From two press releases issued by California Speedway:

Two-Wheel Action Ready to Roll
YAMAHA SUPERBIKE CHALLENGE SET FOR APRIL 4-6

FONTANA, Calif. — America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, the AMA Chevy Trucks Superbike Championship, returns to California Speedway April 4-6 for its second year of competition on the speedway’s 21-turn, 2.36-mile road course.

Now that the season opening Daytona 200 by Arai is over, the California Speedway event takes on a different meaning for the competitors – two points paying rounds – Saturday, April 5 is the Yamaha West Region Dealers 100k and Sunday, April 6 is the Yamaha 100k.

Miguel Duhamel captured the season-opening Daytona 200 in impressive style, slipping past his Honda teammates, Kurtis Roberts and Ben Bostrom, on the final lap to claim his fourth Daytona win. Duhamel passed Roberts on the famous Daytona high banks in Turn Three. Coming out of Turn Four, Duhamel slid underneath Bostrom and nipped him at the line by 0.069 seconds.

“This is so sweet,” Duhamel said in the post-race press conference. “I was thinking the whole race ‘just stay in the race, stay focused, stay out there.’ It was 57 laps of full concentration. When I finally crossed the finish line and won, ‘I was like holy cow, I just won again.’ I was so happy. It’s so hard to win this race.”

Duhamel’s debut at California Speedway last year didn’t produce any “holy cow” finishes. In the Yamaha West Region Dealers 100k on Saturday, he finished 31st. He rebounded on Sunday to finish seventh.

“Our bikes are working really (well), and California, I went out there and tested, and I was right in the lap times, so I’m feeling pretty good about that,” Duhamel said. “That’s a track I went really well at in testing. It’s going to be a barn burner.”

His teammate, Roberts, accepted his finishing position at Daytona and immediately began looking ahead to Rounds Two and Three at California Speedway on his quest to win a title.

“I wanted to get in here (Daytona) and get a podium for the championship run, and I think we can do it now,” Roberts said. “When we get to California, my bike and my team will be even stronger than what we were here. I have a good feeling about the team. I think the crew and I are going to do a lot of work that we’ve already started, and I think it will show even more at California.”

Roberts has something to prove at California Speedway. A practice crash on Friday eliminated him from the weekend competition last year.

Bostrom, a former AMA Superbike champ (1998) will be making his California Speedway debut as he returns to the U.S. after a successful run in World Superbike. He will compete against his younger brother, Eric, this year, and will be playing catch up to his primary competitors when it comes to California Speedway’s circuit.

“I’ve got one day of testing around that place, which isn’t enough,” said Bostrom. “It was a really windy day. We’ve got to learn the track when we go back there, but I think we’ll be alright.”

Eric Bostrom will be the one and only factory Superbike entry for Kawasaki. Considered by many a favorite to win the title, he finished fifth at Daytona despite giving up considerable horsepower on his Ninja ZX-7R (stock 750cc) to the 1000cc bikes. The younger Bostrom finished second in the championship standings last year to Nicky Hayden, who has moved on to Moto Grand Prix, earning four wins on the year. He finished second at California Speedway last year in the Sunday main event but started the weekend on a bad note, failing to finish Saturday’s race.

Anthony Gobert will look to defend his title in Saturday’s Superbike race with a new team. Gobert moved from Yamaha to Ducati in the offseason. Sunday’s race wasn’t as good to him as an over inflated front tire resulted in him being lapped by Hayden and finishing eighth.

Tickets for the 2003 Yamaha Superbike Challenge are available by calling 1-800-944-RACE (7223) or online at www.californiaspeedway.com. Single-day tickets for Saturday and Sunday are $30. Tickets for Friday are $10. Children 12 and under are free for this event in the general admission areas.

A great way for fans to purchase tickets is through participating Yamaha dealers. The dealers are offering $5 off a Saturday and/or Sunday ticket.


