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/128172
Formula USA/Lockhart-Phillips Unlimited Superbike Series Round 7: Portland Inter(1ational Raceway made a wrong tire choice in the flrst race, but changing tires and adjusting the front end transformed the Suzuki GSX-Rl000. "I was able to drive it a lot deeper off the corners, 1 could tum a lot better," he said. "I could hold a line instead of slide." May said he was trying to conserve his tires so he could inch up on the leaders when the race was stopped. "I have a little more motor than those guys; riding a 1000, I have about 30 more pounds of torque," he said. "I can really get off the corners, but I have to conserve the tires. It's like a chess game." Behind Himmelsbach came Eric Wood, who'd survived a tankslapper on the back straight when he was passed on both sides. "I did low sevens [1 :07 minute laps] catching [Michael] Himmelsbach, and just caught him, and got stopped there and trying to figure out how to get around, and the red flag threw," he said. Wood said that he and Lee Acree were catching May and Himmelsbach on the infield, but were getting motored on the straightaways. Acree concurred. He was forced to use his AMA Superstock Suzuki GSXR750 after his FUSA bike made ominous noises in the first race. The AMA bike has less power and different triple clamps. None of that mattered as much as the gearing, which hadn't been changed since the final AMA race at Virginia International Barnes had more problems than the rain. His steering damper had come unbolted early on, and he was watching it flop around on his gas tank. "That was pretty disconcerting, and I dropped back a bit. If I could make it a lap with no steering damper no problem, then I can make it the rest of the race. So I just put it out of my mind. Then it would flop over on the tank and I would put it back where it was supposed to be." Connell saw a dozen spits on his visor and had near crashes in turns one and two, places he'd never had them before. "I think it was a very good decision on their part," he said. Connell wanted to move to the front, but didn't have the package. "Their bikes had some speed on me down the straights. 1 could get there in one and two, and three. As soon as we shot out of four, they just hopped off the comer a little bit better than me." Higbee was just behind Connell and trying to find a way past. "I kind of lost some ground early on and I made that back," he said. "And once I got up there and was right on them, I thought, 'Wow, this is pretty easy.' I had to back it off not to run into them. If I could have figured out a way to get around them, I could have opened up in a couple of areas." Geoff May was fifth, starting to get away from Himmelsbach and Wood, who'd been chasing him since the early laps. The Georgian said he'd Raceway. It forced Acree to ride hard in the corners to catch up, and eventually wear out his front tire. "Riderinduced tire wear," he said. CN PortIend IntamIItion~ lIltc:e.ey PortIend, Oregon Renl1s: September 8, 2002 lRaund 13, 14! RACE ONE: 1. Craig Connell (SUI); 2. Michael Barnes (Suz); 3. Ulrry Pegram (Suz); 4. Shawn Higbee (Suz); 5. Michael Himmelsbach (Apr); 6. Eric Wood (SUI); 7. Brian Parriott (Hon); B. Alan Schmidt (Suz); 9. Geoff May (Suz); 10. Nathan Hesler (Suz); 11. Oliver Jarvis (Kew); 12. Josh Bryan (Suz); 13. Owen Richey (SUI): 14. Micheel Fltzpetrlck (Suz); 15. Nick lenaloch (SUI); 16. Briggs Willoughby (Suz); 17. Lee Acree (SUI); lB. Tyler Scott (Kaw). TIme: 20 mins., 27.597 sees. Distance: t 8 IllPS. 34.56 miles. Average speed: 101.349 mph. Margin of victory: 0.227 sec. RACE TWO; 1. Larry Pegram (Suz); 2. I'Iichael Barnes (Suz); 3. Craig Connell (Suz); 4. Shllwn Higbee (Suz); 5. Geoff MllY (Suz); 6. Michael Himmelsbach (Apr); 7. Eric Wood (Suz); 8. Lee Acree (Suz); 9. Brian Parriott (Hon); 10. Alan Schmidt (SUI); 11. Owen Richey (SUI); 12. Josh Bryen (Suz); 13. Oliver Jervis (Kew); 14. Michael Connell petti and Pegram (rightj celebrate their victories. Pegram earned the Cycle News Holeshot Award. Fitzpatrick (Suz): 15. Nick lenatsch (Suz); 16. Briggs Willoughby (Suz); 17. Nathan Hester (Suz). Tune: 11 mins., 20.370 sees. Distance: 10 Il!IIp:S, 19.2 miles. Average speed; 1 01.592 mph. Margin of victory: 0.389 sees. LOCKHART-PHIWPS UNLIMITED SUPERBIKE C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After 14 of 16 rounds): 1. Craig Connell (210); 2. Michael &mes (199); 3. Shawn Higbee (174); 4. Larry Pegram (165); 5. Eric Wood (153); 6. Michael Himmelsbach (122); 7. Lee Acree (91); B. Geoff May (79); 9. Scott Greenwood (74); 10. Mlltt Welt (67); 1 I. Cherles Chouinard (51); 12. Christopher Rankin (44); 13. Des Conboy (41); 14. TImothy Bemlsderfer (35); 15. Fnmk Trombino (30); 16. Joson Smith (29); 17. (TIE) Josh Retcliffe/Brian Perriott/Darizm Polach (26); 20. I'Iichael Niksa (25). Upcoming Round: Rounds 15/16 - Daytona Beach, Florida, October 20 Formula USA/Pro Honda Oils Sportbike Round 7: Portland International Raceway STORY AND PHOTO BY HENNY RAY ABRAMS TlA!'ID,OR,SEPT.9 relight Suzuki's Craig Connell won the same Honda Pro Oils Sportbike race that Hooters/Mountain Dew Suzuki's Michael Barnes crashed out of. That combination means that Connell all but clinched the Sportbike title with only the final round at Daytona International Speedway remaining. Unless Larry Pegram, second in the title chase now, earns the pole Craig Connell (6) won the Pro Honda Oils Sportblke class at PIR and is on the verge of winning the title after series rival Michael Barnes (34) crashed. 28 SEPTEMBER 18. 2002' C U III • e n e ., !IS