Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

1995 Erion Honda Teammates Reunited

By David Swarts

Former Competition Accessories Ducati Superbike pilot Larry Pegram and former Formula USA Champion Michael Barnes have agreed to terms to ride for Steve DeCamp’s Hooters Suzuki team in the 2002 Formula USA series. Pegram and Barnes will ride GSX-R750s in Unlimited Superbike and GSX-R600s in the Pro Sportbike class.

According to Pegram, the Hooters team will also compete in four to five rounds of the AMA Supersport and Superstock series.

The Hooters team will be led by Crew Chief Mike Fargnoli with Barnes’ 2001 mechanic Mike Godin returning and being joined by Barnes’ 2000 GP Tech wrench Tony Pogue, Don Finelli and Chuck Giacchetto.

When Roadracing World last spoke to the Hooters Suzuki team owner, DeCamp was planning on his team returning to race in the Suzuka 8-hour Endurance World Championship race.

Both riders will have other riding jobs in addition to their seats at Hooters.

“Clear Channel and Formula USA, they’re going back to the old days where you had to ride both dirt track and road race to be the Grand National Champion,” said Pegram. “I’m going to do the dirt track and road race both to try and win the Grand National Championship.

“So basically I’m doing it for Suzuki. I’m riding for the Hooters team on the road race, and I’m going to have my own deal through Suzuki on the dirt track.

“I’m gonna ride a DR-Z400 in the (Pro Singles) class, which is a 450cc class, and a TL1000 in…I think they call it the Grand National class or something like that. The big class. It’s gonna be a good time. They’re (Clear Channel) doing a lot of neat stuff with their series.”

Pegram said that his dirt track deal with Suzuki, which may include Pegram running a two-rider team, wasn’t final.

Barnes said that he would also be defending his 2001 F-USA Buell Lightning Series title with Rich Cronrath’s Innovative Motorcycle Research team. Barnes said that he is planning on at least starting the season on the fuel-injected Buell Lightning X-1 that he raced last year.