Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Jeremy Toye again beat Chuck Graves in a wheel-to-wheel showdown in Toyota Cup Unlimited Formula One action at Willow Springs Raceway Sunday, in a battle that came down to a chance encounter with a lapped rider and a desperate last-half-lap scramble.

When the checkered flag flew, Toye and his Lee’s Cycle Suzuki GSX-R1000 had beaten Graves and his Graves Yamaha YZF-R1 powered YZF-R7 Superbike, both on Dunlop slicks. Chris Ulrich finished third on a Superstock GSX-R1000 on Michelin DOT-labelled tires.

The lapped rider pulled it down on Graves as Toye went around the outside in turn four and Graves’ best chance to win was gone; Toye then ran wide in turn five and got a poor drive off turn six, yet still held off Graves in turn eight. Graves got up outside Toye in turn nine but Toye’s bike was stronger in the run to the line.

Toye did most of the leading in the 12-lap race, Graves trying to get underneath into turn one several times before making it happen, and Toye quickly repassing in the run to turn two. Graves had the lead to the line two laps from the finish with Toye trying to get around on the outside into turn one, the pair so close together as they dove for the apex that it seemed certain they would collide–but they didn’t. On the last lap Toye led into turn one.

The pace was 1:21s, faster than Toye qualified last month for the front row of September’s $50,000-to-the-winner Toyota 200, which will be 80 laps on the 2.5-mile Willow Springs course.

Toye also won the 750cc Superstock, L&L Motorsports 750cc Superbike, and 750cc Modified Production races.

Graves won Saturday’s Solo GTO race and Sunday’s Performance Machine Open Superbike, Open Superstock, Graves Motorsports 650cc Superbike, and Roadracingworld.com 600cc Superstock races. In Open Superstock, Graves won on a 2002 Yamaha YZF-R1 that he had run three laps of practice on.

On Friday, Aaron Gobert locked in a front-row starting position for the Toyota 200, qualifying at 1:23.896, 107.276 mph. Gobert crashed out of Saturday’s Solo race and sat out Sunday with bruises. Gobert was structurally uninjured, according to his Graves Yamaha crew.


More, from a Willow Springs press release:

WILLOW SPRINGS TOYOTA 200 QUALIFYING UPDATE!

Yamaha’s Aaron Gobert joins last month’s fast qualifier Jeremy Toye with a guaranteed start position on the front row for Willow Springs Raceway’s $150,000.00 200 mile roadrace event to be held on September 15, 2002.

At the 2nd round of qualifying on Friday, July 19th Gobert, on his factory Yamaha YZF-R6 600cc supersport-spec bike, ran a best lap of 1:23.896 averaging over 107 mph around the 2.5 mile Willow Springs road course.

Toye remains fastest with last months fast lap of 1:22.960 on his Suzuki GSX-R1000. Upcoming qualifying dates are on Friday, August 16 and Friday, September 13 and the fastest rider each date will join Toye and Gobert on the front row of the 40 rider field. Other top times to date include Jack Pfeifer at 1:23.502, former 250cc GP National Champ David Emde at 1:25.652 and Clinton Whitehouse at 1:25.814.

Info on racer entry and spectator ticket information is online at www.willowspringsraceway.com

Spectators may also call 661.256.6666 for special advance ticket information packages currently available from WSIR.