Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Qualifying for Formula USA National Road Race Series classes, scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, has been postponed until Sunday morning due to rain.

The announcement, made by Formula USA officials in a riders’ meeting early Saturday morning, was met with a surprise reaction. “The racers cheered the decision,” said F-USA National Race Referee Phil Sberna. “I almost fell off the chair I was standing on to make the announcement.”

Sberna said that F-USA officials began discussing the weather situation Friday night and made their decision first thing Saturday morning when they saw the forecast for rain was accurate.

“We wanted to get to them before they got to us,” joked Sberna about beating typical complaints and requests by Formula USA national regulars to not qualify in the rain.

Each of the three Formula USA classes that grid by qualifying times – Lockhart Phillips USA Unlimited Superbike, Pro Honda Oils 600cc Sportbike and Buell Lightning Series – will qualify Sunday morning during the time previously allotted for practice. Each class will get 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, CCS regional races are running Saturday at Pocono, as thick fog allows.