Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

At around 1 p.m., as the riders took their positions along the pit wall, a soft breeze rolled through the track with Chuck Graves, Vincent Haskovec, Jeremy Toye, Jack Pfeifer and Pridmore making up the front row of the grid. Moments before the start, the breeze became a dust-kicking wind which decreased visibility along turns eight and nine. The green flag fell, and the race was finally off. Pridmore led off the line. followed by Graves, Haskovec and Pfeifer. The two bikes in the lead wasted no time in peeling away from the rest of the pack. Unfortunately, the wind did cause two crashes in turn eight on laps nine and 14, with no major consequences. Pridmore and Co. continued on undeterred. reeling off laps consistently in the 1:23s. Graves trailed the leader by more than six seconds, but there was no apparent concern: the Graves team had rehearsed and timed their pit stops, and the quickest time for refueling and replacing tires was 17.09 seconds, an impressive indication of the skill level available at Graves Motorsports. Pridmore, still leading with his Attack Suzuki machine, stormed into the pits on lap 25, rejoining the race moments later without a hitch. Graves pitted on the following lap his mechanics, in their elegant blue uniforms. hovering around his Yamaha like a top Formula One team and finishing the task in a respectable 17.08 seconds. Graves Motorsports had the quick-change equipment to make this possible, the wheels slipping from their axles with two quick moves, while the fuel is dumped into the quick-fill tank with unbelievable speed. Less-fortunate teams had to deal with more cumbersome solutions: taking the drive chain off the rear sprocket, realigning the wheel, hammering the axle in and rewiring the front-wheel pins before sending the rider off. Even in a well-oiled team, this takes about a minute. Race officials walked around, watchful, making sure no more than six mechanics hopped over the "hot" side of the pit wall. Curiously, no speed limit was enforced in the pit lane. Kenny Kopecky, the operations manager for the Willow Springs Motorcycle Club, explained that many endurance races - both for cars and motorcycles - have taken place at Willow Springs throughout the years, without incidents. Common sense has already prevailed, said Kopecky, so there's been no need for a pit-lane speed limit. By lap 40, Pridmore was running half a second faster per lap than Graves. Haskovec was posting similar times to Pridmore on his Corona Suzuki, but was running third because of a slower pit stop. In spite of being skillful and experienced, the Corona team did not have the quickchange equipment to compete with Attack Suzuki and Graves Motorsports. Willow Springs RacewllY Rasamond, California Results: September 15, 2002 Formula One: 1. Vincent H8skovec (Suz); 2. Chuck Groves (Vom): 3. Jeremy Toye (502): 4. Jock Pfeifer (Suz); 5. Tommy H8yden (Kaw). Formula Two: 1. Tommy Hayde:" (KlIw); 2. Andrew Nelson (Hon); 3. Robbie Dowie (Suz); 4. Mork WoltS (Hon): 5. Skye G;rord (Vom). 125 Grond Prix: I. PhU Hemn (5uz): 2. 5horyn Namnath (Hon): 3. loren Chun (Hon): 4. John Lee (Hon). 250 Grond Prix: 1. Mork Wotts (Hon): 2. Fronk Aregaki (Yam); 3. Alex White (Hon): 4. Jerrod Monoghon (Vom); 5. Chns Kelley (Apr). 