Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Loudoun Motorsports’ Greg Harrison and John Jacobi rode a Metzeler-equipped Suzuki GSX-R1000 to a convincing overall win in the Formula USA 200-mile Team Challenge race at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday.

Loudoun came to Daytona in a virtual tie with Edge Motorsports for the Championship points lead, but Edge Motorsports’ Greg Leffler and Roadracingworld.com’s Chris Ulrich collided in turn one at the start of the race and crashed, taking MBS Racing 2’s Jeff McKinney down with them.

McKinney re-mounted and continued–only to crash out of the race later–but both Ulrich and Leffler went to the infield care center. X-rays on Ulrich’s left hand turned up negative while Leffler was transported to the local hospital with six broken ribs and a broken collarbone.

Loudoun made two pit stops to refuel and change the rear tire en route to winning the 56-lap race by one lap over Brighton Superbike.

Brighton Superbike’s Shawn Conrad, riding a Metzeler-tired Suzuki GSX-R600, and Big Show Racing’s Larry Denning, on a Pirelli-sponsored Yamaha YZF-R6, fought for second place overall for their entire first shifts. Brighton Superbike and Big Show both pitted on lap 16, refueled and sent out Dan Fischer and Brian Salazar respectively. The GTU-class battle continued until just before the next round of pit stops when Salazar crashed the Big Show Yamaha in the chicane. Brighton carried on to a lonely second place overall and the GTU class win.

Third place overall and second in the GTO class went to the duo of William Siemens and James Gaal on a Suzuki GSX-R750 rolling on Metzeler slicks. All three of the Team Challenge podium-finishing teams used Wednesday’s Team Hammer Track Ride to set up their machines.

Brotz Motorsports’ Clint Brotz and Richie Morris clinched the GTU season Championship when the only other team with a mathematical chance at winning the Championship, Edge Junior Varsity, did not enter at Daytona. Brotz finished fifth overall, third in class.

Engine Ice 200-mile Team Challenge Class Results:

GTO:
1. Loudoun Motorsports, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 56 laps
2. Siemens Patent Services, Suzuki GSX-R750, 54 laps
3. Bad Apple Racing, Suzuki TL1000R, 52 laps
4. True Player Racing, Yamaha YZF-R1, 49 laps
5. Moates Racing, Suzuki GSX-R750, 49 laps
6. Britt Motorsports, Yamaha YZF-R1, 47 laps

GTU:
1. Brighton Motorsports, Suzuki GSX-R600, 55 laps
2. Carmol Construction, Suzuki GSX-R600, 54 laps
3. Brotz Motorsports, Yamaha YZF-R6, 54 laps
4. I&E Innovative Homes, Suzuki GSX-R600, 54 laps
5. Team YCH, Yamaha YZF-R6, 53 laps
6. Team Stupid, Suzuki GSX-R600, 51 laps