From a press release:

For Immediate Release

Corbin Grand Prix Survives tumultuous weekend, emerge Champions

Corbin Grand Prix’s Jimmy Filice was able to keep his wits about him and do what he had to do, emerging as the winner of the 2001 AMA MBNA 250GP National Championship. With a fourteen-point advantage coming into the weekend, Jim needed a sixth place or better finish to guarantee the title. At day’s end he did just that, nursing his ailing machine across the line in sixth place, after a piece of debris inhaled into the engine pinched the ring and caused his Corbin Yamaha to slow in the closing laps.

The race weekend, held at the newly refurbished Virginia International Raceway, was filled with as much drama for the Corbin team as the entire rest of the season.

Friday afternoon’s practice saw Jim third quickest, but a mechanical near the end of the session led to a big crash in turn one which left Jim battered and bruised, and required precautionary X-rays at the local hospital.

Unsure if he would be able to ride, Jim and the team had a restless Friday night. Saturday brought little relief from the weekend’s drama. As the team was making a precautionary check of the motorcycle, about an hour and a half before the heat race, the bike was found to be making an unhealthy noise, denoting a problem. The team switched into overdrive, stripping the engine from the spare bike, and hastily assembling an engine to be used in the “A” bike. The team completed the swap with about ten minutes to spare before the qualifying heat race. Jim rewarded the effort by charging to the front and winning his heat from Randy Renfrow and Simon Turner.

Sunday brought what appeared to be the smoothest day of the weekend, with the morning warm-up going smoothly. The main event saw Jim jump out to an early lead, and then settle down to ride for the championship. Riding in the group contesting third through sixth place, Jim stayed in position until late in the race, when his bike inhaled a piece of debris, and began slowing. He eased up to spare the engine and brought it home in sixth place, sealing the deal on his third AMA 250GP title, and the team’s third in succession.

The team can now breathe a sigh of relief, and begin preparations for next year.

Corbin Grand Prix would like to sincerely thank all of the crewmembers, friends and fans who have lent their support this year, enabling us to persevere.

Corbin Grand Prix’s Success is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors, who include: Corbin, Yamaha, Red Line Oil, Dunlop, Motion Pro, Swedetech Racing Engines, Scuderia West, Fox Racing Shox, EBC Brakes, Supertech, Tiger Angel, Arai, Alpinestars, Z Gallerie, Hap Jones, Mike Vail Enterprises, Nutec, DID Chain, Aim Sports, Bruce Lind, and Roadracing World.