Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Steve Rapp and his Valvoline EMGO Suzuki GSX-R600 held off Michael Barnes and his Prieto Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 to win the featured F-USA Sportbike race at Daytona International Speedway Sunday afternoon.

Temperatures rose dramatically today at the Speedway and racing was held on a dry track despite some threatening clouds late in the afternoon.

The race initially featured a four-bike breakway including Rapp, Barnes, Butler Machinery’s Robert Jensen and Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Chris Peris. Jensen crashed out to set up a three-bike battle in the closing laps. When Peris was held up by traffic, it came down to Rapp leading out of the chicane and Barnes drafting.

Barnes’ bike hit the rev limiter just as he was going by Rapp on the high side in the tri-oval and Rapp beat him across the line by about 12-18 inches.

“I needed more gearing,” said Barnes.

Peris finished third with Jeff Wood a lonely fourth on his Bettencourts’ Yamaha YZF-R6 and Scott Greenwood charging up from the back of the grid to finish fifth on his Argo Cycles Yamaha YZF-R6.

Rapp and Peris ran Michelin tires with Barnes on Pirelli tires and Wood and Greenwood on Dunlop tires.

Larry Pegram served a stop-and-go penalty for jumping the start and finished 15th.

Results follow:

1. Steve Rapp (Suz GSX-R600)
2. Michael Barnes (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Chris Peris (Suz GSX-R600)
4. Jeff Wood (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Scott Greenwood (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Mike Himmelsbach (Yam YZF-R6)
7. Shawn Conrad (Yam YZF-R6)
8. Jesse Janisch (Yam YZF-R6)
9. Des Conboy (Yam YZF-R6)
10. Danny Eslick (Suz GSX-R600)
11. Dave Rosno (Yam YZF-R6)
12. Nick Cummings (Hon CBR600RR)
13. John-o Bowman (Yam YZF-R6)
14. Hilton Hincks (Yam YZF-R6)
15. Larry Pegram (Yam YZF-R6)
16. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R600)
17. Ben Walters (Yam YZF-R6)
18. William Card (Hon CBR600RR)
19. Scott Ackerman (Kaw 636 ZX-6R)
20. Richard Britton (Suz GSX-R600)
21. William Meyers (Yam YZF-R6)
22. Nahun Alvarez (Hon CBR600RR)
23. Jason Smith (Yam YZF-R6)
24. Dave Ebben (Yam YZF-R6)
25. Hector Moreno (Hon CBR600RR)
26. Brian Stokes (Suz GSX-R600)
27. Kevin Mays (Yam YZF-R6)
28. Derek Keyes (Yam YZF-R6)
29. Justin Mark (Yam YZF-R6)
30. Greg Ludt (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap
31. Darrin Klemens (Kaw 636 ZX-6R), -1 lap
32. Chad Smith (Suz GSX-R600), -1 lap
33. Dafan Zhang (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap
34. Caesar Gonzales (Kaw ZX-6RR), -1 lap
35. Pat Barnes (Kaw ZX-6RR), -1 lap
36. Dwayne Lang (Kaw 636 ZX-6R), -1 lap
37. Kyle Tseng (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap
38. Daniel Convertino (Kaw ZX-6RR), -1 lap
39. William Stoltz (Suz GSX-R600), -1 lap
40. Dirk Sanchez (Kaw ZX-6RR), -1 lap
41. Dan Ortega (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap
42. Brian Baker (Suz GSX-R600), -1 lap
43. Barrett Long (Yam YZF-R6), -2 laps
44. Robert Jensen (Yam YZF-R6), -3 laps, DNF, crash
45. Bobby Hilliard (Yam YZF-R6), -5 laps, DNF
46. Jared Ross (Suz GSX-R600), -7 laps, DNF

More, from a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway’s Public Relations Department:

Valvoline EMGO Suzuki Shines At Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (Feb. 29, 2004) – Valvoline EMGO Suzuki riders turned in excellent rides Sunday in the Formula USA finals at historic Daytona International Speedway.

Team rider Steve Rapp of Perris, Calif., won the Sportbike final in the closest race of the day over Floridian Michael Barnes. His new teammate Chris Peris was third. Valvoline’s Vincent Haskovec took the win in the Formula USA Superbike final.

