Despite Qualifying Spill, Greenwood Set to Open Formula USA Title Defense at Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (Feb. 28, 2004) -- Despite an untimely spill
during qualifying, Scott Greenwood looks to defend his 2003 Formula USA
Sportbike Championship at Daytona International Speedway. The veteran
racer from Dunbarton, N.H., is riding an Argo Cycles Yamaha R6. After
a spill on the track during qualifying, Greenwood qualified 40th for
Sunday's Formula USA Sportbike Final.
Despite his fall, Greenwood is ready for a repeat run says "I'll have
to have a good start to make up as many positions on the first lap as
possible."
Greenwood has scratched out a career racing in Formula USA Series,
motorcycle racing's version of Triple-A baseball. He's been on the cusp
of getting a call to a factory-support ride for years, but so far the
phone hasn't rang.
His one victory in AMA Pro Racing came at the Loudon Supersport National
in 2001. Factory riders boycotted the race that year at New Hampshire
International Speedway due to wet conditions. And even though Greenwood
is in the record books as an AMA Supersport winner, he never reaped the
benefits that such an accomplishment would normally bring a privateer
rider.
"I think that win might have hurt my career more than helped it,"
admitted Greenwood. "The only two positives that came out of winning
Loudon that year was the fact that I qualified sixth and ahead of a lot
of the factory riders and the money I won.
"I think some of factories sort of held it against me that I raced, but
I had spent several thousand dollars up to that point that weekend and I
was in the hole financially. Later I had a few of the factory guys tell
me privately that if they had been in the same position they would have
done the same thing."
At the time Greenwood still hoped that he could earn a
factory ride, but now at 31, he's racing simply for the enjoyment of it.
And with the Formula USA Series he's been able to make it payoff, albeit
modestly.
Last year Greenwood won the Formula USA Sportbike race at Daytona by some
12 seconds. He doesn't expect it to be that easy this year.
"I got a little bit of an early break in last year's
race," he explained. "Then all the guys behind me were banging on each
other and I was able to gap the field. This year it's an even deeper
field and my bikes seem to be down on horsepower to some of the others so
it should be interesting."
Next week Greenwood will compete in the AMA Supersport and
Formula Xtreme races. He's realistic about his chances. "A top-10
finish would be like winning."
Sunday's schedule of motorcycle races is dominated by
Formula USA Finals. Tickets for all motorcycle races are available online
at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling
1-800-PITSHOP.
Saturday's Results
Amateur Middleweight SuperSport: 1. Jason Lewis, Johnson City, Tenn.,
Honda 600; 2. Ernie Dix, Lake Hiawatha, N.J., Yamaha 600; 3. James Ptak,
Huntley, Ill.
Expert Middleweight SuperSport: 1. Jeff Wood, Mansfield, Mass., Yamaha
600; 2. Robert Jensen, Chafee, N.D., Yamaha 600; 3. Scott Greenwood,
Dunbarton, N.H., Yamaha 600.
Expert Lightweight SuperSport: 1. John Linder, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki 650;
2. Darren Danilowicz, Warrington, Penn., Suzuki 650; 3. Paul James,
Waukesha, Wis., Buell 1200.
Amateur Lightweight SuperSport: 1. Guenther Weickert, Bonn, Germany,
Suzuki 650; 2. Robert Taylor, Leesburg, Va., Suzuki 650; 3. Mike
Arrington, Sheboygan, Wis., Buell 1169.
Amateur Heavyweight SuperSport: 1. Ernie Dix, Lake Hiawatha, N.J., Yamaha
600; 2. Hilton Geartner, Winter Park, Fla.; 3. Jose Moreau, Weston, Fla.,
Suzuki 750.
Expert Heavyweight SuperSport: 1. John McGarity, DeCatur, Ga., Suzuki
750; 2. Joe Ribeiro, Newark, N.J., Suzuki 750; 3. Scott Harwell,
Lincolnton, N.C., Suzuki 750.
Expert Lightweight Superbike: 1. Derek Keyes, Jacksonville, Fla., Suzuki
650; 2. Randy Rega, Bridgewater, N.J., Buell 900; 3. Michael Mills,
Weston, Fla., Suzuki 650.
Amateur Lightweight Superbike: 1. William Baragona, Raleigh, N.C., Suzuki
650; 2. Dave Ellis Maney, Orlando, Fla., Ducati 900; 3. Alan Cheese,
Gettysburg, Penn., Buell 984.
Expert Middleweight Superbike: 1. Michael Barnes, Boca Raton, Fla.,
Yamaha 600; 2. Robert Jensen, Chafee, N.D., Yamaha 600; 3. Scott
Greenwood, Dunbarton, N.H., Yamaha 600.
Amateur Middleweight Superbike: 1. Jason Lewis, Johnson City, Tenn.,
Honda 600; 2. James Ptak, Huntley, Ill., Yamaha 600; 3. Brian
McCormack, Ireland, Suzuki 600.
Expert Heavyweight Superbike: 1. John McGarity, Decatur, Ga., Suzuki
750; 2. Scott Harwell, Lincolnton, N.C., Suzuki 750; 3. Marco Martinez,
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 750 Suzuki.
Amateur Heavyweight Superbike: 1. Hilton Geartner, Winter Park, Fla.,
Suzuki 750; 2. Jose A. Moreau, Weston, Fla., Suzuki 750; 3. Carlos
Vargas, Davie, Fla., Suzuki 750.
Expert SuperTwins: 1. Roberto Conception, Rey San Juan, PR; Ducati 748;
2. Eric L. Moucatel, Orlando, Fla., Ducati 748; 3. John Dierick, Miami,
Fla., Ducati 996
Amateur SuperTwins: 1. Richard Downer, Berryville, Va., Ducati 996; 2.
Dennis Espinosa, W. Milford, N.J., Honda 1000; 3. William Baragona,
Raleigh, N.C., Suzuki 650.
Saturday Qualifying
SuperBikes: 1. Larry Pegram, Yamaha, (1:55.876); 2. Scott Greenwood,
Yamaha, (1:55.913); 3. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, (1:55.997)
ThunderBikes: 1. Richie Morris, Buell, (2:03.537); 2. Daniel Bilansky,
Buell, (2:04.400); 3. David Estok, Buell, (2:04.707)
SportBikes: 1. Michael Barnes, Yamaha, (1:54.824); 2. Larry Pegram,
Yamaha, (1:54.936); 3. Chris Peris, Suzuki, (1:55.473)
Formula SportBikes: 1. Brian Stokes, Suzuki, (1:56.487); 2. Scott
Harwell, Suzuki, (1:56.730); 3. Brian Hall, Suzuki, (1:59.044)
Expert Unlimited GP: 1. John Haner, Suzuki, (1:52.952); 2. Shawn Higbee,
Suzuki, (1:53.085); 3. Larry Pegram, Yamaha, (1:53.194) (end)
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