Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

lea d for t he n e xt two la p s . Acree wou ld then lead the next s even la ps , until Spies make a pass for the lea d a g a in going into t u rn seven on the final lap . Acree us ed a good drive o ut of seven to re -pa s s Spi e s in his draft . Th e two n e a rly ca me t o ge t he r as they raced at over 140mph down th e long back straight. "As I drafted pa st Ben I felt th e air pull us together," Acree said. "I do n' t th ink we touched , but I know it m ade Ben run into th e grass." For all but th e final la p , Acree a nd Sp ies t u rned ide nt ica l la p times in th e 1:29 s e c ond rang e . Bria n Gibbs fo llo we d the lead d uo fo r the e ntire race , fina lly losing a bit of ground on t he la s t lap . The best ra c e was fo r fo urth pla c e. Five r id er s ran in a pack fo r the e nt ire 1O-Iap e vent. Vesra h Racing 's Mark Junge , Ma rie tta Mo to rsports-backed Opie Caylor , S hogu n Motorsports teammat es Bria n Stoke s and Ryan Landers and Mike d e Brab a n t all battl ed for th e position with a wild dash to the finish tha t saw the m five -wide approa ching th e finis h line . Caylor took the fourth spot with Ju nge finish ing fifth . Aft er the ra c e was finished , th e drama b egan . Th e Suzuk i Cup h a s st rict limits on wei g ht a nd hor sepowe r. A 6 0 0cc GS X· R mu st wei g h a t bs, and can 't p rod uce m ore lea st 3601 th an 99 hors epow e r. Unf ortunatel y for Gibbs , hi s bi ke t e ste d ove r th e limit, and he was di squa lified . Thi s di squ alifi cation p u t C a y lo r on t h e pod ium and m o ved Ry an Land ers into the to p five . SVSSO For the 2 0 0 0 season , American Suzuki a dded Lightweight Twins to the long list of road ra ce classes th e y s up port . Suzu ki's ligh tweight twin is the S V65 0 - a bike th a t h a s ra p id ly g rown in p o pul a ri t y s ince it w as intr odu c ed for t he 1999 s eas on . Pro o f of thi s was th e 20 -b ike gri d , more th an th e TLI OOOR o r the GSX R600 classe s . Arcli ght Suzu ki team mates Lee Acre e a nd S cott Harwell e stablish ed th em s el v e s as con tenders despite having very lim ited seat time o n the bike , both having only ra ced the bik e o nce bef or e . A cree beg an h is w e ek e nd b y c ra s hing his SV650 in turn three du ring Wednesda y's first ro und of pra c tice. "T h e re wa s clay o n th e t ra c k ," Acre e said . "By th e t ime I s a w it , the rear was alr eady comi ng around . The bi k e hi gh -sid ed m e , there wasn 't mu ch I could do . There was lim ited damage. " Acree responded by ta king a run a wa y victory in th e WERA Sports man Na tional Champ ionship for Lig htweight Twins . He then looked to b e th e od ds- o n favorite to win th e Cup Fina l a s well, bu t he wo uld need to do well in th e six- la p h e a t race schedu led fo r Saturday. Im prove he did . Acree exploded off th e s ixth row, and by the time the fiel d ca m e into sight at the completion of lap on e , he had already mad e hi s way t o the front. A brief battle w ith Da vid Ya a ko v ensued , but Acree e ve ntua lly won the heat by m or e th an a second. The front -row com ba ta nts dis ta nced th emselv es from th e rest of th e field , se tti n g up wh a t would b e a gr e a t thre e-wa y battl e fo r th e $25 0 0 winner' s c heck. When th e final sta rte d, Ac