The Sportbike race turned into a typical Daytona last-lap draft-fest. Three riders were in the lead pack as they took the white flag. Peris got stuck behind a lapped rider going into Turn 6, but was able to get back into the draft made by Rapp and Barnes. Peris lost his chance at the victory when another lapper got between him and the leaders going into the chicane.

It was then a two-rider battle to the flag.

“On the last lap I just decided to get out front and go,” Rapp explained. “Sometimes if you’re not in front you can get stuck behind lappers, you never know. If you’re leading at least you can see what’s happening in front of you. I just went for it and it worked. I knew he (Barnes) was there. I’m glad I beat him. This is his home track so it feels good to beat Barney here.”

Barnes said he was in the perfect position to draft to the lead, but when he made his move his bike hit the rev limiter. “In hindsight we should have gone taller two teeth (on the sprocket).”

Haskovec, a native of the Czech Republic who resides in Lake Elsinore, Calif., won the red-flag shortened Formula USA Superbike race. He was thrilled to get a victory for his new team.

“It was like our first official big race and the first outing on the beautiful new Suzuki,” said an enthusiastic Haskovec.” I had some power on those guys. A lot of riders were right there and it was exciting, like it always is in a 600 race.”

All three Valvoline riders are expected to be leading contenders in the AMA Pro Honda Oils Supersport and Repsol Superstock races this week during the AMA portion of Daytona 200 Week.

David Estok, of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., won the Thunderbike final on a Harding Harley-Davidson Buell. He nipped teammate Bryan Bemisderfer at the line. North Carolinian Scott Harwell won the Formula Sportbike race.

Next up at Daytona International Speedway is the two-day schedule of American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) races on Monday, March 1 and Tuesday, March 2. Tickets for all motorcycle races at Daytona International Speedway are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Sunday’s Results

Expert Middleweight Grand Prix: 1. Heath Small, Houston, Texas, Yamaha 600; 2. Vincent Haskovec, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki 600; 3. William Meyers, Jacksonville, Fla., Yamaha 600.

Amateur Middleweight Grand Prix: 1. James Ptak, Huntley, Ill., Yamaha 600; 2. Ernie Dix, Lake Hiawatha, N.J., Yamaha 600; 3. Kenny Rodriguez, Summerville, S.C., Honda 600.

Am Speedscreen Unlimited GP: 1. Brian McCormack, Ireland, Suzuki 600; 2. Carl Cohen, Tamaracq, Fla., Suzuki 1000; 3. Kevin Shreve, West Grove, Pa., Suzuki 750.

Ex Speedscreen Unlimited GP: 1. Larry Pegram, Hebron, OH, Yamaha 600; 2. Shawn Higbee, Big Bend, Calif., Suzuki 1000; 3. John Haner, Pearland, Texas, Suzuki 1000.

Amateur Lightweight Grand Prix: 1. James Hillis, East Ridge, Tenn., Aprilia 250; 2. William Baragona, Raleigh, N.C., Suzuki 650; 3. Dave Ellis Maney, Orlando, Fla., Ducati 900.

Expert Lightweight Grand Prix: 1. Bryan Bemisderfer, Greencastle, Pa., Buell 998; 2. John France, West Melbourne, Fla., Honda 250; 3. Kurt Miller, Baton Rouge, La., Buell.

Formula USA Superbike: 1. Vincent Haskovec, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki 600; 2. Steve Rapp, Perris, Calif., Suzuki 600; 3. Robert Jensen, Chafee, N.D., Yamaha 600.

Formula USA Thunderbike: 1. Dave Estok, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Buell 1200; 2. Bryan Bemisderfer, Greencastle, Pa., Buell 1126; 3. Joseph Rozynski, Newton, N.J., Buell 1200.

Formula USA Sportbike: 1. Steve Rapp, Perris, Calif., Suzuki 600; 2. Michael Barnes, Boca Raton, Fla., Yamaha 600; 3. Chris Peris, Calgary, Alberta, Suzuki 600.

Formula USA Formula Sporbike: 1. Scott Harwell, Lincolnton, N.C., Suzuki 750; 2. Joe Ribeiro, Newark, N.J., Suzuki 750; 3. Marco Martinez, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Suzuki 750.