Grant Lopez dropped more time on a Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki GSX-R1000 in Formula Xtreme trim during testing at Road Atlanta Wednesday afternoon, turning a fastest lap at 1:25.5 with string of laps in the 1:25.7 and 1:25.8 range.
His teammate, Ben Spies, turned a fastest lap of 1:27.38 on his AMA 750cc Supersport-spec GSX-R750, well under the pole time and winning race pace in last year’s race at Road Atlanta. Late in the day Spies slid off in turn one while testing tires, and was unhurt.
Lopez alternated between two Formula Xtreme GSX-R1000s, one set up for speed at faster tracks and the other set up for maximum torque and designed for use at tighter tracks.
Lopez, no surprise, turned his fastest times on the high-power fast-track bike. The bike recorded the fastest radar top speeds on the back straight, a full 5mph faster than the next-fastest machine. Lopez’s Formula Xtreme GSX-R100 reached 171 mph on radar, while the next fastest bike–an AMA Superbike–reached 166 mph on radar.
Team testing continues tomorrow at Road Atlanta.
