The final round of the 2006 AFM championship was held on the backwards Buttonwillow configuration, which many riders jokingly referred to as “Wolliwnuttob”. Opinions on the layout were mixed, as some riders preferred the flow of the backwards course, while others disliked the lack of passing areas. For safety reason, AFM officials chose to bypass the Lost Hills section of track, resulting in extremely high entry speeds into the Riverside, the fast banked turn in the far south-western corner of the track. No bikes entered Riverside faster than the leaders of the EMA / PVM Wheels Formula Pacific class, where Michael Earnest of Pacific Tracktime stormed off the line into an early lead, placing a solid 10 bike length gap on the field early on. As the race went on, Earnest slipped back, while Honda R&D rider Jeff Tigert methodically charged through the field on his Dunlop-shod CBR1000RR. Despite missing Saturday practice, Tigert came up to speed quickly in the morning practice sessions by running two bikes, eventually making his way by Corey Sarros at the halfway point to take the lead. Thanks to an Ethel Performance motor, competitors were awestruck by the speed of Tigert’s Honda, which was lofting the front wheel at over 160 mph at the end of the long drag strip. Sarros did his best to hang onto the fast Honda and keep the former number one plate holder honest, but it wasn’t enough as Tigert went on to win the final race of the 2006 AFM season by a three-second margin. Sarros crossed the line in second for his first ever Formula Pacific podium finish, with David Bell third. “Mike had a decent gap, and Siglin was going like crazy!” said Tigert after the race. “I was waiting for sparks to fly when he flew into that first turn. He made a bad mistake in the Mazda turn that let me by, and it took a little while to get by Corey. At one point, I had a tankslapper going into Riverside which took away my brakes I think I saw my life flash before my eyes! John Ethel who has built motors for the American Honda Racing Team built me an unbelievable motor. With the exception of the motor and the 16.5 inch wheels, the rest of the bike is stock. Stock revalved forks by Aftershocks, and nothing fancy. Even with all that power, the stock Honda chassis parts work really well. It was a good way to end the year!” While Tigert finished the day with wins in the GP Frame and Wheel Open Superbike and Take it 2 the Track Open Production classes, the biggest winner of the day was James Randolph, who claimed the 2006 Formula Pacific championship, hanging on to finish the race despite a broken header on his Pirelli-shod Cycle Pro Suzuki GSX-R1000. “It was a drama filled day,” said Randolph. “First, my cush drive broke in practice. Then my number three header broke in Formula Pacific. I thought the bike dropped a valve, but the motor was strong and finished the race. Zenzo of Cycle Pro who broke his collar bone this weekend has been my best friend. He’s the one who made this happen. Josh at Tiger Shark Racing, David Worthington, and my dad all played huge parts this year as well. Championships don’t come that often when you’re 36 years old you really appreciate them when you get them.” Bobby Fong and Eric Gulbransen both had pairs of strong performances on the weekend. Riding his Michelin-shod Net Moto Racing Yamaha R6, Fong dominated the Keigwins@theTrack 600 Production race and the Pacific Tracktime 600 Superbike race. After nursing his overheating Ducati 749 to a 4th place finish in 600 Superbike, Gulbransen came back with a pair of wins on his Moto Italiano Ducati 999R in the Desmoto Sport Open Twins race and the Scuderia West Formula 1 race. “Formula 1 we were really worried about Combs was passing me two weeks ago here like we were painted onto the pavement!” said Gulbransen. “It’s all about the holeshot here. We went good off the line every lap, every turn, we thought we heard him. But when we turned around, he wasn’t there! The guys at Moto Italiano deserve all the credit; they did a great job this year.” In 750 Superbike, Peter O’Sullivan was able to pass Robert Campbell in Riverside late in the race to take the lead, shortly before going on to take his first ever AFM victory. Campbell who wrapped up the 2006 AFM season by taking three different championships