ree and Yaa kov lo ok ed t o b e re a d y to ru n away fro m Le d e s m a , who had s uffered a poo r sta rt a nd go tten s tuck in traffic . " I g ot held u p by someo ne at firs t," Led e sm a said . "I could see Lee a nd Dav e getting away , a nd I knew I cou ld run wit h th em. So when I got around that guy , I put my he a d down and tried to catch t hose guys ." As Acree and Yaakov battled fo r th e lead , Le de s m a made up nearly a two-second ga p. When he c aught the le ad du o , he battled for second pla ce with Yaakov . Unfo rtunate ly it slowed th em d own , and Acre e would tak e a d v a n t a g e and get a wa y . Acre e e ve ntua lly won th e ra c e by 3. 5 sec o nds . " Da ve was push in g m e hard ," Acree said . "Th en wh en Mark ca ught up to us , th e two of them beg a n to battle , which let me get a way . If th e y wo ul d have sta yed s ing le fi le, t he re su lts might have bee n d iffe re nt." Th e battle for second co ntinued to h eat up . Ledesm a a n d Ya ak ov exch a ng ed positi ons at le ast 15 to 20 times over the last five la ps . "I did n 't want to lead the wh it e-fl a g lap , " Ledesma said. "S o I jus t follow ed him aro und a nd wa ited to t ry my first optio n , [o ut -bra king him into the ch ica ne ] a nd if that d idn 't wo rk , I wa s goi n g to g et h im co mi ng d o wn t h e h ill a nd be at h im to the start-fin ish , but luck ily th e firs t o ption wo rked. " Round ing o u t th e t op fi ve we re Rob ert Fisher a nd Robert Michael, who had a great battle of th eir own , with Fish er winning by a whee l a t th e line. GSX ·R7S0 More tha n 35 bikes enter ed th e Final, sett ing up a wild 10 -lap d a sh for the winner's $5000 c he c k . In th e qualifying heat ra c e , fo ur riders had distan ced th ems elves fro m th e rest of the pack. Va lvoli ne EMGO Suzuk i' s Ben S p ies, Eb s c o Me d ia ' s J imm y Moore , Hoot er s Suzu ki' s Mike Cico tto and Arclight Ra cin g 's Lee Acre e had pla ced th emselv es in a cla ss a ll the ir own. In th e 750 Final th e re would be a three -rider battle to th e e nd . Acree, Moore , and Cicotto jumped out to an ea rly lead a nd stretched out a nearly two -second lead ove r fourthand fifth- pl aced Br ian Gi bbs and Spies. The o nly hope for Sp ie s and Gibbs wo uld be fo r th e fro nt g rou p to battl e a n d s low ea c h othe r d o wn . Un fo rtun a t e ly fo r S p ie s and Gib b s , Geo rgia resident Edwa rd Cobb w o n eight races ov er t he course of t h e Grand National Final s weekend. He may b e one t o keep an eye o n . the vetera n tri o we nt sing le file for all but the la st la p. Cic otto le d the first fou r la p s , a nd t he n Acree led th e final six . " I h ad h op e d I cou ld jump out fron t a nd get a gap ," Ciccotto said. "Aft e r three laps , I hadn 't gapp ed th em , s o I decided to ease up and conserve my tires ." Acre e , who had already taken wins in th e GSX -R600 and SV650 finals , a nd a second in th e T L1OOOR ra c e , s trug g led early. But he qui ckl y g ot up to s peed and latched on t o Ciccotto 's dr aft. "I re all y had to concentrate on m y b ra ke m ark ers ea rly , " Ac ree sa id . "Yo u ca n de fin ite ly go a lo t de eper o n th e SV6 5 0 th an you c an o n th e 750 . Th a t 750 is definitel y c a pa ble of ca rry ing a litt le b it m ore s peed of f th e ba c k st ra ight." On c e