Grant Lopez, Mike Ciccotto and Roadracing World’s Chris Ulrich topped the time sheets in the Sunday Formula USA Unlimited Superbike practice at Daytona, which was held in wet conditions after a lengthy delay caused by a rain storm that moved into the area.
The practice was red-flagged when Aaron Clark crashed the Buona Fortuna/Pro Italia Aprilia in the chicane. Just before the red flag came out, Lopez was black-flagged by officials who wanted to check on reports that Lopez was riding a GSX-R600 in the practice. Officials found that Lopez was riding a GSX-R750 when he reported to pit lane.
The practice was the last chance for riders to take to the track before the start of today’s Formula USA race, which is expected to be held under rainy conditions.
Riders and times as posted by F-USA officials follow:
1. Grant Lopez 1:59.687
2. Mike Ciccotto 2:09.896
3. Chris Ulrich 2:17.967
4. Aaron Clark 2:18.391
5. Craig Connell 2:19.269
6. Ken Chase 2:20.729
7. Byron Barbour 2:21.801
8. Paul Harrell 2:22.984
9. Tony Lupo 2:23.420
10. John Hopkins 2:23.724
Pole-sitter Shawn Higbee was 24th fastest, at 2:36.686, and Arclight’s Lee Acree was 29th fastest, at 2:46.991.
However, knowledgeable sources in the pits said that, based on times caught on stopwatches by teams, Ciccotto was actually fastest at 2:09.896 followed by Lopez at 2:14.879 and Ulrich at 2:17.967.
In the wet Aprilia Cup practice session, Roadracing World’s LaVaughn Daniel was fastest, at 2:38.961 followed by Dan Fischer at 2:41.528, Derek M. King at 2:45.118 and Andre Castanos at 2:45.129.