Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Clint Brotz won his second Buell Lightning race, this time at Road America, and now has a four-point lead in the series over Bryan Bemisderfer, with three races remaining. Pre-race favorite Michael Barnes did not finish, encountering mechanical problems, and is now third in points, 20 behind Brotz.

Formula USA Buell Lightning Series Race Results (all on Buell 1200s):

1. Clint Brotz, 7 laps
2. Richie Morris, -0.058 second
3. Bryan Bemisderfer, -14.648 seconds
4. Jason Smith, -15.233 seconds
5. Jeff Johnson, -28.694 seconds
6. John Spinelli, -36.689 seconds
7. Joseph Rozynski, -37.628 seconds
8. Jeff Harding, -37.707 seconds
9. Paul James, -59.393 seconds
10. Greg Avello, -70.321 seconds

Michael Barnes DNF, mechanical

Provisional Point Standings:

1. Brotz, 84 points
2. Bemisderfer, 80 points
3. Michael Barnes, 64 points
4. Morris, 52 points
5. Johnson, 50 points
6. Smith, 40 points
7. Harding, 39 points

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Arclight Suzuki’s Lee Acree will not ride in the Formula USA Unlimited Superbike races Sunday at Road America due to injuries sustained over the last two race weekends.

“He’s just in too much pain,” said Arclight Suzuki co-owner/Crew Chief Chuck Warren.

Acree suffered second-degree burns to the inside of his left thigh during the AMA event at Mid-Ohio July 26-28, and during the week in between events, the burns have become infected.

“Riding the big bike is just too painful and too hard,” said Warren. “He’s kind of out of the Unlimited Superbike points, but he’s second in the 600 (Sportbike) points. So he’s going to only ride in the 600 race today then try to rest before Virginia next week.”

Acree, who is second in the AMA Superstock point standings, 26 points behind Jimmy Moore, won the AMA 750cc Supersport race at Virgina International Raceway last year.

Acree is second in the F-USA Pro Honda Oils 600cc Sportbike standings, eight points behind teammate Craig Connell. Acree is the two-time and defending Champion in the F-USA Sportbike class.

Acree is eighth in the Formula USA Unlimited Superbike standings, 61 points out of the lead.

The Arclight Suzuki team replaced the engine in Acree’s GSX-R70 F-USA Unlimited Superbike Saturday night and converted the machine into a back-up bike for Craig Connell. Acree’s engine broke two laps into qualifying on Saturday. Connell leads the F-USA Unlimited Superbike point standings.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Formula USA Pro Honda Oils 600cc Sportbike Race Results:

1. Craig Connell, Suzuki, 12 laps
2. Michael Barnes, Suzuki, -3.220 seconds
3. Lee Acree, Suzuki, -3.516 seconds
4. Larry Pegram, Suzuki, -12.045 seconds
5. Monte Nichols, Yamaha, -26.950 seconds
6. Jeff Wood, Suzuki, -27.472 seconds
7. Andrew Nelson, Honda, -50.818 seconds
8. Scott Greenwood, Suzuki, -50.918 seconds
9. Cory West, Honda, -58.882 seconds
10. Ray Bowman, Honda, -58.935 seconds

DNF, Matt Wait, Suzuki, -2 laps, DNF, mechanical,

Provisional F-USA Sportbike Point Standings:

1. Connell, 79 points
2. Barnes, 63 points
3. Acree, 61 points
4. Pegram, 54 points
5. Jeff Wood, 39 points
6. Greenwood, 32 points

From a press release issued by Honda:

HONDA RACING INFORMATION

Suzuka 8 Hours – Suzuka, Japan. August 4, 2002.

Weather, hot and humid, slight rain fall in final hour; temperature, 32 degrees C; humidity, 65%; track conditions, good; crowd, 72,000.

Edwards and Kato Victorious at Suzuka 8-Hours 25th Anniversary for Cabin Honda

The American – Japanese combination of Colin Edwards and Daijiro Kato raced to a superb victory at the 25th running of the Suzuka 8 Hours, held at magnificent Japanese circuit today. Edwards and Kato brought home their VTR1000SP-W twin cylinder Honda ahead of their Cabin Honda team-mates Tadayuki Okada and Makoto Tamada. The Sakurai Honda team of Alex Barros and Yuichi Takeda completed a magical Honda 1-2-3 with a fine third place finish. All three teams completed 219 laps, a new race record.

