Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128165
Formula USAILockhart-Phillips USA Unlimited Superbike Round 4: Mosport International Raceway (Left) Martin (16) ended up beating Connell (6) In the second race, bu1 the French Canadian was disqualified when his motorcycle exceeded the horsepower limit for the class. (RIght) The second race win combined with his win In race one and his victory In the 600cc class made Craig Connell the undlspu1ed "King of Mosport." Lee Acree (Suz); 11. Greg Bokl (Vern); 12. Joe Mosport IlItIlrMtiDnal RaC81nY Bowmansville, DDtIIrlo, Conodo Results: July 20, 2002 Temperato (Su.); 13. Geoff May (Suz); 14. Benoit LOCKHART-PHILLIPS USA UNLIMITED SOPERBIKE RACE ONE: 1. Craig Connen (Suz); 2. Michael Bame. (Suz); 3. Larry Pegram (SOl); 4. Jeff Williams (SU1); 5. Francis MlIrtin (SOl); 6. Michael Taylor (Yam); 7. Michael Himmelsbach (Apr); 8. ErIc Wood (Su.); 9. Clint McBain (Su.); 10. JeanFrancois Cyr (Yam); 1 t. Ugo Levert (SU1); 12. Shawn Higbee (Su.); 13. Georr May (Su.); 14. Joseph Temperato (SU1); 15. Mike Desmarais (SOl): 16. Beno~ Pilon (Vam); 17. Darryn Wilbur (Vam); 18. Joe Spine (SU1); 19. Scott Greenwood (Suz): 20. Chris Murray·Audaln (Yam); 21. Dave Young (SU1); 22. Jerome Plourde (Suz); 23. Tony Boufferd (Suz); 24. Ga.ton Labrie (Suz); 25. Joel McDonald (Vam); 26. Clint Hines (Su.); 27. John Brundl (Hon); 28. Csaba Werner (Suz); 29. Frencls Dubuc (SUI); Jason Smith (SU1); 31. Martin Hamel (Yam); Pauly Sherer (SU1): 33. Zenon Nelson (SOlO: Steve Dufresne (Suz); 35. Victor Paiva (Kaw); 30. 32. 34. 36. Pilon (Yam); 15. Mike Desmarais (SUI); 16. Scott Greenwood (Suz); 17. Joe Spine (Suz); 18. Chris Murray-Audain (Yam); 19. Dave Young (SUI); 20. Phillip Oniste (Suz); 21. Lerry Pegram (Suz); 22. Geston Labrie (Suz); 23. Clint TIme.: 20 mlns., 6 secs. Distance: 16 laps, 39.84 miles. RACE TWO; 1. Craig Connell (5u.); 2. Michael Slimes (Suz); 3. Eric Wood (Suz); 4. Francis Mlirtin (Su.); 5. Jerr William. (Su.); 6. Michael Himmel.bach (Apr); 7. Shawn Higbee (Suz); 8. Jean· Francois Cyr (Y8m); 9. Frank Trombino (Hon); 10. Paiva (Kew)j 29. Peter Marsh (Kaw)j 30. Steve Dufresne (Suz); 31. Dwight Mitchell (MY). rune: 24 mins., 37 sees. Distance: 16 laps, 39.84 miles. Margin or victory; 0.987 sec. LOCKHART-PHILLIPS USA UNLIMITED SUPERBIKE C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After 4 of 8 rounds); I. Craig Connell (I J 1/2 win.); 2. Michael Bames (105); 3. Shawn Higbee (85); 4. ErIc Wood (84); 5. Larry Pegram (63); 6. Michael Himmel.bach (60); 7. Charle. Chouinard (51); 8. Lee Acree (50); 9. Matt Walt (47); 10. Scott Greenwood (46); 11. Christopher Rankin (42); 12. Geoff May (36); 13. De. Conboy (32); 14. Darian Polach (26); Upcoming Rounds; Round 5 - Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, August 4 Round 6 - Long Pond, Pennsylvania. August 25 .Jordan Szoke said that his visa problems should be behind him by the end of the summer. The Branford, Ontario, resident was denied entry to the U.S. just prior to the Sears Point race back at the beginning of May when he was caught in a lie by U.S. Immigration officials. Szoke originally told them he was going to visit a friend in Buffalo, but in a subsequent search of his possessions the officials found a ticket to San Francisco and a race schedule. Szoke said that he needs an E-1 visa, which will be good for three years. and that ~ should be approved by August 28. The Parts Canada Superbike leader said that he'd like to retum to the U.S. and that he had offers from the Austin/Bleu Bayou Ducati team and interest from his Suzuki team, Corona Extra EBSCO Media Suzuki. 'It's where I believe I deserve to be,' he said of the AMA series. 'It's where the best guys in the worid are. Not just Americans, but Australians too.' While pointing out that he didn't want to disparage the racing or level of pay in his native Canada, he said. '1 want to further my career.' Szoke said he was going to race the Suzuka 8-Hours for the Corona Extra team with Adam Fergusson, the Australian who replaced him in the U.S. 'He has a lot of laps at Suzuka. so hopefully we can bring home the Formula Xreme trophy,' Szoke said. Synergy Racing Technology's Matt Wait was forbidden to race by FUSA officials after a crash that sent him to the hospital on Friday. "I trail-braked as far as I could and ran out of pavement: Wait said of the crash which happened in the aftemoon session when the wind had picked up. 