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

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Team Hooters Mountain Dew Suzuki’s Larry Pegram took pole for Formula USA Unlimited Superbike with a lap of 2:12.623 Saturday at Road America. Pegram took full advantage of a new 2mm overbore engine in his Mike Velasco-tuned, Pirelli-shod GSX-R750, qualified 0.6-second faster the next fastest rider and shattered John Hopkins’ F-USA lap record of 2:16.135 by over three seconds. In fact, the top eight riders went faster than Hopkins’ record from May of 2000, set on an AMA 750cc Supersport bike in then-17-year-old Hopkins’ first visit to the Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin racetrack.

Championship point leader Craig Connell qualified second-fastest with a time of 2:13.228 on his Arclight Suzuki GSX-R750. Pegram’s teammate Michael Barnes and defending Formula USA Unlimited Superbike Champion Shawn Higbee rounded out the front row.

AMA regular Vincent Haskovec, Team Embry’s Goeff May, Blackmans Aprilia’s Michael Himmelsbach and 14K The Movie’s Eric Wood qualified on row two.

Former Synergy Racing Technologies’ rider Matt Wait qualified ninth on a Suzuki he borrowed at the track, one spot better than his replacement on the Synergy team, Frank Trombino. New England Performance’s Scott Greenwood and Shenandoah Honda’s Tim Bemisderfer will join Wait on the third row for Sunday’s race.

Lee Acree’s Arclight Suzuki broke on his second qualifying lap. Acree was disqualified when his GSX-R750 was taken behind pit wall. Acree will start Sunday’s races from a provisional starting spot.

Lockhart-Phillips USA Unlimited Superbike Qualifying Results:

1. Larry Pegram, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:12.623
2. Craig Connell, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:13.228
3. Michael Barnes, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:13.463
4. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:14.415
5. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:14.599
6. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 2:14.897
7. Michael Himmelsbach, Aprilia RSV1000R, 2:15.818
8. Eric Wood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:16.081
9. Matt Wait, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:16.603
10. Frank Trombino, Honda CBR954RR, 2:17.730
11. Scott Greenwood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:18.082
12. Tim Bemisderfer, Honda CBR954RR, 2:18.371
13. Dr. Jeff Purk, DDS, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:18.555
14. Dave Ebben, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:19.722
15. Steve Johnson, Aprilia RSV1000, 2:20.655
16. Jason Smith, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:21.239
17. Jason Knupp, 2:21.735
18. Joe Spina, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:21.981

115% of Fast Time 2:32.516

DNQ. Thomas Grant, 2:37.419

DQ. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:17.997
DQ. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:34.564

Previous Unlimited Superbike lap record: 2:16.135, John Hopkins, 5/00

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Brazilian MotoGp star Alex Barros and Japanese teammate Yuichi Takeda topped Friday qualifying for the 25th running of the Suzuka 8-Hour endurance race. Barros’ 2:06.660 on the Team Sakurai Honda RC51 stood for the fastest time, while Takeda’s best lap was significantly slower at 2:09.307.

Team Suzuki’s Akira Ryo and Yukio Kagayama qualified second thanks to Kagayama’s 2:07.309 on their GSX-R750 Superbike. Apparently the pair have already reached a good compromise set-up. Ryo’s fastest lap time (2:07.593) was only 0.284-second slower than his teammate’s.

Honda’s all-star pairing of Daijio Kato and Colin Edwards was third-fastest based on Edwards’ lap of 2:07.001 on their Team Cabin Honda RC51. Edwards won last year’s 8-Hour with teammate Valentino Rossi.

Keiichi Kitagawa and Noriyasu Numata qualified fifth overall and first among Prototype class machines thanks to Kitagawa’s lap of 2:07.922 on their Kenz – J Trust Suzuki GSX-R1000.

American Doug Polen turned a lap of 2:09.699 on his Arata-Exhaust & Tsukigi Racing Honda CBR954RR, good enough for 12th overall and first among X-Formula teams. Unfortunately, reports from Japan indicate that Polen’s planned teammate, Mike Smith, who participated in a Suzuka test for the team just a few weeks ago, is missing in action. Former AMA racer Takahito Mori has been drafted into service and has a best lap of 2:18.896.

