Pihokken Puts It On the Podium By Lisa Theobald Jim Pihokken used his Prieto Racing prepped GSX-R1000 to win the Unlimited Grand Prix race at Moroso Motorsports Park yesterday. The Unlimited Grand Prix was the most thunderous race of the day, and not just because rain clouds moved into the area and threatened to unload on the track. The purse offered a bonus payment for those who made the top 10 while running MotoGP style, with open, muffler-free exhaust systems. This bonus will continue to be offered at all of the remaining CCS Florida Region events run at Moroso Motorsports Park and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Dave McEnery used his brand new, Kinetic Motorsports prepped GSX-R1000 to nail the holeshot and lead the first lap of the race. Hot on his tail was Scott Ritchey on another brand-new GSX-R1000, Pihokken and Marco Martinez. Martinez brought out last year’s Championship-winning GSX-R1000 for the race instead of the Desmomaniacs Ducati 998 he had been riding throughout the day, which could not be run without the exhaust canister. Ritchey took over the lead early in the second lap and Pihokken also maneuvered his machine around McEnery to take over second place. Ritchey continued to lead until the halfway mark, when Pihokken maneuvered around him between turns one and two. As the white flag came out, Martinez also seized the opportunity to pass Ritchey and take over the number two spot. Pihokken maintained his advantage in the final run for the checkered flag to take the victory. Martinez finished second, followed by Ritchey, McEnery and Darren Luck. After the race, Pihokken commented, “Yeah, I knew Marco was coming. He’s on his bike and he’s fast on that bike. I was really worried about him. And then Scott, he got such a good start. I got a horrible start and it was everything I could do to get around Scott. He was holding it deep on the brakes. But, man, it was fun. It was a blast.” Pihokken also won the Unlimited Superbike race and finished second in the GTO race.