'It caught me off guard.' Accord· ing to FUSA and Parts Canada offiCials, Wait was unconscious for five minutes. Wait said he didn't know how long he was out. but that he remembered everything about the crash. Since he'd cue Williams chases Wood In the second race. Wood ended up third with Williams fifth. (25); 18. (TIE) Jeff WiIIlam./James Kerker/Franci. Martin (24). BRIEFLY••• JULv31, 2002' (Suz); 24. Joel 15. (TIE) Mike Nlksa/Jason Smith/Frank Trombino Peter Marsh (Kaw); 37. Dwight Mitchell (MV). 24 Hin~ McDonald (Vam); 25. Pauly Sherer (Suz); 26. Jason Smith (Su.); 27. Martin Hamel (Vam); 28. Victor •• n e suffered a concussion two weeks eariier at a dirt track, FUSA officials thought it prudent to sideline him for one race. Originally, Wait said that his team manager wanted him to be 100 percent for the next race, a dirt rack in two weeks' time in Kentucky, but Wait rode in moming practice on Sunday and wanted to race in the Pro Honda Oils Sportbike race. 'They said I have to wait more than 24 hours to ride,' Wait said. 'It's a big fiasco. I was doing 26 flats [l :26 minute lapsl, no prOblem. I wanted to go out and get some points.' Wait said that he'd brought a note from the doctor at the local hospital, but the officials said it wasn't revealing. '1 should be good from now on. I've got a reason to help me get back. • Who's number one? Shawn Higbee and Frank Trombino, that's who. And since they were in the same races, a method had to be devised to distinguish them. The solution was flags. The Americans had the stars and stripes next to the number on the front of the bike, while the Canadians had the red maple leaf. Parts Canada announced a three-year extension to their spon· sorship of the Canadian Superbike series at Mosport. The premier class Is the Parts Canada National Pro Superbike. The 2002 series marks the end of an era. In '03, the premier class will be dyno-regulated, just like the FUSA Unlimited Superbike ciass. Brooklin Cycle Yamaha's Michael Taylor finished second in the Parts Canada Nationel Pro Superbike race after wearing a hole In the left side of his engine case and sprouting an oil leak. "The new Rl, [the 2003 model] that thing's dynamite, it leans over further. This one we're riding in Superbike [2002 versionl doesn't lean over so far.• Clear Channel won't replace Bill Syfan, the head of the road racing program, instead splitting his responsibilities between For- .... mula USA Event Manager Kenny Abbott and Championship Cup Series Event Manager Kevin Elliott. Abbott said that he and Elliott were responsible for the makeup of the series in 2003 and that they'd discussed a number of options, and would discuss them further with the teams at the Pocono round of the FUSA National Road Race Series. 'We're looking at a lot of different options,' Abbott said. One of them was to make Pro Honda Oils Sportbike the premier class, allowing Superbike-style modifications, and giving them the two-race, $20,000 purse. They've also looked at the rules for World Supersport as an option. "We want Ducatis in the Sportbike class: Abbott said. "We're looking at unlimited modifications for it. As long as it starts with stock parts. you can modify it as much as you want. but you can't replace the parts. We want to restrict the suspension as well. The manufacturers want a class for R&D. The horsepower limit for the class would be raised, if needed. 'We'd do 125: Abbott said. One of the reasons to make the 600s the premier ciass is so that it would fit in better with FUSA Grand National Championship push. allowing dirt track teams to get into road racing without huge outlays. Unlimited Superbikes would have one leg and a $10,000 purse. He also said that they were looking forward to renewing their Buell spon· sorship, though he said there was a possibility of changing it from a spec class to a more open Thunderbike field. After consulting with the teams, Abbott said he hoped to have a rules and class structure announced by September 1. Abbott said that he realized the knocks the series had taken from its various corporate owners over the past three years. 'We've got to get through this year and start from square one,' he said. 'Our main focus is working with the dealers, marketing and promotional work with the manufacturers' and aftermarket suppliers. Though at one time FUSA thought they'd knock the AMA off their perch as the premier road racing series in America. they've since rescaled their plans. 'We're perfectly happy being a feeder series to the AMA,' Abbott said.

