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/128179
Suzuki Cup Final Sprint Races By HENNY RAY ABRAMS PHOTOS BY BRIAN J. NELSON BRASELTON,GA,OCT.27 Ir0JT othing was going to knock the off Mike Smith's face, not the impending darkness, not the rain, not the fact that he'd given a race away. The 36-year-old Georgian was at home at Road Atlanta and happy, surrounded by family, and, thanks to Suzuki, rich, pocketing $8000 in Suzuki Cup Finals cash on the last day of racing at the WERA Grand National Finals. For a rider who didn't think he'd be racing this year, it wasn't a bad day's work. "I didn't think at the beginning of this year I'd make any money this year," said Smith, who first raced the GNF in 1989. "Thanks to my mom and dad [who bought me three motorcycles]; they did all this. I didn't even ask for it. My wife, Suzy, she talked to some guys about me doing a little riding. I've had more fun this year than I've had for a long time.· Smith was at his best in the Suzuki GSX-R750 Cup Final, which he won. He took second in the Suzuki GSXR600 Cup Final, and second again in the Suzuki GSX-R1000 Cup Final, his wallet bulging up with each added podium. In the 750cc race, Smith took advantage of a slight mechanical problem on the Vesrah Suzuki of Tray Batey to make the pass. On the ·final lap, Batey had trouble shifting on the back straight, the momentary delay allowing Smith to draft and hold a superior position in the final turn 11 )1smile 8 NOVEMBER 6, 2002' cue I • sequence. M&M Insurance's Brian Stokes was third, slowed at the end by arm pump. Smith finished second a pair of times, once to SGI's Vincent Haskovec, in the 600cc Cup Final, and again to Roadracingworld.com's John Haner in the 1000cc Cup Final. In the 600cc race, Smith's race was nearly over before it started. Having won his heat race, Smith thought he deserved to be on the pole. Instead he was on the third row, the first rows reserved for the Cup regional winners. His mistake was not checking the grid before the race and he seethed during the race, a rookie error. "The whole race, I was thinking about that, couldn't to put it out of my mind," Smith said. "I'm an amateur in my mind.· Smith still made it close, chasing Haskovec to the line before bobbling in the run up the hill out of turn 11 and losing out by .095 of a second. Stokes was again third. "It was awesome," said Haskovec, who was riding a GSX-R600 borrowed from Corona Light EBSCO Media Suzuki. "I enjoyed it so much. [It's been a] Long time since I had a race like that.· A light rain began to fall late in the 1000cc Cup Final, causing more than a little concern. The rain was spotty, then spread, and everyone had to be aware. Haner took the lead from Smith on the second lap with Smith hanging on for several laps. But in the final few tours Smith lost touch, Haner's win secure. n _ _ os "There was bugs everywhere,· Smith said. "I couldn't tell if it was rain or bugs.· "Suzuki Cup, with the great riders that there are, you know it's going to be close," Haner said after winning by 3.25 seconds. "I just put my head down and kept going forward.· 1-800-FASTLAP's Opie Caylor was third, ready to make his move when the rain came. The race for victory In the 7lSOcc Cup tI.... down to Mike 8InfItI (2) va. T,..y Batey (33). When Batey mluecl a shift on the fIMI lap, Smith took advantlIge to score the victory. ca_ Road Atlanta hosted the WERA Grand National Finals with the Suzuki Cup races headlining the event. In 750cc Cup action, John Haner (971 90t the jump on Mike Smith (2). Tray Batey (331. John Jacobi (591 and the rest of the pack. Batey won the 1000cc Cup Final decisively over the smallest field of the day, just seven riders. Leading all seven laps of the red flag-stopped