From a press release:

PIRELLI ENTERS FORMULA-USA POCONO ROUND LEADING FOUR OF FIVE PRO ROAD RACING CLASSES

Includes All Four Top Spots In Sportbike Class


(Rome, GA) Pirelli Race Manager Rich Munson was quoted in March at Daytona as saying he believed Pirelli had “most of the 2002 Formula USA grid.” But having most of the racers on your tires doesn’t mean much until the checkered flag flies.

Well, it’s flown in five of F-USA’s eight rounds. And Pirelli racers come into next weekend’s sixth round at Pocono International Raceway in Longpond, PA leading the championship points in four of the five pro classes. This includes holding all four top spots in Pro Honda Oils 600 Supersport, with Craig Connell (Arclight Suzuki), Michael Barnes (Team Hooters Mountain Dew), Lee Acree (Arclight), and Larry Pegram (Team Hooters Mountain Dew); and two of the three top positions in the one pro class they don’t lead.

Besides the top four spots in 600 Supersport, Pirelli guys hold first, second, fifth, and sixth in Lockhart Phillips Unlimited Superbike with Connell, Barnes, Pegram, and Mike Himmelsbach (Blackman’s Racing) respectively; first, third, and fifth in the Buell Lightning series with Clint Brotz (Hal’s Harley-Davidson), Barnes (Kosco H-D/Buell), and Jeff Johnson (Hoban Bros. Racing); Johnson’s first-place position in Thunderbike; and the second and third championship places in the Grand Prix class, with Geoff May (Team Embry/Roadracingworld.com) and Himmelsbach.

Pirelli tires even lead the championship points in at least two amateur classes: Team Promotion’s Leonard Santangelo atop Amateur Open Supersport, and Tom Bibeau of TSE/New England Performance Racing leading Amateur 600 Supersport. There may be more, but the last check of the F-USA amateur classes showed some riders and teams not listing sponsors.

It needs to be mentioned that the vast majority, if not all, of the racers above are riding on Pirelli’s D.O.T. Supercorsa radials.

For more information on Pirelli road race, street, MX and off-road tires, and a free 56-page 2002 Pirelli catalog, contact Pirelli at its new North American address: PIRELLI MOTORCYCLE TIRE DIVISION, P.O. Box 700, Rome, GA, 30162-7000. Phone: (706) 368-5826; Fax: (706) 368-5832.