in th e le a d Acre e wouldn 't b e d eni ed . In th e e n d it would b e Acr ee winn ing his third tim e , in four r a c e s . Moor e to ok se cond and exp la ine d that it was probabl y a ca ll in th e pits that put him on the second step of the box . "I think I pretty mu c h had th os e boys covered e v e ry wh e re on th e t rac k b ut th e st raig hta way," Moo re s aid . "I'm not com plain ing . It was a ca ll we m a de befor e the ra c e to keep t he b ik e ' s h or s ep ow e r in t he sa fe range, and I thi nk th at re all y wa s th e dec iding fa ctor. " Brian Gibb s and Ben Spie s cont inued their battle for fourth a ll th e wa y to the la st lap with Gib b s narrowl y edg ing out Sp ies. eN Ja n se n; 2 1. M a nny Man us ut ha ki s: 22 . Mark Ledesma ; 23 . Benjamin Bake r; 24 . Rich Conice lli: 25 . Mauro Cerede : 26 . Shane Clarke : 27 . J ason Smi th : 28 . Tra vis King; 29 . Sco tt Bro wn; 30 . Mark Edwards; 31. Chad Simons ; 32. J ames Rom ero. W ERA /G MD CO UMPU T RA CK NA TI O N AL ENDURA CE SERIE S. OVERALL: 1. A ,c1ight (S U2): 2. Team Pennzoil (Suz); 3. A rmy of Darkness (Suz); 4 . Loudo un Motorsports (Suz); 5. Paramo unt Raci ng (Suz); 6. Velocity Crew Racing (Sua): 7. Cycle Speed Racing (Yam ): 8. Fi restorm Racing (Suz); 9 . Leaning Li zard Racing ( K aw); 10. Neighbo r o f th e Bea st ( SU2). Heavyweight Sup erbi ke : I . A rclig ht (Suz); 2. Cycl e Speed Racing (Suz): 3. Ridge Racing (Kaw ): 4 . DRS Racing (Suz): 5. Carly le Racing (Suz). H eavyw eigh t Super sport : 1. Team Penn zoil (Su z}: 2 . l oud oun Mot orspo r ts (S u z); 3 . J £, J Moto rsport s (Kaw): 4. Rapid Transi t (Hon); 5. Rot a Mot o (Hon) . i M. ddlewe igh t Sup erbike: 1. A rm y of Dark ness (Suz): 2. Paramo unt Raci ng (Suz): 3. Velocity Crew Racin g (SUl ): 4. Firestorm Racin g (Suz); 5. l eani ng Lizard Raci ng (Ka w) . M idd lew eigh t Sup er sp ort : 1. Neighbor of the Beast (Suz); 2. Team Chicag o (Yam); 3. powersport heaven.co m (Yam ): 4. mo to -heeve n.co m (Yam); 5. Rage Raci ng (Hen} . WERA NATIONAL CHA LLEN GE SERIES 12 5 c c Grand Prix: 1. J ason Peters ( Hon ) ; 2 . Chr is Pyles (Hon) : 3, Richard Capobianco ( Hon) : 4 . J ohn Hjelm (Hon); 5. Tim Carroll (Han ). 600c c Production : 1. Ed ward Cobb (Suz) ; 2 . Michael Garofa lo (Hon ): 3. Barry Pailes (Suz); 4 . Paul Aa lderk s (Kaw); 5. Chad Sm ith (Hon). 600cc Superb ike: 1. Edw ar d Cobb (Suz) ; 2 . Mic hael Gar ofalo ( Hon); 3 . Cha d Sm ith { Hen} : 4 . Robert Hilla rd (Yam ); 5 . Charles Ivey (Hon). 600 c c Sup er st o ck : 1. Lee Acree (Suz ) : 2 . J oseph Temperato( Yam ): 3. Scott Brown ( Yam ); 4 . Bria n Stokes (SUl): 5. Ryan Landers (Suz) . 750cc Produ ction: 1. Edward Cobb (Suz); 2. Jeff McCo m mons (Suz); 3 . Mic hael Garofalo (Hon); 4 . Paul Aal derks (Kaw): 5 . Ryan Meskim en (5 02). 75 0 cc Su per bi k e: 1. Edwa rd Co bb (S uz); 2 . Ryan Mesk im en (Sua): 3. Robert Hill ard (Suz); 4 . Shawn Thom pson (SUl) ; 5. Shannon Moh am (Yam ). 