Robert Jensen won three races and Dan Bilanksy won one at round seven of the eight-round Formula USA series Sunday at Autobahn Country Club, in Joliet, Illinois, but it was David Estok who took home the Thunderbike Championship and Jeff Wood who clinched all three of his F-USA class Championships.
Kneedraggers.com’s Jensen took race wins in Superbike and Sportbike on his Michelin-shod Yamaha YZF-R6 and won in Formula Sportbike on his Suzuki GSX-R750.
Although he raced Jensen closely in Sportbike and Superbike, Wood only needed to finish second to Jensen in each class to wrap up the titles. And that is exactly what Wood begrudgingly did, taking runner-up-finishes in all three classes on his Dunlop-equipped Arclight Suzukis.
Argo Cycles’ Scott Greenwood finished third in Superbike and Sportbike on a Dunlop-fitted Kawasaki ZX-6R, while 18-year-old teammate Jesse Janisch took third in Formula Sportbike on a Dunlop-equipped Suzuki GSX-R750 even though he is still recovering from a shoulder injury.
Bilansky led every lap in winning the 16-lap Thunderbike final on his Pirelli-sponsored Hal’s Performance Advantage Buell XB12R. Bilanksy credited his new association with Richie Morris Racing for allowing him to elevate his riding to a new level and take what he said was the best win of his career.
Millville & Wildwood Buell’s Estok was close behind Bilansky well into the second half of the race, when he faded slightly due to fatigue. Although he said he rode his Pirelli-tired Buell XB12R 100% for the win and was beaten by Bilansky “straight-up,” Estok only needed to finish in the top five to clinch the Thunderbike Championship. Estok’s main Championship rival, David Yaakov, was forced to sit out the race at Autobahn after breaking his collarbone in a crash on Friday.
Riding a Pirelli-shod Suzuki SV650, Motorcycle Performance’s Ed Key finished third in Sunday’s Thunderbike race at Autobahn.
Young gun Garrett Carter ran away with both the USGPRU 125cc and 250cc races on his Team Stargel Aprilias. Blown Away Racing’s Joshua Day was second in both races.
Carter clinched the USGPRU 125cc Eastern Regional Championship, while Day wrapped up the USGPRU 250cc Eastern Regional Championship.