550 Supcrbike: 1. Nick Moore (Hon); 2. Chris Kelley (Apr); 3. Steve Moonitz (Suz); 4. Tim Knutson (Apr); 5. Ryon Hoffmon (Apr). 650 Superbike: I Tommy Heyden (Kew); 2. Robbie Dowie (SUl); 3. Jeff Dixon (Vern); 4. Andrew IAbove) Pridmore was the class of the field on his Attack Suzuki GSX·R1000. IRight) Graves' pit crew was on top of their game, keeping Graves close throughout. IBelow) Tomm, Ha,den gives chase en route to fourth place on his ZXeR. Nelson (Hon): 5. Kenny Kopecky (Yam). 750 Superbike: I. Jeremy Toye (Suz); 2. Frllnk Tommy Hayden, on a less-powerful 500cc Supersport machine, was now an impressive fifth behind Jeremy Toye. Hayden had stated before the race that, for him, it was a lowpressure weekend, and that he simply wanted to put more miles in during the off season. Yet here he was, showing the way for riders with more powerful equipment. The following laps were a lull during which small crowds clustered around the Graves Motorsports and Attack Suzuki pit tents to see the magic hands of their mechanics in action. When would be the next pit stop? By whom? Those questions were answered by Graves on lap 54, his team working even faster than the first time to send him quickly on his way. Their efforts proved fruitless, though, because another competitor lowsided off the track in turn six. It was quickly determined that rider and machine were situated in a dangerous position, so the red flag was called for. The cornerworkers hauled away the fallen machine, whose rider suffered no apparent injuries. The red flag shuffled a few positions around, which helped some of the teams. Corona rider Vincent Haskovec, for instance, found himself on the lead lap once again. His machine was refueled and fitted with Aragaki (Vern); 3. Mlirte Cooksey (Suz); 4. Jeffrey Stem (502): 5 John Folb 111 (502) OpeD Superbike: 1. Jock Pfeifer (Suz); 2. Tyler Paulson (Suz); 3. Stephen Hewitt (Yam); 4. Chllld Jensen (Suz); 5. Howllrd Lynggard (Yam). 500 Modified Production: I. Jeff Pepiot (Vom); 2_ Mel Smith (Vom): 3. Jose Es"ello (Ko.,). 600 Modirled Production: I. Robbie Dowie (Suz); 2. Andrew Nelson (Hon): 3. Jeff Dixon (Vern); 4. Kenny Kopecky (Yam); 5. Sam Camlbucci (Yam). 750 Modified Production: I. Jeremy Toye (Suz): 2. Geoff Moy (502): 3. Corey Eoton (502); 4. Clinton Whitehouse III (5oz); 5. John Folb 111 (502). Open M.odified Production: I. Tom Aquino (Suz); 2. Tyler Paulson (Suz): 3. Kenny Kopecky (YlIIm); 4. Stuart Smith (Suz); 5. Chris Pete (Suz). 500 Super Stock: 1. Jeff Pepiot (YlIm); 2. Mel Smith (Yem): 3. Spencer MlIcGillivrey (Suz): 4. Douglas Sourbeer (KlIw). 600 Super Stock: 1. Vincent Hliskovec (Suz): 2. Jeff Dixon (YlIm): 3. JlIson Perez (Suz); 4. Sem ClImibucci (YlIm): 5. Jemes Mann (Yam). 750 Super Stock: 1. Jeremy Toye (Suz); 2. Vincent Haskovec (Suz); 3. John Chen (Suz); 4. Corey Eaton (Suz); 5. Cllnton Whitehouse III (Suz). Open Super Stock: 1. Vincent Heskevec (Suz); 2. Chuck Greves (Yem); 3. Jeffrey Stern (Suz); 4. Kenny Kopecky (Vom): 5. Chris Poto (Suz)_ BOTT Lightweight: 1. Jose Estrelltl (KlIw); 2. Spencer MacGillivrey (Suz): 3. Joe Olenick (Suz); 4. LllrTy Cochran (Hen); 5. Oougles Sourbeer (Kew). BOTT Mlddle.,eight: I. Dove Compbell (BMW): 2. Marlon Iberra (Duc); 3. Pete Eilts (Yern); 4. Rick MlIY (Suz): 5. Cherles Burnett (Hon). BOTT Heavyweight: 1. Joson Perez (Suz); 2. Stuart Smith (Suz); 3. Rick Spampinllto (Hon); 4. Jody Hendley (H·D): 5. Dove Compbell (BMW)_ 500 Singles: t. DlInny Farnsworth (Hon): 2. DlIvid Piper (Vern). 