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Toyota Cup Willow Springs report

Jeremy Toye takes Toyota Cup opener at Willow Springs. Rosamond, CA. January 19, 2003 -- 2002 WSMC champion Jeremy Toye got the new season off to a strong start as the San Diego based Suzuki/Dunlop rider took first place from a grid of ...

Jeremy Toye takes Toyota Cup opener at Willow Springs.

Rosamond, CA. January 19, 2003 -- 2002 WSMC champion Jeremy Toye got the new season off to a strong start as the San Diego based Suzuki/Dunlop rider took first place from a grid of twenty-seven racers in Round One of the 2003 Toyota Cup Unlimited Formula 1 motorcycle race at the famed Willow Springs International Raceway in Southern California.

Starting from the pole position, Toye had to battle for the lead as Czech -born Vincent Haskovec and Las Vegas based Jack Pfeifer were determined to keep things interesting. As they came out of turn one, Haskovec leapt ahead with Pfeifer close on his heels. But Toye remained determined and the three soon pulled away from the pack for their own private competition.

Lap two saw Toye regain a position as he slid by Pfeifer in turn one to take the number two slot. As the twelve-lap race neared its halfway point, Toye continued to challenge Haskovec and soon managed to pull into the lead, never to relinquish it again.

Meanwhile, Pfeifer who had started off strongly began to fade, opening an opportunity for Gulfport's Josh Hayes to slip into the third slot. Soon Pfeifer found another challenger hot on his heels -- Chris Ulrich of Lake Elsinore, CA. The battle for fourth continued down to the wire with a photo finish between Pfeifer and Ulrich leaving everyone in suspense.

As winners took to the podium, Toye, racing for Lee's Cycle, took the top spot; Vince Haskovec enjoyed the champaign of his second place finish for SGI; while perhaps proudest, Josh Hayes, who had managed to work his way up from far back in the grid, celebrated a hard earned third place finish for Attack Suzuki.

Final results showed Pfeifer holding onto 4th place by a hair, giving Chris Ulrich the fifth spot. All five top racers (and nine out the top ten) rode Suzuki cycles.

The Toyota Cup Unlimited Series is a yearlong calendar of events sanctioned by the Willow Springs Motorcycle Cub. These high-charged, unlimited Formula 1 races lead up to the grueling Toyota 200 race to be held October 19th. Here top riders will compete for a $150,000 purse with the winner taking home $50,000, one of the richest rewards in motorcycle racing.

This world-class event is timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the famed Willow Springs International Raceway. Founded in the fall of 1953, the track has been under the ownership of Bill Huth for over 40 years and has hosted many legendary racers.

Today the raceway sports six separate tracks including the world famous "Fastest Road in the West," the "Streets of Willow Springs" a kart track and three ovals - one dirt and two paved. With this unparalleled flexibility and its reputation for high-speed excitement, Willow Springs is in constant demand for both sanctioned events, club races, automotive testing, location filming and every type of road and sprint racing school.

Round Two of the Toyota Cup will be held Valentine's Day weekend, with the main event scheduled for Sunday, February 16th. Race schedules and ticket information can be obtained from the track office at (661) 256-2471.

<pre> Toyota Cup Unlimited Formula 1 Round One Race Results January 19, 2003

Finish  Name                    #       Hometown                Bike
1       Jeremy Toye             1       San Diego               Suzuki
2       Vincent Haskovec        34      Lake Elsinore           Suzuki
3       Josh Hayes              191     Gulfport                Suzuki
4       Jack Pfeifer            4       Las Vegas               Suzuki
5       Chris Ulrich            118     Lake Elsinore           Suzuki
6       Corey Eaton             94      Placerville             Suzuki
7       Jeff Stern              33      Las Vegas               Suzuki
8       Jason Perez             53      Brentwood               Suzuki
9       Chris Peris             313     Calgary                 Honda
10      Clinton Whitehouse      14      Bakersfield             Suzuki

-wsir-

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