Honda have now won the event for six successive years, 17 times in the 25-years it has been held. It was Edwards’ third victory in the Japanese classic, the second for Kato. Brazilian Barros gave Honda a clean sweep of race honours by setting the fastest lap of the race as he battled to close on the leaders.

At the end of the grueling race Kato said: “I was riding longer today than he previous 8-hour races I’ve done but I was not as tired as I expected. However, when it started to rain during the final session I was anxious, because it was my first night race and the track condition was unstable. I checked the difference with Tamada on my pit board and controlled the pace. I am really happy that we won the race.”

Teammate Edwards was a very relieved man as Kato swept across the finishing line to score their record breaking win. The Texan said: “This win is more special than my two previous 8-hour wins, because we had a drama at the last stage. When it started to rain, I said to myself ‘I will give ten years of my life, so please don’t rain harder.’ I was ready in the pit with my leather suit on, so that in case it rained harder, I could ride again. But rain stopped after few laps and Daijiro rode brilliantly. I want to thank him for the win.”

The top three Hondas to finish had also dominated the Superpole qualifying session but it was Barros who started from pole for Sakurai Honda. Edwards was second with Okada third. Akira Ryo (Suzuki) was fourth fastest, and looked more than capable of causing and upset, should the VTRs falter at any time during the 8-hours.

Team Manager Koji Koyano was full of praise for the way his riders had handled a tricky race. “When it started to rain during the final stage, I was worried because the track condition was unstable. But the advantage we had before that worked out. Both the riders were brilliant today.”

As the race got underway in scorching temperatures and high humidity it was Ryo who grabbed the lead from the Le Mans style start, heading the two Cabin Hondas, in the hands of lead-off riders Tamada and Kato. The second Suzuki, ridden by Keiichi Kitagawa, held fourth place from Yuichi Takeda, who had chosen to use different tyres than the Cabin Honda riders.

Once the race pace for the first hour was established Tamada hit the front with Ryo in his wheel tracks, Kato in close attendance. But Kato set fastest lap of the session soon afterwards to relegate Ryo to third. Kitagawa slid off the second Suzuki mid-session elevating Takeda to fourth place.

Kato handed teammate Edwards the lead at the first changeover, exiting the pit ahead of Ryo and Okada. The heat and humidity was now intense and was matched by the action out on the track. The top three teams locked in a fierce, no quarter asked or given duel.

At the three-hour mark the top three teams were still running in close attendance, Kato, leading Ryo and Tamada. The Sakurai Honda of Barros and Takeda was now almost a lap down on the top three but they were clawing their way back into contention as the race progressed. They were back in a challenging after five hours and closing the gap on the leading trio, led by the Edwards/Kato from Ryo/Kagayama and Okada/Tamada combinations.

After the changeovers around three-quarters race distance the Hondas were to have the race to themselves, Kagayama touring back to the pits to retire the stricken #7 factory Suzuki. Edwards and Kato had opened a one-minute lead over Okada/Tamada at this stage, Barros/Takeda closer to second place.

Into the final stages Edwards handed Kato a comfortable one minute lead at the final change over, Barros inheriting an almost impossible two minute deficit on the leaders from teammate Takeda. The often unpredictable Suzuka weather brought late drama to the race. As darkness fell a sudden rain shower gave Kato’s challengers increased confidence. Both Tamada and Barros began to eat into his lead but Kato, who had never raced in darkness at Suzuka, held his nerve and was rewarded when the light rain abated after 10 minutes and the track began to dry.

He ran out a clear winner by 25 seconds, Barros crossing the line an equal distance behind Tamada.

The ever-cheerful Tamada was not too disappointed with his race. The All Japan Superbike star said: “During the first session, I was racing with Daijiro (my good friend) and it was great fun. When Daijiro went into the pit one lap before me, I waved ‘bye-bye, see you soon’ to him. But after that I didn’t have a chance to race with him and I felt sad. In the later stage, there was a big difference between us and I knew something must happen to close the gap, and I was hoping for the rain. But it rained for only a brief period and I couldn’t catch up, although I tried very hard. However, this was my first full 8-hour race ride and I gained good experience. I learned a lot from Okada San and that is the greatest result for me.”

Okada was not as happy as his teammate: “My pace was good till the last session, but was a little slow during my last ride so I said sorry to Makoto during the last pit-stop. Although we couldn’t catch up the winner, Makoto was riding aggressively and I am happy with the result. Dunlop prepared us good tires and I want to thank them. This race was a good lesson for me and if I have a chance again, I would like to take part in the 8-hour race.”

