Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

The 2003-versions of the Honda CBR600RR and the Kawasaki ZX-6R are very good, say Miguel Duhamel and Tommy Hayden.

While spectating at the WSMC Toyota 200 on Sunday, September 15, American Honda’s Al Ludington reported that Duhamel rode the new, 2003-model CBR600RR at a photo shoot at California Speedway in Fontana, California in mid-August. According to Ludington, Duhamel said the street version of the all-new CBR600RR was faster than his 2002-model CBR600F4i racebike.

Ludington also confirmed that he will be the crew chief for both Duhamel’s Supersport and Superbike efforts in 2003.

Unable to keep from smiling any time the subject of his new, 2003 ZX-6R was brought up, Hayden said he got to test the new Kawasaki in Pahrump, Nevada two weeks before the AMA season finale at VIR and came away impressed.

“I rode a streetbike for a photo shoot,” said Hayden after taking fourth in the WSMC Toyota 200 on a hot-rod, 636-engined version of his 2002 AMA Supersport Kawasaki ZX-6R. “I couldn’t push it real hard because it was the only one in the country, and they told me I couldn’t crash it or I was in big trouble.

“I’m excited about it. I think it’s gonna have tons of potential with everything on it, and it’s really gonna be adjustable. I hope we can get it pretty soon so I can start testing on it because fuel-injection and a bunch of stuff is gonna be new to me. I want to be dialed in before we get to Daytona.”

With Joey Lombardo returning as his crew chief for 2003, Hayden (along with teammate Tony Meiring), will also race a 636cc version of the Kawasaki ZX-6R in AMA Superstock races.