harwell, who finished 13th on his 2004 Suzuki GSX-R600.

Barnes missed the Middleweight Supersport race after another rider knocked his brake lever off in a pre-race collision on the starting grid. Barnes made up for his misfortune, however, by winning the six-lap Middleweight Superbike race from row seven of the grid.

Barnes rode a Pirelli-shod Prieto Racing/GMD Computrack Yamaha YZF-R6 to the win. Butler Machinery’s Jensen finished second to Barnes and inches ahead of Greenwood, third. Jeff Wood took fourth well clear of Triangle Cycles Yamaha’s Larry Pegram.

Other race winners Saturday included: Jason Lewis in Amateur Middleweight Supersport and Amateur Middleweight Superbike, John Linder in Expert Lightweight Supersport, Ernie Dix in Amateur Heavyweight Supersport, Derek Keyes in Expert Lightweight Superbike, Robert Taylor in Amateur Lightweight Supersport, Hilton Geartner in Amateur Heavyweight Superbike, Roberto Concepcion in Expert SuperTwins and Richard Downer in Amateur SuperTwins.

Laconi Retains Provisional World Superbike Pole Heading Into Superpole In Spain

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Final World Superbike Qualifying Results:

1. Regis Laconi, Ducati 999F04, 1:36.323
2. James Toseland, Ducati 999F04, 1:36.489
3. Noriyuki Haga, Ducati 999RS, 1:36.759
4. Steve Martin, Ducati 999RS, 1:36.778
5. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:37.107
6. Garry McCoy, Ducati 999RS, 1:37.208
7. Marco Borciani, Ducati 999RS, 1:37.212
8. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas FP1, 1:37.254
9. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 999RS, 1:37.601
10. Leon Haslam, Ducati 999RS, 1:37.617
11. Chris Walker, Foggy Petronas FP1, 1:37.718
12. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, 1:37.778
13. Sergio Fuertes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:37.863
14. Gianluca Nannelli, Ducati 998RS, 1:37.897
15. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:38.117
16. Piergiorgio Bontempi, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:38.246
17. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:38.510
18. Warwick Nowland, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:39.057
19. Horst Saiger, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:39.307
20. Alessio Velini, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:39.399
21. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati 998RS, 1:41.302
22. Miguel Praia, Ducati 999RS, 1:42.074