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 S po rtB lke Se ries Scot t Harw ell. Iiortynlltely, St9kes walked away, as did Harwell , on his way to the biggest margin of victory of the day, 6.879 seconds after I2 laps, 42 .72 miles of racing at Daytona International Speedway. "We' ve been behind the curve all week long," said Harwell, who wo rked some of the kinks out in the Championship Cup Series races . "We brought brand -new bikes, brand -new Dunlop tires, brand- new suspension. We're just trying to get on the curve ." This was the first race for the newest F-USA class . Open to 750cc Iiquidcooled four-cylinders and liquid-cooled 1000cc twins , along wit h ot he r configurat ions - they can make no more than 140 horsepower and we igh no less than 375 pounds at the e nd of the race - it's week at the frOnt 0 it fourrider pack. Just beh ind were Joe Ribeiro and Champion Racing Team's Marco Martinez, with Schaumburg Audi's Brian Hall in sixth - all Suzuki mounted . There was shuffling in the order until the sixth lap, when Martinez solidified his position in second in front of Ribeiro , with McGarity next and Kevin Gordon now closing in. But it wo uldn't last. Ribeiro made his way to second on the ninth lap. dropping Martinez to fifth behind McGarity. By the I Ith lap Martinez was up to third , and Go rdon had made the chase group a quartet. Then it was Martinez into second on the I Ith lap , the pair pulling away, the o rder changing again in the chicane. Martinez started the final lap out DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL l"PlEDWAY BEACH, FLORIDA RESULTSI FEBRUARY 29, 2004 (ROUND 1 Of 6) D~YTONA F-SPT/BK : I. Scott Harwell (Suz); 2. Joe Ribeiro (5uz): 3. Marco Martinez (St.a:) 4. Kevin Gordon (Suz) ; S. ; John McGarity (5U2); 6. Brian Hall (5uz); 7. Dave Rosno (Yam); 8. David Tullier (5uz); 9. Jay Scott Quick (Suz); 10 . John Farr ell (5uz); I I. Michael Casey (5uz); 12. Matt Malte re r (Suz); 13. Gary Berbaum (Duc); 14. Brian Stokes (Suz). Time: 22 min., 35 .113 sec . Distance : 12 laps, 42.72 mHes Ave rage speed: 113.490 mph Margin of victory: 6.879 sec. f -SPT/BK C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS (Ah., I of 6 rounds): I. Scon Harwell (25); 2. Joe Ribeiro (20); 3. Marco Mart ine z (16); 4. Kevin Gordon ( I]); S. John McGarity (I I); 6. Brian Hall ( 10); 7. Dave Rosno (9); 8. David Tullier (8); 9 . Jay Scott Q uick (7) ; 10. John Farrell (6); II . Michael Cas ey (S); 12. Matt Malterer(4) ; 13. Gary Berbaum (3); 14. Brian Stokes (2). UP COMING ROUNDS: Round 2 . E lkhort loke, Wisconsin, April 25 Round 3 . Summit Point, West V irginia, May 31 Ernie Harwell leads Brian Stokes just as Stakes starts his highside crash in Formula Sportbike action at Daytona. _ 34 MARCH 10,2004 • CYCLE NEWS 40th Anniversary