Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp lowered the motorcycle lap record for Homestead-Miami Speedway Friday afternoon, for the second time in two days.
Rapp set the new record at 1:25.720 (92.814 mph average speed) while winning the restarted CCS Unlimited Supersport race aboard his AMA Superstock GSX-R750 on DOT-labeled Michelin Pilot tires. Rapp had came from the ninth row of the grid to run second to Geoff May when the race was red-flagged following the completion of three laps.
Rapp was gridded second for the five-lap restart, led into turn one, and pulled away from May, who also was under the old record with a 1:25.789 (92.739 mph average speed) aboard his Superstock GSX-R1000 on DOT-labeled Pirelli tires.
May was under the old record first, turning his 1:25.789 on lap three, just before the red flag flew. Rapp turned his 1:25.720 on lap six, after the restart.
Rapp and May were timed by F-USA’s transponder timing system.
Rapp had set the record at 1:26.368 in practice on Thursday, breaking the previous record of 1:26.37 held by Marco Martinez on a GSX-R1000 Superbike.
Rapp first rode on the 2.2-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway road course on Wednesday.
Rapp came to Homestead-Miami Speedway to work as an instructor for Wednesday’s Team Hammer Advanced Riding School and to compete in this weekend’s F-USA and CCS Race of Champions.
Rapp’s Superstock bike was set up for Sunday’s horsepower-limited Formula Sportbike race, was running on pump gas, and came in under the 122-horsepower Formula Sportbike horsepower limit when run on the F-USA Factory Pro Tuning-brand dyno after he won the Unlimited Supersport race.