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/128314
Formula USA SportBlke Series Racing's Michael Barnes, whose Yamaha's transponder was closer to the beam . "I knew he was there," Rapp said of the veteran and fast closing Barnes. "I'm glad I beat him. This is his home track, so it feels good to beat Barney here ." Barnes has successfully made the run from the chicane to the finish stripe as often as any rider, but he realized too late that his gearing was wrong. " I had the draft set up perfectly and came up beside [Rapp] and hit the revlimiter," Barnes said. Third went to Rapp's teammate, Chr is Peris in his F-USA deb ut for the Valvoline EMGO Suzuki team . The entire front row had used the Champ ionship Cup Series races to work out the bugs on their new rides . Michael Barnes, who was on the pole, won a pair of CCS sprints , as did second fastest Larry Pegram. Then came Peris, the lone Suzuki on the front row, and Robert Jensen, another Yamaha. Pegram got the holeshot, but it was Jeff Wood (9) ended up fourth, holding off too good , F-USA officials believed, and Mike Himmelsbach (10) but not Rapp (5 ). he was given a stop-and-go penalty. t was no t immediately cle ar who won the Formula USA SportBike race . Two riders crossed the line as one ; one appear ing to be in the lead, the other's transponder tripping the timer sooner. The wait to determine a w inner seemed inter minable, not only for the riders and their crews, but for the fans as well. In the end the winner was the rider who appeared to cross the line first, Valvoline EMGO Suzuki's Steve Rapp, by a margin of .002 of a second over Prieto I 32 MARCH 10,2004 • CYCLE NEWS His race was over before it began. Barnes took control of the race in the second horseshoe on the first lap, Peris, Jensen and Pegram close by, Rapp and Bettencourt's Jeff Wood next up. It was on the third lap that Pegram got the meatball flag. By now he was fourt h behind Rapp, who would move by teammate Peris out of the chicane. The top four left the field behind with Wood settling into a secure fifth. Out front, Barnes maintained his spot, with Rapp mostly second, though Jensen moved up at one point. And on the eighth lap the Suzukis both went by Barnes on the back straight. Barnes would next take the lead entering the chicane, Rapp stealing it back, the pair soon to lose a member of the pack. Jensen crashed exiting the West End Horseshoe on the 10th lap. He was taken to the infi eld medical center but was not believed to have suffered serious injuries. That left three riders at the front , the Suzukisof Rapp and Peris sandwiching the Yamaha of Barnes. On the final lap, Barnes led the trio onto the banking, Rapp and Peris in close . Then Rapp led out of the chicane, giving Barnes the chance to make the draft pass. His gearing wouldn't allow it. "I haven't been drafting all week and hadn't run with these guys," Barnes said after losing by half a wheel width . "In hindsight, we should have gone taller two teeth [taller on the rear sprocket, rathe r than one tooth] ." Rapp said that on the last lap he decided to get out front and go. "Sometimes ifyou're in front, you can get stuck behind lappers; you never know. If you're leading, at least you can see what's happening in front of you. I justwent for it, and it worked ." Peris was an interested observer but a 40th Anniversary little too far back to challenge for the win after getting held up by a backmarker exiting the infield . "I was able to get enough momentum to catch back up, but I got stuffed again into the chicane, and I lost my chance to draft them ," the Canadian said. "I'm happy as you can be to get up on the podium finally." Wood was alone in fourth while the battle for fifth raged beh ind him. Reigning class champion Scott Greenwood and his Argo Cycles Yamaha R6 passed Himmelsbach Racing's Mike Himmelsbach on the I I th of 12 laps to take fifth, Himmelsbach sixth. Shawn Conrad took seve nth on the I Ith lap , t hen came Je ss Janisch , Team Celtic Racing's Des Conboy (Yam) , and then Millenni um Technologies' Danny Eslick. eN DAYTONA INTIRNATIONAL SPEEDWAY DAYTONA BEACH, fLORIDA RESULTS: fEBRUARY 29, 2004 (ROUND 1 OF 6) SPT/Bf<, I. Steve Rapp (Suz); 2. Mkhael Barnes (Yam); 3. Chris Pens (Suz); 4. Jeff Wood ('(am ); S. Scott Greenwood (Yam); 6. Mike Himmel sbach (Yam); 7. Shawn Conrad (Yam ); 8. J"" Janisch; 9. Des Conboy (Yam); 10. Danny Eslick (Suz); I I. Dave Rosna (Yam); 12. N ick Cumm ings (Hon); 13. JOOno Bowman (Yam) ; 14 . Hikon Hincks (Yam) ; IS. Larry Pegram (Yam); 16. Scott HMWeIi (Suz); 17. Ben Walters (Yam); 18. William Card (Hon ); 19. Scott Ackerman (Kaw) ; 20. Richard Britt on (5uz); 21. William Me ye rs (Yam) ; 22. Nah un Alvarez (Hon); 23 . Jason Smith (Yam); 24. David Ebben (Yam); 25. Hect or Moreno (Ho n); 26 . Brian Sto kes (Suz); 27. Kevin Mays (Yarn); 28 . Derek Keyes (Yam) ; 29 . Justin Mann (Yam) ; 30. GregOl'"f ludt (Yam); 31. Damn Klemens (Kaw) ; 32. Chad Smith (Suz); 33. Dafan Zhang (Yam); 34. CaesarGonzales (Kaw); 35. Pat Bames (Kaw); 36. Dwayne Lang (Kaw); 37. Kyle Tseng (Yam) ; 38 . Daniel Conv e rtino (Kaw); 39 . Willi m a Stoltz (Suz); 40 . Dirk Sanc he z (Kaw); 4 1. Dan Ortega (Yam); 42 . Brian Baker (Suz); 4 3. Barrett Long (Yam); 44 . Robert Je nse n (Yam); 45. Bobby Hilliard (Yam); 46 . Jared Ross (Suz). Time: 22 min .• 39 .872 sec. Distance: 12 laps. 42.72 miles Average speed: 113.09 3 m ph Margin of victory: .00 2 sec . SPT/BK C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After I of 6 roun ds) : I . Steve Raw (25 ); 2. Micha e l Barnes (20) ; 3. Chris Peris ( 16); 4. Jeff Wood (13); S. Scott Green wood ( I I); 6. Mike Him me lsbach ( 10); 7. Shawn Conrad (9); 8 . Jess Janisch (8); 9. De< Conboy (7); 10. Danny Eslick (6); I I. Da ve Rosno (5); 12. N ick Cu m mings (4 ); 13. Joh no Bow man (3); 14. Hilton Hincks (2); IS. Larry Pegram ( I). UPCOMING ROUNDS; R 2 . Elkhart loke, Wisconsin, April 25 ound R 3 . Summit Point, West Virginia, May 31 ound