Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp set a new motorcycle lap record on the second day of tests at North Florida Motorsports Park, then lowered the record again on the third day. The tests were held Tuesday, December 17 through Thursday, December 19.
Rapp set the record at 1:16.61 on Wednesday, and lowered it to 1:16.27 on Thursday, riding his AMA Formula Xtreme Suzuki GSX-R1000. The old record was 1:17.22.
Rapp tested an AMA Supersport-spec GSX-R600 all day Tuesday and on Wednesday morning before switching to his Formula Xtreme GSX-R1000, turning a total of 202 laps on the 2.0-mile road course located in Jennings, Florida.
His teammate, Chris Ulrich of Lake Elsinore, turned a total of 229 laps during the three-day test, riding an AMA Superstock-spec GSX-R750 until the afternoon of the third day, when he switched to an AMA Formula Xtreme GSX-R1000. The test marked Ulrich’s first ride on the GSX-R1000 he will race in Formula Xtreme next year, and his first test with the team since he underwent shoulder surgery in September. His best lap was a 1:17.40 on his GSX-R750.
The purpose of the test was to refine chassis and suspension set-up for the 2003 season.
