From a press release issued by Team Stargel Aprilia:

Team Stargel Aprilia Wins Championship And Hearts Of Young Women

Team Stargel Aprilia arrived at Virginia International Raceway with many things on their minds. As always, the prospect of winning the race was at the forefront. Secondly, strategy to safely secure the 2002 AMA 250GP championship was a factor. Lastly, but perhaps the most important to rider Chuck Sorensen, was a strong showing in the inaugural ‘Pit Daddy’ contest to be held Sunday evening.

Practice proved to be both fast and problem free. On Saturday morning, Sorensen dropped into the 1:28s, which was a half second faster than his best race time at VIR from the previous year.

Saturday afternoon’s qualifying session saw Team Stargel Aprilia accomplish something they had not done all year. The team earned its first pole position, by qualifying ahead of Rich Oliver. By earning the single point for pole, the team would only have to finish in 26th place to clinch the championship in Sunday’s race.

By race time on Sunday, the VIR circuit was the hottest it had been all weekend. In the early going of the race, Sorensen was in fourth place in a fairly tight pack from first to fourth. Much to the ulcer inducing effect on his team, Sorensen would pass for the lead. At the beginning of lap four, Rich Oliver passed Sorensen entering turn one. Two corners later, Oliver crashed out of the race. Sorensen went on to ride a smart race securing both the race win as well as the 2002 MBNA 250GP championship.

If Chuck was not happy enough to win the race as well as the championship, there was still one more goal to fulfill, the ‘Pit Daddy’ contest. Sorensen had discussed the strategy for this event with his crew, planning it as they would prepare for a race. Always recognizing the need for top quality ‘equipment’, and keeping with their Italian sponsorship, Team Stargel Aprilia selected a swimsuit that they felt would be both at home on the Italian Riveria, while still capturing the imagination of the young American girl. Also, the music and choreography were painstakingly crafted and rehearsed over and over again. Between the heat, normal mechanical work on the racebike, and having to hear Chuck repeatedly scream, “once more from the top, but with FEELING this time!”, the tension of the crew was at an all time high.

Needless to say, just as on the racetrack, Sorensen’s steely gaze, clenched jaw, and undulating butt cheeks truly captivated the crowd. When the big moment arrived, Robert Pandya announced that indeed, Sorensen had captured the coveted title of 2002 ‘Pit Daddy’. The contest was a huge success as well, raising over $16,000 for charity. All in all, a perfect Sunday for the now three time AMA 250GP champion, Chuck Sorensen.

And now a more serious press release, from AMA Pro Racing:

SORENSEN GIVES APRILIA ITS FIRST AMA CHAMPIONSHIP

Chuck Sorensen won the MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series in the season finale Sunday, Aug. 11, on his Team Stargel Aprilia at Virginia International Raceway. It marks the third AMA 250 Grand Prix title for Sorensen, soon to be 30 years old (Aug. 14) from Sunnyvale, Calif. It is also a milestone for Aprilia, marking its first AMA road racing title. Sorensen beat young Cruise America Honda rider Jason DiSalvo by 40 points in the final standings. Perry Melneciuc was third in the series on a Team Oliver Yamaha.

Sorensen, who won the 250 Grand Prix title in 1999 and 2000, won this year’s championship by building a strong early points lead after he won four of the opening six rounds. Sorensen earned eight podium finishes in the 10-race series, including a series-leading five victories. The only races he finished off the box was at California Speedway and at Mazda Laguna Seca, where his bike’s motor seized on the warm-up lap.

“It’s phenomenal to come out of the last race with a win like that,” said Sorensen, who is fourth on the all-time AMA 250 Grand Prix wins list with 15-career victories. “I was kind of anxious to get the most wins in a season, so I was pretty stoked about that too. The crew did a great job, they treated it like any other weekend. Of course it’s all weighing on my minds about the championship, but through experience you learn that.”

Sorensen becomes the fifth rider to win three AMA 250 Grand Prix Championships. Donnie Greene, John Kocinski, and Jimmy Filice each won three titles in the class. Rich Oliver, who was a mentor to Sorensen early in Sorensen’s career and later became his top rival, has four 250 Grand Prix championship titles.