2003 AMA Superbike Rules: Yoshimura Suzuki Asks For 2mm Overbore Allowance For 750s

2003 AMA Superbike Rules: Yoshimura Suzuki Asks For 2mm Overbore Allowance For 750s

© 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Team Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki hopes AMA Pro Racing will allow current 750cc four-cylinder Superbikes a 2mm overbore for the 2003 AMA Superbike season and announce the final rules package by mid-October, said team members Tuesday at the Suzuki Dealer Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Suzuki and Kawasaki, I think, are pushing real hard with the AMA trying to encourage them to allow a 2mm overbore on our current bikes. The thing is still going to be 200cc smaller than the Twins, but it might just help us a little bit,” said Aaron Yates.

“I don’t really know what’s going on. I kind of feel like we should be experimenting with a 1000cc and see how it is. But the team, Yoshimura, they feel like the limitations of the standard gearbox, the Superstock 1000 with stock gearbox, is not going to be competitive with a full-on 1000cc Superbike Twin.

“But they need to allow us to do something to make the racing more fair and closer. The World Superbike stuff to me and some friends at home, we don’t even care about watching it anymore because it’s just Hondas and Ducatis out there. You know who’s going to win or who’s going to be in the race. We want to see the Suzukis and the Yamahas and the Kawasakis out there and not just a two-brand race. I mean if they’re not careful and don’t even things out, people are going to lose interest in it. It’s not fun watching a race where there’s a dominant rider or bike or whatever in it,” said Yates.

“There are some certain issues we are in discussions with AMA right now for allowances for this transitional year that is upcoming, leading into the ’04 season, with the new format for Superbike,” said Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki Team Manager Sakakura Tuesday. “There are certain issues we’d like to see adjusted to allow more competitive machinery to compete.

“It’ll be a 1000cc format (in 2004), more of a modified production class maybe. Again they haven’t finalized the rules, but it looks like they’re going to tighten up on some of the regulations.” Sakakura said he believed the tighter regulations are aimed at keeping the cost of building a Superbike down.

“I’m hoping (the AMA announces the rules) by the middle of October. We’re just waiting. They haven’t officially said (when they will announce the rules). I think they’re close right now, and obviously, it takes time to make these decisions. So early-to-mid-October is our hope.”

Sakakura also confirmed what American Suzuki Vice President Mel Harris mentioned to dealers Monday night, that 18-year-old Ben Spies has been signed to Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki for 2003. “Ben is officially signed up for next year to ride the Supersport class, the 600cc class, as well as probably selected Superbike events. We haven’t really decided yet until we get a clear picture from the AMA on the regulations, but he will be on the big bike,” said Sakakura.

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