From a press release issued by E. Bruce Lyskawa Sr.:

Bruce Group Racing/Bruce Transportation Group team (the school bus guys), announced the signing of rider Marty Craggill of Werribee South, Victoria, Australia to contest the AMA 600cc Supersport and the Formula Xtreme Series for the 2003 season. Marty Craggill filled in during the 2002 season for the injured Josh Hayes and had stellar results with one win in the Formula Xtreme Series despite riding the U.S. tracks for the first time. He also won the 1997 and 1998 Australia Superbike Series as well as finished 5th in the 1998 Suzuka 8-hour race.

Bruce Group Racing/Bruce Transportation Group is a privateer team with some limited Honda support. In the initial three years of racing, Bruce Group Racing has achieved significant successes. The 2002 race year culiminated in a tie for the Formula Xtreme Championship and was only lost in the tie-breaker.

Team Owner, Bruce Lyskawa, said, “It is exciting to sign on a rider of Marty’s credentials. We have been very successful at putting cutting edge Honda equipment under brake-thru (sic) riders. Marty’s signing with his experience represents a step up in our program. We feel this partnership will result in our becoming a force in both the 600 and Formula Xtreme classes. This will also help us develop equipment for a possible entry into the Superbike series in 2004.”

Joey Osowski, BGR crew chief, Trevor Wyder, R&D consultant for Xtreme bikes, and Jamie Briun, 600 R&D consultant all participated in the rider analysis and final decision. Trevor said, “Marty is a dream rider to be working with. His maturity and experience will provide the feedback to allow Jamie and I to dial in our new Honda 600s and further develop the Honda 954s.” Joey Osowski commented, “We ended last season with the hottest 600 and 900 bikes on the grid. Although we were the underdogs with limited resources available, we believe we have now leveled the playing field with the factory teams in 2003.”