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/128228
Estok heads into the final two races with a 33-point lead, 93-60, over Harding Harley-Davidson's Bryan Bemisderfer, an eventual third today. Second today went to Mike Ciccotto on a nearly stock Buell. The Hal's Performance team had brought him to Topeka to do some testing on the XB-9 during the 200-Mile Team Challenge and this race. They also thought he could help teammate Dan Bilansky in his fight for second in the championship. "It has a stock shock, stock fork; we still have the belt drive," Ciccotto said. "We had to take the kickstand off it to race it." As Estok disappeared, the battle for second formed up among Ciccotto, defending class champion Jeff Johnson, Bilansky and Bemisderfer. First out was Johnson, his Buell smoking early before it became terminal on the fifth lap. Bilansky had the strongest bike. He was able to pull away on the straights with Ciccotto taking it back in the corners. "Mike Ciccotto is very good in the corners; he's a phenomenal cornerspeed rider," Bilansky said. "He came around me once, and I got right back around him on the straightway [on the fourth lap]. and I never looked back again. I just kept my head down. If I gapped him, I gapped him. I don't know if I even put a gap on him. I just kept my head down after that point." Ciccotto was happy with third. "His bike's a lot faster on the straightway," Ciccotto said. "My bike carries good corner speed. It's stock off the showroom floor, and it's able to run with these bikes that are pretty tricked out with the right rider on it. I could run up on him, but I knew he would drive me to the line." Bemisderfer was up to second as late as the 11 th lap. Then he dropped back a spot, then another. But that's not where he'd finish. Bilansky's Buell exceeded the class-mandated horsepower limit by .1 of a horsepower, the punishment three positions. So Bemisderfer was third, Ruthless Racing's Darren James fourth and Bilansky fifth. eN Heartland Par1l Topeka, Kansas Results: August 10, 2003 (Round 51 THUNDERBIKE: 1. Dave Estok (Sue); 2. Mike Ciccotto (Sue); 3. Bryan Bemisderfer (Sue); 4. Darren James (Bue); 5. Daniel Bilansky (Sue); 6. Charles 5ipp (Sue); 7. Joseph Rozynski (Sue): 8. Brian Lacy (Sux); 9. Ray Bowman (Suz); 10. Keith Brewer (Han); 11. Steve Harsemeyer (Han); 12. Greg Avella (Sue): 13. Rhiannon Lucent (Han); 14. Ed Key (Suz); 15. Richie Morris (Sue); 16. Jeff Harding (Sue); 17. Jeff Johnson (Sue): 18. Steve Kessenich (Su,). THUNDER BIKE C'SHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 5 of 7 rounds): 1. Dave Estok (93); 2. Bryan Bemisderfer (60); 3. (TIE) Daniel Bilansky/Joseph Rozynski (52); 5. Arthur Wagner (39); 6. Derek Keyes (31); 7. Ray Bowman (30): 8. (TIE) Ed Key/Jeff Johnson (27); 10. Charles Walter Sipp (26): 11. Rick Doucette (21); "12. (TIE) Mike Ciccotto/Jerry Wood (20); 14. (TIE) Brian Lacy/Richie Morris (18); 16. Steve Keener (16); 17. Darren James (15); 1a. (TIE) Bob Portzsch/Ray Silika/David White/Jason Scott Smith (11). Upcoming Rounds: Round 6 - Summit Point, West Virginia, September 7 Round 7 - Daytona Beach, Florida, October 19 -----------------------------------------------~~ o o o arne Address City _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ State Phone o Zip Order Date YES! Start my subscription immediately to Cycle News. 1 year/50 issues for $45.00. (can be billed 2 monthly payments) Every week for two years (1 00 i~sucs for $80.00) Six months second class (25 issues for $23.(0) This is il .J New Subscription ;:) Renewal Send to: ~ IlIl.W/II, Inc. o o o P.O. Box 5084, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-5084 Toll Free Subscription Hotline (800) 831-2220 24-hour FAX Order Line (714) 751-6685 • E-mail: Subscribe@cyclenews.com Signature Please bill me 1 pilyment of $45.00 Bill 2 payments of $22.50 = Enclosed is my check or money order Charge my 0 Visa o _ Mastercard VISA Onl' yl'Olr (SO .""uo:.'S). 2nd class Canada or MCJlico MC/Visa# ~:::.I~~1~l~7;~~~i:;7L:au::I~~':J:9u2~,(~~:L~~.d:».ISI Expiration Date ~-----------------------------------------------~-~ cue I e n e vv s