Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Arclight Suzuki’s Craig Connell extended his Formula USA Pro Honda Oils 600cc Sportbike point lead by earning pole position, and the bonus point that comes with it, in Saturday’s 40-minute qualifying session at Road America. Connell turned a lap of 2:17.451 early in the session for a new lap record, beating the old lap record held by John Hopkins at 2:20.265 from May of 2000. The top six 600cc Sportbike qualifiers went faster than Hopkins’ old record, set on a 2000 GSX-R600 in AMA 600cc Supersport trim.

Team Hooters Mountain Dew Suzuki’s Larry Pegram was second-fastest from the outset of the session and steadily worked closer to Connell’s mark, but came up short with a time of 2:17.735 on his Suzuki GSX-R600. Pegram’s teammate Michael Barnes and Connell’s teammate Lee Acree, third- and fourth-fastest qualifiers respectively, will also start from the front row for Sunday’s 12-lap Sportbike final.

Lee Acree suffered second-degree burns during last weekend’s AMA National round at Mid-Ohio, and his task at Road America was made that much more difficult by a high-speed crash Saturday morning due to fluid on the track from another machine. “I’ve felt better,” said Acree as he changed bandages on his burned thigh Saturday afternoon.

Bettencourt Suzuki’s Jeff Wood was fifth-fastest on his back-up bike, Matt Wait qualified sixth on a borrowed Big Show Racing Suzuki GSX-R600, regional racer Monte Nichols was seventh-fastest on his Citgo-backed Yamaha YZF-R6 and young gun Steve Atlas qualified eighth on his Numbskullz Suzuki.


Honda Pro Oils Sportbike Qualifying Results:

1. Craig Connell, Suzuki, 2:17.451
2. Larry Pegram, Suzuki, 2:17.735
3. Michael Barnes, Suzuki, 2:18.233
4. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 2:19.013
5. Jeff Wood, Suzuki, 2:19.399
6. Matt Wait, Suzuki, 2:20.141
7. Monte Nichols, Yamaha, 2:20.393
8. Steve Atlas, Suzuki, 2:21.109
9. Scott Greenwood, Suzuki, 2:21.303
10. Andrew Nelson, Honda, 2:22.548
11. David Wappler, 2:22.651
12. Ray Bowman, Honda, 2:22.879
13. Cory West, Honda, 2:23.058
14. Dr. Jeff Purk, Suzuki, 2:23.859
15. Darrin Mitchell, 2:24.275
16. Dave Rosno, Suzuki, 2:25.415
17. Scot Stevens, 2:25.698
18. Jason Temme, Yamaha, 2:25.700
19. Kurt Marmor, Ducati 748, 2:26.796
20. Rick Bretl, 2:26.937

Previous Sportbike lap record: 2:20.265, John Hopkins, 5/00