Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

A two-day test at California Speedway, involving four AMA teams, ended early Wednesday due to high winds in the Fontana, California area.

“It wasn’t that great out there,” American Honda’s Jake Zemke told Roadracingworld.com. “We’ve been here when it’s been worse, but it was hard to get any valid information out there today.

“That moveable barrier (outside of turn nine) blew over, and they (track workers) said they needed half-an-hour to fix it. Then it blew over again. I think they (the teams) decided to call it a day early so they didn’t get charged for a full day’s rental.”

Zemke said he didn’t get to ride his Formula Xtreme CBR600RR at all Wednesday, but he completed his test program on his CBR1000RR Superbike. Teammate Miguel Duhamel completed his Formula Xtreme test program, but didn’t finish his Superbike agenda. American Honda plans to combine data from both riders in preparation for the next off-season test.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies said he only did “three or four” laps on his new 2005 GSX-R1000 Superbike, lapping in the mid-1:27 range, before stopping early, but said he was happy with his first test since off-season surgery to his knee and forearms (to relieve arm pump symptoms).

Tommy Hayden’s Crew Chief Joey Lombardo said the team got nothing accomplished on Hayden’s Kawasakis due to the 40 mph winds Wednesday, but teammate Roger Lee Hayden’s Crew Chief Dan Fahie said the younger Hayden brother evaluated some new Dunlop DOT-labeled front tires with positive results.

Attack Kawasaki’s Jerry Daggett said Josh Hayes continued testing a new specification Superbike engine, new suspension linkages and chassis geometry before the test was shut down Wednesday. Hayes’ new teammate Ben Attard, however, did not get a chance to try out his new ZX-6RR Formula Xtreme bike.

The test at California Speedway is the last for most teams before they test again at Daytona International Speedway January 3-5, 2005.