Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Cycle News 2002 06 26

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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Formula USA National Road Race Series Round 3: New Hampshi STORY AND PHOTOS BY HENNY RAY ABRAMS LOUDON, NH, JUNE 16 t was billed, somewhat dubiously, as the 79th Loudon Classic, and it had all the markings of a June race at New Hampshire International Speedway. There was rain, there were complaints about safety, there was griping about the sanctioning body, there were red flags, and there was a strong showing by the local riders. But there were no AMA factory riders, which, for the spectators at least, turned out to be a good thing, because most of the AMA factory riders don't race at NHIS in the rain and Formula USA riders do, at least most of them. So when the rain began to fall - lightly at first, then harder - in the first leg of the Lockhart-Phillips USA Unlimited Superbike Series, the race was stopped, rain tires were fitted, and racing resumed. The only rider to vote with his conscience was Arclight Racing's Lee Acree, who wasn't sure Loudon was safe in the dry, but was certain it wasn't suitable in the wet. Chuck Chouinard disagreed. The burly New Englander splashed O 24 JUNE 26, 2002' E: U E: I • International Speedway (Above) Michael Bame. (34) lead. the wet and wild first of two Formula USA Unlimited SupertJlke round. at New Hampshire International Speedway. Barnes I. being chased by Scott Greenwood (bIdden), Chuck Chouinard (bidden) and Craig Connell (8). (Right! Chouinard was the rain man at Loudon, and he came away with victories In both races at hi. home racetrack. through wet qualifying on Saturday to take the pole position. "I'm going to do a rain dance tonight," Parkway Cycles Suzuki GSX-R750-mounted Chouinard said, jokingly perhaps, but not entirely. When the first race was stopped, on the eighth of 20 laps, Chouinard was near the front. When it restarted, he made his way to the front, winning the first leg easily and repeating in the second for a sweep on the 1.6mile road course before a rainsoaked and shivering crowd of diehards that looked to be less than 1000 strong. For the Massachusetts resident, and Loudon veteran, it was vindication for the treatment he received by the AMA after finishing second in the n e vv s

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