By Mike Solis After a slow start, David Stanton charged to the front to take the win in the European Motorcycle Accessories Formula Pacific race, riding his 2006 GSX-R1000 on Dunlop D209 DOT tires. Ken Hill finished a strong second on his Michelin-shod CBR1000RR, with Honda test rider Jeff Tigert in third, setting the fast lap of the race with a 1:47.994 on a CBR600RR that was also on Dunlop D209 DOT tires. “The start was just crazy, with guys shuffling positions everywhere,” Stanton said after the race. “I almost crashed twice in the sweeper – once when I touched my front tire to Earnest’s rear tire, and another time just a few moments later when the bike kicked me out of the seat when I got on the gas! For my first weekend on DOTs, I was really, really happy.” Tigert achieved his goal for the weekend, adding to his Formula Pacific podium finish with wins in 600 Superbike and 600 Production. Tigert’s excellent weekend followed his excellent performance at the Daytona AMA National, where he finished 12th in 600 Supersport – the top Honda in the finishing order. “I’m still just working hard, trying to get my break,” stated Tigert after the event. “Since the end of last season, I’ve lost 30 pounds, and we were able to find another 5-6 horsepower on my CBR600RR. I’ve been riding at Willow Springs every month as well – everything just feels good right now!” Former AFM Number One plate holder James Randolph made yet another step in his AFM comeback, riding his Pirelli-equipped Cycle-Pro GSX-R1000 to victory in Open Superbike. Ken Hill crossed the line in second, with Corey Sarros third. “It’s good to be back and win a race, I’m definitely having some fun,” said Randolph. “I had a rough start when I went off track in one of my earlier races, but to end the day with a win is just great!” Sarros improved on his third place Open Superbike finish in the Open Grand Prix race, taking the win on his Dunlop-shod Central Coast Sportbikes Suzuki GSX-R1000 over former number one plate holder Rob Mesa. “I just stayed behind Rob for a few laps, studying him, looking for a way past,” explained Sarros. “I found my way past after the wheelie hill. I like going right by the dirt over there – it’s kinda fun!” There were several double winners on the day, with Dave Stanton taking wins in Formula Pacific and Open Production, and Tigert taking wins in both 600 races. Rob Campbell was another double winner on the day, riding his Michelin-shod GSX-R750 to wins in 750 Superbike and Formula 1. Kurt Spencer had a great weekend as well, riding his Twin Works Factory Suzuki SV650 to wins in 650 Twins and Formula 4. Some young AFM talent made their mark at Buttonwillow as well. 14 year old Tommy Aquino took the win in the Formula 3 class on his Foster Enterprises Honda RS125, finishing just ahead of WSMC regular Jay Pilster. Young Michael Corbino had a good weekend, taking the win in 250 Production on his Desmoto Sport Kawasaki EX250 after a good battle with class veterans David Crone and Vlastimil Kotyza. 500 Twins featured an exciting four rider battle at the front, with Patrick Aldinger taking his first AFM victory on his EX500 over class champion Jon Forman, Joe Sickle, and AFM president Kevin Smith. Forman was looking good for the win, when the leader of another wave made his way past on the last lap, only to take his time through lapped traffic. This gave Aldinger the chance he needed to close the gap and make the pass on Forman, taking the win by a wheel. The grids for 2006 had a new look to them, with a number of new rule changes being implemented. With grey market bikes now legal in production classes, Craig Sanders took his first AFM win in the 450 Production class on his Kawasaki ZXR400RR. With aftermarket exhausts now legal in production classes, the contingency money followed, giving new life to the Suzuki of Oakland 750 Production class, and additional depth to the Take it 2 the Track Open Production class. Buttonwillow was also the debut of the Clubman classes, where new racers were able to gain experience, without the large grids of expert racers battling it out for contingency money and class championships. The next round of the 2006 AFM Championship is scheduled to take place on April 22, 23 at Infineon Raceway. AFM Round 1 March 26, 2006 Buttonwillow Raceway Unofficial Results European Motorcycle Accessories Formula Pacific 1. David Stanton (Suz 1000) 2. Ken Hill (Hon 1000) 3. Jeffrey Tigert (Hon 600) 4. James Randolph (Suz 1000) 5. Corey Sarros (Suz 1000) 6. Rob Mesa (Suz 1000) GP Frame and Wheel Open Superbike 1. James Randolph (Suz 1000) 2. Ken Hill (Hon 1000) 3. Corey Sarros (Suz 1000) 4. Martin Szwarc (Suz 1000) 5. Rob Mesa (Suz 1000) 6. Kim Nakashima (Suz 1000) 750 Superbike 1. Robert Campbell (Suz 750) 2. Peter O’Sullivan (Suz 750) 3. Kim Nakashima (Suz 750) 4. Jeremiah Grant (Suz 750) 5. David Siminski (Kaw 636) 6. Dan Sewell (Suz 750) Pacific Tracktime 600 Superbike 1. Jeffrey Tigert (Hon 600) 2. Ken Hill (Hon 600) 3. Bobby Fong (Yam 600) 4. Tim Kamholz (Hon 600) 5. Grant Riggs (Suz 600) 6. Lenny Hale (Yam 600) 450 Superbike 1. Michael Lohmeyer (Hon 400) 2. Ross Wells (Yam 450) 3. Jose Quintanar (Yam 400) 4. Craig Sanders (Kaw 400) 5. Greg Becker (Hon 400) 6. Patrick Aldinger (Kaw 500) Kilowatt 250 Superbike 1. Shawn Herrera (Yam 250) 2. Andrew Duafala (Yam 250) 3. Cliff Farrar (Yam 250) 4. Joe Rust (Yam 250) Take it 2 the Track Open Production 1. David Stanton (Suz 1000) 2. Corey Sarros (Suz 1000) 3. Martin Szwarc (Suz 1000) 4. Christopher Weiss (Suz 1000) 5. James Randolph (Suz 1000) 6. David Kunzelman (Suz 1000) Suzuki of Oakland 750 Production 1. Robert Campbell (Suz 750) 2. James Randolph (Suz 750) 3. Danny Yamasaki (Suz 750) 4. Jeremiah Grant (Suz 750) 5. Berto Wooldridge (Suz 750) 6. Don Rudolfs (Suz 750) Keigwins@theTrack 600 Production 1. Jeffrey Tigert (Hon 600) 2. Ken Hill (Hon 600) 3. Chris Siglin (Suz 600) 4. Bobby Fong (Yam 600) 5. Berto Wooldridge (Suz 600) 6. Brant Wiwi (Yam 600) 450 Production 1. Craig Sanders (Kaw 400) 2. Evan Harsha (Yam 400) 3. Mark Elrod (Hon 400) 4. David Wallis (Hon 400) Aftershocks 250 Production 1. Michael Corbino (Kaw 250) 2. David Crone (Hon 250) 3. Vlastimil Kotyza (Kaw 250) 4. Andrew Boehm (Kaw 250) 5. Michael Jones Jr. (Kaw 250) 6. Richard Lesher (Kaw 250) PowerStands Open Grand Prix 1. Corey Sarros (Suz 1000) 2. Rob Mesa (Suz 1000) 3. Martin Szwarc (Suz 1000) 4. J.D. Grow (Suz 1000) 5. Mike Thompson (Suz 1000) 6. Chris Weiss (Suz 1000) Scuderia West Formula 1 1. Robert Campbell (Suz 750) 2. Peter O’Sullivan (Suz 750) 3. William Morton (Hon 250) 4. Tim Kamholz (Hon 600) 5. Kim Nakashima (Suz 750) 6. Lenny Hale (Yam 600) Mazda Technologies Formula 2 1. William Morton (Hon 250) 2. Dan Cook (Yam 250) 3. Jeffry Hanford (Hon 250) 4. Richard Denman (Hon 250) 5. Shawn Herrera (Yam 250) 6. Philip Snowden (Hon 250) Formula 3 1. Tommy Aquino (Hon 125) 2. Jay Pilster (Hon 125) 3. Steve Magri (Hon 125) 4. Ryan Corey (Hon 125) 5. Marcus Henderson (Hon 125) 6. Michael Caravatta (Hon 125) Zoom Zoom Trackdays Formula 4 1. Kurt Spencer (Suz 650) 2. David Raff (Suz 650) 3. Everett Dittman (Suz 650) 4. Aaron Tulchinsky (Suz 650) 5. Michael Lohmeyer (Hon 400) 6. Jay Avansino (Suz 650) Desmoto Sport Open Twins 1. Eric Gulbransen (Duc 749) 2. Patrick Blackburn (Duc 999) 3. Bud Anderson (Hon 1000) 4. Craig McLean (Duc 749) 5. Scott Schwanbeck (Apr 1000) 6. Simon Williams (Duc 999) 650 Twins 1. Kurt Spencer (Suz 650) 2. John Daker (Suz 650) 3. Everett Dittman (Suz 650) 4. Jay Avansino (Suz 650) 5. David Civiello (Suz 650) 6. David Raff (Suz 650) 500 Twins 1. Patrick Aldinger (Kaw 500) 2. Jonathan Forman (Suz 500) 3. Joe Sickle (Suz 500) 4. Kevin Smith (Gib 500) 5. Eric Schiller (Kaw 500) 6. Robert Clifford (Kaw 500) Formula Singles 1. Chris Keane (Hon 450) 2. Brandon Merkel (Hon 450) 3. Robert Helmering (Hon 500) Super Dinosaur 1. Ross Wells (Yam 450) 2. Michael Nishita (Yam 400) 3. Andrew Boehm (Suz 750) 4. Gwyn Lewis (Yam 400) 5. Len Tavares (Yam 350) 6. Neil O’Reilly (Suz 750) Teresa McKinney Realtor Formula 40 1. Mike Thompson (Yam 1000) 2. Don Rudolfs (Suz 750) 3. Bud Anderson (Hon 1000) 4. John Turmell (Suz 1000) 5. Spencer Stuart (Yam 600) 6. Shawn Reilly (HD 1200) Clubman Heavyweight 1. Richard Serne (Apr 1000) 2. Tad Koklich (Suz 1000) 3. Martin Ayala (Duc 999) 4. Mark Montalvo (Suz 1000) 5. David Hutton (Yam 1000) 6. William Bouch (Suz 1000) Clubman Middleweight 1. Frankie Garcia (Suz 600) 2. Freddi Guerrero (Kaw 636) 3. Michael Arnella (Suz 750) 4. Matthew Bergen (Hon 600) 5. Robert Wilson (Kaw 600) 6. Randy Kaneko (Kaw 600) Clubman Lightweight 1. David Ben-Jamin (Suz 650) 2. William Fox (Suz 650) 3. Brian Esslinger (Suz 650) 4. Tom Shao (Suz 650) 5. Ozzie Fregoso (SUz 650) 6. Leonard Barker Jr (Kaw 500) Vintage 1. Jim Hoogerhyde (Mon 250) 2. Michael Polkabla (Hon 160) 3. Paul Turek (Hon 160) 4. Wallace Riddle (Hon 160)