At 18th overall and fastest in Sport Production is the Team Corona Extra EBSCO Ti Force Suzuki pairing of Adam Fergusson (2:11.392) and Jordan Szoke (2:13.497). Fergusson has tested at Suzuka in the past. Szoke has not been to Suzuka before.

Michio Izumi (2:11.844) and Ken Eguchi (2:12.530) qualified 21st and first in the JSB1000 class on a F.C.C. TSR Honda CBR954RR.

American Jason Pridmore (2:11.851) and Mike Edwards (2:14.354) qualified 22nd overall and second in the Sport Production class on the QB Phase One Suzuki GSX-R1000. Pridmore and Edwards are the normal riders for the World Endurance Series team, QB Phase One.

Fumihisa Asano (2:19.070) and Takeshi Kimura (2:15.084) were 59th fastest overall and fastest of the two Stock Sport entries on their Team Little Wing & Matsu Honda CBR900RR.

Qualifying 66th in the field of 66, and seventh of seven Sport Production teams, was Mike Ciccotto (2:16.880), Kyoichi Kosaka (2:20.226) and reserve rider Dave Estok on the Hermann Verboven Hooters Ti Force Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Saturday’s activities at the Suzuka Circuit include the SuperPole-like Special Stage qualifying.

Friday Qualifying Results:

1. 2:06.660 – Alex Barros, 2:06.660/Yuichi Takeda, 2:09.307, Superbike, Honda RC51
2. 2:07.309 – Akira Ryo, 2:07.593/Yukio Kagayama, 2:07.309, Superbike, Suzuki GSX-R750
3. 2:07.001 – Daijio Kato, 2:07.267/Colin Edwards, 2:07.001, Superbike, Honda RC51
4. 2:07.620 – Makoto Tamada, 2:07.620/Tadayuki Okada, 2:08.722, Superbike, Honda RC51
5. 2:07.922 – Keiichi Kitagawa, 2:07.922/Noriyaso Numata, 2:08.805, Prototype, Suzuki GSX-R1000
6. 2:08.343 – Wataru Yoshikawa, 2:08.926/Takeshi Tsujimura, 2:08.343, Superbike, Yamaha YZF-R7
7. 2:08.945 – Morihiko Fujiwara, 2:09.908/Tekkyu Kayoh, 2:08.945, Superbike, Yamaha YZF-R7
8. 2:08.994 – Ryuji Tsuruta, 2:08.994/Osamu Nishijima, 2:09.153, Superbike, Kawasaki ZX-7RR
9. 2:09.220 – Satoshi Tsujimoto, 2:12.578/Yu-ki Takahashi, 2:09.220, Superbike, Honda RC51
10. 2:09.307 – Yukio Nukumi, 2:10.084/Shinichi Nakatami, 2:09.307, Superbike, Honda RC51

11. 2:09.699 – Doug Polen, 2:09.699/Takahito Mori, 2:18.896, X-Formula, Honda CBR954RR

18. 2:11.392 – Adam Fergusson, 2:11.392/Jordan Szoke, 2:13.497, Sport Production, Suzuki GSX-R1000

21. 2:11.844 – Michio Izumi, 2:11.844/Ken Eguchi, 2:12.530, JSB1000, Honda CBR954RR

22. 2:11.851 – Jason Pridmore, 2:11.851/Mike Edwards, 2:14.354, Sport Production, Suzuki GSX-R1000

59. 2:15.084 – Fumihisa Asano, 2:19.070/Takeshi Kimura, 2:15.084, Stock Sport, Honda CBR900RR

66. 2:16.880 – Mike Ciccotto, 2:16.880/Kyoichi Kosaka, 2:20.226, Sport Production, Suzuki GSX-R1000

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

SBR (Semoff Brothers Racing) won the WERA National Endurance Series 6-Hour at Summit Point Raceway Saturday, beating series points leaders Vesrah Racing by five laps. Army of Darkness finished third overall.