Team Manager Kazuhiko Yamano had hoped for more from his team: He said of the team performance. “Although I am a little disappointed, because we wanted to win, I think Tamada and Okada tried their best and we did a good race. Before the last session, I told Tamada to keep going without coming into the pit even if it rained. He pushed hard under the unstable condition and closed the gap.”

Koji Nakajima, General Manager for the HRC factory team at the 8-hours, was delighted with the result. Nakajima said: “A 1-2 finish today was fantastic. 6-pit stop tactics worked out and the fuel consumption rate was better than we had expected. Tamada and Barros were catching up at the later stage, but the advantage of the team worked out. Kato was cool and clever, although it was his first night race. Today, the lap times were slower than we expected. But we are happy that the new record of 219 laps (previous record 217 laps, set last year) has been established.

“Above all, the riders who helped us to materialize the plan did a great job. The technologies we proved today will be adopted to other racing machines and production models. As you know, one of the main aims of Honda to do racing is to gain technologies,” the General Manager concluded.

Wataru Yoshikawa and Takeshi Tsujimura finished fourth for Team YSP Racing Yamaha, two laps behind Edwards and Kato and three laps clear of the Challenger Yamaha team of Norihiko Fujiwara and Tekkyu Kayou in fifth. The Weider Honda Automotive pairing of Osamu Deguchi and Hiroki Noda brought their VTR1000SP-2 Honda home in sixth place.

The Zongshen Suzuki World Endurance Championship regulars filled seventh and eighth places, nine laps down on the winning Hondas. Stephane Mertens and Warwick Nowland leading home teammates Igor Jerman and Bruno Bonhuil.

Results:
1. Daijiro Kato – Colin Edwards J/USA Cabin Honda 219 laps

2. Makoto Tamada – Tadayuki Okada J/J Cabin Honda 219

3. Alex Barros – Yuichi Takeda Bra/J Sakurai Honda 219

4. Wataru Yoshikawa – Takeshi Tsujimura J/J Yamaha 217

5. Norihiko Fujiwara – Tekkyu Kayou J/J Yamaha 214

6. Osamu Deguchi – Hiroki Noda J/J Weider Honda 211

7.Stephane Mertens – Warwick Nowland B/AUS 210

8.Bruno Bonhuil – Igor Jerman F/Slo Suzuki

9. Makoto Tokinaga – Yasuhiko Sato J/J Yamaha 210

10. Adam Ferguson – Jordan Szoke AUS/CAN Super Production, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 210

11. Akira Tamitsuji – Yoshihiro Konno J/J Suzuki 209

12. Yosinomi Takahashi – Naomichi Nakai J/J Kawasaki 208

13. Hiroaki Kawase – Takatoshi Onishi J/J Suzuki 208

14. Mitsuo Saito – Takahiro Fukami J/J Yamaha 207

15. Yoshiyuki Sugai – Tomohiko Kawakami J/J CBR954RR Honda 207

35. Mike Ciccotto/Kyoichi Kosaka, Super Production, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -22 laps

43. Motohiro Hisazumi/Naoki Yamaha, Stock Sport, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -29 laps

Top Prototype team, Keiichi Kitagawa/Noriyasu Numata, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -18 laps

DNF, Akira Ryo/Yukio Kagayama, Superbike, Suzuki GSX-R750, -64 laps

DNF, Doug Polen/Takahito Mori, X-Formula, Honda CBR954RR, -197 laps

Fastest lap: Barros 2:07.844s = 163.92km/h.