750cc Su perstock : 1. l ee Acr ee (502); 2 . Ben Spies (SUl ): 3. Wade Buffington (Suz); 4 . Jamie Lane (Suz); 5. Curry Justice (Suz) . Formula 1: 1. T imothy Bemisderfer (Yam ) ; 2. J ami e Lane (Suz); 3. Douglas Duan e (Suz) ; 4. A ndy Caldwell (Suz); 5. Scott Carpenter (Yam ). Formu l a 2 : 1. Ben Sp ies (Suz ): 2 . J o seph Tem p erato ( Yam) ; 3 . Mike Mas hewske (Kaw ) : 4. Scott Gardn er (Yam ): 5. Stacy Summers (Hon) . Heavyw eight Tw ins Expert : 1. Tray Batey (Suz); 2. Scott Harwell (SUl) ; 3. Bill 51. John ( Due) ; 4 . Russell Masecar (Suz): 5. Terry Even s (Suz). Hea vywe ight Twi n s Novice: 1. Bre nt De lay (SU2); 2. Bryo n Dumas (Apr); 3. Mark Hale (SU2) : 4 . Michael Fields (Sua): 5. James Sullivan (Suz). Open Su p er s t oc k : 1. Ti m o th y Bemi sde rfer ( Yam); 2 . Tray Batey (Suz) ; 3 . Wade Buffi ngton (Suz); 4 . Scott Brown (Yam) ; 5. Jamie Lane (Suz). WERA SPO RTSMAN SERIES ; 125cc Grand Pri x: 1. Ja son Peter s (Han ); 2. Chris Pyles (Han) ; 3. Mike Kinzer (Han); 4 . Richard Capo bianco (Han); 5. Patrick Chandler (Han. A Superst ock : 1. Tim othy Bemisderfer (Yam): 2. Tra y Batey (Sua): 3. Wade Buffington (Suz); 4 . Lee Acr ee (SOl ); 5. Byron Barbo ur (Suz). B Produ ction: 1. Edward Cobb (SUl); 2. C. R. Gittere (Suz): 3. Michael Garofalo (Hon ); 4. Edward Rusnak (Yam ): 5. Jamie Thompson (SUl ). S Superbike Exp er t : 1. Chr is Ca yl or (SUl); 2 . Wade Buf fing to n (Suz) ; 3. Curry Justice (Suz) ; 4 . Benjamin Baker (Sua) : 5. Sco tt Harwell (Suz). B Superb ike Novi ce: 1. Edward Co bb (Suz); 2 . c.R. Gittere (Suz); 3. Calv in Barnett (Suz): 4 . Ryan Mesk iem (Suz) ; 5. Kri s Wall (Suz). B Sup er s t o c k : 1. l ee Ac ree (Suz ) ; 2 . Ch ris Cayl o r ( S uz ); 3 . Ma rk J ung e ( S uz) ; 4 . Wade Buffington (Suz); 5. Scott Brow n (SOl ). C Producti on: 1. Edwa rd Cobb (Suz) ; 2. Michae l Garofalo (Hon) ; 3 . Barry Pailes (Suz) ; 4 . Brian Stark (Yam); 5. Paul Aa lderks (Kew}. C Superbike No vice: 1. Edw ard Cobb (SUl): 2. Michael Gar of alo ( Hon) ; 3. Mark Reeser (Yam ); 4 . Charles lvey (Hon); 5. Brian Stark (Yam) . C Su p er st ock : I. l ee Acree (S uz) : 2 . Chris Caylor (Suz) ; 3 . Tim Bemi sderfer ( Yam); 4 . Scott Brow n (Yam ); 5. Shand Prieto (Yam ). Road AUanta Brasleton, Georgia Results: Octobe 15, ZOO r O 11.1000R S(JZUKI CUP FINAL: 1. Tray Batey ; 2. Lee Acr ee: 3. Scott Harwell ; 4 . Mark Le desma ; 5 . Rus sell Masecar; 6 . Wren n Sm ith; 7 . Parri sh Reg iste r; 8 . Ton y L amarr; 9 . F rederi ck Farzan e g an ; 10 . Edward Yetter; 11. Mark Junge . GSX·R600 SUZUKI CUP FIN AL; I. L"" A cree; 2. Ben Spies; 3. Chris Caylor; 4 . Mark Jun ge; 5. Ryan Land er s; 6 . Mik e d eBrabant; 7 . Brian S to kes; 8 . Vin cent He s ko vec: 9 . Be nj amin S lik er; 10 . Le o Venega ; 11. William McNe il; 12 . Wayn e Watt s; 13. Deborah Venega ; 14. Brian Gibbs ; 15. Michael Niksa . SV650 SUZUKI CUP FINAL; 1. Lee Ac ree: 2. Mark Ledesma; 3. David Yeekov : 4. Robert Fisc her; 5. Robert Micha el; 6. Scott Harwell ; 7. Ala n Schwen; B. J ohn Und er: 9 . Russell Masecar ; to. Cory West; 11. Mike Earnh ardt; 12. Stewarts Roberts ; 13. Daniel J osephs; 14. Leroy Montgomery; 15. Steve Clark; 16. Rayfus Belser; 17. Frederick Farzanegan ; 18. Terry Biddy; 19. Justin Garvi n. GSX· R7 50 S(JZUK I CUP FINA L: I . Lee A cree; 2. J immy Moo re: 3. Mik e Ciccotto; 4. Bria n Gibbs; 5. Be n Sp ie s; 6 . Tim oth y Bemi s d erf e r ; 7 . Byro n Ba rbo ur : 8. Ga briel Henning ; 9 . J ohn J acobi ; 10. Chris Caylor; 11. Mark Junge; 12. Brian U vengood ; 13. Wad e Buffingt on ; 14. Shane Prieto; 15 . Rand y Menn enga; 16 . Curry J ustice : 17. Jamie Lane: 1B. Andrew Deatherage; 19. And y Caldwell ; 20 . Robert c u e ' ... n e VII" S NOVEMBER 1 . 2000 45

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