AFM - 2006

1. AFM - 2006 Round 1 - Buttonwillow Raceway March 26th

2. Formula Pacific • 2005 Standings: • Dave Stanton • Mike Earnest • Rob Mesa • Jon Bawden • Jeff Tigert • Martin Szwarc • Ken Hill • Corey Sarros • Kim Nakashima • Eric Gulbransen • EMA and PVM sponsor the best of the West, the “Go fast or go home Formula Pacific” ** Class, which is always the most anticipated race of the day. Dave Stanton took his Oakland Suzuki / Arclight Racing GSXR 1000 to the pole with Pacific Track Time’s owner Michael Earnest next to him. • Rob Mesa lined up in the middle of Row One with Jeff Tigert on his Marin Cycle Works Honda 600 and Martin Szwarc on another GSXR 1000 completing the front of the fastest riders on the West Coast. • Ken Hill, Cory Sarros, Kim Nakashima and Ducati’s Eric Gulbransen on his 749R filed in behind making up Row Two. ** Quote from AFM announcer John Fosgate

3. When John Fosgate’s voice erupted with the waving of the green flag it was Mesa off the line first with Earnest and Stanton on his tail. Szwarc and Tigert were right on the pair and the pack shuffled for position behind led by Ken Hill. As they headed out onto the banking Hill had moved by Tigert and then by Szwarc “at speed” to join the lead group • Earnest shadowed Mesa thru The Lost Hills and the back side of the course moving into the lead stuffing thru the inside in Turn 11. • The lead trio flew down the front straight nose to tail with Hill a tick behind. Stanton made his move on Mesa entering Turn Two and then nailed Earnest in Turn 3 to lead over the wheelie bump and led onto the Bus Stop. Earnest followed with Mesa and Hill ahead of the 600 Honda of Tigert. James Randolph was moving well, as he was chasing down the “little” Honda looking to join the big bores at the front. Pacific Track Time owner Mike Earnest led Oakland Suzuki owner and AFM # 1 Dave Stanton early on

4. Lap two had Stanton over Earnest across the line with Mesa, Hill and Randolph just ahead of Tigert. Randolph worked past Mesa and watched as Hill found his way past Earnest to move to the second spot looking for and part of Stanton ahead. • Stanton railed to a 1.49.5 picking it up to escape the competition. It was Szwarc, Sarros and then the Flyin Hawaiin Nakashima next across the line. David Kunzelman, Gulbransen, Peter O’Sullivan, Chris Weiss, Mike Thompson, Grant Riggs, John Turmell, Harley Barnes, Patrick Blackburn and then Peter Doyle followed the front group. All these guys were hauling the mail and fighting to join the top ten. • Randolph then found his way around Earnest and Tigert began challenging Mesa. This was good stuff and I was smiling. Rob Mesa leads Cory Sarros Ken Hill was fast all weekend

5. Stanton was easing away from the men behind as they found the Riverside Banking once again and Tigert did make his way past Mesa. He soon was challenging Earnest and putting in an impressively fast ride on an impressively fast 600 machine. • Before he could make a move on Earnest, Mesa shot by on the straight away and Tigert accepted the challenge going back by Mesa going into Turn One. Sarros had gotten by Szwarc and some fierce battles were being fought thru out the field. • Stanton blistered a 148.4 as he continued to pull a little on Hill. Peter O’Sullivan ahead of Mike Thompson, Chris Weiss and Grant Riggs

6. By the time the leaders were at the banking Tigert had caught Earnest and was laying down some fast lap times, the man was in the groove. His hard work on and off the track was paying off with the chance to podium on a 600, which is VERY rare. Tigert moved by Earnest dropping into the 48’s and was now up to 4th with Randolph the only man between him and the 3rd spot. • The ½ way flags had Stanton with a couple of seconds over Hill who had the same over Randolph. Tigert was next with Earnest, Mesa, Sarros, Szwarc and Siglin who was making ground on his Suzuki of Oakland / Arclight Racing GSXR 600. Nakashima was next and then the #34 of Kunzelman. Kim Nakashima fly’s from Hawaii and then he fly’s on the track to challenge the FP gang

7. Stanton remained solid out front with Hill chasing. Randolph was getting the heat from Tigert and Mesa was closing in on Earnest as the battle for the top five was still intense. The battles behind remained strong as well and once again Formula Pacific Racing was the best of the AFM show. • Tigert upped the pace again pulling a 1:47:9 lap and finding his way past Randolph. Mesa was looking strong and moved by Earnest with Sarros in tow he immediately started to challenge as well. • Szwarc was still hanging in the game and Siglin was trying to catch him having left Gulbransen to Kunzelman to battle. The top ten was still open for discussion when the White Flag was drawn as only the top three spots seemed to be secure. Siglin and Gulbransen battle Stanton started his defense with a win

8. Randolph was not giving up on the podium just yet sitting in 4th he wicked it up and hoped for the good lap to reel in Tigert. Mesa was next and Sarros had gotten by Earnest. Szwarc led Siglin with Kunzelman, Nakashima, Gulbransen, Chuck Sorenson, F-40 winner Mike Thompson and Gixxer 6 mounted Grant Riggs being the guys who were still fighting on. • Stanton continued his romp taking the win and apparently has things well sorted out early in the year, which could spell trouble for the rest of the field. Tigert’s impressive run garnered him 3rd behind Hill and shows what a good 600 in the hands of a very good rider can do. Randolph was fast and looked good and Ken Hill look ready to repeat his challenge of 2004 when he and Dave went head to head…. This is going to be good…..! Can’t wait for next time! • Results: • 1. Dave Stanton # 1 • 2. Ken Hill # 95 • 3. Jeff Tigert # 5 • 4. James Randolph # 54 • 5. Corey Sarros # 290 • 6. Rob Mesa # 3 • 7. Mike Earnest # 26 • 8. Martin Szwarc # 139 • 9. Chris Siglin # 488 • 10. David Kunzelman # 34 Dave Stanton and Ken Hill celebrate their one/two finish