MOTORCYCLE FANS CAN GET THEIR FILL AT CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY

FONTANA, Calif. — An impressive lineup of on-track two-wheel racing action and off-track displays will highlight the second annual Yamaha Superbike Challenge weekend April 4-6 at California Speedway.

The on-track festivities begin on Friday with practice and Superbike qualifying for the Yamaha West Region Dealers 100k on Saturday. Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock qualifying will also take place late on Friday.

A new rule change by AMA Pro Racing for the Superbike class could produce a new qualifying record. Anthony Gobert set the mark last year on a Yamaha with an average lap of 97.126 mph (1:25.250 seconds). During the offseason, the sanctioning body made its first major rule change in 20 years, permitting 1000cc four-cylinder Superbikes. This change will provide a mix of old-style 750cc-based Superbikes, powerful 1000cc fours and 1000cc twins.

Saturday features the first of two Superbike races on the doubleheader weekend, starting at 2:00 p.m. Gobert is the defending champ.

The Superstock race polishes off Saturday, which also includes practice and qualifying for Sunday’s 250 Grand Prix, Supersport, Formula Xtreme and second Superbike race. Tommy Hayden won last year’s Superstock race and is coming off a season-opening win at Daytona International Speedway as he nipped Lee Acree by 0.009 seconds.

Sunday is highlighted by four races, with the Pro Honda Oils Supersport final getting the racing action off to a fantastic start at Noon. Aaron Yates, last year’s series champion and California Speedway winner, returns to defend his title.

The 250 Grand Prix, which features veteran Rich Oliver, a four-time 250 GP champion, follows the Supersport race. He will look to unseat Roland Sands, last year’s winner. Chuck Sorensen, of Sunnyvale, Calif., is the defending series champion.

The Formula Xtreme race will take to the circuit next, making its season debut in what many consider to be one of the most hotly contested championships in all of motorcycle road racing. Last year’s title ended in a tie between Californians Jason Pridmore and Jake Zemke, with Pridmore getting the nod in a tie-breaker (most wins). Pridmore and Zemke finished second and third, respectively, in last year’s event here, but Yamaha’s Damon Buckmaster took the crown.

All of this sets the stage for the second Superbike race of the weekend, scheduled for 3:00 p.m. With Nicky Hayden gone to Moto Grand Prix, a new champion will be crowned in the Yamaha 100k, capping a weekend full of on-track activity.

The road course won’t be the only place where there is high-speed racing action. The Super TT races return to California Speedway during the weekend, this time inside the infield in the terrace suite parking lots C, D and E. Last year, these racing daredevils competed in Lot 12. This year, they are in the thick of racing action inside the track. The Super TT races combine high-speed pavement road racing with TT-style dirt track racing.

Before, during and after all the on-track action, a packed display/vendor area is available for cycle fans to browse the latest selection of motorcycles, apparel, helmets and accessories.

“This year’s display/vendor area has grown considerably over year one,” said Dave Allen, director of sales and marketing for California Speedway. “The footprint we are using this year for the area is almost double 2002.”

A new feature this year is the California Cycle Club, a hospitality option featuring exclusive access by club members to one of California Speedway’s Pit Row Terrace Suites and to a luxury Skybox above the main grandstands. The suites are open for club members on April 5 and 6 from 8:00 a.m. until one hour after the last race. Benefits include reserved parking area, food and beverage service with a continental breakfast and picnic style lunch. Club members are also invited to take a parade lap on their own bikes around the speedway’s 21-turn, 2.36 mile road course, giving these guests a feel for what the pros are going through as they tour the circuit. California Cycle Club memberships are available for $125 each day or $225 for a two-day package. For membership or additional information, contact the speedway’s marketing department at 909-429-5300.

Tickets for the 2003 Yamaha Superbike Challenge are available by calling 1-800-944-RACE (7223) or online at www.californiaspeedway.com. Single-day tickets for Saturday and Sunday are $30. Tickets for Friday are $10. Children 12 and under are free for this event in the general admission areas.

A great way for fans to purchase tickets is through participating Yamaha dealers. The dealers are offering $5 off a Saturday and/or Sunday ticket.