SBR’s Glenn Szarek and Joe Prussiano used a Suzuki GSX-R750 to beat Vesrah’s GSX-R1000 ridden by Mark Junge, Tray Batey and John Jacobi.

Vesrah encounted a quick-change rear axle problem and lost five laps making repairs.

The Army of Darkness GSX-R600 was ridden by Mark Crozier, Jim Williams and Sam Fleming, and finished first in Mediumweight Superbike as well as third overall.

Both SBR and Vesrah competed in the Heavyweight Superbike class.

In Suzuki World Cup qualifying action, David Yaakov and Chris Rankin started on the front row of the heat race to determine starting position and finished one-two, while Jason DiSalvo came from the back of the grid to finish third and earn a front-row starting position. Robert Jensen also came from the back of the grid, and finished fourth, but was disqualified for being underweight and will start Sunday’s final on the back of the grid.

The winner of Sunday’s race earns an all-expenses-paid trip to the Suzuki World Cup to be held next month in France.

Details to follow.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Suzuka Special Stage Qualifying Results:

1. 2:06.577 – Alex Barros, 2:06.577/Yuichi Takeda, 2:09.523, Superbike, Honda RC51

2. 2:06.840 – Colin Edwards, 2:06.840/Daijiro Kato, 2:07.291, Superbike, Honda RC51

3. 2:07.332 – Makoto Tamada, 2:07.332/Tadayuki Okada, 2:09.052, Superbike, Honda RC51

4. 2:07.494 – Akira Ryo, 2:07.792/Yukio Kagayama, 2:07.494, Superbike, Suzuki GSX-R750

5. 2:07.934 – Yukio Nukuni, 2:10.449/Shinichi Nakatomi, 2:07.934, Superbike, Honda RC51

6. 2:08.069 – Wataru Yoshikawa, 2:08.069/Takeshi Tsujimura, 2:08.083, Superbike, Yamaha YZF-R7

7. 2:08.429 – Noriyaso Numata, 2:09.090/Keiichi Kitagawa, 2:08.429, Prototype, Suzuki GSX-R1000

8. 2:08.824 – Morihiko Fujiwara, 2:10.449/Tekkyu Kayoh, 2:08.824, Superbike, Yamaha YZF-R7

9. 2:09.160 – Shinya Takeishi, 2:11.619/Tamaki Serizawa, 2:09.160, Prototype, Suzuki Tornado S1

10. 2:09.433 – Osamu Nishijima, 2:10.491/Ryuji Tsuruta, 2:09.433, Superbike, Kawasaki ZX-7RR

11. 2:09.555 – Satoshi Tsujimoto, 2:12.264/Yu-ki Takahashi, 2:09.555, Superbike, Honda RC51

12. 2:10.237 – Yoshiteru Konishi, 2:10.316/Manabu Kamada, 2:10.237, X-Formula, Honda CBR954RR

13. 2:11.045 – Doug Polen, 2:11.045/Takahito Mori, 2:22.917, X-Formula, Honda CBR954RR

14. 2:11.079 – Shohei Karita, no time/Isami Higushimura, 2:11.079, Superbike, Kawasaki ZX-7RR

15. 2:11.426 – Yoshihiro Konno, 2:12.935/Akira Tamitsuji, 2:11.426, X-Formula, Suzuki GSX-R1000

16. 2:11.154 – Adam Fergusson, 2:11.154/Jordan Szoke, 2:11.927, Super Production, Suzuki GSX-R1000

17. 2:11.550 – Shogo Moriwaki, 2:12.099/Masao Okuno, 2:11.550, X-Formula, Honda CBR954RR

18. 2:11.717 – Osamu Deguichi, 2:11.717/Hiroki Noda, 2:12.610, Superbike, Honda RC51

19. 2:11.972 – Yasuhiko Satoh, 2:15.649/Makoto Tokinaga, 2:11.972, X-Formula, Yamaha YZF-R71

20. 2:12.066 – Kasuhiro Kanayama, 2:22.235/Toshiyuki Hamaguchi, 2:12.066, X-Formula, Suzuki GSX-R1000