finished second, with David Bell in third. “I’m over the moon right now!” said O’Sullivan after the race. “I’ve been working hard all season Robert, Garry Combs, and Dan Sewell have all been going really well. I got Campbell on the inside of Riverside, and just never looked back. It feels great to end the year with a win!” In 650 Twins, Jay Avansino also took his first ever AFM victory on his Twin Works Factory Suzuki SV650, successfully holding off a last lap charge by his teammate Kurt Spencer. Spencer crossed the line in second, with Jeff Hagan in third. “I got a really good start, and heard all my teammates behind me,” said Avansino, “I thought they were gonna let the new guy have it! I knew Kurt was there the whole time I heard him, I saw him, but he never made the pass happen.” Hagan a former podium finisher in Formula Pacific came back later in the day to take the win in the Zoom Zoom Trackdays Formula 4 race. Early in the race, Spencer was holding down the lead on his Twin Works Factory SV650, when Hagan made a move on the brakes into Sunset at the end of the front straight. On the exit of the turn, Hagan came together with Spencer, breaking off Spencer’s shift lever. Using only 5th and 6th gear, Spencer limped home to take his second runner-up finish of the day, with Tom Dorsey taking third in the final race of his club racing career. “My goal since I came back was just to have a good time,” said Hagan. “I’m really happy with this win! I came from the 4th row, sliced and diced, then next thing you know, I was catching Kurt. I got by at the end of the straight, and held on for the win!” Mike Lohmeyer found himself with a new challenge in the form of an old rival, as Phil Douglas of Aftershocks Suspension dragged his CBR400RR out of storage to lead the first few laps of the 450 Superbike race. Lohmeyer, riding his VFR400, eventually made his way past Douglas to take the win, with Douglas finishing second and Craig Sanders third. “I was happy to see Phil out there,” said Lohmeyer, “he’s a good rider, who rode the class with us a few years back. But he’s on an underpowered bike, so he had to pull everything out to get up there. He blew the Bus Stop pretty hard but managed to get the pass, and ran up front for a little bit. Admittedly, this is a horsepower track so I got Craig back, then got Phil. I kept waiting for him to try something, but he never did!” Earlier in the day, Sanders was challenged by the FZR400 of Willow Springs racer Eric Angel in the 450 Production class, after Mark Elrod crashed out just past the halfway point, which also forced Greg Becker off-track. Despite a number of smart passes of lapped riders in different locations on the track, Angel was unable to hold onto the lead as Sanders came back on his Patrick Ho Performance Concepts ZXR400 with a draft pass on the last lap to retake the lead and the eventual win. Angel crossed the line in second, with Becker third. “That really surprised me when Eric came by on the outside in Riverside!” said Sanders. “Then he threw lappers at me in every corner, timing each one perfectly. I drafted him on the drag strip on the last lap, and stuck Gary Jaehne on his 250 between is going into Riverside I knew he wouldn’t be able to get back by me after that. Funny thing is, Eric’s on my old racebike from my novice year of racing. Before the race, I told myself I was going to win today, but he made me work for it! I couldn’t be happier.” The Aftershocks Suspension 250 Production championship came down to the wire at Buttonwillow, with David Crone leading newcomer Michael Corbino by 13 points heading into the final round. Crone’s race came to an early end in a first turn incident which took him out of the race, leaving the championship in the hands of Michael Corbino. The youngster’s luck didn’t last long, as the motor on his EX250 broke early in the race, giving Crone the class championship. With both championship contenders out, Gary Jaehne made a surprise appearance in the class and took the win, with Susan Urquhart finishing second. Unofficial Results AFM Round 8 October 23, 2006 Buttonwillow Raceway (backwards configuration) European Motorcycle Accessories / PVM Wheels Formula Pacific 1. Jeffrey Tigert (Hon 1000) 2. Corey Sarros (Suz 1000) 3. David Bell (Suz 1000) 