Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Current Formula USA Buell Lightning Series point leader Bryan Bemisderfer has split with his team, Harley-Davidson/Buell of Frederick, and will not be defending his Championship points lead at Portland International Raceway, the penultimate round of the 2002 F-USA season.

Reached at his Pennsylvania home late Friday afternoon, Bemisderfer said of his ride, “It kind of went away, I guess. It was pretty mutual. It’s been building all year. It kind of started in Canada (Mosport). That’s when it turned bad. He (team owner Michael Van Tucci) wants to put on a show; I wanted to win.

“It’s political. There’s more of a story behind it, but I don’t want it to get ugly.”

Bemisderfer said he was “halfway out the door on his way to Portland” when he got the bad news. Strangely, the H-D/Buell of Frederick transporter arrived at P.I.R. Friday morning, just long enough to drop off Michael Fitzpatrick’s racebikes before continuing to an all-Harley-Davidson drag race event in the Portland area.

Bemisderfer said attempts to find a Buell to ride at Portland were unsuccessful, but he planned to be at the F-USA season finale at Daytona in October.

Roadracingworld.com was unable to reach Van Tucci for comment at post time.