Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By David Swarts
Mike Smith, Vincent Haskovec, Tray Batey, Bradley Champion and John Haner won races Sunday at the annual Suzuki Cup Finals at Road Atlanta.
Vesrah Suzuki’s Batey started the day by running away with the TL1000R Suzuki Cup final. Shawn Stinnett seemed to have second place wrapped up, but Scott Brown was close enough to Stinnett to apply pressure throughout the 10-lap final. On lap eight, Stinnett ran wide at the exit of the turn 10 chicane, got his rear wheel in the dirt and highsided violently. The crash stopped the race, and Stinnett was scored as a DNF as the cause of the red flag. Batey was awarded the win over Brown followed by Fred Faranegan, Tim Brewer, Russell Masecar and Doug Glass.
Stinnett was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center with a suspected concussion.
Only seven riders entered the TL1000R Suzuki Cup Final.
The Suzuki GSX-R750 Final started as a five-rider war at the front involving Smith, Batey, Haner, Chris “Opie” Caylor and Brian Stokes, but on lap seven of 10 Caylor and Haner tangled going into turn 10. A few laps later Stokes slowed due to arm pump. The race came down to a duel between veterans Batey and Smith. Batey took the lead on the last lap but encountered a problem down the back straightaway. Marietta Motorsports’ Smith took the win by less than a bikelength over Batey. Stokes took third, and John Jacobi finished fourth just ahead of Haskovec.
Haskovec started the GSX-R750 final from the 20th row because his bike went over the horsepower limit following his qualifying heat race on Saturday.
As many as six riders raced for the lead in the SV650 Suzuki Cup final. Late in the race, MB Motorsports/Richmond Suzuki’s Champion asserted control of the pace with 1:35 lap times, and only RTM Motorcycles’ John Linder was able to stay close. Linder led down the back straight on the final lap, but Champion beat Linder on the brakes for turn 10 and held on for the win. Linder took second three seconds ahead of first-year Expert Brian Suffridge, Caylor, David Yaakov and Greg Harrison.
Smith, Haskovec, Stokes and Jacobi formed the lead pack in the Suzuki GSX-R600 race. Smith and Haskovec exchanged the lead back-and-forth most of the time with Stokes closing late in the race and Jacobi fading with arm pump. Smith, Stokes and Haskovec went three-wide into the chicane at the end of the back straight on the final lap. Smith took the lead but slid at the exit. SGI’s Haskovec squared off the corner and drove past Smith and Stokes up the hill and to the checkered flag. Haskovec won from Smith, Stokes, Jacobi, Shan Ball and Robert Jensen.
Smith held the early lead in the Suzuki GSX-R1000 final with Mark Junge, Haner and Caylor in close pursuit. As the 10-lap race wore on rain began to fall lightly making turn seven, the tight right-hand turn leading onto the back straight, especially slick. Roadracingworld.com’s Haner wanted the win more than the rest of the field and pulled away even though his lap times slowed. Smith slowed more than Haner to take second, and Caylor admitted he settled for third in the conditions, his first podium of the day. Closing to Caylor’s tailsection across the line, Jensen took advantage of Haskovec’s hesitation due to a dirty faceshield to pass into fourth on the final lap. Haskovec took fifth just in front of Geoff May.
Unofficially, Smith was the biggest money winner of the day, earning $8000 for his win and two second-place finishes. Haskovec earned $5400, Caylor made $4100 from four races, Stokes and Batey each collected $4000, Haner took home $3800, Jensen made $3500 and Jacobi pocketed $3000 in Suzuki Cup purse money Sunday .
RESULTS:
TL1000R Cup Final:
1. Tray Batey, 7 laps
2. Scott Brown, -10.243 seconds
3. Fred Farzanegan, -27.681 seconds
4. Tim Brewer, -28.119 seconds
5. Russell Masecar, -28.409 seconds
6. Doug Glass, -58.893 seconds
GSX-R1000 Cup Final:
1. John Haner, 10 laps
2. Mike Smith, -3.280 seconds
3. Chris “Opie” Caylor, -3.655 seconds
4. Robert Jensen, -3.880 seconds
5. Vincent Haskovec, -4.215 seconds
6. Geoff May, -4.591 seconds
GSX-R750 Cup Final:
1. Mike Smith, 10 laps
2. Tray Batey, -0.134 second
3. Brian Stokes, -4.555 seconds
4. John Jacobi, -8.599 seconds
5. Vincent Haskovec, -10.214 seconds
6. Robert Jensen, -14.226 seconds
GSX-R600 Cup Final:
1. Vincent Haskovec, 10 laps
2. Mike Smith, -0.095 second
3. Brian Stokes, -0.172 second
4. John Jacobi, -5.089 seconds
5. Shan Ball, -5.829 seconds
6. Robert Jensen, -6.039 seconds
SV650 Cup Final:
1. Bradley Champion, 10 laps
2. John Linder, -0.283 second
3. Brian Suffridge, -3.600 seconds
4. Chris “Opie” Caylor, -3.683 seconds
5. David Yaakov, -3.890 seconds
6. Greg Harrison, -5.077 seconds