These e-mails just in from LRRS officials Don Hutchinson and Jerry Wood: Re: Your article about James Lee and his 2:07 lap times at Mid-Ohio (See “No, 36 Seconds A Lap Off Fast Time Is Not Quick Enough For An AMA Supersport National,” posted 8/3/02): Mr. Lee has never raced with us at Loudon nor has he held a license with us at any time. He does not show up in any of our records going back to 1985. I have often questioned the AMA licensing requirements and find it hard to believe that this has not happened in the past. Don Hutchinson LRRS-GP/PRO After reading about James Lee I had Don Hutchinson check the LRRS records. James Lee is not a LRRS Expert, in fact he has never raced with us. The LRRS is one of the largest road racing groups in America if not the largest. We run 1000-1300 entries per weekend and have a Junior class. It is a long, hard road to Expert. Please inform the world that this squid did not come from the LRRS series. Jerry Wood LRRS And now this response from James Lee: I have never raced with the LRRS. Never have claimed to. I haved raced CCS in the Mid-Atlantic region like my license says. I don’t care to race in the LRRS. I don’t know who Jerry Wood or Don Hutchinson is. I don’t appreciate these people calling me a squid. Why is there a campaign against me? Does David Swarts have something against me? James Lee (Editorial Comment: David Swarts reported what he saw and what he was told at Mid-Ohio by AMA Pro Racing’s Ron Barrick and by racers Jimmy Moore and James Lee. His reporting is backed up by the notes he took at the time. Generally speaking, turning lap times 36 seconds off the pace and making obscene gestures at the Superstock series points leader on the track, in full view of reporters in the press tower, and punching the Superstock series points leader on the track, will tend to attract press attention. Reporting what happened and what the participants said at the time does not constitute “a campaign against me.”) (Note: In SPEED Channel TV coverage of the AMA Supersport race at Mid-Ohio, racer Ty Howard #235 was misidentified as being James Lee #200 when seen on Jake Zemke’s on-board camera during the opening laps. It was Howard leading Zemke in early stages of the race, not Lee, who did not start the event.)

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Formula USA Unlimited Superbike Race Two Results:

1. Craig Connell, Suzuki GSX-R750, 12 laps
2. Michael Barnes, Suzuki GSX-R750, -2.511 seconds
3. Larry Pegram, Suzuki GSX-R750, -2.720 seconds
4. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, -2.789 seconds
5. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki GSX-R750, -5.539 seconds
6. Matt Wait, Suzuki GSX-R750, -18.414 seconds
7. Eric Wood, Suzuki GSX-R750, -19.861 seconds
8. Michael Himmelsbach, Aprilia RSV1000R, -24.435 seconds
9. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -40.710 seconds
10. Scott Greenwood, Suzuki GSX-R750, -77.788 seconds

16. Frank Trombino, Honda CBR954RR, -3 laps, DNF, crash


Provisional Point Standings:

1. Connell, 161 points
2. Barnes, 138 points
3. Higbee, 112 points
4. Wood, 102 points
5. Pegram, 100 points
6. Himmelsbach, 76 points
7. Wait, 67 points
8. Greenwood, 56 points

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Arclight Suzuki’s Craig Connell drafted by Team Hooters Mountain Dew Suzuki’s Larry Pegram to the line to win Formula USA Unlimited Superbike race one at Road America. The win extends Connell’s point lead in the class to 18 over fourth-place-finisher Michael Barnes.

Defending Formula USA Champion Shawn Higbee came from behind on his KWS Motorsports/Millennium Technologies Suzuki GSX-R750/813 Superbike to pass Barnes for third place on the last lap.

SGI’s Vincent Haskovec challenged Higbee through the middle of the 12-lap contest before fading at the end and settling for fifth.

Riding a borrowed W3 Racing Suzuki GSX-R750, Matt Wait also came from behind to take sixth ahead of Eric Wood, Michael Himmelsbach and Frank Trombino. Tim Bemisderfer rounded out the top 10 on a Shenandoah Honda CBR954RR.

Team Embry/roadracingworld.com’s Geoff May blew a fuse on the race’s opening lap and DNF.

Formula USA officials moved the featured classes up in Sunday afternoon’s schedule in hopes of beating a late-afternoon chance of rain.

F-USA Unlimited Superbike Race One Results:

1. Craig Connell, Suzuki GSX-R750, 12 laps
2. Larry Pegram, Suzuki GSX-R750, -0.043 second
3. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki GSX-R750, -4.986 seconds
4. Michael Barnes, Suzuki GSX-R750, -5.010 seconds
5. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, -11.238 seconds
6. Matt Wait, Suzuki GSX-R750, -18.761 seconds
7. Eric Wood, Suzuki GSX-R750, -19.149 seconds
8. Michael Himmelsbach, Aprilia RSV1000R, -19.198 seconds
9. Frank Trombino, Honda CBR954RR, -21.518 seconds
10. Tim Bemisderfer, Honda CBR954RR, -57.331 second
11. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki GSX-R750, -57.521 seconds
12. Scott Greenwood, Suzuki GSX-R750, -70.778 seconds
13. Jason Knupp, Suzuki GSX-R750, -83.279 seconds
14. Dr. Jeff Purk, Suzuki GSX-R750, -83.737 seconds
15. Joe Spina, Suzuki GSX-R750, -84.458 seconds
16. Jason Smith, Suzuki GSX-R750, -85.140 seconds
17. Dave Ebben, Suzuki GSX-R750, -87.257 seconds
18. Steve Johnson, Aprilia RSV1000, -92.936 seconds
19. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -12 laps, DNF, mechanical


