Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

4&6 Racing’s Larry Denning used a 2002 Yamaha YZF-R1 to set a new official lap record at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway on Sunday, April 28. Denning’s new record for the counter-clockwise direction was certified by WERA offfials at 0.58.97, and he set the record on DOT-labeled Pirelli tires. Denning turned the lap while chasing leader Lee Acree in an A Superstock race but finished second behind the Arclight Suzuki GSX-R750 rider.

Denning ended the WERA weekend with two wins (Formula One, C Superbike) and two seconds (A Superstock, C Superstock) in Yamaha contingency races, plus a win in Saturday, April 27’s Mediumweight Solo 20, on his 2002-model Yamaha YZF-R1 and YZF-R6.

“I didn’t have much to say about the new R1 after the first two weekends,” said long-time Yamaha contingency chaser Denning. “But after Traxxion Dynamics helped me sort out the front end with springs and fork oil level, it’s now easier to ride fast than my R6.”

Denning added that his new R1, equipped with the racing exhaust from his 2001 bike, a Dynojet Power Commander III-R and VP MR1 race fuel, made 148 rear wheel horsepower on a dyno at 4&6’s Chicago, Illinois race shop.