From a press release issued by Buell American Motorcycles:
ESTOK RIDES BUELL TO VICTORY AT F-USA THUNDERBIKE FINALE
Evo-Twin/Harding Harley-Davidson Team Riders Finish Season 1-2 in Points
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Evo-Twin Racing/Harding Harley-Davidson rider David Estok took the pole aboard a Buell Firebolt by cruising to an easy victory at the final Formula USA National Thunderbike race of the 2004 season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The win was his third of the season and locked up his runner-up finish in the Thunderbike national championship.
Estok led all qualifiers with a 1:31.942 lap around the infield road course. Williams Harley-Davidson/Buell rider Randy Rega, also aboard a Buell Firebolt, was the second-fastest qualifier with a time of 1:32.583.
Estok’s Evo-Twin Racing/Harding Harley-Davidson teammate Bryan Bemisderfer qualified 10th aboard his Buell Firebolt, but was black-flagged on lap two of the race with a smoking exhaust. According to team owner Jeff Harding, no oil leak or other problem was discovered on Bemisderfer’s bike, but because he lost a lap in the pits, he did not return to the race. Estok roared off to a quick lead in the 12-lap race and was never challenged as he claimed his third Thunderbike win of the season. Suzuki-mounted Motorcycle Performance rider Ed Key finished 4.705 seconds behind Estok after a race-long battle for second place with Evo-Twin Racing/Harding Harley-Davidson rider Tim Bemisderfer, who also rode a Buell Firebolt. Suzuki rider Michael Niksa was fourth, followed by Hoban Brothers Buell of Appleton rider Jeff Johnson on a Buell in fifth. Blue Springs Harley-Davidson rider Walt Sipp was sixth on a Buell, followed by Joe Rozynski on a Kosco Harley-Davidson Buell Firebolt.
Championship recap
Despite not finishing the race, Bemisderfer had already clinched the Thunderbike championship with a win at the Las Vegas round Sept. 19.
“Another win by David is a great way to end a successful season for this team,” said team owner Jeff Harding. “When we started the year, we were hoping we could go one-two in the championship with this pair of talented riders, and that’s just how it worked out.”
The Corning, N.Y.-based Evo-Twin Racing/Harding Harley-Davidson team won four of the eight races on the 2004 Formula USA Thunderbike schedule, with Estok and Bemisderfer placing first and second together at the Daytona and Las Vegas rounds. Bemisderfer won the title with 105 points; Estok followed in second place with 93 points. Johnson was third with 73 points.
“This was our team’s most successful season to date,” said Harding. “Our riders got great support all year from crew chief Shannon Destasio and crew members Bill Ripley and Jim Lapey. We have not locked down our plans for next season, but we’d like to be back with both riders.”
The Formula USA National Thunderbike series is a horsepower-to-weight ratio restricted class, open to a variety of production-based motorcycles. Buell-mounted riders competing in the eight-event 2004 Thunderbike series raced for a share of the $70,500 contingency fund posted by Buell Motorcycle Company and Buell Riders Adventure Group (BRAG).