660 Singles: I. l.8rry Cochran (toton). Formula Singles: I. M Bcnjemin Welch (YlIrn); 2. Uoyd Johnson (Duc); 3_ Jeff Rheoume (502). Formula Twins: 1. Jason Perez (Suz): 2. Cilludio Szyszkowski (Due); 3. Rick Spampinato (Hon); 4. 5tuort Smith (502); 5. Jody Hendley (H-D). Formula Forty Ughtweight: 1. Kenny Kopecky (Yam); 2. Robert Campbell (Kaw); 3. Mllirk Hargis (Vom): 4. Alex White (Hon); 5. Ron Northup (Vom). Formula Forty Heavyweight: 1. Tom Aquino (SU1): 2. Jeffrey Stern (Suz); 3. Denny Ledesma (Suz); 4. Clinton Whitehouse (Suz); 5. Stephen Hewitt (Vom). Formula Fifty: I. David Molitor (Suz); 2. Chris Cro.,ell (Hon): 3. Robert Cole (502); 4. John Bolley (Duc); 5. Ko;th G;glio (Vom). Ught.,eight Vintoge: I. Aoron Borry (Vom): 2. Jim Dobson (Yam); 3. Craig Beecher (Yam): 4. Marvln Swenson (RZ); 5. David Piper (Yom). Heavywelg:ht Vintage: I. De!nnis Fryer (Hon); 2. Jim Dobson (Yern); 3. Scott Febbro (Suz); 4. Russ Lomllnto (Han). Aprilia ChaUenge: 1. Nick Moore (Hon): 2. Tim Knutson (Apr); 3. Ryan Hoffman (Apr): 4. Chris Kelley (Apr): 5. Donold Uboscl (Apr). Solo GT-Ught; l. Chris Kelley (Apr); 2. 5te.e Moonitz (SU1); 3. line Kelley (Apr): 4. Mel Smith (Yam); 5. Jamie Lenore (Apr). Solo GTO: 1. StulIrt Smith (Suz): 2. Howard Lynggord (Vom); 3. Joy Avonslno (Vom); 4_ Tyler Peulson (SOl); 5. Keith Giglio (Ytlm). Solo GTU: 1. MlItthlas Jezek (Yam); 2. Mark HlIrgis (Yem); 3. Ron Norll)up (Yam); 4. Jeff Longbottom (Yom); 5. TIm Mortlnez (Hon). 0·500 Ughtweight Novice: 1. Joel Mtlnes (Hon); 2. Richard Sedler (Hon); 3. Deen Nguyen (Hon); 4. Mork Wilson (Vom). 501-650 l'Iiddle.,elght Novice: I. l'Iichoel CHne (Vom): 2. Alberto Orozco (Vom); 3. Jody Cummings (Yam): 4. Todd Clark (Yam); 5. Alvero Perelrtl (Hon). 6S1-0pen Heavyweight Novice: 1. Darrin Brightman (Suz); 2. Devld Behrend (Hon): 3. Mike Okano (Suz); 4. JlIson Theye (SU1); 5. Michael Mortln (Vom). new rubber - and he was ready for a fight. Teams with slower pit equipment were able to close the gap and refresh their bikes, without having to worry about their times. In any case, pit strategy, so closely guarded by some of the teams, was not a factor in the end. They were off, once again, and Graves made a great effort in the next few laps, running his fastest times. He opened a two-second gap on Pridmore, posting his best time on lap 59 - a 1:22.073, within one thousandth of a second off eventual winner Pridmore's best - it was clearly a close fight. However, only a few laps later, the Attack Suzuki racer was able to reel him in. By lap 52, Pridmore was once again uncontested in first place as he slowly began to increase his lead. There were few changes after that and at the end only three racers were on the lead lap. Pridmore took the win followed by Graves and Haskovec in third. Hayden, who had stolen fourth place from Toye after the restart, kept it until the end. Once on the podium, Pridmore confessed that his biggest concern had always been Graves. "\ kept thinking, 'If I can beat Chuck,'" he said, "'\ can win this thing.'" CN cue I .. n e 1N 'IS • OCTOBER 2, 2002 37

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