Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom and Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates are both looking forward to racing in the World Superbike races at Laguna Seca Raceway July 10-13 despite having to ride different versions of their existing AMA Superbikes.

“I’m really looking forward to World Superbike. I do every year because it’s a chance to compete against the World Championship regulars and to also kind of defend a piece of home turf,” Bostrom told reporters in a recent telephone press conference. “Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to win the race yet. I think this year it is going to be difficult again because all of the competition will be on 1000cc machines while I’ll be the lone 750(cc) out there.”

Instead of the 788cc overbored ZX-7RR he has been racing and leading the 2003 AMA Superbike Championship with, Bostrom will have to run a World Superbike-spec 750cc engine at Laguna Seca. “It’s going to be very difficult,” said Bostrom. “We’re going to be out-motored, and we’re not going to be able to run the standard configuration that we normally run in the AMA Superbike series, where we are more competitive against the 1000cc machines. Honestly, it’s going to be an uphill battle and we’ve got our work cut out for us.”

Even though he will be riding a Suzuki GSX-R1000 equipped with FIM-mandated air restrictors, Yates feels the extra track time between AMA and World Superbike practice and qualifying sessions will help him in both races. “This year is my first to run only the Superbike class and sometimes I think it would better if I still rode the 600 (cc, Supersport class). For me, if I’m going to be there I want to ride as much as I can,” Yates told reporters. “The more track time I get it seems the better I get going. So that’s a reason I’m looking forward to Laguna. I’m going to get a lot of track time, and it’s going to be on essentially the same bike, just a little different motor. It’s just going to give us more track time with the bike, maybe try a few more changes and develop the bike a little more.”

Eric Bostrom, Yates and Mat Mladin will be the only AMA factory Superbike riders to enter the World Superbike round at Laguna Seca.