From a press release issued by Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin:

LANZI AND BUSSEI TEAM UP FOR AMA FINALE AT VIR

Alton (Virginia) – September 14, 2004: Italians Lorenzo Lanzi and Giovanni Bussei will team up with Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin for the season finale at the AMA Superbike race at Virginia International Raceway this weekend. The two races at the 2.25 mile (3.62 km) road course will wrap up the 2004 season, which saw the return of a full factory-supported Ducati team to the American series.

Eric Bostrom suffered shoulder and rib injuries from a high-speed crash at Road Atlanta that will force him to miss the final round. “It’s really disappointing to miss this race, but after visiting with Dr. Ting, it became clear that it wouldn’t be safe to ride so soon,” explained the 27-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada. “We’ll be visiting him again next week to see which direction we need to go to quickly get the shoulder up to full strength. And I’m still going to be in Virginia to meet with fans and support the team, Ducati, and all of our partners.”

Ducati Corse’s factory World Supersport rider Lorenzo Lanzi has visited the Virginia track once before during a test session in August. The 22-year-old from Cesena, Italy, currently sixth in the World Supersport points table, is excited about his AMA debut.

“I’m feeling really good about the AMA race – hopefully we can get a good result,” declared Lanzi. “I like the VIR track a lot. It’s a beautiful place, full of ups and downs and very safe. The bike is going well and in the couple of tests I’ve done, I’ve gone well with the Michelins. My rivals out on the track will be different, but this race is a new stimulus for me as I will be up against some really strong riders.”

World Superbike veteran Giovanni Bussei is no stranger to the Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team, having raced with them in the latter half of the 2003 season. Bussei was poised for a podium finish last year at VIR when he mistook the penultimate lap’s waving white flag (not used in European racing) combined with a checkered flag in the background, as signaling the end of the race. The Turin-born Italian rider, who will celebrate his 32nd birthday on Wednesday, is looking forward to working again with some familiar faces.

“I’d like to say a big thanks to Ducati for giving me the chance to race the AMA season finale. It’s really great to be going back for this race as part of the factory Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team,” commented Bussei, who returned to World Superbike at Brands Hatch with a private Ducati 998RS after racing the first half of the season in World Supersport.

“Last year I had some good races with the 998, including this one at Virginia, but this will be a new experience for me with the 999. I rode the bike for the first time last week at Mugello and I feel pretty sure I can get a good result for the team at VIR.”

The Circuit

One of the earlier permanent American road racing courses built, Virginia International Raceway held its first event in 1957, hosting an SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) race. Although it was well-received by racers, the track eventually fell on hard times during the 70’s fuel crisis and was closed down in 1974. The track was reopened in 2000 after extensive changes, with professional auto and motorcycle racing now adding the challenging track to their schedules.


POINTS: 1. Mladin 532; 2. Zemke 490; 3. Duhamel 477; 4. B Bostrom 364; 5. May 344; 6. E Bostrom 336; etc.