Provisional Unlimited Superbike Point Standings:

1. Connell, 136 points
2. Barnes, 118 points
3. Higbee, 101 points
4. Eric Wood, 93 points
5. Pegram, 84 points
6. Himmelsbach, 68 points
7. Wait, 57 points
8. Chuck Chouinard, 51 points
9. TIE, Greenwood/Lee Acree, 50 points

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. By David Swarts AMA Supersport and Superstock racer James Lee of Demarest, New Jersey did not race last weekend at Mid-Ohio, said AMA Pro Racing’s Ron Barrick, because “he’s not ready for this.” Lee was informed by AMA Pro Racing officials during a red flag break in Saturday morning Supersport practice that he should not be on track for the rest of the weekend following what Barrick characterized as “a number of complaints from riders” about him. After Lee came off the track and onto pit lane, AMA officials approached Lee and found that Lee had slicks on his Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport bike. Lee was entered in Supersport and Superstock, which require DOT-labeled tires. “We looked at his lap times,” said Barrick, “and for whatever reason, he’s not ready for this.” Lee’s best lap time in Saturday-morning practice was a 2:07. The fastest rider in the session, Jake Zemke, turned a 1:31.6. Lee, who says he is an Expert-licensed racer from the LRRS and Florida regions of CCS and has been racing for two years, has ridden at several AMA Nationals in 2002 and has become well-known among AMA regulars. Lee nearly came to blows with Corona Extra Suzuki’s Jimmy Moore during Friday Superstock practice at Mid-Ohio. From the media center, Lee could be seen making obscene gestures at Moore. Moore returned the gestures and waved to Lee to follow him to pit lane. “The guy was in the back section and looked like he was at coming-in speed but he was riding edge-to-edge on the track,” said Moore Friday night. “I tried to get by him, but he had some really weird lines. I came up beside him and signaled for him to put a hand up. “I think I might have spooked him because he ran off the track. He came back up and signaled to me like, ‘You want to fight?’ I was signaling for him to follow me into the pits so we can talk. On pit lane, I went to find the nearest AMA official to help explain to the guy to put his hand up.” “I was trying to go off track, and he (Moore) just came to me before the Carousel and kicked me. I came back and I punched him, and he said, ‘Come on! Let’s go to pit lane and get it on,'” said an angry Lee. “He told the official that I hit him first, then he said to me, ‘Don’t you speak English? Everybody knows when you leave the track you raise your hand.'” “I think what really pissed him off,” said Moore, “was that I kept saying, ‘Put your hand up. Put your hand up. Put your hand up.'” “Yes, I had my hand up. That’s when he kicked me,” said Lee. “There’s a lot of us guys out there trying to learn our way around. Those guys didn’t just instantly come out to the AMA going fast.” When asked why he was riding in the Supersport practice session on slick tires Saturday morning, Lee said, “The tire guy wouldn’t change my tires, and I thought practice started at 8:30 (a.m.) instead of 8:00 (a.m.).” Lee later said that he had apologized to AMA officials for his behavior and that he looked forward to riding in more AMA Nationals.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Buell Lightning Series Qualifying Results (All on Buell 1200s):

1. Michael Barnes, 2:23.408
2. Clint Brotz, 2:26.657
3. Dan Bilansky, 2:30.158
4. Richie Morris, 2:30.487
5. Jason Smith, 2:32.396
6. Bryan Bemisderfer, 2:32.934
7. Joseph Rozynski, 2:37.141
8. Jeff Harding, 2:37.298
9. Paul James, 2:38.497
10. John Spinelli, 2:39.088
11. Greg Avello, 2:39.131
12. Scott Korol, 2:42.650

115% of Fast Time 2:44.919

DNQ. Karl Kegel, 2:46.829
DNQ. Tom Fritz, 2:48.439
DNQ. Mike Ralcoczy, 2:56.209
DNQ. Daron Conrad, 2:57.619
DNQ. Mark Bernard, 3:05.846
DNQ. Robert Pirog, 3:06.858
DNQ. Jeff Trudell, 3:10.680

DQ. Steve Luxem, 2:52.501
DQ. Jeff Johnson, 2:30.985

Previous Buell Lightning lap record: 2:24.859, Shawn Higbee, 5/00