4. Michael Earnest (Suz 1000) 5. Chris Siglin (Suz 1000) 6. Ken Hill (Hon 1000) GP Frame and Wheel Open Superbike 1. Jeffrey Tigert (Hon 1000) 2. David Bell (Suz 1000) 3. Corey Sarros (Suz 1000) 4. James Randolph (Suz 1000) 5. Rob Mesa (Suz 1000) 6. James J. King (Suz 1000) 750 Superbike 1. Peter O’Sullivan (Suz 750) 2. Robert Campbell (Suz 750) 3. David Bell (Suz 750) 4. Berto Wooldridge (Suz 750) 5. Dan Sewell (Suz 750) 6. Kim Nakashima (Suz 750) Pacific Tracktime 600 Superbike 1. Bobby Fong (Yam 600) 2. Grant Riggs (Suz 600) 3. Ken Hill (Hon 600) 4. Eric Gulbransen (Duc 749) 5. David Glenn (Suz 600) 6. Ryan Texeira (Kaw 600) 450 Superbike 1. Michael Lohmeyer (Hon 400) 2. Phil Douglas (Hon 400) 3. Craig Sanders (Kaw 400) 4. Eric Angel (Yam 400) 5. Greg Becker (Hon 400) 6. David Wallis (Hon 400) Kilowatt 250 Superbike 1. Andrew Duafala (Yam 250) 2. Richard Barnett (Apr 250) 3. Joe Rust (Yam 250) 4. Herb Abell (Apr 250) Take it 2 the Track Open Production 1. Jeffrey Tigert (Hon 1000) 2. Martin Szwarc (Suz 1000) 3. Andy Carman (Suz 1000) 4. James J. King (Suz 1000) 5. Mike Thompson (Yam 1000) 6. Tad Koklich (Suz 1000) Suzuki of Oakland 750 Production 1. Garry Combs (Suz 750) 2. Robert Campbell (Suz 750) 3. Berto Wooldridge (Suz 750) 4. Dan Sewell (Suz 750) 5. Martin Ayala (Duc 999) 6. Kim Nakashima (Suz 750) Keigwins@theTrack 600 Production 1. Bobby Fong (Yam 600) 2. Rick Corey (Yam 600) 3. Ken Hill (Hon 600) 4. Matt Eccleston (Yam 600) 5. David Glenn (Suz 600) 6. Ryan Texeira (Kaw 600) 450 Production 1. Craig Sanders (Kaw 400) 2. Eric Angel (Yam 400) 3. Greg Becker (Hon 400) 4. Zane Halvorsen (KTM 450) 5. David Wallis (Hon 400) 6. Scotty Storey (Hon 400) Aftershocks 250 Production 1. Gary Jaehne (Kaw 250) 2. Susan Urquhart (Kaw 250) 3. Adam Klinger (Hon 250) 4. Liza Mazurkiewicz (Kaw 250) 5. Andrew Boehm (Kaw 250) 6. Michael Corbino (Kaw 250) PowerStands Open Grand Prix 1. Corey Sarros (Suz 1000) 2. David Bell (Suz 1000) 3. Robert Mesa (Suz 1000) 4. Martin Szwarc (Suz 1000) 5. John Turmell (Suz 1000) 6. Mike Thompson (Yam 1000) Scuderia West Formula 1 1. Eric Gulbransen (Duc 999) 2. Garry Combs (Suz 750) 3. David Bell (Suz 750) 4. Peter O’Sullivan (Suz 750) 5. Robert Campbell (Suz 750) 6. Dan Sewell (Suz 750) Mazda Technologies Formula 2 1. Jeffry Hanford (Hon 250) 2. Phillip Torres (Yam 250) 3. Dan Cook (Yam 250) 4. Richard Denman (Hon 250) 5. Jay Pilster (Hon 125) 6. Ryan Corey (Hon 250) Formula 3 1. Jay Pilster (Hon 125) 2. James Eckerman (Hon 125) 3. Marcus Henderson (Yam 125) 4. Elaine Ou (Hon 125) Zoom Zoom Trackdays Formula 4 1. Jeff Hagan (Suz 650) 2. Kurt Spencer (Suz 650) 3. Thomas Dorsey (Suz 650) 4. David Civiello (Suz 650) 5. Jaya Avansino (Suz 650) 6. Aaron Tulchinsky (Suz 650) Desmoto Sport Open Twins 1. Eric Gulbransen (Duc 999) 2. Bud Anderson (Hon 1000) 3. Matthew Green (Duc 999) 4. Martin Ayala (Duc 999) 5. Scott Schwanbeck (Apr 1000) 6. Eddy Gonzales Jr. (Duc 999) 650 Twins 1. Jay Avansino (Suz 650) 2. Kurt Spencer (Suz 650) 3. Jeff Hagan (Suz 650) 4. David Civiello (Suz 650) 5. David Raff (Suz 650) 6. Thomas Dorsey (Suz 650) 500 Twins 1. Kevin Smith (Gib 500) 2. Joe Sickle (Suz 500) 3. Jonathan Forman (Suz 500) 4. Leonard Barker Jr (Kaw 500) 5. Patrick Aldinger (Kaw 500) 6. Gary Jaehne (Kaw 250) Formula Singles 1. Gerry Piazza (Yam 660) 2. Chris Keane (Hon 450) 3. Zane Halvorsen (KTM 450) 4. Billy Ray (Hon 450) 5. Christopher Stone (KTM 609) Super Dinosaur 1. Neil O’Reilly (Suz 750) 2. Jason McBreen (Suz 750) 3. Andrew Boehm (Suz 750 4. Charles Leca (Yam 600) 5. Paul Kieffer (Suz 750) Teresa McKinney Realtor Formula 40 1. Mike Thompson (Yam 1000) 2. John Turmell (Suz 1000) 3. Bud Anderson (Hon 1000) 4. Shawn Reilly (Suz 1000) 5. Rick McDaniel (Suz 1000) 6. Thomas Bolles (Suz 1000) Clubman Heavyweight 1. Ryan Gorman (Suz 750) 2. Justin Mastalka (Hon 1000) 3. Jeff Smith (Suz 1000) 4. Skip Brown (Suz 1000) 5. Chad Covington (Hon 1000) 6. Scott Williams (Hon 1000) Clubman Middleweight 1. Scott Tillery (Suz 600) 2. Freddi Guerrero (Kaw 636) 3. Andy Allen (Yam 600) 4. Tim Schultz (Yam 600) 5. Jason McBreen (Hon 600) 6. Chris Armantrout (Yam 600) Clubman Lightweight 1. Kevin Heiss (Suz 650) 2. Donald Babb (Duc 800) 3. Bryan Heistand (Suz 650) 4. David Sapsis (Suz 650) 5. Scott Reavey (Suz 650) 6. Braden Riley (Suz 650)